The Middle Passage

The Middle Passage

Cat in the Azores Index

A Play in Two Acts

The Critics
by Julia Golding
juliagolding.co.uk Principal Characters

Prologue: All at Sea

Text copyright © Julia Golding

Act I
The moral rights of the author have been asserted

Scene I: Stargazers
This work is available under the
Scene II: Laboratories of the Universe
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commmerical
Scene III: The Theft
No Derivatives licence
Act II

Scene I: The Rivals

Cover photography by Jonathan Ring, Other: Scene II: Setting the trap
Shutterstock, Model: Amalia Austin/Bruce and
Epilogue: Cat’s Comet
Brown London Kids

Cat’s Glossary
This electronic edition was produced by
Clockwork Satellite
clockworksatellite.co.uk

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 The Middle Passage

Principal Characters

Cat Royal – your intrepid guide

Billy Shepherd – her annoying companion
The Critics
Mabel Flanders – a stargazer
Peter Flanders – her telescopically obsessed
‘Reading Cat Royal, I felt like some watcher of the skies, brother
when a new planet swims into his ken’ Rachel Flanders – their sister, who wants nothing
– John Keats to do with the heavens
Mr Flanders – their father
‘A Cat Royal story? I’ll point my telescope in that direction
Charles Aubert – curly-haired French rival
any day!’
Albert Aubert – his brother, not blessed in his
– Caroline Herschel, astronomer
looks
‘What, she’s back again? Summon the navy and get rid of Anna-Maria Aubert – their shy sister
her!’ Madame Aubert and Monsieur Aubert – their
– William Pitt, Prime Minister parents

Gossiping servants, drunken sailors, mistaken magistrates

etc.
And two donkeys.

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 The Middle Passage

some of my favourites further on in the alphabet. A

Prologue: All at Sea
very satisfactory feast of delicious epithets.
The object of my lexicon of revenge stuck his head
Somewhere in the Atlantic into my cabin. ‘Wot you doin’, Cat?’ I think he seeks
Late Summer 1792 – Curtain Rises my company because I am the only entertainment
available.
The most annoying person in the universe is the one
‘Contemplating human nature,’ I replied tartly,
who retains his appetite while his travelling compan-
gathering up my papers.
ion is suffering from seasickness. I can now attest to
‘Captain says we’ve almost reach the Azores.’ Billy
this newly coined proverb from my own experience.
was looking like the pirate he was at heart: tanned,
In the middle of the recent mid-Atlantic storm, while
clothes salt-stained and more than a bit scruffy, dark
I had my head over a certain nameless object, Billy
brown hair needing a good wash and visit from the
Shepherd, former Covent Garden street thug turned
barber. ‘’E’s going to call in to make repairs before
gentleman, was tucking in to a good square meal of
the last leg ’ome.’
salt pork and beans in the captain’s mess.
I wrinkled my nose, trying to imagine where the
Following that incident, I began an alphabetical
Azores were on the navigational charts. ‘Gone a bit
list of all the words describing Billy. ‘A’ was easy – ‘aw-
far south, haven’t we?’
ful’, though ‘abominable’ came a close second. No,
‘You don’t argue with a storm like the one we weath-
no, I changed my mind: ‘arrogant’ won by a nose. I
ered. Besides, Captain Bates knows the islands well.’
put my pen down on the little ledge on the writing
‘I bet he does.’ I shoved the manuscript on which
desk I had cobbled together from packing cases and
I’d been doodling into my sea chest. It was an un-
stretched my arms above my head. The sea beyond
pleasant fact that the only passage I could obtain
my porthole was blessedly smooth, a calm deep blue;
from Tortuga in the Caribbean back to England had
the sky a paler expanse thanks to a light cloud cover.
been on board a slave ship, empty of human cargo
Now I came to think of it, there were so many words
but now stuffed with slave-made goods: sugar, indi-
for Billy, this little exercise was going to pass the te-
go and tobacco. I would have much preferred not to
dious days on board the Dolphin very well. I savoured
4
 The Middle Passage

mire myself in the ugly web of the trade in human I gaped. Billy kept on doing that: luring me to think-
misery, but it seemed impossible to live in the Brit- ing he hadn’t changed from the street urchin I knew
ish Empire without being implicated in what we were and then reminding me that he had paid good mon-
doing to our fellow men. Thinking of that iniquitous ey to get a swift education in the essentials of passing
trade, I was reminded of my friends, Pedro and Jenny, as a gentleman. Homer – in Chapman’s translation
who had stayed behind in San Domingo to help the obviously – had clearly figured on his reading list.
rebel slaves fight for their freedom. I muttered a little ‘So that makes me…what? Scylla? Charybdis?’
prayer for their protection. ‘Nah, a siren.’ He offered me his arm with mocking
‘So, Moggy, are you comin’ out?’ Billy stood back, solemnity.
giving me a glimpse of the busy deck beyond my ‘Stuff your ears with wax then.’ I placed my hand
door. I had the cabin next to the captain’s, a berth of on his forearm and gave it a pinch.
honour. Everyone else shared quarters in hammocks ‘Been tempted, Moggy, been sorely tempted.’
in the stifling lower deck (being the only female pay- He steered me to the foredeck and the dol-
ing passenger has its benefits). There were a few older phin-shaped figurehead. The sun was high and the
women who had come aboard in the Caribbean; I did light curiously flat. I couldn’t see the islands on the
not enquire too closely into their status – their alli- horizon as I had hoped.
ances with their husbands were somewhat fluid – but ‘Not a sign – not even a pimple.’ I shaded my eyes.
as they gave every indication of being tougher than ‘Is he sure we’re close?’
the sailors, I assumed they were well able to shift for Billy shrugged. ‘’E’s the boss so I ‘ope ‘e knows wot
themselves. Billy had warned me to steer well clear of ’e’s doin’.’
these ladies or be ‘eaten for breakfast’ (I quote). I eyed the nearest mast.
‘Of course, I’m coming out. Can’t wait to clap my ‘Oh no, you don’t.’ Billy’s grip on my arm tightened.
eyes on land after having to endure your ugly phiz for What was his problem with my urge to climb? I had
the last month.’ my sailor’s trousers on underneath my skirt. I tried to
Billy grunted. ‘And I’ve ’ad to put up with your tug free. ‘Let go.’
sharp tongue. Been a voyage worthy of Odysseus.’
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 The Middle Passage

‘I vowed last time you went up the mast like a mon- he couldn’t bear to look when I got in one of these
key that I’d stop you if you tried those tricks again.’ moods, which was partly why I did it, of course.
‘I’m fully trained in all aspects of skylarking.’ I Standing up with my arm locked around the mast,
wriggled my arm clear. ‘If you don’t like it, you could I took a deep cleansing breath. This was the only
always come with me to keep me safe.’ place on board where you could rise above the stench
If he hadn’t been burnt brown as a berry, I would of the ship – the old odours left by the poor human
lay good money on him going the colour of good cargo of a month back and the smell of too many
parchment. ‘Can’t,’ he muttered. unwashed sailors who were a rough lot by anyone’s
‘Can’t? What, you don’t like heights or something?’ standard. I’m sure I wasn’t too sweet myself, having
‘Don’t like ropes.’ His words were barely audible as not had a proper chance to wash in more than a
he made the confession shame-facedly. thimbleful of water since we left San Domingo.
There was only one bad association someone of ‘Can you see anything?’ bellowed Billy.
his profession had with ropes – and that involved a I scanned the horizon – there on the very margin
scaffold, priest and judge. I guessed Billy had once or was the bluish hint of land, a mountainous island by
twice come too close to taking the nipping jig. the looks of things. ‘Yes! Land-ho!’
‘You stay here then. I won’t be a moment.’ Making ‘Then get down from there, you idiot girl!’
my escape, I darted up the first shroud I reached. I reached for the nearest line heading to the deck.
The sailors on deck cheered when they saw me go. ‘Not again!’ he groaned.
The chief bookmaker among them started counting With a hoot, I swung out and skimmed my way
– there was a bet that I could reach the top in twenty hand over hand down to the deck and gave the as-
seconds if I went flat out. Those who put their faith in sembled company a bow.
the cat were going to be a lot richer in nineteen sec- ‘Cat Royal on deck, sir!’ I saluted Billy.
onds because I felt like showing off my prowess today. His reply is not fit for decent folk to read.
I reached the crosstrees as the sailors’ all roared
‘Eighteen!’. I clung on to a line and gave them a
jaunty wave. Billy had his hat pulled over his eyes –
6
 The Middle Passage

‘Really, you needn’t,’ I said for the hundredth time

Act I
as we scaled a flight of stairs winding up the hillside
Scene I: Stargazers between the houses. It felt hot in the airless streets
after the breezy days on board, but I welcomed the
sensation that the land under my feet was going to
The Portuguese settlement of Angra do Heroismo
stay put. Perspiration ran down my forehead, the
was surprisingly beautiful, a cluster of white-washed
band tying my sunhat in place itched against warm
houses and churches set against the steep slope of
skin.
this fertile volcanic island like a stack of ivory betting
Billy paused to fan himself with his battered tri-
tokens scattered on a green baize table. Angra clung
corne. ‘Course I do. I don’t even want to imagine
on by the merest whim of fate that saw the volcanoes
what trouble you’ll get in if I leave you to wander the
dormant for the present; with turn of fortune’s wheel,
taverns on your own.’
I guessed it could be swept way. The Azores boasted
I put a cautious hand over the place on my shoulder
some of the tallest mountains in world if you took
where I now sported a cat-shaped tattoo, memento
note of their dramatic rise straight out of the Atlantic
of a night in a certain tavern in Bermuda. He didn’t
Ocean. My mind whirled to think how much lay hid-
know about that, did he? To be sure, he had seen
den under the waves – they had to be huge.
me in my nightgown on the occasion when I’d been
The Dolphin was now riding at anchor near the
delirious with malaria, but he would have teased me
docks and all but the core of the crew dismissed to
about it before.
amuse themselves in the taverns of Angra. Well used
‘What kind of mischief could I possibly get myself
to welcoming travellers, the harbour rejoiced in nu-
into?’ I asked, a shade too innocently.
merous squalid establishments catering to the lowest
He chuckled. ‘Cat Royal – low dives heaving with
of tastes. I imagined that Billy would feel completely
the rummest bunch of sailors this side of Marrakesh
at home and be raring to sample these dubious de-
– you’d be knocked over the ’ead and shipped for the
lights, but instead he insisted on keeping me compa-
white slave trade before you could say “Drury Lane”.’
ny as I went in search of a more respectable place to
spend the days while our ship was repaired.
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 The Middle Passage

