Miss Ridgeway's Privateer

by Michele McGrath

  “You can’t know that!” Lucy protested, realising that all eyes were upon her and most of them were disapproving. “It could have been freely bought and paid for. It has my name on the wrapping, so it’s mine.”

  “Lucy, please,” Mrs. Hardie said. “It’s the kind of necklace you would wear at a ball, not to walk about the town. Put it away for now. The captain will discover where it came from. When he does, you can decide what to do with it then.” Lucy turned to go back to her room and Mrs. Hardie followed her.

  When they were alone, she said, “I’m sorry, my dear, but I had to say what I did. We can’t be too careful. Such an unusual present is bound to be talked about and rumours are risky things. Those pearls may be a gift from a genuine admirer or they may be a trap. Hide them somewhere safe and don’t wear them for now until my husband discovers who gave them to you and why. Let the gossip die for lack of information. Something else will happen for people to talk about soon enough. If there’s no harm in the gift, then you will be able to put it on with no one to question you.”

  Although Lucy made an outward show of agreeing with her, she privately resolved to wear the pearls the next time Captain Dupré invited them to dinner. They would go so well with her white frock.

  That invitation was not issued before O’Rourke returned. The Constanze had made another short voyage and returned with a small vessel in tow. After his ship was reported to be anchoring in the bay, it was not very long before he appeared at the tavern. He asked Lucy to walk with him again. Since the Hardies had gone out and Lucy was sufficiently bored to brave their wrath when they returned, she seized her opportunity. They sat in their usual spot on the battlements and O’Rourke said,

  “I hear that you have been dining aboard Dupré’s ship.”

  “Yes, twice now and it’s been very pleasant.” Her tone was challenging. “What’s the matter with that?”

  “Has he said anything to you?”

  “Plenty of things. He tells interesting stories.”

  O’Rourke’s eyebrows rose. “Does he?” He fell silent for a moment. “The next time he asks you to go, please refuse the invitation.”

  Lucy stared at him. “I certainly shan’t. Why should I? Those two evenings are the only times I’ve enjoyed myself ever since we came to this awful place.”

  “You may not know it, but Dupré is a close friend of my captain’s. Both of them are dangerous men, who don’t like to be crossed. There is a murmur in the town that you refused to be Captain Rollin’s mistress. You remember I asked you to be discreet. Who else have you told?”

  “Me? No one. If people are talking, you must have told them yourself.”

  “I did not. To do so would have been madness. Yet the rumours are circulating even so.”

  “If neither of us told anyone, who did?”

  O’Rourke shrugged. “We may have been overheard, I suppose, but I was sure no one was near enough when we were speaking of it.”

  Lucy sat up straight. “You thought there was someone in the alley… ”

  He nodded. “I did. Perhaps… ”

  “Who told you?”

  “A sailor from the Matou, which is why I don’t want you to go there again.”

  “The captain knows?”

  “It’s likely. If the crew knows, so does he.”

  “Captain Dupré has been very nice to me. He hasn’t made any improper suggestions and he always asks the Hardies or other English people. I’ve never been alone with him.”

  “Not yet, but as I have told you he is a close friend of my captain who is not a forgiving man. Stay at the tavern for a few days until the rumours die.”

  “I’m sick of this place. There’s nothing to do except listen to boring old cats chattering on about their ailments or the food or their chances of being ransomed. I can’t bear it much longer.”

  “Be patient. We should hear from your grandmother soon. Then you’ll be able to leave here, unharmed I hope.”

  She stared at him. “You think someone would harm me?”

  “Captain Rollin might, once the rumour reaches him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dupré agreed to help him take his revenge which is why I don’t want you aboard his ship.”

  O’Rourke removed his hat and ran his hands over his head. Lucy realised that his hair which had always appeared dark, now had sandy red patches amongst the black.

  “What have you done to your hair?” she asked.

  “Why?”

  “It’s all streaked and blotchy.”

