Spies and Subterfuge

by Christopher Hoare

  They tacked all the way upriver to the fort at the end of the city wall, and then turned to run down with the wind. She had seen nothing of the warship she needed to see and risked a question. “Did one of you mention the Emperor’s new docks? Have we passed them?”

  “Nay, Madame, the soldiers is especial determined that no one should enter they.”

  “I was not expecting to enter them. I wondered if there was anything to see.”

  The taciturn helmsman cleared his throat and spat over the side. “’Tis best not to look—besides there be so many buildin’s and gantries that any vessel inside is hidden from the river side.”

  One of the watermen laughed. “A body would have to go to the dock gates an’ ask for admission. That would earn thee a night or more in they cells for sure.”

  Roberta shook her head. “Oh, I do not want to upset the authorities—I merely wondered if I would have a good tale to tell when I got home. My family and friends are all water-folk like you.”

  The helmsman’s face formed what could almost be called a smile. “No doubt the wonders we has builded here would be a great story to tell in other parts that are less advanced. We are double blessed here in Antwerp with the Emperor who wants to restore the city’s glory of former times—as well as the miracles of steam he has caused to be invented. ’Tis wise you be to withdraw your curiosity, for we Antwerp folk is jealous of our secrets.”

  Roberta worked hard for the rest of the morning to ensure her husband was sober and alert enough to attend the afternoon auction of Paine’s tobacco. He grumbled as she made him walk up and down the quay and drink cups of acorn coffee until the fresh air and liquids drove away the infestation of the spirits he had consumed. By the time the auction started he seemed positively buoyant.

  They sat near the auctioneer and whispered together in English. “I must apologize, my Dear, for berating your merciless attempts to bring my poor suffering body to some semblance of life. I dread to think that the auction itself might be quite a rowdy affair, and my skull could shatter all abroad.”

  “I doubt that it will, but I have no sympathy for your pain. I insist that you eschew all spirits for the rest of our time here—and more—that you will never come into my bedchamber in such condition ever again.”

  “Well, now hold hard there. A man must conduct himself according to the company and the nature of the times. I should be judged a sorry old screw if I do not join my fellows in their cups and their entertainments.”

  “Then I trust you will find yourself a funk at your club for the night and not present yourself to your wife before you are in some better state that she might approve. In what state must your interlocutor be today? I hope the poor fellow did not wander about drunk and give himself away to the authorities.”

  Her husband muttered something that she did not completely catch. Several of the words did not bear repeating and some of the rest seemed to refer to a very unfortunate afterlife. She could not gain any further enlightenment before the auction of their cargo was called and her husband was required to speak to the prospective purchasers and offer them suitable samples to try. She did express a silent wish to the Almighty that he had learned enough of the trade that he might be able to conduct a convincing discussion of the merits of the leaf on display. Several of the interested merchants struck her as the lowest of low scoundrels who had ever given the calling a bad name.

  Her fears proved groundless and she saw again that when it came to the male arts of boasting and exaggerating her husband was surely in a class by himself. After less than an hour, the leaf had all found new owners and they prepared to leave the premises of VanRyk Freres, after paying the brokerage, with no less than four hundred gold Napoleons—and that was less than a quarter of the cargo carried aboard the Reaper. They hired a fine brougham to convey them back to the city centre.

  “Well,” Lord Bond said, settling into the cushions expansively. “That was a good day. We have accomplished several of the tasks before us and I will be able to leave you here in Antwerp with ample funds until I return from dealing with our dear friend Gideon.”

  “What will you do to him?” Roberta asked, although she didn’t want to hear too violent an answer.

  “Nothing, if he is reasonable. We are almost done with our spying, so I only need to keep him out of the prefectures for a few more days. How did you get on upon the river?”

  “Not well, I’m afraid. I saw a pyroscaphe moored at the new mole. But learned nothing at all about the vessel we need to discover.”

  “Damn. I thought you seemed to be doing well whenever I opened my eyes.”

  “I doubt that was very often. I might have seen more if I had been able to rely on your eyes as well.”

  His face turned to a thundercloud, but he did not assay any lightning, perhaps thinking better of it.

  “Yes, perhaps I could have played a stronger part. But I will make it all up this evening. I know where to find our quarry and will ensure we are safe from discovery. I will leave you with a hundred of the gold pieces and have you hold the fort until I return. If you receive a message from van Ee about our missing friends you must take what measures seem appropriate. I will write out the address of the hostelry in Ghent and you must send me a message if you need advice. Stay out of sight as much as you can until I return.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Visitor in the Night

  That evening, when Roberta walked to the door with Annie, the girl turned to her with concern in her eyes. “Mayhap I should stay with ye this night, while master be away.”

  Roberta shook her head. “Good Heavens, I do not think it necessary. I hardly imagine I could come to harm in these premises.”

  Annie looked even more troubled. “Are ye not afeared? What, with that monster Fouché in the city?”

  Roberta smiled. “Oh, Annie. I should not have told you of the liberties he took. Even though the experience was disturbing I have no expectation for a man in his position to demean himself by breaking into a lady’s bedchamber.”

