After sailing through turquoise water past miles of white beaches with verdant hills behind, lush greenery flowing down like liquid right to the sand, we stood together at the taffrail again looking at a port our ship was about to enter. Rounding a headland into the harbour, we passed Fort Charles and beyond was the close-packed sprawl of Port Royal. I had not expected the sheer size of the place. I put my arm around Susannah’s waist. She was tense with anxiety. It was nearly December. Was Penny still here? And we must now tell Sam what had happened.
‘Jesu. How shall we even find them?’
The harbour was crowded with ships tied up at long wharves disappearing into the distance, with many more at anchor further out. There was little doubt some were privateers. I had heard of the so-called f
