Mistress of Darkness (48 page)

'Oh, isn't he a horrible man.' Georgiana tucked her arm through Corbeau's as they made their way up the dock towards the carriage. 'You'd think it was more of a nightmare, the way he has been grumbling about the cost of everything. But it is all prepared, Louis. There'll be nothing like it ever seen in Jamaica.'

'Well,' Corbeau agreed, continuing to smile at Robert, 'there has never been such an occasion, has there? A Hilton, wedding a Corbeau? This date will be set aside in all the history books.'

'Aye.' Robert held the door for them. 'We'll not wait for the monsieur's gear, Philip. It can follow in the wagon.'

Louis sat himself beside Georgiana; he still held her hand, and he squeezed it continually, as if to reassure himself that it was flesh and blood. ‘You do not sound convinced. Are all my guests not arrived?'

"They come every day,' Georgiana said. 'Kingston's hotels are so filled with French chatter you'd think we were conquered.'

'And others,' Robert grumbled, sitting opposite them, beside the priest, and resting his hands on his knees. 'Dirk Huys arrived yesterday.'

'And that does not please you?' Corbeau inquired. 'Surely it can only mean he has decided to let bygones be bygones.'

Georgiana burst into a ripple of laughter. ‘I can hardly wait.'

'You've not seen him?' '

'We exchanged a glass,' Robert said. 'He was stiff, but not unfriendly. He knows I have the same opinions about ... well, about everything. He has no idea of the ordeal to which he is going to be exposed.'

'You'll explain?'

'Why, this ...' he seemed to change his mind about the word he would have chosen. 'Foolish sister of mine will have no one but Sue as her maid of honour. How can she apply the word?'

'I do not,' Georgiana said. 'She will be my
matron
of honour.'

'Then she is in Jamaica?' Corbeau inquired. 'You'll not have heard?'

Corbeau shrugged. 'Rumours. But the world is full of rumours, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to listen, much less believe.'

'Aye.' Robert stared out of the window as the carriage rumbled along the road. 'But there is generally a fire beneath the smoke. Sue is living in Kingston, sharing a shack with her paramour and a detestable fellow called Coke. But a month gone she was delivered of a second child.'

'Sue, twice a mother?' He wondered what difference childbearing would have made to that magnificent body, that remarkable personality. Ah, well, he supposed, like poor Rose Tascher, he must now relegate Sue Hilton to the realms of what might have been. 'By Matt?'

'Who else?'

'And will he also be attending the wedding?' 'I'd not allow him in the drive.'

'Oh, really, Robert,' Georgiana said. 'I'm afraid you will have to change your mind. Louis, you will have to make him change his mind.'

'I really do not understand what it is all about.'

'Why, simply that Sue has written to me refusing to attend my wedding unless Matt is also invited. So naturally I have decided to forget our quarrel for the time being. But I would have done so anyway, I think, had I thought of it. Weddings are not a time for quarrelling, with anyone. I am so happy, Louis. So happy.' She pinched his arm; he could feel it turning black and blue.

'Ah, but I see the predicament,' he observed. 'Robert wonders what Dirk's reaction will be.'

'Indeed I do,' Robert agreed. 'But that is the very least of the matter. You have not heard what that young fool is about now?'

'Rumours...'

'Which have not sufficiently interested you. But he will have nothing less than a revolution.' 'Sir?'

'Oh, that is a fact. He preaches freedom for the niggers, damnation to the plantocracy, abolition and amelioration. You name it, he says it in public. He has built himself a church. What do you think of that, Father?'

'Be sure God will be avenged on those who take his name in vain.'

'Oh, well said sir. There is a good point.'

Georgiana giggled. 'He has been trying, hard enough. Robert burned it down.'

'So he built himself another,' Robert declared.

Georgiana was still laughing. 'So Robert sent two men to burn that down as well.'

'And did they succeed?' Corbeau asked.

Georgiana's laughter became a shriek of pleasure. 'Matt was waiting for them. One is still in bed, with a broken jaw.'

'By God,' Robert said. 'By God.'

'And do you know what makes the whole situation so absurd?' Georgiana said. 'This church, and the first one, were built with Robert's money. He sends Sue money every month.'

