The Sea Hawk (20 page)

Julia slid her eyes from Bernadette to Simone. "Really?" she said with a smile. While it was true Simone had a temper, Julia had never witnessed her do anything dishonorable. As she looked at Simone, Bernadette turned the third card, the three of hearts. "Dis card warns you to be careful. You heart, it may be in danger."

"So far, these are fairly depressing cards," Julia chuckled.

Frowning, Bernadette turned the fourth card. "'Nother heart."

"Is that good?" Julia asked.

"Dey are de cards of love. De nine says your desires, dey come to pass."

"Before or after my journey?" Julia asked, watching Simone.

"Cannot tell you dat," Bernadette shrugged. With a quick turn of her wrist she flipped over the final card. Her eyes widened when she saw it. Standing abruptly she gathered her cards and stuffed them back into the folds of her skirt.

"Wait," Julia said. "What does the last card say?"

"You buy charm for to protect youself," Bernadette said.

"The card told you that?"

Bernadette backed slowly away from the table. "You don' belong here. Card is de death card."

"The death card?" Julia said. "My death?"

"You already dead," Bernadette said, lowering her voice and making the sign of the cross. She turned and virtually ran from the café.

"Well, what did all that mean?" Julia asked, attempting to keep her voice light.

"She's nothing more than a street vender. No one takes them seriously. We must be going," Simone said as she drained her cup and placed coins on the small round café table.

As they wandered slowly along Rue de Bourbon toward the Cabildo Julia took in everything around her. She read the notices announcing the next event at the Theatre d'Orleans on Rue de Bourbon, wishing she could think of something to say. She didn't believe in fortune-telling, but hoped she would one day see Simone Moreau again.

Chapter Fifteen

GIVING THE
NORTHUMBERLAND
to Anton had been the final straw. Archambault had worked as hard as any man to prove his loyalty to
Faucon
. She promised him his own ship, the next one captured. Now she had lied and broken the unspoken pact between them. For what? To move her brother ahead of him, grooming him to take over when she made the decision to step down.

Now he was reduced to playing nursemaid to Simone's bitch and her bastard son. He was beginning to think Simone no longer had what it took to command her crew. They had captured a few ships and were now on this fool's errand against the British, a fight the Americans could not possibly win. And what would be their prize? A piece of paper allowing them to do what they were already doing, accompanied by nothing more than gratitude? His belly and his pockets could not be filled by gratitude.

The more rum he drank the darker his thoughts became. He wasn't getting any younger. He needed to capture enough to live comfortably. If I get rid of
Faucon
, her bitch and the bastard child, he thought, I can take
Le Faucon de Mer
and claim Simone's home on Martinique. It would be easy enough for him to seize. No one there other than her horses and cousin to oversee her property. The more he thought about the possibilities, the more he realized how much better off he would be if there were no
Faucon
.

He overheard Simone arguing with Esperanza more often recently, especially since the English woman was brought on board. Even he could see how Simone acted toward the blonde woman. He would never understand why a woman would seek Simone's company or attentions, but she did draw attractive women to her. Simone was a difficult woman to figure out. Not simply because she enjoyed the company of other women, but because she could be more vicious than any of the men on her crew. He had seen her run an unhappy member of the crew through with her cutlass and slit an enemy's throat without a second thought on more than one occasion. While still a young woman she had murdered Captain Rochat in his own bed.

"May I buy you another?" a man asked as he sidled up next to Archambault.

"You can buy me an entire keg if you wish," Henri chuckled as he gulped down the remainder of his drink. "Join me and stay until your money is gone."

When the man was settled and another round of drinks ordered, he held his hand out to Henri, "You are Henri Archambault, first mate to Simone Moreau, are you not?"

Henri took the offered hand and looked at the man. He was younger than Henri with a ruddy smooth-shaven face set off by a slender nose and thin lips. But it was his eyes Archambault noticed first. They were as black as midnight in color. He could see his own reflection in the blackness as he answered. "I am. And who might you be,
Monsiour
?"

