Virginian Lover

by Oliver, Marina

  Bewildered, with no one to turn to, and threatened by Henry with beggery or confinement in a brothel, she had agreed to wed his unknown friend. `Fool! Fool! Fool!' she berated herself, but it was done, and she was on her way to Virginia and her hated husband.

  *

  Suddenly the movements of the ship changed, and instead of rocking gently she began to roll, her timbers protesting and creaking. From far above came an increase in the shouted commands and Bella realized that the anchor had been raised, and the journey had begun.

  Many of the passengers went up on deck to catch a last glimpse of home, but Bella, unable to leave Alice who had again succumbed to nausea, remained with her, comforting her and Toby as best she could.

  By nightfall Alice had recovered slightly, and she urged Bella to go and take some air, for already the hold was becoming unbearably stuffy. Thankfully Bella climbed up to the deck, and savoured the fresh breezes, watching the outlines of the hills on the southern bank of the Thames, the first evening stars twinkling above them. As she turned and went down into the narrow passageway below the deck, one of the men passengers, who had seen her come aboard earlier, lay in wait for her and seized her hand as she passed him.

  'Be kind to me,' he mumbled, clearly drunk, and attempted to drag her into his arms. As he did so the fragile silk of her gown split, and in the glow of a lantern hanging in the passageway he could see an enticing glimpse of white skin and softly curving flesh. Swaying, he attempted to tear her bodice, his wine-sodden breath wafting over her face.

  Bella's hands flew out as she clawed and scratched at his face, but unexpectedly a slender rapier appeared over her shoulder and a cool, deep voice from immediately behind her spoke.

  'I think you have demonstrated your gentlemanly qualities sufficiently, my friend. Away with you, before my sword slips where it is aching to reach. I would dislike intensely to have to wipe your villainous blood from its noble blade.'

  Bella turned her head and looked at a tall, golden-haired man whose smile made her heart turn over. Altering his grasp on the jewelled hilt of his elegant short sword, he held the other at bay as he backed away a pace and fumbled at his belt. Then she cried out as her rescuer flung out an arm and pushed her aside, causing her to fall heavily against a door jamb, while he dropped to his knees. Above his head, quivering in the solid wood of a cabin door, a bare few inches above his smooth golden hair and close to Bella's shoulder was a short but wicked-looking dagger.

  Before Bella had understood the significance of this her rescuer had sprung forward, grappling fiercely with the man who was dragging his own sword from his belt. In the low, narrow passage, there was little room to move and the two men, both tall enough to be in danger of cracking their heads on the wide beams, swayed together silently for a few moments until the stranger, thrusting Bella's assailant away, brought his clenched fist into contact with the man's chin and snapped back his head with a jerk.

  Her attacker staggered back and collapsed against the open door of a cabin, the sword he had freed from its sheath clattering away along the passage. He lay still and Bella looked up at the stranger.

  'Is he dead?' she asked, a quiver in her voice.

  'It would take more than a blow to kill such a one. I beg your pardon for pushing you so, but there was naught else that would serve.'

  Adam Tarrant smiled down at her, and thought again that she was the loveliest creature he had ever set eyes on. But Bella was unaware of his admiration. Lost in the horror of what had passed, she looked from the man at her feet to the dagger which pierced the stout wood of the door, and her lips trembled.

  'He threw it at you,' she said quietly. 'He might have killed you. Or me,' she added as an afterthought. 'I am so sorry, but grateful to you for - for intervening!'

  Recalling her torn gown, and made conscious of the admiring glow in the stranger's vivid blue eyes as she finally looked up at him, Bella flushed, the delicate red staining her cheeks in bright contrast with the creamy pallor of her skin.

  'I am happy to have been of assistance, Mistress. I am Adam Tarrant. I believe I saw you in the Boar's Head?'

  Bella nodded. 'Yes, I was there. I recall seeing you. You arrived at the same time as we did, did you not?' Adam nodded. 'Will you honour me by taking some wine with me? You have been badly shocked, and need a restorative.'