‘I wasn’t planning to frequent any such establish- already? No way, no flippin’ way, Cat Royal. I’m stick-
ment. I am planning to find somewhere quiet and ing ‘ere.’ He plumped down on the bench, heedless
decent so I can pass a few pleasant days without an- of the wasps buzzing round his feet.
noying company.’ I cringed, edging out of range to perch on the wall
‘Not possible.’ Billy poked me in the side. ‘You and overlooking the harbour.
quiet cancel each other out.’ Billy could not help but notice my unusual ret-
‘Oh, shut up, Billy.’ I continued walking not wish- icence. ‘Wot’s the matter with you?’ He squashed a
ing to witness his smirk. wasp under his heel, then reached up and picked a
We reached the top of the hill and found ourselves fig, swishing away the clouds of insects that rushed to
on a garden walk surrounded by some of the finer enjoy the fruit in his fingers.
houses of the settlement, the homes of the shipping I closed my eyes, not wanting the image of Billy
agents and merchants who clung to this little outpost stuffing soft fig with wasp-garnish in his mouth for-
in the ocean. A broad-leaved fig tree shaded a bench, ever in my memory.
ripe fruit dropping on the ground to the delight of a ‘Go on, tell yer Uncle Billy,’ he urged through a
horde of wasps. mouthful.
I here admit, Reader, to a peculiar antipathy to Oh lord, I feared my sea sickness was returning. I
these striped nuisances, terrors that plague our swallowed against the bile in my throat.
summers and autumns in England. I would hazard ‘You’ve gone green, Cat.’
that my irrational fear of them must stem from some ‘I don’t like wasps,’ I ground out.
childhood incident that has since slipped from my He had the gall to laugh. ‘Bleedin’ marvellous!
memory. Suffice to say that whenever I hear that par- Fearless Cat is terrified of something no bigger than
ticular buzz, I flee. ‘er fingernail. Don’t tell me, you’re scared of mice
‘Let’s find somewhere else,’ I said quickly, tugging too?’
Billy round to the top of the stairs. ‘Am not.’
‘You daft?’ Billy mopped his brow. ‘We’ve just I heard him approach so opened my eyes quickly.
climbed all the way up ‘ere and you want to go back He was holding out a fig for me.
8
 The Middle Passage

‘See, no wasps. ‘Ave one – they’re ripe.’ ‘Oh lord…’ I slid from the wall and cast up my ac-
Like a hunter on a fresh scent, a wasp zoomed in counts in a flowerbed.
over his shoulder and dived at the fig brandished an ‘Blimey, you really aren’t takin’ this well, are you,
inch from my nose. I shrieked, tried to bat it away, Moggy.’ Billy sounded almost – and I stress almost –
and only succeeded in knocking the fig flying in what sympathetic. A handkerchief wafted into view.
in cricket would have been declared a six by any im- I was about to agree, when to my eternal mortifica-
partial umpire. The irate wasp, deprived of its meal, tion, I fainted.
turned on me, buzzing straight at my face. I screamed
‘I think she’s coming round.’
and flapped it away – but only as far as the neck of
I could feel a cool, soft surface underneath me.
my gown. Caught in the raggedy lace, it took revenge
Cotton sheets and a breeze from an open window.
and sank its stinger into my skin.
A slim hand patted my cheek with a damp cloth. I
‘Bi-lly!’ I yelped.
opened my eyes to come face to face with a girl of my
With a clap of his hands, the wasp was no more.
own age, slender, with a mass of black curls looped
‘It’s only a little sting. Stop makin’ such a fuss.
up in a complicated hairstyle. Her eyes were intelli-
You’re embarrassin’ me.’
My head began to swim. I couldn’t see the place gent – dark brown with long lashes – but her face a
little too thin to be declared conventionally pretty.
the wasp had struck but I was sure it was swelling up
Everything about her, from her fine clothes to her
like a hot air balloon. ‘It hurts!’
elaborate coiffure, declared her to be a product of a
‘Yeah, it’s a sting – they ’urt.’ Billy was quite disgust-
privileged upbringing.
ed by my feeble behaviour, but he didn’t understand.
‘Ah, there you are. Feeling better?’
Give me a black eye in a scrap, then I would bounce
English. She was speaking English with no foreign
back and give you one in the canister. Push me over
accent.
then I’d bring you down too. But wasps were differ-
A second girl came into view – blond, slightly
ent. Wasps were evil. God was having one very bad
younger, dressed in the shade of pink that I knew
day when he created them.

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 The Middle Passage

looked ghastly on me but on her was very pretty. ‘I’ll ‘Mabel Flanders. That was my sister, Rachel, you
tell her friend that she is awake.’ saw a moment ago, and there’s also my brother, Peter,
With a swish of her skirts, the blond vanished out but he’s with your friend, Mr Shepherd.’
of sight. ‘Wouldn’t exactly call him a friend,’ I grumbled,
‘Where…?’ I asked. trying to sit up.
‘Where are you?’ the first girl supplied quickly. Mabel blushed. ‘Oh. I assumed you must have an
I nodded. understanding as you are travelling together.’
‘You are in our house, Bellevue Mount. Your com- ‘We do – but not the sort you mean. I understand
panion carried you in from the heat when you fainted. he’s a low-down scoundrel and he understands I’m a
Said you took on so when you were stung by a wasp.’ plague on his peace of mind. Believe me, if I had a
I had to be in one of the fine residences by the choice, he would not be my travelling companion but
garden. Recovered enough to feel embarrassed, I somewhere along the way the chance to voyage with
groaned and turned my face into the pillow. a chaperone disappeared.’ I frowned, remembering
The cool hand came back to my brow. ‘Do you still just how I had ended up on board this particular ship
feel poorly?’ with this old enemy. ‘Probably when I got caught in
‘No. Ashamed.’ the slave rebellion and had to take ship from Tortuga.
The girl laughed. ‘No need for that. Your friend Not many decent ladies waiting to escort girls home
explained you’d only just landed and are not used to to England from there.’
our climate.’ ‘I imagine not.’ Mabel helped me stand and shake
‘Not the climate – the wasps.’ my skirts out. I suddenly remembered just how grub-
She shivered. ‘Oh, I understand that. Hate the lit- by I was compared to this beautiful house and spot-
tle demons myself. I can’t walk near the fig tree at less inhabitants. Not to mention how unsavoury I
this time of year. They breed them big and vicious in must smell.
these climes.’ I gestured to myself. ‘I’m not usually like this. I feel
A girl after my own heart. terrible landing on you in such a condition.’
‘What’s your name?’ I asked.
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 The Middle Passage

She shrugged. ‘Strangely, we are used to it. Father Yes, I was right: she was splendid.
runs the Azores office of the Starline shipping com-
Half an hour later, bathed and decked out in bor-
pany – we often get unexpected guests in a worse
rowed finery, I emerged from the bedroom. Mabel
state than you. Mr Shepherd says you are looking
led me to the terrace that shared the wonderful
for a place to stay for a few days while your ship un-
sweeping views down to the harbour. I could clear-
dergoes repairs. You’re welcome to remain here if it
ly make out the Dolphin riding peacefully at anchor,
would suit?’
men busy with the much needed repairs to the rig-
I was astounded that she would accept a stranger
ging. Soon our vessel would be as fit as I now was to
into her house without further references. ‘Are you
face her public.
sure?’
We turned a corner and I saw the comfortable sight
Mabel smiled. ‘Well, you don’t look dangerous and
of three people sat round a table, sipping cool drinks
Mr Shepherd seems to know the Starline shipping
under a shady vine. The two men stood as Mabel and
company well – went out to Jamaica on one of our
I approached.
vessels, he says.’
‘Feeling better, Miss Royal?’ Billy asked, assuming
‘If you are certain, I’d love to stay here.’
Mabel waved any objections away. ‘Good, that’s set- the formal ‘gentleman’ manner he had perfected for
such company. No dropped aitches or swallowing of
tled then. To be honest, we are dying of the tedium
his words.
of island living and welcome any English guests to
‘Yes, thanks to my kind hostess.’
break the monotony. I imagine you would welcome a
Mabel touched my arm. ‘May I introduce my broth-
chance to bathe and change your clothes?’
er and sister? Peter and Rachel.’
‘I would name my first born after someone who
Peter, a scholarly-looking young man with an
gave me that,’ I replied fervently.
earnest expression, gave me a clumsy bow. Rachel
She laughed. ‘Not necessary – and imagine how a
dipped an elegant curtsy. Billy was grinning at her
boy would do at school named Mabel.’
in appreciation which made me suspect that she had
been practicing her skills at flirtation on him. I would

11
 The Middle Passage

have to take her aside and whisper a warning – he He didn’t hear that I was only joking and took my
was definitely not worth the effort. I took a seat be- question seriously. ‘Indeed, I suppose I am in com-
tween Rachel and Peter, accepting the offer of a glass mand of the house in our father’s absence. The girls’
of freshly squeezed orange juice. Heaven – as long as new governess is not expected for a month or so. And
there were no wasps. my tutor has just left as I am to start work with Father
Mabel saw me scanning the nearby flowers suspi- very soon.’
ciously. ‘We have a trap for them.’ She nodded to a ‘Oh, that sounds very…um…exciting,’ I said polite-
honey-lure set on a side table. ly, not at all sure that I would fancy a lifetime in ship-
I relaxed and took a mouthful of juice. ping, calculating cargoes and export duties.
Billy smirked. I kicked him under the table – hard. Peter frowned, his pale scholar’s face wrinkling to
‘Whom do you live with? Are your parents here?’ I make him look prematurely old. ‘Not really, but that
asked, seeing no adult in attendance. A female serv- is what Father expects. I’d prefer to go to university.
ant in black hovered inside the doors to the house Mr Shepherd, which of the colleges did you attend –
waiting to see if anything else was required, but oth- or perhaps you are about to go up?’
erwise the house was very quiet. I snorted into my orange juice. The only college
Mabel shook her head. ‘Our mother died many Billy attended was the university of life.
years ago.’ ‘I went straight into business like yourself,’ Billy
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ Trust me to put my foot in it. said, giving me a repressive glare. ‘I have a talent for
‘Our father is at his office. He won’t be back till late making money and none at all for Latin.’
– if he comes back at all. He often sleeps down there Peter leaned eagerly towards him. ‘But it is not the
if he is waiting for a ship to come in.’ languages I would like to study, but mathematics. I’ve
So the three of them were left to their own devices always dreamed of going to Cambridge.’
in this splendid house – not a bad fate. ‘So who is ‘As have I,’ lied Billy, ‘but needs must.’
in charge?’ I teased. ‘Mr Flanders, as the oldest, is If Billy had ever dreamed of Cambridge, it was a
it you who has the impossible task of managing your fantasy where he robbed the dons blind, got drunk
sisters?’ with the rich students and never put a foot inside
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 The Middle Passage

