Striking flint to steel, she lit the lantern on the table, then tucked a knife she’d taken from the kitchen into the pocket of her gown.
She swung the door open, cringed at the loud squeak echoing off the bulkheads, then tip-toed out into the hallway, or companionway, whatever it was called. She listened for any sounds from sailors who might still be about, but nothing but the bone-chilling creaks and groans of the ship and the rush of water against its hull met her ears. From what she had observed, most of the men slept through the night in a section beneath the forecastle by the bow, while the other half kept watch on the top deck, the two groups switching every four hours. Noah’s officers slept in separate cabins.
Which meant Marianne could slip into the hold undetected.
Lifting the lantern, she made her way down the steep ladder, and thought to say a prayer for her success, but then decided against it. Though God rarely answered her prayers, she was sure this was a petition He would not only refuse to answer but would frown upon.
The narrow steps creaked and bowed with each footfall. Moisture formed on her neck and arms. At the bottom of the ladder, Marianne scanned the dark hallway to her left and recognized the door of the cursed room that had entrapped her aboard this ship on the first place. The stench of mold, stale water, and something akin to rotten eggs assailed her, and she flung a hand to her nose. Nausea waged a battle in her stomach.
When it passed, she lifted the lantern and scanned the area to her right. Another set of stairs descended to an open lower level stacked to the ceiling with crates, barrels, and huge sacks.
Gathering her courage, she inched down the final ladder. The pitter-pat of tiny feet filled the hold, sounding like raindrops on a roof. Drat. Marianne froze. Rats. Oh, Lord, maybe I will pray after all. If You are so inclined, Lord, please keep the filthy beasts away from me. At the bottom, she took a step over the pebbles scattered across the hold floor. The light from her lantern arched before her like a golden shield. Long, furry tails disappeared in the dark gaps between the crates.
She trembled. Resisting the urge to turn around and run to the safety of her cabin, she swallowed her fears and continued onward. She had no choice. For you, Mama. If you could see me now, you’d be so proud of me. Unlike Papa who rarely had a kind word for her unless he was well into his cups.
Perspiration slid down her back and dotted her forehead. The sea pounded against the sides of the ship as if it knew what she was about and wanted to stop her. Could it break through the wooden hull and grab her? Mr. Weller had said no.
Several barrels of water and rum sat within easy reach of the bottom of the ladder. But she was not interested in those. Placing one foot in front of the other, she inched her way down an incline to a lower section. Once there, she began examining the crates one by one. As far as she could tell, most were filled with iron tools and fabric. She moved to another section of barrels. Water and rum for the journey no doubt. But it was the sacks that interested her the most. Flour from the mills at Jones’ falls in Baltimore and rice from Charleston.
Even if she managed to open the crates, she could not damage iron and besides, the only way to be rid of it would be to haul it up on deck and toss it to the sea—unlikely given her lack of strength and the fact that her deed would not go unnoticed.
But the flour and rice. She smiled. And rum and water. A terrible combination.
From the corner of her eye she glimpsed something too large to be a rat moving. Marianne gasped, and grabbing the lantern tighter, swung in that direction. What other repulsive creatures lived down here? A loud squeak shot through the dank air. Oh my, maybe it was a very large rodent. She gulped.
Then out from the shadows strolled Seafoam, a squirming rat in her mouth. Marianne backed away in horror even as her heart settled to a normal beat. The cat pranced up to her and dropped the rat proudly at her feet. Trouble was. It wasn’t dead. Hobbling across the pebbles, the poor beast tried to make its escape. Seafoam leapt in the air and pounced upon it, this time killing it.
Nausea resurging, Marianne pressed a hand to her stomach as Seafoam deposited the lifeless rodent at Marianne’s feet, then glanced up at her as if seeking approval.
Despite her queasiness, Marianne couldn’t help but smile at the cat’s kindness. “For me?” She set the lantern atop a barrel and stooped to pet the cat. Seafoam purred affectionately and circled her, rubbing against her legs.
“You are a brave hunter, little one. But you may have your prey. I’ve already eaten.” Marianne scooped the cat up in her arms and snuggled against her, cheek to cheek. Noah’s scent filled her nostrils, sending an odd warmth through her. She remembered the gentle way he had nestled the cat against his chest—in such contrast with his harsh, all-business demeanor.
“I have work to do, little one.” She set the cat atop one of the crates and Seafoam plopped down and began licking her paws and rubbing them on her face.
Marianne pulled the knife from her pocket. “Now, I know you and the captain are good friends, but you must promise me you’ll keep silent about this, agreed?”
Seafoam stopped her grooming and yawned before continuing.
“I shall take that as a yes.” Then, knife in hand, Marianne swung about and began slashing through the sacks of rice.
Chapter 9
Noah shut his cabin door and trudged down the companionway in as foul a mood on the start of this new day as he’d been for the past three. He ran a hand through his hair and plopped his hat atop his head. Although he’d intentionally avoided Miss Denton during that time, he’d heard enough about her from everyone around him.
