Once I arrived in the bright light of the dining room, I saw my father and Hester were already seated with their morning coffee.
Hester’s voice seemed extraordinarily pitchy as she greeted me in delight. “Good morning, Charlotte. We were just speaking of a matter that concerns you.”
Hester’s sudden interest in an affair that would concern me distressed me. I raised an eyebrow to show my false interest and sat at the long wooden table trying to hide my distaste.
The server, Naomi, served our plates just in time to put a small pause on the matter, and I smiled warmly as I thanked her for the hearty meal. I always liked sausage gravy and warm, fluffy biscuits, but the heavy breakfast was far more satisfying after a night of drinking rum. Everything was so delicious I almost forgot there was an issue to be discussed.
Before I knew it, my father began to speak in a deep and assertive voice. “Now as you know Charlotte, you are well past a marrying age, and we believe it is high time to settle you with an honorable suitor.”
I wanted to choke on my biscuits.
Every few months, Father would attempt to discuss the matter with me, and though I was never ready for it, there was something expressly alarming in his current tone. Usually, he would ask in an awkward manner if I was interested in any of the young men in town, and he would simply remind me of how it was coming to be that time. Though I had seen a few men who had caught my attention, my complete interest had yet to be captured, and naturally, I wanted to be in love with the man I married.
My father had tolerated my lack of enthusiasm over the matter as of yet, but this time he spoke with such heavy regard I feared my usual reasoning would not be enough to detour him. I also sensed it was Hester’s will riding behind his boisterous nerve.
He cleared his throat and pushed on in his pursuit. “Now Charlotte, I have been kind about this for long enough, you… you are eighteen years old and you… you cannot live here forever…” I could tell he was struggling to overcome his soft spot for me, and I tried to glance through his unusual harshness, but all I could see was Hester.
No matter how I felt about my father’s wife, I could not deny her natural beauty. Her red hair was pinned up in perfection, her golden-yellow dress was as warm as her angelic complexion, and she wore a pearl necklace that was as polished as her perfect smile.
Hester had originally moved to Jamaica with her young husband, but he died on the ship ride over. She arrived on the island with nothing more than her pretty face and was fortunate enough to quickly meet my father. Of course he instantly fell in love with the beautiful young widow, and though I was but a child when they wed, I was certain she married him for security.
No matter how awkward their relationship was for me, I knew Hester was a proper wife and she respected my father as much as he adored her. I had no intention of coming between the two of them, which made it much harder for me to fight off their insistent request for me to marry.
When I did not respond to my father’s demanding tone, Hester tried to lighten the mood by interjecting with a playful demeanor, “Come now Charlotte, we have found just the man for you. My cousin Lawrence Braddock will be sailing in on Friday. He is already looking forward to meeting you…” Hester spoke as if we were girlfriends chatting about an attractive boy at the market, but I was utterly disturbed by her approach and beside myself with the sudden weight the conversation held. This was not just another attempt to talk about the matter; plans to make it happen were already in motion.
My thoughts spiraled in my mind, and all I could think about was Sterling. I could hear him laughing and see him smiling. I remembered his scent and the way I felt in his arms. Now that I met this handsome buccaneer, it would be impossible for me to ignore the sensations he stirred in my soul and agree to this heinous arrangement of marriage. I had to find a way to delay the inevitable conversation and make my way out of the tight corner I had been slammed into.
“I do not feel well, may I be excused?” Without waiting for an answer I pushed myself away from the table, covered my mouth as if I would vomit and ran out of the room.
I know my dramatic escape would not have fooled Hester, but I could only hope it would hold my father off for a while. As I reached the top of the stairs I heard Hester bark at my father, “You cannot allow her to evade this issue forever, Wallace. It is for her own good.”
I heard him exhale and nervously bumble, “I shall think it over while I have a cigar out in the garden.” He usually only smoked at social events, or when he was extremely overwhelmed. I could hear in his voice that he was truly upset and I felt awful for causing him such distress. As I turned to walk to my room I heard him tell her, “The governor called me to an important meeting today. I will deal with my business matters and hold off on speaking with Charlotte until tomorrow.”
