English Harbour was astir when Drakkar returned with her little flotilla. They were scarred, but victorious.
Much to everyone’s surprise, Scythe made the trip back. Drakkar’s carpenter and his mates had been able to staunch the flow of incoming seawater by fothering a doubled up tar soak topsail. Once the canvas patch was in place the prisoners were put on the pumps to keep the water level down. The majority of Scythe’s damage was between wind and water. The pumps were manned watch-and-watch at first. But by the time Antigua was sighted, the pumps only had to be manned one hour in four. Mr. Stokes had predicted Scythe could be completely repaired and declared seaworthy in no time at all.
Commodore Gardner was all nerves and apprehension. From the time Anthony’s ships had been sighted it seemed to have taken an eternity for them to beat into the harbor. However, Drakkar now stood bows onto the land. Unable to curb his impatience, Gardner had taken a guard boat out to meet Anthony, appearances be damned.
Now he sat silently, absently drinking a glass of claret, but never tasting it. He was totally engrossed in Anthony’s report.
The dialogue was eventually interrupted by a knock on the door. The sentry announced, “Midshipman Young, sir.” The lad entered the cabin and seemed to wilt from Commodore Gardner’s glare. His anger at having Anthony’s narrative interrupted was not lost on the boy.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Spit it out man.”
“Er-Mr. Buck’s compliments, sir. We’re about ready to drop anchor.” “Very well,” Anthony replied. “Tell Mr. Buck I’ll be on deck directly.” “Aye, sir.” The lad then scampered out of the cabin, glad to be out from under Gardner’s glare.
“Damn whelp,” Gardner remarked. “Well, duty calls, and I’ve kept you too long, Gil. But damme man, it sounds like you took care of the swines proper like. Here’s my hand and congratulations. The island is a buzz from here to St. Johns and back already. Every planter on the island will want to give you a reception to celebrate and share in your glory. Don’t know that I envy you there.”
Lady Deborah’s carriage was waiting at the jetty when Anthony finally made it ashore. He climbed in beside her and almost collapsed. She pulled him to her and listened attentively as Anthony summarized the events surrounding the battle.
He then told her if it were not for Dagan he’d be dead. “You would not believe the control he had over Jabot, till some damn rogue broke the trance. Then Dagan called down the raven. Where it had been lurking I don’t know. I do know I owe Dagan my life.” Turning and looking into his woman’s eyes Anthony said, “The only thing going through my mind when the blade was at my throat was that you were going to be widowed again, even before we married.”
“Oh, darling,” Deborah responded as she pulled Anthony to her breast and held him close. “What would I do without you?” Sensing her man’s needs, the carriage ride to the cottage had been made in silence with the two holding each other. Anthony could sense a renewal in his body and soul that seemed to come with the closeness of Deborah’s body next to his. He could feel her heartbeat as his head lay upon her breast, and he seemed to breathe the very air she breathed. The breath of life.
Just before they arrived at the cottage Deborah sat up. “We have company, dear.”
“Company?”
“Yes! And now that you’re back we’ll have to open up the big house. Our little love nest is too small for everyone.”
“Who’s here?” Anthony asked.
“Your family, you silly man. They arrived just as you left. Your sister has been helping with our wedding plans.”
“Oh,” groaned Anthony. He then said, “Our wedding’s still a month away and more.”
“And that’s no time at all for all the things a lady has to do to complete the arrangements,” Deborah replied. “Now straighten yourself up and see if that one area that’s too straight can be controlled before it causes embarrassment.”
Without realizing it, Anthony had become aroused with his head lying on Deborah’s breast. “See what you do to me?” Anthony exclaimed. “You prime my cannon then secure quarters without even allowing a ranging shot.”
Deborah giggled as he set to gather himself together to meet his family.