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“Is he awaiting transportation or execution?”
“Transport. He’s at Bristol port.”
“And what’s his trade? And what is your interest in him?”
“He’s a Christian Indian servant. What we’d call a Praying Indian. Innocent of rebellion in New England too. He was my servant. I brought him into England when I came home—”
“And took him straight into a bloody rebellion,” James finished his sentence.
Ned shook his head. “No, sir. Not us, sir. We landed in the west country and he was arrested in error.”
“An error?”
“You may not be aware,” Ned explained with biting contempt, “but they arrested everyone, and hanged most of them without trial—”
“Heiscompletely innocent,” Johnnie interrupted. “I can vouch for him, Sir James.”
“And his name?”
“Ned Ferryman.”
Sir James put down his pen and looked at his old adversary. “He has your name? What is he? Your son?”
“He was my servant, he knew no other English name. He couldn’t say his own name, could he? Of course, he gave mine when they asked him.”
“Did you send him in your place?” Sir James asked scathingly.
“No, sir,” Ned said flatly. “I wasn’t in the rebellion and neither was he.”
“And you injured your head… how?”
“I fell off a horse,” Ned said. “Will you represent us or not?”
“We would be most grateful, sir,” Johnnie added. “I am Mrs. Reekie’s grandson, Johnnie Stoney, at your service. You won’t remember me; but we met at the wharf… and at your wedd… I was there when… At any rate, your wife, Lady Avery, was kind enough to help me start at the East India Company. I am sorry to have to come to you again but—”
“Of course, I remember you,” James said shortly. He stared into Johnnie’s face as if trying to trace a likeness. “You’re a grown man,” he said almost to himself. “And I’ve never known you, and now it is too late for this too.”
“Yes, sir,” Johnnie said uncertainly. “I was most grateful for my place in the Company. You spoke for me.”
“I’m glad I could be of service to you,” James said slowly. “I would have done more if I had been asked. But she…” He turned to Ned: “Your sister knows I’d do anything for her. Did she tell you to come to me? Does she want this servant freed?”
“I ask you in her name,” Ned said, knowing the potency of the appeal.
“You’ll tell her that I did it for her?”
“I’ll tell her we owe you a life.”
“Will you tell her that I am trying to be the man she thought I was? Even though it’s so late, I am trying.”
Ned looked at the other man as if he pitied him. “I’ll tell her that.”
“I will discover the price of a pardon and send a note to the wharf.”
“We’re very grateful, sir,” Johnnie said politely. “We appreciate your patronage. We acknowledge—”
“Don’t take too long about it,” Ned interrupted. “They’re throwing them on board like cargo. We’ve got to get the pardon and get it to Bristol, before theRebeccasails.”
Sir James nodded. “I’ll write as soon as I have spoken with the queen.” He hesitated. “Don’t be hopeful,” he said. “They are only selling pardons for gentlemen, and they are expensive.”