'You'd not have me allow my own sister, your own sister, to starve?'

It was Corbeau's turn to burst into laughter. 'By Christ, Robert, but beneath that flint-like exterior I do believe you are a perfect mound of kindness. Now come, admit it, you admire Matt, for his principles, even if they differ from your own. And you admire Sue, for her support of him.'

'Ha,' Robert said. 'No doubt I also admire the fortitude with which a scorpion rears on its hind legs to strike a man, knowing that with the very movement it must die. Yet would I, being the man, step on the insect without hesitation.'

'You admire him,' Corbeau repeated. 'And you will forgive him without hesitation once he comes to his senses. As he surely will. He is but a young man of passion, given to following wild dreams and fancies. But as he grows older he will stop dreaming, and become once again a Hilton.'

'Never,' Robert growled. 'Never. It is too late for him, now. He has gone too far. You've not heard the end of it, Corbeau.'

"There is more? You'll be telling me next he has committed some crime. I beg your pardon, Father, I meant some legal crime.'

Once again Georgiana gave a peal of laughter. 'He may as well have done so. He is bringing a planter to court. For mistreating a black. Can you believe it?'

Corbeau frowned at her. 'That he would wish to do so, possibly. That it would be practical, no. How may one ill-treat a slave, legally? Is not the act of enslavement sufficient proof of omnipotent power?'

'You begin to talk like him,' Robert said. 'Or like the frog-gie you are. We English lack such uncompromising attitudes. It so happens that with the Americans so successfully asserting their determination to be, as they call it, free men, public opinion in England has taken fright. You must be aware of that. And public opinion in England is mirrored by governmental opinion. So now we have laws, to safeguard the slaves. Our Assemblies were persuaded, by God, that should we show ourselves to be humanitarians, then would we be admired by England, by those senseless do-gooders who, believe me, only do good because they have insufficient matters of importance to occupy their lives.'

'And you passed such laws?' Father Stanislaus inquired.

'We passed laws to insure that no planter, from an excess of cruelty or anger, could maim or murder a slave.'

'But ...' Corbeau was clearly incredulous. 'How is discipline kept?'

'There is no law against punishing a slave with death or mutilation should he rebel,' Georgiana explained. 'Or should he attempt to escape, or attempt to lift his hand to a white man. The laws were intended only to prevent gratuitous cruelty.'

'Well, then. I do not see the problem. Was there ever a slave punished except for such a grave crime? At least in the eyes of the law?'

'To my knowledge, no,' Robert said. 'But Matt has found some renegade overseer, Manton, by name, to sign a statement that his employer, Hodge of Nevis, did in fact mutilate and murder his slaves and for the pleasure of it.'

'Hodge,' Corbeau said, thoughtfully. 'We have heard the name, even in St. Domingue.'

'Oh, the man is an utter blackguard,' Robert agreed. 'If any planter in the entire West Indies is so guilty, it will be James Hodge. But supposing he were to be convicted, Corbeau. It is not his life we discuss. Is there a planter who could seriously stand such a scrutiny, if it were extended?' He glanced at Georgiana, and flushed.

'Probably not,' Corbeau agreed. 'But surely this man Manton can be discredited?'

'Oh, indeed he can,' Robert said. 'He was a drunken layabout, by all accounts, and was so dismissed. But his statement is supported.'

'By another of similar ilk, I have no doubt.'

'By a lady who is greatly respected in Nevis. Mistress Nisbet. You'll not know her. She is a widow, who is to marry a sea captain. But she was the wife of the doctor in Charlestown, and as such accompanied him on his visits to the plantations. And she has sworn under oath that everything Manton has said is true.'

'My word,' Corbeau said. 'And cannot she ...?'

'I told you, she is a lady of the most unimpeachable character. Worse, her uncle is a man of position. He has been Speaker of the Nevis House, by God. Believe me, Corbeau, all the West Indies is in a tizzy about it.'

'I can understand that,' Corbeau agreed, thoughtfully. 'And when is this trial to take place?'

‘I have no idea. There is much legal argument, as you may suppose. The case will certainly be unique. But I doubt there is a planter in Jamaica will not wish to knock Matt down, should they come face to face.'