  “He likely would send so’jers for ye.”

  “Annie, please. Do not invent such horrors. If he sends soldiers for me it will not be for any carnal intent. If my identity is betrayed, you, at least, will be safe from the suspicion up in the servants’ quarters.”

  Annie stared at her as she opened the door and seemed reluctant to leave. “Fasten the door tight, Mistress.”

  “I will. Now be off with you until morning.”

  As Annie left to climb the stairs to her own small room in the attic, Roberta closed and barred the door behind her. She had little more to do to prepare for bed; Annie had brushed her hair and helped her change into night attire. She stopped beside her arrayed outdoor clothes and wondered if she should take the Nock pistol to put under her pillow. No. She turned abruptly and climbed into bed.

  She did not know how long she had slept when a noise outside disturbed her slumber. She listened, not sure she had really heard something.

  A light knock sounded at the door.

  “Who is there?”

  The knock came again.

  “Who is there?” she said more loudly.

  A soft voice said something but Roberta could not make out the words. She climbed out of bed and turned up the lamp to walk to the door. Putting her face close to the wood she said, “Who is there?”

  A woman’s voice answered. Roberta fancied she heard the name “Elise.” “I have never met anyone of that name. I will not open the door. Come again in the morning.”

  Something rustled at her feet. She looked down to see something thrust under the door. Picking it up she turned to the lamp to read it. A calling card . . . Freiherrin Louise von Langenhorst . . . but had the name not sounded like Elise?

  She returned to the door. “You said your name was Elise. Is that not correct?”

  “Please open the door. I will explain.”

  Roberta stepped back and looked at the door. Opening it may not be wise, but here
she had two puzzles to investigate. The “man” her husband had identified as the agent following Paine signed his name Langenhorst—and then there was the mysterious Elise, whom her husband said was no longer a part of their mission. She put a hand to the door and unbarred it.

  The woman outside was small and shapely—petite would certainly describe her—she had an abundance of blonde hair and a generous mouth. She helped Roberta to quickly secure the door again and made her way to the bed. Sitting down, she turned a pair of luminous blue eyes on Roberta. “Ah yes. I see you are a woman very attractive to His Lordship.”

  “His Lordship? I do not know of whom you speak. My husband is Mr. Gideon Paine of New Bedford.”

  The woman laughed. “Very gute, Lady Bond, but your husband gave me all the details last night. Do not fear, we are both on the same side.”

  “So, are you Freiherrin Louise or are you Elise?”

  “Both.” She laughed. “I use Freiherrin Louise when it is convenient, but my real name is Elise Timmins, I am daughter of a spice merchant who lived in Sumatra in the East Indies.”

  “Timmins sounds like an English name, but your voice sounds Dutch.”

  “Timmins ingratiated himself with my father in the business and married me. When my father died he found a reason to send me back to the Netherlands for my health. Sometimes he sends me the money he promised.”

  Roberta felt a touch of kindred outrage. “My father tried to marry me off to one of his engineers—but I refused the man.”

  “Then you were very wise, but then, Lord Bond says you are a ship inventor.”

  “I am the manager and chief designer of my father’s shipyard.”

  “So, is true? I did not believe him. Your husband is a very devious man.”

  Roberta had to agree, but not aloud. “He was with you last night.”

  Elise drew back a little. “That is an accusation, no?”

  “He came to bed at two of the clock. Was he with you all that time?”

  “He is a very devious man,” Elise repeated. “What did he tell you?”

  “That he was drinking with the man called Langenhorst.”

  “Only half true.”

  Roberta began to boil with outrage. Her husband had lied to her and now his doxy was trying to do the same. “Much less than half true. What else did you do?”

  “I am sorry, mon amie, to bring these terrible things to your attention, but yes, he and I have been lovers for many months. He told me to ensure we should not meet, but we are in enemy territory and we will likely depend upon one another for help. Such secrets, however terrible, must not be allowed to weaken us.”

  “And he made love to you last night . . . while I . . . while I, his wife . . . waited in foolish innocence here in this room until morning?”

  Elise looked down. “Please forgive. I was angry that he had taken you to wife after all the things he had said to me. I have done you much harm although you are entirely innocent.” Tears started down her cheeks.

  Roberta felt her own eyes fill. She had married an adulterer—but had she not been warned? She was the one who had not been strong enough to resist his ruses and his blandishments. This young woman was as much sinned against as sinner. She should not hate her—no matter how hard that would be.

  “Why did you come to me tonight?”

  “He told me of your meet with Fouché. It must have been very frightening, no?”

  “Frightening. And humiliating.”

  “You spoke with him alone? He . . .”

  “He kissed and fondled me. I was helpless.”

  “Indeed. Such a man has no laws above his desire. But I came to warn you of another man who is even more as such.”

  Roberta gasped. “Another? Who?”

  “Today I find why so much active and bustle in the city, why the docks are filled with soldiers. The Emperor has arrived—he will inspect his steamships tomorrow.”

