HF - 03 - Mistress of Darkness

by Christopher Nicole

  For how long, Matt wondered, had he meant to stand here, or close to it? He leaned on the verandah of Government House in Charleston, looked at the ships in the roadstead beneath him, felt the morning breeze drifting down from the mountain at his back. Charleston, Nevis itself, looked as poor and desolate as ever it had been described, although on this occasion there was jollity in the streets; the navy was in port, in the presence of the Boreas frigate. Still commanded by Captain Nelson? But even if she was, Nelson would hardly again wish to meet the young man who had spoiled his dinner, and about whose point of view he had expressed determined opposition. How long ago was that? Very nearly a year.

  He turned, looked up the hill. Up there, somewhere, was Hodges. How lonely he suddenly felt, how empty, without Sue at his side. Even Tom Coke would have been a blessing. But it was Tom's business to take care of her until his return; this was not a mission he could reasonably or honourably have entrusted to anyone else.

  A soft cough had him turning to face the jalousied doors which gave access to the interior of the house. The secretary bowed. 'Mr. Loman has completed his perusal of your papers, Mr. Hilton. Will you come inside?'

  Matt nodded, and stepped through the door, followed the young man along a polished corridor and into a large and airy room, containing a desk and three comfortable chairs. The man behind the desk rose as he entered, tall and thin, with a somewhat gloomy face and stooped shoulders, and wearing a sack coat which seemed too large for him. 'Matthew Hilton,' he said. 'Yours is a famous name. George Loman at your service.'

  'You are very kind, Mr. Loman’ Matt said.

  'At least’ the Administrator said, 'I would like to be at your service. Sit down, Mr. Hilton. Sit down. Redvers, some wine. I'm afraid I have not yet been able to cultivate the West Indian habit of spirits before noon.' Loman sat down himself, shuffled the papers in front of him. This man, Manton. He has not accompanied you. Why?'

  'You've read his testimony,' Matt said. 'My associates and I thought it best for him to remain out of sight, so to speak, until we had commenced our action against Mr. Hodge. Mr. Manton, as our chief witness, may well be in some physical danger.'

  'Oh, indeed he will be,' Loman agreed. 'And he is not exactly your chief witness, Mr. Hilton. He is your only witness.'

  'At the moment,' Matt argued. 'All others will surely be restrained by fear. But once Hodge is apprehended, why, we shall find a host of witnesses, I have no doubt at all.'

  'Once Hodge is apprehended,' Loman remarked, speaking apparently to his wine glass. He raised his head, and sighed. 'When I received your letter, I undertook certain investigations. Oh, in strictest confidence, I do assure you, Mr. Hilton. Now I want you to be very clear on one tiling. I regard slavery as a distasteful business. When I was required to move myself here, I protested that surely it was unwise of my lords of Trade and Plantations to impose upon their colonists someone who would necessarily be lacking in sympathy towards their society. I was commanded to come, and so I am here, and in all the circumstances I have no doubt it is my duty to obey the dictates of my conscience, and I also have no doubt that my superiors understood this when they appointed me. On the other hand, it is equally necessary that, as representative of the King, God bless him, whatever I do is unassailably fair, and above all legal. Again, I would like you to be sure that what I have been able to learn about James Hodge, and about his appalling wife, convince me that they are two of the greatest criminals who have ever walked the face of this earth, and I am sure that they are quite capable of having perpetrated all the crimes listed in this paper.'

  'Well, then ...' Matt began.

  Loman held up his hand. 'Unfortunately, I cannot operate on prejudice. I need proof. And this paper is totally worthless, as it stands.'

  'But...'

  'It is a list of quite monstrous crimes, alleged to have been committed by Hodge or his wife, on certain black men and women. But it is a list composed by this man Manton alone, and attested by no one else. And even more unfortunately, as I have told you, when I investigated Manton's background I learned that he was dismissed his place on Hodges after being found so drunk as to be quite incapable.'

