Dark Journey Home

by Cherie Shaw

  Olivia sighed in remembrance, “I know, Amelia dear, but he soon learned to love us as his own, though he did put up with a lot, didn’t he?” She swallowed, and gave Amelia an emotional hug, as she added, “Never having had children of his own, it’s a wonder Uncle Claude put up with our antics, but he claims we two scamps were his salvation. Salvation from peace and quiet maybe.” She laughed in fond memory now. “But then my brother Garth with his active and ambitious ways tried so hard to fit into this well-run manor with its many antiques and perfection, so many servants and so many rules, it’s a wonder he didn’t leave before he did five years ago. I know Uncle Claude misses the rogue, just won’t admit to it. I suppose Garth is still captaining his own cargo ship in competition with Uncle, as if Uncle Claude really cares. It’s rather a standing joke to him anyway. Well, cheer up Amelia, the time will pass quickly. Uncle Claude has so looked forward to this vacation; I can’t disappoint the old softie. He’s made the trip many times himself, and he does own the liner anyway. He can always have it turned around and head back if he so chooses.”

  “Certainly, Miss, and pigs fly too.” Sniffed Amelia.

  Laughing, Olivia said, “We need to have this baggage toted down to the carriage now, and then see if Uncle is ready.”

  “I guess we packed everything we could think of Miss. Oh, did we remember to put in the sewing kit, and knitting needles? I did pack a few skeins of yarn.”

  “That we did, and a few books in the bottom of the largest trunk, along with my favorite book of poetry. As it is, I’ll probably sink the ship with all that weight.”

  Amelia shuddered, “It’s well you’re taking enough necessities, as I doubt you’ll be able to purchase any replacements for anything in that heathen country of the Americas. I’m still against your Uncle Claude hauling you halfway around the world. I heard that land is full of savage Indians, just about a hundred different tribes, and countless thousands of them.”

  “Oh, Amelia, for heaven sakes,” Olivia chided softly, “Uncle has assured me that the land is mostly civilized, and they have large cities there too, nothing the size of London though, but mercy, look at the unsavory characters that roam the streets of London.”

  “Well, Amelia sniffed, “I’ll believe all that when you are safely home again.”

  Lord Claude Beckford sat at his heavy oak antique desk in his well-carpeted study, on the first floor of the Beckford manor. He tapped the ashes from his pipe into the copper ash tray, which had been an import from India, as he sighed deeply, then leaned back in the comfortable leather chair. “What else can I do?” He thought to himself, “My niece is twenty-five years old, and never seems to approve of any of the young men I have introduced her to. Her brother, the infamous rogue that he is, will never settle down to running my vast holdings for me. He just wants to roam the universe himself, seeking his own fortune. It will be up to Olivia to wed someone of means, who is experienced in running such vast holdings of which I have acquired during my lifetime. Lord, am I making the right decision in insisting she accompany me on this excursion around the world, with the hope that she will then meet someone she approves of?”

  Lord Beckford was a much traveled man himself, but then his position required that he be away from England for at least part of every year. This would be Olivia’s first trip on the high seas. She had been completely happy to spend her years as a young spinster living at the beautiful country estate, foregoing all future involvements with young men. There had been one young man, Henry Jefferson Adams III, an ambitious sort of character, who practically had insisted that Olivia become betrothed to him, and would not take no for an answer. Lord Beckford had his background thoroughly checked and found him to be an imposter, as well as virtually penniless, possibly needing some of the Beckford holdings to help him maintain his extravagant lifestyle, along with a large dowry that would come with wedding Olivia.

  That had been five years previous, just before Garth had taken off for places unknown. Beckford, with Garth’s able and willing assistance, (not to mention gleefully intimidating), had the young imposter literally thrown from the manor during his last and final visit with Olivia. Olivia hadn’t been interested in matrimony then, as now. Lord Beckford knew there were many eligible young men of means however, but short of arranging a marriage for her, as some of his associates had done with their stubborn offspring, there wasn’t much he could do. Well, this trip would last six to ten months, at least show Olivia a bit of the outside world.