After the trouble I had caused, I figured it would be best to hide in my room for the day. I know I had only faked the intensity of my illness, but I truly did feel sick. The turmoil in my mind thrashed like heavy waves crashing on the shore. I was haunted by the daunting threat of having to marry a man I had never met. What if he was old? He could very well be ugly. There was no way he could be as handsome as Sterling, and he would probably be boring.
Beyond my concerns over the uncertain fate of my wavering future, I was also riddled by the guilt of troubling my father and his marriage. Then of course I fantasized about running away with Sterling, but I cringed at how that action would break my father’s heart. As much as I anticipated Sterling’s return, I began to wonder if he would even come back. I could be making all this fuss over a man I would never see again. There was no one I could talk to about my plight, so rather than continuing to pace the floor in hopeless confusion, I decided to express my emotions within the pages of my journal.
Chapter 2
Mystic Allure
As told by Sterling Bentley
The road along the harbor was bright with sunlight and cooled by the breeze, but the moment I opened the door to The Rusty Anchor, I was nearly blinded by the dim and musty contrast of lighting. I found meself a table in the back, and after convincing the bar wench that all I wanted from her was an ale, a hefty bearded man who was smoking a cigar asked to join me at my table. He introduced himself as Alden, and then asked if I’d fancy a game of cards.
Gambling aboard the ship was forbidden to keep mates from slashing each other’s throats in poor sportsmanship, so in the taverns it was common to see men playing for money and just as common to see them lose their lives over a good hand, but I knew I wouldn’t be winning, because I never did. Nor did I care enough to cause a fight when I lost. It was just something for me to do to pass the time, and ‘aving plenty of time at the moment, I agreed to play around with Alden.
After losing a few pieces of eight I laughed, “Can’t let ye take any more of me money with this blaggard ol’ game, but I would like to buy ye an ale.”
The offer made it easy for him to agree. “Aye, aye to that, Bentley. Flag down that wench in the red. She be having eyes on ye all the day.”
I looked over to see which strumpet he was talkin’ ‘bout and once I saw Giselle, I looked back at Alden, lifted me eyebrows and smirked, “She had more than just her eyes on me this morning.”
He laughed at my remark as I waved her down and signaled that I wanted two more drinks. When Giselle arrived with my order, Alden tugged her down to sit on his lap.
“Nice to see you again, Alden,” she casually greeted him, but she lustfully purred at me, “And you too, Sterling Bentley. It’s been far too long already.”
I winked at her as I paid for the drinks, but got to me ale without giving her much mind. I had to make me loot last ‘til me next plunder, so me lustful urges before then would ‘ave to be satisfied for free; which was never a problem for me, just a little more work. Alden wasn’t flashing any loot in her direction either, so with no money to be made at our table, she got up to find a better prospect.
Alden had just
returned from chopping logwood off the coast of Honduras, and naturally, he spoke of the work in utter disgust. “It be swamping and brackish like nothing I ‘ave ever seen before. The stench be making the rotted bilge smell like roses on the vine.”
I had experienced the misery of logging, and I nodded to agree with his distaste. “Aye, it be hell on Earth standing waist deep in that murky water where bugs and snakes bite like Satan’s own demons. Me father tried to say it was honest work and would keep me out of trouble but the job had me longing for piracy more than ever before.”
Alden laughed at me comment before he grumbled, “Those wealthy bastards that want that precious dye from them ugly trees can get out thar ‘n chop it themselves. Thar’s somethin’ more in the seas for me, matey. I actually been lookin’ to go on account if’n yer crew be needin’ a carpenter.”
“Morley does like to keep a well able crew, and we just lost our carpenter in that last storm. I believe he’s been rounding up a few new hands.”
Alden ran his hand through his beard as he inquired, “Morley ye say? I hear he has been stirrin’ up enough trouble in port for the governor to take note o’ him.”