Miss Denton is so kind. Miss Denton is so generous with her time and strength. Miss Denton is so witty, smart, capable, honest. Could he not escape the woman? Had she cast a spell on everyone around her? Everyone save him. For he knew the real Marianne Denton. Pompous, spoiled, and self-serving. At least that was the way he remembered her. And the reason he had teased her so as a child.
Weaving around a corner, he nodded at a passing sailor and scaled the ladder to the upper deck in two leaps, ascending to where he hoped to continue evading the woman. For she rarely came on deck. Why she confined herself to the heat and stale air below, he could not fathom. No doubt it was part of her plan, along with her drastic change in character, to invoke his sympathies so he would take her home.
But Noah was no fool.
Sunlight struck him along with a cool ocean breeze, feathering the hair against the collar of his shirt. Agnes’s bubbling laughter bounced over him, drawing his gaze to a group of sailors clustered around the mainmast. In their midst, sitting atop a chair, sat Miss Denton with a rope tying her and the chair to the mast. Agnes perched upon a barrel beside her, a huge smile on her chubby face. Noah halted and tried to rub the strange apparition from his eyes.
The sailors chuckled at something Miss Denton said. and she graced them with a smile before returning her attention to a book laid open on her lap.
“And the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” she quoted.
She reads the Bible to my men. Frustration boiled within Noah. He glanced at Luke who was leaning on the port railing, Matthew beside him, both their gazes riveted upon her.
Noah marched over to them. “What is going on here?”
“I believe your fiancée is reading from the Holy Book.” Luke made no attempt to hide his smirk.
“She is not my. . .” Noah flatted his lips. “I can see that. But why?”
“It’s the Sabbath,” Matthew said as if that should clear any confusion. He shifted his bulky frame. “She marched up here and announced that she’d be performin’ Sunday service for those men who’d be interested.” He shook his head and chuckled. “An’ bless me sailor’s soul if most o’ ’em didn’t come a runnin’.”
Noah gritted his teeth. “Why on earth is she strapped to the mast?”
Matthew r
aised an eyebrow that was nearly as bald as his head. “Because the poor girl is afraid of the water. You sure don’t know much about your own fiancée.”
“Confound it all!” Noah ran a hand over the back of his neck as frustration tightened his muscles. “Afraid of the water. Is that what she told you?”
“She didn’t have to. It’s obvious.” Luke shrugged.
“She’s merely attempting to get our sympathy.”
Matthew’s head jerked back as if Noah had struck him. “Are you sayin’ she’s pretendin’? Now why would she be doin’ that?”
“To convince me to return her to Baltimore, of course. She’s not the sweet innocent she pretends to be. Beneath that benevolent façade rages a pompous shrew.” Noah’s harsh tone faded, unable to carry the weight of words he wasn’t sure he still believed. “And blast it all, Luke, why are you listening? You don’t even believe in God.”
“She has a unique way of telling the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. Very amusing.”
“And that, gentlemen”—her cheerful voice brought Noah’s eyes back to her—“is why we must always have faith, even in the midst of hopeless times.”
“Amen.” Agnes clapped her hands together, her full cheeks rosy once again.
“Me wife surely finds pleasure in ’er company.” Matthew spit to the side.
“She’s no doubt starved for female companionship.” Noah growled. “Enough of this.” He stormed amid ships.
Miss Denton gently closed the Bible and lifted her gaze to his. Brown eyes, glistening like cinnamon in the sunlight, scoured over him.
“Service is over. Get back to work!” he barked. The men scattered across the deck like rats in daylight.
“Never mind him, dear.” Agnes leaned over and untied the rope around Miss Denton’s waist then helped her to stand.
Noah rolled his eyes. “Matthew, get that chair stowed below where it belongs.”
“Aye, Cap’n.” His boatswain ran to the mainmast and hoisted the chair in his arms.
Agnes ambled past Noah, adjusted her apron, and pursed her lips. She didn’t have to say anything. Her motherly look of reprimand did its work on Noah’s conscience.
“Sail on the horizon. Off the starboard quarter!” Mr. Grainger shouted from above.
Thankful for the interruption, Noah plucked his glass from his belt, moved toward the railing, and lifted it to his eye.
“What has put you in such a foul mood today, Captain?” Miss Denton’s voice was soft and assured.
Ignoring her, he gripped the glass tighter and focused on the horizon where the slight shape of a white sail reflected the morning sun. Too far to determine whether she be friend or foe.
He lowered his glass. “It won’t work, Miss Denton.”
She screened her eyes from the sunlight and gazed up at him with more innocence than seemed possible to feign. “What won’t work?”
“Your trying to charm my crew to garner their sympathy.”
Her forehead crinkled. “I am doing no such thing. It is Sunday by my best calculation, and the crew deserves a chance to worship.” A pink hue colored her nose. “I’m surprised at you for not initiating a proper service while out at sea.”
“The sails are gone now, Cap’n,” Mr. Grainger reported.
Noah slapped his spyglass shut and faced her. “For one thing, I doubt God notices when people worship Him, and for another thing, Miss Denton, this is a merchant ship, not a chapel, and these men wouldn’t be caught dead in church when they are in port.” She gazed across the water as if pondering his words, her face pinching. Yet she remained silent. No snide comments, no sharp rebukes, no haughty insults.
