Kirov Saga: Devil's Garden (Kirov Series) (34 page)

“I don’t suppose it has. In fact that passage will lie in
undisturbed silence for another hundred years once we get it shut again. Well
now, let’s get down to the lime kilns. There will be a boat there and we can
row over to the mainland.”

“But sir… What’s happened here?” What was his Lordship saying?
Another hundred years? “Is this the same castle, sir, or have we come all the
way over to the ruins of the old Priory?”

“No Mister Thomas, you are standing in Lindisfarne Castle. I’m
afraid it’s in a sad state at the moment. Come along, we’ve no time to lose.
Set that stone lid back securely, my man. Yes, that will do.” The lid settled
with a strange click.

Thomas was still somewhat confused, but the Duke seemed very purposeful
and eager to be on his way, so he took up the luggage and the two men started
to make their way through the castle. It was clearly Lindisfarne. Thomas could
recognize the layout of the walls and the high whinstone crag where it was set
on Holy Isle. But there was no sign of the Edwardian chambers they had stayed
in on the upper battery. The grounds seemed unkempt, the walls and stairs in
sad disrepair. With all the talk of imminent war, he wondered if the place had
taken a bomb while they were negotiating the steep stairs and passages beneath
the castle, but he would surely have heard something like that, and there was
no sign that anything of the sort had happened here.

“Your pardon, sir… but the castle—”

“Yes, yes, a pity, isn’t it? Jacobites made quite a mess of the place
in years past. Well this was the way it was most of the time, just an old coast
guard lookout point. It won’t be restored for many years. The Dundee lime kilns
are still working, though I doubt we’ll find anyone there at this hour. The
tide is up and the sea will have the island in its grip for another two hours.
By that time we should be well on our way.”

Thomas was again thrown in to confusion. “It won’t be restored for
many years? Whatever do you mean, sir?”

“Not now, Mister Thomas. I’ll explain it all when we’re safely out
to sea.”

Thomas knew enough not to press on the matter, so he labored along
with the luggage as the Duke led the way. They worked their way down to the
edge of the sea near the lime kilns where they saw two old boats overturned on
the stony shore and tied off to a rusted metal ring anchored to the ground.

“This one looks to be in better shape. Let’s get it tipped over
and then we’ll ease it to the water’s edge.”

They heaved the boat up, the wood heavy with damp moisture of a
recent rain. Wooden oars wrapped in a heavy tarp were tucked away underneath.
Once they had it right side up the two men pushed from the stern and slid it
along over the smooth wet gravel of the shore. Thomas heaved in the two bags
and then fetched the oars, pushing the boat until its bow was well floated on
the listless surf.

“I see you’ve a good pair of boots there, Mister Thomas. Those
will work out well. Let’s have another shove and then I think we can ease it
out with the two oars.”

“Very good, sir.”

In time they were both on the boat, settling in on the broad wood
bench and fastening their oars to begin rowing. “I’ll have you know that I was
in the thick of it with Regatta racing on the Thames at one point, Mister
Thomas. Why, I’ve launched at three in the morning near the Horseferry on the
Thames and rowed to Sunbury for breakfast at half past seven. Then it was on
again until lunch at the London Stairs above Staines. After that I pushed right
on through Windsor Bridge by two in the afternoon to Eaton. I haven’t the
strength of a twenty year old any longer, but I prepared for this sojourn with
a daily workout for the last six months and I’m fit as a fiddle. We’ll have to
be quick about it, as I mean to take the South Low over the mudflats rather
than going all the way round the seaward side of the island. Fortunately the
tide is still well up. I think we’ll make it well enough.”

They rowed for some time, a long pull for nearly ten miles up the
coast to Berwick upon the River Tweed, and there they saw the outlines of a
large sailing ship, with two prominent masts lying at anchor off the mouth of
the river.

Thomas was grateful that they seemed near the end of the long
haul, but understandably perplexed. The Duke had hinted he might soon get his
wish and ride in a sailing ship, and here it was!

