‘That I am quite used to. I have found Barbados to be a dangerous place.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Unless there is a better idea, my lord, quite sure.’
Willoughby looked at the other two, who both shrugged. ‘Very well, Thomas. The Lord had a purpose when he sent you here. Again it is you to whom I turn for help. I shall await your report.’
Thomas approached the Parliamentary lines from the direction of Oistins. He had taken a path which wound round below the plateau and climbed the hill behind them. He was unarmed. The first sentries he met were stationed in bushes fifty yards down the hill. In answer to their warning, he gave his name, stated his purpose and asked to be taken to Sir George Ayscue. The sentries made him wait while one of them went to deliver the message.
The man finally returned to say that Sir George Ayscue was at dinner with Colonel Modyford and Colonel Drax and that he was to escort Master Hill to them.
At the rear of the Parliamentary lines, Thomas found the three men seated at a small table in Ayscue’s tent, working their way through a hearty dinner. Modyford’s comfortable house had been abandoned as battle headquarters in favour of a tent on the plateau. They looked up when he entered.
‘Thomas Hill, sent by Lord Willoughby, I understand,’ said Ayscue, ‘and for what purpose, pray?’
Thomas presented the document he had himself written and which Lord Willoughby had signed. It confirmed that Master Thomas Hill, principal secretary to Lord Willoughby, had come at his lordship’s command. ‘Lord Willoughby wishes me to advise you that he carries the commission of the king to govern Barbados and that he does not intend to relinquish it.’
Ayscue’s response was sharp. ‘We recognize no authority but that of Parliament. Charles Stuart, the man to whom you refer as king, is at present in Holland and holds no sway in England.’
‘Lord Willoughby believes otherwise and if necessary will fight in the name of King Charles.’
Modyford shrugged. ‘There’s nothing new in this. It’s what Willoughby has been saying for weeks. It’s got us nowhere, which is why I have allied myself to Sir George. With the Virginia squadron we now easily outnumber you. Willoughby must know that he cannot defeat us and would be well advised to sue for peace. The terms would be more favourable now than after he has been defeated.’
‘His lordship does not entertain the possibility of defeat. Nevertheless, he would prefer, as he believes you would, to avoid bloodshed and invites you to meet him to discuss a truce.’
Drax had been chewing a chicken leg. He threw it down. ‘No one tried harder than I to avoid bloodshed. I spoke often for peace and tolerance. I did not follow suit when Walrond raised a militia although it would have been a simple matter to do so. I put my estate and my wealth at risk in the interests of harmony. And how was I repaid for this? I was banished. Summarily despatched and without compensation. Do you wonder that I do not now care to listen to pleas for peace? Walrond and his like have brought this upon themselves. Tell Willoughby that the time for talk is over. Surrender or fight. I have nothing more to say.’
Thomas tried again. ‘This is a small island. A battle would be a catastrophe. The losses on both sides would be great, differences of opinion would become lasting enmities and the prosperity of all would suffer for years to come. Lord Willoughby believes that you do not want this any more than he. If there are terms upon which you would be willing to discuss a truce, he asks that you inform him of them.’
Ayscue’s voice rose to a shout. ‘Of course there are terms. I have made them clear. Lord Willoughby will step down, I will take over as governor and the Assembly will acknowledge the right of Parliament to direct its actions. If Willoughby wishes me to put this in writing so that there may be no mistake or misunderstanding, I will do so.’
Thomas could do no more and turned to leave. As he did so, a figure entered the tent. Thomas froze. He was black-hatted, black-cloaked, and carried a silver-topped cane. For a long moment the two men stared at each other. Rush spoke first. ‘Thomas Hill. Well, well. I’m indebted to you. You have saved me a great deal of trouble by coming here.’
‘Do you know this man, Tobias?’ asked Ayscue, in surprise. ‘He’s Willoughby’s secretary.’
Rush laughed. ‘Ha. Is that what he told you? Willoughby’s secretary indeed. This man is a common criminal, sent to Barbados as an indentured servant. He has probably murdered his masters and stolen their money. Or, rather, my money.’ The black eyes held Thomas’s. ‘Guards, take this man.’
