Dick frowned at him. Then slapped his hand on the desk. 'There are a great many people who knew me when I lived here sixteen years ago. My manager, James Hardy . . .'
'Hm,' said the Governor. 'Hardy is very much an adherent of his employer, the Hilton. He is indeed a rabid anti-Abolitionist.'
'Well, then, my slaves. What of Joshua Merriman, my field manager?'
'Ah. When I realized that this case was coming before me, I looked up the files on that event. Joshua Merriman ran away from Hilltop, about a year after Richard Hilton's disappearance. Frankly, there were disquieting suggestions about the whole affair. As you say, Richard Hilton had employed him as a field manager, whereas Anthony Hilton promptly demoted him to being a field slave, and I believe inflicted a merciless flogging as well. Alas, whatever the truth of the matter, Merriman certainly ran away, and was never heard of again. Nor did he seek refuge in the Cockpit Country, for we had the matter investigated. I am afraid he very likely died, from exposure or starvation.'
'My God,' Dick said. 'Josh? He was my truest friend.'
'An honourable sentiment, Mr Hilton. But one which cannot help your case.'
'Mr Boscawen?'
'Anthony Hilton's butler? I would remind you that he has been the butler on Hilltop for the last sixteen years, at the least. What does that suggest to you?'
'I would not have expected my brother to do less than reinforce his position to the utmost.'
'In every way,' the Governor pointed out. 'Marrying your erstwhile fiancee, for example. Were Ellen Hilton to identify you, and who better? You must have been . . . ah . . . intimate with her during your betrothal, so presumably she would be capable of identifying you. But she has added her denunciation to that of your brother.'
'For an obvious reason,' Dick said. 'As she has tied her fortune to his.'
'Oh, quite,' said the Governor. 'Yet the fact is there.'
'You spoke of Harriet Gale,' Cartarette said, quietly.
'My God,' Dick cried. 'Fool that I am. Harriet Gale. She will certainly be able to identify me.'
'Harriet Gale?' The Governor frowned. 'Mistress Gale died, three years ago.'
'Died? She was not very old.'
'She drank, Mr Hilton. As you no doubt remember. And she lived a most scandalous life, as you also no doubt recall. My apologies, Mistress Hilton. But you seem to be aware of the woman's part in your husband's life.' Again the heavy sigh. 'The situation is not so easy as might be supposed. But at least now you know the odds which oppose you. Be sure you take steps to counter them, Air Hilton. I have torn up your warrant, which will not please the plantocracy. Yet must they abide by my decision, until I have been proved to have erred in my judgement. They cannot harm me. But they will certainly wish to harm you. Your suit against your brother will be to all intents and purposes a criminal trial, and should you fail to make good your claim in law, there will be another warrant which I will not be able to destroy, and concerning which the evidence will have already been heard, and the judgement already given, at least as regards any jury you may discover in this island. Bear that in mind, for God's sake, Air Hilton.' He rose. 'I bid you good day. Madame, this has been a very great pleasure. I would hope when next we meet it may be in happier circumstances.'
'Do you suppose,' Dick mused, 'that the good Governor was attempting to hint that it would be best for me to drop my case, and leave Jamaica?'
They walked down the street, arm in arm, Cartarette's right hand holding her parasol. And were the principal source of interest in Kingston, clearly. Passers-by gave them a hasty nod, and then stopped to look back, curtains were surreptitiously moved aside to permit them to be overlooked from the houses. The fracas in the Park Hotel was common knowledge by now.
'He was certainly making sure you understood at once the dangers and difficulties of your position.' Cartarette ignored the searching glances, the stifled whispers which swirled around her, proceeded on her way with a serene determination. In his more confident moments he presumed that she possessed a serene trust in her husband. But was she happy? She loved him physically, with a desperation which precluded doubt. But was that mere witchcraft, Gislane's powers stretching out from beyond the grave to suggest to her that only his touch, his body could ever drive her to ecstasy? Or even worse, was it merely, as he was the only man she had ever known, that she was by now used to him?
But for the rest, did she hate him?
'I am aware of them,' he said. They had reached the Park Hotel, and Harvey the waiter was opening the door for them. 'What will you do, if I fail, and am sent to prison?'
'Visit you,' she said. 'But you will not fail. Merriman has disappeared, no doubt dead. Your old mistress has drunk herself to death. Your domestics have been suborned. Your mother may not reply. But you lived in Jamaica for four years, Mr Hilton. Surely there is someone who can make a positive identification of you, who would know you even wearing a mask and disguising your voice, because that is all it amounts to.'
'My God,' he said. 'Of course. Judith.'
'Judith?'
'Judith Gale. Harriet's daughter. She was only fourteen when I left Jamaica, but. . .'
'But she knew you as well as her mother?'
He flushed. 'She lived in my house for four years, and . . . she will know me. Presuming she is still in Jamaica. Will you excuse me?'
She inclined her head. 'I will expect you for luncheon, Mr Hilton. And good fortune.'
