by Louisa Neil
“You’re both fools. The little twit will disappoint you both, and you’ll send her back to me within a month’s time.”
Bettina froze and glared at her mother. If she pleased these men, she’d never have to see her again. “Good-bye, Phoebe.” She hoped her tone conveyed her persistence to never step foot in Phoebe’s Gentlemen’s Club again. “I’m ready to leave.”
The men moved and stood on either side of her, and she was instantly relieved. She didn’t care where they went or what they did with her, only that she never saw this place again. Outside, a fancy carriage waited. Once seated between the men, the driver came and laid a heavy blanket over their laps.
“Don’t be nervous,” Stewart told her.
“I’m not. I’m relieved. I promise to do my best to please you both.”
“You’ll do fine, Bettina,” Gaston reassured her. The carriage lurched forward and moved away. Bettina refused to look back.
“Where will we go?” she asked.
“To my ship,” Gaston told her, “we’re sailing to Manhattan.”
“Manhattan, really?”
“Yes, that is where we are going to live.”
“I’ve always heard about it, but never thought I’d ever leave Providence.”
“Don’t worry about anything from now on.”
Bettina could only nod her agreement. Soon after, they arrived at the port and she was shown to a huge boat, a schooner, she thought after seeing the huge four masts. There were only a few men on the deck when they arrived, and they all turned away from her. “Cast off,” Gaston ordered, and the men began a flurry of activity with ropes and sails.
Gaston showed her down the narrow staircase to a small cabin. Stewart was behind them. It wasn’t bigger than a closet, but it had a cot and a wash basin on a small stand. Even living in this small space, she would be better off than with her mother. “We’ll leave you to rest now.”
“Tonight, we just want you to sleep. Don’t leave the cabin. If you need anything, knock on this wall. My room is next door and I’ll hear you.” Stewart gave her a kind smile.
“You mean you don’t want to…”
“Not tonight. For now, just rest and sleep. We’ll talk with you about our arrangement tomorrow. For now I have duties to get us underway.” Gaston turned to leave.
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’re welcome, Bettina. Now rest. I want your first sea journey to be exciting.” Gaston closed the door behind him, but she realized they didn’t lock it. She hung her cape on the hook behind the door, noted a chamber pot, and dropped onto the cot. It was soft and clean. She was instantly tired. While she wanted to think about what had happened to her today, she realized the gently sway of the water was relaxing. Sleep overtook her before she had time to worry about her future.
* * * *
Bettina woke disoriented. There was a knock on the door before it opened. Slowly, she sat up, relieved to see Gaston standing in the hallway.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, very well.”
“Wash up and come next door.” He motioned to the room beside hers that Stewart told her last night was his. “We’ll talk and have something to eat.” Then he closed the door. She flew from the bed, used the chamber pot, and washed her face and hands in the cold water on the stand. Wishing she had a clean dress to put on, she accepted she didn’t and hurried to the cabin next door. As she knocked, she felt the sway of the boat for the first time. Gaston opened it in time to wrap his arm around her waist and steady her.
“You’ll get your sea legs soon,” he told her with a smile and ushered her into a large cabin. She decided it was a kind smile, one she’d like to see again. At first glance, she saw it was both bedroom and office. Stewart was sitting at a small table laden with food. Her stomach rumbled with emptiness, and she felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment.
“Come and sit down, Bettina. You haven’t eaten in hours.” He smiled at her, and she slipped onto the bench beside him. She waited while he filled a china cup with hot tea and placed it before her. She held the cup, warming her hands as Gaston sat across from her.
“Well now, let’s not stand on ceremony. Help yourself, Bettina.” He reached to a basket on the table and pulled back a cloth, the smell of bread wafting up to her. He tore off a hunk and dropped it in a bowl, covering it with warm milk and a sprinkle of sugar before passing it to her. She remembered to wait until both men served themselves before taking a few bites of the bread between sips of the tea.
“This is wonderful,” she said and sighed, enjoying the sweetness of the meal. “The last time I tasted something like this was when I was working as a nanny.” She tucked back for another taste then a second.
“You must have some questions, so why not let Stewart tell you what we have in mind. Then we can clarify your questions.”
She nodded her acceptance.
“Gaston and I have made a few decisions that we feel will make it easier for you to be accepted into society. First, you are now Bettina Duvall, Gaston’s long-lost niece. We want everyone to respect you, especially the crew. So, you are his niece who has been living abroad for a few years. Nobody will question you about it. Second, in order for the two of us to always be around you, we will tell everyone that you are my betrothed.”
She glanced to Stewart. “You want to marry me?”
“Eventually. For now, we’ll have a long engagement. Once we get to Manhattan we’ll get settled at the house and buy you some new dresses.”
“That sounds wonderful. What kind of house will we live in?”
“I have a town house there. I use one of the front rooms as my office. So you’ll have to be careful. There will be customers coming and going at times. Also, so you know in advance, I will be out most evenings. My work requires me to socialize. I find it tiresome most often, but it is a necessary evil of my business.”
“What kind of business is it?” She took another mouthful of the bread mixture and smiled at its sweet taste.