  Unexpectedly tears came to Bella's eyes, and she angrily blinked them away. To receive such kindness after the brutality she had suffered and the sorrow she had undergone in the last few weeks was too much for her composure. Why, she raged inwardly, could Henry not have married her to such a man as the one now looking down at her? Then she hardened her heart, and recalled her resolve to use men as they had used her. With a cool smile, she inclined her head.

  'Thank you, but no. I must return to Alice and Toby. They will be concerned, for I remained on deck longer than I intended.'

  'You are with friends? I will escort you to them before that oaf regains his senses.'

  'I shall be safe now,' she said and quickly turned to walk away. Adam looked after her thoughtfully. What had made her suddenly change her attitude, which had at first been friendly? Had she been afraid when he had suggested she drank with him? That must have been it. She would not willingly trust any man so soon after such an attack. He smiled, thinking that on so long a voyage he could well afford to take his time. No matter how frightened she was he would woo her, and he was sure that in the end he would win her.

  *

  In the hold a few curious looks were cast at Bella and her torn gown as she made her way towards the corner where Alice peered anxiously round the edge of the makeshift partition. One slatternly dressed girl threw a ribald remark at her but Bella was unaware of it, and after staring angrily at her the girl laughed.

  'Thinks herself too good to mix with the likes of us,' she commented, and returned to the task of spreading out her belongings so as to enlarge the portion of deck she occupied. A scared-looking woman who was squeezed into a smaller space already, and had two children aged about six and ten with her, protested feebly when her meagre possessions were pushed aside, but the slattern threw a mouthful of abuse at her and she cowered back, catching the older child, a boy, to her when he would have tried to protest.

  'What has happened? Who tore your gown?' Alice demanded,

  'Oh, some drunken oaf. Another man stopped him. Don't fret, Alice, I came to no harm. Indeed, what could be worse than what has already happened to me?'

  'Was it that sailor Henry spoke with?' Alice suddenly asked.

  'No, a passenger. And it was another one who stopped him. I think he liked me, and at least he was a gentleman. We might need his help, Alice, later.'

  'What was his name?'

  'Adam Tarrant. He saw us at that horrible tavern. A tall, blond man, well dressed. Do you recall him?'

  Alice shook her head, and covertly examined Bella. There was an odd expression in her eyes, and Alice was puzzled. She had counselled the girl to make the best of her hasty marriage and accept what was inevitable. If Bella had begun to show an interest in this Mr Tarrant there could be yet more problems ahead of them in Virginia, for from what little she had seen of Edward Sutton she did not think he would easily give up his wife to another man.

  *

  There was little enough time for such reflections, however, for they soon began pitching about on the waves as they met the open sea, and Alice began groaning and retching in misery.

  Before the Virginian had rounded the North Foreland they encountered strong easterly winds and heavy seas. That night a storm rose, which pursued them for days along the Channel and well past Land's End, not abating until they were off the coast of Portugal. Alice was helpless and needed constant attention. Toby refused to eat and for most of the time sat miserably weeping. Most of the other passengers were in considerable distress, and when she could snatch a few minutes from her attendance on Alice Bella did what she could to assist them.

  Conditions in the hold o
f the ship quickly became deplorable. The stench of vomit and from the buckets which was the only sanitation provided for the passengers, affected even those with strong stomachs, and there were few hardy enough to do anything more than attempt minimal cleaning of their own share of the hold. The sailors appeared not to care, whether from indifference or because they were too busy fighting the elements Bella did not know. A week after the beginning of the voyage two of the children aboard died and Toby, weak from lack of food, developed a feverish delirium, and she decided to make more effort to improve matters.

  Bella had discovered that most of the men were poor artisans. The London Virginian Company was helping them pay their passages in an attempt to provide new industries in the colony, and several of them were French or Swedish, understanding little English. The others, accustomed all their lives to take orders, would not face the possible wrath of the Captain by complaining of their conditions.

  'Sir Edwin Sandys gave me my passage,' one of them told her. 'He's head of the Company, see, and if I'm awkward it'll go ill with me.'