  Beckford Manor, located in the beautiful fertile countryside, five miles south of London, included around five hundred acres of land, with several small lakes and a running stream. Several buildings housed the servants and their families, also a carriage house, and barn, made up the estate, not to mention the Manor itself, which was a masterpiece in architecture. Another property was a nearby farm, which employed a family of workers to provide the produce.

  Olivia’s uncle, the honored and titled Lord Claude Beckford, also possessed title to several large estates around England and was Olivia’s dear departed mother’s brother. A stately gentleman in every sense of the word, the white-haired well respected Lord ran a worldwide shipping industry which had been in the family for generations, along with many factories in other countries specializing in goods for importing, also the liner they would be traveling on was owned by Lord Beckford. Claude proudly knew that Olivia adored her world-traveled uncle with all her heart, as for over fifteen years he had been the only parent for herself, and brother Garth, though Garth had had many ‘growing’ pains during his ten years at the Manor, and being five years older than Olivia, had left to seek his ‘fortune’, also to continue being the ‘rogue’ that he was fast becoming, while at the same time, leaving behind a trail of disappointed lasses, and numerous broken hearts.

  While in his teens, Garth had been sent to military school for two years, but his wild ways had gotten him so many detentions, that finally he’d been kept at the manor, with the made-up position of overseeing the stables, keeping things in order there. He’d left home at twenty-five years of age, and in all figuring, would be around thirty now……. wherever he was.

  Lord Claude had had neither the expertise nor the temperament to finish raising half-grown children, but did his best to pamper and spoil Olivia, though at the same time dealing out strict rules to Garth, which of course Garth did his best not to follow. It was a big joke among the employees, to see which of the rules the young man would break during any twenty-four hour period. Garth always prone to adventure, was the image of his late father and literally cut of the ‘same cloth’, an irresistible devil in every way.

  Being intent upon leaving the security of home, Garth had joined up with a friend and taken off for the unknown. First working along docks around the world, and then finally, with funds which had been kept in trust for him, he had purchased a cargo ship. Not a large one, but one that served the purpose. Then he and his friend, Paul Langford, slightly older than Garth, and a stabilizing influence on him, sailed the high seas, going from one exotic port to another for several years. The investment had been a success, and Garth had wound up with a small fleet of ships with contracts to haul freight to many ports of the world.

  Olivia’s light tap on the door interrupted Lord Claude’s thoughts, and he knew it was time to have the carriage loaded.

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  The country air was fresh and damp from the recent rain, as the carriage bounced along the winding road toward the city. The Lord had foreseen to hire two guards to ride horseback along the way, on either side of the carriage, as road agents were prevalent along the highways, and he didn’t want to risk Olivia’s safety. They relaxed and enjoyed the long ride through the darkness of the countryside. As the coach creaked through the quiet of the dark night, the low-hanging fog became thicker, and the miles sped by as the two white horses made their way, by habit more than sight, to the winding cobblestone roads of London, then towards the huge inlet, where many ships were tied up a
waiting launching.

  The Liner was due to sail sometime in the wee hours of the morning, and Lord Beckford wanted Olivia to be more than settled in her stateroom, and he in his, long before sailing time, thus avoiding the rush of many last minute passengers. Their belongings would be loaded soon, but meanwhile Lord Beckford had to make one stop before departing; that would be at one of his many warehouses along the pier. He had some last minute paperwork to catch up on, though there was still plenty of time, and he had explained this to Olivia before leaving.

