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Convertine ?” Ned asked casually, seeing endless rows and confusions resulting in a naval captain trying to control the buccaneers.
    “No, the Convertine has been calling at all the islands to take the news and now she sails back to England, just calling at Somers Island on the way.”
    “So you still have no government ships – we can call them King’s ships once again – to protect you ?”
    “No, but I was hoping that our arrangement, you providing the great guns and me the forts and batteries, would encourage you and Sir Thomas to stay.”
    “Yes, we want to use Cagway, or whatever you propose calling the harbour, as a base. Port Royal would be a good name, don’t you think, in honour of the King’s restoration? But we have to attack Spanish ports and towns, otherwise we shall not have the money for provisions.”
    “I can’t think your ships will make much impression on the Dons,” the captain of the Convertine sneered unexpectedly. “From what I saw, the ships’ companies look more like gangs of poachers!”
    The general said quietly: “You will apologize for that remark at once captain, and when you have done so I will tell you why I insist.”
    The captain flushed and, after first wondering if he dare defy the governor of Jamaica, finally apologized.
    The general then said, a hint of awe still in his voice: “That ‘gang of poachers’ has just come back from successfully attacking Santiago de Cuba, blowing up its castle, and bringing away all of Santiago’s great guns. Those cannon, carriages and shot, you saw lying on the ground at the end of the jetty, waiting for the masons to build forts and batteries, are Spanish and defended Santiago until last week. Santiago, I would remind you, is the second port of Cuba… Incidentally, the last admiral we had here, Penn, ended in the Tower because of his abilities.”
    Ned and Thomas returned to the Griffin , where Diana and Aurelia met them at the entry-port. Aurelia led the way down to the cabin. The sun was high but the crew had rigged an old sail as an awning, sheltering the afterdeck and making welcome shade so that the Trade wind blowing across the anchorage was cooled a little as it swept the after part of the ship.
    Down in the cabin Diana and Aurelia sat side by side on the bunk and looked questioningly at the two men. Thomas glanced sideways at Ned. “You tell ’em; I still think I’m dreaming.”
    Deciding to tantalize them for a few moments, Ned said: “The Convertine brought new orders for the general. He keeps his job as governor, and he is to defend the island. And there has been no peace treaty signed with the Dons.”
    Aurelia sighed. “Now you have had your little joke, Edouard, tell us the news.”
    “What do you mean?” Ned asked innocently.
    “I believed you up to the moment you said no peace treaty had been signed with Spain. Something unusual must have happened to make that of any importance. Since out here war with Spain is normal, ch é ri , peace would be unusual. Anyway, whatever happens in Europe does not affect us out here – remember, ‘No peace beyond the Line’.”
    “The King is back on the throne in London,” Ned said.
    The two women stared at him wide-eyed and then at Thomas, wary of a joke yet wanting to believe it.
    “It’s true,” Thomas said. “General Monck fetched him back from Holland. And he’s proclaimed a general amnesty for political affairs. The King isn’t going to put the leading Roundheads on the block.”
    “That’s wise,” Diana said unexpectedly. “God knows they deserve it, but recriminations are pointless. What’s done is done and that’s that.”
    Thomas growled: “Except that I lost my land, and Ned’s father lost two estates – three including Ilex, as well as the plantation in Barbados.” He grinned at Aurelia and added: “Even though he’ll have the plantation back by the most devious circumstances, once he’s married.”
    “The King will make it all right,”