Someone climbed down and stood beside him, unspeaking. "I thought you were avoiding me, milady?" William said.
"Yes," Lucy agreed. "I was. I am afraid that I am something of a coward, Captain. I avoid confrontation, especially when I'm in the wrong."
"Whatever else you are, milady, no man who has seen you fight will call you coward."
"Fighting!" Lucy shrugged. "Anyone can fight. What takes courage is apologising to a man that I have wronged. I spoke harshly and used ill-judged words to you, sir. Please accept my apology."
"Shush," said William. He touched her lips with his fingertips.
"Shush. That is what you said to me when we were in the water. See, Captain, I don't just insult strangers. I also insult the man that saved my life."
"The fault is hardly yours to bear alone. I am a rude and vulgar man, unused to the niceties of your class. I also aim well above my station. However, I have often aimed high and in my experience, that is the only way to hit a distant target."
The two stood in silence for some time watching the water.
"How did the test of the magic candles go?" asked William.
"Well enough," Lucy replied. "But I found it more difficult to make contact than in the Tower."
"The sea is supposed to drain magic," William observed. "Mayhap, that is what you felt."
"I hope so," Lucy said. "Lilith says that it could be connected with the distance between the candles. That could become a problem when we cross the ocean."
Lucy shivered. William undid his cloak and put it around her shoulders. "You see another example of my uncouthness, milady. I must wait until you chill before offering you protection. A gentleman would have done so before you shivered."
She smiled.
"That is better. A smile from my lady banishes all cold," William said, gallantly.
"And I accused you of lacking poetry, sir," she said.
"Another example of your good judgement," William said. "Did your uncle discuss my proposal with you?"
"He did."
"And did he ask your opinion?"
She said nothing.
"Come talk to me, my lady."
"I see you will know it all, sir. I told him that I could see political advantage in the match."
"Did you indeed! I suppose that I have deserved such a reply. Did your uncle enquire after your personal wishes?" William asked.
"He did."
"And am I also to be allowed to know them?" William asked.
"I told him that I did not oppose the idea. Indeed, I might find the match somewhat . . . " She paused, clearly anxious to select the right word. ". . . stimulating, despite certain difficulties that I foresee." Lucy snuggled up to him. "I am still a little chilled so I will stand closer to you, if I may." She reached up, pulled his head down, and kissed him on the lips. "That is by way of an apology for my behaviour earlier."
"Is it? Then I trust you will insult me often," William said. "I find your apologies—stimulating." Inside his heart sang. He had kissed her twice but this was the first time that she had kissed him.
"I know you think that I am an arrogant aristocrat, and mayhap you are right, but I believe you love me." William started to speak but she talked over him. "There is a great danger in that. You are the commander of our enterprise and I will obey you, but I am the weapon in your hand. When the time comes, you must be prepared to use me as you would any other weapon. Our enterprise is lost if you hold me back out of love. You must be brave, William, and let me go in harm's way."
William would think on this conversation later but for the moment his mind had picked up one detail. She did not oppose the match.
"Sail ho, one point off the port bow." A sailor's voice called from the crow's nest.
William hurled himself up the steps to the fo'c's'le. "What type of vessel is she, can you not see?"
Lucy watched him go, with a slight smile. 'You see. Lilith. My reservations about his suit are not entirely ill-founded. Were I to be his wife, I would always have to compete with his first love, his beloved mistress.'
'And who is she?' thought Lilith, confused.
'Why, the ship of course. That sleek mistress that always obeys, never answers back, and is ever waiting his will. How does mere flesh and blood compete?'
Lucy climbed back after William and found a place to stand that was out of the way. William was talking to the master. "Can you see her, Mr. Smethwick?" asked William.
"I think there is something there, in that squall. But my sight ain't what it was, Captain. Especially in this weather."
'I can't see it either, Lilith. Can you help?' Lucy thought.
'Let me switch on night sight to cut through the haze and try to bend the light to increase magnification. I will drop gravity shields in front of your eyes—now.'
Master Smethwick nudged William and pointed to Lucy. Her eyes took on a hard crystalline appearance and her skin glowed.
William spoke directly to the girl, "Can you see the ship, Lucy? Can you describe her? What is her course?"
"She is moving to cross our bow," the girl said.
"Cross our bow? I can't allow that. Boatswain, take us two points to port," William bawled.
Orders cascaded down he chain of command until the helmsman hauled on the whipstaff and brought the ship's bow around.
"She has three masts, square sails on the first two and a triangular sail on the rear," said Lucy.
"Is she race-built?" the master asked.
Lucy looked at him blankly.
"Is her architecture cut down, like the Swallow?" William said.
"Oh yes," Lucy said. "But she is smaller and fatter than this boat."
"Ship." William corrected automatically. "What colours does she show?"
"I can't see colours when using night sight," said Lucy. "But she is coming out now so you can look yourself."
A ship's sails, tatty and travel stained emerged from the squall. The hull of a race built galleon followed, painted in green and white squares and triangles.
"She's English," William said. "But the hull is on a two-to-one ratio unlike our three-to-one."
