Angelina's Secret

by Diane Merill Wigginton

  “And I will be,” I interrupted.

  “Oh, you are a stubborn one,” he hissed under his breath. Turning, Jude looked behind us at the English clipper nearly on us. “I guess it is too late now.”

  “Bring her about port side boys, and raise the doors. Time to bring out the surprise!” Jude barked.

  Everything shifted and the ship swung around to her port side and the men stood to the ready.

  “Jude, my son, what is happening?” Jude’s father asked as he came up the steps. “Your mother is frantic and sent me up to find out exactly what is going on.”

  “It’s all right, Father, it appears to be an English clipper that has been following us,” Jude answered, attempting to reassure his father.

  “But why would they do that, son?”

  “I don’t know, but I think we are about to find out.”

  “Ahoy there, to the Captain of the Tempest, I am Captain Alcott of the HRH Marston commissioned by the English Royal Fleet. I would be grateful if you could disarm the weapons and give us permission to come aboard.”

  “State your business, Captain Alcott, because at present you are interfering with our leisurely voyage home,” Jude called back to the other ship.

  “Again, I am Captain Sebastian Alcott of the HRH Marston, commissioned by the English Royal Fleet, and I am here on official business, and I am asking you to close your cannon doors and stand down, or we will be forced to take action against your ship.”

  “I am Captain Jude Deveraux of the Tempest, and you have no jurisdiction where we are concerned. Permission denied. Be off with you and don’t bother us again.”

  “We are prepared to take action if you resist. I mention this because I was informed that you have women aboard and I am sure that you wouldn’t want to see anything happen to them should a battle break out.”

  “Is that a thinly veiled threat, Captain Alcott? You English have a way of hiding your intentions by talking around things,” Jude taunted, causing the crew to laugh.

  “Then let me be perfectly blunt, Captain Deveraux. I mean to board your ship by any means necessary, and, if that means an all-out battle between your ship and mine, then so be it. I have my orders.” I could see Captain Alcott’s face turn several shades of red. It was difficult to tell if it was from embarrassment or sheer anger.

  Honore had made his way back and was now standing next to the three of us.

  “Do you want me to give the order to attack? I, for one, could use a good brawl today,” Honore said under his breath as he leaned in next to Jude’s shoulder.

  “No, he is right. We have women aboard, and I don’t want to chance an all-out battle. Let’s hear him out,” Jude cautioned.

  “Then we throw his English carcass in the water,” Honore grumbled, clearly disappointed that he couldn’t start a fight.

  “Captain, where are my manners? If you throw some ropes over to my men, I would be happy to tie you off so you may come aboard.” Jude’s jovial tone was masking his uneasy feeling toward Captain Sebastian Alcott and his crew.

  I gently touched Jude’s arm and our eyes met. “Angelina, stay just behind me. Honore, you are on the other side of Angelina, and if anything happens, you are to drag her downstairs kicking and screaming if necessary.” Jude’s eyes never diverted from mine as he spoke to Honore.

  “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  Captain Sebastian Alcott was not a large man. In fact, he was a little shorter than I was, but he had a steeliness about him that he wore like a badge of honor. His gray eyes seemed to look through me and his expression never changed. I guessed him to be in his mid-forties, maybe early fifties, and yet he was a fit man. His uniform appeared to have been tailored to conform to his physique like a glove.

  Captain Alcott wasted no time making his way to the upper deck with two officers by his side. Ceremoniously he removed his gloves and slipped them under his left arm as if he had practice this move many times. Removing his hat, he bowed to Jude. “Lord Deveraux, Lady Deveraux, I beg your pardon for having to introduce myself in this manner but, as I stated earlier, I am here on official royal business.”

  “And as I said to you before, you have no real jurisdiction here. I am a French citizen and my father is the Prime Minister of France. In essence, you are on French soil and the English don’t have jurisdiction in these waters to stop a French ship in the middle of the ocean. However, I would be happy to offer you tea before you continue on your way.”