a lecture hall, but I would put good money on the ‘And how does one get ready for a first season?’ Bil-
thought never crossing his mind before. ly asked, humouring the chit.
‘I have a good friend going up to Trinity this au- Rachel rose and drifted across the veranda as if it
tumn,’ I said, letting Billy off this uncomfortable were a ballroom. ‘You learn to dance, polish your ac-
hook. ‘The Earl of Arden.’ complishments and hold polite conversation.’
Mabel’s brows winged up as she showed sensible ‘That’d count you out then, Cat,’ Billy said to me in
scepticism that I would know such an exalted person- an undertone, ‘the polite conversation, I mean.’
age. Rachel, however, was impressed. His shins received a second kick.
‘You know an earl, Miss Royal? What is he like? Is ‘Rachel!’ called Mabel, embarrassed by her sister
he handsome?’ she asked. showing off before strangers.
I shrugged. ‘He does well enough, I suppose.’ Hard The girl came to rest by the wall at the edge of the
to think of Frank like that – we’d spent too long to- veranda. ‘Better to prepare to be a lady than to go
gether on board the Courageous for me to think of squint-eyed staring at the stars all night.’
him in his polished noble grandeur, but I suppose he ‘Oh?’ Now my interest was pricked. Astronomy had
was fine looking to an impartial observer. become all the rage since William Herschel discov-
Rachel clasped her hands to her breast. ‘Oh, I ered a new planet, dubbed Georgium Sidium after
would die to meet a real earl!’ the king, in our solar system ten years ago.1 His mar-
‘Good job he’s not with us then,’ quipped Billy, vellous telescopes had become the expensive centre
amused by the girl’s enthusiasm. piece of the collection of any gentleman of a scientific
‘Forgive my sister.’ Mabel handed me a plate of tiny bent. Us ladies had not been far behind as Herschel’s
sweet biscuits that melted on the tongue in a fizz of sister, Caroline, had made the wonderful discovery of
almond and sugar. ‘She is set on her debut – even a comet some seven years ago – becoming the first
though it is some years away.’
Rachel frowned at her sister. ‘Only three. Aunt Hel- 1. Some are arguing for a name more in tune with
ga has promised to get me an introduction to all the the other planets – Uranus being a favourite among
best families in London. I have to be ready.’ cosmologists.
13
 The Middle Passage

lady astronomer of note in modern times. She was Good gracious! That was equivalent to an annual
one of my heroines, along with Mrs Siddons and Miss income for many a respectable shopkeeper. The Star-
Burney – all masters of their respective fields of sci- line had to be a profitable enterprise for a father to
ence, stage and story. ‘And who likes to stargaze?’ afford such a gift for his son. I hoped Billy was not
Mabel raised a hand. ‘I confess to this weakness. planning to relieve our kind hosts of this valuable
Peter is another enthusiast, though his interest is in piece of kit as our parting shot.
the equipment and the calculations required to plot ‘I look after it very carefully,’ Peter added. ‘Not just
our sightings.’ anyone is allowed to use it, are they, Rachel?’
Rachel waved a hand in front of her mouth, indi- His youngest sister stuck out her tongue at him. ‘I
cating her boredom in a theatrical yawn. only used it once to spy on the ships.’
‘Do you have your own telescope then?’ ‘I suspect you were more interested in ogling the
Peter’s face lit up with enthusiasm. ‘Oh yes, I have a officers.’ Mabel smiled at her.
really first rate one – a Herschel seven-inch reflector.’ ‘Might we see this marvel this evening?’ Billy asked.
‘Sound the alarm – telescope bore alert!’ muttered Peter checked the skies. ‘Yes, indeed. It appears to
Rachel. be a capital night for stargazing. What say you, Ma-
‘Father ordered it from the Herschels for me – the bel? Are we ready to travel the galaxies?’
waiting list was huge but he pulled a few strings ‘Of course, I’d be delighted to take our guests on
thanks to his friendship with Astronomer Royal.’ a little spin around the heavens. Did you know, Miss
Mabel lent a little closer to me. ‘An exchange of fa- Royal, that Herschel thinks you can see life on the
vours. We hosted a party of astronomers for a recent moon – canals and forests?’
eclipse.’ ‘Truly?’ I wasn’t sure if I believed in this – the moon
‘And this telescope – how much is it worth?’ asked was just a flat white disk, wasn’t it?
Billy shrewdly. ‘See for yourself – in about four hours.’ Mabel rang
Peter tugged at his cravat. ‘At least a hundred a little bell on the table, summoning a servant to
guineas.’ clear the table. ‘Until then, I would advise you to take
a siesta as we do. The afternoons are unbearably hot.
14
 The Middle Passage

We dine late – at about seven – as a result. Does that stars, a net scattered across the heavenly seas waiting
suit?’ to catch our attention.
Feet up for the afternoon, a good meal in prospect Peter had excused himself early from the table to
and an evening of entertainment ahead: this was set up his pride-and-joy. An octagonal wooden tube
turning out to be quite a splendid holiday. set within a frame, about five feet in length, it stood
‘That suits admirably well.’ I grinned at Billy who like some strange wading bird on a dark corner of
looked remarkably pleased with himself for finding the terrace, neck stretched to the skies.
us so comfortable a berth. I would have to keep my ‘Come closer!’ he called enthusiastically as he
eye on him but I guessed that even he would not get heard us approach. He must have run his hands
up to anything nefarious while our means of escape through his hair many times during the tricky proce-
was still riding at anchor. When we received news that dure of lining his beauty up with the stars as his bris-
we were to set sail, I’d have to check his pockets very tly locks were sticking out from his head like spines
carefully. on a hedgehog.
‘Excuse my brother,’ whispered Mabel, ‘he gets
Scene II: Laboratories of the Universe a little mad when he’s at work. As do I,’ she added,
gripping her notebook with a not entirely reassuring
fervour.
After a delicious dinner of pork cutlets cooked with
‘What do you have in there?’ I asked.
figs (naturally), lemon mousse and other island deli-
‘My plan of the heavens. I’m sweeping the skies
cacies, we convened on the terrace for our evening of
looking for new nebulae and, um, other things.’
star-watching. Rachel excused herself, preferring to
‘What are nebulae?’
employ her time practicing on the harp in the music
She repressed a roll of the eyes at my ignorance.
room. Her accomplished performance drifted out
‘Star clusters. I can’t hope to keep up with the Her-
the open windows, adding a lovely musical accompa-
schels or the Astronomer Royal, of course, but we are
niment to the scene before us. Below shone the dim
on such a different latitude here, Peter and I have
lights of the port, glittering like fireflies on the slopes
hopes of being the first to sight something new one
down to the water’s edge; above blazed the bright
15
 The Middle Passage

day.’ She smiled like one guarding a secret. ‘Perhaps Mabel touched my shoulder. ‘That’s why astrono-
very soon.’ mers often call it the red planet. They speculate that
‘But it takes dedication,’ Peter chipped in, twisting ours would be blue if seen from space, thanks to the
the little brass scope on top of the barrel of the tele- light reflecting from our oceans. Wouldn’t that be
scope. ‘Not for the faint-hearted.’ something – to look back on our own home?’
‘We do this every night when there are no clouds.’ I squinted but it was hard to make out any detail
Mabel set her notebook down on a table ready for the on the blob in the aperture. ‘What about the moon
purpose near the telescope. – does that planet look the same colour as with the
No wonder Rachel was tired of the whole business naked eye?’
– she was abandoned every night for the superior ‘The moon is not classed as a planet as it revolves
attractions of the heavens. I could understand how around the Earth, not the sun – but seen through the
she might resent her siblings’ hobby. I vowed I would telescope it is silvery grey and very pitted and pocked
make sure I spent some time with her during my stay somewhat like a sufferer from small pox.’
– after I had satisfied my curiosity about stargazing. Pop went many of my romantic notions of the
Impatient by nature, Billy cracked his knuckles. ‘If moon. ‘What about this new planet of Mr Herschel?’
you wouldn’t mind, Mr Flanders, I’d like a look at this ‘Georgium Sidium? Oh, that’s so far away and so
here telescope of yours.’ hard to see none of us know very much about it. It
Much to my delight, Peter beckoned me forward. could be huge though – much bigger than little old
‘Ladies first. Miss Royal, do step a little closer. Now, I Earth. Calculations suggest it is far beyond Saturn so
have used this scope,’ he tapped the brass instrument even to be seen by us with our powers of magnifica-
on the top of the barrel, ‘to line the telescope up with tion, it has to be a substantial size.’
Mars. Look through this aperture on the side here ‘I’m amazed.’ And I was. I felt like the top of my
and tell me what you see.’ head was lifting off as my ideas of space trebled and
It took a while for my eyes to adjust, and then I quadrupled.
could see a reddish blob, circular in shape. ‘It’s red!’ Billy edged me away from the instrument, his gen-
tlemanly manners only stretching so far. ‘My turn.’
16
 The Middle Passage

He bent over the aperture. ‘My Aunt Fanny, that’s an ‘Not exactly,’ piped up Peter. ‘If you think how long
eye-opener! All that up there and I never knew.’ He it must take for the light to travel to us here, it means
stood up and scratched his chin. ‘People would pay that what you are seeing all happened aeons back.’
good money to get a goggle at that.’ ‘So it could all be over?’ I smiled at the thought of
Mabel didn’t understand his lapse in to London God packing up after millions of years of work and no
slang. ‘I beg your pardon?’ one noticing. That would make us like an audience
‘To goggle – to look or stare,’ I whispered. ‘Mr sitting in a theatre long after the star of the show had
Shepherd is a man from an unusual background.’ made his exit, all watching the candles burn down to
‘I rather like it – take a goggle. Hmm, Peter take a their sockets.
goggle at the new nebulae mentioned in the Royal ‘Yes, the stars you are looking at could have winked
Society papers. Down by Andromeda’s belt.’ Billy and out of existence and we wouldn’t know for some time
I exchanged smiles: the street cant sounded hilarious – lots of time.’
in her ultra-refined accent. ‘Gracious. I can’t absorb all this.’ I peered up at
Peter bent to the telescope. ‘Yes, I see it. Magnificent.’ the skies. In my lazy way, I had always thought of the
‘Did you know, Miss Royal, that Mr Herschel thinks heavens like a painted dome arching over the Earth
these nebulae might be where new stars are made – in a protective embrace. These two stargazers were
laboratories of the universe he has called them.’ suggesting that I was looking out on a vast sea with
‘So who is the mad alchemist brewing them up?’ I tiny pinpoints of light like shoals of fish swimming in
asked. ‘Can you see God stirring the mix?’ I wanted fathoms upon fathoms of nothing.
another peek but Peter was hogging the aperture. ‘Do you know what Newton said about all this?’ Ma-
Mabel laughed and shook her head. ‘Doubtless He bel asked me.
is behind it somewhere, but it is enough for me to see I shook my head, only having a passing acquaint-
the process of creation underway. Makes you think ance with Newton – apple and gravity summed up my
when you realize creation didn’t all stop with the Gar- knowledge.
den of Eden but is going on even as we speak.’

