HF - 04 - Black Dawn (55 page)

'You . . . you will betray me,' Tony cried.

'Betray
you,
Tony. I have come to rescue you from the consequences of your own iniquity. It is now my duty to intercede with Dick on your behalf.'

'Intercede?' he shouted.

'You'll have an annuity,' Dick said. 'Provided you leave Jamaica.'

'Annuity? Leave Jamaica? You think this business will be as simply settled as that?'

'It can be, if you are sensible,' Suzanne said. 'Dick is being more than generous.'

'You'll not have Hilltop,' Tony said.

'I shall come out tomorrow,' Dick said. 'You'll have time to pack.'

'You?' Tony demanded. 'The planters will not stand for it.' 'They'll obey the law.'

'Damn the law. That law was made in England. You are an Abolitionist, a nigger lover. Well, we have finished with those. We are on the verge of declaring our independence. Aye, then we'll make our own laws. You attempt to set foot on Hilltop, and you'll spark a revolution.'

'Why, you . . .' Dick reached for him, and Tony reached for the door.

'Dick.' Suzanne's voice was sharp. 'I'll not have you fighting, when I am seeing you for the first time in twenty years. I had hoped this matter could be happily resolved. I still hope it will be. Tony is upset. That is entirely reasonable. You'll pack your things, Tony, and prepare to leave Hilltop. But when Dick and his wife, and I, come out tomorrow, we will lunch together, and be friends.'

Tony stared at her for a moment, glanced at Dick, then turned and left the room, banging the door behind him.

'We must. . .' Dick attempted to follow, but his mother held his arm.

'Dick. Let him go. And let me hold you, just for a moment. Your letter . . .' She clung to him, her head on his chest. 'I had always supposed you alive, and known that it was nothing more than a mother's prayer.' Her head went back, to allow her to look at him. 'Your letter all but gave us both a seizure.'

'Papa?'

'Is better than for years. The election has rejuvenated him. Even if he could not take part himself, he knows a Whig victory is his victory. Grey is dedicated to reform, and a reformed House of Commons means Abolition. He is proud of you, Dick.'

'For becoming a soldier?'

'For being his son. For returning to Jamaica. You said in your letter it was to emancipate your slaves. Do you mean that, Dick?'

'Aye. But it will not be an easy matter.'

'Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. And you will have me to help you. If you knew how I have longed to help you, Dick, how I have longed to make myself known to you, as I watched you walking yesterday afternoon, with that lovely woman, and those splendid children. My grandchildren, Dick.'

He kissed her forehead. 'And you shall see them in minutes. But we had best return.'

For noise was again bubbling out of the courtroom. He opened the door for her, and the shouts slowly died as they
re-entered
the room. The earl was already there, waiting at his desk. The jury looked thunderstruck. Calthorpe and Reynolds looked as if they had seen a ghost. Barker and Harris were plainly delighted.

The earl banged his gavel. 'Order. Order. This is but a formality, Mistress Hilton, as Mr Anthony Hilton has seen fit to leave the court. Will you take the box?'

Suzanne climbed the curved staircase, took the oath in a quiet, clear voice. The courtroom had fallen so silent it was possible to hear people breathing.

'Mr Barker?' the earl invited.

Barker rose. 'Will you state your name, please.'

'Suzanne Hilton.'

'Have you ever seen the Claimant before in your life, Mrs Hilton?'

Suzanne smiled at Dick. 'He is my son.'

A great sigh swept through the court room.

'Thank you, Mrs Hilton. Your witness, Mr Calthorpe.'

Calthorpe stood up. 'I have no questions, my lord.' He licked his lips. 'My client accepts that he was mistaken, and that the Claimant is indeed his brother, the rightful owner of Plantation Hiltop.'

Now the noise burst forth. No one had expected it to be set out in quite those terms. 'Blackguard,' shouted one of the jury at Calthorpe. 'You were not so instructed,' cried another. 'Mr Hilton.' Harris shook hands.

'My thanks,' Dick said. 'And to you, Barker. You may be sure of my gratitude.'

'Mr Hilton.' Reynolds hesitated. 'I did what I had to do. I sent you Harris.'

'Indeed you did, Mr Reynolds. I'll not bear a grudge.' He descended into the well to meet his mother as she came down the stairs. The earl also descended.

'Congratulations, Mr Hilton. You'll dine with me. Indeed you will. I have long wanted to meet your charming wife again. She is not in court?'

'She is at the hotel with our children. We thought it best. My lord, I would like to see the Reverend Strong.'

'Good heavens, I had quite
forgot the fellow. Oh, indeed.
You must set him free, if only to legalize his position.' The earl waved at his provost marshal. 'You'll descend to the cells and get the reverend up here.'

The marshal nodded, and hurried for the stairs.

'Just look at them go,' Suzanne said, watching the planters file out. The jury had not waited to be dismissed, but were also leaving, muttering at each other.

'A stiff-necked lot,' Belmore grumbled. 'And you may depend upon it, they will be putting their heads together to see what can be done. Oh, there is more than a spark of treason hidden in that gang. But we shall be ready for them, eh? And now, Mrs Hilton, Mr Hilton, if you'll excuse me . . .' He frowned at the provost marshal, reappearing in the room.

'Well?'

'He is gone, my lord.'

'Gone?' Dick shouted.

'Well, sir, he was sent out to Hilltop.'

'By whose orders?'

'By Mr Hilton's orders, sir. Mr Anthony Hilton. You'll understand, sir, when it was done Mr Hilton was still
the
Hilton, and well, I'm afraid Connor the cell-man is a follower of the plantocracy.'

'The devil,' Dick said.
‘I
must get a horse.'

