Ill Wind and Dead Reckoning: Caribbean Pirate Adventure (Valkyrie) (4 page)

I was woken
by Klara. I blinked at her for a few seconds and looked around the room; the events of yesterday, and especially the revelations of last night rushing back to me. I sat up in bed and she put a breakfast tray on my lap. I managed to mumble a ‘thank you’ – a poor response considering she’d had to carry it from the cookhouse and up two flights of stairs to my room in the small turret on the right-hand side of the house. I suddenly realized somebody would have had to carry all that water the same distance for my bath the night before. I wouldn’t be able to soak so often.

I sipped the lemongrass tea. A bit cold, but it tasted well – very refreshing and perfect for breakfast. The tray was laden with strange fruits, toast and preserves. I spread a thin slice of toast with the preserve, in the hope it may still be warm. It wasn’t, but the jam was delicious.

‘Oh, what’s this?’ I exclaimed.

Klara smiled. ‘Mammee apple. It grows wild on the island, and Belinda makes the preserve.’

‘It’s delicious!’

I cheered up a little. I may be marrying into a family of brutes who consorted with pirates, but I was away from Father and the food was exquisite. At home, it had been bland and boring – usually porridge or stewed rabbit.

In the Caribbees I’d already found goat and mammee apple, what else was waiting for me to discover? I looked at the fruit as I ate, enjoying the tang of the preserve, but wanting to finish it so I could try the next new flavour.

Klara busied herself about the room, pouring water into the basin, then taking and laying out another set of clothing for me to wear.

‘Where does Erik sleep?’ I asked her, suddenly thinking about my married life.
Will I have to leave this room or will he join me here?

‘In the room below,’ she answered. ‘And Mijnheer Jan has a room on the same floor but at the other end of the house. There are two guest rooms between them, and another in the far tower.’

It was the most talkative she’d been so far, and I realized she was relieved at my friendly tone after last night’s disclosures.

‘And where do you sleep?’

In one of the huts beyond the trees, unless I’m . . . I’m . . . required at the house.’ She dropped her eyes and I pressed my lips together in disapproval. Then I realized I wasn’t being fair; Klara had no choice, she wasn’t to blame for the arrangements.

‘Well, I’m sure you’ll be spared those duties once Erik is married,’ I said. She glanced at me quickly and turned so I couldn’t read her expression.

‘Would you like the blue or the green gown this morning?’

‘The blue, I think,’ I said, watching her pile stays, petticoats and mantua on to the bed, and wondering what she wasn’t saying. I sighed and rose to dress.

‘Don’t pull the stays so tight, Klara! I’m still sore from wearing them like that last night!’

‘But Mijnheer Erik, he likes stays to be tight, Miss Gabriella. He always says he should be able to put both hands around a woman’s waist and his fingers meet.’

‘I don’t care what
Mijnheer Erik
—’ I sneered the name, ‘—says about ladies’ waists. He is not my husband yet, and he does not decide how I dress. Loosen it, Klara, it’s too tight!’

She said nothing, but obediently loosened the ties.

*

Downstairs, there was
no one about. I wandered into the drawing room, but there was nothing to do in there. I decided to explore my new home and crossed the hall to the other carved door – a nautical scene to complement the others.

I gasped at the large room full of books I’d stumbled upon. I loved to read, but at home we’d only had bibles and prayer books; this library was a dream come true. I wandered about the shelves, looking at spines, and was dismayed to find only Dutch titles. Of course, why would the van Eckens have an English library?

Disappointed, I crossed to the other door in the room and opened it.

‘What the Devil do you think you’re doing? Get out of this room! At once!’

‘Oh!’ I gasped at my welcome from my future husband. Jan was also there, but didn’t speak. ‘I’m sorry,’ I stuttered, backed out, and shut the door. I ran out of the library and out of that house, across the lawns and down the road. I’d never felt so humiliated and unwanted, not even at my father’s house.

*

I tried to keep my eyes averted from the hanging cage, but found it impossible. Despite my intention to give it as wide a berth as I could as I passed, my feet took me closer. I glanced inside and gasped. Two human skulls lay in a litter of picked-clean bones. I shuddered, had a living man been locked inside with the bones of a dead?

I ran past a field of sugarcane, turning left up a smaller road that I hadn’t spotted when I arrived, wondering what could be up there, yet dreading the answer.

The road opened up into a large space, surrounded by thatched buildings. None of them had walls, and none seemed to be in use at the moment. I turned in a circle and looked around me, then squinted. There was movement in the distance. I studied it for a moment and realized it was men working the field.

