Andrew Swanston - The King's Exile

‘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 would 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.