Gus laughed. Only one of the wealthiest men in all of Britain would think it a lark to pilfer rum from the navy.
Heaven help you if they ever discover what else you have stolen from them.
At least Monsale would be spared the ignominy of facing an ordinary criminal court. Dukes had the long-standing privilege of a trial before their peers in the House of Lords.
The five of them gathered round and raised their glasses. All eyes fell on Gus.
“A toast to the worst group of rogues I have ever had the displeasure to work with. Gentlemen, it has been both an honor and an utter disgrace to know you all.”
The lump of emotion in his throat went down with the rum. He set the glass onto the table then, without risking a glance back at his friends, Gus headed for the door.
France and his fate awaited him.
Chapter Four
In the end, Gus packed as many of the guns and powder he thought could be safely stowed on board theNight Wind. Gunpowder wasn’t something he was keen to carry in large amounts, as ships had a nasty habit of burning to the waterline whenever ammunition caught fire. But if they were going to sail into trouble, he wanted the crew to at least have a chance of being able to make an escape.
The weapons were stored beneath a false floor inside the travel coach. The gunpowder was in small crates under the benches.
If any of the local militia patrolling the London to Portsmouth road were to stop and inquire as to the destination of the carriage, they would simply find a gentleman en route to his friend’s house in the country to study the birdlife. Gus had even packed a book on ornithology to complete the look.
He spent the night at Moore Manor, Stephen’s estate in Surrey, polishing off an orphaned bottle of whisky he happened to liberate from a locked cupboard, then continued on to Portsmouth the following day.
As the coach reached the top of the rise before beginning the long descent to the harbor, he dropped open the glass on the door and let the sea breeze in.
A smile sat on his lips. There was nothing better than the salty tang of the ocean; it filled his lungs and cheered his soul.
Dark times may lay ahead, but for now, he was content to enjoy the promise of setting sail with the evening tide. A man was only truly free when it was just himself and the wide blue sea.
His good humor lasted all the way to the dockside—though not as far as his boat.
A stony-faced Captain Grey was waiting for him at the entrance to the jetty. “Thank god you have finally arrived.”
Gus frowned. “And a good evening to you too. I am well recovered, thank you for asking.”
Captain Grey nodded in the direction of several of theNight Wind’susual crew. From the crossed arms and defiant-looking stances, they were clearly not happy.
“What’s wrong?” asked Gus.
“They want more money and a guarantee of not getting killed. After the unpleasantness of our last trip to France, they are not eager to go again.”
This was an unwelcome, though not surprising, development. Seeing the owner of your vessel being carried on board with a gunshot wound to his chest did tend to make a man take note. Only a fool wouldn’t be having second thoughts.
“Alright, I will talk to them. In fact, I want to speak to all the crew before we sail. No man should be leaving port without understanding that we are headed into serious danger.” He headed up the gangplank and signaled for everyone to follow him below deck.
Once the fourteen members of the crew and the ship’s captain were assembled, Gus addressed them. “You all know how things went last time. We walked into a trap. I barely escaped with my life. This trip, however, we are taking plenty of weapons and ammunition with us. That being said, I don’t expect any of you to follow me into battle. Your job is to protect the boat. If there is any sign of trouble, Captain Grey has my express command to sail away from Château-de-La-Roche.”
A loud hubbub of protests and outrage immediately sprang up from the crew. Even the captain rounded on him.
With his tightly fisted hands stuffed in his pockets, Gus waited as patiently as his dislike of cramped, crowded spaces would allow.
When the cries and swearing had simmered down, he spoke again. “If any man does not feel safe in setting sail tonight, then he has my blessing to leave right now. I am willingly going to the aid of Armand and Evangeline La Roche. I may never return to England, and that is my choice. You are all free to make your own.”
Captain Grey growled in the direction of two of the crew as they quickly made their way toward the ladder and climbed to the weather deck. “Cowards, you won’t ever sail with me again!” he bellowed.
The rest of the gathering mumbled and talked amongst themselves but stayed put.
Gus gritted his teeth. They could safely sail with this number of men, but if anyone else made the decision to depart, things might become difficult. As it was, he would have to help with the sails and navigation, especially as they neared the French coast.
