John Drake - Skull and Bones

"Hallo, my little sweetheart," he said.

"Matthew," she said, and smiled.

"Selena," he said, and shook his head in utmost sincerity, "Devil take me to Hell if ever I make you unhappy. I may not be young, but -"

"No!" she said, and laid a hand on his lips. "You've said all that!" And she sat up and took his hand and led him to a sofa, and helped him off with his coat and boots and waistcoat, and sat him down and served him a glass of wine, which he drained, and he gazed and gazed at her in the inexpressible thrill of being alone with her and having her as his own, while Selena, for the first time in years, was at peace. Sir Matthew's offer would raise her high – soaring high – above anything she'd ever dreamed of. She would keep a salon; she would live in luxury; she would ride in a carriage… and she would be safe.

So she smiled at Matty Blackstone, and stood in front of him, and untied the neck of her gown and let the silk slide over her shoulders and fall hissing to the floor. He gasped and his eyes shone and he shook his head.

"God in Heaven," he said – he that loved beauty – for he was looking at luscious, sensual, glorious beauty: beauty such as sculptors forever attempt; as Blackstone well knew, being a patron of the renowned Gianlorenzo Bernini. But nothing achieved by that genius – nor even Michelangelo before him – could compare with Selena! For how can cold stone compare with satin skin, and the hot blood that races beneath it? Especially when the satin skin offers itself two feet in front of a man's nose, as he sits on a sofa at the end of a hard week's work, with a large glass of wine warming the inside of him!

"Ah!" said Blackstone, and he reached out and put his thick hands gently on her hips, and she smiled and raised her arms gracefully over her head – for she had the skills of a performer now, and sought to please this kind and loving man. Matty sighed and rubbed his face into the smooth belly and the gorgeous breasts, and slid his hands around her, and took hold and stood up, easily lifting her in his arms, and she laughed and caressed him, and kissed the top of his head, and the two together looked towards the bed: he with joy and she with full contentment…

… and a knocking sounded at the front door: bang-bang- bang!

"What the devil?" said Sir Matthew and frowned. He put Selena down, and growled in anger as scuffling and cries came from below, then rumbling feet charging up the stairs. He seized a heavy iron poker from the fireplace, pushed Selena towards the dressing room, and stood between her and danger. "Get in there, lass!" he cried. "Lock the door and…"

But the bedroom door burst open and two men charged in: Joe Flint and Billy Bones. Selena screamed. Sir Matthew swung at Flint's head with the poker, and was struck down by a cudgel-stroke he never even saw.

"Selena!" cried Flint. "Come! Quickly!" He was wide-eyed and staring, gaping at her nakedness while Billy Bones was dashing forward to seize her, but she was quicker and was into the dressing room for her pistols, and turning and cocking and aiming and firing… and Billy Bones flinching as the ball went through his hat, and herself aiming the second shot at Flint, and something flickering in the light, and an agonising pain exploding as Flint – facing death – instinctively hurled his cudgel end-over-end like a throwing knife to crack into Selena's brow, knocking her unconscious to the Turkish-carpeted floor.

"Oh no!" said Flint, cursing himself even as the blow struck.

"Bugger!" said John Silver, hopping and scrambling to catch up, and with Israel Hands behind him. "What have you done?"

"She had a pistol!" cried Flint.

"Aye!" said Billy Bones, and three men knelt by the small, fallen body, while Silver loomed over them on his crutch.

"It's all right!" said Israel Hands. "She's stunned, that's all!"

"Thank God!" they cried.

"Damn!" said Flint. "What could I do?"

"Dunno, Joe," said Silver, and reached out and pulled Flint to his feet.

"Billy," said Flint, "pick her up! Bring her!"

Billy Bones swept Selena up in his arms, Flint threw her dressing gown over her, and Silver stroked her face, groaning at the blood in her hair.

"What about him?" said Israel Hands, looking at Sir Matthew, who was stirring.

"Kill him!" said Flint, and pulled a knife from his sleeve.

"No!" said Silver. "He owns half Berkshire! It'd raise old Nick if we slit him!"

"So?" said Flint. "They can only…" He was going to say hang us once, but he couldn't. He couldn't get the words out. They revolted him to the very core of his self. He shuddered heavily, and felt his neck, and looked to Silver for guidance, but Silver was frowning and looking round the beautiful room.

"Wait a bit," said Silver. "Why's this been so easy? Where's the bully boys?"

"Aye!" said Israel Hands. "This is supposed to be a knocking shop."

"And no man's fought back, than him!" said Silver, pointing to Sir Matthew.

"It don't look like no knocking shop," said Israel Hands.

The four men fell silent. They could hear Sir Matthew's heavy gasping and the muttering of their fellows guarding the servants downstairs.

"Hark to that!" said Silver. "There's no bugger here but them -" He looked at Sir Matthew and Selena. "Them an' some maids and a cook." He shook his head. "This ain't right, shipmates!"

"Flash Jack said she was dragged here," said Israel Hands.

"Dammit," said Flint. "Are we nincompoops?"

"Best be gone, Cap'n," said Billy Bones, "whatever we be!"

So it was downstairs, and the servants locked in the cellar and the door closed nice and quiet, and Selena carried gently into a closed carriage with Flint and Silver inside, and Billy Bones and Israel Hands on the box, and the rest of Silver's men quietly making off on foot. A few faces appeared at windows, and curtains twitched in the houses alongside, but nothing else. They'd made little noise. That part – at least – of their plan had worked.

Within the hour, all hands were aboard Walrus and "Captain" Warrington was pacing his quarterdeck while "his" crew got up the anchors and made sail. Some of the remaining store of McLonarch's coin eased the suspicion of the Trinity House pilot, and that of other shore authorities, that Walrus was setting sail so abruptly. It was given out that she was bound for Newcastle to take on a load of coals for London, which would bring a good price with winter coming on. So, with a strong westerly, and the tide in their favour, Walrus cleared the pool of London and was off Canvey Island at the mouth of the Thames within twelve hours.

Meanwhile, Selena was made comfortable in a hammock slung in the great cabin, and Dr Cowdray bound up her head and said that her life was in the balance, and she must have utter quiet. Even Flint and Silver kept away from her after that, and it wasn't for many hours that Cowdray brought them in to see her, semi-conscious and murmuring to herself.

They stood looking at her and each other, awaiting Cowdray's words, in the gently rolling, lamp-lit cabin.

"She'll live," he said. "No bones are broken, and the scarring will be hidden by her hair… but what in God's name did you think you were at?" he demanded. "Both of you!"

"You heard Flash Jack," said Silver guiltily.

"He said she was sold by Katty Cooper," said Flint.

"Aye!" said Silver. "And you know her, Doctor!"

"And you said this was how she worked!" said Flint.

Now Cowdray blushed.

"Well," he said, looking at Selena, "that's how whores are made. A procuress like Miss Cooper sells the first use of them, which is taken by deceit or by force, and then – being debauched – the poor creature is held to the life by shame."

"And that's what Flash Jack said Katty Cooper was a- doing!" said Silver. "With that bugger of a brewer paying for it!"