CHAPTER TWELVE

Thursday, 5th August

Adriaan van Dijk was as good as his word.

By the time the bell was ringing for six o’clock and the changing of the watch, he had returned with two soldiers to remove the body and to take Judith and the girls to their new lodgings.

Suzanne was intrigued. Van Dijk appeared to have more influence than any regular soldier might be expected to have: in a matter of hours, he had not only arranged alternative accommodation for the girls but had also settled it so that Judith would not have to appear before a magistrate.

‘Everything has been taken care of,’ was all he said.

A pale winter sun rising behind grey clouds was giving shape back to the streets as they made their way through the waking Colony.

‘The new house is closer to where you are living,’ he said, turning to Suzanne. ‘Perhaps your grandmother might help juffrouw Verbeek with the girls?’

‘She would consider it a pleasure. Is there any news of the assailant?’

Van Dijk lowered his voice. ‘It seems – though no one in the Malagasy quarter is talking – that there was some kind of fracas there last evening involving three of Eltorp’s known associates. The bodies of two – one dead, one close to death – were found together with a Malagasy man, also deceased, behind the Slave Lodge. All had been stabbed.’

‘By Eltorp?’

‘More likely in a general affray between the two groups. There is an order of arrest out for Eltorp and a fourth man who was seen drinking with him at a tavern earlier in the evening. Though no one is talking, we will find them.’

‘Why will no one talk?’

‘They are mostly freed slaves in that quarter, men and women brought from Madagascar or Bengal. They do not trust us.’

‘Are they right not to?’

Van Dijk thought for a moment, then nodded. ‘Regrettably, it is the case that some of my compatriots believe that a white skin indicates a truthful, an honourable, nature, whereas a brown or Black skin the opposite.’ He cleared his throat. ‘My experience has been there is good and bad everywhere, as the loathsome behaviour of Eltorp and Holsteen attested last night.’

Though it was in her nature to be cautious, Suzanne was growing to like this man from Rotterdam who had gone out of his way to help them. Van Dijk clearly had the ear of someone higher up within the VOC, so would surely be able to find out what was intended for the eight brides-to-be. ‘Do you know where the orphans will eventually be sent?’

‘Not the specifics of each case, no. It will not happen immediately. These things take time.’

‘That will be a great comfort to Judith. It is said that the Colony has a surfeit of men and fewer women. Is that true?’

‘It is.’

‘You, yourself, are not married?’ Suzanne asked eventually.

It was Van Dijk’s turn to hesitate. ‘I was. It was a marriage of convenience between our two families. We were young, sixteen apiece, but we suited one another well enough. When my wife died in childbirth, the infant too, I left Rotterdam and came here.’

‘I am sorry.’

Van Dijk shrugged. ‘It was more than ten years ago. I have grown used to being alone.’ He picked up the pace, then turned to look back over his shoulder at Judith and her flock. ‘Grey dresses,’ he murmured, and Suzanne wasn’t sure if he was still thinking of Rotterdam, or about the real flesh-and-blood young woman walking behind them.

The comfortable new lodgings were only a few minutes’ walk on the far side of the square from Suzanne and Florence’s house.

‘This is far better,’ Suzanne said with approval.

Judith smiled shyly. ‘You have been more than charitable, mijnheer. There is nothing I can say that would adequately express my gratitude, but you have my thanks. If there is anything I might do to repay the debt, please do not hesitate to ask.’

Van Dijk met her smile with his own. ‘If I might be permitted to call upon you from time to time – to see that you are passing well – that would be repayment enough.’

Suzanne took great pleasure in seeing they were both now blushing, and marvelled at the way of things. She hoped it would not lead to sadness, for either of them.

Back outside in the street, Suzanne suddenly shuddered as the horrors of the night caught up with her. She wanted nothing more, now, than to sleep.

‘I must add my thanks to Judith’s, mijnheer Van Dijk, not least for believing me.’

‘You were very persuasive, juffrouw Joubert. And brave.’

‘Foolhardy, my grandmother would say.’ She shivered again. ‘I must go home. Home! That seems so presumptuous a word to use after a mere eighteen hours in the Cape.’

Van Dijk looked uncomfortable. ‘I’m afraid I have been asked to bring you to Commander Van der Stel.’

Suzanne’s stomach lurched. ‘Because of the murder?’

‘I presume to thank you for your service yesterday. You should not worry.’ He began to walk. ‘Shall we?’

‘With respect, mijnheer,’ she protested, looking down at her clothes, ‘I cannot appear before the Commander like this. And I would not have my grandmother wake and find me still not home.’

Van Dijk considered her words, then nodded.

‘Very well. I will meet you at the main gate of the Castle at ten o’clock. Do not be late.’