Mistress of Darkness (61 page)

Hodge looked at the outstretched hand, and then spat on it. 'I scarcely need your forgiveness, Hilton. Oh, she was a charmer. I bedded her, Hilton. Every day for the time she was on Hodges. I bedded her, and I made her squirm. Think on that Hilton. I had her not you. And now she's warming the bed of some Dutchman, and dying of the lash and despair, Hilton. Most like she is already dead, or if she is not, then she's nothing but a hag. You'll not see her again, Matt Hilton. You'll never know what I knew. So spare your pity. I give
you
mine.'

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE RIGHTS OF MAN

C
APTAIN
H
ALMAN
himself took the tiller of the gig to see Sue and the boys safely ashore. 'Damned foreigners,' he grumbled. 'Begging your pardon, Mistress Huys. But Cap Francois is not a place I often come to. And when you think of the weather...'

The journey had taken them nearly three weeks, so unfailingly contrary had been the wind.

'But it is as lovely as they claim.' Sue shaded her eyes, even beneath the broad brim of her hat, to peer at the city. And wonder at her own excitement. She had endeavoured not to come, and resisted both Matt and Robert with all her strength, and had yet submitted. Because she was, after all, nothing but a whore? Or because she could not forget the way Corbeau had looked at her, the words he had whispered in her ear, on the day of his wedding?

And neither Robert nor Matt even suspected the temptations which were haunting her mind, so bound up were they in their own affairs, male affairs.

'And so many soldiers, Mama,' Tony shouted, jumping up and down and causing the little boat to rock. 'So many-soldiers.'

'The lad is right,' Halman muttered, frowning at the docks, which were guarded by at least a company of blue-coated regulars, while more were to be seen beyond. And here was no regiment taking a holiday; every man was armed with musket and bayonet. 'Pray heaven we have not again come to war.'

'No attempt was made to stop our vessel entering the harbour, Mr. Halman,' Sue pointed out. 'This must be a domestic matter.'

The boat came into the side of the dock, and one of the military, clearly a non-commissioned officer, stood above them to hail them in French.

'Ah, speak English, you damned Frenchy,' Halman said. 'How are we to know what you're about?'

'He no doubt holds the same opinion of you,' Sue said. 'Good day to you, sir,' she said in French. 'We are seeking Mr. Louis Corbeau, of Rio Blanco.'

The sergeant inspected her, slowly, from hem to hair. 'Corbeau you say, madame? Oh, indeed, come ashore.'

'I'd best accompany you,' Halman growled.

'You'd best be on your way back to Jamaica,' Sue recommended. 'This gallant fellow will look after us, I have no doubt.' And indeed the sergeant was snapping his fingers and giving orders to his squad. 'So if your men will place our boxes on the dock...' The boys were already ashore, holding each other's hands and staring with wide eyes at the soldiers they had only previously heard about. Sue shook hands with the captain, and allowed the sergeant to assist her. 'My thanks, Mr. Halman. Bon voyage.'

'I have sent for the coach, eh?' said the sergeant. 'Rio Blanco is some distance up the coast. But you will need an escort. And then, why, one of my men says he has seen the Corbeau barouche in town this very day. And why not, madame? Everyone is in town today. Such pretty boys.' He ruffled Richard's fair hair, looking at Sue the while to suggest he'd far rather be doing it to her.

'But what is all the excitement about, sergeant?' Sue asked.

'Well, madame, today Oge and Chavannes are to be executed.'

'Oge? Chavannes?'

The sergeant raised his eyebrows to suggest that if she was worth looking at she was also extraordinarily ill-informed. 'The mulattoes, madame. The rebels.'

'Rebels? There has been a revolt, in St. Domingue?' Before she could stop herself she burst into laughter.

The sergeant frowned. 'Madame finds a rebellion amusing?'

'Oh, no,' Sue explained. 'It is just that I was sent here for my safety.'

'Ah.' The sergeant nodded, solemnly. 'But indeed, madame, here you will be safe. The rebellion, pouf. We know how to deal with such things. Here is the barouche.'

The coach with the pink beaked head on its snow-white doors was rumbling on to the wooden planks of the dock, while the pink-and-white liveried Negro driver dragged on the reins, and a short fair-haired white man stepped down. 'Madame?' He frowned at her, and raised his hat. 'Good heavens, you must be Madame Corbeau's sister. Jules Romain, at your service. I am Mr. Corbeau's attorney.'