'No,' Suzanne said. 'You will fight. I did not come out here to have either of you kill the other. My lord, my son Tony has defied a court order.'

'By God, madam, you are quite right. I'll send the military, indeed
I will. You may rest assured, M
r Hilton, the man will be returned here by this very night, or your brother will likely find himself occupying the same cell. Oh, indeed.'

Suzanne squeezed Dick's arm. 'So you may rest easy. And take me to meet your wife and children.'

The Earl of Belmore rose to his feet, raised his glass. 'Ladies and gentlemen. I give you Richard Hilton, of Hilltop.' The company stood. 'Richard Hilton, of Hilltop.'

Dick felt his eyes fill with tears as he looked at them, at his mother, on his right, at Cartarette on his left, at the earl, at the garrison commander, Colonel Barraclough, at the various other government officials, and their wives, at John Mortlake, and at Mr and Mrs John Harris, and Timothy Barker. He supposed it was a unique occasion, when two black men and a black woman dined at Government House.

'For I tell you this,' Belmore said. 'My interest in this affair is far from being merely that of judge, as Mr Hilton well knows, and understands. Hilltop, I would like to think, has returned to sanity. And where Hilltop leads, the rest of Jamaica must surely follow. Who knows, ladies and gentlemen, an end to the disputes, to the wrangling, and even to the downright treason of the last five years may be in sight.'

He sat down, and Dick rose in turn. 'I thank you all,' he said. 'For your support, for your congratulations. And my lord, you may sleep easy tonight. Hilltop has indeed returned to sanity, and if it is possible to accomplish, Hilltop will now set an example which we hope will be followed by all who have the welfare of Jamaica, and of Jamaicans . . .' He paused to bow to the two black men, 'at heart.'

Suzanne squeezed his hand. 'Matt will be proud of you, Dick, in every way.'

'Aye.' He sat down. 'I wish I could rest as easy as I invite you to.'

'If Hilltop is indeed twenty miles outside of Kingston,' Cartarette pointed out, 'the soldiers cannot possibly return before midnight, supposing they ride like the wind.'

For the colonel had not let them go until three, when the heat had started to leave the sun. But Josh had been sent out at eleven.

'I know that,' Dick agreed. 'Yet it rests heavy on my mind. It is not only Josh. It is Judith Gale as well.'

'Now, Dick,' Suzanne protested. 'By all accounts . . .'

'She is no better than she should be. And that is true enough. Yet did she volunteer to testify for me.'

'And changed her mind,' Cartarette said. 'I am not surprised she chose to ride with your brother, instead of remaining in town.'

He smiled at them. 'I am outnumbered. Yet with Tony in a savage mood, who can tell what may be happening while we dine the night away . . .' He paused to watch the Governor's secretary enter the room.

'Lomas,' said the earl. 'What news?'

Lomas wore a worried frown. 'A rider, from Captain Painter's platoon, your Excellency.'

'From Hilltop, you mean?'

'No, your Excellency. Captain Painter has not gone to Hilltop.'

'What?' Dick was on his feet.

Lomas studied the hastily written note. 'They are halted by a messenger from Plantation Golden Acre, my lord. Mr Reed says his house is being surrounded by a mob of blacks.'

'Eh?' Belmore wore an expression of complete b
emusement. 'Surrounded? Blacks?’

'May we have the man in, your Excellency?' asked Colonel Barraclough.

'Oh, indeed. Indeed. As long as he does not frighten the ladies.'

Lomas snapped his fingers. He had apparently been expecting this decision. The trooper's red coat was stained with dust, his face with sweat. He stood to attention.

'At ease, man. At ease,' Barraclough said. 'What took place out there?'

'Well, sir . . .' The soldier inhaled. 'First of all there were conch shells, sir. All about us, but mostly in the north.' 'Conch shells?' Cartarette inquired.

'They use them as the people in Haiti use their drums,' Dick explained. 'For the sending of messages. What messages?'

'Well, sir, we did not know. Then. But at Eastside village, where the mountains begin, we halted, and inquired of the headman. Oh, afraid he was, sir. Afraid.'

'Of what, man?' Belmore shouted.

'Well, sir, your Excellency, it seems the conches started the moment the Reverend Strong was arrested this morning. It seems the people had been afraid this might happen, and had been already agitated. Why, sir, a dozen of the young men at Eastside had already gone north.'

'But those are free blacks,' the Governor protested.

'This man, Strong, has a large congregation there,' Barraclough said.

'My God,' said the Governor. 'My God. Well, go on, man.'

'Yes, sir, your Excellency,' the trooper said. 'Well, the captain decided to continue, but about three miles farther on we were met by this bookkeeper, sir, from Golden Acre. It seems the Reverend Strong had been allowed to preach there, your Excellency. And when the conches started this afternoon the slaves came out of the fields without being bid. Mr Reed sent one of the bookkeepers amongst them, sir, with a whip, and he was dismounted and beaten, sir.'

'My God,' Belmore said. 'My God.'

'Then they set fire to the village,' the trooper said. 'Mr Reed retreated to the Great House, with the rest of his white people, but sent this one man for help. Well, sir; your Excellency, Captain Painter decided he could nothing less than ride out there. But he sent me back to town to inform your Excellency of the situation.'

'But why Golden Acre?' Suzanne asked. 'Was not Strong sent out to Hilltop?'

'Indeed he was, Mrs Hilton,' Barraclough said. 'But he will have no congregation there. As a runaway he would not have dared return. Even had he not been a runaway, I do not suppose Tony Hilton would have given the necessary permission. No, no, Strong's people axe to be found in the north and west.' He turned to the Governor. 'Your Excellency, I would like to take a squadron out there. This thing must be nipped in the bud. Or it may very well spread.'