To add to his depression, his embassy had been singularly uncooperative. The ambassador referred him to Mr. Redfield, whom he termed a “special representative.” Mr. Redfield put off his questions about a ship and instead referred mysteriously to a plan, one that had not been quite worked out yet.
“I think perhaps you just might be exactly who we’re looking for. We need a man of your daring, your skills.”
“For what, man, for what?” Hampton had exploded, leaping from the chair to pace the room. “What is this plan you keep hinting at?”
“Calm down, Captain Hampton; there’s no need to shout—I’m not a Yankee ship to be taken. I am afraid I can’t tell you about the idea until I have all the details. I expect a vessel any day with orders from Charleston.”
“And in the meantime am I just supposed to sit around waiting?”
“Exactly.”
“Look,” Matthew said harshly, “I have a crew in Liverpool. They deserve a rest, a little time to satiate themselves with booze and whores. But if we have to wait too long, they will dissolve, begin to leave, lose their sense of unity, and remember how much they hated that prison and think how much nicer some merchant ship would be. I can’t afford to cool my heels here for very long.”
“You will have to, Captain. Do you think I can just pull battleships out of my pockets? We have no ship sitting ready for you in the harbor. I have no instructions to order one built for you. Moreover, I have no money to pay for one if I could find it. Captain, the Confederacy is strapped for money. The blockade is strangling us—destroying our economy. What money we do have is hell to get out. And our friends the English are somewhat leery of extending credit to us.”
“I realize the South’s financial situation; my men have received no pay in two years; I have to give them shares in the merchandise we take to keep them with me.”
“That must appeal to your piratical instincts,” Redfield said dryly.
Hampton grinned and sat back down in his chair. The special representative rather intrigued him. He was a dry, wispy little man, bespectacled, plainly dressed, his nondescript sandy hair thinning on top. But for all his meek looks, Matthew sensed a hardness in him, a quiet, dogged, steely determination. Every day he fought a losing battle, juggling diplomats, money, supplies, and men, usually without any communication from headquarters. It took a kind of gritty patience Hampton didn’t have.
Redfield favored him with a thin smile. “Aside from the problems in obtaining a ship for you, we may need you more in a different capacity.”
“The secret plan?” Hampton teased.
“Yes, Captain. You do understand?”
“I suppose.”
So for the past three days, Hampton had found himself idling away his time. Taking his share of the bounty, he multiplied it in the gambling halls of London. He knew that skillful operators lured the naïve into gambling halls and let them win the first night so that they would return succeeding nights, when they would be sure to lose heavily. Hampton roamed London, playing the gullible American, allowing himself to be lured into the halls for one night of winning, but not returning for the losing nights.
Matthew’s winnings grew, even though he squandered much of his money on whiskey, good food, and ladies of the night. He luxuriated in his freedom, in the good taste of food and liquor denied him in prison, in the pleasures of soft, eager bodies that didn’t struggle or stiffen at his touch. His enjoyment was lessened, however, by memories of his fight with Katherine and by the realization that he would have enjoyed London much more if she had been with him. He missed the feel of her soft form cuddled up against his back at night, the sight of her lovely face and amber eyes, her sharp, witty comments, her interest and easy understanding, even—yes, he even missed their battles.
The third day Matthew pulled himself out of bed by noon and went shopping for something for Katherine. He had made up his mind to change the situation between them when he returned. He had treated her too roughly, he realized. To hell with her spoiled ways and stubbornness; maybe he didn’t even really want to tame her. From now on he would woo her, win her, seduce her. And he would begin with presents. First he bought her material for dresses: yards of pale gold satin for a ball gown, emerald-green wool and a deep rose cotton for every day, with ribbons and delicate underthings, an ivory fan thrown in for good measure. The crowning glory was a thin, shimmering, almost-transparent nightgown, virginal white, with a deep neckline, the sides slashed from top to bottom and caught here and there with delicate loops of ribbons.