'Suzanne Huys, Mr. Romain. And these are my sons, Anthony and Richard.'

'What splendid fellows. But madame, if only we had known you were coming, we should have been waiting.' He shrugged. 'I can only apologize.'

'The fault is mine, Mr. Romain. And you are here, are you not?'

'Oh yes, indeed. Load those boxes, fellow.' He held the door for her to get in. 'For the executions.'

'The sergeant has been telling me.' Sue gave the soldiers her most dazzling smile as the equipage rumbled back towards the street. 'Some rebellious mulattoes?'

'Sans culottes,
they call themselves,' Romain growled. 'Eager to take advantage of the situation in Paris. Ah, France is fallen on sorry times, madame. These people sent their leaders to this National Assembly which now governs us, and were there promised freedom, and so returned here to seize it when our administration here would not immediately grant their demands.'

'But the sergeant says the revolt was easily suppressed.'

'Oh, indeed, madame. They were an undisciplined lot. And now their leaders are to suffer on the wheel. It will be quite a spectacle.'

The coach was making slow progress as it ploughed through the crowded streets.

'On the wheel?' Tony asked.'What does that mean, Mama?'

'It means a man is to die’ Sue said, quietly.

'His bones will be broken while he still lives’ Romain said, smiling at the boy. 'One by one, they will be shattered with an iron bar, until he is nothing better than a jelly.'

'Ugh’ Richard remarked.

'I am inclined to agree’ Sue said. 'Could they not just be hanged?'

'For treason, madame? It is necessary to make an example. And it is wagered that Oge will die like a coward. He has already offered to betray all his compatriots for an easier death. Oh, it will be a sight.' He looked at a gold watch. 'Another two hours.'

'But... my sister is in town to watch an execution?'

'Ah, no, madame. She wanted to come, but the master thought better. She is with child, you understand.'

'Again?'

Romain smiled at her. 'Is there a more fit state for a woman, madame? But the master is in town. We shall seek him out. No doubt he will be able to secure seats for you and the lads.'

'But I don't want to watch anyone die’ Sue said. 'And neither do my sons.'

Romain continued to smile at her. 'You will enjoy it. It takes a long time. We will find Mr. Corbeau in here.'

The carriage was braking to a stop before a large square building, outside which half a dozen men lounged and gossiped.

'He will be playing billiards,' Romain explained. 'If you will excuse me ...'

How strange she felt. As if she had drunk too much wine. Perhaps it was the heady atmosphere of Cap Francois. Or perhaps it was the knowledge that two young, healthy men were about to die in the most horrible way possible, while a crowd laughed at them. Or perhaps it was just because of Louis. She was only sure that to sit still would be to go mad.

'You will excuse
me,
Mr. Romain, but I shall fetch him out myself.'

'But you cannot, madame’ Romain was scandalized. 'Ladies do not enter billiards parlours.'

Sue smiled at him. 'I sometimes doubt whether I have any right to be called a lady, Mr. Romain.' The door was opened, and she stepped down, and the door of the parlour was also open. Inside was gloomy after the bright sunlight of the street, and the air was heavy with tobacco smoke. There were half a dozen tables, and perhaps a score of men, some playing, sending the clicks of their ivory balls rippling across the murmur of conversation, most leaning on the unused tables as they talked amongst themselves, while Negro waiters circulated with trays of punch. But all talk and all movement stopped with the entrance of the woman.

'My God,' Corbeau cried. 'Sue?' He hurried across the room, shouldering men out of the way, to take her hands. 'Sue? I am dreaming.'

She wondered if she was herself. He had put on weight, and the colour of his face had deepened to purple; there was a coarseness about his nose and mouth she had not noticed when they had previously met. Presumably he was approaching forty. But he looked nearer fifty.

Not that his eyes had changed. They still loomed at her, shrouded her, seemed to caress her flesh. And his grip on her hands was tight. And his touch sent her excitement mounting. Georgiana possessed this, every night. 'You are looking magnificent,' he said. 'But then, you always do. Christophe. Christophe. Punch. Of course my dear, you should not be in here. A perfect den of iniquity. I promise you.'

She turned her smile on the Negro who held the tray, and paused in surprise. Unlike most of his people, he seemed quite prepared to meet her eye, and indeed returned her stare. And he was a big man, taller than Matt and with a splendid pair of shoulders, topped by a handsome, resolute face.

