by Lucy Langton
What was Gregory doing right now? He was probably worried sick, already thinking of ways to rescue her. Surely he had gotten a good look at the ship while they had been down at the port’s market. He would be able to give a description to anyone that would listen to him. And what of Lord Crawford? Maria sighed heavily at the thought of the man. Before she had been worried about having to deal with a proposal from him, and yet now she would welcome one with open arms in return for being off this ship and back with her family. Indeed, Lord Crawford seemed a lot more appealing now that she was trapped in a dank, humid room with little light, and air so thick that she had a difficult time breathing.
Maria focused on the events of the day; how mundane things seemed to be a joy now that her hands were bound behind her back and she had little hope of escaping. How she wished she could be playing the piano right now for the children at the orphanage. Or taking a walk with her best friend Charlotte, when she came to visit for the summer. And even having the freedom to read a novel would bring her more joy than she could ever imagine. Instead, she was filled with fear of what the future would hold for her.
The tears came again as Maria looked away from the lantern and rested her head back on her knees. She pictured each one of her family members, holding images in her mind of when they’d last talked. She felt guilty for the things she’d said to her father and wished she could take it all back now. She wished she’d never left the house and had taken to the gardens instead of the market. Then she wouldn’t be stuck in this situation. Soon, Maria was caught up in a storm of self-pity, of hopeful wishing and of fervent prayers as she continued to fear the worst for her future.
~*~
James had been given orders to man the sails for the rest of the evening. The strong winds had taken the Emerald quickly away from the British Isles, and now they could look forward to several weeks’ journey to reach the Barbary Coast. James stood ready to adjust the sails at a moment’s notice as they continued their escape from Britain. Though there had been no ships in sight for the last few hours, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t come upon actual privateers in the open waters.
James had discarded his shirt early due to the heat of the day beating unmercifully upon the ship, yet it was part of normal life upon the open waters that he’d gotten used to a long time ago. His skin had tanned to the point that he no longer had to worry about sunburn. And when you’re surrounded by men most of the time, you lose a sense of dignity when your fellow crew members have also discarded their shirts as they work hard under the sun.
As James stood waiting at the base of the main sail post, able to climb the sails at any moment to either lower or raise them, his thoughts drifted back to the young lady he’d captured and the reason Captain Maidus was so excited to have this hostage. Perhaps he had a client in want of a young lady, perhaps a virgin who’d be worth a handsome price if such was the truth. James was not familiar with the customs and culture of England, but simply knew wealthy people lived there. James knew that all sorts of fine goods were shipped to England every day from Europe and Africa, even North and South America, so James knew that with these trading routes came a wealth of money pouring into the small country. It was this such trading that had brought him his own fortune as he worked for Captain Maidus over the years.
“Whatcha thinking about, my boy?” Leonardo asked, bring James the dinner rations from below. Their cook was decent, but he surely missed a home-cooked meal.
“I’m thinking about how I’m going to spend my money once we land in Tripoli,” James said, speaking a half-truth. He was indeed thinking about the fortune he’d saved up over the years, knowing that one day he’d purchase a ship of his own and manage his own crew as captain. Though, Leonardo wasn’t a great example of a pirate achieving the status of captain.
Leonardo laughed at James’ response, so much so that he bent over and held his gut with his free arm, causing James to quickly grab his cup of water and plate of food before Leonardo dumped it all over the deck. “Yer going to spend it like you do every time. On booze and wenches,” Leonardo said as his mirth subsided.
James couldn’t help but laugh as he couldn’t deny Leonardo. Though he’d become keen to save the money he earned, he had a reputation back in Tripoli as being a little wild. The slave women at the local brothel knew of him well and he was never in want of company when so many women came to him willingly. It had been exciting at one point in his life, especially when he’d started sailing the open seas as a pirate instead of a ship hand, earning a part of the profits. But now he simply wanted to save what he earned so that he could enjoy his older years on a ship of his own − if he lasted that long.
“Perhaps I’ll spend my money on something other than cheap entertainment,” James responded with a shrug. Even though Leonardo was the closest thing he had to a friend, he wasn’t about to trust the man with the details of his savings. Though most of the crew members upon the ship were friendly enough, everyone knew that you couldn’t trust a pirate with the details of your own money.
“And perhaps one day pigs will fly,” Leonardo responded as another fit of laughter ran through him. James rolled his eyes as he drained the cup of water and handed it back to Leonardo, before he quickly scooped up the cold gruel with the hard biscuit, using his fingers to down the food so he could give his full attention to his duties.
“Never ceases to surprise me the way you eat your food,” Leonardo said with a shake of his head before he walked away.