'Except that by all accounts,
they
are the more likely to be knocked down,' Corbeau said, even more thoughtfully. 'Well, well. What a family I have elected to call my own, to be sure.' He squeezed Georgiana's hand, and smiled at her.

'Yet I am proud of it. But I can see that it will make a reconciliation difficult.'

'It will make a reconciliation impossible sir,' Robert shouted. 'I will not have it. Ever. You may as well know. I have instructed my lawyers to draw up a new will. All I possess passes to your eldest son. Hilltop, Green Grove, my sloops, everything. So you'd best set about having a family, as rapidly as possible, or we shall wind up in chancery.'

Gorbeau stared at him. 'My son? Everything? No matter what happens?'

‘I have said so. And I am a man of my word. You'll not pretend to be overwhelmed?'

'Oh, indeed I am. In fact...' Corbeau burst out laughing.

'In fact you are amused,' Robert said coldly. 'I'll inform you, sir, that Hilltop and Green Grove may not amount to as much acreage as Rio Blanco and Ocean View, but I'll wager what you like that they are more productive.'

'Oh, I'd not argue that,' Corbeau said. 'I was merely laughing, because ... well, I am continually amazed at the care man takes to accumulate possessions, or to make sure that they are eventually his, when really, all he needs is a trust in the course of events.'

'I am not sure I understand you, sir.'

Corbeau continued to smile. 'No more you should dear brother-in-law. You may understand only that I am fully prepared to take my part in the requirements of being a Hilton. I am your support in everything, and for ever.' He leaned across the carriage to squeeze Robert's hand. 'You may have lost a cousin, but I promise you that you have gained a brother.'

The first carriage seemed to arrive at dawn, but this had been no more than prudence on the part of the Ellisons. For as the wedding luncheon was set for eleven thirty, it was clear that by mid-morning all roads between Kingston and Hilltop would be crowded to impossibility. And indeed, regarded from the upper verandah of the Great House, by nine o'clock the road through the canefields was jammed with vehicles, of every size and description, and yoked to the most varied collection of animals, horses, mules, and even donkeys, that it was possible to imagine, while those bachelors who were on horseback threaded their way in and out of the equipages with view-halloos and the dust rose above them all, to settle on faces already caked with French powder, and gloves already containing sweat-filled hands.

Fortunately there was a slight breeze, and this dispelled most of the dust cloud as the equipages came to a halt before the Great House. The breeze also fluttered the flags and banners which had been implanted all around the house itself, the Union Jack of Great Britain and the
fleur-de-lis
of France, together with various other devices, while from the flagpole on the house itself, for this special occasion, there flew the white banner of the Corbeaux, with the hawk's beak in ice pink frowning from the centre.

This colour motif had been applied inside as well, to drapes and loose covers, and as icing on all the cakes. ' 'Tis next year's entire profit I squander today,' Robert grumbled to Hardiman, his accountant,

'But for the last time,' Hardiman said.

'Oh, aye, and there is a blessing. Although hardly to be compared with actually seeing that rapscallion wed, and to a man of stature. For that privilege I'd have paid double.'

By ten o'clock the guests were assembled, thronging the verandahs, clustering in the withdrawing-room, haunting the great hall to await the descent of the bride. There were so many of them it was impossible to identify anyone, even had he known more than the few who had made the journey from Gap Francois, Corbeau decided. Nor was it possible to concentrate, as couple after couple were presented to him by Mistress Ridding, wife of the head overseer, this day acting the part of the lady of the house. There were short women and there were tall women, there were pretty women and there were ugly women, there were women who giggled and women who lowered their eyes demurely, there were blonde women and there were dark women, each one a swelling, sweating accumulation of femininity beneath a broad-brimmed hat, with bare shoulders and heaving breasts, bulging from yards of tulle and silk and satin.

But no less anxious were the men, in dark broadcloth coats or military uniforms, sweating even more profusely than their ladies, as they had less opportunity to expose themselves, stiffly bowing from the waist as they shook his hand, mentally totting up the probable value of his ice-pink silk coat with its gold embroidery, or the gold thread which made the design on his silk waistcoat.