CHAPTER ELEVEN

At a loss to account for the soldier’s sudden urgency, Suzanne struggled to keep up with his long stride.

‘How many people know where the girls are lodging?’ he asked.

‘Certainly everyone on the ship – crew and passengers alike – knew they were to be billeted together until the time came for them to be separated and taken to their permanent homes.’

‘Which are to be?’

‘They have not yet been told,’ Suzanne replied, a little out of breath. ‘They are to be married to settlers, but know nothing more than that. In terms of where they are staying, anyone present when we were being processed might have heard the address. That’s to say, anyone who understands Dutch would have heard. Most of my co-religionists do not.’

‘Ah,’ he said. ‘You are she.’

Suzanne stopped. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘There was talk that a Frenchwoman from the China stepped in to act as interpreter. That was you, was it not?’

‘It was,’ she said, unable to tell if he disapproved.

‘Surely a guard was set? Eight young ladies with no chaperone?’

‘They were given no protection.’

‘Ridiculous . . .’

‘I agree.’ Suzanne paused. ‘I gave you my name, mijnheer. I am originally from La Rochelle, though more recently a citizen of Amsterdam. Might you do me the courtesy of telling me yours?’

He turned to look at her. ‘Forgive me. I am Adriaan van Dijk, originally from Rotterdam.’

‘Ah.’ Suzanne smiled, now understanding his interest. For a moment, the two new allies looked at one another. Then they continued the rest of their way in silence until they reached the rough, dead-end street.

Judith was waiting immediately inside the door. Suzanne could see that, in the past hour, the shock of what had happened – and what might have happened – had hit home. She remembered having that same delayed reaction. Her friend’s eyes were glassy from shock, there was a sheen of sweat on her skin and she kept picking at a loose thread on her grey sleeve. The other girls were sitting on their mats on the platform, as far away from Driek’s body as it was possible to be in such confined quarters.

‘Judith,’ Suzanne said gently, ‘this is Adriaan van Dijk from the garrison. He, too, comes originally from Rotterdam. He has offered to help us. Mijnheer, may I present Judith Verbeek.’

At first, it seemed as if she had not heard. Then Judith remembered her manners and gave a slight curtsey. ‘That is very kind.’

Van Dijk bowed, then gestured to the trunk. ‘May I?’

Judith stepped back as he lifted the blanket. Suzanne saw Driek’s skin was now the colour of wax and the wound on his neck was gaping.

‘Will you tell me what happened, juffrouw Verbeek?’

Judith blushed at the courtesy of his address, then began to recount the events of the night. Her voice was clear and without an excess of emotion, Suzanne admired her self-possession.

When she had finished, Van Dijk asked: ‘You recognised Holsteen from the ship, that is correct?’

‘I did.’

‘But the other man was unknown to you.’

‘I did not know him. He was tall, much bigger than Driek, with a full black beard and blue cape. He was called Lars – at least, I think that’s the name Driek used. There was so much shouting and—’

‘Ah! Lars Eltorp, I’d wager. I know of him.’ Van Dijk turned to Suzanne. ‘Does this sound like the man you saw previously?’

‘It was dark, but I think so.’

‘Eltorp is a blow-in from one of the pirate ships, a Zeelander. He has been a guest at the Castle on more than one occasion.’

Judith turned to Van Dijk. ‘You do believe me, mijnheer?’ she said. ‘That I did nothing to occasion this, that I didn’t invite them here or—’

Suzanne touched her friend’s arm to calm her. ‘Hush.’

‘I am confident you are innocent of any wrong-doing,’ Van Dijk replied. ‘I am only sorry that your first impression of the Colony has been so unfavourable. I would that you had seen us in a better light.’

‘Sinner that he was, I prayed for him,’ Judith said softly, glancing down at Driek’s body.

Van Dijk nodded. ‘He is in God’s hands now.’ As he spoke, Suzanne noticed, with gentle amusement, that the tips of the soldier’s ears had turned pink.

He quickly recovered himself. ‘I will fetch some of my colleagues to remove the body,’ Van Dijk said briskly. ‘Then, we must find you better lodgings. This is not a suitable quarter of town for young ladies. There is a chance that Eltorp might return.’

Judith became even paler. ‘Do you think so?’

Van Dijk held up his hands. ‘It is a precaution only, juffrouw Verbeek. The miscreant will be lying low in one of the boarding houses at the port, no doubt, but we’ll find him. Have no fear.’ He turned to Suzanne. ‘Can you remain here until I return?’ He gestured towards the corpse. ‘I wish it were not so, but . . .’

‘Of course, we will manage.’

He gave a slight bow. ‘Very well. Ladies, I will take my leave.’

For a moment after he had gone, they stood in silence. Then Suzanne exhaled.

‘He is taken with you,’ Judith said quietly.

Suzanne smiled and took her friend’s hand. ‘It is not me who has caught his eye, my innocent Judith.’