  'He has explained that,' Matt said. 'He got drunk from sheer horror at watching the slave drowned in a vat of boiling molasses.'

  'Which is again merely unsupported testimony,' the Administrator pointed out, very gently. 'The point is, Mr. Manton would be very rapidly destroyed by any defending counsel as a credible witness, and with him would disappear your entire case and you could be worse off than before you started. And if I may say so, Mr. Hilton, any competent defence attorney would also destroy your motives in bringing the action with no less ease. I am referring to the tragic case of Miss Nicholson, of course. There is no one in Nevis, perhaps in the whole West Indies, who is not horrified by what happened to that poor girl, what indeed may still be happening to her. But still Hodge acted entirely within his rights and within the law. Your only recourse there would be to bring an action against the person who was responsible for her situation, and in England, not the West Indies.'

  'My own cousin,' Matt muttered.

  'I understand your predicament. But you must see that any jury would easily be convinced you are acting out of sheer vengeance, in hounding Hodge to his death. For be sure it is a matter as serious as that; the penalty for unreasoning homicide of a slave is death. On the other hand, to obtain a conviction on that basis would be quite impossible.'

  Matt stared at his half empty wine glass. 'You mean I am wasting my time? Hodge or any other monster, is as free as air, merely by being a planter?'

  'I did not say that, Mr. Hilton,' Loman pointed out. ‘I merely insist that when we bring a charge against one of these gentlemen, we must be in a position to press it home. If you could procure the testimony of some independent witness, now, there would be a different matter.'

  'Do you suppose Hodge makes a practice of his excesses here in Nevis, before an invited audience?'

  Loman sighed. 'To lose your temper with me, much less with Hodge, would be to defeat your own objective, Mr. Hilton. I will wish you good day.'

  It was Matt's turn to sigh, as he stood up. 'At any rate, Mr. Loman, I must thank you for receiving me at all. My apologies for wasting your time.'

  Loman held out his hand, clasped the young man's fingers. 'You have not wasted my time. For a moment or two you raised my hopes that we might at last find ourselves in a position to bring down one of these rascals, and by so doing influence the rest to act in a more Christian manner. But no, I will not be despondent. You have raised my hopes, Mr. Hilton. And I will promise you this. Regardless of the consequences, and I am sure you understand these will be considerable, do you bring me a single person of standing in this community willing to testify to but a tenth of the outrages enumerated in this statement, and I will have Hodge under arrest if it takes me the support of the entire militia to accomplish it.'

  Enthusiasm which even brought a smile to Matt's lips. 'No man could ask fairer than that. I will see what can be done.'

  He left the room, went down the corridor, and out into the suddenly intense heat. Grave words. But the fact was, he did not even know a single other person in Nevis, much less have the ability to introduce them as a witness against Hodge. He paused on the dusty street, watched a pony and trap rolling towards him, scattering dust; perhaps he could subpoena Robert himself. There would be a remarkable event. Except that Robert would doubtless defy the Courts without a thought.

  The trap drew level with him, and he raised his hat to the lady, and then waved as he recognized the naval officer with her. Nelson immediately dragged on the reins, and they came to a stop; Matt saw there was a small boy seated between them.

  'Mr. Hilton,' Nelson said. 'What a pleasant surprise. I had no idea you did business in Nevis.'

  'I do not as a rule, Captain. But I am very pleased to see you again. I still owe you a profound apology for ray behaviour on board Boreas?

  'Nonsense�
�� Nelson declared. 'The fault was that fellow Chester's. But I would have you meet my fiancee. Fanny, this is Mr. Matthew Hilton, Mrs. Frances Nisbet.'

  'Mr. Hilton.' Fanny Nisbet gave him her hand. 'I have heard your name often enough. It is a great pleasure.'

  'And for me, Mistress Nisbet.'

  'And this is Josiah’ Nelson said, rumpling the boy's hair. ‘I am going to take him to sea, Mr. Hilton, and make a navigator of him. Mr. Hilton was at the Saintes, Josey. What do you think of that? None of us alive will ever know a battle like that.'