“I’m a wine and spirits merchant. Gaston imports the product from France and I sell it.”
“I don’t know anything about wine. You’ll have to teach me so I don’t embarrass you by saying the wrong thing.”
“I’m glad you’d like to learn about our business.”
“Of course I do. Any wife…woman wants to know about her husband’s business. It’s only natural isn’t it?”
“It would be best if you learned a bit. Then you won’t be bored if I take you to meetings.”
“You’d actually take me out in public?”
“Eventually. We’d like to get you settled first. We’d like to establish our relationship as soon as possible.”
“I’ll be the adoring uncle who’s proud of his long-lost niece and happy to see you married to my business partner.” Gaston gave her a reassuring smile.
“You’ll have to school me about the rules of society in Manhattan. When I was at my last position as a nanny, I came to understand the importance of not embarrassing anyone.”
“How long were you a nanny?”
“I was chosen from the workhouse when I was fifteen. I stayed with them two years. They moved to Boston and I was sent back to the workhouse and…then Phoebe’s.”
“Is that where you learned to speak French?”
“Yes. I sat with the children during their lessons. I learned some French and how to read and write. I can also do numbers.”
“Excellent,” Stewart declared. “We’ll teach you about the wines, too.”
There was a knock on the door and she froze. “Relax. That will be Andrew, our manservant. While you’re on board, if you need anything, he’ll help you.” Gaston continued. “Come in.”
The door opened inward, and she watched an older man enter. He had to be twice as old as either Gaston or Stewart and wore a black patch over his left eye. From the corner of the patch, she could see a bit of a scar. He nodded to the men and smiled at her.
“Ma�
��am, I’m Andrew at your service.”
“Hello, Andrew, I’m Bettina.”
“I’ve got the water ready,” he told Gaston.
“Good.” He stood and looked to her. “Andrew will bring in water for you to bathe. Stewart and I will be up on deck. When you’re ready, he’ll show you up. I want the crew to get used to seeing you as my niece and Stewart’s fiancée.”
“Yes, sir.”
She watched Andrew leave and Stewart stand. He paused and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “You can trust Andrew. He’s been with us for many years. If you have questions, talk to him if we’re busy. Nobody else, do you understand?”
“Yes, Mr. Jahan.”
“I think you can start calling me Stewart.”
“Andrew will help you get ready.” Gaston gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ll see you on deck.” He and Stewart left her alone in the large cabin. Tentatively, she reached to the pot of hot tea and added a bit more to her cup.
The cabin around her was interesting and like nothing she’d ever seen before. The desk was large and covered with what she assumed were sea charts from the size of them. There were shelves lining both walls with books and papers. Across from the small table was a large bunk built to the side of the ship. It looked soft and clean, and she wondered if she would sleep there with the men. While she didn’t want to invade Gaston’s privacy, she took her cup and began to read the titles of the books on the shelves. She froze when there was a knock on the door. Andrew opened it and gave her a nod.
“I didn’t mean to pry into anything,” she stuttered.
“Books are for reading, miss.” He opened the door wide and carried in a large wood tub, setting it in the middle of the room. “If you’ll go back to your cabin I’ll have the men bring in the hot water.”
“Of course,” she said, pausing to put her cup on the table. She moved to the small room where she slept and waited, not sure what she was supposed to do. She could hear movement in the hallway and then there was a knock on her door.
“Your bath is ready,” Andrew told her. He opened the door wide and nodded for her to go back to the main cabin. Once inside, she saw the tub was filled with steamy water. On the bed were two gowns. They were both clean and new looking, and before she could wonder, he went on. “The captain thought these might do until we get back to our home port. After your bath, I can make some alterations if needed.”
“You mean they’re for me?”
“Of course.” He took a large cloth and put it beside the tub and handed her a bar of soap that smelled like lavender. “To wash and dry yourself with,” he said by way of explanation. “You can use this as a dressing gown for now.” He went to a small closet behind the door and pulled out a burgundy dressing gown. It was huge, and she knew it was Gaston’s. “This will have to do for now. I’ll be out in the hallway when you’re finished. Call me and I’ll help you with your hair.”
“Thank you,” she said, genuinely meaning it. The idea of having a bath all to herself was a first. He left her alone and closed the door behind him. She moved to the bed and fingered both the gowns. One was a light-blue color and the other a soft yellow. The material was silky to her touch. She fought to get her boots and stockings off and quickly stripped off her old, tattered chemise, dropping it on the floor. With two steps she was beside the tub and slipped inside. Immediately she immersed herself in the tub, letting out a sigh as the water enveloped her. She tugged her braids out and, with a deep breath, slid under the water to wet her hair. Then with a smile she began using the lavender-scented soap Andrew had handed her.
It felt wonderful to feel clean. She soaped her hair and dunked under the water a second time to rid it of the lather. Then she used the bar all over her body. It was such a change from the lye soap she used at Phoebe’s she began to feel ill at ease. Not sure how long she was supposed to take, she forced herself from the water and dried her body. Then she wrapped her hair in the cloth and moved to the bed. Beside the dresses lay a pair of new woolen stockings. She’d never had new ones all to herself, usually hand-me-downs, as her dresses had been. Pulling on the dressing gown to cover herself, she spun around when there was a light knock on the door.
