Aileen had no time for social visits. Her sole purpose in being in the settlement was to find out what had happened to Willand, if at all possible, rescue him.
At twenty-seven years of age and as naturally inclined to command as her brothers, shed seen no reason not to come to Freetown and see what she could do. She was as capable as her brothers, and the other two were not in any position to help Will at that time.
There was also the underlying niggle of knowing that if she hadnt been the only one of their brood available and, moreover, already in London, her parents would never have turned to her for help.
She was the girl in the family. No one expected her to contribute to anything in any way. She was supposed to be decorative rather than effective, and the only expectation anyone seemed able to credit her with was to make a comfortable marriage and keep house for some husbandmost likely another naval officer.
In her heart, she knew that such a future was unlikely to ever come to pass. Aside from all else, her temperament and the odd itch beneath her skinthe same impulsive longing for adventure that had compelled her to set sail for Freetownmade her unsuitable for the position of meek and mild wife.
Even as she sent her pen scratching across the paper, she felt her lips quirk. Meek and mild was not an epithet anyone had ever applied to her.
After outlining her decision to come to Freetown and her intention to discover where Will had gone, she devoted several paragraphs to describing the settlement and where she was staying with a view to easing her parents minds, then briefly outlined what shed ascertained from her first inquiries.
Yesterdayher first full day in the settlementhoping to gain some casual insights before she called at the naval office, shed sought out the usual taverns around the docks where naval officers were wont to congregate. There were always certain establishments that attracted their custom, and while in general she would never have ventured into a tavern alone, in those places that catered to naval officers, her familys connection to the serviceand the Hopkins name was well known throughout the navygave her a degree of protection.
Shed relied on that, gone in, and as she had hoped, shed found several old sailors who knew her brother and had shared drinks and tall tales with him. Shed reasoned that if Will had been sent ashore on some mission that involved the settlement, then these were the men from whom he would have first sought information.
If Will had asked questions, she wanted to know what about.
And shed been right. According to the old sea dogs, shortly before hed disappeared, Will had asked questions that circled two subjects. First, an army officer called Dixon, who was stationed at Fort Thornton, which squatted at the top of Tower Hill. That was puzzling enough, but Wills second area of interest had been some local priest who held services in the settlement. Apparently, Will had attended several services, possibly as many as three.
Of all her brothers, she knew Will the best, understood him with the greatest clarity. That hed voluntarily attended a church service meant hed gone for some reason that had nothing to do with religion.
She lifted her pen and read over all shed written. After a moments deliberation, she decided against sharing her intention to rescue Will; there was no need to add to her parents anxieties. Instead, she concluded with a less stressful repetition of her intention to discover where Will had gone. She ended with a promise to be in touch in due course.
While she sanded the sheet, then sealed her missive, she debated her options.
She set aside the letter, then glanced at the small clock on the mantelpiece. Lips firming, she pushed back from the desk and walked to the low chest that served as a dressing table. In the mirror above it, she considered her reflection, then grimaced and started unpinning her hair.
As she did, she considered the image the clerks at the naval office had seen. A gently bred English rose with pale skin and roses in her cheeks. Her face was close to oval, her nose unremarkable, her forehead wide. Her bright hazel eyes were her best feature, large and fringed with long brown lashes and well set under finely arched brows; other ladies might have used them more, but she rarely thought of it. Her lips were well enoughpink and softly plumpbut they were usually set in a firm if not uncompromising line above her distinctly determined chin.
Her hair was a pleasing but unusual and distinctive shade of copper brown. It normally fell in glossy waves, but at the moment, her tresses were frizzing almost as badly as Mrs. Hoyts in the unrelenting humidity.
With her pins removed, she wielded her hairbrush with grim determination. Eventually, she managed to rewind and refasten her hair in a passable chignon.
She put down the brush, twisted side to side examining her handiwork, then she nodded to herself in the mirror. Good enough.
Good enough to pay a call at the rectory.