  He shrugged. “The dye must be washing out.”

  “You dye your hair?”

  “If I want to disguise myself I do. I dyed it before I went to London. It’s the most memorable thing about me except for this scar on my hand. I can’t do anything about the scar except wear gloves.” He laughed. “No sense in taking chances.”

  “What do you do when you’re in England?” Lucy asked curiously.

  “Gather information mostly. I’m sent because I speak the language. Frenchmen nearly always have an accent, especially if they’re surprised or attacked. Often they don’t understand jokes or the things we take for granted. For that reason, a number were captured in the early days of the war and executed as spies. That’s why I’m useful to Captain Rollin and some of the others, not just as a doctor.”

  “Mr. Barnes and Harry are singing your praises.”

  “Good of them, but they were fit and healthy to begin with. I’m sorry about Tom though. A nasty death for a decent man.”

  “You care don’t you?” She felt surprised.

  “I don’t like to lose a patient. If there was only some way to replace blood loss he’d have lived but there isn’t, not yet, maybe someday.”

  “Perhaps, but we were talking about what you did in England. What sort of information do you collect?”

  “The types of vessels in port, which ones are ready for sea and their cargoes.”

  “So you can lie in wait and rob them when they sail?”

  “Before you look so shocked, don’t think I’m the only one to do such things. Fat George has his spies doing the same thing in France. We lose ships too. At least Rollin doesn’t kill anyone if they surrender. I’m not so sure about some of the other privateers— of both nationalities.”

  Lucy rose. “I don’t want to talk with you any more.”

  “Don’t walk away. I’ve just told you it is dangerous for you to be alone. I’ll take you back to the tavern now and I won’t call on you again until I have word of your ransom, if you don’t want me to. Give me your word that you’ll stay with other people and refuse Dupré’s invitations.”

  “I won’t go out alone but I see no reason why I shouldn’t have dinner aboard the Matou if I’m with the Hardies.”

  “Please don’t. I’m worried about you, but perhaps I’m being stupid. The ship’s ready for sea, so maybe Dupré won’t invite you again until he comes back. It’s about time he left; he’s usually out again long before this. When he returns, you may even be on your way to Ireland.”

  Lucy glared at him but she walked by his side until they were almost at the tavern when she said, “If he’s leaving, why are you worried?”

  He shook his head. “Call it a feeling if you like. Something isn’t right. I’ll know more later on this evening when I dine with my captain. Occasionally his tongue loosens after he’s into the brandy.”

  They were at the door by now and Mrs. Hardie, had obviously been waiting for them. As soon as she saw them she pounced.

  “Lucy, what are you doing?” She was red-faced with anger.

  “Forgive me, ma’am, I asked Lucy to walk with me.”

  She whirled on him. “Then you shouldn’t have done so, Mr. O’Rourke. My husband warned you to keep your distance. It does Lucy’s reputation no good to be seen walking with you alone, as you well know. Many people will have noticed you and their tongues will be wagging again. Such behaviour could even lead to her grandmother rejecting her. So I’ll thank you not to do so i
n future. Good day to you.”

  Mrs. Hardie caught Lucy by the arm and pulled her inside, leaving O’Rourke standing alone on the street.

  “Indeed, ma’am, if you’d heard what he said to me, you wouldn’t be so cross with him,” Lucy protested. “He warned me not to walk alone and not to dine with Captain Dupré. He is as concerned for my reputation as you are.”

  “Is he? Then he should have spoken to you here in the taproom with people all round you. I’m surprised at you, Lucy; I thought you had more sense than to be with him after what I said to you.”

  Lucy sat down on one of the taproom chairs. “I’m so bored here with nothing to do. At least he doesn’t talk to me about his illnesses or his chances of being ransomed but I won’t go with him again.”

  “Promise?”

  “I promise.” Lucy smiled but she was worried. Mrs. Hardie’s words had unsettled her. What if my grandmother decides not to ransom me and I have to stay here? What would happen to me then when the Hardies go home and I am left alone?