“May I present to you the Brigantine
Ann
, Mister Thomas.
She’s a British merchantman, as you can see, the sails nicely squared off on
both the fore and main masts. My, My, her rigging and cordage look to be in
very good shape. I’ll bet she’s grand when all those sails get unfurled and
into the eye of the wind.”

“Amazing, sir.”

“Quite so. Well… I promised to fill you in on the details of our
situation, and I suppose I had better do so before we make our final approach.
You may find this somewhat awkward at first, Mister Thomas, but I had my eye on
you for some time and selected you precisely because I believed you had the
character and daring to fill the bill.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“A great deal may be asked of you on this little adventure. At
first you may feel quite out of place, but the situation will grow on you in
time…Yes, in time…”

The Duke looked over at Thomas, noting the confused expression
that crossed his face and then a wry smile taking its place. “Oh… I understand
now, sir. A nicely made adventure, just as you hinted. I had no idea there
would be a tall ship on the coast this week, but it will make a grand play in
any case.”

“Yes, well I’m afraid we are not playing at this adventure, Mister
Thomas. It would take a good deal of time to explain it all to you, but if
you’ll just ease into the thought that we are entirely somewhere else at the
moment, and let me do most of the talking when we board that ship there, I
think the situation will grow on you soon enough.”

Thomas raised his eyebrows, yet was not surprised by this
development. He had worked with many noble and wealthy men over the years and
was much acquainted with their eccentricities. Sir Roger Ames was no different from
many he had come to know. They collected oddities like the ashes of great men
before them pressed into gemstones, and they moved in arcane circles of which he
hadn’t the slightest notion. He was only glad to have been taken under the wing
of the Duke, and decided he would certainly not be one to spoil the party here.
He would play along and indulge the man. This was to be his grand fantasy, a
little safari on a sailing ship and then off to parts unknown. Well enough. He
was ripe for an adventure, and something told him this would be a very nice
change of pace. It certainly beat digging tunnels beneath graveyards. A jaunt
on that ship seemed most appealing.

“Ahoy!” the Duke raised an arm as they approached the brig.

“Who goes there?” came a throaty voice from the gunwale.

“You may announce me as Sir Roger Ames, Mister Thomas, but make no
mention whatsoever of my title as Duke. Address me as Mister Ames, if you will,
from this point forward. There was no Peer of the Realm in Elvington until I
was appointed, and these gentlemen will not recognize any Dukedom established
there. Simply tell them I seek passage on this ship, and a conference with their
Captain Cameron.”

Thomas nodded and cupped his mouth to project his strong voice.
“His Grace Sir Roger Ames, seeks passage and lodgment aboard, if you please.
Can your Captain Cameron receive him straightway?”

“His Grace?” came the voice out of the mist again, and they could
hear hobnailed boots moving on the wooden deck. “Very well, come abaft. There’s
a good rope ladder astern.”

“No need for the honorifics,” the Duke cajoled. “Mister Ames will
do in most cases. You may use the prefix ‘sir’ if you wish. It was as much a
simple politeness as anything else these days, and did not necessarily indicate
knighthood.”

“Sorry, sir. Long habits I suppose. I’ll be more mindful.”

The slip made by Thomas had actually worked to their advantage,
for when the Boatswain heard it he thought the better of sending these two
unexpected sea vagrants on their way. Instead he sent word to the Captain that a
gentleman had come calling, and asked for him by name. Yet the Duke, thinking
that loose lips sink ships, decided to reinforce his point with Thomas.

“When mixing with the men on this ship I would advise you to be
rather mute, Mister Thomas. There should be no mention of current events, news,
and certainly no babbling about with anything to do with our ridiculous pop
culture. In fact, it might be best that you remain dutifully seen, but seldom
heard, if you follow my meaning. Please don’t take offense, but beginnings are
delicate matters and I should like to set the tone here.”

“I understand, sir. No offense taken.”

They maneuvered the boat, shipping oars when they came alongside
with a gentle bump. Thomas tied off the boat and then took a firm hold on the
ladder. “Shall I go up first, sir? I’ll get some men to fetch the luggage.”