  Lord Beckford’s carriage was large, black, sleek and shiny, as it now traveled through the road nearing the waterfront. The sturdy horses trod on through the streets, engulfed by the heavy fog, and only a lantern here and there could be seen through the thick mush. Olivia looked through the side window, but could not see a thing. So she leaned back with a sigh, thinking back to the night, five years before, when Garth had packed only a small valise with a few of his belongings, then sat upon the dark gold-tinged velvet divan in the parlor, telling her goodbye. Garth with his chestnut hair and laughing brown eyes, the teasing smile through the thin mustache he had chosen to grow from the time his first whisker had appeared on his face.

  “Oh Garth, brother mine,” Olivia thought as she was jounced around on the carriage seat, “Won’t you ever settle in one place? Will you even be in the Americas when we land there or will your aching feet have already taken you to some tropical island?

  Olivia missed seeing her brother, having only received a couple of letters a year from him since his departure from the manor. The possibility of seeing Garth was one of the main reasons she had agreed to this journey. Having no reason otherwise to travel, she was very comfortable with her life in the country.

  Also she had heard a few snickers behind her back, a time or two, referring to her as that ‘wealthy’ older spinster lady. Well, she did not look her twenty-five years anyway, and many of her former classmates were now showing lines and wrinkles, and were coping with large families. Olivia felt that she would marry for love, and as yet had failed to meet the perfect man. Until then, as she had explained to her uncle many a time, she would be content to reside at the Manor, far out from the crime-infested city, with its squalor and filth.

  Olivia hoped that Garth had received the wire that Uncle Claude had sent to one of Garth’s offices in China, with copies forwarded to several other possible ports, asking him to please, if possible, meet them at the harbor in New York when they arrived there. Otherwise they would await word from him while staying at the inn.

  There was a cattle ranch somewhere in a place called ‘Texas’, that they had discussed the possibility of visiting while in America. One of Lord Beckford’s many holdings, left to him some ten years before by a distant relative, and as it appeared to be a fairly good source of income, Beckford had decided to keep it in mind to visit the place if possible.

  As the coach wound nearer to the darkened, foggy and cluttered waterfront, Olivia gasped and clutched the small carpetbag which she had kept at her side, “Goodness, Uncle Claude, I can’t see a thing through all this. Are we still stopping at your warehouse? I do believe I can see a few lanterns now from the ships, with some sort of movement going on. Are some of the ships being loaded on such a dark night, as ours will be?”

  Claude laughed, “One question at a time, my dear. Yes, we will be indeed stopping at the warehouse, but of course there is a lounge at the back of the building behind my office, and you can rest there, until we are ready to leave. I have instructed the coachman to wait outside until then, as our luggage will be perfectly safe with our guards standing near, we’ll have everything loaded at that time.” He paused smiling down at her, “And yes, lots of ships load during all kinds of weather, the men are used to it, and can almost feel their way in the dark, much more through the smog.”

  Just then a burst of loud laughter came floating across from one of the taverns which they were passing, and someone called out, “Hey have any of you blokes seen a wayward escapee, let me know if you do. It’ll be a fine handful of shillings for the one who brings him in. Several bondsmen jumped ship last night, and we have yet to catch nigh a one o’ ‘em. The captain of the Red Dragon will be forever grateful.”

  A drunken voice hollered back, “Hey, matey, if’n I come across a one o’ them, it’ll be work for me’self I’ll put ‘em to. Ha, ha, they’ll be in chains on me own ship before the night’s o’er.”

  Olivia grasped ahold of her uncle’s sleeve, and said, “Uncle Claude, they can’t be hunting down men like animals, can they? It just isn’t right. Oh, those poor men.”

  Claude patted her hand lovingly, and answered, “I’m sorry, Niece, but that’s the way of the world. Those bondsmen owe so many years of hard labor, for their debts. I have never believed in the practice, but it is still prevalent in the business, and in the Americas, and other lands they still hold to the practice, also some even deal in slave trade.”

  Olivia shuddered, “But that’s so barbaric. I wouldn’t stand for it for a minute.”