'Your punch, madame,' he said, amazingly in English.

She took the mug slowly.

'Ah, begone with you,' Corbeau snapped, also taking a mug. 'He is an insolent rogue.' 'He spoke English,' she said.

'He hails from St. Kitts or Grenada, or some such place. But he served as a servant to a French officer during the American War, and has ideas above his station. Were he mine, I'd have the skin from his back.' He drank. 'I wish you had written.'

'I wanted to surprise you.' She looked past him, at the men who were still gazing at them. 'Am I not to be introduced to your friends?'

He finished his drink, and the sweat stood out on his forehead. 'No. No. They are not for you. We'll away to Rio Blanco. Georgy will be so happy to see you. So happy. Christophe, my hat.'

'I must write a letter,' Sue said. Without warning she was afraid, but of herself. 'There has been some revolt, I understand.'

'Oh, indeed,' Corbeau said. 'The mulattoes took it into their heads that they would be our masters. But we rapidly disabused them of that idea.'

'So I have been learning. But the news will spread to Jamaica. Robert and Matt will be worried.'

'I will write them,' Corbeau declared. 'And tell them there in no cause. You will be here to rest, and enjoy yourself. Not write letters. Christophe. Christophe. Where is that black devil?'

'I am here, Mr. Corbeau,' said the slave, holding out the hat and the cane.

'Aye. Listening on your betters,' Corbeau grumbled. 'Come on, Sue, sweetheart. Let us leave town. Romain. Romain.'

The attorney came hurrying into the room.

'I am taking Mistress Huys to Rio Blanco,' Corbeau said. 'You had best remain. Seek out Madame de Morain, and explain, will you. Hire a coach for her return, and see to it yourself.'

Romain bowed, and left again.

'I do not mean to interrupt you, Louis,' Sue said, smiling at him.

'Nor do you. Angelique is just our neighbour. You shall meet her by and by. We often share a ride to and from town. Now let us be off.'

Sue paused in the doorway and looked over her shoulder. Christophe stared at her.

'It's absolutely marvellous,' Sue cried. She gave her hand to Francois-Pierre, and stepped down from the carriage. 'It's a castle, Mama, a castle,' Tony shouted.

Dick stood and stared with his mouth open.

'And for too long it has needed only to be graced by such beauty,' Corbeau said.

She glanced at him. 'My dear Louis, you are too blatant a flatterer.'

"Not I, Sue. Not I. I speak the truth. Francois-Pierre, you'll send a maid to madame's apartment. Tell her I have a surprise for her. And tell the children to join me downstairs.' He took Sue's arm, escorted her up the marble staircase towards the portico.

'And Georgy has her own apartments?' Sue asked. 'Why, there'll be no speaking with her.'

'But you will also have your own apartments, Sue,' Corbeau said.

Once again she gave him a quick glance. 'I am not here to retire for life, Louis. I have come for a season. As I told you, it is only a matter of avoiding unpleasantness until the Hodge trial is over and done with. If I am going to be any sort of a nuisance, I will take rooms in Cap Francois.'

The fingers on her arm tightened. 'A nuisance Sue? You? You are a dream come true.'

For just a moment his voice, and his face, were absolutely serious. And hers? She turned away in some confusion, hurried forward to greet the two children who came slowly and shyly down the great staircase.

'How lovely they are.'

'They are Corbeaux,' Corbeau said. 'Francis. Oriole. This is your Aunt Suzanne.'

The boy bowed, very gravely and took her hand; and he cannot be four, she thought. The girl, a year younger, curtsied, skirts held with all the dignified grace of a great lady. But then, Sue realized, she is going to be a great lady, on a scale unimaginable in Jamaica.

'And these are your cousins, Anthony and Richard,' Corbeau said. 'Take them along to the playroom, Mademoiselle Tantan.'

The woman who had followed the French children down the stairs, tall and thin and middle-aged, with a severe expression, bowed. 'Welcome to Rio Blanco, madame,' she said to Sue. 'Come along, children.'

A liveried footman was opening a door set in the high wall facing the staircase, and Sue followed Corbeau inside. The door closed sofdy behind her, and she found herself in a rose-coloured parlour, quiet and cool, with gauze netting over the windows to repel insects. A fan turned in the ceiling.