“I’m no gentleman,” James called back with a laugh, knowing that his bad habits would never improve as long as he stayed a pirate. There was no need for table manners when you lived amongst thieves. Only Captain Maidus ever showed refinement when dining at the head table, only inviting his closest friends to join him. If James hadn’t been put on this duty for the evening, then he’d probably be dining with the Captain again tonight. He was proud of his position amongst the crew and was glad he could be trusted by so many.
As the sun began to set, James’ thoughts turned back to the green-eyed beauty below, and he wondered what her golden hair would look like in the setting sun, what it would feel like in his hands, and perhaps what her lips would taste like if he ever got a moment alone with her. James smiled as he waited for his next orders.
Chapter 5
At a later time, Maria recognized the sound of the lock on her door being turned. She looked up from where she sat against the ship’s hull, her knees still bent towards her chest as she used her dress the best she could to shield her from everyone, and everything, around her. As time had gone on, the foul smell of the ship had increased as though the space was being filled with a smog of bad odor, of rot and of stink. The rose water she’d used this morning was a distant memory, and now all that she smelled was her sweat.
A pirate stepped into the room, one she hadn’t met before. This pirate was a shorter fellow with curly blonde hair, a scraggly beard, and beady brown eyes. She tried to melt into the walls of the ship as she pushed herself back, wishing she could break through and swim to safety. Though she was sure she would more than likely drown from the weight of her undergarments.
“Yer food, miss,” the man said as he knelt in front of her, took a spoon of the gruel, and pushed it towards her mouth. Maria quickly turned her head, certain the food would be tainted. She felt certain they would try to poison her, make her sick and weak so they could do to her what they wanted.
“Come now, ye have nothing to worry about. It doesn’t taste that bad,” the man tried to persuade her, but Maria kept her head turned away from the foul-smelling food he held in what was probably a dirty bowl. The whole ship seemed dirty and foul to her, and she wouldn’t dare eat anything so gruesome.
“Ye don’t have to be so difficult,” the man continued, his temper breaking as he tried again to get the young girl to open her mouth, even smearing some on her face and chin. “I doubt you’d want to wear this food.” He laughed at his own joke, thinking himself quite funny.<
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Maria turned her head then, bit the spoon and pulled it from his hand before spitting it back at him. The pirate was surprised at first, then irritation crossed his features, giving Maria a cold look that made her freeze. Then she mustered up her courage as she glared back at the man, this time making the pirate hesitate.
“I will not eat none of your pathetic pirate food. Even dogs wouldn’t eat such a thing, and you’re far worse than mangy dogs,” Maria spat, her anger overcoming any of her pain or fear. She was tired and wanted nothing to do with these pirates. She wasn’t about to do what they wanted her to do in case they did mean to weaken her with poison.
“Fine, have it yer way. I’ll go get Geoffrey to feed ye and then ya’ll be sorry,” the pirate said as he quickly got to his feet and stormed out of the door, leaving the bowl on the floor and the door wide open.
Maria stared wide-eyed for a moment, thinking that perhaps this could be her chance to escape. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet, leaning heavily against the wall and taking a minute for her head to clear since she’d been seated for so long. She then took a wobbly footstep forward; the swaying of the ship was making her feel unbalanced, but she was determined to get off the ship. But by the time she made it to the door, a figure suddenly appeared and blocked her path, forcing her back into the room.
“Geoffrey, I presume,” Maria said as she stepped back until she touched the wall again.
The tall, bald man simply grunted as he stepped into the room, his arms so big they looked like tree trunks. His skin was very dark, perhaps African or Persian. A long shamshir hung from his waist, his tunic covering the handle, but the long blade was still visible in the lantern light. He slowly bent down and picked up the bowl of gruel and spoon and neared her.
“Eat,” he said in a dark, stern voice as he pushed a spoonful near her mouth. Again, she turned her head, unwilling to fall for any of their schemes. She would need all the strength she could muster, and she wasn’t about to let these pirates trick her.
When she continued to refuse to eat, the man set down the bowl and with his now free hand, gripped Maria’s jaw and forced her to open her mouth so he could put the spoon in. When he bent down to grab the bowl again, Maria spit out the contents of the food so that it landed on his big, bald head. The sight almost made Maria laugh, but as soon as the towering pirate stood up again she could tell that she’d really upset him. His brows were pushed together as he narrowed his eyes at her, his chest rising and falling as his breathing increased greatly.
“No one makes a fool out of Geoffrey,” the man said as he leaned down towards Maria, his hot breath making her turn away as she fought the urge to vomit. “You will eat, or you die.”
Maria turned her back to the man then, afraid of what he was going to do to her. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to go, and she silently prayed that her life wasn’t about to end here on a pirate ship. No, she wanted to grow old, have a handful of children, and be happy in life with a loving husband. This was not how she envisioned her last moments in life.