17
 The Middle Passage

‘He said he felt like a child gathering up seashells ‘A few. There’s a French family who live in the
on a beach, while a great ocean of truth stretched house next-door. I hesitate to call them friends, but
before him.’ we sometimes get together. The girl is bearable, but
So Cat Royal and Sir Isaac Newton shared a her brothers, Charles and Albert, are horribly com-
thought. Fancy that. petitive – always after Peter and Mabel about their
Billy and I did not share the utter devotion of our telescope.’ Rachel tapped her fingers on the table as
two hosts. After an hour of star watching we were we waited for the cards to fall. I fanned my cards in
both ready to retire inside. Rachel was sitting with a my hand and realized I’d been dealt a dud selection.
book, a candle by her side, when we came in to the I scowled at Billy, suspicion high.
drawing room. She threw it aside without a second He smiled with smug pleasure at his own hand. ‘I
glance as she realized she was to have some company do enjoy a good game of Whist. What are we playing
for once. for? Guineas?’
‘What shall we do?’ she asked eagerly. ‘Cards?’ ‘Please!’ I spluttered. ‘I doubt Rachel’s father
‘If you wish.’ I helped her clear a little table while would approve of you turning his drawing room in to
Billy expertly shuffled the pack she had handed him. a gaming house.’
Long fingers made the cards arch from hand to hand. ‘Oh, I don’t know – that sounds rather fun,’ chimed
‘How long will they be out there?’ in Rachel, evidently not unhappy with her own hand.
Rachel sighed. ‘All night probably. They’ve been ‘But I don’t have enough pin money to join a game
very excited about a new star they’ve spotted low on played with stakes set so high.’
the horizon. They’ll want to plot its progress.’ She ‘AND you shouldn’t gamble.’ Good lord, I sounded
squeezed my hand. ‘I can’t tell you how pleased I am like a Quaker, but with Billy trying to lead our hostess
that you are here. I hope they take a very long while astray, it would appear I was all that stood between
to mend your ship.’ Rachel and financial ruin. Half the noble families
‘Have you no other friends here?’ in England had been wrecked by that particular vice
Billy began dealing. and I knew better than to gamble with Billy. He had
a way of twisting bargains in his favour. ‘We play for
18
 The Middle Passage

biscuits.’ I plonked a plate of the almond ones I had to call a cheery good morning, when I caught the tail
so enjoyed earlier. end of a conversation. One of the speakers was unfa-
Rachel clapped her hands, looking her age for once miliar: it appeared Mr Flanders Senior had returned
rather than her usual thirteen-going-on-a-world-wea- during the night and was interrogating the family.
ry-thirty. ‘Agreed. I prefer sweet things anyway.’ ‘Who did you say they were, Mabel?’ I spied a portly
It was Billy’s turn to scowl: he would never live gentleman with a shiny dome of a head tucking in to
down the damage to his reputation if news got out a plate of eggs and bacon.
that he had spent the evening tamely playing cards ‘A young lady and gentleman from London, passen-
for confectionary. He doubtless regretted passing up gers from the Dolphin.’ Mabel gave the answer calmly
the chance of debauching himself in the dockside as she poured him some tea. She was clearly not wor-
inns. ried that she was going to spark any extreme reaction
‘Your lead, Cat,’ he growled. in her father. Just in case I began dressing: if I was to
‘Always is.’ I smiled sweetly at him and threw down be out on the street in a moment, I would prefer to be
a knave of clubs. in my day clothes than a night gown.
‘The Dolphin is not a respectable vessel,’ Mr Flan-
The following morning I woke late, enjoying the luxu- ders said severely.
ry of a soft bed by an open window. A cool breeze ruf- ‘They weren’t on board by choice. Mr Shepherd
fled the sheets and stirred my hair. I sat up, stretched travelled out on one of your ships – the Artemis. They
and yawned. The only relic of the previous day’s ad- got stranded on San Domingo and things are so un-
venture with the wasp was a slight tenderness on my settled there they had little choice when it came to
chest from the sting, otherwise I was in full fighting arranging a passage home.’
form, eager to get out and face the world. Mr Flanders harrumphed but from the sounds
Below my room, on the terrace, I could hear the of knife on plate had turned his attention to his
chink of cutlery on china and the scrape of chairs. breakfast.
Breakfast must be proceeding in the open air – how Scrape of chairs again.
lovely. I was about to stick my head out of the window

19
 The Middle Passage

‘Ah, good morning, Mr Shepherd. I trust you slept I reached the breakfast table just as Peter came run-
well.’ Mabel made the introductions to her father. I ning in from the other direction.
paused out of sight, intrigued to catch this glimpse of ‘Mabel, Father!’ he shouted, his face pale with
Billy in society when he didn’t know I was watching. shock. ‘Someone has stolen my telescope!’
‘Mr Flanders.’ Billy’s tone was nicely judged: re-
spectful but not obsequious. ‘Thank you for letting Scene III: The Theft
us stay in your very pleasant home. Your children
have been first rate hosts.’ ‘What!’ Mr Flanders stood up, knocking his chair to
Mr Flanders was placated by the compliments. ‘Not the floor. ‘How could this have happened? You know
at all, sir, not at all. Do take a seat. You are rested, I better than to leave it outside.’
hope?’ ‘It wasn’t outside. I put it away late last night after
‘Your accommodation is faultless.’ our last session.’ Peter stuck his hands in his pockets.
‘Bacon?’ ‘Mabel saw me if you don’t believe me. It went into
‘Not for me this morning. I rather over-indulged on the storeroom as usual – but the door was forced and
biscuits last night.’ that was all they took – well, Mabel’s notebooks too,
‘Yes, yes, my cook is a marvel when it comes to cre- but nothing else of value.’
ating such fancies. Tell me, what line of business you Mabel gasped.
are in?’ My eyes went to Billy but he looked only mildly in-
Extortion, theft and general thuggery. terested, not shifty as if he had something to hide.
‘I am in the import and export business, luxury ‘Do you have many burglaries round here?’ he asked.
goods in the main. I deal directly with the best of the Mabel was hugging her arms to herself, too shocked
London warehouses.’ to say much. ‘Never – not that I can remember,’ she
Scenting an opportunity for profit, Mr Flanders set whispered.
about persuading Billy of the virtues of his shipping Rachel flounced in at that moment, a froth of lem-
line. My interest no longer held by the boring turn of on skirts, unaware of the drama at the table. ‘Morn-
their conversation, I decided it was time to go down. ing, Papa.’ She stretched up to kiss his cheek. ‘What’s
20
 The Middle Passage

wrong? Have you met Miss Royal and Mr Shepherd ‘Peter,’ Mabel warned quietly, ‘it wouldn’t be Ra-
yet?’ chel. She knows how much it means to us.’
Mr Flanders shook himself like a dog emerging ‘And it wasn’t me,’ I added, trying to deflect atten-
from a river. ‘Apologies, my dear. I quite forgot my tion before the three siblings came to blows. ‘I could
manners. Miss Royal.’ He bowed to me and I curtsied. find no more use for it than as a hat stand.’
‘Please forgive our distraction – that telescope means ‘If you would accuse me, you are welcome to search
a lot to us.’ I could tell he wished Billy and I to the my room, sir,’ Billy added stiffly, playing the outraged
devil this morning, uncomfortable having strangers gentleman with great conviction. Funny, because in
in the house while dealing with this crisis. almost any other situation I would have put him at
‘I know it does,’ I said, taking a seat beside Mabel the top of my list of suspects. That was unless he was
and patting her wrist. ‘Please, do whatever you think playing some very deep game (always possible with
necessary and take no notice of us.’ him). He could have stolen it in the dead of night and
‘Telescope? Something happened to that mouldy stowed it away somewhere.
old thing?’ Rachel asked blithely, twirling a ribbon Billy caught me staring at him as I tried to fathom
hanging from her waistband. his guilt or innocence. He raised a mocking eyebrow,
‘Rachel, do you know anything about it?’ Her aware of exactly what I was thinking.
brother rounded on her, his suspicion obvious in his ‘We must gather the servants – find out if any of
tone. ‘Did you take it as a joke?’ them saw anything,’ Mr Flanders stated, ringing a
‘It’s gone?’ She looked up at him, hurt in her eyes. bell on the table.
‘And you suspect me? I don’t find anything remotely ‘My notebooks,’ Mabel whispered in shock. ‘All my
funny about that obsession of yours, and I certainly work – and our new findings. Oh, Peter, what are we
wouldn’t take it. You might as well suspect Miss Royal going to do?’
here, or Mr Shepherd.’ He came round the table and hugged his sister.
‘But you never liked it.’ Peter folded his arms ‘Get them back, of course. I won’t accept any other
stubbornly. outcome.’

