Chapter 11: Attempting a Rescue

Before she can fire there are several knocks on the door. It must have been a coded sequence of knocks because Yvette seems unconcerned and goes to answer the door. She returns with Lieutenant Louis Clemençeau walking behind her. He tips his hat in my direction but doesn’t say anything.

“You only just made it. They’ll be casting off in a few minutes. You’d better hurry,” says Yvette.

She picks up the musket again as Louis makes his way behind her towards the back door. Suddenly Yvette’s eyes go wide and she drop the musket. She seems to fall into Louis’ arms but I quickly realise he is lowering her gently to the floor. He removes his bloody knife and wipes it before putting it back in its sheath.

I sit there in shock. I’ve just seen a woman killed before my eyes. But I can’t raise much sympathy for her; after all, she was intending to kill me.

“My dear Andrea, you seem to be in a bit of trouble there. I was beginning to worry you had left the party early because of my manners. I apologise for my familiarity at dinner, but I have a certain reputation to keep up.”

He walks over and unties me. I stretch my arms to get the circulation flowing again.

“What’s going on? What’s your part in all this?” I ask.

“I suspect you know some of it already. The Southern Witch is a under the command of a notorious pirate who goes by many names. Currently he is using Colonel Vichy. He, and others, are fighting against the French, American and English navies in the Caribbean. I fear you were about to become a victim of that war. As for me, I am, as I said, Lieutenant Louis Clemençeau, and I’m currently working undercover for the French navy.”

“But why have they kidnapped Eloise?”

“They’ve done what!?! I thought she was still at the party with her parents.”

“I think they took her aboard the ship just before you arrived.”

“I was watching the ship. No women boarded her.”

“She was hidden in a barrel.”

“Ah! I wondered why they were moving the barrel that way. Yes, they must have taken her on board. They’ll have taken her hostage to ensure the continued cooperation of Comte d’Arles.”

“What are we to do? We can’t just let them sail off with Eloise.”

“I’m open to suggestions. It would take several hours to raise the local militia, and there are no military vessels in Fort Royal at the moment. The Southern Witch will have sailed long before we could muster a large enough force to capture the ship.”

“But they’re expecting you to join them,” I say, remembering Yvette’s words to him.

“Yes, but only if I could get away from the party in time, otherwise I’m to make my own way to a rendezvous point on the south coast. Yvette is the only one of the group to remain behind to spread lies, and to tell the tragic tale of your brutal death.”

“Then you must board the ship and delay her departure. Can you do that?” I ask.

“I can board her easily enough, but delaying her departure will be tricky. But I’ll try.”