  “The legal lines are not so cut and dry, Captain Deveraux. You see, I have a warrant for your capture, signed by the King of England himself charging you with crimes against the English crown,” Captain Alcott pronounced smugly. A humorless smile lined his thin lips that were pursed together as he presented the warrant to Jude for review.

  “This is preposterous,” Jude said as frustration began to show on his face. Taking the warrant presented to him Jude began reading.

  “Let me see that,” Philippe said, taking the paper from his son.

  “This makes no sense!” Honore burst out, ready to take Alcott on before Jude put his arm out in front of him stopping any further forward progress.

  “I would suggest you say your farewells and accompany me to my ship, Captain,” Alcott gestured with a sweep of his hand still holding his hat.

  “What if I am not amenable to this suggestion of yours, Captain Alcott?” Jude asked, looking as if he were ready for a fight, his superior height towered over the other captain.

  “I thought that might be the case, so I have a contingency.”

  “Exactly what does that mean, you have a contingency?” Jude asked suspiciously. I could tell by his stance he was ready to take Alcott out at the first sign of any move toward me. His hand gripped my arm tighter pulling me behind him.

  “May I direct your attention to the mast across the way,” Alcott’s hand gesturing to the other ship. “You will notice a young man sitting up there with a rifle trained on you, Captain Deveraux.” A smug smile formed on Alcott’s thin mouth as our eyes caught sight of the young man in question. “Now, of course, the rifle isn’t just any rifle, it is what we call a sniper rifle. It is accurate up to two hundred yards and when placed in the hands of an expert it is deadly. Keep in mind that he is a lot closer than two hundred yards, so the bullet will most likely go clean through you and hit your lovely wife standing behind you.”

  I let out an audible gasp as the full weight of my foolishness hit me like a bucket of cold water. I clung to Jude’s arm as tears formed in my eyes. Why did I always have to be so stubborn?

  “You may not die from your injury, but she most assuredly would. So, Captain Deveraux, I will leave the decision in your hands.” Placing his hat back on his head, Alcott began pulling his gloves on slowly, with a look of satisfaction.

  “This states that they are arresting you for piracy, son,” Philippe interrupted. “This entire situation is simply ludicrous! Captain Alcott, I demand you tell me who has brought these false charges against my son?” he shouted, waving the paper in Alcott’s face.

  “I am certain that I cannot answer that. I only follow the orders given to me. Your son would need to come back to England with us to answer any and all questions we may have.” Alcott’s now expressionless face made him look less than human as his cold gray eyes stared straight at me. “Well, Captain, what is your decision?”

  “We will all go back together. We can turn the ship around and we will all go back together,” I argued, taking a step forward. Captain Alcott looked directly at me, his cold grey eyes leaving me feeling chilled to the bone.

  “Unfortunately, Madame Deveraux, that won’t be possible. Your husband is required to come with us, but I will not allow you to put my men in jeopardy with a possible surprise attack in open water. If we see the sails of the Tempest anywhere on the horizon during our journey home, we will be forced to kill your husband immediately without prejudice.”

  I began to shake, and I could feel myself losing control as my right han
d slipped into my pocket. Jude grabbed my arm, pulling my back up against him, trapping my hand in my pocket, then placing his other arm across me from shoulder to shoulder. “Shh, shh, now, ma belle Ange,” he said, running his other hand along my right arm. “I know you better than you know yourself. What good will it do me to face these bogus charges and come home if I have to visit you in prison for murdering this man who is only following his orders?” Jude’s attempt at calming me down did little to stop my apprehensions. He didn’t believe what he was saying any more than I did.

  Tears began to fall as I turned in his arms and buried my face in his solid chest. “I can’t lose you, Jude. It will kill me,” I exclaimed.

  “You won’t have to, my love. I will be back before you know it. They will realize the mistake that they have made and release me. You will see.” His words sounded like a lie told to a small child when you don’t want them to cry.

  “Honore, send someone below deck to get my mother. I wish to say good-bye.”

  “Jones, send for the captain’s mother,” Honore bellowed out from the top deck.