"Aye, she's a cruiser rather than a pure warship," said the master.
The boatswain arrived at the fo'c's'le with a sailor in tow. He touched his cap to William. "Sir, Andrews here thinks he knows her."
"Go on, man," said William. "What ship is she?"
The boatswain prodded the sailor. The man removed his cap and twisted it between his hands. "I saw her at Deptford, Cap'n. She be the Pelican."
"Pelican? That's Drake's ship." William said, unable to keep the awe from his voice. "Three years at sea and he brings her up the western approaches like he was on a shakedown cruise."
Word spread quickly among the sailors and cheers rang out. "Silence," William said. "Boatswain, can you not control the men? Are we to be humiliated in front of Drake?"
"No sir," said the boatswain. "Silence, you whoresons, or I'll start stripping backs."
The noise abated. The ships closed rapidly, running on opposite parallel tracks. "But does Drake live?" William said softly. "Or does his ship return without him, like Magellan's. Look there, on the afterdeck, Cousin Francis, himself." William pointed to a slightly portly man, of some good age, clad in officer's working clothes. As the ships drew level, William raised his cap. "Hip, hip—" His voice was drowned in the rousing "Hooray!" from the crew. William repeated the formula twice more and the last hoorah shook the sails. Drake bowed and doffed his cap. Then the Pelican was astern and disappearing into the next squall.
"They treat him like a god," said Simon, softly to Lucy.
Lucy looked at the worship in William's eyes. "I had not seen you arrive, Master Tunstall," she said. "Yes, to them he is a least a demigod, like the heroes of old. A new English Odysseus to prowl the seas and strike terror into the heart of England's foes."
"Drake has changed her name," said the master. "I distinctly saw Golden Hind on the stern. Why that, I wonder."
"I think I know," said Lucy.
"You Lucy?" asked William "You know why Drake renames his ship so?" William could not quite keep the incredulity out of his voice and his officers chuckled.
"Yes, sir, me, sir," Lucy said, icily. "Sir Christopher Hatton, who so kindly invited me to witness a play in his box at the theatre—you know what a theatre is, I assume, Captain—is one of the principal backers of Drake's enterprise. Sir Christopher Hatton's coat of arms includes a golden hind. Now if you will excuse me, Captain Hawkins, I am a little fatigued. So I will leave you to steer the ship, or whatever it is that you do."
Lucy swept off the fo'c's'le lifting her skirts in front, every inch of her the Lady Dennys. There was dead silence. "I believe I have been put in my place," said William and laughed, his officers joining him. "When I marry the wench, she really will have to learn to curb that tongue; such sharpness is unbecoming in a wife," he observed, ruefully.
"If you marry the, ah, wench then you may certainly try," said Simon, thoughtfully. "Do write and tell us how it turns out, from whatever hospice they consign you."
"I will go and make my peace," said William. He followed the girl onto the aft deck and approached her where she stood against the rail.
"I hope I have not offended you again, milady," William said.
"No, not offended, Captain. And I am sorry if I spoke too sharply to you in front of your officers."
"It is of no consequence, Lady Dennys. Although nominally under my command, you are hardly bound by the same discipline as the rest of my crew."
"You mean that I can get away with almost anything, partly because of my status as a member of the gentry and partly because I am a silly girl who can't be expected to know better," she said, sweetly.
"I would not have put it quite like that," he began.
"No?" she interrupted. "Then how would you have put it?" Lucy waved her arm. "It doesn't matter. The episode illustrates what bothers me about your ambitions towards myself."
Lucy looked him straight in the eye with that directness that so appealed. "We are from different worlds, William. Don't you see? I will never fit into your world of ships and seaports. How will you adapt to my world of court, politics, and great houses? Mayhap we should stop this now while we are still friends, before we hurt each other."
"Enough, madam, I will never hurt you. I believe I can make you happy—happier than you will be in the possession of some chinless wonder with a title. You could already have had such a man if that is what you really wanted. You will in turn make me happy. Just being in your company makes me happy. Even your waspish tongue pleases because it reminds me that I have to keep my wits sharp to hold your respect. Life isn't a rehearsal, Lucy. We only get one chance. I will not let your doubts and fears wreck our happiness. I intend to win your hand and your heart by whatever means are necessary. I intend to have you, so get used to the idea, milady. I am not some aristocratic milksop to be deflected from his objective by the first reverse. I'm a sea dog captain. I fight for what I want; I always win and right now, what I want most of all is you."
She stared at him, mouth open. He had the distinct impression that men were not in the habit of addressing the Lady Dennys so. He decided now to follow another of Drake's maxims and quit and run after a victory, before a powerful but momentarily disorganised enemy could regroup.
"Actually, my lady, I have a favour to ask of you," said William.
"You do," said Lucy, warily.
"I would like to talk to Lilith," he said.
"Lilith? But you can't. I mean, only I can talk to her."
"But I understand from Master Tunstall that John Dee was able to arrange an interview with your demon."
"So I am told," said Lucy. "I was, you understand, mesmerised at the time. But Doctor Dee used magic and a mirror to create a 'hologram' of Lilith. We lack both. Wait, I will ask her."