  Chapter Twelve

  That thought worried Lucy for the rest of the day. Before this, she had put it out of her mind but, if O’Rourke was right, she would have to deal with the consequences soon. If the ransom was paid, she would be no worse off than she had been before. There was a way to reach her destination; the other English prisoners had told the new arrivals as much. Letters had been received from the lucky ones who had already returned home. On the other hand, if Lady Mary refused, Lucy had no money of her own to pay for her passage away from Saint-Malo. Could she write to Becky and would Becky help her? Once she had been certain of her cousin’s affection, but not now. Becky was short of money and Caroline’s debut was coming ever closer. Even if she somehow managed to return to England, what would she do when she got there? She had been through the possibilities before and found no solution. Unknown Ireland, without her family’s recognition would be worse. Therefore, I would have to stay in France, she thought, even though I don’t speak the language and I have no skills. Perhaps I was a fool to reject Captain Rollin’s offer so quickly. I should have let him wait for an answer until I knew about the ransom. Despite this, she was sure that she had made the right decision. Something will come up, it must. This reflection did not comfort her but eventually she fell into an uneasy sleep.

  The next morning, Lucy was at breakfast with the Hardies when she was surprised to see O’Rourke walking towards them. She was annoyed. He had said that he would not come to her unless he brought news. She felt as if her heart had stopped. Was it possible? He stopped at their table and smiled down at her.

  “May I join you? I have something to tell you.”

  Captain Hardie nodded but did not look very pleased. O’Rourke pulled out a chair and said,

  “You’ll be happy to know that my captain has received a letter from Sir Edgar Ridgeway who has undertaken to pay for Miss Ridgeway’s return. He didn’t haggle over the cost, so we may now proceed to make the arrangements to continue her journey to Ireland.”

  Mrs. Hardie smiled, rose and gave Lucy a hug. “I’m so glad for you, my dear.”

  “You haven’t heard anything from our employers, I suppose?” Captain Hardie asked.

  “I’m afraid not. It usually takes longer to receive an answer from England and from a ship’s owner rather than from a family. You must have patience.”

  “What must I do now, Mr. O’Rourke?” Lucy asked.

  “Pack your trunk. Someone will call for it this afternoon. Put on your oldest clothes and wait here for me. The tide turns about seven o’clock and the ship will go out on the ebb. I’ll come for you around five, which leaves us plenty of time to clear the harbour.”

  “But Lucy can’t travel with you alone, O’Rourke,” Captain Hardie protested. “She needs to have another woman with her.”

  “That’s not possible, Captain, unless you persuade one of the maids here to accompany her. I doubt they will do so because it’s sometimes an unpleasant trip. We use small boats part of the way which can be tossed about if the wind is strong and the waves large.”

  “Will Lucy be in danger?” Mrs. Hardie asked fearfully.

  “No more than she was aboard your own ship. The sea is always fickle, but we make this journey many times. Set your mind at rest, though, she has no need of a chaperone. The sailors know she has been ransomed and that they will be handsomely paid for taking her to her destination. From now on, she is valuable to all of us.”

  “I’m not happy…” Mrs. Hardie began but O’Rourke interrupted.

  “Ma’am, I can’t allow you to go with her. You, too, have a value and you wouldn’t be allowed aboard a ship until we have heard from England, which should be soon I trust. If you are worrying about the proprieties, set your mind at ease. No one will offer her insult, my word on it.”

  “Just how much is your word worth, O’Rourke?” Captain Hardie growled.

  O’Rourke grinned. “As much as my share of the ransom, Captain. I am, after all, a privateer.” He rose from the table, gave them a small bow and walked out of the tavern.

  “Well!” Mrs. Hardie exclaimed, “The cheek of the man!”

  “Nevertheless, he must have told us the truth, my dear, although I will make some enquires among the other prisoners, to find out more. This news is most likely circulating in the town already.”