‘What are you doing here?’

I whirled round and saw a scruffy man with a young boy – still a child, yet laden down with hoes and picks. I recognized Rensink – the man who had driven the cart on my arrival. He carried only a whip.

I squared my shoulders. ‘I’m looking around my estate. What’s it to you?’

He looked me up and down, then smiled. I felt very uncomfortable. ‘Ah yes, the little English miss.’ I scowled. He approached me, hand outstretched, took mine and shook it. ‘I didn’t expect you to be running around the mill.’

I nodded, unwilling to explain myself. ‘What are all these buildings?’

He looked around and pointed each out. ‘Toolshed, mill, boiling house, cooling house, curing house. All that’s needed to turn that cane into sugar. You’d best not come here once we start the harvest – too dangerous. Now if you’ll excuse me, we have a lot of cane to weed and more jungle to clear, and those clumsy oafs keep blunting the hoes and snapping the picks.’ He stared at me until I turned and walked away. I looked back when I heard a cry and a clatter of metal. The boy had dropped his load; I’d turned just in time to see the man hit him.

‘Stop! Do not hit that boy!’

Rensink laughed at me and hit the boy again, then turned his back and they walked away.

I stared after them in frustration, then walked back to the house, but didn’t feel like going in yet. I crossed the lawns to a small path I could see leading into the trees. I would find out where that went.

*

I soon came out of the trees and halted at the sight before me. I stood on a cliff top and looked out on leagues of sparkling turquoise water. It was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. I looked behind me at the trees – why on earth had they screened this view from the house?

Cheered, I started to walk along the cliff top and squealed in delight when I spotted a small beach below me. There was a path too; steep and not often walked, but it
was
a path, and I scrambled down it.

On the sand, I removed my stockings and shoes, and revelled in the feel of warm sand between my toes. It was so
fine
. I walked closer to the water’s edge, lifted my skirts and paddled – the water was
warm
. I squealed again when a larger wave splashed me, and made my way back to the warm sand to let the sun dry my feet and gown. Life would be far from perfect here, but there were definite compensations.

*

I shivered and
looked at the sky. Clouds were moving in to obscure the sun. Reluctantly, I donned my footwear and started the climb up the cliff. I was getting hungry anyway, it must be near lunchtime.

I slipped once or twice, but was able to steady myself with my hands and didn’t have too much difficulty. At the top, I looked down at my gown and grimaced. White salt spots around the hem showed where the sea had caught me, and there was a small tear in the left sleeve. I’d have to sneak up to my room to change and hope Klara could fix it. Next time I came here, I would wear one of the gowns I’d brought with me.

The path was hard to follow through the undergrowth and trees, but when I emerged I saw my sense of direction wasn’t too far out. I was at one corner of the lawn rather than the centre that I’d aimed for, but that was better; I could hug the trees and not cross the empty space in full view.

Suddenly, I was drenched. The clouds had burst in a rainstorm the likes of which I’d never seen before, and I ran towards the house, all thoughts of concealment washed away.

I clattered on to the veranda, shaking my dripping arms and gasped. The van Eckens stood on the covered terrace, watching me.

Erik looked me up and down in disgust, turned and went inside without a word.

‘Those gowns are expensive, child, you need to better care take,’ Jan van Ecken said and followed his son. ‘Get changed quickly, luncheon ready is.’

I followed them: embarrassed, ashamed and furious. There had not been a single enquiry about my health after such a soaking – the concern had only been for my gown.

*

Klara followed me
upstairs and I shivered as we got rid of the ruined clothes. I dried my hair as best I could and dressed quickly in the green gown.

Klara looked in amazement at the gown I’d discarded and I shrugged. ‘Do you think it can be fixed?’

She smiled at me, ‘I’ll do my best, Miss Gabriella.’ I thought she was going to say something else, but she must have changed her mind.

‘Are you laughing?’ I asked, smiling myself.

‘Not at all, Miss Gabriella.’ She tied the new stays loosely.

*

Downstairs again, I
walked through the drawing room into the dining room and sat before a full plate of food. Jan and Erik hadn’t waited for me, and were already eating. We sat in silence until the peppermint tea was served. I’d barely tasted my meal, and wondered what delicious new treat I’d been too anxious to enjoy.

‘My son wishes to apologise for the way he earlier to you spoke,’ Jan said, breaking the awkward silence. ‘Our study is out of bounds, we should have told you that, before you in barged.’

I nodded in acknowledgement, not sure if I was receiving an apology or a reprimand.

