be our own warships in disguise. Thinking to snatch an easy prize, these bold privateers will find themselves caught in our net. The Spanish have already agreed to this plan and will send one of their ships along with ours to meet the treasure ship and explain the plan to its captain.” “How will the pirates know about the treasure ship, Cecil?” “Word will be spread about on the London waterfront, in Plymouth, and in Bideford. That should be enough.”
“Do it then!” commanded the Queen. “I want these pirates stopped.” And then she departed the chancellor’s closet, leaving her chief advisor atone.
Cecil sat down heavily, his nimble mind mulling over a thought he had decided not to voice to his mistress quite yet. The lines of the ships might be English, but Cecil doubted that their crews were. The attack off Cape Clear had given him the idea, for Cape Clear was in Ireland. He would wager his personal fortune that the pirates were Irish. This line of thought had led him to another. He suspected that they were disposing of their stolen cargoes through Lundy Island, which was notorious for that kind of business. And Lundy was but eleven miles by water from Lynmouth Castle. The mistress of mat castle was the Irish-born heiress of a great seafaring family. To boot, the lady had a grievance against the Queen. Cecil might never have suspected the woman except for the memory of her face when she left the Queen many months ago. A beautiful face, an angry face, a proud face-as proud as Elizabeth Tudor herself. Cecil sighed. The one thing he’d never been able to teach the Queen was not to use the people about her so ruthlessly. In that respect she was like her father, Henry Tudor.
He could not prove it yet, but he suspected that the lovely Countess of Lynmouth was cleverly revenging herself on the Queen by attacking one of her most important revenue sources. Cecil smiled to himself. The lady was a very worthy opponent, but the whole business ought not to have happened in the first place. Had the Queen remembered the loyal service of both the late Earl and his wife instead of sacrificing everything to her love for Dudley, none of this would have happened. Cecil did not like Robert Dudley. The man was a bad influence on Elizabeth, her one terrible weakness. She had come frighteningly close to marrying him, and Cecil still shivered at the memory, recalling the painful scene he had had with Elizabeth right after Amy Dudley’s death.
Elizabeth Tudor had been denied many things in her life, but she had salved her pride by reminding herself that one day… one day she would be Queen of England. And when she was, no one would ever deny her anything again. But insignificant little Amy Rosart had caused a scandal and her death had cost Elizabeth the only man she wanted. For that, a grateful Cecil prayed daily for Amy’s soul. Unfortunately, the Queen would not let Dudley go. Keeping his foolish hopes alive by indulging him outrageously was the means through which she held on to him. The lovely Skye Southwood had been part of that indulgence, and now the Queen was paying for her unnecessary cruelty.
Privately Cecil sympathized. What Elizabeth had done to her had been outrageous. Nevertheless, he could not allow the lady to rebel against royal authority, even discreetly. It could set a dangerous precedent if it ever became public knowledge. Cecil intended keeping the affair a private one.
Several weeks later Skye paid a regular visit to Bideford to inspect her warehouses and learned of the Queen’s treasure ship. Hurrying back to Lynmouth, she set the signal lights ablaze in the west tower, and then fidgeted several hours waiting for de Marisco. Niall was off visiting the furthermost part of the estates and was not expected back that night. Matt, Wat’s younger brother, had taken over the care of Skye’s new boat and the responsibility of the cave. He ran upstairs to tell his mistress that the lord of Lundy awaited below. Skye hurried down the interior staircase to greet Adam, a small pang of remembrance touching her as he swept her up and kissed her soundly on both cheeks. “Little girl! You obviously took my advice, for you’re blooming!”
“I did indeed, Adam, and thank you. Now please put me down.
I’m dizzy with the height.”
He regretfully complied. “Why the signal, Skye?” “News! Marvelous news, de Marisco! In an effort to impress the Queen and turn her thoughts favorably toward the Archduke Charles, Spanish Philip has sent our Bess a treasure ship from the New World. It’s filled with Inca gold, Mexican silver, and emeralds from the Amazon mines. I’m going to take that ship! I’m going to pluck it from the sea and pick it clean!”
“No, Skye, you’re not. Something is wrong here. I sense it.
Where did you learn of this ship?”
“The entire town of Bideford buzzes with the news, Adam.” At that, he looked even more concerned. “As does Plymouth m’dear. My men brought me word of this ship over a week ago. It is obvious that someone wishes to attract our attention. I suspect a trap.”
“But if we took their ship anyway, and escaped with Bess’s gold in spite of their trap-?” mused Skye.
“It is too dangerous!” protested de Marisco. “To begin with we have no idea if this ship actually carries treasure or not. They say it travels in convoy with four other merchant vessels. That in itself rouses my suspicions. Why is such a valuable ship unguarded, traveling only with merchant ships?”
“Perhaps so as not to arouse suspicion.”
“Then why broadcast the fact of its coming? No, Skye, this stinks.
This is a trap. Don’t risk yourself, your men, or your ships.” “But if the vessel is genuine, Adam. All that gold! To be able to take all that gold from the Queen!”
“Little girl, don’t let desires for vengeance overrule common sense. The Tudors are merciless when dealing with their adversaries. You’ve been lucky so far. Ignore this. That’s the wise thing to do.” “Let us investigate the rumor further, Adam. If we cannot prove the truth of it then I will let it go. But if the treasure proves to be a real treasure ship, then I
Adam de Marisco shook his head. “Even if you’re not caught, there’s no safe way for us to dispose of such a prize.” She flashed a quick smile. “We can dispose of it through Algiers after we melt all the gold and silver down and have it formed into new bars. I will want to take some of the emeralds for myself, for a necklace and earrings. It will give me great pleasure to wear them beneath the Queen’s nose, secretly knowing where they came from.” “How will you find out more about the ship?”
“De Grenville is stopping here in a day or two, on his way home to Cornwall. He’ll know. When he has gone I’ll signal you to come.” “Does Lord Burke know of your activities?”
“No,” she answered him in a low voice.
“The Burkes, the O’Malleys, the O’Flahertys, the Southwoods, the Smalls. There are five families involved in your schemes, little girl. Bring ruin on yourself, and you’ll bring ruin on them
“Just this last time, de Marisco.”
Adam de Marisco returned to Lundy, deeply troubled. What had begun as a lark was deadly serious now, and he was afraid. Skye’s lust for vengeance was overriding all good sense, and he was worried. Why hadn’t he seen this coming and put a stop to it before she became obsessed?
Two days later de Grenville arrived at Lynmouth from London. He was full of amusing gossip and chatter about the Court. Skye possessed herself of great patience, not wanting to give herself away. At last, with Dickon and Niall relaxed and well in their cups she asked casually, “What is this I hear of a treasure ship for the Queen from King Philip? Bideford is full of rumors.”
“Aye,” smiled de Grenville drunkenly, “he hopes to push the suit of his nephew, Charles, by showing Bess how nice it is to have rich relatives.”
“Then the ship is real, Dickon?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Isn’t the Queen afraid that she may lose her ship to the pirates who have been raiding off the coastal waters here and near Ireland?” “That’s why I’m here,” de Grenville chuckled craftily. “Gonna take four warships out to meet the
Skye giggled. “No pirates would attack a merchant vessel surrounded by four warships. Even I know that.” She