Next he went to the jewelry stores. Once he would have lavished jewels on her, and he chafed at his present lack of funds. After much searching, he managed to find a fragile gold chain to encircle the slender column of her neck, beautiful in its delicate simplicity. He could imagine it lying soft as a breath against her ivory throat, and he felt a sharp stab of longing for her. Perhaps he ought to return to Liverpool to see if she was all right; after all, he was just marking time here until Redfield came through with his orders.
He made his way back to his hotel room, his mind busy with departure plans, only to find Redfield waiting. The little man looked worried and nervous; he was sweating profusely. At the sight of Hampton he jumped to his feet.
“Captain Hampton, this is the outside of enough. Kidnapping some genteel Yankee girl. Really, don’t you raiders realize that you are not pirates! I won’t have it, sir; I won’t have it.”
Hampton stared at him stonily. “Whatever are you babbling about?”
“Katherine Devereaux, that’s what I’m talking about.”
The captain’s eyebrows rose lazily. The devil!—had that wretched girl managed to escape?
“Don’t play the innocent with me, Hampton. Oh, I fobbed off that Englishman with just the same air of wounded innocence. But it sounds like just the sort of thing you would do.”
“Would you please calm down and explain yourself?”
“You’re the one who needs to do the explaining. Some old fool of a doctor is kicking up a fuss with the police in Liverpool, claiming that you kidnapped a young lady and are holding her captive aboard your ship. Katherine Devereaux, yet—whose father happens to be a very wealthy shipbuilder. My God, man, if you must go about abducting females, couldn’t you choose an ordinary one? Must you take someone so influential?” He paused, red in the face and panting with anger.
Matthew smiled, his eyes lighting with a cold flame. “Ah, but I didn’t want an ordinary girl; I wanted Miss Devereaux.”
“Don’t you understand?” the little man exploded. “You’ve created an international incident. I spend every waking hour trying to influence the proper British that we too are proper and staid and sound, and then you pull a stunt like this! The English can’t ignore Rackingham if they intend to be neutral. Why, they are threatening to search your ship!”
“I’ll be damned if I let them search my vessel!”
“Oh? And how do you plan to stop them? Are you going to declare war on Great Britain? Dr. Rackingham is on the train to London right now and he’ll be here within the hour; the English insist that he confront you with his charges. And you cannot deny them.”
“Why not?”
“Do, and they’ll search your ship. You could touch off a spark that could blow up all our friendly relations with England! Damn it, there’s only one course open to you.”
“And what is that?” Matthew grinned sardonically.
“Let the girl go. We shall turn her over to the British with our profuse apologies and hope for the best.”
“I certainly am glad that you aren’t in the military: you haul down your flag before a shot’s been fired.”
“Captain, we are not at war with England.”
“Mr. Redfield, you’re a diplomat—you should be able to lie. Deny everything, and leave the rest to me. If I ruin it, then you just shrug and say I deceived you.”
“But what about Rackingham?”
“I’ll telegraph Peljo and tell him to
take Miss Devereaux off the ship and hide her in town. When the good doctor gets here I shall simply give in to a search of my ship and lie through my teeth. In fact, we’ll go back to Liverpool on the next train.”
Redfield looked at him skeptically. “I shall be very surprised if you pull this off. However, as you say, I can disclaim all knowledge.”
Hampton grinned. “You won’t have to, Mr. Redfield. Remember, just put up a good bluff, and half the battle’s won.”
“Someday that attitude’s going to get you killed, Hampton.”
After Redfield left, Matthew cheerfully packed to return to Liverpool, carefully concealing his presents. It wouldn’t do to let Rackingham see those. He dashed off a wire to Peljo, informing him of his impending arrival and the necessity of hiding Katherine. Then he sat down to await the doctor’s arrival.
When Dr. Rackingham did arrive an hour later, he found Hampton as calm and poised as ever. He quirked one eyebrow at the doctor, the faintest trace of a smile on his lips.
“Dr. Rackingham. Good to see you again.”
“Captain Hampton, this is Major Revington.”