‘The drawing room is for your private use unless we guests have. You are free for the library to use, although we’d prefer you to bring books to the drawing room to read rather than in there remain.’

I nodded again.

‘There is a collection of books in English near the veranda doors.’

Now I looked at him in interest, but he’d finished and the two men rose from the table. Erik hadn’t spoken a word.

*

I followed them
from the room and into the library. They both ignored me and went straight into the study and shut the door. I crossed to the shelves Jan had mentioned and ran my hand over the spines.

Books in English! There must be a hundred of them
. I chose one about Norse mythology and opened the door to the veranda. I could hear raised voices coming from the study, but didn’t care. They could shout at each other as much as they liked.

I sat in a comfortable chair at the table in front of the drawing room and began to read, soon losing myself in tales of ancient gods, Valkyries and Nordic heroes.

At the dinner
table again, I stared at my plate. Jan and Erik were arguing in Dutch once more. Truth be told, it was less awkward than sitting in silence, but only marginally, and I’d had enough.

‘Do you have any idea how rude you’re being?’ I said. They stopped talking and stared at me in surprise.

‘You’ve brought me to this house and expect me to marry into this family, yet you rarely speak to me. Now, at the dinner table, you’re speaking a language I don’t understand. I can’t follow the conversation. I can’t join in. I am not included in any way.’ I was near tears with the frustration of my brief stay. Jan looked shocked, Erik angry, but I couldn’t hold back the words.

‘I was subjected to the company of pirates at my first dinner here, and have never heard such language or seen such table manners before. I have not been shown around the house or estate, and was spoken to in the worst manner imaginable when I explored on my own!’

I stopped, breathing heavily, surprised at myself. I’d never have dared to speak to Father this way, and I could barely believe I’d found the courage to speak to the van Eckens like this. I only knew I couldn’t live the rest of my life the way I’d lived the last few days.

After a moment, Jan spoke. ‘You are quite right, my child, we have been neglecting you. There has not for two years a woman in this house been, and we have forgotten how to behave.’

I smiled at him, relieved he’d taken my outburst so well. Erik still frowned at me.

‘We were those very pirates you mentioned discussing.’

Erik looked at his father sharply, but Jan waved a hand at him and he said nothing.

‘You see, we a dilemma have, and it’s taking over everything, even your wedding, my child, and we only apologise can.’

‘A dilemma – about those pirates?’ I asked.

‘Well, yes, but it’s not really your concern.’

‘Oh, why stop now, Vader? Why not tell her it all? You want her to make a van Ecken, don’t you?’ I noticed his English was better than his father’s.

Jan looked at his son, then turned back to me.

‘Excuse my son’s manners, he finds this wedding very sudden, as I’m sure you do, but this family a new generation needs.’ He glared at Erik again, then turned back to me.

‘It’s right that you should our family history know – your sons will one day need to know it.

‘The van Eckens have been directors of the Dutch West Indies Company since the start, and I and my wife in 1650 came to the Caribbees. It was clear to me there would myriad opportunities in the New World be, and I wanted advantage of them to take.

‘Originally based in Sint Eustatius, I moved in 1655 to Sayba once the war was over, founded the town Eckerstad, and this house built. All went well for many years – our businesses grew and the island flourished. Erik was born and we could not have happier been.’

I glanced at Erik as he took a long drink of wine. He kept his eyes on his plate and said nothing.

‘Five years later, Thomas Morgan – Henry Morgan’s uncle, have you of him heard?’

I nodded, who hadn’t heard of Henry Morgan, the flamboyant buccaneer turned knight? Even in Massachusetts Bay, he was famous.

‘Well, Thomas Morgan was from the same cloth cut, and he Sayba attacked. We were merchants, not warriors, and did not a chance have. We were into servitude taken whilst strangers in our beautiful home lived.

I gasped, it sounded horrible.

‘Adelheid – my wife – Erik and myself were taken to Henry Morgan to serve. He had Elizabeth just married and was a sugar plantation in Jamaica establishing. It wasn’t long before I running it for him was.’

I nodded, not knowing what to say and having to concentrate to understand his English.

‘After a couple of years, I had a good business in his name built up, and then England and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Breda and the second war between our nations over was.

‘I implored Morgan to allow my family and me to Sayba return. He had first-hand my talents as a businessman seen, and I was able to convince him that I on his sugar plantation wasted was. I could make him more money if I were able to my own empire build with him as a partner. He would a percentage of the profits take – a large percentage, I may add,’ he glanced at his son, ‘and he agreed.’

