Barney bowed elaborately. "Mes regardes a voire pere, M'sieur le Marquis."
"You may reach Martinique before I do. In any event I'll see you tonight. It would be Use-majeste to miss the Governor's birthday reception. Confidentially, Barney, I've asked my father for my release
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from this duty, which I took for fun. I want to rejoin the fleet. We do not know exactly when de Grasse comes, you know. Soon, we hope. I want you to meet de Grasse, and he desires the pleasure, immensely."
"A pleasure for me, too, m'lord," Barney said. "Au revoir." Once more he went on down the street. He was in Lower Town now, descending rapidly along a warehouse that seemed to be fast sliding downhill. Through open doors he went into one of the largest auctions.
The smoke was so thick it was hard to see and even harder to breathe. He passed by naked blacks, ready for the auction block. The cries of the auctioneers and the answering voices of the bidders sounded. Barney was reminded of Joshua; he could imagine him here, leaning tall and elegant on his cane, calling out in his accented voice. The thought made him smile, but he didn't see Joshua; he saw British, American, French, Greek, Irish, and Armenian merchants. At the door of the Armenian office he paused a second to look out again over the thick press of men. He remembered de Bouille's words. It was a damned far end from Paris.
Chapter 24
BARNEY KNOCKED ON THE WHITE DOOR. IT WAS OPENED FOR HIM, and he stepped in, closing it softly. He had never seen her look so beautiful.
She was dressed in white, yet the shimmering white satin was no whiter than her bare shoulders and arms. As she walked toward him, the gauzy poufs of the gown floated away from the slim shiny sheath.
Her eyes were deep grey pools fringed by blackest heavy lashes; the faintest flush on her cheeks glowing pale beside the warm red of her lips. He bowed.
"I should have brought a bodyguard, Douglass," he said with sincerity. "They will snatch you away from me."
"I'm not afraid of that, Barney," she said.
He took her hand; it felt cool. He stepped back to see her better.
She faced him. "This afternoon—you did not by any chance see Joshua?"
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The answer was brief. "No."
And even if Joshua were here—"You do not understand, Barney," she said, across the five feet that separated them.
He crossed the five feet quickly, towering over her.
"I think I do," he said.
"I only want you," she whispered.
He looked down at the curve of her lips as she spoke, the shadowed eyes. Then he said, "Douglass, if we don't leave now, we never will. I would prefer you to be in my house." He opened the door and they started down the hall. He heard her ask, in a small voice:
"You mean tonight?"
"Yes, tonight, too. But I mean I want you to stay there. It's safer. I have four men to look after the grounds, and two women, one a cook. They came with the house." He guided her through the huge doorway to the ballroom.
It looked like fairyland. The carved ceiling and walls were decorated with orange and citrus branches in bloom. The room opened into the gardens, and on the royal palms crystal lamps hung in up-going spirals. The brilliant red and gold and blue of dress uniforms vied with the magnificent dress of the women. Music played.
"The Armenian there measures his income in millions," said Barney. "He runs two auctions, and owns Lord knows how many vessels. He'll eat a bit of supper and then disappear to gamble somewhere."
Douglass stared at the jewels on the woman beside him. The Armenian bowed to Barney as they went by. "Cards later, sair?" he asked.
Barney said, "My regrets," and smiled. The Armenian surveyed Douglass broodingly, studying each feature.
Barney steered her over toward two men, standing at the edge of a little indoor grove of potted fruit trees; they were drinking champagne and the candlelight winked on the glasses. He said, "Those two are the British resident—whom you know—and a British spy, de Borotra. I want a few words with them."
Douglass heard herself acknowledging their introduction. She listened to their talk. The British resident was saying:
"I detected your fine hand in Governor de Graaf's decision on the 'Falcon' case, Barney. It seems that Johns impugned Dutch honor when he lowered his colors."
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"Myself, I thought he impugned English honor," said Barney levelly.
There was a moment's silence in which Douglass caught her breath and waited to see what would happen next. Barney had said that de Borotra was an English spy, and yet his Spanish accent was heavy. "Cowardice," said de Borotra, "in one man reflects on all men, let us say." He sipped his wine.
"Two shots in the back of a fleeing man mean something to you, then," Barney said. "In case you have not yet discovered it, de Bouille and I disposed of your hired assassin."
"My dear Barney," said de Borotra.
The resident said, "On my honor, sir, I know nothing of this!"
"You bloody the fingers of only one hand, sir?"
There was another silence. Then de Borotra said to Douglass, "How long are you and Barney staying with us on Stasia, madam?"
Douglass said honestly, "Why, I don't know, sir," and she was surprised when Barney flushed, angered and protective, said to the Spaniard:
"There may come a time when I'll have to dispose of you myself, sir."
De Borotra acknowledged this with a slight bow. "Hurry then, Barney. We have a further charge against you now. Wearing a British naval uniform in wartime is a crime punishable by hanging."
"That's why I issue this warning, sir. Stay off the streets till I leave, or you'll never have the pleasure of watching me kick my heels." He bowed and Douglass found herself walking away with him. Her fingers pressed against his arm.
She whispered, "Will he?"
"Yes," said Barney grimly. "I've given that warning to one other man. I meant both of them!"
She stopped. In her wide grey eyes was the same look he had seen there before, questioning, unsure. He said harshly, "I'm a rough bastard for you, am I not?"
The room seemed to recede and there was nobody in it but him. "Barney," she said, "did you—"
"No, but only because I haven't had the chance. This is no place for you!" He glanced about. He saw de Bouille and the Governor and Lady de Graaf. "There are the only three people who are fit for you to consort with! I want you to meet Lord de Bouille; he is
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an old friend." Then suddenly he smiled. "I do know a few respectable people. And sometimes I behave myself. Rarely, though."
Douglass heard herself congratulating the Governor on his birthday, greeting Lady de Graaf, and being presented to de Bouille. De Bouille bent over her white fingers. He looked at her with undisguised admiration. He murmured in French that he would be happy if she would dance with him. Barney and de Graaf stood together and watched them move away.
"So stunned he forgot his English," said de Graaf. "I did not know that you were friendly with Madam Harris."
"I wanted to speak with you about her," Barney said. "I'm taking her with me tonight."
De Graaf muttered, "You lucky dog."
Barney had told the truth without thinking. Now he amended his words. "Madam wished me to tell you how much she has enjoyed your hospitality," Barney said. "I am lending my house to her because I believe it is safer. I have convinced her she will be in less danger there."
De Graaf laughed. "I expect you're very convincing, sir."
Barney did not smile. "Just a matter of her safety, m'lord," and de Graaf looked askance. Then he shrugged his massive shoulders. A passing servant stopped and offered a silver tray with glasses of champagne. Barney took one and watched Douglass.