  'I'd be a marked man, and I want no trouble in the colony. I've had plenty o' that before,' another said.

  'Best leave it. What else can folk like us do but endure what comes?' asked a third resignedly.

  Bella surveyed them, angry at their lack of spirit and yet sympathizing with their reluctance. It seemed that it was left to her, and she turned with no further word towards the ladder. Since the storm had subsided during the night and fine, warmer weather had prevailed, the passengers were allowed onto the decks. Many of them were still too ill to care, but those who could escaped from the hot, stuffy, and foetid hold to sit in the fresh air and drink in the sea breezes.

  Emerging onto the deck Bella looked about her fearfully, half expecting to see her former assailant lying in wait for her, but he was nowhere to be seen. She asked a passing sailor where she would discover the Captain.

  'On the quarterdeck,' he replied, gesturing towards it. 'But Captain Tomkins is an old man, lassie. He'd not satisfy ye, I'll warrant. If it's a real man ye want he's right in front of ye now!'

  He tried to seize her hand, but she stepped quickly back, then turned and almost ran to the quarterdeck. She glanced over her shoulder as she began to climb the short ladder but the sailor remained where he was, afraid perhaps of creating a disturbance in front of his captain.

  *

  Two men stood on the quarterdeck, their backs to Bella. The shorter of the two was clearly the Captain, but the other was Adam Tarrant. He was even more handsome than she had remembered, Bella thought confusedly, looking at his tall, elegant figure, broad shouldered and narrow hipped. His legs were long and shapely, and he rested a slim hand on the rail beside him. Some noise she made caused him to turn, and he stepped towards her, holding out his hands. The smile he gave her warmed his eyes to an even deeper blue than she remembered.

  'I had hoped to see you again before now. Have you been suffering from the weather?'

  'No, but my maid has.'

  'It was an unpleasant storm, especially for those not accustomed to the sea,' the Captain agreed.

  'Captain, I came to you to ask if something might be done to improve the conditions in the hold? The passengers have suffered more from the stench and closeness than from the sea, and many are in desperate straits. We cannot procure enough water to scrub the place clean.'

  'Of course, Mistress – I do not think we have been introduced?'

  'My name is Cl – Sutton, Captain.'

  'Tomkins. Now that we have a calmer sea and time to spare I will give orders for the hold to be cleaned.'

  'May I bring my maid and the baby out on deck? Toby has been feverish, and I am so afraid for him. They will be better sleeping on deck than in that place.'

  'There is an unused cabin next to mine,' Adam said quickly. 'You cannot sleep on deck, the nights are cold.'

  Bella considered him calmly. Was this a trap? And yet for Toby's sake she must accept the offer.

  'Is it your cabin?' she demanded suspiciously.

  'Only that I paid for it and intended it for two friends who decided, after all, not to join the ship. Come, permit me to show you where it is. I trust you would not object, Captain?'

  'But all the others,' Bella exclaimed, suffering a pang of remorse.

  'There are not enough cabins for them all,' the Captain said sensibly. 'I will see to it that they are made as comfortable as possible. If you will conduct Mistress Sutton to the cabin, Mr Tarrant, I will have the baby and his nurse fetched.'

  He strode away before Bella could reply, and Adam took her arm to guide her along the deck. She trembled at his nearness, feeling shafts of fire where his fingers rested against her skin. No other man who had held her hand or arm when she had danced with them, or accepted help, had affected her in such a way. She had often been aware of rough, work and weather-worn hands, or the soft, effeminate hands of those who neither worked nor took part in sports and hunting, but never before had her flesh tingled so at the touch of long, firm yet smooth fingers. She recalled the horror of Edward's hands on her body, and shivered in sudden disgust and confusion.

  Adam went before her down the ladder, and she trembled yet more violently as his arm encircled her waist to guide her down the steps. As soon as she could she stepped away from him, taking a deep breath to steady her tumultuous feelings. He led the way to the cabin and stood aside to permit her to enter first. It was relatively spacious with two bunks and a small porthole, a table and two chairs.