‘He would have been a fool not to, and Henry Morgan is no fool,’ Erik said.

‘Quite. He did a little more than expected though, and provided me with a ship and, er, crew as well as helping me the sugar plantation here set up. Tarr was a young man then, and would goods and prize ships me bring which I would from them purchase.’

‘At very low prices,’ Erik butted in.

‘Yes, at lower prices than the norm.’ Jan nodded slowly. ‘And we would the goods on sell and fit the ships out as Africa slavers.’

‘Our profits soared,’ Erik added.

‘Yes, and a large part of our profit was loaded into Tarr’s hold, Jamaica bound,’ Jan snapped. ‘But for all my complaints,’ his voice softened, ‘our lives had monumentally improved. I was my own master again, we freely in our own home lived, and ran the island more or less as we before had.’ He paused. ‘We were happy for many years, until in ‘81 Adelheid died.’

‘I’m sorry,’ I murmured, fascinated by the story and not knowing what else to say.

‘Jungle fever. Couldn’t be helped. We manage as best we can without her, but Brisingamen has long enough without a mistress been.’ He smiled at me and I smiled back.

‘But now, Governor Lynch has suspended Morgan, he is out of favour, and my father wants to break the arrangement that has served us well for many years,’ Erik said.

Jan looked at him in annoyance. ‘Henry Morgan has for nearly twenty years a millstone round my neck been. His influence and power is weak. This is our opportunity to free of him be!’

‘Henry Morgan’s resourceful, Vader, you know that as well as I. He may be today weak, but he will tomorrow strong again be. Tarr and Hornigold’s efforts more than make up for the percentage he takes, and the island safe is.’ Erik’s English had deteriorated with his anger. ‘The whole of the Caribbees know of them and they know Sayba under Tarr’s protection is. No one will dare to attack our island whilst they interests here have. Keeping them close will prevent history repeating itself, and I’m surprised you can’t see that!’

‘With last year’s profits we can our own protectors hire, preferably Dutch – Sayba would still be safe!’

Erik shook his head. ‘You would start another war, Vader. Neither Morgan nor Tarr would easily give up on this arrangement, it’s far too profitable for them. If we set ships against them, we would lose more to sinkings than we to the Englanders give. The arrangement works, Vader. Tarr and the others are good men, and by now they are near as loyal to us as they are to Morgan. You would be a fool to now change things.’

I gasped as Jan’s face turned bright red at his son’s insult. He glanced at me, then controlled himself with visible effort. I was gratified to see Erik look concerned – he knew he’d gone too far.

Klara and the two men brought the next course, roasted suckling pig, and we ate in silence.

Jan placed his cutlery on his plate and looked at me. ‘So, are you excited about your wedding, child?’

I smiled nervously.
Is he serious?

‘You only have three weeks left to wait, then you will husband and wife be!’

Erik scowled and I stared at them both.
Three weeks!
I kept my gaze on my future husband, wondering if I might shame him into a smile, but he didn’t look at me. Jan spoke to him in Dutch.

‘Mr van Ecken! I thought we’d agreed to speak English at the table,’ I said, not sure where I’d found the courage to speak to him in this manner again. He bowed his head.

‘Quite right, child, but you can’t keep calling me Mr van Ecken. Call me Schoonvader – it means father-in-law, and will soon true enough be. And don’t mind my son’s bad manners. He sees the necessity of the marriage, and is only with nerves suffering. All will be well once the nuptials over are.’ He glanced at Erik, who nodded, once.

‘You must some thought to your wardrobe give, child. I understand you and that slave,’ he glanced at Erik again, ‘did some good work on the journey on your wedding gown. It needs to finished be. If you need fabric for more gowns, please let me know – we have warehouses full of the stuff, but please take better care than you this morning did.’

I stared at my empty plate and mumbled an apology.

‘Very well, then. I think we’re here finished. You may to the drawing room retire, Gabriella. Erik and I will to the library go to continue our discussions.’

*

Later that night
,
I lay in bed, my head swimming with all that I’d seen and heard that day. I was much happier, and only wished that Erik and his father would reach some agreement soon. I was still wary of my future husband, but hoped he would prove to be friendlier once this current disagreement was at an end.

I caught my breath at a sound and listened hard. It came again from below. I realized I’d heard something similar – aboard Hornigold’s ship on the first night. I stared at the canopy over the bed – angry, jealous and ashamed.
If he thinks so little of me that he would bed my slave in my hearing, why on earth had he agreed to marry me?