She resettled her skirts of pale bone-colored cotton, then put the matching jacket on again, but in a concession to the heat, left it open over her neat white blouse. After sliding the cords of her reticule over her wrist, she picked up the letter and headed for the door.
From Mrs. Hoyt, shed learned that the Anglican ministers wife was a Mrs. Hardwicke, and that Mrs. Hardwicke could be found most mornings at the rectory. Aileen felt sure that the ministers wife would know about the other priests services.
Pausing with her hand on the doorknob, she hesitated. Theres also the army officer, Dixon. As far as she knew, Will had no friends in the army.
For a second, she debatedrectory or fort? Then she firmed her lips and opened the door.
She would post her letter and then call at the rectory.
One question at a time. Step by step, she would hunt Will down.
And then she would get him back.
* * *
Two days later, Aileen filed out of the rustic church in which the local priest, one Obo Undoto, conducted his services. Hemmed in between two other ladies, she was carried forth on the tide of the emerging congregation, which then spread across the dusty area before the church.
As matters had transpired, she hadnt had to ask Mrs. Hardwicke for information; when shed called at the rectory, shed found a small gathering of ladies taking tea. At Mrs. Hardwickes invitation, shed joined the group. After the introductions had been dealt with, the conversation had turned to events occurring in the settlementand a Mrs. Hitchcock had mentioned that Undotos next service would be held at noon two days hence. Later, Aileen had left the rectory with Mrs. Hitchcock and had asked for directions to the church, which Mrs. Hitchcock had readily given, along with a recommendation that she would find the service diverting.
When Aileen had walked into the rectangular church just before noon, shed had to hunt to find a seat; shed been astonished by how full the church had been. People of all races and of a wide range of social classes had crammed the pewsEuropeans of all nationalities primarily to the left, with local natives and others of the African nations mostly to the right.
Her surprise had lasted until shed heard enough to appreciate the tenor of Undotos offering. In a voice full of thunder and brimstone, with a showmans zeal, he delivered something more akin to a stage performance than a conventional religious experience. Given the dearth of entertainment she had by then noted in the settlement, the crowd packing the church wasnt such a wonder. Anything to fill the boredom that many, of necessity, had to bear.
Her surprise had lasted until shed heard enough to appreciate the tenor of Undotos offering. In a voice full of thunder and brimstone, with a showmans zeal, he delivered something more akin to a stage performance than a conventional religious experience. Given the dearth of entertainment she had by then noted in the settlement, the crowd packing the church wasnt such a wonder. Anything to fill the boredom that many, of necessity, had to bear.
None of which explained why Will had attended. Most likely more than once. She knew beyond question that Undotos performance wouldnt have appealed to her younger brother as a way to pass his time.
Shed spent the majority of the service surveying the congregation and everything else she could see, searching for some sign of what might have drawn Will to the place, but shed seen nothing and gained no clue to that mystery.
As she slowly wended her way through the crowd now thronging the forecourt, she noticed an old mana grizzled old tar if shed ever seen oneponderously stumping away from the church. He leaned heavily on his cane; he had lost one leg and had an old-fashioned wooden peg leg.
Instantly, Aileen knew who among all the congregation Will would most likely have approached. Her younger brother had always been fascinated with old tales of the sea.
She changed tack and went after the old man. As she drew level, she glanced at his face and discovered he was one-eyed, too. Excuse me, she said. I wonder if I might speak with you.
The old sailor glanced at her in surprise. But the instant he took in her face and her attire, he halted, politely raised his cap, and, planting his cane, half bowed. Of course, miss. His eyes crinkled at the outer edges as he set his cap back on his head. Old Sampson at your service. Always happy to have a chat, although what a lady like you might want with an old sea dog like me, I cant imagine.
She smiled. Its quite simple, really. My brother was herewith a wave, she indicated the churchsome months ago, and Im quite sure he would have spoken with you. Hes mad for tales of seafaring, and you look like you could tell quite a few.
The old sailor folded both hands over the head of his cane. Aye. He nodded. You have that right. Ive sailed all of the seven seas in my day. Aint nothing I like better than to remember those days. Rip roaring, they were. But whats your brothers name? Before she could answer, he added, I pride myself on learning the name to go with every face I see, at least among the Europeans.
