At the Captain's Command. Louise M. Gouge

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СКАЧАТЬ them had been the worst of all cuts to her heart. At least her brother had forsaken his interest in the rebellion and now dedicated himself to his import business, avoiding the war altogether.

      “It would seem to me,” the captain said, “that Nova Scotia or Newfoundland would have been a wiser choice, being closer to Nantucket. Why did you three not remove to one of those loyal English colonies?”

      As much as Dinah enjoyed his kind attention, she felt compelled to look to Artemis for an answer. He had made the decision for them all, while her choices had been few: stay on the island of her birth and be shunned or even starved, take refuge with her rebel cousins in Boston or come to East Florida. “Artemis, perhaps you might enlighten Captain Moberly.”

      Artemis’s eyes brightened, and he took a sip from his water goblet. “Well, you see, Captain, East Florida holds many more opportunities for advancement than those northernmost colonies, which already had established societies.” Tugging at his ruffled cravat, he grew more animated as he warmed to his topic. “When the Crown obtained East Florida from the Spanish in ’63, it provided great opportunities for a man with any degree of ambition.”

      “So you had no plans to return to Nantucket?” Thomas lifted his chin. “Did you not think we would quickly defeat the insurgents and have order restored?”

      Dinah thought she detected a hint of humor in his voice, although she could not imagine why. After five years, the war continued on, and the rebels seemed to grow stronger and more determined with each passing season.

      As if mirroring the captain’s posture, Artemis lifted his chin, and his eyes narrowed. “When order is restored by the efforts of our brave military—” he lowered his chin and gave the captain a fawning smile “—courageous men such as yourself—nevertheless, I shall never be able to forgive or forget the cutting words of my childhood friends as we departed.” Anger flashed in his eyes, but he seemed to remember himself. “No, Captain, I shall not return to Nantucket. St. Augustine is my home now.”

      “And these four years,” Anne said, “have been more than pleasant, have they not? Here amongst other Loyalists and the British citizens who have settled here, those of us who have been displaced have come to appreciate our English heritage more than ever.”

      She glanced between Dinah and the captain, and Dinah quizzed her with a look. At the lift of Anne’s eyebrows, Dinah gave her head a little shake. She must cut short her friend’s matchmaking. As engaging as Thomas was, with all his travels at sea, he would make a poor choice for a husband. At least for Dinah.

      “And how we do appreciate Governor Tonyn.” Calmer now, Artemis puffed out his chest like a rooster. “I’d not been here two months before he employed me as a clerk, and he has personally seen to my subsequent promotions.”

      Dinah could detect no hint of boredom in Thomas’s expression as they related their stories, but surely it was time to inquire about his interests. “Now it’s your turn. Please tell us about your move to our city.”

      He lifted one shoulder in a shrug Dinah found charming for one of such august rank. “There is little to tell. My ship is the HMS Dauntless, a forty-six-gun frigate, which you may have seen in the harbor. After three years in Admiral Rodney’s fleet, I’ve been given the duty to join His Majesty’s other two frigates in protecting St. Augustine and the St. Johns River from the French and Spanish fleets. And of course any colonial vessels foolish enough to wander this way.” He took another bite of his pie. “Delicious. My compliments to the cook.”

      Artemis shifted in his chair, and from the narrowing of his eyes, Dinah guessed what he would say. “And while you protect our shores, by chance will you be responsible for ridding us of pirates?”

      “I suppose you are referring to the one they call Nighthawk.” The captain appeared more interested in his pie than the question. He ate another bite and seemed to savor it.

      A wave of satisfaction swept through Dinah at the thought of pleasing the captain’s palate. If she had not dried those peaches last fall—

      “I do indeed refer to Nighthawk, and I will be nothing short of disappointed if you do not apprehend this brigand and sink him.” Artemis’s lips curled into a sneer as he spoke. “I have dabbled a bit in commerce, and he has stolen my wares. Mine, Captain Moberly.” He clenched his jaw and shoved away his pie. “Our mutual friend Captain Templeton was delivering molasses to Jamaica when this pirate accosted him. Of all the cargo on the ship, he seized only my barrels. It was a dreadful loss.”

      Dinah took a turn at clenching her jaw. “At least Jamie and his crew were not harmed.”

      “Thank the good Lord.” Thomas gave his head a little shake. “I hear strange reports about that fellow Nighthawk. He seems to avoid bloodshed. Perhaps that reputation encourages merchant captains to give him what he asks for. Most pirates are murderers as well as thieves.”

      “Do you mean to say—” Artemis’s eyes bulged “—that these merchant captains permit this pirate to rob them? That you think Templeton just handed over my molasses?”

      Dinah huffed out a breath to express her indignation. “I am certain Jamie did all he could to protect your precious cargo…short of being shot or losing any of his crew.”

      Thomas’s wide-eyed gaze darted between her and Artemis, and she wished she’d tempered her cross tone. “I agree, Miss Templeton. In fact, I know how fiercely he would defend the wares entrusted to his care. To reassure you, let me say that I had the privilege of advising him in regard to refitting the Fair Winds to provide support for increasing his firepower. She now sports twenty-four guns and a crew trained to use them. That is a defense equal to many smaller British frigates. Should a pirate show an inclination for carnage, Jamie will have the wit, will and resources to engage him in battle.”

      Artemis continued to grumble, but Dinah’s heart overflowed with happiness for all this good captain had done for her brother. “You must know how grateful Jamie is for your help. He has told us of your father’s involvement in preventing impressments of the Fair Winds’ crew. The earl’s patronage has no doubt been the single most important element in Jamie’s success as a merchant captain.” Dinah also did not doubt for a moment that the earl’s patronage had ensured Jamie’s loyalty to England and the Crown, despite his former support for the rebellion. “When you next write to Lord Bennington, please convey to him a sister’s gratitude.”

      Pain ripped across his eyes but disappeared so quickly Dinah wondered if she’d been mistaken.

      “Yes, dear lady. I shall be pleased to convey your thanks to Lord Bennington.”

      “Ah, such a grand thing to be the son of an earl,” Artemis said. “I’ve had the privilege of becoming acquainted with your brother Frederick, and I am deeply impressed by his management of Bennington Plantation. Your father must be proud of his four sons.”

      Again, Dinah saw a shadow flit across Thomas’s face. Instead of responding, he lifted his coffee cup and sipped, focusing on his plate.

      “Just think—” Artemis prattled on “—to have one’s future all arranged and not to have to work one’s way to success.” He expelled a lengthy sigh. “Tell me, Captain Moberly, what is it like never to have doubts about one’s future?”

      The man’s face was a mask as he turned a dead stare upon Artemis. “I serve at the king’s pleasure, sir, but only the Almighty holds the future.”

      Artemis’s animated countenance went blank. СКАЧАТЬ