  'Thank you, Bella said, stilling the fierce beating of her heart. 'Are you emigrating to Virginia?'

  'I already own land there. I have been on a visit to England. You have not been before?'

  'No. I am travelling to join my husband, who went ahead to prepare for us,' Bella said.

  She might detest Edward, and hope never to have to submit to him again, but there was no point in concealing his existence. She thought she saw a fleeting expression of regret cross Adam Tarrant's face, but it was gone so swiftly that she could not be sure. Controlling with an effort the trembling of her limbs, she turned her head away from the stern, now unreadable expression in his eyes, and seated herself on one of the bunks. The tension flowing between them was almost tangible. She felt her pulses pounding like a fever in the blood. In a moment, she felt sure, he would move towards her and she would be lost. She heard her own voice from what seemed a great distance saying, 'Tell me about Virginia,' and then the door opened.

  It was Alice, staggering somewhat and being assisted by a grinning sailor. Another sailor was behind her, carrying Toby, and Bella competently took charge, ordering a weakly protesting Alice to lie down and leave everything to her while she took Toby into her arms.

  'Soon have your baggage up, Miss,' the sailors said cheerfully, and departed.

  Adam Tarrant rose to his feet gracefully and took his leave of them. So perfectly cool and distant was his touch as he kissed her hand that Bella could almost have believed she had dreamed the past half hour.

  Chapter 3

  They were soon settled in the cabin and Alice, declaring that she no longer felt ill, permitted Bella to send her for a stroll about the deck. When she returned, after a very short time, she was shivering.

  'Alice, you look so pale!' Bella exclaimed.

  Alice shook her head. 'I expect it's the lack of food, Miss Bella. The wind's cold out on deck. I'll be better in a day or so. Now, I'd like to lie down.'

  Bella tucked her up in one of the bunks, and she was soon asleep. Some hours later she woke, and they ate. Even Toby, who had petulantly refused all the food they had offered him recently, was persuaded to take some of the broth Bella heated for him over a small brazier put on the deck for the use of the passengers.

  'Go out for a breath of air,' Alice urged. 'I'll see to the baby, I'm feeling myself again.'

  Bella nodded, and taking up her cloak, slipped out of the cabin and up to the deck. Several of the passengers lounged about on th
e makeshift seats provided by the crates. Some recognized Bella and called to ask how she had managed to leave the hold.

  'I – there was a spare cabin,' she explained. 'I took it for my brother's sake,' she added guiltily, looking at the sickly woman who was trying to control one toddler while a babe in arms cried feebly.

  'Good luck to ye, lass,' the woman said with no trace of envy. 'I'd do the same, given half a chance. They've cleaned the hold. That was your doing, I've heard?'

  'I'm sure Captain Tomkins would have seen to it as soon as the sailors had time to spare,' Bella said hurriedly.

  'When a pretty young gal asks a favour, it's usually granted,' sneered a coarse looking girl a few years older than Bella. 'What are you paying for your cabin? Is the fine gentleman very demanding?'

  A couple of the men guffawed, and Bella turned away, her cheeks burning. Then she threw up her head defiantly. Let them think what they would, she had done her best to alleviate their lot.

  She walked to the far end of the deck and stood apart from the others, leaning over the rail. They were sailing into the setting sun and the water gleamed in its rays. The gentle waves provided a not unpleasant motion, and the creaking timbers sounded friendly rather than menacing.

  Adam saw her as soon as he came on deck, and went to join her by the rail.

  'I hope the cabin suits you,' he murmured, and Bella, her thoughts far away back at her lost home, started as she turned to face him.

  'Thank you, it is marvellous after the hold, but I feel so guilty when there are others as badly off as I am still down there!'

  'I suspect they are more used to such conditions than you are, and better able to survive them. They are tough, remember, or they would not have lived so long.'

  Remembering some of the stinking hovels she had glimpsed on her way through London, Bella shuddered.

  'Will it be better, where we are going?'