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Authors: David Donachie
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of Markham looking at him, aware of the unstated questions that were forming in the marine officer’s mind.
‘I must work up the crew a bit, Markham,’ he continued quietly. ‘They are all seamen, I know. But they have been gathered from any number of ships. Nothing in my experience leads me to believe that those who gave them up passed on to me their best men. Some of them are bound to be right hard bargains. I would see them work as a unit before we head for the French coast. God forbid that we should turn into an enemy ship without them knowing what it is I require of them.’
‘It is merely a bonus then, that a few days delay will provide a good opportunity to pump the good Monsignor about where it is he wants to go?’
‘I admire you, Markham,’ Germain responded, though his tone of voice made such a proposition sound doubtful, ‘and for a variety of reasons. But please try to remember that I am your superior officer.’
‘I can be sure, sir,’ Markham replied, matching Germain’s asperity, ‘that if I forget, you will be there to remind me.’
Chapter five
T he first shock, when the party they were to transport returned aboard, was the sheer numbers. De Puy was not to be allowed any of his soldiers, but Monsignor Aramon saw no reason why he should forego any of his own comforts. He brought his servants, three sturdy clear-eyed men, and it seemed, all of his possessions. And that included his charge, the young lady to whom he stood as ‘guardian’.
She came aboard wearing a veil that hid her features, accompanied by an extensive wardrobe, a box containing a musical instrument and a young Negro maid who moved with stunning grace. Thus her face, which had only ever been glimpsed in a heavily shaded distance, remained a mystery to Markham and his men, a fact that had led to no end of speculation.
Germain hopped about from foot to foot, caught between his desire to question her presence, while at the same time seeking to appear gallant. He also had a deep need to impress this member of the opposite sex with a demonstration of his newly acquired authority, which led to a string of contradictory and useless orders. Aramon watched this with wry amusement, before condescending to offer an introduction.
‘Allow me to present to you, Captain Germain, Mademoiselle Ghislane Moulins. I am responsible for both her spiritual and physical well-being. As I shall not be returning to Corsica, she must, as I’m sure you understand, travel with me.’
The response, ‘Quite!’ was accompanied by a deep blush.
What followed was a continuation of the comedy. Talking about Aramon, Markham had passed on to Germain what he and his men suspected regarding the cleric’s domestic arrangements, which rendered the young lady in a certain light. But she was on his deck, having been introduced as a thoroughly respectable person. The young commander of the Syilphide didn’t quite know what to do, so that the bow was only half the depth he intended, while his voice, mouthing ‘charmed’ sounded decidedly gruff and carnal.
‘You will forgive me,’ he continued, almost stuttering. ‘I must be about my duties.’
‘If you will permit me, sir,’ said Markham. ‘I will see that the young lady is properly accommodated.’
The look that received spoke volumes. It was common gossip in the fleet that Markham was a gambler and a rake, a ne’er do well who had, just before joining his ship, fought and killed the husband of one of his lovers in a Finsbury Park duel. He was the very last person who should be left to care for a woman, one who, since she was still termed Mademoiselle, must be of tender years. Germain’s pinched expression at this invasion of his prerogative was matched by Aramon’s sharp rejoinder.
‘The lady has my own trusted servants, as well as Monsieur le Comte de Puy, to carry out that task, Lieutenant!’
‘Quite!’ Germain gasped, before finally scurrying away.
The master, Mr Conmorran, a portly
‘I must work up the crew a bit, Markham,’ he continued quietly. ‘They are all seamen, I know. But they have been gathered from any number of ships. Nothing in my experience leads me to believe that those who gave them up passed on to me their best men. Some of them are bound to be right hard bargains. I would see them work as a unit before we head for the French coast. God forbid that we should turn into an enemy ship without them knowing what it is I require of them.’
‘It is merely a bonus then, that a few days delay will provide a good opportunity to pump the good Monsignor about where it is he wants to go?’
‘I admire you, Markham,’ Germain responded, though his tone of voice made such a proposition sound doubtful, ‘and for a variety of reasons. But please try to remember that I am your superior officer.’
‘I can be sure, sir,’ Markham replied, matching Germain’s asperity, ‘that if I forget, you will be there to remind me.’
Chapter five
T he first shock, when the party they were to transport returned aboard, was the sheer numbers. De Puy was not to be allowed any of his soldiers, but Monsignor Aramon saw no reason why he should forego any of his own comforts. He brought his servants, three sturdy clear-eyed men, and it seemed, all of his possessions. And that included his charge, the young lady to whom he stood as ‘guardian’.
She came aboard wearing a veil that hid her features, accompanied by an extensive wardrobe, a box containing a musical instrument and a young Negro maid who moved with stunning grace. Thus her face, which had only ever been glimpsed in a heavily shaded distance, remained a mystery to Markham and his men, a fact that had led to no end of speculation.
Germain hopped about from foot to foot, caught between his desire to question her presence, while at the same time seeking to appear gallant. He also had a deep need to impress this member of the opposite sex with a demonstration of his newly acquired authority, which led to a string of contradictory and useless orders. Aramon watched this with wry amusement, before condescending to offer an introduction.
‘Allow me to present to you, Captain Germain, Mademoiselle Ghislane Moulins. I am responsible for both her spiritual and physical well-being. As I shall not be returning to Corsica, she must, as I’m sure you understand, travel with me.’
The response, ‘Quite!’ was accompanied by a deep blush.
What followed was a continuation of the comedy. Talking about Aramon, Markham had passed on to Germain what he and his men suspected regarding the cleric’s domestic arrangements, which rendered the young lady in a certain light. But she was on his deck, having been introduced as a thoroughly respectable person. The young commander of the Syilphide didn’t quite know what to do, so that the bow was only half the depth he intended, while his voice, mouthing ‘charmed’ sounded decidedly gruff and carnal.
‘You will forgive me,’ he continued, almost stuttering. ‘I must be about my duties.’
‘If you will permit me, sir,’ said Markham. ‘I will see that the young lady is properly accommodated.’
The look that received spoke volumes. It was common gossip in the fleet that Markham was a gambler and a rake, a ne’er do well who had, just before joining his ship, fought and killed the husband of one of his lovers in a Finsbury Park duel. He was the very last person who should be left to care for a woman, one who, since she was still termed Mademoiselle, must be of tender years. Germain’s pinched expression at this invasion of his prerogative was matched by Aramon’s sharp rejoinder.
‘The lady has my own trusted servants, as well as Monsieur le Comte de Puy, to carry out that task, Lieutenant!’
‘Quite!’ Germain gasped, before finally scurrying away.
The master, Mr Conmorran, a portly
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