I wasn’t much surprised, but I had no mind to deepen me disaster by spreading dissension ‘bout me captain.
Just then a man walked in the door and I noticed the light of day surrounding his silhouette was no longer painfully blinding. Rather than attempting to evade me shitten thoughts ‘bout Morley, I raised me mug to Alden’s and chugged the last of me ale before I bid him a good eve.
The gold and red colors of sunset were still bright enough to make me squint as I walked out the door, but I caught me focus and headed along the beach to go see Charlotte. By the time I came upon her father’s property, the sun was just touching the water’s edge, so I found a hidden cove to wait at until the night coated the sky. I sat on a rock and took a drink of me rum as I filtered through me duffle to be sure I still had all me supplies. My compass and spyglass were in me bag, me two flintlock pistols and patch box were holstered in me leather belt, and me various daggers were stashed in place.
I used the red sash I wore around me waist to polish me prize cutlass, and with the sound of the rolling waves billowing in the background, I thought about my intentions with Charlotte. Though I had been with women all over the world, I had never spent time with a lady of high regard, and she was far more enticing than I expected her to be. I was just as attracted to her lady like demeanor, as I was drawn to her insistent curiosity, but considering her social status, I wasn’t quite sure how to handle me desire for her.
Her interest in me was as unexpected as the intensity of me interest in her, and the unusually significant attraction that she triggered in me soul had me thinkin’ I should head back to town to avoid the trouble that could arise from her mystic allure. Yet I let me desire get the best of me and decided to go see her again. She was pretty and I liked her, but just like every other woman I had enjoyed, I was certain I’d get over her once I sailed away.
As soon as the heavens were dark and the stars appeared in the place of blue sky, I walked farther down the beach and scaled the sea cliff wall to reach her yard. I made me way through the bushes with a watchful eye but as soon as I saw her standing in the lantern’s light, I lost me focus.
The perfect curls of her golden hair dangled over the shoulder of her white nightgown, and the chest line of her dress was low enough for me to admire the fullness of her breasts. The dress flowed smoothly across the length of her slender body, and the slight curve of her hips was accentuated through the thin fabric. Her body kindled a flame of desire in me senses, and the features of her face seemed to arouse me just as much. She was pretty as the sunset.
Realizing how I was watching her from the bushes like some dastardly rogue, I snapped out of me trance and continued along the path. I climbed up the large Poinciana tree near her window, draped me rope over a branch, and swung over to her deck. I swiftly pulled the rope in and casually stuffed it in me bag as if I had just walked in the door, and she laughed at my elaborate entrance before she threw herself into me arms and hugged me with an intensity I hadn’t expected.
I squeezed her just as tightly and teased at her hair with me hand. She smelled so good I didn’t want to let her go, but she backed off, looked up at me face, and sighed, “I am so happy you’ve come back.”
She sounded quite relieved to see me so I flashed her with a cocky grin and smirked, “Did ye doubt me, lovely?”
She looked at me with an interesting glare before she turned the lantern low and reminded me how we shouldn’t be seen together. I backed her into the corner and held her against the wall as I tempted, “Can ye make it out for the night? I want to take ye somewhere.”
She made a silly thinking face as if’n she might ‘ave better plans, but she responded with a sweet little laugh. “Of course I will go with you.”
Then she tugged at the flimsy fabric of her nightgown and asked, “What shall I wear on an outing with a man like you?”
I raised an eyebrow as I touched the frilly neckline on her dress, and as me fingertips brushed across her chest, I felt a surprising buzz of electricity. Something ‘bout knowing that I shouldn’t be touchin’ her made me want to touch her more.
A bashful rouge tinted the porcelain skin beneath her light freckles, and her full lips curved into a shy smile. I liked the way I could make her blush so easily, and I got so distracted by the fire burning between us that I almost forgot to answer her question. While shaking me head, I chuckled, “I like this dress just fine, beauty. No one will be where we be going. Plus it be lookin’ more flexible than those other pretty dresses ye wear.”
