Dawn on a Distant Shore
Page 80

"Look at that child," said Curiosity. "Pretty, ain't he? But he's made of blood and bone. Look hard and think about this: if harm come to any of these children I will have to answer to Nathaniel and Elizabeth, just as sure as one day I will have to answer to my God."
"Take him back," said Giselle, her voice trembling with outrage. "Take him back."
When Curiosity had done just that, Giselle said, "That was a very silly thing to do." Her eyes blazed now, all her calm indifference gone. Her gaze flitted back to Daniel and her color rose another notch. "Am I a young girl to lose my wits over an infant? Did you think I would offer up some great secret with a child in my arms?"
"My," said Curiosity softly. "What a fuss over a little baby. As if you ain't never held one before."
Giselle Somerville froze, her face suddenly very still. "What do you mean by that?"
"Why, nothing at all," said Curiosity. "What did you think I meant?"
After a moment Giselle smiled. "I understand that the safety of the children is paramount. Listen now and I'll tell you what opportunity I can offer, and you may take it or leave it as you wish. It might be as much as a day from now, but sooner or later a small ship will anchor nearby flying a particular signal flag. When that ship is in sight, I will create a diversion on board and slip away to meet it. It will all have to happen very quickly, for when this vessel shows itself the Osiris will be very close at hand."
Curiosity let out a little laugh. "So, we are stopped to wait for the Osiris after all."
"Yes. Of course." Giselle was not in the least embarrassed to have been caught in a lie.
"Well then, missy, tell me this. Why would we want to run off, just when our people about to catch us up?"
Giselle sighed. "You mustn't forget what you know of Moncrieff. He will wait for the Osiris, of course, but he is not enough of a fool to let Nathaniel Bonner get within rifle range. No, the minute we see the Osiris within reasonable distance, we will sail off again for Scotland."
"Now, wait a minute," Curiosity said. "Seems to me you and Moncrieff been workin' together for some time now. How does he fit into your little plan?"
Giselle's mouth pursed with irritation. "I should say rather that Moncrieff was working for me, although he did not realize it. It suited me to let him think that it was all his plan, when in fact-- well." She pushed out a small breath. "I had business to see to, and it suited me to use him."
Curiosity might have spoken, but Giselle held up a hand to stop her. "If you leave the Isis with me we can signal the Osiris to stop and take you on board. Given the fact that Carryck wants the child, there is no doubt that they would do so."
"And we'd still be on our way to Scotland," said Curiosity.
Giselle spread out her hands on her lap. "Yes," she said simply. "But with Nathaniel and Hawkeye watching over you, Moncrieff would not dare approach the Osiris to get you back, and thus you would all be together. Which seems to be the thing you want most." She said this as if it were a mystery to her, and vaguely amusing. She looked at Daniel.
"He's very dark haired, isn't he?"
Curiosity shrugged. "It ain't a surprise, looking at his folks."
Giselle looked away suddenly. "If you do not care to come away with me, then a word of warning."
"We cain't pay you for your advice, Miz Somerville."
The younger woman looked more annoyed than disappointed at this interruption. A frown line etched its way down the pale brow. "Carryck wants this boy badly," she said. "And there are others who will want him, too."
"Those Campbells, I suppose," said Curiosity.
"I pity the man who underestimates you." Giselle laughed. "Yes, the Campbells. It suits them best that Carryck is without a male heir, and they will do what they must to keep things that way. Do I make myself clear?"
Curiosity said, "You do. And now let me speak plain, miss."
"I don't suppose I could stop you," said Giselle with a half-smile that was meant to disarm.
"I'm wondering about you, how desperate you are. Who this man is you're running off with, and what he's got in mind for these children. After all, they are worth something to Carryck, or to those Campbells."
Giselle rose slowly. She walked to the window and stood for a long minute watching the sky. With her back still to Curiosity she said, "I could tell you any number of stories that might satisfy you. Perhaps I should tell them all, and leave you to sort out the truth. But in the end there is only one thing that matters: you can take these children and get off this ship and away from Moncrieff, if you care to."
"Is that so. And I suppose you ain't ever heard tell about folks jumping out of a frying pan right into the fire." Curiosity was rocking quietly now, one hand stroking Daniel's back in a small circle.
Giselle turned from the window. "You have no reason to trust me. Just the opposite. But let me tell you something about myself, and perhaps it will change your mind." She crossed her arms below her breasts and dropped her gaze to the floor. When she raised her head, there was a glittering in her eye. "My mother was French, of good family but modest resources. My father regretted the union. He speaks of it as unfortunate and untimely, an indiscretion. He divorced my mother under English law and sent her home to France. I have not seen her since. I do not even know her real name, or if she is alive. Perhaps she has not survived the Terror in France. But I do intend to find out, and the man I am meeting will take me there. It was my one condition."