by Amelia Grey
She smiled. "Good morning. How do you feel today?"
He just looked at her and rubbed his nose again, sniffling. His brown hair was sticking out on one side where he'd slept on it, and his white shirt had wrinkled from his tossing and turning in the bed.
He didn't respond to her question. Looking at him, she wondered how well he could understand her and if he could put a sentence together. Some three-year-old boys were still learning the art of speech communication while others spoke with ease. Bo should talk very well since he was almost four. Last night, in his distraught condition, all he'd been able to do was call for his mama.
"Is your nose stuffy?" she asked when he continued to rub it with the back of his chubby hand. "Do you think some fresh air would help you to breathe better?"
"I want Mama," he replied, his bottom lip quivering, his wide eyes nervously searching the room.
Taking him to his mother was the one thing she couldn't do for him—not yet. What Bo needed was for her to accept their position and make the best of it—until she could do something about it.
She threw back the covers and immediately felt the chill in the air. Her best bet was to keep Bo busy to take his mind off his mother. Thinking about her would only make him miserable and make him cry. Chelly had great sorrow for the woman and what she was going through and the only thing Chelly could do for her was to care for Bo as if he were her own.
She hoped to talk with Austin again, too. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew this damning incident hadn't faded her attraction to him. He'd said he was doing this because of honor. What kind of honor demanded that a child be stolen from his mother and taken across the seas? She needed to understand.
Chelly swung her feet to the side of the bed and stood up, brushing the wrinkles from her skirt. Either the ship was sailing along smoothly or she was getting used to the rocking. She didn't feel as if she were swaying back and forth anymore. The creaking and cracking sounds seemed to have all but disappeared, too.
The one porthole didn't afford enough light to chase away the dreariness of the small, dark cabin, but she could tell it was a sunny day. The first thing she would do after breakfast was ask Austin if there were a larger room they could have—one with at least two portholes. If not, she'd probably have to keep a lamp burning all day. A bright room was a cheerful room, and she wanted Bo to be as happy as possible.
She patted her stomach and looked down at Bo. "Mmm, I'm hungry. How about you? Are you ready for something to eat?"
He watched her with curious eyes but made no response to her question.
Dropping to her knees, she searched the small bed for pins that had fallen out of her hair during the night. She didn't usually sleep with her hair up or her clothes on, but last night had not been ordinary.
"Mama."
Chelly glanced up at Bo. It looked as if he might start crying at any moment. There was a quiver in his rounded cheeks. She had to get his mind off his mother before he would get better. She quickly picked up the pins and walked, on her knees, down to the foot of the bed.
Looking at him lovingly she said, "I can't take you to your mama right now. But I will take very good care of you until I can. Don't be frightened. I won't let anyone hurt you. All right?" She reached her hand out to Bo.
"Mama's gone bye-bye."
She took a deep breath. In a way he understood what was going on. He wasn't with his mother. The most important thing was that he feel safe.
"Yes. Now, take my hand. We'll go over to the basin and wash our faces. Then we'll go to the galley and find something to eat and drink?"
He continued to look at her with those big, watery eyes and slowly lifted his arms toward her. She smiled and closed his hand in hers. Bo jumped off the bed as she rose from the floor. She brushed his straight brown hair away from his face. In height, he came up to the top of her hip. He wasn't very tall for being almost four years old.
As she looked at Bo, Chelly found herself wondering who his father might be and why he felt the need to kidnap his son. She also couldn't help but wonder why his mother and father lived thousands of miles apart in different countries. Why didn't the father simply visit his son? Why did he have to steal him from his mother? She couldn't help but feel there was something very important about this little boy.
"When I talk to you, do you understand everything I'm saying to you?" she asked, trying a different approach to make him feel comfortable with her and to get him to talk.
He remained quiet.
"Well, no matter." She smiled again as they padded over to a corner where a small chest with a pitcher and wash basin stood. "We'll get along just fine anyway. How old are you?" she asked, knowing most young boys were proud of their age and how tall they were.
Bo held up three fingers.
She placed a mock look of surprise on her face and praised, "My goodness. You're a big boy to only be three years old. I think you're old enough to help me pour water from the pitcher, don't you?"
He nodded.
Chelly pretended the pitcher was heavy, and Bo reached up with his little hands and helped her hold it. After they set it down, she wet the end of the towel and squeezed out the chilled water. She wiped the cloth over his eyes, down his rounded cheeks, and across his pink lips. With the pads of her fingers, she touched his cheek. He was behaving like a grown-up little man?
She rinsed the towel in the cold water again and cleaned her own face and neck, wishing she could sink down into a tub of warm water and wash away all her nagging fears.
Last night the only thing she'd thought about was the trauma Bo and his mother would endure by their separation, but this morning she could see this was going to affect her, too. When Mr. and Mrs. Duncan had ruined her reputation with their lies, she had hoped in time to overcome their viciousness. She almost laughed, remembering how she looked upon this job as the one to redeem her reputation and help her secure a post with a good family somewhere in Maryland.
How would this affect her job prospects? Surely Bo's mother would thank her, of that there was no doubt, but would she want to recommend a woman who'd been hired by kidnappers? And if she succeeded in returning Bo, could she turn Austin over to the authorities?
