push, Court,” Chance said with a smile, but the warning was in his tone. “I give my word.”
“Then we’ll shake on it,” the younger man said, grabbing Chance’s hand. “I don’t usually nearly come to blows twice in one day and with the same person. I apologize.”
“As does Chance,” Ainsley said from his seat behind the desk. “And now, before this old man begins blubbering at all this affecting sentiment being bandied about, Court, I believe Jacko has some ideas about how to better organize the men. He’s at the Last Voyage, as usual. Go humor him, please.”
Chance could see that Courtland wanted to decline but that his brother also understood that Ainsley’s mild tone contained an order not to be disobeyed.
Once Courtland had bowed and left the study, Chance turned to Ainsley. “Even with that ridiculous beard, I keep forgetting he’s no longer a boy. He’s grown a temper as well as found his tongue, hasn’t he?”
“I’d say his fuse is about the same length as yours. And we all make mistakes. That’s how we learn. Sit down, Chance.”
“You want to ask about my fiancée, I imagine. I just gave her a ring to seal our engagement.” Chance returned to the couch, feeling not a single qualm about lying to Ainsley concerning his supposed plans to marry Julia.
“No, I don’t wish to meddle in your private affairs, Chance. Except, of course, for how they might affect the rest of us.”
“Everything is fine on that head. Besides, along with Alice still in Julia’s charge, Elly has agreed to also keep her occupied with plans for the nuptials. Embroidering pillowcases and whatever other nonsense women believe necessary. And once things are settled here, I’ll take Julia back to London. I see no more trouble, nothing for Jacko or anyone else to fret about anymore.”
Ainsley lifted one well-defined black eyebrow. “Really? I have met the woman, you know, spoken with her. You and I haven’t been together for any length in some time, Chance. Do you regularly delude yourself now?”
Chance threw back his head and laughed, then quickly sobered. “All right, I’ll be honest with you. I’m thinking I may have to tie her to the bedpost to keep her nose out of our business, actually. It seems she grew up on stories of the Hawkhurst Gang and smuggling in general. Her vicar father either rode with the local smugglers before his death or, at the least, allowed them to use his church as a hidey-hole. No matter what, Julia is very much in sympathy with the smugglers.”
Ainsley looked at him, just looked at him. And waited.
“You want me to say it all, don’t you? Very well,” Chance said, knowing no one had ever won a staring match with Geoffrey Baskin; a change of name and the passage of more than a dozen years hadn’t seemed to change that.
“I want to know if you understand, that’s all.”
“Oh, I understand. She sees too much and she asks too many questions. Billy knows that because he was there with us on the Marsh when we stumbled over the boys, and what Billy knows, Jacko knows, along with God only knows how many others at the Last Voyage. And we both know how superstitious those two are about women, no matter that we aren’t aboard ship anymore.”
“Billy still walks as if he is, and Jacko has a sad past when it comes to women, so we’ll excuse him.”
“A sad past, is it? I heard it was a case of the pox with one and a bash over the head and a stolen purse with another.”
“There’s also the one in Santiago he found in bed with another woman—and if you ever repeat that, we’re both as good as dead men,” Ainsley said, getting to his feet, still straight and slim, handsome as well as impressive in his unremitting black. “I’ve spoken with Odette.”
Chance smiled wryly, happy to be back on such close footing with the captain. “Yes, so have I. According to Odette, Julia will follow wherever I go and never betray me, so I suppose I should relax.”
“She also said that Isabella and I would live to see our many children and grandchildren,” Ainsley said as he rubbed at the back of his neck.
There was shared pain in the small silence that followed Ainsley’s words.
“You’re worried I might go all soft on her. Let my heart rule my head. Don’t be. I’ll watch her,” Chance promised quietly at last, keeping his tone neutral.
“No, you’ll take Billy and get on with your business, and we’ll watch her. The moon’s still right for another run tonight and Court will handle that, our crew guarding the men as they land and until the goods are safely concealed before they can be moved inland.”
“They can’t use the crude hidey-hole I saw last night. The Red Men Gang will certainly be watching for them there.”
“Agreed, and we don’t want another fight—yet. It’s unfortunate, but we see no other avenue at this late date but to hide the goods in the village.”
Chance put a hand to his head and began rubbing at his forehead, wishing he didn’t have to ask the question. “Landing where?”
“On the sands, as they’ve done before. Nearly under my nose, which shows how senile I’ve grown. There have been mistakes made, Chance, and they will be remedied. But for tonight we’ve got no choice. Only two dozen small boats land at midnight, carrying silk, coffee, gin and brandy, rowing across the Channel, if that tells you how desperate these men are and why the goods won’t be moved again until tomorrow night. They’ll arrive exhausted.”
“The sands aren’t a good idea.”
“Why? Because Court picked the area, not you? Everyone knows the sands are treacherous to anyone unfamiliar with them, so I don’t expect any problems from the dragoons.”
“Is that so?” Chance reached into his pocket and pulled out the brass button, tossed it to Ainsley. “I found this an hour ago in the tall reeds and grass not six feet from the path leading from the sands. From the shine still on it, it hadn’t been there long.”
“Sweet Christ and all the little fishes, as Jacko would say.” Ainsley pocketed the button. “This is my fault, Chance. I haven’t been paying attention. I’ve let them all grow up wild and headstrong.”
“You taught me. You, Jacko, Billy,” Chance reminded him. “It’s not too late for the others.”
“No, it’s not. But it could have been. Court is learning and doing well on his own, if not brilliantly, but there’s still Spence and Rian to consider.” Ainsley smiled ruefully as he stood up, came out from behind the desk. “You know, I think I rather fancy the idea of a cape and mask. That touch of drama and mystery.”
“Oh, no. You’re considering riding out as the Black Ghost? Don’t you think you’re past such adventures, old man?”
“I’ll ignore that insult,” Ainsley said. “I can plan here,” he said, leaning over the table of maps and charts. “A leader leads, Chance, and teaches by example. You said that. We both know that.”
Chance gave in to the excitement of the moment, his memories of following wherever Captain Geoffrey Baskin went, drinking in all he could learn, dancing in his brain. “Exactly so. And why should