  “Aye, aye sir, right away,” Jones called back as he ran to do Honore’s bidding.

  “Captain Alcott, I will be coming with you to supervise the humane treatment of my son and to assure that he receives a fair trial,” Philippe declared, handing the warrant back to him. “The whole thing is rubbish. Rubbish I tell you.”

  “Well, I don’t think that is necessary, Lord Deveraux,” Alcott sputtered, looking for the right excuse. “We wouldn’t have anywhere for you to bunk,” he insisted.

  “Nonsense I can sleep anywhere. I will sleep on the deck or in a long boat if I must, but I will be coming with you! There will be no further discussion on the matter, Captain Alcott.” Philippe’s face turned red with anger. “I wish to speak to the king personally about these false charges. He and I shared a meal, not two weeks ago, and he never mentioned anything about my son being a traitor or a pirate.” Philippe fumed as he left the deck to retrieve some clothes.

  Genevieve Deveraux came up the stairs with tears in her eyes as she ran toward her son. “I do not understand what is going on. Why am I being told that you are leaving and you have to tell me good-bye? Has everyone gone mad?”

  “It’s going to be fine, Mother. I just have to go back to England and clear something up.”

  “Clear what up, son? I do not understand.” Genevieve clung to Jude and put a protective arm around me as well.

  “Please, Jude, I have a bad feeling and believe I know who is behind it all.” I wiped at my tears with my hand. “Juliette Walters.” Just saying her name left a bad taste in my mouth.

  “Why would she do such a thing?” Genevieve questioned, clearly confused. “Juliette has been a friend of the family for so long.”

  “Because she cornered me in the dress shop a while back and threatened me, telling me that I had better leave Jude alone or she would make me pay,” I lowered my voice to a whisper now. “She said that she knew Jude’s secret and that she would make it known if I married him.” I felt sick to my stomach. “It’s all my fault that you are in this mess.”

  “Don’t even think that way. You had nothing to do with it,” Jude said between gritted teeth.

  “If I find out that she is behind this there won’t be a rock big enough for her to hide under,” Genevieve said, looking like she would kill someone.

  “Mama, I need you to do something for me.”

  “Anything, my son.” Genevieve dabbed at her eyes and nose with a white hanky.

  “You have to take care of Angelina. She is carrying your grandchild and you can’t let anything happen to either one of them. Can you do that for me, Mama?”

  Genevieve’s started crying again, putting her arms around me. “I will protect her with my life.”

  “I want to come with you, Jude. If your father can sleep in a boat, so can I.” My lower lip began to quiver and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “I am afraid that women are not allowed on military ships for obvious reasons.” Alcott’s irritating monotone voice sent me over the edge.

  I turned on him as an animalistic growl came from deep inside of me. I leaped at him, ready to tear his dead gray eyes from their sockets. Genevieve, momentarily startled, jumped back as Jude reached out with one large steely arm clamping down on me like a vice lifting me off the ground.

  “I won’t have you making things worse, my love. Captain Alcott is only following orders. You don’t want to add charges of interfering with an officer in the commission of his duties, do you?” Jude said calmly. I could see the resolve in his eyes.

  “Jude, darling, I beg you don’t do this, don’t give up. There has been a misunderstanding,” I cried and turned to Captain Alcott. “This is a grave miscarriage of justice. My husband is a good man, you have to believe me. He didn’t do this. Please! I am begging you. Allow us to turn the ship around and accompany you back to England,” I pleaded, wiping at the tears that now fell freely, wetting the front of my gown.

  “Madame, I regret to inform you that your opinion in this matter is not germane, and I fail to see the relevance where I am concerned. I am simply the messenger sent to retrieve your husband.”

  His arrogant stance grated on me as he raised an insolent eyebrow at me. I was taken aback by his callousness and rendered nearly speechless. “Then I regret to inform you that if anything happens to my husband, I will see to it that you are the last of your kind,” I began softly, growling the words between clenched teeth, anger fueling my indignation as I advanced on him. “That every Alcott spawned by you . . .”