Where was the spoiled little goose he’d known as a child? The one he found such pleasure in taunting. He had thought being mean to her would be easy, that he could pick up right where he’d left off eleven years ago. How was he to know the goose had transformed into an angel during those long years, making it all the more harder to follow through with his plan?
Yet he must not falter. For her own good.
“You think my men enjoyed your sermon, Miss Denton? They only attended because it took them away from their duties.”
She swept her eyes to his, a moist sheen covering them. Noah hated himself for causing it.
“I’ll leave you to your commanding, Captain.” Then avoiding his gaze, she teetered over the wobbling deck and disappeared below.
♦♦♦
Heavy fog wrapped around the ship. Marianne leaned over the railing and peered through the mist. Below, the sea chopped against the hull so close she could almost reach out and touch it. Salivating claws of foam reached toward her. One touched her hand and she leapt back. Her breath clumped in her throat. Dashing over the deck, she screamed for help, for anyone. But the only answer came in the creaks and groans of the ship—chiding her, berating her.
She was all alone.
She darted to the railing again. Gurgling sounded. She glanced down. Massive bubbles surfaced from below. The sea had risen and was now within her reach. They were sinking! Laughter rode upon the mist and taunted her ears. She peered into the fog. A small boat formed out of the eerie haze
“Hello there!” she yelled. “Help me, I’m sinking.”
All eyes in the boat shot to her. Her father, her mother, Lizzie, Noah, Luke, Agnes and Matthew Hobbs. They smiled and waved at her as if nothing were amiss.
“Help me!” Marianne shouted. “Over here!”
They no longer seemed to hear her or even see her.
A figure appeared near the bow of the small craft—glowing in white light, shining and brilliant. He held up a lantern and faced forward as the boat drifted farther away.
And disappeared into the fog.
Marianne jerked up in bed. Her breath leapt into her throat. She laid a hand on her heart to quell its violent thumping. Tossing her coverlet aside, she swung her feet onto the floor and dropped her head into her hands. Oh, Lord. What does this mean? Will everyone I love abandon me? Even You? Can I trust no one? Why has all this happened to me? Father’s death, Mother’s illness, our poverty, my forced engagement, and now me upon this ship. Why have you abandoned me?
I will never leave you.
Marianne brushed the tears from her face. A spark of hope lit in her heart. Had she heard from God or merely imagined His voice? She looked up. Thunder rumbled in the distance. A mist as thick as the one in her dream slithered into her cabin. She stood, hugging herself against the chill. The rush of water against the hull sounded like a thousand voices taunting her, belittling her. Trust? You can’t trust Him.
She twirled the ring on her finger. The ring her father had given her. The only thing of value he had ever given her. Before he left her and her mother all alone in this world. Marianne should have sold it when she’d had the chance. The money from the sale would provide a few months of food and medicines. Why hadn’t she sold it? The silver felt cold and hard against her fingertips, and she released the band.
You couldn’t trust your own father. How can you trust God?
Groping for the tiny table at the foot of her bed, she felt for her flint and steel and with trembling hand, struck it to light her lantern. The glow spread over her cabin, chasing the darkness back into the corners.
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The scripture from John flooded her mind. But her doubts resurrected to do battle with the holy words. Marianne’s heart thrashed wildly. She didn’t know why. Something evil, something dark seemed to hover in the room ready to pounce upon her. She donned her dress and shoes, swung open her door, and headed up on deck. Better to face her known fear than to suffer below with her demons.
A cool night breeze fingered the tendrils of her loose hair as she emerged on deck and made her way to the capstan, which she had learned was the name of the drum-shaped heaving tool she liked to cling to. Light from a full moon cast a milky haze over the ship, making it look drea
mlike as it floated on the ebony sea.
A watchman up on the quarterdeck tipped his hat in her direction. After settling against the sturdy wooden frame, she dared a glance across the sea. The moon hung over the horizon like a giant pearl, its milky wands setting the waves sparkling in silver light.
It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.
Another Scripture from the Psalms floated through Marianne’s mind. The moon was God’s faithful witness. Was He trying to tell her that He still loved her and was with her? A lump burned in her throat, and she swiped a tear from her cheek.
Trust me.
Releasing the capstan, Marianne took a step toward the railing. She grew weary of all the struggles in her life, weary of feeling so incredibly alone, but most of all she was weary of always being afraid. She slid her other shoe across the wooden planks. The ship rose over a swell, and she threw her arms out on either side to steady herself. Another step. Lord, can I trust You?
As if in answer to her question, the ship plunged, and she nearly stumbled. Her heart thumped against her ribs. A spray of saltwater stung her face.
No. I can’t. She slowly retreated.
Right into a firm hand on her back.
She whirled around to find Noah behind her. She wobbled.
“Steady now.” He gripped her shoulders.
Shrugging off his hands, she backed away from him, only to realize she was but inches from the railing. She dashed toward the capstan and gripped its familiar firm wood. Even in the moonlight, she could see the look of confusion on his face.
Surrender the Sea Page 10