21
 The Middle Passage

The morning passed in a subdued mood. No one to, you’d be in. Smashin’ the door like this is a mark
liked the feeling that we were all under suspicion. Mr of a rank amateur.’
Flanders conducted a search of the house from attic I could see his point and was surprised none of us
to cellar, impartially looking through every room, had heard anything. I said as much.
even his own. Nothing. The telescope and notes were ‘No one sleeps this end of the house but Mr Flan-
not under his roof. ders,’ Billy said. ‘I checked already. And ‘e was late
Billy offered his services to detect how the thieves home so that puts the theft between midnight and
had got in. I accompanied him to the storeroom two in the morning – that or ‘e sleeps like the dead
while the search of the rest of the house continued, and didn’t wake up when the thieves were chopping
intrigued to see what he thought he could discover. at his defences.’
He did nothing for a while, just stood looking at the ‘Have you learnt anything else?’
scene of the crime. The storeroom door had been ‘Hard to say. Marks on the floor suggest it was
forced with a crowbar; the woodwork splintered dragged out on to the terrace, but they might be from
round the keyhole. He then crouched down and ex- when Peter set it up earlier.’ He cracked his knuckles
amined the area where the telescope had stood, stud- then rubbed his palms together. ‘Let’s see if we can
ying the marks on the floor. find a trail in the garden.’
‘Anything?’ I asked, a tad impatiently. I hated the I could tell he was enjoying himself, pitting his wits
feeling that he knew more than I did about this. against our thieves. This more than anything per-
‘Not your professional cracksmen, Cat,’ he an- suaded me that he was innocent of the crime.
nounced, straightening up. ‘You’ve lost your vocation in life, Billy,’ I said as I
‘How can you tell that?’ trailed after him in to the leafy walks of the garden
He tapped the doorframe. ‘No self-respecting thief below the terrace. Bright blooms decked the dark
would make such a pig’s ear of this – risk wakin’ the foliage with such gusto, reminding me of the time
house – not when there’s a lock that could be picked when the milliner had gone particularly wild on the
with no trouble at all.’ He sniffed at the inadequate Duchess of Avon’s Easter bonnet. I plucked a petal
security. ‘Child’s play – couple of picks and hey pres- and crushed it between my fingers. The air was al-
22
 The Middle Passage

ready humid, the ground steaming, scents heavy in I rolled my eyes. ‘There goes my lovely idea. I’ve al-
the air. ‘You should’ve turned thief-catcher for Bow ready struck a bargain with you once, Billy, and look
Street, not be their most wanted.’ where that got us – me escaping a French prison by
He snorted and batted a branch out his way. the skin of my teeth and you in a right pickle when I
‘Wouldn’t see me working for a bunch of Charlies like outwitted you.’
them. I know enough to keep my own boys in line – I He scowled, not liking to remember our stormy
‘ave to know all the tricks or they won’t respect me.’ meeting in his house after my return from Paris.
I thought it doubtful anyone respected him – ‘Right pickle’ was perhaps not stating the case strong-
feared, yes, but respect? Still, the theory was sound: ly enough: he’d come close to killing me and realized
knowledge kept you one step ahead of those who a few things about himself he didn’t like – for one,
would harm you. that he was soft when it came to hurting me. And
‘Can you teach me?’ I asked seriously. above all else, Billy despised softness. It was also prob-
He spluttered. ‘Gawd, Cat, don’t make me laugh!’ ably why he liked me as he knew I had claws.
‘I’m serious.’ ‘I’ll think about it then.’ He held out a hand to stop
‘Thinkin’ of turnin’ into a Moll? I thought you’d me going any further. ‘Won’t ask for more than you
already turned down my offer to join my gang.’ want to give.’
I swatted him with a broad leaf snatched off a near- As we say in the theatre, pull the other one, it’s got
by bush. ‘Don’t be daft. I know enough to use a long bells on.
spoon to sup with the devil.’ Billy knelt down in the mud to look more closely at
He grinned, understanding all too well which role the ground. ‘This is where they went over.’ He looked
I had cast him in. up at the fence. ‘I guess they took the telescope apart
‘I just think it’s best to know – be wise to the tricks and hefted it up then dropped it on the other side –
of others.’ that’s how we can be sure there was more than one.
‘Too right. But it would come with a price if I tell See!’ He pointed to the flattened earth the other
you anythink.’ side of the boundary. ‘One of them stood there.’ He
squinted. ‘Boots. Size eight or nine. Like mine.’ He
23
 The Middle Passage

winked as he showed me his own salt-stained pair He laughed at that. ‘They haven’t got the sense to
from Bond Street. employ you – what with you bein’ a girl and all that.
‘So men rather than women? We can count out But if they did, you’d halve the crime in Covent Gar-
most of the domestic staff.’ den in a month – I ‘ave every faith in your abilities.
‘Oh, I don’t know: there’re a couple of hefty lasses ‘Ave me out of business before I could say Robinson
in London I know very well whose feet are as big as Crusoe.’
mine.’ I was rather pleased with the compliment – even if
I blushed. ‘You can spare me the details, Billy. I it did come from Billy. ‘Why thank you, Mr Shepherd.’
want no further information about your crew of He leaned closer, changing the banter for some-
thieves.’ thing else – something I definitely didn’t want be-
He looked mock-hurt. ‘I thought you wanted to tween us. ‘You’re welcome, Miss Royal.’
know the secrets, Cat?’ I ducked, avoiding the kiss he’d been planning to
I folded my arms. ‘I’ve thought better of it.’ plant. I wanted no repeat of the incident at the Bath
He flashed me a grin then turned back to our Assembly Rooms. ‘Let’s get back and tell the family
business. ‘No, you’re right, Moggy, last night’s thieves what we’ve discovered.’
were lads not ladies. I wonder where this goes? Not Billy groaned. ‘Why don’t you just give in to what
the straight route back down to the port. If I had a we both want?’
valuable bit of kit to flog I’d be heading down to the I started walking. ‘I suspect what I want and what
dock to shift it as soon as maybe.’ you want are as far apart as London and Botany Bay,
‘Perhaps they aren’t as experienced as you at fenc- Billy. Miss Abingdon, remember?’
ing stolen goods?’ He swore at the reminder of his affianced status to
He tapped my nose with his grubby finger. ‘Excel- a brewery heiress.
lent point, Cat. You’ll make the gang yet, you will.’ ‘Exactly,’ I said primly, anxious to get back among
I rubbed off the smudge he must have left behind. other people, feeling as if I had just had a very nar-
‘No chance. You wait till I put in my application with row escape.
the Runners – then you should worry.’
24
 The Middle Passage

flog...I mean sell a telescope to a gentleman about to

Act II
depart the island.’
Scene I: The Rivals ‘Oh, good idea!’ Mabel gazed at him hopefully, her
hands clasped to her chest. ‘And please, do ask after
my notebooks too – they are more important to me
News of the break-in at the Flanders house attract-
than even the Herschel. That can be replaced eventu-
ed the neighbours like the wasps to the fig tree. By
ally but my work can’t.’
midday the drawing room was overflowing with con-
Billy gave her a condescending smile that would
cerned well-wishers come to offer their support and,
have had me jabbing him in the ribs. ‘Of course, Miss
I suspect, gloat that it had not been them. The two
Flanders, I will try my best.’ He nodded and contin-
maids were run off their feet keeping up with the
ued on his way out, taking the back route to avoid the
demand for refreshments that all the family had to
company in the drawing room who had spilled out
pitch in to help.
on to the terrace.
‘Who are all these people?’ I whispered to Mabel
‘Work?’ I asked, measuring out the tea from Ma-
as we refilled the teapot in the scullery.
bel’s silver caddy.
‘The wives and families of our father’s business ac-
She carefully poured in the hot water. ‘I’m not sure
quaintances in the main. They all live up here – it
if I should let you in on the secret…Peter might not
is the best part of town. We all tend to live in each
approve.’
other’s pockets – it’s an island phenomenon.’
I said nothing, hoping she would feel the urge to
Billy strode by on his way out, his heels clicking on
confide. Fortunately for my curiosity, she did.
the flagstones.
‘We think we’ve spotted a new comet.’ She put the
‘Making your escape?’ I called after him.
kettle back on the stove and looked up at me, expect-
He turned and doffed his hat to Mabel. ‘I do not
ing some reaction.
have a talent for small talk – I’ll leave that to the
‘Oh, good.’ Was that right?
ladies. I thought I would go see what I can find out
Apparently, not enough. She frowned. ‘When I say
down in the docks, put feelers out if anyone wants to
“new” I mean really new – one no one has ever seen
25
 The Middle Passage

before. If we can get our information to the Astrono- ‘I would guess someone who didn’t like my brother
mer Royal before anyone else plots it, we will get our or me very much.’ Mabel fixed her social smile on her
name in the proceedings of the Royal Society at the face again. ‘Come, we can’t abandon my father and
very least.’ Rachel alone with our guests.’
‘I see.’
She sighed. ‘No you don’t. Think of it this way – Having been introduced briefly to the neighbours I
you’re from the world of the theatre, aren’t you?’ sat back in a corner the better to study the local soci-
I nodded. ety. It was entirely possible to my suspicious mind that
‘This to us is like our debut in a starring role before one of them was behind the theft – if the motivation
a royal audience, our launch as serious natural phi- was personal as Mabel had suggested. I watched the
losophers – now do you understand?’ ladies and gentlemen closely. Mr Flanders had re-
I had a day-dream glimpse of myself standing cen- tired to his study with some of the husbands, lament-
tre stage at Drury Lane, flowers raining upon me ing the breach in security over a comforting brandy.
as I curtsied for my standing ovation. Astronomers Peter stood in one corner with two young men of his
had strange ideas of public success, but I could sym- own age. They seemed uncomfortable in each other’s
pathise with the desire to gain recognition. ‘Oh yes, company but preferring it to the sea of muslin that
now I really see.’ dominated the centre of the room. Rachel had taken
Mabel picked up the tray. ‘Problem is, all our ev- the leading role, stationed on the sofa surrounded
idence was in my notebooks. We have to be able to by cooing Mamas, even though she was the least af-
quote the times we saw it and where our comet was to fected by the theft. I wondered if this was because
prove our case and allow other astronomers to find it she was too self-absorbed to think of her brother and
in their skies.’ sister or if she thought she was doing them a favour
I held the door open for her. ‘Who else would want by drawing the emotional fire upon herself. One lady
such information? I can see why they may want a val- in an elegant green gown and rejoicing in a towering
uable telescope but your notebooks?’ hairstyle was particularly solicitous, pulling Rachel to