Lucy stared at the sea for a few moments. William waited silently, assuming that she was involved in some inner discussion.
"There might be a way, Captain. I suspect that I am going to regret this but I will allow it. Lilith has learnt a great deal about magic from recent events. She believes that if you stand close to me then something might be arranged." Lucy looked evasive. "Lilith tells me that you and I are in harmony and it is possible to connect us. She says she suspects that you have connected with me before." Lucy looked indignant. "It was in that safe house at Billingsgate, wasn't it? I wondered how you knew what I was thinking."
William grinned. "So you and I are in harmony, are we? Your fate is written in your stars, madam. You can't fight it. I have to stand close to you and look into your eyes, do I? I believe that I can manage that."
He moved to comply. Looking into Lucy's big brown eyes was a pleasing experience. As William stared, they seemed to grow larger and swirl. He was sinking into them. There was a wrench and William fell. He heard a rushing sound and saw whirling light and was in a meadow, a meadow on a summer's afternoon.
"It's always summer here," said Lucy, appearing in front of him. There was no suggestion of movement. She was just there.
"Where am I?" asked William.
"Well, literally you are in my head, or Lilith's head, which is in my head. But metaphysically, you are in a meadow that used to be a favourite of mine. Lilith took it from my memories. I am afraid she brought me here while you were struggling in the water with me, Captain. I have often felt guilty about that."
"Think no more on that, milady. Lilith did exactly the right thing. I would not have wished you to suffer. The real meadow, the one that this is based on—were you a small child at the time?"
"Why do you ask?" asked Lucy, curious.
"Lucy, the grass is knee high, the flowers are six inches across, the trees are topless, and the insects . . ." William pointed to a bee that zigzagged past; it was the size of a robin.
"I never noticed. It is as I remembered it. I suppose I was five years old or so. You are here to meet Lilith are you not, Captain. I expect she is down by the stream." Lucy led the way.
William could have sworn that he and Lucy were alone but a few steps towards the stream meandering below brought them into the presence of a woman. She was dressed most peculiarly in tight black breeches with long legs that hung right down over her shoes. The shoes were also unusual with high, thin heels. The white sleeveless shirt was rather more familiar, albeit usually worn by men.
"Honestly, Lilith, is this outfit another of those you claim is worn by women of the future. You do it to shock, don't you? One time, William, she wore this dress that showed her legs all the way up to—well, all the way up."
"I just wanted to look my best for the captain, and I haven't worn this outfit in public before. The lower garments are called flared trousers and are female copies of men's clothes."
"Indeed," said William. Lilith spoke in that odd clipped accent that he had heard before. Simon had told him that what made appear Lilith so extraordinary was that she looked so ordinary. William was not sure that flared trousers were all that ordinary but he knew exactly what Simon meant. Lilith was rather pretty and feminine. It was difficult to accept that she was a demon from the Other World. Demons should look—demonic, so everyone knew where they were. The demon held out her hand and William kissed it, automatically. He could touch her. Simon had told him that the Lilith hologram summoned by Dee had no substance, so clearly some other magic was at work here.
"I would like to talk to Lilith alone, if you would be so kind, milady."
"Why? Oh, I suppose you want to talk about me." Lucy narrowed her eyes and seemed to consider. "Very well." She turned and took a few steps then was suddenly a fair distance away, out of earshot. There was no discontinuity or jerk, the illusion just happened.
"So, what shall we talk about, Captain?" Lilith smiled.
"Before we start, are you what you appear to be?"
Lilith laughed, "And what do I appear to be?"
"An attractive young woman, pert eno
ugh to catch the eye of any man and intelligent enough to hold his interest. Does this image truly represent you?"
"That rather depends what you mean," Lilith said, thoughtfully. "I have no body that you could see or feel, but I am young by the standards of my people and I am female. Lucy finds me pleasant company. I am also influenced by neural outflow from Lucy, so I tend to react to men as a human woman would. So, yes, Captain, I believe this body truly represents me. Does it matter?"
"It does to me. I find it easier to talk with you, if I know what you are really like."
"Hmm, body language. Yes, that is important to your kind." Lilith smiled, encouragingly. "Now that is settled, what do you want to talk about?"
"Lucy."
"Ah."
"You know I intend to marry Lucy?"
"I know what Lucy knows, I see what she sees, I hear what she hears, and I feel what she feels."
"Um, feels, do you?" This was like talking to Lucy. The conversation veered into uncomfortable areas. Lilith had Lucy's disconcerting ability to sidetrack the discussion.
"I believe from our previous contact that you do not oppose the match," said William, getting back to the point.
"I want Lucy to be happy. I want her to have what she needs to be happy."
"And she wants me?"
"If you think I will betray Lucy by revealing her thoughts to you then you are very mistaken, sir," Lilith's voice was cold.
"No, of course not. I spoke without thinking. Forgive me, demon."
William was silent for a moment but Lilith showed no sign of wanting to say anything so he carried on. "Will you leave Lucy when we reach Bimini?"
Lucy's Blade Page 36