Two guards immediately appeared from outside the tent. Each took one of Thomas’s arms. He stood pinioned between them, still staring at Rush. The three men at the table rose. ‘Is this true, Hill? If it is, you’re a spy.’
‘I am neither a murderer nor a thief, sir,’ replied Thomas steadily, ‘nor a spy. I am principal secretary to his lordship and am here on his orders.’
‘And are you an indentured man, Hill?’ asked Modyford suspiciously.
‘I was until my masters died. Then I was appointed by his lordship.’
‘How did they die?’
‘They were killed at Six Mens Bay.’ The lie was secure. Rush could not know otherwise.
‘And how did an indentured man come to be appointed to such a position?’ asked Drax.
Before Thomas could answer, Rush interrupted. ‘No matter how. I know this man. He’s not to be trusted. He’s a spy. He should be hanged without delay.’
‘And what about his letter of authority?’ asked Modyford, handing it to Rush.
Rush barely glanced at it. ‘Forged. I have seen this man forge documents before.’
Ayscue hesitated. Arresting Willoughby’s secretary would be a serious breach of convention. ‘How do you come to know this man, Tobias?’
‘It’s a long story, Sir George. I would not wish to detain you with it now. Instead, I’ll give you proof. Remove your shirt, Hill, and turn round.’ Thomas had no choice. ‘There, gentlemen. Unmistakable signs of the whip. Who but a criminal would carry those?’
Still unconvinced, Ayscue said, ‘Hardly proof, but evidence of something odd. What have you to say, Hill?’
‘I was whipped by my masters, sir. It was their pleasure to do so.’
‘Lies!’ shouted Rush. ‘You’re a traitor and a spy. Sir George, you have my word on it. This man is dangerous. He must be hanged.’
‘I trust Tobias,’ Drax assured them. ‘If he says this man is a traitor, then he is a traitor.’
‘Very well,’ replied Ayscue. ‘Hill, if you are not who you say you are, you will be hanged. Until then you will be our prisoner. Take him to the Rainbow and lock him up.’
Escorted by the two guards, Thomas was marched out of the tent and down the hill to the harbour. There he was put on a longboat guarded by six soldiers and rowed out to the Rainbow, where he was taken below and locked in a tiny cabin.
It had all happened so quickly that Thomas had barely had time to think. Once in the cabin, he sat on the narrow cot which was the only thing in it, and wondered what else fate might have in store. This was hardly the ship he had in mind to take him home. Not that going home looked likely. The end of a rope or worse was what lay in store now. Rush. If the monster was here, where were Margaret and the girls? Left at home under guard or despatched to the poorhouse? Or had he murdered them too? And how did he come to be with Ayscue? Talked his way into a lucrative position as adviser of some kind probably and expecting rich pickings when Ayscue took over.
It was a sleepless night. By morning, he had come up with scores of questions and no answers. His mind was scrambled, he was stiff and cold and he wondered if he had been condemned to death by thirst and hunger. Soon after dawn, however, the cabin door was unlocked and a grizzled old man entered with a plate of bread and chicken and a cup of water.
‘Good morning, sir,’ he said with a toothless grin, ‘I’m Ned. I’m to look after you. Make sure you get food and water and don’t run off.’
‘Where w
ould I run to, Ned? I can’t walk on the sea.’
Ned managed a throaty gurgle. ‘No, sir. And lucky for you, because it means you’re allowed an hour on deck each day. I’ll fetch you this afternoon. In the meantime don’t go getting ideas. There’s two guards outside the door and both of them is a mite hasty with a knife.’
Thomas passed the morning dozing and thinking. He wondered what had induced him to volunteer to act as Willoughby’s envoy and what lies Rush had been telling Ayscue about him. He wondered about Margaret and the girls. And he wondered how Willoughby could avoid a battle which he must surely lose.
That afternoon, having walked ten times round the ship with a cloak provided by Ned over his head, Thomas was about to go below when a longboat emerged out of the rain and spray and came alongside. Out of curiosity he waited to see what it brought, expecting barrels of food and drink to be manhandled up to the Rainbow.
