‘There’s no such thing as demons, Arent.’ Sammy took a sip of wine, the liquid reddening his lips. ‘But there are always bargains to be struck.’
Perhaps it
‘Bargains,’ she repeated slowly, hearing an offer in his tone.
Creesjie clasped her hands and leant across the table, into the candlelight. ‘I told you earlier that we did all this because we wanted Jan Haan to know our fear. But we also did it because we didn’t want to be caught. Everybody on that island believes a demon killed your husband, which is exactly what we intended. That’s the story they’ll go back home and tell.’ Seeing Sara’s doubt, she waved a hand. ‘All of this we can explain away, but superstition burrows itself deep. They believe it now. They believe in Old Tom. They’ll spend their lives cursing him for things that go wrong in their lives, and rubbing charms to keep themselves safe. Their children will believe, and so will their grandchildren.’ She paused, gathering herself. ‘I love you, Sara.’ Her eyes found Lia. ‘I love you, Lia. My boys love you. I want you to come with me to France as you planned. We have Jan’s treasure, which means we can live the life we always talked about, free of any obligation to marry.’
Lia shot a quick glance at her mother, but Sara kept her gaze firmly on Creesjie. Lia was sweet and clever, but she cared little for the suffering of strangers. She wanted the life so long promised with Creesjie, and Sara knew those dark eyes would beg her for it.
Sara didn’t know if she’d have the strength to resist. Or, even, if she should. For the fifteen years she’d been married to Jan Haan, she’d dreamt only of her freedom. Now, she was being offered exactly what she wanted. Part of her yearned to accept, to snatch at it greedily.
‘Whatever your intentions, hundreds of people are dead,’ growled Arent. ‘Children have lost their mothers and fathers. Husbands have lost their wives. You can’t walk away from that. Somebody has to be held to account.’ He stared at Sammy fiercely. ‘That’s what we did, Sammy. We held people to account for doing things like this.’
‘Your uncle was held to account,’ said Creesjie. ‘And my conscience aches for the hurt we’ve done accomplishing that, but it’s assuaged by the knowledge that we prevented the Gentlemen 17 from taking control of The Folly, and, through that, expanding an empire which empowers ruthless men like Jan Haan.’
‘Until you sell it to somebody else,’ argued Arent.
‘We’ve destroyed it,’ said Sammy flatly. ‘Or, at least, the two parts we recovered. The Folly was much too powerful for any king or Company to possess.’
Only Sara heard Lia groan, pained by the years of lost work.
Creesjie hung her head. ‘We grieve what we set in motion, but it was Crauwels who cost these passengers their lives. We intend to save who we can and return to Amsterdam.’
Sammy leant forward into the light, fixing his attention on Arent. His expression was watchful, but also hopeful – like a child making a request of his father. Sara could only curse herself for missing the resemblance between him and Creesjie earlier. They had the same shape to their eyes, the same chin. The same unnatural beauty. Perhaps that was another reason they’d ensured they were rarely in the same room together.
‘I know your nature, my friend,’ said Sammy, addressing Arent. ‘I know it burns you to let something so unjust go unpunished, but there really was a devil, and we really did banish him from this world. The Folly would have brought untold suffering, and we’ve destroyed it. There is good in this, as there is ill. Accept our version of this story and we’ll split Jan Haan’s treasure with you and the passengers. You’ll be free, and you can choose whatever life you want. Maybe one day, we’ll even solve a puzzle together again.’
Sara looked at Arent, trying to gauge his mood. Normally, his face was a mask, every emotion locked away. Not tonight. Fury showed through his furrowed brow and narrowed eyes. It coursed through his tense shoulders and balled fists. He was ready to sink this ship with his bare hands.
‘What’s the alternative?’ asked Lia, her voice quivering. ‘What happens if they say no? Will you kill us?’
‘No,’ exclaimed Creesjie, horrified. ‘No, dear heart, no. If any part of me could let that happen, I wouldn’t have confessed when I thought Isabel was going to burn you.’
‘If you don’t like our bargain, you’re free to stay on the island in peace,’ said Sammy, sounding genuinely pained by the idea. ‘There’s food enough for years and the hunting’s good.’
Obviously discomfited by Arent’s anger, he peered at Sara. ‘Old Tom asked you what you most desired, and you said freedom. Now, we’re offering it to you. The question is: what will you pay for it?’
Sara looked at Lia, then Arent.