The Captain's Lady

by Jo Goodman

  Before he had time to respond she was on her feet, hastily pulling on her trousers and shirt while she carried on a conversation with Peach through the closed door.

  “It’s your breakfast, Captain,” he called in answer to her question.

  “And what marvelous things do you have for me this morning?” She shot Cloud a murderous glance as he chuckled at her attempt to stall for time.

  Peach looked down at his tray and wondered at her question. She always had the same breakfast: fresh fruit, muffins and tea with sugar. Suddenly he thought he understood and he called back, “Do you want me to return with it later, Captain?”

  Alexis’s reproachful glare at Cloud absolutely withered at her cabin boy’s question, and Cloud laughed heartily at her sudden discomfort and Peach’s attempt at easing it. Alexis hastened to pull on her boots and reach the door before Peach would take Cloud’s laughter as a signal to go away. With an impatient sweep of her hand, she motioned for Cloud to sit at the table while she opened the door.

  “Bring it in, Peach.” She noticed his hesitation and thought she knew the reason. “It’s all right. Captain Cloud has quite forgiven us the hard time we gave him yesterday. I hope you have enough for him there. He may not forgive us for not feeding him properly.”

  Peach stepped into the cabin and eyed Cloud suspiciously rather than apprehensively. Cloud observed the boy’s guarded look and grinned at Alexis. “This man is not seeking my forgiveness. Indeed, I don’t believe he gives a damn—it was my fault. Is that right, Peach?”

  “That’s right.”

  “You’re trying to decide if I am good enough for Captain Danty.”

  “That’s right.”

  Cloud returned his grave expression. “And I suppose there will be all sorts of tests I’ll have to pass before I can meet with your approval.” Peach’s head bobbed slightly. “Then suppose you put that tray here so I can eat my breakfast and start these Herculean tasks you have for me.”

  Peach was not sure what Herculean tasks were or even if he could repeat the words aloud but he was sure he could match the importance of the work Cloud referred to. He placed the tray on the table and stepped back, taking a look at Alexis who was regarding both of them with a curious expression tempered with amusement.

  “You can go, Peach,” she said finally, touched by his concern.

  He walked past her with the same confident air he had displayed for Cloud the previous evening. He had reached the door when Cloud called to him.

  “By the way, Peach,” he said casually. “I don’t believe I thanked you properly for your assistance yesterday.”

  “I was doing what was expected of me,” the boy replied.

  Now Cloud’s voice was earnest. “I would not thank you for anything less than that.”

  Peach turned, flashing Cloud a huge, wondrous grin, and Cloud knew he had passed the first test.

  Alexis shut the door behind her cabin boy and looked at Cloud thoughtfully before she spoke. “I think there is a conspiracy against me. You are going to take Peach away from me.”

  “Hardly. In fact, I’d say the conspiracy is against me.” He smiled. “If Peach is any indication, I am going to have my hands full trying to prove I’m worthy of you.”

  Alexis took a seat at the table and began peeling an orange. “You’ll find Peach an exception. The others trust my judgment. But I suppose he’ll keep you busy enough.” She dismissed Peach’s protective attitude with a wave of her hand. “I think we should discuss what you want to do about Howe and the others. Have you given it any thought?” Her voice was cool and impersonal but Cloud looked up from his plate in time to see the downward curve of her mouth, revealing her concern.

  “I’ve given it some,” he answered. “Are you worried about something, Alex?”

  “Are you going to ask me to return you to Washington so you can fight them personally?”

  “And if I did?”

  “You haven’t answered my question,” she sighed. “But I’ll answer yours. I cannot return you directly to Washington. It would be too dangerous for my crew. But I will see you safely to another port, if that is what you really want.”

  “You would do that?”

  “If I didn’t I would be guilty of the same thing you were when you took me from my home.” She faced his gaze directly and caught the first hint of a smile in his eyes and the relaxed line of his mouth. “You aren’t going to ask me, are you?” Her relief was overshadowed by her indignation that he would even pose the question.

  “No. I am not going to ask you to do that. But I had to hear your answer anyway.”

  “Why?”

  “I had to know if the alternative was open to me or if I was your prisoner.”

  Now Alexis smiled at the thought of keeping Cloud behind a locked door with guards posted at the entrance. “You would do better not to bait me or I might be tempted to throw you in the hold.” She eyed him wickedly over the rim of her cup and actually seemed to be weighing the thought. His smile disappeared and she laughed, setting down her cup. “What do you have in mind?”

  “Can you take me to Charleston?”

  She sat upright. “But I thought—”

  “To deliver some letters,” he finished before she could go on. He waited for her to relax then he continued. “I thought I would write a letter to Madison and to my sister, explaining what the senator is doing. Did you know Howe is from Massachusetts? Ironic, isn’t it? Emma and Blake will be able to exert some pressure on him there, and I am sure the President will find a suitable method for dealing with him. The others will fall into line after that.”

  “Do you think the letters will actually make it to their destination? It’s risky putting that all on paper. What if they are never delivered?”

  “Howe can’t—”

  “I didn’t mean Howe. I mean letters just have a way of getting lost.”

