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Allison; Taking Control Chapter 70
“Given my experience, I wouldn’t deem it truly safe for anyone wearing these blue uniforms to travel alone on the island right now. Sergeant White is a decent horseman; we’ll see if William might have another two or three amongst his detail. Then I’ll provide you with some coin from what we’ve been given to hire mounts so you can ride, escorted, to the Blevins’ plantation.”Caldwell suddenly blanched.“What... what name did you... I’m sorry Captain, what was that name again?”“The Blevins family, Henry. Gambles did mention them didn’t he?” Allison asked, though neither he nor Deakins really noticed Caldwell’s reaction.“Um... no sir. I think he neglected to mention their actual name,” he answered truthfully enough, though something was definitely agitating him.Still neither of his companions took note of his perturbed state.“Their lands are close by, not far south of town,” Allison went on. “Still, I think you’ll be grateful for not having to make the trip on foot. In the meantime
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 71
Caldwell motioned to Sergeant White to have his men dismount for the time being. With the grooms still obediently holding the horses’ bridles, everyone swung to the ground and began stretching their limbs. As he did likewise, Caldwell took in more of his surroundings. Movement could be detected in the far-off fields, no doubt the activity of slave hands at work tending or harvesting crops. The vanes of the mill continued to turn with the winds grinding out sugar, flour or whatever product the harvested crops provided. He looked up at the towering façade of the huge house. Between the columns of the portico and elsewhere, including the gables protruding from the roof were a collection of multi-paned windows looking out over the expansive lands.Which one? Caldwell found himself thinking, as his heart seemed to beat even faster – almost fluttering. Is it even any of the ones I see? Is she even here?After a short space of time, the servant reappeared on the veranda.“You may come with m
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 72
She didn’t say anything right away, slowly stepping around him while looking back and forth from him to her husband several times, all the while wearing the same wide-eyed look of surprise. Caldwell straightened up and clasped his hands respectfully in front of him as his hostess now stood before the master of the house looking at him inquisitively. An exasperated sigh and a curt nod from Blevins seemed to provide all the explanation she sought at that moment since she then turned to address the naval officer who was visiting her house.“Henry Caldwell,” she began, “you are quite possibly the last person I would ever have expected to see in my home.”“For what it is worth, madam,” Caldwell replied, “I had not thought to be here. Though, truth be told, I really had no idea your family was even on this island.”“Lieutenant Caldwell is here on official business for the Royal Navy, Katherine,” Arthur Blevins told his wife. “Perhaps my feelings regarding the man nearly caused me to forget
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 73
Blevins started to walk along the table toward the opposite end of the room. He stopped at a pedestal which bore one of the extraordinarily large books and casually turned several pages.“Sir, I...”The master of the house interrupted Caldwell yet again, turning back to look in his direction and shaking an index finger in the air as he spoke.“Listen to me, Gambles is a shameless opportunist, nothing more! The very post he now holds within the government is one that I myself had designs on when it became vacant two years ago. It might very well have been mine if he hadn’t resorted to such activity as I thought should be beneath him.”“Of what activity do you speak, sir?” Caldwell asked him.Blevins was now walking back toward him slowly wearing a sardonic grin.“Young man, I’m afraid you don’t yet possess the wisdom and maturity you claim to have achieved if you have to ask me that question,” he said. “Suffice it to say that no politician can truly count any other man in the same prof
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 74
“Father, please,” she said gently. “Certainly we can allow the past to be the past. None of us can change who we were or what we may have done in days gone by, but surely we can acknowledge who and what the gallant officer standing before us now has come to be? If what I’ve heard is true, he came here solely to fulfill his duty and you mustn’t condemn him simply for doing so. Just the same, I wish you would not keep me from speaking with him, if only for a short while.”Blevins let out a sharp exhale and turned his head to glower icily at Caldwell even as Sophie still imploringly cupped his hand in hers. His face bore some of the ruddiness Henry had seen when the man’s ire was raised, yet it was not nearly so pronounced as it had been at times during their interview in the library. The protruding blood vessel in his forehead was conspicuously absent and that was taken as a good sign.“This is wrong!” he said emphatically.However, when he turned his head back to see the pleading look
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 75
Sophie continued to grip Henry’s hand, squeezing it even more tightly at times as though lending emphasis to what she was telling him. “Oh, they had their arguments and some rather wide differences of opinion as most politicians do,” she said, “but at some point during the past year, things became quite heated and adversarial. Father often told of how he had intended to put several ideas for the benefit of the colony before the council and the assembly. Yet Mr. Gambles would either create opposition to their enactment or find a way of taking credit for them himself. He obtained an appointment to the position he now holds, even though his knowledge and experience in relevant matters doesn’t come close to father’s, but this was merely a pretext for enriching himself at the government’s expense – and for concealing probable French intrigues.”“Sophie, that’s a deadly serious accusation to be making against such an influential man!” Caldwell warned.“No accusation has been made, Henry,” s
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 76
“Please don’t forget these,” he said, handing them to Suggs. “However, I must ask for your understanding,” he said as he shut the marine clock in its case and rested his hand upon it. “I’m afraid the circumstances under which these instruments were granted to me dictate that I can never allow them to leave my ship.”“I’m sure I understand,” Suggs assured him. “Besides, I prefer to keep my master’s mates occupied, even if it means the continuation of lunar altitude calculations. Despite all outward appearances, they’re a bunch that needs to be protected from the deadly sin of sloth.” He made a toothy grin. “Of course, how difficult can things truly be if all we have to do is follow you?”Allison smirked at the comment. “Well, to that end, Captain, should we be in receipt of any further coded messages or other information, we’ll make sure you know about them forthwith.”“I appreciate that.”Allison walked to the cabin door and opened it to give one of the marine sentries a message.“P
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 77
Allison didn’t think he bore all of the world’s burdens, but there were times when he felt like a great many of them were present, weighing down both his spirit and his physical body. The Doctor was a man of fine discernment. Even though Allison had been through a great deal which had caused him physical pain and injury, it was plain that Deakins could see through the corporeal aspects of that adversity. Very possibly something about his mood and bearing was betraying hints of mental or emotional strain, despite his efforts to the contrary. Though any man might be expected to endure some measure of distress from frightful or dangerous experiences, Allison knew that as a commanding officer he didn’t have the luxury of allowing himself to be affected in such a way. Despite the constant reminders he provided himself daily, it was apparent that his efforts needed to be redoubled. Fortunately, the Doctor was also a man of discretion and could be counted upon to never allow anything he h
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