To his surprise, however, the first person who clambered up the ladder and on to the deck was a woman. She was followed by eleven others, all complaining noisily about the scabby soldiers and the leaking boat that had brought them there. After the women came the marines, each armed with a pistol and a cutlass. These were tavern women, doubtless offered a few shillings to boost the morale of men who had been more than ten weeks on the Rainbow.
The marines set about herding the women towards the bow, where a short ladder led down to the deck below. Thomas followed them down. At the bottom of the steps, the woman in front of him stumbled. Thomas put his hand under her elbow to steady her. The woman turned. It was a face he recognized at once. Snub nose, green eyes, auburn hair. The last time he had seen her, this woman and her mother had just been savagely raped by the brutes. He had never forgotten the hatred on their faces.
Seeing Thomas, the woman smiled. Without speaking, she touched his face, just as she had once before. Thomas was about to say something when there was a shout from in front of them and the woman hurried off to begin her night’s work. He watched her go, then went to his cabin. It was her, beyond doubt, and she had recognized him. So she had survived; as, he supposed, had he. Survivors both.
The second of Thomas’s daily meals came at six o’clock. When it arrived, Thomas said, ‘Looks like you’ll be enjoying yourselves tonight, Ned. Twelve women I counted.’
Ned grunted. ‘No use to me, sir. Long past it, I am. Caught the pox in Jamaica and lost interest years ago. It’s the bottle keeps me company now.’
‘The young men’ll have a good time, though. How long will the women stay?’
‘The boat’ll be back before the eight o’clock bell. That’s our orders.’
‘Do they visit all the ships?’
‘Must do. The sailors are bad enough but those Virginia farmers are worse. They expect a new woman every day.’ Farmers, not soldiers.
‘Do they now, Ned? Farmers, eh? Must be all those bulls they keep making them lusty.’ Ned laughed and left Thomas to his dinner.
Now Thomas knew the truth of the newly arrived fleet, he must get a message ashore, but how? He sat and thought.
When Ned returned for Thomas’s plate, he had decided that a risk must be taken. ‘It’s been lonely down here on my own, Ned, even with you for company,’ he said. ‘Could you find me one of the girls for half an hour?’
‘I don’t know about that, sir. I’d be in trouble if I was caught.’
‘A shame, Ned. Just what I need, a woman, especially if she has the Irish look about her. Red hair and green eyes are what I’ve always had a weakness for. Are there any like that, do you know?’
‘There might be, sir. I couldn’t rightly say.’
‘Could you take a look, Ned? There’ll be five sovereigns in it for you when I’m released.’
‘If you’re released, sir, as I hope you will be. Five sovereigns, eh? You must be lonely. I’ll see what I can do.’
‘Thank you, Ned. Don’t be too long, mind. I might fall asleep.’
Before long, Ned was back. ‘You’re in luck, sir. There’s one just as you like ’em. Young, too. She’s busy now, so I’ll bring her along when she’s free.’
An hour later, there was a knock on the cabin door and Ned ushered the woman in. ‘There you are, sir. Red hair and green eyes, as ordered. I’ll be back for her when the boat arrives.’
The woman stepped into the cabin. Her hand went to her mouth.
‘Don’t be frightened,’ he said gently. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Agatha.’ It was the first word she had spoken to him.
That was promising. ‘Agatha. It means good. Did you know that?’
‘No, sir, I didn’t. But I remember you, sir. You helped us. Are you wanting something in return?’
He smiled. ‘Not in the way you mean, Agatha. I’m glad to see you alive. And your mother?’
‘You knew she was my mother? Yes, sir, she’s alive. One of them is dead, though, thank the Lord. He was wounded. We made sure.’
‘So is the other. I killed him.’
She nodded. ‘Both dead. I thank God.’
‘There is one thing I would ask of you, Agatha. It won’t be easy and it might be dangerous. Before I tell you what it is, I must know if you will do it.’
She grinned. ‘It won’t be the first time I’ve done something dangerous. And but for you, sir, we might be dead. I’ll do it if I can.’