  Cloud frowned and dropped an orange slice into his mouth. He chewed it thoughtfully. “I suppose it’s a chance I’ll have to take.”

  “I might have a way to reduce the risk. My second-in-command, Kurt Jordan, is from Charleston. He may know someone who would see the letters delivered personally. I’ll ask him when we go on deck.”

  Cloud finished his breakfast, thinking that Peach was right for placing his trust in Captain Danty.

  “And now, Captain,” he said, pushing his plate aside. “What sort of work do you have for me to do?” He laughed at her surprise. “I seem to be a commander without a ship and I can’t very well do nothing around here.”

  “Are you serious?” She could hardly imagine him working for her.

  “Very much so.”

  “Well, I already have a very competent first mate—”

  “I was not thinking of anything quite so high ranking,” he assured her, brushing back the hair from his temples.

  “On the other end of rank then, I have a very competent cabin boy.” She laughed. “Except for his inability to draw me a hot bath.”

  “Perhaps I could be of service there?” he suggested a little too innocently.

  “Oh, no!” she answered quickly. “I know what that look in your eye means. I might need Peach’s tepid baths if I am going to get any work done.” She jumped out of her chair as he reached for her hand. In a few quick strides she was at the door. She opened it, bowing low and motioning him out with a graceful sweep of her arm. “You’ll just have to find a niche for yourself somewhere between the two ends. My men will be pleased to help you. Feel free to come to me with any questions you have concerning this ship.”

  Cloud slipped out the door in front of her, but not before he whispered, “Don’t forget to let me know when the effect of the drug wears thin.”

  Alexis muttered ineffectual curses under her breath and followed him through the companionway, braiding her hair as she went. Once on deck, she motioned to Jordan to come to her and formally introduced Cloud. She was satisfied when the two men seemed to like each other at once and exchanged firm h
andshakes. How different it had been at their first meeting.

  “Captain Cloud is at your disposal, Mr. Jordan,” she told him. “He wants to join our crew.”

  “I don’t think the title is necessary or accurate any longer,” Cloud reminded her, grinning. “Cloud will do just fine.”

  “Tanner would be better,” she said quickly, thinking she could not bear to hear anyone give him orders by the name she had always thought of as so intimate. She was not ready for that just yet.

  “Tanner, then,” Jordan repeated. “Welcome aboard Dark Lady.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Jordan. Do you think I might be able to get some clothes like the rest of the crew? This uniform is a bit out of place.” He saw Alexis wince at his request. He understood her reluctance to see him physically stripped of his command but he would not withdraw his request.

  “I’ll see what I can do.” He turned to Alexis and noted her discomfort but could not name the reason. “Will there be anything else, Captain?”

  Alexis composed herself. “One item before I leave him in your hands. Tanner has explained to me that his crew was correct in their information about Howe. He can tell you the details later. I want to know if there is anyone in Charleston you can trust with the delivery of letters to the President and Tanner’s sister in Boston? I am willing to pay very well to see the letters reach their destination.”

  Jordan only had to think a few seconds before he brightened. “David Hastings is the one you want. He’ll do it and you can trust him not to read the contents.”

  “Will you be able to find Mr. Hastings once we get to Charleston?”

  “Finding him won’t be half as hard as getting past the British into port.”

  Alexis laughed. “Then it’s settled. We’ll manage the blockade. Tanner will have the letters for you by the time we reach Charleston and I’ll have the money. You can take our new man on a tour. And, Mr. Jordan, you may want to introduce him to Peters and Allan Wilkes. They’ve exchanged a few things but I don’t believe words were among them.” Alexis left them alone and went to the quarterdeck to make course adjustments.

  Cloud stared after her. “I suppose Peters and Wilkes are the men she foisted on me last night.”

  “The same,” he chuckled. “C’mon. You’ll get the grand tour and then I’ll put you to work.”

  Cloud followed Jordan’s lead and soon he was acquainted with the vessel as well as how Alexis ran it. He was impressed with the accommodations she had for her crew. Their quarters were larger than most men were accustomed to and the bunks actually looked comfortable. The larders were well stocked from the Dark Lady’s voyage to Tortola and not with the usual fare one expected to find on a ship.

  Jordan saw Cloud’s eyebrows and he answered the unasked questions. “When Captain Danty had this ship gone over she knew she was asking the men to be away from their families longer than they ever had been when they’d worked for her father. She insisted they be quartered well, fed well, and paid well. For these reasons as well as others she got her crew.”

  “The British could learn something from her.”

  “The Americans, too, although our men have it a little better.”

  Cloud nodded. “You carry cargo?”

  “Some. This way. I’ll show you.” Jordan led him into the hold and showed him the cargo of rich silks, linens, and cottons. “We picked this up in London and got rid of a load of rum. The profits pay for Captain Danty’s voyage. None of the other ships on the line provide us with any money. They’re used occasionally to pass information. This particular cargo we were going to sell in the islands. Bad weather took us off course and the captain was going to get rid of it in New Orleans. Never did though. Seems even simple merchant vessels aren’t safe these days.”