"I am LaRue," the man said as he took a drink. The man leaned closer to Henri and looked around the tavern. "Join me at a table, my friend."

After paying for a refill, Henri made his way to a far table and sat down heavily. "What is so secret you cannot speak of it?" he asked.

LaRue eyed Archambault cautiously before speaking. "
Faucon
is causing more problems for the British than she is worth. She takes chances that will eventually lead not only to her destruction, but that of her crew as well."

"Go on," Archambault said as his mouth went dry and he stared at the man.

"The British are preparing to attack the Americans at New Orleans."

"I care nothing about the Americans."

"The British are concerned, and rightly so, that interference from
Faucon
, Laffite and other privateers will unnecessarily distract them from their goal. The Americans have already stupidly attacked and destroyed Laffite's headquarters on Barataria, but failed to destroy his ships. Despite that betrayal, Laffite is likely to ally himself with the Americans."

"Is there a point to this history lesson, LaRue?"

"If Laffite has convinced
Faucon
to join him against the British, together they could cause a problem."

Henri chuckled. "I have had quite a bit to drink so you will have to pardon me if I am unsure what you are referring to."

Leaning closer, LaRue said, "The British are offering a goodly reward to anyone who turns
Faucon
in to them."

"And what would that be? A fast death over a slow one?"

"I was told you could deliver
Faucon
to the British...for a price," LaRue said, his eyes meeting Archambault's.

Startled, Henri said, "You are suggesting I betray Simone!"

LaRue smiled. "Not directly. Perhaps if she were placed in a position which would result in her capture, no one would be the wiser and you would profit handsomely."

Henri stared at LaRue and swirled rum in his mouth before swallowing. "What do they offer?"

"I can guarantee your own ship and crew and one hundred pounds," LaRue stated.

"Two hundred pounds," Henri said.

"Agreed. When can you bring her here?"

"She is already here. She came into the city this morning, but she would never be stupid enough to simply walk into a trap."

"How many ships?"

"Four in addition to Laffite's five. They are planning to join forces with the Americans on land. Her crews added to Laffite's would total nearly a thousand men."

"But if
Faucon
were to be lost and you were to replace her, that force could be cut by half."

"If you are planning to capture
Faucon
, you will have to act quickly before the remainder of her men arrive in the city."

"Do you have a suggestion?"

"
Faucon
's woman and child are with me now. She would die to free them if they were to be captured." Henri shrugged and motioned to a tavern girl for another drink. "The woman and boy are nearby at the market. I was sent by
Faucon
to protect them." He gulped his drink and shrugged with a grin. "But I am only one man."

LaRue chuckled. "Excellent, Archambault."

"Where will you take them?"

"The British have a small encampment ten miles south of the city where they await the arrival of reinforcements soon. They have their headquarters nearby on a commandeered plantation. The woman and boy will be there."

Archambault rose from the table. "I will rejoin the woman and boy. Tell your men I must be injured during the struggle to take them.
Faucon
will not believe my story otherwise." Laughing, he added, "But tell them not to get carried away."

STROLLING DOWN RUE de St. Louis, Simone guided Julia onto Rue de Royale. Three or four blocks ahead Julia saw St. Louis Cathedral rising slightly above the buildings to either side. When they reached the entrance to the alleyway behind the cathedral, Julia saw a familiar full head of red hair halfway down the short block. Venders and merchants were selling goods from small stalls that lined the alleyway, but Julia suddenly lost her desire to inspect their wares. As they came closer, Kitty and Anton appeared to be in the midst of a discussion that left Kitty in tears. Simone approached the couple and spoke to Anton briefly before rejoining Julia.

"Is there a problem?" Julia asked.

"
Mademoiselle
Longmire is reluctant to leave," Simone answered as she looked around.

"Unless I am mistaken, Kitty is very much attracted to Anton," Julia said.

"So it would seem. It is time," Simone said as she looked in Anton's direction and caught his eye. Nodding in reply, he brought Kitty into an embrace and spoke to her. Julia watched the tender scene and sighed.

"If that is your wish, Captain," she said.