  “That’s the way of the world dear, and hopefully sometime in the future the practice will be outlawed. But until then, we can’t do a thing about it, short of helping the poor souls if we should come across them, risking our own selves at the same time. When those poor fools jump ship, that’s treason, and some of them take on violent and desperate ways too. It’s best we don’t become involved. Now let’s see if we are nearing the warehouse, as the coachman just slowed those prancing steeds of mine.”

  “Uncle Claude, Olivia began as the shiny black coach pulled up before the dim outline of a huge block building. “Do you believe we’ll be able to see Garth? It has been years and only a few letters.”

  “Hopefully, Ollie, just maybe we’ll catch that brother of yours. We’ll see, though we may have to extend our travels a bit if we have to track that rascal around the world.”

  Olivia snickered at the thought of literally running after Garth, as he sprinted across the Globe. She smoothed her skirts, and clutched her carpetbag, “You’re always so optimistic, Uncle, so we’ll just leave it at that.” She then prepared to leave the coach.

  Lord Beckford, usually shrewd and stern, an experienced businessman in dealing with all types of traders around the world, was light-hearted at the moment, as he alit from the coach, and then turned to help Olivia down.

  He then took her arm and steered her to a small doorway to the left, “This way dear.” He said. The doorway was barely distinguishable through the fog, though a dimly-lit lantern hung at the side. He retrieved a key from the pocket of his coat, and then turned it in the lock. He led Olivia inside. She noted several lanterns were hung on pegs along the walls, and as she had never been inside one of her uncle’s warehouses before, it was a bit eerie, though fascinating at the same time. Cavernous, cool and damp, the place was.

  “Oh, my!” Olivia breathed, “Just look at this.” Through the dimly-lit warehouse, her gaze traveled at length, taking in the hundreds of large shipping crates. Lord Beckford turned and slipped the latch on the door, securing the lock.

  “Oh, my.” Olivia again said. “The spicy odors in here are magnificent.”

  Her uncle smiled fondly, “Yes, he began, “spices are heavily traded from port to port, among other things. There is a great demand for those around the world, along with the amazing craftworks and artistry of foreigners. Some fruit, such as pineapples, bananas, cocoanuts, and the like, I leave for the smaller shippers. The shorter runs mostly of those products are their ‘bread and butter’, so to say, and never let it be said that I hogged the whole industry.”

  “Never, uncle, never indeed.” Olivia declared lightly.

  “Also, Niece,” Claude continued in a more serious note, “we work here twenty-four hours a day; though for now it’s quiet because a crew just left duty and another is due to take over in just about one hour. We should be already on board by then though. By the way, our ‘lady’s’ name is the ‘Silver Princess�
�.”

  “What a beautiful name, and I shall be honored to be sailing with her, Uncle Claude.” Olivia stated. “I know they name ships with exotic names, sometimes lady’s names, such as this one. I believe I love the ‘Silver Princess’ already.”

  They made their way through narrow aisles between stacks of odorous crates, then down a long dimly-lit hallway to the far rear of the building.

  “We have several hours,” Lord Claude began, “before sailing time, and this paperwork won’t take more than a half-hour at the most.”

  He unlocked his office door, then while Olivia waited, he lit two lanterns from his desk, then handed one to her. “Across the room, and through that doorway, is a lounge dear. You may freshen up and rest on the divan in there while I work.”

  “Thank you, Uncle.” She answered, and started across the room, then through the doorway he’d mentioned.

  “Oh, my!” she looked around at the finely furnished lounge, with its white wicker furniture and imported fine artistic décor. Olivia was surprised, and delighted at the lovely and tastefully furnished lounge, and proceeded to enjoy herself as she set down the lantern, then took off her heavy woolen cape, tossing it onto the wicker divan with its brightly colored pad. She smoothed her skirts, and then unwound her hair, brushing it until it sparkled, with the brush she had retrieved from her carpetbag. Then carefully rewound the long golden tresses into a tight bun, returning the hairpins to their proper positions.