But as she thought that, she remembered how the night before they boarded the ship Austin had tried to talk her out of accepting the assignment. She was the one who had insisted he keep his word and allow her to take the job. But had she known its true nature, would she have accepted it?
Chelly looked down into Bo's trusting expression. Some of the fear had left his eyes. If she hadn't seen him, maybe she could have declined involvement; but now she was glad she had been given the opportunity to care for him, because she intended to make a difference. She vowed to take him back to his mother; another governess might not have wanted to accept that responsibility.
A knock sounded on the door and a moment later it opened. Austin walked inside. "Good morning," he said.
Chelly slowly laid the towel in the basin and looked at him. Her heartbeat increased. Her breath grew short. His presence almost filled the small room. He was so handsome and downright alluring. His white shirt gleamed against his dark breeches and black surcoat. It amazed her that she could be attracted to a man who would steal a child? It was a violation of herself, of all she held to be just and right.
She didn't understand her feelings toward him. Why did she like the way his gaze swept across her face with appreciation? Why did she tense with anticipation whenever she saw him? Why did she want him to smile at her, to tease with her, find favor with her? And heavens, Why did she want him to embrace her?
Bo wrapped his arms around her legs and hid his face in the wrinkled folds of her skirt. She slipped her hand down to his shoulder and held him to her, offering security.
"Good morning," she finally answered.
Austin's gaze fell to Bo. "How is he?"
Her anger at what he'd done had faded she realized, and in its place only a need to make it right. "He
misses his—" She didn't finish her sentence, catching herself before saying the word 'mother.' "Family," she finished.
"I'm glad you've quieted him. He could be heard all over the ship last night."
Taking offense she lifted her chin and said, "I'm sorry if he disturbed you."
Austin's eyes narrowed. "He didn't disturb anyone. I only meant I was concerned about how upset he was. Has there been any sign of seasickness from either of you?"
Chelly grabbed hold of her long hair and wound it on top of her head. "None," she answered, inserting the pins into the bun of hair. "We've both taken to the seas quite well so far. I hope that won't change after we've eaten."
He nodded.
She had to ask him one last time. "Is there any chance that this morning you've changed your mind and we're heading back to Baltimore?"
His composure remained firm. "No."
Her hand squeezed Bo's shoulder tighter and she pressed him toward her leg. "Then, I must ask you one more time to please return him to his family."
"I can't do that."
Chelly swallowed and knew he meant what he said. He had made his decision just as she had made hers last night. If Austin could kidnap Bo, so could she. Now all she had to figure out was how. In the meantime, she would stay quiet, bide her time, and make her plans.
"All right. Might I ask if there is by chance a larger cabin we might occupy. This one is very small for all the time we will have to spend in it."
"There are no larger rooms on this ship. Aloof was built for speed not home comforts. However, there is another cabin that's empty. It's right beside mine. It's the same size as this one though."
"Do you mind if I take a look at it? If it's not in use, maybe we can make a play room and school room out of it. It will at least give us a change and reason to move about the ship."
"Take it for whatever you need."
She nodded. "Thank you. I hope you have plenty of candles and oil for the lamps. It's so dark in this part of the ship, I'm afraid he'll become sickly if we don't keep the light in here."
"We've enough. Just keep him healthy."
While he was being so agreeable she continued. "I'll need to take him on deck each morning and afternoon for exercise. He'll need plenty of sunshine to counter the dampness and chill. Should that be a problem?"
"Not at all."
His manner changed. She thought she saw a smile lift the corners of his lips. She'd done or said something that humored him. But what? She thought she was being rather demanding. But she had to admit that she liked him in this mood. This attitude was one of the things that made him so attractive to her.
She cleared her wayward thoughts. She couldn't let Austin distract her from her mission. "He's a smart boy. After he gets used to me, I will see how much he knows of his letters, colors, and numbers. He's still a little young, and we're limited with what we can do on this ship as far as playtime. The busier I keep him, the less he will cry."
"There you are, Austin," Bradley said, sauntering into the cabin, smirking. "Why doesn't it surprise me that I find you in here?" He looked down at Bo and sniffed. "So this is the little devil that caused you to take leave of your good senses. Fetching."
Chelly cringed. She refused to suffer this man again. No reason she should have to. "Excuse me," she said, taking Bo's hand. "We were just on our way to the galley to see what there is to eat." She smiled sweetly, turning her face first to Austin, then to Bradley. "You two stay and chat as long as you want. It will be awhile before we return." She whisked past them with Bo at her side.
Bradley opened his mouth to speak, but Austin held up his hand. "Don't say anything. I slept very little last night, and I'm in no mood to hear your harping. You got yourself into this, Bradley; now you're going to have to take it like a man."
Austin's stomach wasn't feeling much better. The black tea was helping, but hadn't cleared up his problem. It made him feel worse knowing that Chelly, Bradley, and Bo seemed to be in fine form and having no stomach problems whatsoever.
He was the cursed one!
"But what about my law practice? I have clients who need me. And what will Winifred do? Austin, surely you can't put your sister through this? She knows I was going to your ship, but what will she think when I don't return? She and your mother will assume I've been attacked and left for dead."