He squeezed her hand, hurried round the corner to Harbour Street. Harriet dead. His last memory of her was a bitter one, of a naked woman rising from her bed in angry contempt. Yet had she made him happy, for four years. Had she been fortunate enough to know Christophe's general instead of Robert Hilton's heir—but Christophe's general would have known her, immediately, for what she really was.
And Josh. He had not properly considered Josh, not properly considered his grief, and his guilt. Because Josh would have died from loyalty to him. No question about that.
And now Judith. Why, Judith would be ... past thirty certainly. He wondered what she looked like, and felt his heart beat pleasantly at the thought; she had been a quite lovely child. Whom he had raped. His stride slowed. How long ago that seemed. But would it be long ago to her? It would have changed her entire life. She would hate him, now, as she must have hated him then.
But she was his only hope.
He climbed the stairs to the lawyer's office. 'Reynolds?' He pushed open the door.
The clerk sprang to his feet. 'Mr Reynolds has a client, sir.'
'I will not take a moment of his time.' Dick pushed open the inner door. 'My apologies, Reynolds. The matter is urgent.'
Reynolds stood up. 'Really, Mr . . . ah . . . Hilton, you cannot burst in on a man so.' He flushed. 'You'll not have met Mr Kendrick.'
Dick gazed at the short, stout planter in delight.
'Toby Kendrick, as I live and breathe.' He thrust out his hand. 'How are you?'
Kendrick ignored the hand. 'I am very well, sir. But I have not had the pleasure of meeting you.'
'Meeting me? I am Dick Hilton.'
'Ah.' Kendrick got up. 'I remember Richard Hilton, sir. I do not remember you.' He glanced at Reynolds. 'I'll take my leave, Reynolds. You'll consider the points I raised. Good day to you, sir.' He left the room.
Reynolds pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead and neck, sat down again.
'A friend of Tony's, eh?' Dick also sat down. 'That is to be expected. He was certainly no friend of mine. Well, it is of little consequence.'
'I do assure you, sir, it is of great consequence,' Reynolds protested. 'The plantocracy are closing their ranks against you. There is no more powerful body in the island. The Governor himself can scarce oppose them.'
'Except where they are proved legally wrong, my dear Reynolds. So stop worrying. I have thought of an absolutely positive identification which will prove my case once and for all. Judith Gale.'
'Proving the plantocracy legally wrong is a difficult matte
r, Air . . . ah . . . Hilton. They make the laws in Jamaica. And I am sorry to have to tell you . . . who did you say?'
'Judith Gale. Harriet's daughter. Does she still live in Jamaica?'
'Judith Gale? My word. She lives in Kingston.' 'Give me her address.'
'Mr . . . ah . . . Hilton, that is quite impossible. Why, Judith Gale . . . if you are Mr Richard Hilton, you'll remember there was a charge of rape against you, with regard to Miss Gale.'
'Was there now? Well, I deserve it. And if anyone is going to charge me with a crime committed by Richard Hilton, they have to admit I am Richard Hilton, surely.'
'Good heavens,' Reynolds said. ‘I never thought of that. Judith Gale.'
'Her address, man.'
'Mr . . . ah . . . Hilton. I'm afraid there is something else of which you are unaware.'
'Her address,' Dick said again.
Reynolds rested his elbows on his desk, placed his fingertips together. 'Miss Gale has an ... ah .. . position.' 'Oh, yes?'
Reynolds began to flush. 'She is . . . ah . . . Mr Hilton's . . . ah . . . housekeeper. Mr Anthony Hilton.'
Dick leaned back to stare at him. 'Judith? And Tony? You're not serious.'
'Of course I am serious.'
'On Hilltop? Ellen would never stand for it.'
'Miss Gale does not live on Hilltop. She has an establishment here in town. And it is not my part to discuss the relations winch may exist between a man and his wife.' He cleared his throat. 'But you do understand that Miss Gale would be reluctant to do or say anything which might jeopardize her position with Mr Hilton.'
'Aye. Tony seems to have this entire community sewn up into a bag.' He leaned forward again. 'Yet I will see her, Reynolds. Give me her address.'
'It can do no good, sir.'
'Reynolds, you are going to make me angry in a moment. Her address.'
'She occupies a house in King Street, sir. Number six.'
'Thank you.' Dick got up. 'I'll go along there now. I'll probably be back immediately after lunch, Reynolds. And you be ready to see Miss Gale, and make out a sworn statement and an affidavit.'
Reynolds cleared his throat again. 'I'm afraid that will not be possible, Mr . . . ah . . . Hilton.' He stared in front of him at the opposite wall.
'What do you mean?'
‘I ... ah ... I find I can no longer act as your attorney, Mr . . . ah . . . Hilton.' 'Why not?'
'Well, sir, I am afraid I must advise you, as a lawyer, that I consider you entirely lack sufficient proof to substantiate your claim. Even should you, ah, secure the testimony of Miss Gale, I still do not think your case will stand up in court, and so . . .'
'Balderdash,' Dick said.