  “Good heavens. Our mission is done with. It seems I will get no opportunity to examine the steam secrets myself with all the pomp and ceremony. My intention has been foiled.”

  “Perhaps not, mon amie. I have an officer friend in the Génie Militaire. Perhaps we can have him show us the Emperor’s tour through the city. If Napoleon sees a ship then perhaps we too will see it.”

  “It seems very dangerous. I am sure Fouché will be at his most alert with the Emperor present.”

  “But Lord Bond say he had offered his beautiful Americaine much assistance while in the city. If he likes you, he may not want to see you as suspicious.”

  “I could not entertain such a fancy. Lord Bond has instructed me to keep out of sight while he is gone.”

  “Poof! He does not know the arts of a woman. Tomorrow, we will dress as the most fashionable ladies in all France and everywhere will be opened to us. That good for nothing husband of yours will find out that we can succeed where he has always failed—as long as I get to see his face when he learns he has been bettered.”

  “I am not sure.”

  “But you will dress and promenade with me?”

  “Very well.”

  “Gute. Then we must to bed. I want to sleep with you tonight, we are as sisters. We have much to talk about—has he been—how do I say it to such a very genteel lady as yourself?” She shrugged and closed one eye. “He has unusual desires, no? I am sure we both know Lord Bond is a gentleman—but in the bed, he is not a gentle man, is he?”

  Chapter Twenty

  The Emperor Is Intrigued

  Roberta and Elise had barely started walking down the Meir, Antwerp’s finest street, when the friend to whom Elise had sent a message arrived. Roberta thought him resplendent in a white uniform with black trim and buttons. His red face and side-whiskers looked out from under a tall black shako.

  “This is mon amie, Claude,” Elise said to Roberta. “He is the colonel of the Génie Militaire I before spoke about.” She inclined her head toward Roberta. “Claude, ici my companion from America, Madame Paine.”

  The colonel took Roberta’s hand and kissed it. “Enchante, Madame. To what do we owe the honour of an Americaine visiting France in these times?”

  “I came to join my husband, Colonel. He is a factor in the trade of tabac.” She felt a thrill of fear at his arrival—her husband had advised her to stay out of sight and here she was consorting with an enemy officer in the city’s most fashionable street. She had watched Elise when she greeted the officer first and could detect not a sign of nervousness—she resolved to conduct herself with no less a degree of comportment.

  “Indeed, Virginia tabac? I must meet him to discuss the purchase of a quantity of the highest quality American smoking mixture.”

  “Then I may have to disappoint you, Colonel. He sold a shipment at VanRyk Freres just yesterday and was then called away on business. He may have some special leaf put aside but I will not know of it before he returns.”

  The officer shrugged gallantly. “Ah, a pity, but the loss does not leave me disappointed in our meeting, Madame. What is your purpose this morning?”

  “The Frieherren and I are attending to the most fashionable shops for some new finery. We understand the Emperor himself is in the city today and we wish to see all the pomp and ceremony—perhaps even to see the great man himself as he passes by.”

  “Indeed? Then I will accompany your quest. I can take you to several establishments where royalists fleeing from the revolution bartered their fortunes for their safety.”

  “Bien, Claude,” Elise said with a smile. “We wish to make the dresses we have now resplendent with decoration in gold thread and jewelled . . . how you say it? Accessoires?”

  “Oui, you may see all that . . . and after, I may be able to advise you both where you may see his majesty.”

  Elise gave him a brilliant smile that lit up her blue eyes. “I am sure you have already met him today, Claude.” Elise turned to Roberta. “The Génie Militaire is what you Americans would call the Engineers of the Military. Claude is on
e of the officers who precede the march of the army to select the best roads and bridges to use.”

  “Ah, my little minx,” the officer chided. “You are altogether too amused in affairs military—I am sure that your companion must find such matters as boring as do I. Let us keep the procurement of ladies’ finery in our minds for this morning, and then I will decide how best to find you a good vantage point this afternoon.”

  “And did you meet L’Emperor, Claude?” Elise insisted.

  He shrugged. “I was at an audience yesterday evening when he arrived in the city; however, I was but one officer among many.” He paused and then continued. “He was gracious enough to remember a service I performed in the advance on Leipzig a year ago.”

  “There,” Elise exclaimed. “I knew it. You will one day possess a far more impressive title than I. Will you still be my friend when you are Colonel le Baron Riviere?”

  “Of course, my Dear. You are far too amusante to forget.”

  Lord Bond did not arrive in Ghent before eleven in the morning. Not three-fourths of his journey of the previous night had he covered before his mount cast a shoe. It had taken him until the morning before he could find a farrier with his fires burning to have the shoe replaced. Even then the animal showed some reluctance to put weight on the leg, so he could not proceed at more than a trot.

  He went immediately to the hostelry where Elise had told him she had left Gideon Paine.

  “Monsieur Paine has gone out,” the slovenly dressed fellow behind the counter told him. “He did not say when he would return.”

  Bond immediately felt alarm. “He did not leave with his baggage?”