“Well enough.”

The Duke stood up, rolling his weary shoulders. In spite of his
daily regimen, the long haul was a bit taxing for his 50 years, and he could
feel the soreness in his upper back and shoulders. He was second up the ladder
and Thomas helped him through a narrow gate and onto the main deck.

“Mister Ames’ effects are still below,” he said. “Oh yes,” Thomas
remembered his manners now. “May I present Sir Roger Ames.”

A heavy set man in a plain white shirt, waistcoat, and grey
trousers made an affable bow. “Thomas Delson, sir. I’m Boatswain here, and
welcome aboard the
Ann
. Forgive me to say we were not expecting to take
on any further passengers.”

“Yes, yes, well it can’t be helped. Yours is the only ship off the
coast just now. I’ve an urgent need to get somewhere, and this seemed the only
practical solution. Now then, is Captain Cameron aboard?”

“That he is, sir, below decks in his cabin. I’ve sent a boy to
alert him. Just follow me and I’ll lead the way.” He turned to two hands who
were watching the scene with some interest. “You men there, up with that luggage.”

“Good,” said the Duke. “My footman, Mister Thomas here, will wait
with the bags while I see the Captain and settle affairs.” He gave Thomas an
admonishing glance as if to reinforce his earlier remarks about being seen but
not heard.

“Very good, sir.” The Boatswain had given the two men a good long
look, and thought their clothing and manner of dress to be most unusual, but he
was not prepared to question the men further. The gentleman certainly carried
himself well enough, and looked to be upper class in deportment and aspect,
though his hair was close cropped and he did not wear a wig. That was not
unusual, so he would leave it to the Captain to sort this business out.

Thomas waited as Ames was led off, taking a hatch and short
stairway down to the Captain’s cabin, where the Boatswain knocked gently on the
door.

A muffled voice answered—“Come,” and the Boatswain eased the door
open. “Visitors, Captain. One Sir Roger Ames.”

The Captain was seated at a narrow wood desk studying a map and
rose with a polite smile. “It isn’t often I receive such a pleasant surprise in
the morning. Do come in, sir. That will be all, Mister Delson.”

“Thank you for receiving me without any notice, Captain,” said the
Duke. “I have urgent need of passage and come to beg your forbearance if you
can find room for two more.”

“Indeed,” Captain Cameron raised a thin brow. He was a man in his
later thirties, dressed out in a navy blue Captain’s waistcoat with brass
buttons. His greatcoat hung on a nearby peg, along with a black cocked lace hat
of felt, braided with gold looped trim.

“Forgive my appearance,” the Duke went on. “I’m dressed for
adventure more than propriety at the moment.”

“Of course,” said the Captain. “And may I enquire as to your need
for passage?”

“The coast of France or Belgium. Any port of call will do, sir.”

“I see…Well sir, we’ve watered and provisioned in Edinburgh yesterday,
and just eased down the coast for a brief anchorage here. How was it you learned
of us, if I might ask, sir?”

“Suffice it to say I’m in the know in my position, Captain. A
stout ship you have here. You once had Letters of Marque and Reprisals for
action against the United States, did you not?”

“We did indeed, sir. That sorry war was good for nothing, though
we were in and out of the thick of it in our day. Of late it’s been ferry duty,
what with the army mustering on the continent.” The Captain gave him an odd
look now. “You will forgive a poor sea Captain for being unaware, but I have
not heard of a Sir Roger Ames in Northumberland, sir.”

“Which is just the way I prefer it, Captain. If you want to know
the truth I’m a simple gentleman looking to make my way to the continent—a
gentleman of some means, but a simple man nonetheless. Now then…I’ve an
engagement to attend an affair being put on by the Duchess of Richmond in
Brussels, five days hence, and I was desperate to arrange passage to the continent
before that date. As you can see, I am traveling light, with no more than a
footman in escort, and I can, of course, reward you handsomely for your
accommodation.