26
 The Middle Passage

her bosom and patting her on the back like a much Mabel bit her fingernail nervously as she stared
younger child. across the room at the two lean French boys. ‘Well,
‘Who is that lady with Rachel?’ I asked when Mabel they can be scapegraces, getting into scrapes and get-
approached my corner with a plate of biscuits. ting others into trouble. The only beating I remem-
Mabel wrinkled her nose. ‘Madame Aubert, our ber Father dealing out to Peter was a few years back
nearest neighbour. Those are her sons standing with when they took a boat round the bay in bad weather,
Peter and her daughter, Anna-Maria, is sitting with all without permission.’
Senora Cavallo.’ I let her follow my suspicious mind to the same
I spotted a quiet girl with dark hair and eyes watch- conclusions.
ing the goings on in the room intently. Our gazes ‘You think it could be them?’
met but she was the first to look way. ‘I think Rachel I shrugged. ‘I am new to this place but they are the
told me of them. Charles and Albert, the brothers?’ most likely culprits from what I’ve heard so far. It is
Mabel nodded. ‘Yes. And I imagine they are crow- such a specific theft – I doubt common thieves are
ing with delight that we have met with this disaster. involved.’
They have only a three-foot Newtonian.’ Mabel sighed. ‘You’re right. But what do we do
My mind was trying to fit the puzzle-pieces togeth- about it?’
er. ‘Did you by any chance tell them what you thought ‘Go look after your guests and leave it to me. I’ll see
you’d found?’ if I can come up with a plan.’
Mabel looked uncomfortable. ‘We may have hinted
My plan came thanks to the wretched wasps. As I
– they can be so annoyingly superior, always telling us
wandered the gardens in the cool of the evening I
how much better French natural philosophy is than
watched them (from a safe distance) drawn to the
English.’
trap Mabel had placed on the side table. The sweet
My motives were adding up: jealousy, rivalry, pure
scent pulled them in and then they drowned in the
spite. ‘Do you think they have it in them to make a
water at the bottom of the jar. They had to have seen
strike like this against you?’
the fate of their fellow insects, floating on the surface,

27
 The Middle Passage

even hear the fading buzzes as each died, but still Mabel took out a sheet of creamy paper. ‘Yes, I can
they came. Why? Because the smell of honey drove do that. Peter will help. I can draft a letter for you to
out all thought of self-preservation. Their little wasp carry back to England with what appears to be the
brains could only hold one thought at a time and in proof – indeed I can remember some of the record-
this case it was ‘food’. ings I noted down – approximate time and elevation
If my suspicion about the French boys was correct, above the horizon and so on.’
our thieves were drawn by the stars and the knowl- ‘Then we have to make a great fuss about me re-
edge Mabel and Peter had painstakingly assembled. joining my ship tomorrow evening for immediate
I guessed that they had heard rumours and caught sailing – giving them no chance to send their own
hints that something big was happening on the ter- letter off. That should annoy them and force them to
race with each nightly survey but their own telescope take action.’
was too poor to see the comet for themselves. Like Mabel raised the pen nib. ‘You mean against you.
the fable of the dog in the manger, they had decid- Are you not putting yourself in danger, Cat?’
ed if they couldn’t claim the pleasure of the sighting I smiled, thinking just how feeble the two French
for themselves, they would prevent their neighbours boys appeared compared to previous foes. ‘Do not
from doing so. As we could hardly demand a search worry about that. Mr Shepherd and I are more than
of the Aubert family’s house, we had to draw them a match for them.’
into the open. Our honey was to the prize of being She nodded and carried on writing. ‘Where is he,
the first to announce the sighting of the new comet by the way? He missed supper.’
to the scientific community. I bit my lip. Last time I saw Billy, he was heading
I explained my idea to Mabel that night. We had down to the docks. He couldn’t have managed to fool
to be secret as neither of us thought Mr Flanders me after all and stolen the telescope? What better
would welcome us casting aspersions on the family of cover than to claim to be making inquiries for the
his business associates without better proof than our very item he had nabbed.
shared instinct that they were likely to be guilty. No, stop. I had to trust my instincts on this. Billy
had it in him to steal, but this particular theft offered
28
 The Middle Passage

too little profit and risked losing us our comfortable you make the headlines in the newspapers. You’ll be
berth with the Flanders. lionized when you do come to London for Rachel’s
‘I expect he met with friends and is even now en- debut.’
joying the dubious entertainments of your town,’ I Mabel grinned. ‘I have to do one of those myself
suggested. first. I’ve been putting it off as long as possible but
Mabel shook her head. ‘There’s something about Papa is sending me next year.’
him I can’t quite place. You and he know each other ‘And you will be the leading bluestocking then –
well – you act like a quarrelsome brother and sister if and I mean that in the kindest way. Gentlemen of
truth be told – but there’s a level to him that I don’t learning and intelligence will flock to meet the young
see in you.’ lady astronomer, a pleasant diversion from the vapid
That would be the lying, thieving, mercenary level. girls who crowd the ballrooms with more hair than
‘Yes, he is an interesting character. I do not travel wit. Miss Herschel herself has been much admired
with him by choice.’ and she’s so old – at least forty. When you make your
She blotted her letter and folded it. ‘Oh? You seem curtsy, you’ll set philosophic hearts pitter-pattering.’
to rub along well enough.’ Before I could protest that, Mabel chuckled at my teasing. ‘I’d be happy
she changed the subject. ‘I’ll show this to Peter and enough to meet Miss Herschel, forget the gentlemen
make sure the details are convincing enough.’ She you talk of.’
turned her gaze to the window where the stars were ‘Perhaps it can be arranged. Come, let’s take this
already emerging. ‘I just pray that I will be able to to your brother. We need him to break the news to
compose a real letter. It is galling to know the comet Charles and Albert that they are going to be pipped
is out there for anyone to see and we may never get at the post.’
the credit we deserve.’ ‘Pipped?’
I patted her shoulder. ‘You mustn’t fret. This is a ‘Beaten to the punch.’
good plan. If we do catch our thieves, we will put She threaded her arm through mine so we could
that to rights too. I’ll take a letter for you if no faster walk together. ‘Cat, you have a most extraordinary
ship comes in to port before I leave and make sure turn of phrase for a young lady.’
29
 The Middle Passage

‘You should see my friends if you think I’m strange.’ ‘I thought he would send word if he stayed away,’ I
She squeezed my elbow. ‘I’d like that. Are they like explained.
Mr Shepherd?’ Mr Flanders gave me a ‘poor girl’ smile. I tried not
‘No, they’re much, much nicer.’ to hiss. ‘I will make enquiries if he does not return
tonight. How is that?’
Scene II: Setting the trap It would have to do. ‘Thank you.’
‘A man of many talents, your Mr Shepherd,’ Mr
Flanders continued.
I took a late breakfast and found that Billy still had
‘Not my Mr Shepherd,’ I chanted under my breath.
not returned. Against all my usual modes of thought,
This was becoming an alarmingly common accusation.
I began to worry – and, Reader, let me assure you
‘He has some fascinating ideas about how we can
that it is mighty strange to worry about what had hap-
do business together.’
pened to Billy rather than worry what he was plan-
Oh no. ‘Ah, I see.’ I sipped my tea.
ning for others.
‘Indeed, I must see about drawing up a contract
The only person at the table was Mr Flanders who
with him before you depart.’ Mr Flanders was now
was leafing through some letters while helping him-
talking more to himself than to me. ‘I’ll call on my
self to a substantial meal. I decided to appeal to him
lawyer this morning. When do you expect to sail?’
for advice as to what I should do, but he seemed un-
I glanced at the maid clearing the plates from the
ruffled that one of his guests had gone missing.
table. This was all part of my subterfuge. Mabel and I
‘You are a gently bred lady, Miss Royal,’ he began,
wanted everyone in the house to believe I was about
buttering his toast.
to depart so that gossip would reach the Auberts
If only he knew.
through multiple sources. ‘I thought I might go en-
‘Your friend has different interests to a young girl.
quire today, but very soon I would guess. The captain
You should leave him be while he is on shore leave.’
took on a consignment of perishable cargo in his
Meaning Billy was probably on a grand tour of all
hold – pineapples I believe.’
the lowest dives Angra had to offer.

30
 The Middle Passage

The maid was listening, I could tell from the spar- ‘Yes, that would be perfect.’ I stood, pushing my
kle of interest in her eyes. chair back before Mr Flanders could assist me. ‘Let
‘I’m taking an important letter for Mabel with me – me fetch my bonnet.’
for her astronomer friends in London.’
Walking the short distance to the Auberts’ house I
Mr Flanders dabbed his mouth with a linen nap-
realized that they lived in the opposite direction to
kin. ‘Such a shame about their telescope. I must see
the one the thieves had taken through the garden.
about arranging for a replacement – won’t be as good
This niggled. Had I got it wrong? Sharing a taste for
of course, but it will be better than the naked eye. I
astronomy and being male did not make you a thief.
can’t deprive my children of their chief amusement.’
Rachel skipped up and slipped her hand into mine.
It was far more than an amusement to them – I
‘Are you really going so soon? I thought you were with
wondered if he realized how serious they were about
us for a week at least?’
it. But then, from my observation of families, parents
Clearly Mabel and Peter, so used to their little ca-
often missed the obvious when they looked at their
bal of two, had not thought to inform their younger
own offspring. Take Johnny and his father: the earl
sister what was afoot. I thought that very unwise: she
hadn’t realized his son was a radical cartoonist until
almost too late.2 could ruin our plan before we even started.
‘Rachel, can you keep a secret?’
Peter and Mabel came in together, Rachel trailing
She nodded, her honey-blond curls bobbing en-
behind.
thusiastically. ‘Yes, of course. How exciting!’
‘We are going to pay a call on the Auberts, Miss
I quickly sketched out our suspicions and our
Royal. Do you care to come and bid them farewell?’
scheme to lure the Aubert boys into a trap of our de-
Peter asked.
vising. She was quick to catch on, not surprised that I
was accusing her neighbours of a horrid crime.
‘How can I help?’ she asked.
I decided there and then that there was more to
2. Please follow that adventure in The Diamond of
Rachel than her brother and sister realized. ‘By pre-
Drury Lane.
31
 The Middle Passage