“Tenth Hussars, sir, detached,” the man with Dr. Rackingham said in crisp British tones, and saluted.
Hampton returned his salute. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“The pleasure is mine, Captain. I’ve admired your exploits for some time.”
“Whatever Captain Hampton may be militarily, Major, in his personal life he is a low violator of innocent women!” the old man snapped, annoyed at his companion’s friendliness.
Hampton smiled and exchanged a glance with the Englishman. He was a dashing young gentleman officer. Beneath his fierce waxed mustachios his lips twitched slightly, and his blue eyes twinkled.
So, Hampton thought, he is on my side already. He thinks that the doctor is an old fool and that we are fellow gentlemen whose indiscretions are to be winked at.
“Come now, Doctor, don’t tell me you still believe that rubbish?” Matthew said indulgently.
“Captain Hampton, you know that it is no rubbish, just as I do. You kidnapped and ravished Miss Devereaux.”
Hampton laughed. “The chit sold you a bill of goods, my dear doctor. She is a girl of ordinary virtue, which fact she tries to conceal. She was afraid of your disapproval, and so no doubt she made up this silly story of abduction, just to gain your sympathy. Katherine, I am afraid, is afflicted with that dreadful middle-class morality, and since she cannot control her actions, she just denies them. The fact of the matter is, I asked her to come, and she did. And just as I told you, she decided to stay with me. But, alas, I brought her to London and lost her to a young baronet, I’m afraid.”
The major’s lips threatened to burst into laughter, and he covered his mouth with one hand.
“That, sir, is a damnable lie,” the doctor exploded.
“If you were not so old, I would call you out for that insult, sir,” Matthew said coldly.
“She is a prisoner on board your ship!”
The Southerner sighed and said, “I see it’s useless to argue with you. You are making a fool of yourself, and it’s an insult to me. However, I see the awkward position our British friends are placed in; so, to clear the entire thing up, I suggest that we return to my ship and let you discover for yourself that she isn’t there.”
Rackingham stared at him suspiciously; Major Revington looked relieved.
“What game are you playing, Hampton?” the doctor asked.
“Oh, come now, Dr. Rackingham. The captain’s being very obliging,” the major expostulated indignantly.
Hampton chuckled. “Don’t be hard on the poor man, Major. Had you ever met Miss Devereaux, you would know the kind of spell she can work on a man.”
The major grinned back at him. “A high stepper, eh?”
Matthew felt a sudden urge to smash his fist into the Britisher’s leering face, but he swallowed his inexplicable anger and smiled. “A beauty, Major, a beauty.”
They took the night train to Liverpool; the doctor was suspicious and reluctant but could hardly refuse the search he had been requesting. Hampton could not help but feel some respect for the old man. He was no fool and not so negligible an opponent as Hampton had first thought. If nothing else, he was persistent. And he had escaped from the grasp of Peljo’s criminal friend.
“Tell Captain Hampton about your escape from those rascals in Liverpool,” Revington prompted the doctor in an attempt to create a convivial atmosphere at their late supper aboard the train.
“Oh, were you set upon by thieves?” Hampton asked blankly. “I should have had one of my men escort you to your hotel.”
“Not thieves, sir, kidnappers.” Rackingham looked meaningfully at him.
“Another kidnapping?” Hampton’s lips twitched with amusement. “I never realized before how much abduction went on in this world.”
“Certain types seem to be quite fond of it.”
“Well, what did these kidnappers want—money?”
“I believe not; I think they wanted only to silence me.”
“Silence you?” Matthew looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“I think you know.”
Hampton looked at him, his face perplexed, for a moment, then shrugged. “Well, never mind. Go on—how did you escape the scoundrels?”
“They locked me in a room with boarded-up windows. However, I managed to pry one of the boards loose with the fireplace poker. Then I attracted the attention of a young urchin in the alley below and persuaded him to come up and open the door—for a suitable price, of course. He was a resourceful young man and soon succeeded in unlocking my door without a key. For another reward he led me to the nearest constable.”