  The boy stared at Matt with wide eyes.

  'You'll do us the honour of dining, Mr. Hilton’ Fanny Nisbet said. 'Then you can tell Josey all about Admiral Rodney.'

  Matt bit his lip. Tt'd give me a great pleasure, Mistress Nisbet. But I am not sure you would do your social standing any benefit. You'll have heard ...'

  'That you have renounced your patrimony to defend the cause of the blacks, Mr. Hilton.' She smiled. 'I honour you for it.' And glanced at her future husband. 'Although I am not sure Horatio agrees.'

  Nelson flushed. ‘I have said that I would be sorry to see the end of the trade, Fanny, as the slave ships provide our best recruiting grounds, and without her navy, why, old England would be worth nothing at all. And I understand, as I am sure Mr. Hilton does, that forced labour is as necessary to the prosperity of these islands as is impressment to my ship. But I'd condemn any man as a scoundrel who ill-uses his people, be he sea captain or planter, saving where it is absolutely necessary for the preservation of discipline. And I understand this is also Mr. Hilton's point of view.'

  Matt nodded. 'I'd not quarrel with any of that.'

  But Fanny was frowning at him. 'And now you are in Nevis, and leaving Government House, and looking not at all pleased with yourself, Mr. Hilton. I'd wager you're after Hodge.'

  'You know him?'

  She half smiled, but it was a bitter twist of the lips. 'Nevis is not that large, Mr. Hilton. One knows everyone.'

  'Aye.' Matt sighed. 'But Mr. Hodge, being a planter, is inviolable, whatever his crimes. Or so it seems.'

  Fanny nodded. 'There is your problem. The things I could tell you, Mr. Hilton, the dreadful tales my late husband related ...'

  Matt frowned in turn; but his heart was singing. 'Your husband was a doctor. Of course. And he attended Hodges?'

  'From time to time. Oh, fear not, I shall not spoil your day. Or your dinner. But we shall expect you at seven.'

  Nelson picked up the reins, but Matt seized the leather-work of the trap. 'A moment, please. Mistress Nisbet, would you be willing to set down what you know of Hodge, in the form of a statement?'

  She glanced at Nelson. 'An accusation? Against a planter?'

  'I have an accusation,' Matt said. 'But it is unsupported. Mr. Loman is sympathetic, but says he can do nothing without some corroboration, and from a person of standing. But you...'

  'Well, I...' again the quick glance at Nelson.

  'I have heard enough of Hodge,' the captain remarked. 'If you could assist in bringing him to book, Fanny, you can be sure of my support.'

  'And you may need it, Mistress Nisbet,' Matt said. 'This is no light thing we undertake. The plantocracy will surely form an army behind any of their number who is impeached.'

  Frances Nisbet stared at him for some seconds, and then smiled. 'But it seems I will have the navy behind me, Mr. Hilton. Come to dinner, and I will undertake your statement.'

  chapter thirteen

  THE BRIDE

  'There he is,' Georgiana screamed, jumping up and down and squeezing Robert's arm. 'There. Oh, doesn't he look simply splendid.'

  'Aye,' Robert agreed, and rubbed his muscle where she had pinched it. 'Maybe at last he'll be able to beat some sense into your head.'

  She glanced at him, and released his coat. 'I'll not discuss it any more wretch.' She picked up her skirt and ran along the dock, her Negro attendant hurrying behind to keep the parasol as much as possible between her and the sun. 'Louis. Louis.'

  The sloop flying the fleur-de-lis lay at anchor perhaps a hundred yards from the shore, gently bobbing on the swell which rippled into the harbour from the ocean, for San Antonio faced north and was not so sheltered as Port Royal. The jolly-boat was already alongside, however, and Corbeau was leaping ashore, arms spread wide.

  'Georgy.' He held her close, kissed her forehead and then her lips, causing her broad-brimmed hat to slip back down her head until it was held only by the pink ribbon under her chin. 'My God, I wonder how I have managed to survive this past year without looking at your face.' He smiled past her. 'Robert.'