"I'm sure your brother will step in and handle your clients. And obviously, I have more faith in my sister and mother than you do. When your body doesn't show up and they check and see Aloof is gone, I'm sure they'll assume you did exactly what you did."
He sniffed loudly. "I was tired and fell asleep."
"After you drank a half-bottle of brandy."
"That was not my fault. You—"
"Yes, I know. It was my fault because I didn't arrive when you thought I should." Austin rubbed his forehead. "No more whining, Bradley. I have enough to contend with right now without you."
Bradley's face flamed. "I wouldn't have had to follow you if you'd been truthful with me in the first place. I knew something was up and I was right. Austin, I don't think you understand how serious kidnapping is."
"You're wrong. I do understand. I know I'll be thrown in jail if the authorities find out my involvement."
"And yet you're willing to risk it. Why? And for whom?"
"The less you know, the better off you'll be."
Exasperated, Bradley said, "I want to help."
Austin was too sick for this. Maybe the fresh air on deck would make him feel better. "I'll put you on a ship back to Baltimore as soon as we reach our destination. That's the best I can do for you."
"Can you at least tell me our destination?"
"No. Now, step aside, I have other things to to."
* * *
Jubal sat at the rectangular, wooden table in the dining hall, which was located on the opposite end of the ship from the sleeping quarters. He stood up when Chelly and Bo entered and picked up his empty plate. A large, ruddy-cheeked man with a bushy, graying beard who sat beside Jubal rose, too.
"Morning, Miss Worthington," Jubal said.
"Good day to you, Miss," the other man chimed in behind Jubal, splaying his fingers on his rotund middle.
"Good morning," she greeted both men with a smile. "Have either of you met Bo?" She patted Bo's shoulder reassuringly while keeping her gaze on the two men. "I'm sure your captain has told you we have a special guest on board with us."
The robust man looked from Chelly to Jubal and cleared his throat. "I'm the captain, Miss. You must be talking about Mr. Radcliffe."
"Oh, I assumed Mr. Radcliffe was the captain." Her questioning gaze darted to Jubal. "Austin was certainly acting as if he were in charge last night."
"Oh, no, Miss. He owns Aloof, but he's not a captain. He knows a lot about the ships his men build, but he doesn't care anything about being captain of one. He doesn't have the stomach for it."
She'd thought as much when she'd noticed he didn't feel well. "I see. Well, I'm pleased to meet you, Captain—"
"Hammersfield, Miss."
She smiled again. "It's nice to know that someone can put Mr. Radcliffe in his place. Tell me, captain, where and what time should we come for our meals each day?"
"I can have Jackson prepare a tray for you and the young man and take it to your cabin, if you'd like."
"No. That won't work." She tapped her finger on her chin. "The cabin is too small as it is, and we'll have to spend enough time there anyway. Bo needs to be out of that room as much as possible. He might get sick if I try to keep him shut in that small room all day and all night, too."
Both men nodded but said nothing. Chelly continued, "A growing boy needs to have properly prepared foods served at the same time each day. Will there be a problem with that?"
"No, Miss."
"And he must get as much exercise as possible. Going up and down those stairs and playing on deck will be good for him."
Captain Hammersfield nodded, brushing his beard
with an open palm.
"Mr. Radcliffe is going to let us take the room next to his office as a teaching and play room. What I'd like is a checkerboard and some game pieces. Captain, do you think your cook might be able to come up with some corn cob or pieces of wood that I could use."
"I think we can take care of that for you."
"I can make a board for you." Jubal spoke up for the first time.
"Oh, I would appreciate that, Jubal. Thank you," she said and made a mental note to remember to keep an eye on Jubal. Chelly turned back to the captain. "Staying active is important to Bo's well-being. I'm pleased we'll have freedom to roam about the ship and—"
"Limited freedom, I'm afraid," Austin countered from the doorway, interrupting her sentence.
Chelly turned to see him lounging in the doorway. His coloring didn't look much better than it had last night. The sea was not treating him well. "What do you mean? Captain Hammersfield has—"
"The captain handles the men and the sailing of the ship. When I'm on board I make decisions concerning passengers."
"Especially if they are unwilling passengers, I presume." Her hand tightened around Bo's, but he didn't make a sound. She looked down at him. His fingers were in his mouth, twisting them around. He was looking at Austin.
"Yes."
"I take it you overheard of my conversation with Captain Hammersfield. What rules do you have for us?"
"You are free to roam the ship; however, you will not be allowed to talk to any of the crew other than the captain, Jubal, or me. Oh, and of course, Bradley, should you choose to talk to him. The other men are here to work and will not have time for conversation with you. Feel free to take your meals wherever you feel inclined."
"Thank you," she mumbled with no real appreciation in her voice. "Do you mind if I speak to the cook this once to learn what foods are available on the ship and discuss how I'd like Bo's food prepared?"
A hint of a smile lifted one corner of his mouth. "Be my guest."
She started to make an angry retort about being a hostage not guest but changed her mind before she spoke. Instead, she simply whisked by him for the second time that morning.