“Yes,” she said, her voice a mere squeaking noise.
“If you’re finished, I’ll help with your hair.” Andrew cracked the door. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He closed the door and was back quickly from the second knock. “Ready?”
She could only nod. She realized she didn’t have a comb of her own, always sharing an old one with Susan. She’d left it behind. Andrew didn’t look at her cruelly. In fact, she decided he was being quite kind to her. Of course, he had orders from Gaston, she acknowledged. But she was glad he wasn’t looking at her skeptically like Phoebe always did.
Andrew closed the door behind him and motioned for her to sit at the table. He used the cloth to dry her hair. It felt wonderful, and she remembered doing the same for the children she used to take care of. He produced a comb from his pocket and began to detangle her long curls. Instead of putting it into two braids, he pulled it back from her face and made one long, thick braid down her back.
“That should do for now.” He moved to the desk and handed her a small mirror. He held it for her to see and she smiled. “You approve?”
“Oh yes, I look beautiful. Thank you, Andrew.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll leave you to get dressed, and when you’re ready, I’ll take you up on deck to the men.” He left her alone and she hurried to get dressed, not wanting to keep them waiting.
She moved back to the bed and carefully slid the new stockings up her legs. Then she looked for her boots. She didn’t know when, hadn’t seen him take them or return them, but someone, Andrew, she realized, had polished her boots. While they were old and scuffed, they looked much better. She pulled them on and, with trembling hands, fingered each of the dresses. She chose the blue one and reluctantly took off the dressing gown. It carried Gaston’s scent, and she wanted to retain it but knew they were waiting for her.
Bettina managed to get herself into the new gown. While very simple with no adornment, she felt amazing in the current empire-waist-styled gown. For the first time in her life, she was wearing a gown that hadn’t been a hand-me-down. She ventured a look with the hand mirror and was surprised at how she looked. Instantly, she felt like an adult woman. While she knew there would be many hurdles for her to overcome, dressed like this, they didn’t feel as daunting as she’d begun to think her new life would become. With a deep breath, she opened the cabin door. Andrew smiled at her.
“You look lovely, Miss Duvall.”
“Thank you, Andrew. And thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome. Now, I’ve brushed out your cape. It will have to do until we get to port.” He held up her old cape which, while still threadbare, looked cleaner. He dropped it over her shoulders and pulled her braid out the back, letting it trail down her back. “Are you ready for some fresh air?”
“Yes, I am.”
“This way,” he said and used his arm to usher her through the hallway and up an awkward staircase to the main deck. As soon as she appeared, both Gaston and Stewart turned to look at her. Both men smiled and she relaxed. She must look all right to them both.
“Lovely, simply lovely,” Gaston said as he moved to meet her. He took her hand and kissed it before handing it to Stewart. She let him lead her up another slim staircase to a higher deck. From there the view of the open ocean was amazing. “Well, what do you think?”
“I think I’m very lucky,” she said. It was hard to take in everything around her. The sails were in a full bellow, and she tried to trace the ropes that held them in place. But it was the open ocean and sky that attracted her most. “It smells so clean,” she said, and was instantly embarrassed by her remark.
“Definitely better than Phoebe’s and the docks at Providence.”
“Thank you both for the new gowns. They’re lovely.”
“
You look lovely,” Stewart told her. She didn’t know how long she stood between the men staring out over the front of the boat, only that she’d never felt so exhilarated. She grasped the brass rail in front of her to steady herself, but Stewart’s arm slipped around her waist was the most comfort. Gaston left several times but returned quickly, enjoying the view and explaining the jobs of the crew.
He called out a few instructions to the men as the wind changed. Suddenly it was heavy in her face, and she felt the cold. Stewart pulled her a bit closer. “Time to go back inside,” he said.
“Must we? I’ve never felt so free.”
“It won’t do for you to catch a cold. We’ll come back later when the wind isn’t quite so chilling.”
“Of course you’re right. How long will we be at sea?”
“Only a few days.” She let him lead her down to the two sets of stairs. When she thought he’d take her back to her room, she was surprised when he showed her to the main cabin.
“Rest for a while. I’ll come back for you later.” Stewart turned to leave.
“May I look at the books?”
“Of course.” He closed the door and left her in the large cabin, trusting her not to invade their privacy. She realized just how much they did trust her and resolved not to disappoint them.
A short time later Andrew arrived with a dinner tray for her. She sat at the table in Gaston’s cabin and dined on soup with root vegetables. She drank the cider slowly, wanting to enjoy the new flavor. As she ate, she kept the book beside her, careful not to drop any of the food on the precious pages.
When she’d had her fill, she took the book to the large bed and used light from the round window to aid her reading. She didn’t know how long she read, only that she was woken later in the day by Gaston and Stewart as they came in for their evening meal. She was only slightly embarrassed when they laughed at her.
Chapter Six
That night she felt like royalty as they sat in the main cabin and dined on fresh fish and a pudding made from corn meal and milk. She had her first taste of wine with the meal.