‘Good. First let me explain how I come to be here.’ While Thomas told his story, Agatha sat silently beside him and listened. She was no stranger to injustice so she believed him when he told her of his arrest and indenture and of his treatment by the Gibbes, of his escape and rescue and of the deaths of his friend Patrick and of the brutal Gibbes brothers. He paused in the telling. ‘Before I explain what I ask of you, have you any questions?’
‘No, sir. Though I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.’
Not just a cold-hearted whore, he thought, she must have heard it in my voice. A deep listener, just like the Ranters. ‘Thank you, Agatha. Now here’s the important part. I was promised my freedom and passage home in return for a service I provided and for acting as envoy from Lord Willoughby to Sir George Ayscue, who commands this fleet. As you can see, the plan hasn’t worked and here I am a prisoner. However, I do now have some information of great importance which I must get to Captain Charles Carrington, who is with Lord Willoughby’s army. Will you take it for me?’
‘Where will I find him, sir?’
‘First, Agatha, tell me that you will take the message.’
‘I will, sir, if I can.’
‘Good. The message is “Thomas Hill, on the Rainbow, says they are settlers from Virginia, not soldiers.”’
‘“Thomas Hill, on the Rainbow, says they are settlers from Virginia, not soldiers.” Who do I give it to, sir?’
‘Charles Carrington. Find Lord Willoughby’s army and you’ll find him. Ask around but do not give the message to anyone else. No one, Agatha.’
‘Charles Carrington. What if he doesn’t believe me? Will I be hanged?’
‘No, Agatha, you won’t be hanged. If Mr Carrington asks for proof, say “The Gibbes are dead.”’
‘“The Gibbes are dead.” I can remember that, sir.’
‘Good. Now repeat the message, please. It must be exactly as I have said.’
But before Agatha could repeat the message, there was a loud knock on the door. ‘It’s Ned, sir. The boat is here.’
‘Come in, Ned. All ready for you.’
‘That’s a relief, sir,’ said Ned, opening the door. ‘I was afraid you’d be half-cocked, if you know what I mean.’
‘Fully cocked, Ned, thank you. Here she is.’ With a quick smile, Agatha followed Ned up to the deck.
Thomas lay down and closed his eyes. It’s a slim chance, he thought. She has to find Carrington, she has to deliver the message accurately and she has to be believed. I wouldn’t put a guinea on it.
That night he lay awake, imagining how Agatha would go about her task or, indeed, if sh
e would go about it at all. True, he had probably saved her life and her mother’s, but the prospect of making her way up the hill to Lord Willoughby’s lines, finding Charles Carrington and convincing him that the message was genuine might be too much for her. She might forget her debt and go home. Why would a whore do otherwise? If she did try, how would she persuade the sentries to let her past? The only way she knew how, he supposed. And if she did find Charles, would he see her and, if he did, would he believe her? If, if, if. Would that he could have thought of another way to send word.
Word from the longboats the next day was that battle had not yet commenced and that both sides were still sloshing about waiting for a break in the rain. Thomas could only sit in his tiny cabin and think about Agatha. Even if the girl had found Charles, which was a tall enough order, he would have been quite justified in thinking that under threat of torture Thomas had sent false intelligence and that the fleet really were reinforcements. Willoughby would then have no choice but to agree to Ayscue’s demands, Ayscue would be appointed governor and Rush would demand Thomas’s immediate execution as a spy.
And the message was not his only worry. As far as he knew the deception had not been discovered – he was being treated well enough – but the arrival of any one of the longboats might bring an order for his death. Even if the message went undetected, Ayscue had made his fate quite plain if he were revealed to be a spy and an indentured man pretending to be the governor’s secretary was certainly a spy. Thomas lay on his cot and listened to the rain.
After a long day with only a brief turn on the deck and an interminable night of worrying and wondering, Thomas was eating his breakfast when the young captain who had first received him on board knocked on his cabin door, entered without being invited to and read out the order. ‘Thomas Hill,’ he announced importantly, ‘this order commands me to have you taken at once to the Assembly House, where you are awaited.’
‘Awaited by whom, captain?’
‘It does not say, but the order is signed by Sir George Ayscue.’
‘May I see it?’ The captain held out the order. The signature was indeed that of Ayscue. ‘Has there been a truce?’
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