  'Corbeau.' The two men shook hands. 'By God, but I am that happy to see you again. Sometimes I wondered if this wedding was but a dream I had enjoyed.'

  'May I present Father Stanislaus?'

  The black-robed priest inclined his head towards

  Georgiana. 'You will add to the beauty that is Rio Blanco, my child.'

  'Ooh,' Georgiana said.

  'Damned hocus-pocus,' Robert grumbled.

  'Now, Robert,' she begged. 'You promised.'

  'Aye. And welcome you are, Father. I care not how the ceremony is conducted, so long as she is safely wed.'

  'Oh, isn't he a horrible man.' Georgiana tucked her arm through Corbeau's as they made their way up the dock towards the carriage. 'You'd think it was more of a nightmare, the way he has been grumbling about the cost of everything. But it is all prepared, Louis. There'll be nothing like it ever seen in Jamaica.'

  'Well,' Corbeau agreed, continuing to smile at Robert, 'there has never been such an occasion, has there? A Hilton, wedding a Corbeau? This date will be set aside in all the history books.'

  'Aye.' Robert held the door for them. 'We'll not wait for the monsieur's gear, Philip. It can follow in the wagon.'

  Louis sat himself beside Georgiana; he still held her hand, and he squeezed it continually, as if to reassure himself that it was flesh and blood. ‘You do not sound convinced. Are all my guests not arrived?'

  "They come every day,' Georgiana said. 'Kingston's hotels are so filled with French chatter you'd think we were conquered.'

  'And others,' Robert grumbled, sitting opposite them, beside the priest, and resting his hands on his knees. 'Dirk Huys arrived yesterday.'

  'And that does not please you?' Corbeau inquired. 'Surely it can only mean he has decided to let bygones be bygones.'

  Georgiana burst into a ripple of laughter. ‘I can hardly wait.'

  'You've not seen him?' '

  'We exchanged a glass,' Robert said. 'He was stiff, but not unfriendly. He knows I have the same opinions about ... well, about everything. He has no idea of the ordeal to which he is going to be exposed.'

  'You'll explain?'

  'Why, this ...' he seemed to change his mind about the word he would have chosen. 'Foolish sister of mine will have no one but Sue as her maid of honour. How can she apply the word?'

  'I do not,' Georgiana said. 'She will be my matron of honour.'

  'Then she is in Jamaica?' Corbeau inquired. 'You'll not have heard?'

  Corbeau shrugged. 'Rumours. But the world is full of rumours, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to listen, much less believe.'

  'Aye.' Robert stared out of the window as the carriage rumbled along the road. 'But there is generally a fire beneath the smoke. Sue is living in Kingston, sharing a shack with her paramour and a detestable fellow called Coke. But a month gone she was delivered of a second child.'

  'Sue, twice a mother?' He wondered what difference childbearing would have made to that magnificent body, that remarkable personality. Ah, well, he supposed, like poor Rose Tascher, he must now relegate Sue Hilton to the realms of what might have been. 'By Matt?'

  'Who else?'

  'And will he also be attending the wedding?' 'I'd not allow him in the drive.'

  'Oh, really, Robert,' Georgiana said. 'I'm afraid you will have to change your mind. Louis, you will have to make him change his mind.'
<
br />   'I really do not understand what it is all about.'

  'Why, simply that Sue has written to me refusing to attend my wedding unless Matt is also invited. So naturally I have decided to forget our quarrel for the time being. But I would have done so anyway, I think, had I thought of it. Weddings are not a time for quarrelling, with anyone. I am so happy, Louis. So happy.' She pinched his arm; he could feel it turning black and blue.

  'Ah, but I see the predicament,' he observed. 'Robert wonders what Dirk's reaction will be.'

  'Indeed I do,' Robert agreed. 'But that is the very least of the matter. You have not heard what that young fool is about now?'