Caroline, as always, was the complete mistress of the situation. "Sit down, Ian," she commanded sweetly. "It is plain that Master Stone tired of his life as a fugitive and has come to me because he believes me to be his friend, just as I know that he is mine."
"Thank you, Your Grace," the young gunsmith replied. "It's because you have been so kind to me in the past that I have come to you now. I have often thought of your spirited defense of me before Sir Arthur Bartlett."
She dimpled charmingly and motioned him to a chair. "Please sit down, Master Stone, and tell me how I can be of assistance to you. Meanwhile, your—ah—friends can wait for you outside. They may be assured that no harm will come to you here."
Jeremy forced a laugh and hoped his voice sounded light. "After a number of experiences which have been somewhat less pleasant for me. Your Grace, they are very reluctant to allow me out of their sight."
Sir lan's fist crashed on the table top. "A request from a member of the house of Stuart is a royal command. Do these surly, disloyal wretches dare to "
"Hush, Ian." Caroline was gently chiding. "I can understand their concern for their friend, and I have no objection if they wish to remain. Look at them, Ian. There are not many on this island with the brawn of those specimens." There was an undertone of meaning that escaped Jeremy, but the Scottish chamberlain understood it and he nodded slowly.
There was no need for further fencing, and Jeremy decided to come to the point at once. "Your Grace," he declared, "I've come to you in the hope that you will speak to Sir Arthur Bartlett on my behalf. I had no treasonable intent in masquerading as his nephew, as you are well aware. And I'm sure that a word from you will "
"No, Master Stone. I will not go to Sir Arthur for you. I know much more about you than I did formerly and have even made certain inquiries about you through various sources in New York Town. And I most certainly will not plead with the present governor general on your behalf." Her chiseled features remained serene, and she voiced her refusal calmly, without a trace of apology or regret.
- "Then I—I beg your pardon for this waste of your valuable time," Jeremy replied curtly. He was about to turn and walk out of the room when Caroline smiled at him with more than her customary warmth.
"Permit me to explain myself, Master Stone. If you intend to achieve the heights to which your ambition would lead you, then you must curb your impetuosity, for it is your worst enemy. I prefer to have you with me than to see your talents wasted in the service of Sir Arthur."
Sir Ian stirred in his chair. "Be careful, Your Grace," he muttered sharply. "Don't say too much. Remember, there are four of them "
"Nonsense, my dear Ian," she replied airily. "We've gone too far now to be squeamish, and in a few hours the whole island will know." She arose and circled the table, stopping directly in front of Jeremy. The scent of her perfume was strong and sweet, but he could feel the commanding personality behind her feminine blue eyes. "I want you with me, Master Stone."
There was a strange gleam in her eyes as he stared at her, unable to fathom her meaning. "You're very flattering, Your Grace, and you know I am always yours to command. But I "
"If you serve me faithfully, with all of the vigor and cunning at your disposal, I shall create you a baronet and shall give you estates suitable to your rank. In due time, when you have further demonstrated your loyalty to my cause and my person, it is not too much for you to hope that I shall make you a viscount."
For an instant Jeremy wanted to laugh aloud, principally at himself. He had long been fascinated by Caroline; never had he encountered a woman more beautiful and glamorous, brilliant and charming. But he was being treated now to a vision of the real Caroline, unscrupulous and ruthless, demanding and unyielding. Though it was true that she had the power to bewitch a man, the workers on the New York waterfront had a name for such a woman. It was a short, ugly word, but it fitted.
It was interesting to see the Duchess as she was, but he could not allow himself to concentrate on so relatively minor a matter. There was too much at stake, and he tried to absorb all the implications of what she had just said to him.
The prospects she held out were glittering, and Jeremy's pulse pounded. Here, within his grasp, seemed to be all he had ever wanted, and more. But a hard core of doubt and suspicion was forming inside him, and he curbed his excitement. "You refer to your 'cause,' Your Grace," he began tentatively, aware that Dirk and the two Negroes were listening avidly to every word.
"I do, Master Stone. My cause has long been in preparation, and the day of action has come at last. I will only say that it is no accident that Sir Arthur and most of his soldiers are many miles away in the hills. Nor is it accidental that there it rioting and pillaging all over Port Royal, as you are no doubt aware if you have spent even a few minutes in the town within the past few days."
The implications of her statement were overwhelming. The idea that one of the house of Stuart might be stirring up an insurrection was almost too much to grasp, yet there was no mistaking the meaning of the casual words of this handsome young woman with the regal bearing and manner. "You are inciting a rebellion, Your Grace?" He felt a compulsion to bring the matter into the open.
Sir Ian laughed hollowly, without mirth. "We do not choose to think of what we are doing as the making of a rebellion, impostor. Let us say instead that we have perfected a plan, based on that which is right and just, and that we are now putting that plan into operation."
Caroline's smile broadened. "You have a genius for the abstract, dear Ian," she said affectionately, then turned again to the young gunsmith. "The crews of eleven boucanier vessels are in the town of Port Royal at the present time. In other words, there is available a force of four hundred and fifty men, all of whom know how to use firearms and a sharp blade. I have bided my time and have waited until these men dissipated their money on wenches and gambling and drink. I have won their captains to my cause and I have now provided the men with certain sums of money. There will be more to come for them. Therefore, they have all been won over to my cause."
"And what is your cause. Your Grace?" Jeremy was annoyed at the mystery that Caroline was creating and at her enjoyment of his bewilderment.
"I intend to take over the government of the island of Jamaica by force," she replied calmly. "My men and I will do this while the brigade is occupied elsewhere. Lord Murray will capture King's House, and Sir Ian, who is a soldier with considerable experience, will take the Citadel and will assume full command of the fortress in my name."
Dirk Friendly stared at the Duchess openmouthed, and Michael and Gabriel were equally incredulous. But Jeremy hung onto his reeling wits and tried to appear as blandly unconcerned as Caroline. "In other words," he said bluntly, "you are intending to steal a portion of the realm that belongs to your royal cousin and her husband."
"I intend," Caroline replied merrily, "to take possession of a great deal more than this steaming little pimple of an island. My operation has begun here, but only through necessity, as the largest garrison of troops assigned to colonial service is stationed here. You'll be interested to hear that after Jamaica has been conquered I intend to subjugate all of England's North American possessions and to proclaim myself ruler of a new kingdom in the New World."
Sir Ian stirred restively and he glared at the Duchess. "You're saying far too much," he stated flatly.
"On the contrary, dear Ian," she replied loftily, "I intend to say more, much more. You allow your personal dislike of Master Stone to cloud your thinking. As you yourself have admitted many times, he is as resourceful and fearless as he is energetic. The others do not concern me. Master Stone's men will do as he bids them to." She turned to Jeremy, her most dazzling smile on her lips. "You see. Master Stone, it was the funds of Sir Ian and Lord Murray that have made this whole venture possible, but dear Ian sometimes forgets that he is not in over-all command. He forgets that without me he has nothing and will have nothing. It is sometimes difficult for him to obey instructions. Nevertheless, he is learning. Yes, he is learning rapidly." She patted her chamberlain's arm soothingly and a trifle condescendingly.