“You’re in luck, Mister Ames. I was just consulting my charts
here, and intending to set sail for Ostend within the hour. I would be most
pleased to entertain you and your footman aboard my ship.”

“Splendid. Here…” The Duke reached into his pocket and set a small
gem on the Captain’s map, right on the spot where Ostend was labeled in the
Channel. “I’ve carried that in my pocket to compensate you. I’m afraid packing
sight drafts and other currency is inconvenient for me given my present
circumstances. Most of my itinerary has already been arranged, but given an
unaccountable late start, I missed my ship in Edinburgh and was told you might
still be riding off this coast.”

The Captain stared at the gem, a small stone, but obviously a
diamond, his thin brow rising again.

“But sir, he began… This will in no way be necessary.”

“Now, now. I insist on it, Captain Cameron. There’s hardly enough
profit in a merchantman’s voyage these days. I very much doubt you’ll be acting
on those Letters of Marque to seize American prize ships in the Atlantic any
longer, but do accept that as a token of my appreciation. I realize how boorish
it is of me to come rowing in out of the fog like this without notice.”

“Well, sir, it is a handsome reward indeed, and will set the books
right soon enough. At your insistence I will accept, and welcome you aboard.
You are too kind. I shall insist you quarter in this very cabin, sir, and we
shall have you to Ostend by mid-day tomorrow.”

That went well enough, thought the Duke, very well indeed.

Chapter 30

“I’m
afraid you may have misunderstood me earlier, said Sir Roger. He
was lounging on the Captain’s bed below decks with Ian Thomas seeing to their
effects and luggage by the table. “I trust you had a good look at this ship and
crew while you were waiting.”

“An efficient lot,” said Thomas. “I had no idea there was a ship
like this still sailing, and I’ll say one thing for them, they certainly dress
the part. Is this a new venture, sir?”

“A new venture? No Mister Thomas, it’s quite an old one. This ship
is a British merchantman, built in the year 1801.”

“It’s a very authentic reproduction, sir.”

“That’s just it, my man. You see this is not a reproduction at
all. It is indeed the ship built in 1801 at Rotherhithe by the shipwright John
Randall. The man launched over fifty vessels in all, including some very
notable ships like HMS
Defiance
. In fact, after completing this ship, he
built the
Illustrious
just before his death, a 74 gun ship of the line.
An industrious man, this Mister Randall. Well, the point of all this is to make
it known to you that this is the original ship
Ann
, a small brig in the
employ of the British East India Company until 1817. We are standing on that
very vessel, sir, not a replica.”

“I see… Amazing that they could make it seaworthy again like this
without extensive work.”

“No restoration is needed. The ship is a little past its prime,
I’ll warrant. It will be sold in just a few years, but we are standing on this
ship just as it was in the year 1815. She has a crew of sixty men, along with
the two of us. Of late she has been assisting in the transport of supplies for the
British Army in Belgium.”

“Right, sir. I’ve warmed up to the notion and I believe I can play
my part well enough. We aren’t dressed for the period, but I’ll try to be
inconspicuous.”

The Duke gave Thomas a long look, his lips pursed with thought. “This
is not theater, Mister Thomas. It is not a pleasure cruise either, nor a
fanciful notion in my head. In twenty-four hours we will make port at Ostend. I
suppose that if I have not persuaded you to the reality of our present
situation by then, you will have ample evidence for your eyes there. Once we do
land on the continent we have but a few days time to get to our destination.”

Thomas did not know what to make of that, and was cautious about
any disagreement with the Duke at the outset of what looked to be a long
journey. He decided to change the subject a nudge and see what he could learn. “I
did not ask about the itinerary earlier, sir, out of respect to you and all.”

“Of course, but I think it’s time you knew. I aim to land at Ostend,
make my way by carriage to Brussels where I will see if I can slip into the
gala affair being thrown by the Duchess of Richmond. Anyone of note will be
there. Now I haven’t an invitation, mind you. That may be a bit dicey, but I’ve
wheedled my way through more than one door on manner and force of character
alone in my day. Just be your dutiful self as footman and I think I shall have
no trouble.”