Chapter Thirty-Five

“Lady Ann Millbank, sir.” The pompous butler stood aside to allow Annie and Ginny to enter the governor’s high-ceilinged office. Its wide windows looking out over Portsmouth Harbor let in hot rays of summer sunshine.

“Sir.” Annie favored the governor with a slight nod of recognition as the rotund official rose from behind his desk.

“Lady Ann.” He returned her greeting with a deep bow. “My pleasure, ma’am. Marshal Braymore sent a message concerning you and your lady’s maid before he had to rush off to attend to prisoners. A rather confusing message, I must admit. Something about the pair of you having been brought ashore from the Lady Ghost and that you are the wife of that plague of our coastal trade, Captain Caleb Cameron. I believe Liberty Braymore is quite at the end of his tether to know what to do about the situation. Please be seated while we discuss the matter.”

Ann gratefully sank into the seat indicated. She’d been walking and standing about for hours.

“Please, Ginny, be seated.” She turned to her friend, guessing she was equally fatigued after a long day of awaiting transport to the governor’s lodgings. She ignored the official’s scowl at what she guessed he’d interpret as an unacceptable invitation to a servant.

“Now, Lady Ann.” Governor John Taylor Gilman sat down and looked across at her, his stern weathered face giving her no indication in her favor. “I understand you’ve threatened to have our little township blown to smithereens if we don’t adhere to some unwritten agreement between our countries to the effect that ships carrying women are automatically ruled illegal prizes.”

“That is correct, sir.”

“Ah, yes.” John Gilman leaned back in his chair and hooked his thumbs into his waistcoat, a smug smile warming his face. “But you must understand the capture of your husband and his ship is not a regular prize. The man has fair been driving us mad with his pilfering of our supply vessels. His craft is well named the Lady Ghost. She’s been almost impossible to sight and, I’m told, under his command can fly like a witch before the slightest breath of wind. The blighter slides in and out around Cape Cod as slippery as an eel. But no more. Now he rests in irons in the town jail.”

“But you see, there is a problem with that very condition.” Annie forced a sad little half smile and lowered her gaze to her clasped hands. The image of Caleb imprisoned in irons made her stomach knot. “Captain Caleb Cameron is not only my husband but also the father of my four sons, the Duke of Haverbrook’s nephews.”

“What…what’s that you say?” The big man bolted forward on his chair. “Brother-in-law to a duke, a royal duke?”

“Yes, a man very well connected at court.” She looked up at him, eyes suddenly narrowing and turning hard and cold. “Thus you can appreciate my threat of Royal Navy involvement isn’t a hollow one.”

“Good God! I may as well have the Prince Regent in chains!”

“Very nearly.” She stuck out her chin and faced him boldly. “So you see, you’d best release my husband. Otherwise, I’ve no doubt my brother will have his friend muster all the resources of the Royal Navy to sail against the good people of Portsmouth. I’m sure you don’t want to suffer a bombardment.”

“Damn and blast!” The governor stood and began to pace the room. “I can’t let the man go. They’ve labeled him the Sea Wolf, and that’s exactly what he is, preying on American shipping. If released, I’ve no doubt he’d be back at it in short order. On the other hand…” He stopped pacing and swung on her, his face bright.

“As the brother-in-law to a duke, he could fetch a fine ransom. Aye, that’s the ticket. I’ll hold him for ransom.”

“You don’t seriously believe my brother will pay.” Alarmed by this turn of events, Annie struggled to change the course of the discussion. “The British have a long history of never paying for the release of prisoners, and I doubt they have anyone of equal importance to exchange for Captain Cameron.” Although she had no idea if that were a fact, she was grasping at straws. “Therefore, with no one to dicker for and refusing to pay ransom, they’d have no choice but to raze your township in retribution.”

“We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we, my lady?” He stood to glower down at her, his face still bright with his decision.

She looked up at him, hoping she looked haughty and arrogant in the face of his veiled threat.

“John, I heard voices.” A tall, slender, elegantly dressed woman stepped into the room. “Do we have visitors?”

“May I present Lady Ann Millbank.” The big man turned to her. “Lady Ann, my wife.”

“Mrs. Gilman.” Ann inclined her head.

“Lady Ann.” The woman’s astonishment was registered in her expression for a moment before she recovered her poise and dropped into a curtsy. “I am delighted. You’ll stay to dinner, of course.”

“Thank you. That is most kind of you, Mrs. Gilman.” Annie gave a small gasp and put a hand to her forehead. “Oh, dear.”

“John!” Mrs. Gilman was instantly at her side, putting a supporting arm about her waist. “Help me.”

The governor’s lady knelt beside her, her face so knotted with concern Annie felt a pang of guilt. But it was all in a good cause. She brushed aside her apprehensions.

“Are you unwell, my dear?” the woman asked softly.

“Our fifth child is on the way.” Annie prayed she looked fittingly ill. “If you’ll just allow my maid to fetch me a glass of water…”

“Through there and down the hall.” Mrs. Gilman indicated the way, and after a furtively admonishing glance at Annie, Ginny scuttled off.

“Now, my dear, you must let me help you to a bed. Where are you staying in Portsmouth?”

“I’ve only arrived today…as a captive.”

“What?” Deborah Gilman swung on her husband. “Surely not! No women are to be taken prisoners of war. You’ve said so yourself, John.” She turned back to Annie. “You’ll be our guest, you and your little maid servant, until my husband gets this deplorable situation straightened out.”

“But…” The governor made to protest, but his lady’s glare stopped him.

“Come, my dear.” She helped Annie to her feet. “Let me take you up to a guest room. Mr. Gilman, send Daisy to us immediately. I’ll need her to bring fresh linen.”