'Mr . . . ah . . . Hilton, I have given you my opinion . . .' 'You have relayed a message just conveyed to you by Toby Kendrick, you mean, on behalf of the plantocracy.' 'Why, sir
Dick placed his hands on the desk, leaned forward. 'Try the truth.'
Reynolds met his gaze, for just a moment, and then looked away again. 'I have a wife and children. My prosperity depends upon the amount of business given me. I dare not, sir.'
'And what of Hilltop's business, when I am reinstated?'
'You will not be reinstated, sir. I am assured of that. And Mr . . . ah . . . Hilton, I already have Hilltop's business.'
Dick walked up the steps, across the verandah, knocked on the door. The house was set somewhat back from the street, and was reached by a path between what presumably were intended as flower-beds; they seemed mostly crab grass. The curtains of the houses to either side were drawn.
But the house itself was freshly painted, and now the door was being opened by a white-gowned girl.
'Yes'm?' She peered at him, and her frown became a gape.
'I'd like to see Miss Gale.'
'Eh? Miss Gale ain't in, sir.' She started to close the door.
Dick placed Ins hand on it, and pushed, very gently. The door went the other way, carrying the girl with it. 'Miss Gale,' he said. 'You tell her that either she comes down, or I will come up.'
The girl released the door and retreated towards the stairs. Dick closed the door behind him. The house smelt cool, and pleasant. Judith Gale, following in her mother's footsteps, but perhaps even more successfully than Harriet. He couldn't blame her for that. But there was the trouble. He couldn't blame any of these people. Not Reynolds, for being afraid, not Judith, for accepting the best possible position. In his heart he could not even blame Ellen for marrying Tony, or Tony for grasping the plantation.
So, then, why did he not just steal away, as the Earl of Bel-more had suggested? He needed only Cartarette to be happy, and he retained enough of Christophe's bag of gold to set them up wherever they chose to live.
And then he could forget people like Josh Merriman, who had trusted him, and who had paid for that trust with his life. And he could blame Tony for that. He could even hate Tony for that, could reawaken the anger which was always bubbling deep in his belly.
He looked up the stairs. Judith stood at the top, wearing a pink undressing robe. She even aped her mother's colours. But where Harriet had been handsome, Judith was superb. The features were at once flawless and calm; even the watchfulness of the dark eyes did not reach the calmness of her expression. And when she descended the stairs her long dark hair did no more than flutter, very gently. But how that gentle flutter brought back memory.
'You should not have come here.' She reached the bottom of the stairs, halted. She did not offer her hand.
'Will he beat you?'
Her eyes gloomed at him. 'I would like you to leave.' 'But you know who I am?'
‘I recognize your face, by what I have heard of it.' 'Is it as hideous as they say?'
She hesitated, and then nodded. 'It is as hideous as they say.'
'But you know who I really am, Judith.'
Once again the long stare. 'What am I supposed to remember about you, sir? Your penis? It was dark, in that room.'
The words seemed strange, coming from those perfect hps. He took a step forward. 'But you know it is I, Judith.'
She did not move, allowed him to take her hand. 'If it is not you, Mr Hilton, then it is a total fool, to challenge the plantocracy. To challenge a man like Tony.'
'But it is me, Judith.'
Her head turned, her fingers tightened. 'Oh, my God,' she whispered. 'Dick. Dick Hilton.' Her whole body turned, and she was in his arms. 'Oh, Dick. Why did you leave? Why did you run away?'
He kissed the top of her head. 'Did I not have cause, Judith?'
'Because of me? Don't you think I wanted it?'
'It made you what you are.'
'Tony's mistress,' she said. 'I would have been yours.' 'But I ran away.'
'And now you have come back,' she said. 'You have stopped running.'
'Oh, aye.' He held her away from him, smiled at her. 'No more running. But it seems I need help.'
There were tears in her eyes, starting slowly to dribble down her cheeks.
'Will you, Judith?'
‘I will need help, Dick.'
'My right arm, until I am re-established. And any money you may require. After I am again the Hilton, you have but to ask.'
Her eyes were enormous, even through the tears. 'They say you have a wife.' 'Whom I love.' 'Ah,' she said.
'Will that make a difference?'
She hesitated, then shook her head. 'I would wish to be loved like that. What must I do?'
'Make a deposition, to begin with. But you cannot stay here.'
'Oh, nonsense,' she said. 'This house is all I possess.' She kissed him on the chin. 'Anyway, who's to know?'
'This is Kingston, Judith. Everyone will know, the very moment you sign the paper.'
She smiled. 'Very well then, Dick. I will move out, and into your protection, the moment I sign the paper. But you must at least give me time to pack.'
'You'll have that. I've just remembered I still have to find someone to draw up the affidavit.' He kissed her forehead. '
But that is a detail. You have just guaranteed the success of my claim. I'll be back this afternoon, with my attorney.'
Her fingers released him, reluctantly. 'Does your wife know of me?'
'No. Not as you mean. But in any event, she is for me, for us, totally. You have nothing to fear from her.'
HF - 04 - Black Dawn Page 36