  Jude quickly grabbed my arm and spun me around pinning me against his solid form with one arm behind me. “Darling, my love.” He gave a half-hearted chuckle glancing uncomfortably at Alcott then back at me. “There is no need to finish that sentiment. I am sure that the captain will take excellent care of me,” his smile not reaching his eyes as he looked at Alcott again. “My wife can be somewhat dramatic.”

  I opened my mouth to refute this statement when Jude brought his mouth down hard on mine, his tongue frantically searching out mine. There was urgency in his kiss and my world began to spin out of control. Clinging to him for dear life, my fingers tangled in his hair, sobs mingled with desperation and despair.

  Cupping my face in his hands, he forced me to look into his deep blue eyes, now decidedly clouded with unspoken feelings. “I will come back to you, you count on that. Until I return you must do something for me.” Jude’s hushed voice was gritty with emotion.

  “Anything, darling,” I whispered, barely able to breathe.

  “You must be brave no matter what.” Jude’s eyes captured and held mine. With my heart pounding so hard, I was certain that my chest would crack open and the organ would fall to the ground, shattering into a million tiny shards.

  “But Jude, there must be something more that I —”

  “Promise me, Angelina!” His tone stopped my words midsentence. “Promise me that you will wait for me, that you won’t give up.”

  “I will wait for you for an eternity if I have to,” I whispered, emotion catching in my throat.

  “I love you with all my heart, Angelina, and I will never stop fighting my way back to you. Never!”

  “I won’t.” Unshed tears sparkled in my eyes.

  “Honore!” Jude shouted over his shoulder then turned to face his oldest and dearest friend when he heard his footsteps come up behind him.

  “Just tell me what you want me to do,” Honore said with a heavy heart, his normally jovial manner gone, replaced with a solemn face.

  “I cannot leave unless you promise me that you won’t leave Angelina’s side until I return.”

  “I promise to guard her with my life, Jude.”

  Jude reached out, embracing Honore. The love they had was more than mere friendship. They shared a brotherhood born from a lifetime of devoted loyalty. “I have trusted you with my life, but now I find that I must trust you with
my future,” he spoke quietly next to his ear.

  “I won’t let you down.” Honore’s voice was thick with emotion.

  “As touching as this scene is, I must insist that we proceed with the business at hand, Captain Deveraux.” Captain Alcott advanced on Jude with the two men standing by him patiently. Each man stood at Jude’s side, taking ahold of Jude’s arms while Alcott led the way. Philippe followed behind them to the stairs leading to the main deck. Jude took one last look back before disappearing down the steps. I stood breathing in and out, my mind spinning out of control.

  “Wait!” I yelled frantically, running to the railing then down the steps.

  The five of them stopped just before stepping onto the gang plank placed across to the other ship.

  “James, run and tell Anna to get the Captain’s black wool coat. The double-breasted one. Please hurry.”

  “Right away, Madame,” James called over his shoulder as he ran to do my bidding.

  “I beg your patience, Captain Alcott. It will only take a second.” I could see the irritation on Alcott’s face, but I didn’t care.

  “I will be fine, my love,” Jude assured me as I walked toward him.

  “You can never tell when your coat will come in handy. Better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it, my mother always told me,” I stated, trying to make my voice sound as normal as possible, refusing to let Jude’s last memory of me be that of a crying, quivering mess.

  “Out of the way, boys,” James insisted, pushing his way past the men standing at attention in respect for their captain. He ran to me with the coat hung over his left arm. “Here it is, Madame.”

  Taking the coat from James, I took a deep breath before turning around and handing the coat to Jude, to keep the tears from my eyes.

  “Madame, I must insist on inspecting the garment first.” Alcott snatched the coat from my hands and began inspecting it thoroughly. When he was satisfied that I had not hidden a weapon anywhere on the coat, he handed it back to me. “My apologies, Madame. I hope you understand the precautions that must be taken,” Alcott sheepishly said his face slightly red from embarrassment.