She giggled, “I actually look forward to changing into these gowns every night. Those gigantic dresses may be pretty but they are heavy and uncomfortable.”
Grabbin’ her hand, I tugged her over to the rail, and I asked, “Is anyone in this room below us?”
“It’s the music room; no one will be in there at night,” she replied.
I hopped over the rail, tied me rope around the post, then picked her up and wrapped her legs around me. I told her to hold on as I repelled down the side of the building, and she struggled to silence her girlish giggling ‘til we hit the ground. I tugged me rope off the rail and tucked it neatly in me bag, and she whispered, “That was so much fun, Sterling. What could possibly be next?”
I lifted my eyebrows to entice her. “Somethin’ ye’ll never forget.”
I led her down to the beach. The moon had not quite made its way over the mountains, so the scene was rather dark, but as me eyes adjusted, the sand became lighter, and the intense contrast of white sand against the darkened sea clearly led the way. I reached over to grab her hand and we talked about many things as we walked along. She wasn’t just nice to look at, she made for good conversation too.
Once the beach swooped around the west edge of the island, the shore angled to the north, where rugged cliffs arose from the sea. I stopped her in front of a little stream that flowed out of the forest and into the ocean. Standing thar with her, I watched the way she eyed the moonlight reflecting off the water that ran across the sand. She looked up from the scene and grabbed me arm as she gasped, “I have never come this far down the beach, Sterling. It is beautiful here.”
I was stunned by her confession. “Ye kidding me? This be like ye own backyard. I can’t believe ye never been here.”
“I told you I am trapped like a princess in the castle’s highest tower, but I know the world is full of beautiful places and I want to see them all.”
She made me want to show her the world. Takin’ both her hands in mine, I enticed, “Maybe one day I’ll get to take ye somewhere, Charlotte.”
She smiled as she asked, “Where would you take me first?”
I wanted to inspire her wandering imagination. “Thar be a little island not far from here that’s lined with secret coves and laced with stunning waterfalls. Then maybe we could head across the
Spanish Main and out over the Atlantic…”
She had her eyes closed to visualize the journey and I kissed her on her cheek. She opened her eyes with an awestruck expression, but I had to stop meself thar. I pulled her by the hand and led her up the line of the stream into the darkened forest.
The moon had crested the mountain and gave light through the branches as she followed me lead. She held her white dress up with one hand, while she let me guide her along by the other. I don’t think she wanted to get dirty, but as we walked through puddles, crunched over wet leaves, and hopped over fallen branches, the muddy colors of nature made their marks on her dress.
The path ascended, and I veered to the left to take her to a clearing where I knew she would love the view. The light of the moon danced on the surface of a shimmering blue lagoon that was surrounded by shrubs, trees, and boulders. A steep rock face protruded out of the far end of the pond, and a streaming waterfall flowed over the edge of it. The waterfall was beaming white in the moonlight and the whole picture certainly had a magical glow to it.
As she took in the view she tugged at me arm and exclaimed, “Sterling, this is unreal. Am I dreaming of a fairytale? How did you ever find such a place?”
I led her to sit on a flat rock beside me and told her the story. “As ye know, I been sailing all me life, but I started me time on deck slaving away with the mindless work of swabbing decks and caulking planks. Well, me father’s navigator, Kinley, took a liking to me and insisted that I was fit to be more than a cabin boy, so between chores, he taught me the ways of the sea.
“Anyhow, on the trip that led us here, Kinley had fallen ill and we had lost our bearings as he drifted off. Captain Bentley and his crew were all exhausted from dehydration, so I took what Kinley had taught me and attempted to find our way. By watchin’ the clouds and using the tools I figured our place on the map and told the captain how we’d be getting to shore. I’ll never forget when I saw the highest peak of this waterfall through the spyglass. I don’t know if I was more thrilled that I’d be drinking water soon, or that I had just scouted a shore on me own.”
Justified Treason (Endless Horizon Pirate Stories, Book 1) Page 3