  Cloud could not miss Jordan’s pointed sarcasm. He laughed and motioned toward the wall, to a door partially hidden by some crates. “I’ll wager a month’s pay that whatever is beyond that door will make a liar out of you naming this ship a simple merchant.”

  Jordan grinned. “Very good. I won’t take the wager.” They removed the crates and Jordan opened the door, placing the lantern he carried outside the room. “This is the reason we don’t take kindly to boarders,” he said as Cloud stepped in.

  “My God!” was all he could say while his eyes scanned the contents of the compartment There were barrels of gunpowder, muskets, pistols of every description, and cannons on dollies so they could replace damaged ones with little time lost. The size of their cache amazed him.

  “All of this has come from the British. We actually had to stop confiscation several frigates ago. We don’t sell the weapons and we couldn’t carry any more safely.”

  “I wonder that you carry all this safely,” replied Cloud.

  “Captain Danty had the sides reinforced to protect against fire and misguided cannonballs. It causes us to ride a little lower in the water but it gives the impression we always have a full cargo.”

  “Why so much? I was under the impression Captain Danty did not use weapons.”

  “She doesn’t—or rather she hasn’t—yet. We have been able to stop the frigates with our ruses, and by the time they really understand what we want they are at a disadvantage. Officers are always the hardest to convince, but the crews don’t put up much of a fight once they realize Captain Danty is their excuse to return home. Now with war on both sides of the ocean I expect this particular cargo will be used frequently.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right,” he agreed grimly. “When did you join her crew?”

  Jordan and Cloud moved out of the room. “I was on board the very first ship she took. I’ve been with her about two years now. First mate—about a year and a half ago.”

  Cloud noted Jordan said these statements with a sense of pride and respect for Alexis and himself. When he was introduced to the rest of the crew he found these qualities common to all her men. They were sure of themselves, their purpose, and their commander.

  Jordan found suitable clothing for Cloud who changed into bell trousers and pullover shirt, then discarded his boots in favor of no shoes at all and went about his work. He accepted his duties with such simple pleasure that Jordan wondered if he really missed his command.

  Cloud did miss it, but he considered the situation temporary and he gladly accepted the work as a balm. He used it to heal the wounds Howe had inflicted. He could go about his work without concentrating on it and still know it was well done. While he scrubbed decks and mended sails he mentally composed the letters that would return him to the Concord and see Howe finished. He ate lunch and dinner with the men, enjoying the time to trade stories and answer, as well as ask, questions. They accepted him as if he had always been among them.

  He watched Peach observe all this with his suspicious gaze. Attempts at conversation on Cloud’s part were met with short answers and apparently no interest. Cloud noticed though, the boy’s resistance was slowly fading and his mien was forced to some degree. He was glad Peach was the only one who set himself up as Alexis’s guardian.

  Throughout the day he was aware of Alexis’s presence although he never talked to her after their conversation with Jordan. Occasionally he caught her looking at him while he was doing some menial task. At first she would turn away quickly, but not before he had time to glimpse the openly pained expression on her face. No matter how easily she had accepted his decision to fall under her command it was still cutting her deeply. Later she did not turn away, but continued to stare, gathering reassurance from him until the muscles of her face relaxed and her placid features signaled her acceptance. When he last saw her covertly studying him, he was descending the rigging. Even the distance separating them was not enough to dim the desire that replaced all her previous expressions. When he reached the deck Alexis had disappeared, and Ned Allison was urging him toward some new task before he had a chance to decide if he had imagined the golden fire in his captain’s eyes.

  Cloud drew an early watch, much to his pleasure and Jo
rdan’s amusement.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you rigged the lottery.” Jordan grinned. His arms were folded across his chest and he leaned against the rail while Cloud took his turn at the wheel. A breeze ruffled his sun-bleached hair.

  “But you do know better.” Cloud eyed the first mate skeptically.

  “Of course,” Jordan answered lightly. What he left unsaid was: “Because I took care of it for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Jordan appeared truly amazed at this gratitude.

  Cloud laughed. “For what you’ll never admit to doing.”

  “That’s right.” He fell silent while he observed Cloud’s stance at the wheel. It was a pleasure to see a man who was so much in control of his every movement and yet seemingly unware of the effort involved. His legs were braced apart, the muscles taut and firm but at the same time yielding to the greater rolling motion of the ship beneath his feet. His hands gripped the wheel in a manner that suddenly brought a woman to Jordan’s mind. He chuckled.

  “Something wrong?” asked Cloud. He had been oblivious to everything but the feel of the ship until Jordan’s laughter reached him.

  “Nothing wrong. I was just making an observation.”

  “Care to share it?”

  “You love her very much, don’t you?” Jordan surprised himself with his question. He was hardly aware of the separate thoughts that joined to make that statement possible.

  Cloud raised his eyebrows. He did not try to hide the fact he was greatly amused. A slanted grin crossed his face. “That is not much of an observation, Mr. Jordan. I’m surprised you phrased it as a question since I have never made it any secret. Sometimes I think the words must be branded on my forehead.” He turned to the wheel and kept his eyes ahead, distinguishing between the subtle variations in the dark blue of the sky, the water, and the shoreline. “Does my answer confirm your observation?”