Read Online Secret Harbor by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page A

chair she ran across the room and as she reached the hall she called out:
    “Abe! Abe!”
    He came from the kitchen-quarters followed by the French servant.
    “What have you discovered?” Grania asked.
    “Things very bad, Lady,” Abe replied.
    Then before he could say any more the French servant went to the side of the Comte who had followed Grania from the Drawing-Room and burst into a flood of such quick French that it was impossible for her to follow everything he said.
    Only when he had ceased speaking did she ask nervously:
    “What ... has happened?”
    “It sounds bad,” the Comte replied. “At the same time as the rebellion started in Grenville, Charlotte Town was attacked by another band of insurgents.”
    Grania gave a little cry of horror.
    Charlotte Town, which was on the West side of the island only a little way above St. George’s, was a place she knew well.
    “Many lives have been lost,” the Comte went on, “and a number of British inhabitants have been taken prisoner.”
    “Do they know who?”
    The Comte questioned the Frenchman, but he shook his head.
    Abe obviously understood what he asked, for he said:
    “Dr. John Hay prisoner.”
    “Oh, no!” Grania exclaimed.
    “Doctor and Rector of Charlotte Town taken Belvedere,” Abe went on.
    “Why Belvedere?” Grania questioned.
    “That is where Fedon has made his headquarters,” the Comte replied. “The prisoners from Grenville have also been taken there.”
    Grania clasped her hands together.
    “What shall we do?” she asked, “and is there any news of Papa?”
    Abe shook his head.
    “No, Lady, I send boy find out if Master coming.” The French servant then said a great deal more and when he finished the Comte explained:
    “There is no sign of any trouble so far in St. George’s, which is where the British soldiers are, so I think for the moment you are safe and when your father joins you you will not be unprotected.”
    Grania did not say anything she only looked at him, and after a moment he added, as if she had asked the question:
    “Until your father arrives, I will stay in the harbour.”
    “Thank you.”
    She hardly breathed the words beneath her breath but the expression in her eyes was very revealing.
    “And now,” the Comte said, “as Abe has had no opportunity to cook luncheon for you and I believe like me you are beginning to feel hungry, may I invite you to what will be a simple meal aboard my ship?”
    Grania’s smile seemed to light up her whole face. “You know I would like that.”
    The Comte gave his servant some instructions and he left hurriedly by the front door, running across the garden towards the harbour.
    Grania drew Abe to one side.
    “Listen Abe,” she said, “I am safe with Monsieur Beaufort. He is not really a pirate, but a refugee from Martinique.”
    “Know that, Lady.”
    “You did not tell me!” Grania said reproachfully.
    “Not expect him here.”
    Grania looked at him sharply.
    “You knew that he had ... come here before?” There was a little pause and she knew that Abe debated whether he should tell her the truth. Then he answered:
    “Yes, Lady, he come, not do no harm. Fine man! While here he pay for what he take to ship.”
    “Pay for what?”
    “Pigs, chickens, turkeys.”
    Grania laughed.
    There was a remarkable difference between a pirate who paid for what he requisitioned and other pirates like Will Wilken who stole what they wanted and killed if interfered with.
    “You and I trust Monsieur, Abe,” she said, “but Papa might be angry. Come and tell me if he is coming while I am aboard the ship so that I can be here in the house when he arrives.”
    She knew Abe would understand he was to station two of their slaves to watch the road and the path through the forest.
    She was not really afraid of what her father’s reaction would be, but rather of Roderick Maigrin’s if he was with him.
    She was quite certain that he would shoot first and ask questions afterwards, and she