Excellent. Aileens smile brightened. His name is William Hopkins. Hes a lieutenant currently serving with the squadron here.
Will Hopkins? Sure and I remember him. Interesting ladkeen to hear my stories.
She beamed. I was sure he would have asked.
So how can I help you? Sampson arched his bushy brows. Young Will hasnt been by for some time, and truth to tell, I never did understand why he came. Lads like him can usually find enough to interest them in the settlement without resorting to Undotos histrionics.
I can imagine. With three brothers, she certainly could. But Will has disappeared, it seems, and Im here to see if I can find any trace of where he might have gone, or why. She saw a frown form in Sampsons eyes. She tipped her head, regarding him more closely. I gathered that Will came to more than one service.
Aye. Sampson nodded, but his expression had grown absentminded, as if the news that Will had disappeared had triggered thoughts of something else. He came three times.
Do you recall if he met with anyone after the serviceperhaps some young lady? Or was he watching someone?
Sampson shook his head and answered in a distracted fashion, Not that I saw. And I sit on a stool in the back corner, so I see most things.
With the obvious excuse discounted, Aileen concluded that Wills purpose in attending the servicesthree of themhad to have been connected with his mission. Whatever that mission had been.
But how?
She raised her gaze to Sampsons face, only to discover hed refocused on her and was now regarding her with some concern. What is it? she asked.
He frowned. Its possible I shouldnt tell you this, but there were others asking questionsa captain and his crew, not navy, but I got the impression they was...authorized, if you get my drift. A couple of weeks ago, they were here asking about peopleofficerswhod apparently attended Undotos services and then...vanished. They didnt mention your brother by name, but if I recall aright, they said there were two navy lieutenants among the missing.
Her heart leapt. This captain and his creware they still here?
The worried look in Sampsons eyes increased. No. I heard theyd sailed off in something of a rush. Some say to Cape Town, but others as saw them go say they left under oars at night, and the tack they took out of the estuary lay to the north.
For a second, Sampson searched her eyes, then he drew himself up. If youll pardon the liberty, miss, this Captain Frobisher was a sharp sort, and he and his crew knew what they were doing. They came asking questions about people whod gone missing, and they must have found somethingsomething of the sort to send them packing, possibly back to London.
Sampson glanced swiftly around, then shifted closer and lowered his voice. Its true theres something havey-cavey going on in the settlement. Seems theres more missing than a handful of officers. But whatevers going on, its dangerous enough to have a captain of the likes of Frobisher playing cautious. You need to take that on board. Asking questions about those whove gone missing might end with you going missing, too. He shifted back and looked her in the face. Trust me, miss, you need to back away and leave this to those trained to handle such things.
The possibility that, contrary to all appearances, someonemost likely someone in authority in Londonwas pursuing those missing, Will included, came as a huge relief.
However, theywhoever they werewerent here, and she was.
And Will was still missing.
Shed held Sampsons gaze while those thoughts flitted through her mind; his worry remained plain to see. She drew breath, hesitated, then inclined her head. Thank you for the warning, Mr. Sampson. Rest assured, Ill pay it due heed.
No need to tell him that learning that Will had, indeed, been on some mission and had subsequently disappeared, and that others had disappeared as well, had only made her more determined than ever to find her missing brother and, if possible, rescue him, too.
* * *
The obvious first step was to learn more about the mission Will had been pursuing.
Other than attending Undotos church, the only oddity shed heard of in Wills behavior before hed disappeared had been his interest in Dixon, the army officer stationed at the fort.
Given the time-honored tensions between army and navy, Wills interest in Dixon had to have been work relatedergo, mission related. Presumably, hed gone to speak with Dixon, which made Dixon an obvious person for her to speak with, too.
Her hopes of gaining some insight into the nature of Wills mission were riding high as she toiled up the final stretch of road that led to the open gates of the fort, with its guardhouse built against the palisade to one side of the entrance.