tending that I am on the point of leaving. They must We took the offered seats. Rachel immediately
be forced to show their hand.’ placed herself beside Anna-Maria; Mabel glanced
The Aubert household was a little grander than the over once then left the younger girls to their hushed
Flanders establishment, more servants in attendance, conversation.
several gardeners clipping the hedges, a prepon- Peter waited for the lemonade to be served, then
derance of gilt furniture in the foyer. I imagined it broached the main reason for our presence.
the kind of place that would appeal to Billy’s showy ‘Are Charles and Albert here, Madame?’
tastes. The gardens were more controlled than their ‘Oh no.’ Madame Aubert smiled serenely. ‘They
neighbours, showing the inhabitants’ pretentions to are down at the port with their father – an interest-
ape the formal gardens of the Tuilleries rather than ing consignment of books came in from Paris last
Mother Nature. The white stone mansion looked evening. Several scientific works which might amuse
down on the same stunning view of the harbour. I you, Peter – do ask them to share.’
could just spy my ship still riding at anchor, from this ‘What a shame: it looks as though I will miss them,’
height a water beetle come to momentary rest on the I declared brightly. ‘I expect to sail any moment now
surface of a blue lake. so I came to bid you farewell.’
Madame Aubert received us graciously in her Madame Aubert gravely bowed her head. ‘A brief
morning room. She had an embroidery frame at her acquaintance, Miss Royal, and one sadly marred by
side, a needle trailing scarlet thread as she worked a the theft. I hope you do not leave with a bad impres-
fleur-de-lis into the fabric. Anna-Maria sat on a low sion of our little island society?’
stool by the window, a book open on her knee. ‘Oh no, you’ve all been most kind to a stranger.’
‘My dears,’ she said in French, ‘and Miss Royal. After another twenty minutes of small talk (how do
How kind of you to call. I’ll ring for something cool fine ladies do this every day?), we heard a noise in
to drink.’ She fanned herself. ‘By all the saints, it is the foyer – laughter and male voices. Madame Aubert
hot today!’ rose.
I looked around the room, hoping to spot the ‘Ah, we are fortunate: they are back earlier than I
brothers lurking, but no luck. expected. I will call them in.’
32
 The Middle Passage

The two chief suspects sauntered into the room. the news of their comet with the Astronomer Royal
The taller, Charles, reminded me somewhat of his himself.’
English namesake, Charles I: a head of long dark ‘A new comet?’ exclaimed Rachel. ‘Is that what
curls tied back, and large puppy-ish brown eyes. It you’ve been working on all those nights?’ She turned
was hard to imagine him doing anything wicked until to Anna-Maria. ‘I told you they were up to something.’
you saw him smile – his lips were ripe with mischief. Anna-Maria’s expression became very sour at the
Albert had limp black hair cut short and a rather un- revelation, prompting me wonder if she was part of
fortunate complexion that looked like the surface of her brothers’ conspiracy to spoil the English astrono-
an uncooked currant loaf. I hoped for his sake he mers’ plans. Thus far, I had rather overlooked her as
would grow out of it. If I had to guess, I would say he she was so mouse-like.
was the brains behind the two brothers’ escapades, ‘Yes, it is quite an honour for the island,’ I contin-
making up for lack of looks with excess of cunning. ued to gush, hoping I was annoying them all to the
‘My darlings, you are just in time to say goodbye to point where they would retaliate. ‘The first time such
our Miss Royal. She returns to England immediately.’ young persons have sighted a comet I understand.
Charles flourished a bow, deeper than necessary in They will be the toast of European drawing rooms.’
a drawing room of a merchant’s wife. ‘Our lives will ‘Congratulations,’ growled Albert, sounding as if
be all the poorer as we will lose her.’ he meant quite the opposite.
Definitely guilty. Someone capable of such empty ‘You must show us tonight,’ smiled Charles blithely.
observations must be culpable – of breaching good ‘Oh, I forgot, you can’t – you have no telescope.’
taste at the very least. ‘But it is there, nonetheless, we have proof,’ Mabel
‘Thank you, sir. But I am pleased to take a little said with fighting spirit, daring him to cast doubt on
memento with me as well as doing a service to my her word.
kind hosts.’ I smiled at Mabel and Peter. ‘Fortunately, ‘How lovely.’ Madame Aubert picked up her em-
our astronomers here were able to record their ex- broidery again. She for one took the news with com-
citing findings before their telescope was so cruelly plete calm – I would wager the box office takings at
taken from them. I rush to Greenwich to announce
33
 The Middle Passage

Drury Lane that she was ignorant of any plot by her Mabel frowned. ‘Charles must know something –
children. ‘We wish you plain sailing, Miss Royal.’ he was gloating about the telescope, wasn’t he?’
I rose, signalling the end of the visit. Our message I agreed, but felt there was something I was missing
was passed; now we had to wait the result. ‘Thank – other than Billy, of course: his absence still rankled.
you. I pray you excuse me: I am heading down to the ‘All we can do now is wait until this evening. Please
port this evening to go aboard and I must pack.’ make sure you have witnesses from the household
The rest of the company got to their feet. Charles posted to keep an eye on my luggage. I will make sure
showed us to the door, promising Peter to call by later everyone knows where I stow your letter when we say
with the new books he had retrieved from the latest our farewells. I want to make this easy for them.’
consignment.
Our little pantomime began as twilight gathered over
‘Impressions?’ I asked as we drew far enough away
the island, staining the sky with a fantastical display
to talk without being overheard.
of salmon red clouds and molten fire on the horizon.
Peter rubbed his chin. ‘I’m not sure, Miss Royal.
The actress in me rejoiced in the suitably dramatic
Charles and Albert were interested to hear that you
set the Good Lord had painted for me. I kissed the
were departing – and annoyed by the announcement
– but I still hard to imagine them arranging such a girls and curtsied to Peter, then took the letter from
Mabel and made sure everyone see me place it at the
spiteful theft. They are my friends.’
top of my little valise.
I noticed he did not say good friends.
‘That should do it,’ I whispered to Mabel. ‘All your
Rachel tugged my arm. ‘Anna-Maria was furious.
servants and a good many others on the lane saw
She hates anyone stealing the thunder from her
where it went. If the gossip chain works as effectively
brothers – she thinks of them as gods.’
as you think, this will be no secret by the time I arrive
Peter raised his eyes to heaven in mock appeal. ‘Oh
at the bottom of the steps.’
why, oh why, did I not get a younger sister like that?’
As part of our act, the Flanders siblings appeared
Rachel batted him in the stomach – he let out an
to stay at home, consigning me to the escort of a stout
obliging ‘oof!’. ‘Because you don’t deserve it.’
male servant and maid for the hot walk down. They

34
 The Middle Passage

had offered me the service of a local burro – the pre- A dose of sensible was exactly not what the doctor
ferred means of transport for ladies – but I decided ordered at the moment. ‘Yes, I am quite sure. I will
that the presence of a donkey would only complicate stand by the customs office here. No harm can come
the scenario so refused. I regretted that halfway down to us.’
as the perspiration began to gather on my brow. The maid and the manservant exchanged an exas-
Come on, Cat Royal, I berated myself, you survived perated look, doubtless thinking the visitor was hope-
malaria – a little walk will not kill you. And you’re not lessly naive. This pleased me as that was exactly the
even carrying your own luggage. impression I wanted to create – I had to be an easy
We arrived at the dockside – a busy scene compared mark for anyone wanting to steal the letter.
to the cool peace of the wealthy heights. Barrels and ‘I won’t be long then, Miss. Don’t move from this
coils of rope lay on every spare patch of land. Sea- spot.’ He touched his cap and hurried off.
gulls pecked at fish scraps, screeching their raucous How long would it take our French thieves to make
calls like the audience at a bawdy play. Sailors walked their move, I wondered. To help them take the bait, I
or staggered by, depending on their level of inebri- engaged the maid in an animated conversation about
ation, one bellowing out a sea shanty with the most the latest London fashions, turning my back on my
shocking words I’d ever heard. This was not a place box. I had to hope no other alert criminal made a
for a decent girl to linger for long but I rather liked it. move to nab it before the ones we wanted to catch
I’d certainly pick this over another morning call in a summoned up their nerve.
rich merchant’s drawing room. When they made their play, it was executed with
‘Please put my box there,’ I ordered the manser- more panache than I had expected. It began with a
vant, ‘and then go and enquire for a boat to take me man jostling me to the ground in a pretended drunk-
out to my ship.’ en lurch. The maid screeched, hissing Portuguese
‘Are you sure, Miss?’ the man asked, thinking that curses at the man that she thought I did not under-
he had better stay to protect the two damsels in his stand. Our disreputable drunk apologized extrava-
care. gantly, helping me to my feet and kissing my hand in
mock contrition. With most people this might have
35
 The Middle Passage

been taken at face value, but I recognized it as one of ‘Are you all unharmed?’ Mr Flanders asked, pat-
the oldest tricks in the book. I was therefore not sur- ting Rachel down as if she had just survived a car-
prised when a whistle blew behind us. The drunkard riage accident.
stumbled round, took stock of the scene and loped ‘No harm done, Papa,’ she assured him, her eyes
off as fast as he could. Peter was restraining a man sparkling with enjoyment at this excitement in their
in the very act of rifling through my possessions; Ra- usually humdrum life.
chel was the owner of the very shrill whistle, bringing ‘Then WHAT WERE YOU DOING DOWN HERE
attention to us. Mabel had rushed in to the customs AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT!’ he bellowed.
house to summon an official. In a very short time, the Parents – don’t you just love them? Get furious
man was under arrest, a messenger sent for Mr Flan- when their children had been quite splendid. I
ders, and we were all escorted within the building to wished I had a father to bellow at me for taking a risk.
clear up the business. I had to make do with a set of over-protective friends.
But what I neglected to tell you, dear Reader, was ‘Father, we think we’ve caught one of our thieves,’
that I did not recognize the thief at all. Perhaps it had Peter said calmly. He then explained the bait without
been unwise of me to expect Charles and Albert to naming the ones we suspected. ‘All we need do now is
have done their own dirty work, but we were left with find out whom this man is working for.’
another layer of mystery to solve with this stranger We all turned to the man sitting on a bench sur-
on our hands. Obviously a local from his Portuguese rounded by burly customs officers. He folded his
expressions of innocence and sunburnt complexion, arms and shook his head.
I guessed we had caught ourselves a hired hand, not ‘Didn’t do nothing,’ he muttered in Portuguese
the mastermind of this plot against the Flanders. (Mabel offered this translation unprompted but I’d
Mr Flanders came rushing in with the Angra got the gist from his demeanour).
equivalent of the magistrate, a grey-haired, puffed- ‘Is this about your missing telescope?’ asked the
up representative of the law. magistrate.