  The rest of the day passed in a blur. Lucy spent it by repacking her possessions and making farewell visits to their acquaintances, who wished her well for her journey. Mrs. Hardie could find nobody to venture with her and she had no money to bribe anyone to do so. Reluctantly she contented herself with a list of detailed instructions to Lucy, who thought most of them impractical, since she had no idea how she would travel. Lucy’s trunk was corded and left in the taproom. She went upstairs to don the garments she had worn on the White Hart and had hoped never to wear again. She made one addition though. She retrieved the string of pearls from its hiding place and put it into a bag with the miniatures of her parents. She waited until Mrs. Hardie left the room before she did so and then she tied the small packet tightly to the inside of her skirt. Captain Hardie’s enquiries as to the identity of the mysterious donor had proved unsuccessful so far. At least I have something valuable to take with me and it was a gift, so why should I leave them behind?

  Lucy went down in the taproom well before the appointed hour. Captain Hardie returned soon afterwards. He said that he had tried to find out which ship would take her on the first part of the journey but had not been able to do so.

  “Three are making ready for sea,” he told her. “It could be any of them.” He was about to say more when a sailor appeared and handed him a note. “This man has come for your trunk, my dear,” Captain Hardie said. “O’Rourke writes that he will follow shortly. He has received permission to accompany you, since the Constanze is to remain in port for a few days having some leaks patched up.”

  Lucy felt her heart lighten. At least she would have someone she knew with her on the voyage. She found it difficult to say goodbye to Mrs. Hardie and the others. She left the tavern in tears with their best wishes ringing in her ears. Captain Hardie insisted on walking her to the ship when O’Rourke came to fetch her. She hugged the captain before she stepped down into the waiting boat.

  “Thank you for everything. I’ll write to you.”

  “Good luck in Ireland. Have a happy life.” He turned to O’Rourke. “Take care of her.”

  “Don’t worry, I will.”

  In the darkness, the water had a different colour from the land and the ships stood out black against it. Lanterns were alight in several of them, bobbing up and down as the current made them sway. After a few moments, Lucy could not tell which one they were heading for. She glanced back at the town, looming against the sky with candles in many of the windows. From here it looked peaceful and interesting. Lucy shivered, glad to be leaving.

  O’Rourke had been strangely taciturn ever since he had arrived at the tavern. They were al
most at the ship when he said, “Have a care what you say and what you do when we go aboard. I’m not sure what’s happening.”

  “What do you mean?” Lucy asked anxiously.

  “Look.” He pointed at their destination. She peered through the gloom and recognised the shape.

  “Why it’s the Matou!”

  “Yes.”

  “You knew she was the one which was going to take me?”

  “I found out just before I came to fetch you. I thought you would be going on the Minette but the orders were changed at the last moment.”

  “Is it a problem?”

  “Perhaps, perhaps not.”

  “Captain Dupré has always been polite to me.”

  “Let’s hope he continues to be. Do nothing to provoke him.”

  “You sound worried.”

  “I am.”

  They had no time for more. The boat came alongside the Matou and hooked on to her chains. A ladder had been let down but even so Lucy found it hard to climb up the side of the swaying vessel. A sailor climbed in front of her, helping her while O’Rourke occasionally boosted her from behind. Lucy cursed her skirts which swirled around her, threatening to trip her up. She made the ascent at last and jumped down onto the deck. Captain Dupré stood there before her, smiling as he welcomed her to his ship. He nodded to O’Rourke and bade him take her to one of the stern cabins which had been prepared for her.

  Lucy was becoming used to ship’s accommodations by now and was not surprised to find the same small dark space awaiting her. This time her trunk stood beside the cot, taking up too much room in the cabin.

  “Where will you be?” she asked O’Rourke.

  “A hammock on the gun deck with the men, I expect. Remember what I said and stay in here as much as you can. We won’t be aboard very long. Once we’re out into the fishing grounds, we’ll be transferred onto a fishing boat.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “I’m not sure.”