“Fine, have it your way,” Geoffrey said, throwing the bowl against the wall, the impact making Maria jump as she cowered in fear. She heard the heavy footsteps of the giant leaving the room and she turned to see what was happening as the door was slammed shut and locked.
At least she was left alone, Maria thought as she surveyed the damage. Gruel seemed to have been flung all over the room from the impact of the throw, and now the room smelled even worse than before. She stood in her spot against the wall, taking deep breaths even though the stench made her sick to her stomach. She feared that even the smell alone would weaken her.
~*~
After a while, when Maria felt certain that she wouldn’t be receiving any more visitors, she sat down and rested her head against the ship’s wall, the swaying of the ship still making her feel dizzy and sick. Eventually she closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift asleep, even though she feared doing so. It didn’t take long for Maria to drift into a deep slumber, visions of her family members passing through her mind as she tried to run to them, to tell them where she was and what had happened to her. She wanted to reach out and hold them in her arms again, to feel safe and secure back in her home. As long as she dreamed, she was trying to chase after someone who could grant her the freedom she now craved.
Maria was brought back to reality with a start when she was woken to the sound of the room door banging open. The lantern had burned out sometime while she slept, and now she couldn’t see who was there. Terror ran through her as she heard footsteps approaching her. She felt a presence kneel next to her, hot breath on her face as someone came close.
“Time for breakfast,” Geoffrey said with a sneer as he forced some sort of food towards her mouth. Maria held her lips tightly together as the food was pushed upon her. Though her stomach growled for nourishment, she wasn’t going to let these pirates win.
“Eat or you’ll starve,” he said, anger laced in his voice. Though she was scared, she wouldn’t give in. In the darkness, she turned her head this way and that, avoiding the fingers of food that were forced into her face.
Eventually, Geoffrey seemed to give up and she felt his presence back off a few steps. She was now covered in a greasy food that covered her face and dress, but at least she hadn’t swallowed any.
“You cannot survive if you don’t eat,” Geoffrey said, sighing heavily.
“It’s not like I’m going to live very long as it is. No matter what plans you have for me, I don’t get out alive in the end,” Maria said in a stern voice. If she was going to die upon this ship, at least she’d die with dignity. “And not even starving animals would eat this filth,” she added before Geoffrey could make it out of the door.
In the darkness of the room she heard the lock turn again, causing Maria to fall into another fit of despair. Not only had she not escaped yet, or been rescued, but now she was covered in food and immensely needed to relieve herself. Tears came again as she tried to figure out what she was going to do next.
~*~
“I’ve had enough of that wench!” Geoffrey cried out as he came out onto the top deck to see to his other duties. He was frustrated that he couldn’t get the young lady to eat, and he feared what Captain Maidus would do to him if he found out that the girl was starving herself. Geoffrey could only assume that she’d give into hunger eventually, but he also knew that he couldn’t let the girl die. Surely Captain Maidus had a use for her, and Geoffrey wasn’t willing to let goods spoil when he knew his Captain could make a profit. Yet he didn’t know what he was going to do if she continued to refuse.
“What is the matter with you, Geoffrey? I normally don’t hear this much out of you,” James spoke up with a smile on his lips as he wiped down the deck cannons.
“That she-devil won’t eat a damn thing. If she dies, it’s on my head,” Geoffrey said, throwing his hands in the air, food still stuck on them from when he’d tried to force the girl to eat with his fingers.
James saw the food bits hanging from the strong man’s fingers and continued to laugh. “You can’t tell me you couldn’t persuade the girl to eat? A fearsome warrior like you shouldn’t have any trouble with the ladies,” James said through his laughter. This only caused Geoffrey to grumble even more as he wiped his hands on his leather trousers.
“Please, James, you have to help me. You’re the one who captured her, perhaps you can persuade her. If Captain Maidus hears that she isn’t eating, it’ll be my head,” Geoffrey pleaded, his words pulling at James’ heart strings. Every crew member knew how reliable James was, and James also suspected they knew he had a soft spot when it came to helping a fellow pirate.
“Sure, Geoffrey, I’ll go see what I can do,” James said, handing his rag to Geoffrey. Sometimes it irritated James how gullible he could be.
“I knew I could count on you, James!” Geoffrey called as James opened the lower deck door and descended the stairs, heading towards the slave quarters. He pulled a
lantern down from the wall and walked down the long hallway, displeased to be below deck during the hotter days of the year. The lower decks always smelled strongly of the stench of men and sweat; a smell he’d never come to get used to. It was the reason he preferred being on the main deck, enjoying the sunshine and the warm, fresh air.
Coming to the door he’d left the young lady in, he unlocked the bolt and opened the door, the stench of rotten food hitting him in the face. As he held the lantern into the room, he found the young lady against the far wall, the morning meal on her face and gown. Her green eyes held surprise as she looked at him, and when her eyes fell to his bare chest, her eyes grew even wider.