Her eyes blazing, Simone said, "It is not my wish, but I can make no other decision." Taking Julia's arm, she strode purposefully toward Anton, pushing away her own feelings. As they passed Anton and Kitty, the couple fell in behind them through the crowded stalls filled with contraband goods toward the Cabildo. Simone would be able to think more clearly once she was certain Julia was in safe hands. Placing her hand gently against Julia's lower back, Simone made her way up the two low steps of the old Spanish building housing the new American government.

"
Faucon
!" a voice called. Simone paused and looked over her shoulder for its source. Finally she spotted Archambault quickly weaving his way through the people strolling on the Place d'Armes. He stopped beneath a large live oak not far from the building and leaned against it to catch his breath. Simone and Anton ran to join him. As soon as Simone saw his bleeding face, she knew something was wrong.

"Archambault, what has happened?" she asked as she examined the deep cut above his right eye.

"I am sorry,
Faucon
. I only turned away for a moment," Henri gasped.

Sensing the worst, Simone grabbed him by the arms. "Where are Esperanza and Joaquin?" she asked, dreading the answer.

"The British, they have them," Henri answered, lowering his eyes and shaking his head.

"That is not possible," Anton said. "We have seen no evidence the British have entered the city."

"British agents," Henri said. "They are seeking information."

"Esperanza and Joaquin know nothing," Simone said.

"The British know you are here,
Faucon
. I heard them speaking when they believed I was unconscious."

Anger surged through Simone's body and she grabbed her first mate by the front of his shirt, shoving him forcefully into the tree behind him. "Why did you not stop them?"

Pushing Simone away, Henri retorted, "How do you think I was injured?"

Julia watched the discussion with Archambault from a distance as long as she could stand it. She and Kitty reached the three barely in time to stop Simone from drawing her pistol. "What has happened?" she demanded.

"The British have taken Esperanza and Joaquin," Anton answered.

Looking at the first mate, Julia asked, "Where have they taken them? Do you know?"

Staring angrily at Simone, Henri brought his sleeve up and wiped at the blood that seeped from his wound. "I do not answer to you, English woman," he spat.

The force of Simone's backhand snapped Henri's head back and he staggered from the blow. Pulling him back within inches of her face, Simone seethed, "Where, Archambault?"

"I heard the English say there is an encampment below the city where they await reinforcements."

Releasing Archambault, Simone turned to Anton. "You will take
Mademoiselles
Blanchard and Longmire to the Cabildo as we planned and then rejoin Laffite. Archambault and I will return with Esperanza and Joaquin as quickly as possible," Simone said. Turning back to Archambault, she continued, "You will come with me, Henri. We will find horses at the blacksmith shop."

Henri nodded. As Simone turned to leave, Julia stopped her. "I...be careful, Simone." Bowing slightly, Simone took Julia's hand, turned it over, and kissed her palm. A moment later, she and Archambault disappeared down the alleyway toward Rue de Royale. Anton took Kitty's arm and started toward the Cabildo once again. He hadn't taken more than two steps when Kitty stopped abruptly and refused to budge.

"I have chosen not to leave," Kitty stated.

"But
Faucon
has ordered it," Anton said.

"I am not some common seaman who can be ordered about. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. And I have decided to wait here until the Captain returns."

Smiling, Julia stepped next to Kitty and added, "I concur."

Faced with two recalcitrant women he said, "There will be hell to pay for this disobedience."

"Is there a place we can stay while we wait?" Julia asked.

"I will see if perhaps the nuns at the Ursuline Convent will provide you a safe place to sleep," Anton said.

"Go to a nunnery?" Kitty snorted. "I think bloody not!"

SIMONE THREW A saddle onto the back of a horse at the blacksmith shop that served as a legitimate front for Laffite's smuggling business. She tried to think of a way to extricate Esperanza and Joaquin that would allow them all to leave freely, but knew what she had to do. Their safety was more important than her own. "Archambault," she said as she tightened the girth beneath the animal's belly. "Find Raul and Francois, then follow me. You must make certain Esperanza and Joaquin return to the city safely."