36
 The Middle Passage

Mr Flanders nodded. ‘As far as I can gather. It ‘I can. He was asking questions because he was
appears my own children have been hatching plots helping Mr Flanders find the telescope. He thought
without telling me.’ that the thieves would try and sell it down in the port
‘Oh, but I have the culprit in gaol as we speak. I to get it off the island as quickly as possible.’
picked him up last night. I am waiting for him to sign The magistrate tugged at his cravat. ‘Is this the
his confession. I thought I’d sent you word?’ truth?’ he asked Mr Flanders, hoping I was making
Mr Flanders shook his head. ‘I heard nothing of this up.
the sort. Who is it?’ Mr Flanders frowned. ‘Yes, all true. Good Lord, Se-
This couldn’t be right: both Charles and Albert nor Carlo, I hope you haven’t wrecked my new busi-
were at large. We’d all seen them that very morning. ness relationship with Mr Shepherd.’
‘A very suspicious character, claiming to be a gen- ‘Don’t worry about that. I doubt he’d let a little
tleman, but he was asking odd questions around the thing like a night in gaol put him off profit,’ I said
port, looking for someone interested in the purchase happily.
of a valuable telescope.’ ‘We’d better go and release him at once.’ The mag-
Oh, it couldn’t be! This would be too priceless for istrate made to leave.
words. I cleared my throat. ‘Had we better not deal with
‘His name isn’t Mr William Shepherd by any the thief at hand rather than the innocent one in the
chance?’ I asked innocently. bush, so to speak. We need to know who is behind all
The magistrate turned on me. ‘You know him?’ this if we are to get the telescope back.’
‘Yes, we all do.’ I grinned. ‘I imagine he is none too The man showed no more signs than before of con-
happy to be sitting in your clink, is he?’ fession. That was until Rachel approached him and
The magistrate began to look worried that he had tugged off his cap. She twirled it on a finger.
misjudged his man. I couldn’t reassure him that he ‘I recognize this man. He’s a groom at the Aubert
was in general right, though on this one occasion in house.’
the wrong. ‘You can vouch for him?’ So it was the French boys then!

37
 The Middle Passage

‘I also happen to know that he is a particular serv- I stepped forward. ‘Please, sir, let me come with
ant of Anna-Maria, responsible for teaching her to you and…’ Crow? No, I couldn’t say that. ‘And offer
ride. She speaks of him often: he’s called Leo. Is that him consolation for his trouble.’
not right?’
Oh, the scene, the scene! Picture this, Reader, Billy
The man scowled but he did not contradict her.
sat on a miserable bench in a miserable cell, look-
Anna-Maria? Was that possible? Now I thought
ing fit to spit nails for the injustice done him. And to
about it, was it not more likely that the jealous little
think he had done this to others before: that made it
sister would move in defence of her brothers – she
just perfect for me.
had motive and the theft would surely be beneath
I had persuaded the magistrate to let me go in
young men with pretensions to be gentlemen. I now
alone to unlock the door. I stood outside the cell,
had a good reason to be pleased that we had not scat-
waiting for him to realize I was there. He appeared
tered accusations around without evidence.
to be lost in the contemplation of the mouldy straw
Mr Flanders looked to the magistrate. ‘I think this
at his feet.
had best be cleared up in the privacy of the Aubert
‘My, my, do I see a knight in distress. Never fear, the
home.’ He meant that he didn’t want public disgrace
to be brought on the children of a neighbour if it damsel is here to rescue him.’ I jingled the keys.
Billy leapt to his feet. ‘That damned idiot locked
could be avoided. ‘Let me take this man back to my
me up!’
house and I will call on Monsieur Aubert myself.’
I leaned against the wall. ‘I know.’
The magistrate took a moment to come to the
‘Stop grinning.’
same conclusion. ‘Let me know if you are going to
‘I’m not.’
press charges. I am ready to assist in any way I can.
Billy thumped the bars. ‘You are.’
Now about my prisoner –’
I shrugged. ‘Maybe just a bit.’
‘Let me out.’
‘In a minute.’
‘What are you waiting for?’

38
 The Middle Passage

‘Just enjoying the moment.’ two donkeys escorted by his best men. Mine was a
He growled in his throat then realized he had stubborn beast that kept nipping the tail of Billy’s,
to have me on his side – I had the key. ‘Let me out, but it was a good deal easier than walking.
Moggy.’ On our return, we discovered quite a scene in the
‘Say “please”.’ drawing room. A tight-lipped man – Monsieur Au-
He reached out a hand. ‘Please.’ bert I gathered – had Anna Maria by the scruff of
All right: I’d had my fun. He had been trying to the neck, forcing a weeping apology from her as she
help. I put the key in the lock and gave it a turn. He handed over the missing notebooks.
pushed the door open with a bang and grabbed me. ‘I found these in her sewing basket,’ her father said
Oops. I’d forgotten while teasing that he would soon in disgust.
be free. Charles and Albert came in carrying the disman-
‘I’m so angry, I could kiss you,’ he growled. tled telescope between them. ‘And we found this in
‘Don’t,’ I gulped. a gardener’s shed.’ Charles put his part down and ap-
‘Say “please”.’ proached his friend. ‘We’re very sorry, Peter, we did
‘Please don’t.’ not realize how our little sister had taken our rivalry
He finally saw the humour in the situation and let to heart. We are both ashamed of her.’
me go. ‘We make a fine pair, don’t we, Cat?’ Anna-Maria began to weep even more noisily. I was
‘Mabel thinks we’re like a quarrelsome brother and torn between feeling a bit sorry for her and annoy-
sister.’ ance. If she had had the intelligence to think up such
He knocked the straw from his hat. ‘She does?’ a plot, she could at least show more sense in accept-
‘She also thinks you’re a suspicious sort. In that way, ing the blame. Where was the girl’s pride?
she has more sense than her father.’ After several more apologies, tinged with relief
‘God save me from clever chits,’ Billy grumbled. that the Flanders showed no inclination to involve
the authorities, the French family departed, An-
To ensure we arrived back at the Flanders house in na-Maria marched off in their midst like a prisoner.
style, the magistrate insisted we accept transport on I would imagine she might be studying the inside of
39
 The Middle Passage

her bedroom walls for quite a few days and a couple Epilogue: Cat’s Comet
of servants reassigned to other duties away from her.
‘And now, Mr Shepherd, what can we do for you?’
The Dolphin was finally ready for sailing and we had
asked Mr Flanders. ‘You too have suffered on our
reached our last evening in our very comfortable
behalf.’
lodgings at the Flanders. The letter had become a
‘Draw him a bath and then you’re quits,’ I whis-
real piece of scientific reporting thanks to the re-
pered to Rachel and Mabel.
turned notebooks, and I had promised to make sure
It was an unfortunate truth that the Angra gaol was
it was delivered by the fastest mail coach as soon as I
not the most sweet-smelling of holiday destinations.
landed in Liverpool.
To mark our departure, the Flanders held a little
gathering on their terrace, a celebratory supper. I
hadn’t realized they had a surprise in store. Not
the presence of Charles and Albert – they had been
frequent visitors since the debacle over the stolen
telescope, their rivalry muting into more healthy
competition. I thought the male company was good
for Peter; he had been less bookish since they had
lured him out of his astronomy workshop. They had
disappeared for whole nights, going for hikes with
their inferior but much more portable telescope to
stargaze at other points on the island. Mabel and
Rachel had spent more time with each other as a
result; I think Mabel had finally realized that her
younger sister had more than fluff between her ears
after her quick thinking at the Customs House. From

40
 The Middle Passage

the sisterly giggles that came from their bedroom, I ‘Of course not – it was sealed.’ Naturally, I had
guessed they were getting on much better and Mabel peeked under the flap but had only made out a list
was even seen with a ribbon or two about her person, of numbers.
softening her bluestocking looks. Mabel was joined by Peter on one side and Rachel
No, the surprise they had for me was the very thing on the other. ‘Then you didn’t see the name we have
that had caused the whole adventure in the first asked for them to give our comet.’
place: the comet. Billy was quicker than I to catch on. ‘What? You
Peter led me to the telescope. ‘Can you see it?’ want it called the pain-in-the-neck comet? Or the
I squinted through the aperture. He assured me it little-redhead-should-have-been-drowned-at-birth
had come much closer in the last few nights and even comet?’
an amateur should be able to tell it apart from the I elbowed him in the stomach and everyone pre-
stars. And yes, there it was – a white smudge in the tended not to notice.
sky. Very faint. ‘No, nothing like that,’ said Peter gravely. ‘We have
‘How fast is it travelling?’ I asked, awed to be one of asked them to call it the Comet Royal. That should
the first to see it. not raise any objections from the Astronomer Royal
Mabel bent down beside me to hold back my hair who will imagine we are doing him the honour…’
that was in danger of obscuring my view. ‘Very fast.’ ‘When all along it is another Royal we have in mind.’
‘And how fast is that?’ Rachel grinned at me.
‘At least a mile per second.’ I pressed my fingers to my lips to stop myself from
‘Each second? ’ emitting an embarrassing squeak.
‘Faster closer to the sun, like the point of release of ‘I think she’s pleased,’ commented Billy. ‘If she’s
a slingshot.’ deprived of speech, it’s usually a good sign. Long may
‘That’s fast.’ it last!’
I stepped aside to let Billy, then the Aubert boys see ‘I’m in the heavens?’ I whispered.
the comet for themselves.
‘Did you read my letter?’ Mabel asked.
41
 The Middle Passage

‘Yes, you are immortalized as a lump of rock whiz-

zing around the sun, here today and gone tomorrow
– but coming back in all likelihood,’ Mabel said wryly.
‘Then I am most touched.’ I curtsied deeply. ‘I ac-
cept the honour.’
And then I turned back to my comet, watching it
sail at incredible speeds across the night sky. The
Comet Royal: how totally splendid.

Curtain Falls.

42
 The Middle Passage

Cat’s Glossary

Canister – head
Cast up one’s accounts – to be violently ill Also by Julia Golding
Charybdis – mythical whirlpool
Clink – term for gaol The Diamond of Drury Lane
Crosstrees – top point of mast where lookout can Cat Among the Pigeons
stand Den of Thieves
Dons – Oxford and Cambridge tutors Cat O’Nine Tails
Goggle – to stare Black Heart of Jamaica
Moll – woman associated with a gang of thieves Cat’s Cradle
Nipping jig – to be hanged
Phiz – face juliagolding.co.uk
Scylla – mythical monster, eater of sailors
Skylarking – to play in the rigging
Tuilleries – famous Parisian gardens and palace

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