“Remarkable, Doctor, quite remarkable. I can see you’re a good man to have on one’s side.”
Rackingham just looked at him silently. Matthew returned his gaze steadily, and the doctor soon gave up the battle. He retired early, claiming age and fatigue. Revington and Hampton, however, stayed up a good many hours more, growing quite comradely over card games and whiskey. Though he gained the major’s confidence, Hampton awoke the next morning with a fierce headache and a jaundiced outlook on the day. It annoyed him almost past endurance to see the doctor’s chipper attitude, and he felt a churlish pleasure in anticipating the doctor’s defeat.
The trio took a hansom to the docks, then boarded the Susan Harper. Peljo came hurrying toward them.
“Cap’n.” He gave something close to a salute. “Didn’t expect you back so soon.”
“Well, I had not expected it either, Peljo. But Dr. Rackingham would like to search the ship; he is under the impression that I have Miss Devereaux secreted somewhere on board.” He turned toward his companions. “Well, gentlemen, where would you like to start? My cabin?”
The search was gratifyingly fruitless. Dr. Rackingham was thorough, and they covered every inch of the ship, but Katherine was nowhere to be found.
“Are you satisfied, Doctor?” Hampton asked when they had finished.
Rackingham said nothing, but the major cut the silence. “Well, I certainly am, Captain Hampton. It was terribly good of you to allow us to come on board like this. I promise you—”
“He’s hidden her somewhere in town,” Rackingham interrupted him.
“Good God, man, this is really too much.” Revington, whose head felt no better than Hampton’s, swung on the doctor in irritation. “The captain has done more than enough already. What else can you want? You have blackened his name, totally without proof, demanded that we search his ship as if he were a common criminal instead of a gentleman. And then, when he is generous enough to allow us to search his ship and naturally we find nothing, you insist that he has somehow spirited this young woman off his ship and hidden her in town!”
“He could easily have telegraphed his men and had them remove her. No doubt he knew we were coming; his compatriots would have told him as soon as your attaché approached them,” Dr. Rackingh
am said stubbornly.
Major Revington sighed heavily. “Precisely what would you have me do? Have him arrested? You have absolutely no proof; it is only your word against his. The only solid evidence we have is that Miss Devereaux is not aboard his ship as you claimed.”
The old man glared at them both for a moment, then turned and stalked off down the gangplank. The Englishman shrugged and said, “Dreadfully sorry about all this, Captain. I hope you realize the position we were in.”
“Of course, Major,” Matthew said smoothly.
“I can assure you that we won’t trouble you again.”
“Good. I’m glad it’s all settled then.”
“Returning to London? We could have another go at the cards.”
“No, I’m not really needed there for a while. I think I shall stay here for a few days.”
“Well, do call on me when you come to London.”
“Of course, Major; I shall be happy to.”
When Revington at last followed the doctor down the gangplank, Matthew turned to Peljo. “You did a good job, Peljo. Make sure Rackingham isn’t loitering about and then you can bring Katherine back here. I’m going to try to catch some sleep.”
“Captain, didn’t you get my telegram?”
“No, what telegram?”
“I guess you had already left by the time it got there. I didn’t hide Miss Katherine in Liverpool. She—” he hesitated and then forced out his words, “she escaped last night.”
“What? Good Lord, Peljo, can’t you keep hold of anything?” Matthew thundered. “First Rackingham gets loose and now Katherine!”
“I know, sir. I’m sorry; I haven’t any excuse. She just tricked me.”
Rage surged through Hampton. “Damn that girl!” Why must she be so obstinate and willful and defiant! Every time he turned around, it seemed she had played another trick on him. The thought of his presents for her even now being carried down to his cabin—their cabin—added fuel to his anger. She hated him to the marrow of her bones, while he, like a fool, had been out eagerly buying things to pacify her. Savagely he growled, “Well, let her go then. Let her go. I’ve got no more stomach for forcing her.”
Gregory, Lisa Page 23
