by Pamela Prim
“I have heard otherwise from the several serving girls and chambermaids under the employ of House Winchester. They have regaled me with tales of adventure and intrigue, of a life full of wild excitement and of men so free and daring; unlike those of the pompous kind I have known all my pampered life.”
“The stories you have been told, aye, they may be true… but life is hard if you’re not born of nobility.”
“I appreciate your concern, Bran… but I made up my mind long ago.” Bella said resolutely, peering at him from under the hood. “This life I have so far lived at my father’s estate is a prison and I am being forced to exchange it for another one at my future husband’s castle. I have planned this with great care, and chose the day and my confidants wisely. Now here I am, Bran, on a little jolly-boat with you, slowly approaching a large ship bobbing gently in the dark moonlit sea on which my destiny awaits.”
“Another few rows, Milady.” Bran smiled. “And we will board her.”
“You had better stop calling me Milady.” Bella whispered through her teeth. “No one on board must know of my true presence, let alone my title.”
“I will have you hidden in the wine cellar… no one will ever look there.” The young man nodded. “And if I may be so bold to call you Bella then.”
“Don’t be a fool.” She glared at him as he fastened the boat to the ropes dangling from the ship’s side. “I cannot remain hidden in the wine cellar the entire journey. We must devise a ruse… is there a way for me to appear as a man.”
“Yes, Mi… uh, yes there is, but perhaps more a young lad than a man.” He grinned, easing her tension. “I can arrange something for you… and pray the captain doesn’t take notice of the new recruit too closely.”
“Would I be expected to perform duties as a sailor?” Her smile was more apprehensive than inquiring.
“Well, I could have you on the kitchen roster.” He shrugged as he put the oars away. “Scrubbing pots and clearing tables.”
“I suppose that would work for now.” She sighed, grasping at the rope-ladder and pulling herself up the ship’s side. “Will I be required to serve and clean up after…?”
“Yes, and to be mostly unnoticed, you best carry out your duties to the letter.” He climbed up right behind her, steadying the swaying rope-ladder.
“Well, I did know what I was getting into.” Bella smiled and climbed over the ship’s rail. “It wouldn’t be the first time that a woman of noble birth had to scrub pots and wait on tables.”
“Aye, but you won’t appear to be a woman.” Bran assured her with a laugh as he hauled himself over and led her toward the ship’s kitchen. “As the new scrubbing boy, you can constantly have soot on your pretty face and none will be the wiser.”
The lovely young brunette shivered a little as she followed him down the dark steps leading to the underbelly of the merchant ship. It was a large ship, the largest she had ever been on. Her first was a little sailboat her father had taken her on when she was ten. Eight years had gone since then; times were different when she had things done for her. And that was how it was until yesterday evening when she had run away from home. Bella knew she was on her own now - just she and her wits against the big bad world of men.
0-0-0
The men surrounding her were big, unkempt and stank of brine and rum. She cursed herself for venturing out onto the deck again, especially now when the sun was low on the western horizon. Three days now she had been on the ship and Bran had been unable to keep up his promise to look after her with all the work he had to do. She faced a much more serious dilemma now than pondering over her benefactor’s lack of attention toward her.
“And what have we here…” One of the men, a gap toothed and balding brute, leered at her. “…a pretty little boy out to prove himself a man?”
“I’m merely out here to watch the sunset…” She tried to keep her voice as deep as possible. The loose fitting masculine shirt and trousers, and the oversized coat did well to hide her charms, but did little for her natural grace and beauty. Bella pulled her large hat closer over her eyes.
“Why?” Another one of the three closing in on her grinned viciously. “Does it make ye feel all poetic?”
“If your intention is to harm me…” Bella struggled to hold her composure. “I will have you know that the Captain…”
“The Cap’n wouldn’t concern himself with no wee scrubbing boy, little one.” Gap-Tooth snorted. “We do instead, and we wanna give you a sailor’s welcome onboard.”
“Well, I thank you for your kindness, but now I must go below… my duty beckons…”
“What’s the hurry, greenhorn?” The third man, tall and lanky with a pale scar across his broad nose sneered. “We ain’t given ye a proper welcome yet.”
“Please… No.” The young brunette felt a surge of panic rush through her. “Oh, Bran, where are you?”
“Who’s Bran?” Gap-Tooth snarled and grabbed her slender wrist in his callused hand.
“No… release me…” She gasped, pulling away from him.
“Away with you, swabs…” A deep voice boomed from behind them, making all three men stiffen. “…or it’s the crack of my whip on your sorry backs.”
“Mr. Hinds… we was just having a little fun…” The lanky one sniveled.
“And so you have, now away with you.” She heard the deep voice bark as the three sailors stepped back dejectedly.
Her trembling hands grasping at the rails for dear life, Bella stared wide eyed at the tall, broad shouldered man standing before her. He cut a menacing figure, but his handsome face, blue eyes as deep as the sea and a ruggedness she had never seen before, left her breathless. She didn’t notice her would-be molesters slipping away, her eyes remained locked on to him, drawn in by his mesmerizing appeal. She felt lightheaded and her belly quivered as if the sea was rolling inside it.
“Have you never seen a man before in your life, boy?” His deep, gruff voice jarred her out of her daze.
“Oh, is that what you are then… a man?” A sudden prick of anger and years of arrogance made her retort, and she instantly regretted it.
“Careful who you speak to, boy…” He said, running a large hand over his stubble. “I am Ronan Hinds, First Mate on the Garamond.”
“Pardon me, sir…” She stared down at her feet, glad that her voice didn’t tremble as the rest of her did. “I thank you for your timely aid but I am not accustomed to being confronted in such manner.”
“I’ve been watching you these last two days, scrubbing boy. Get below deck where you belong.” He glared at her with his sea blue eyes, drowning her in them. “You look like no sailor I’ve ever seen – or even like any man… and your manner of speech is unlike any sailor either.”
“It’s my first sail… sir.” She swallowed hard and hurried down the stairs to the kitchen, regretting her decision to witness a sunset over the open sea. “I will soon learn the ways of the sailor.”
“That you will, boy.” He suddenly laughed, walking down the steps, following her to the kitchen. “And you must look the part as well… as of now, you look much too delicate for the savage seas.”
“I… I will…” She replied, shaking a little as they entered the empty kitchen. She wondered where Bran had gone for so long.
“You will fetch me a mug of Rum and a slice of cheese, boy.” Hinds sat down at the table, making the wooden bench creak under his immense bulk.
“I… yes, Mr. Mate.” Bella scurried around, pouring a tankard of Rum and slicing some cheese.
“Who hired you? He suddenly asked, flicking out his gleaming wickedly curved dagger and picking his teeth with it.
“Uh… the Steward.” She lied, hoping that fat man would not come to hear of it.
“That fat old bastard has no sense…” Hinds said grimly, slicing the cheese further with his dagger. “You won’t last a month out here.”
“I have made friends with Bran…” She said carefully. “…he teaches me well.”
<
br /> “Bran?” The tall man looked a bit confused for a moment. “Ah, the Steward’s assistant… another one not fit for the sea.”
“But I…” She eyed him cautiously as he ate the cheese and swigged the Rum.
“You be wary out here, boy.” Hinds looked right at her, his eyes cold and hard. “The sea makes men do strange things, especially when they are lonely.”
“What possible harm will they do to me?” She pretended indifference.
“You look soft and delicate, almost like a woman… and I’m willing to bet my last piece of eight that you’d feel as soft as one too… but I’m not a man of such persuasion.” Hinds remarked, his eyes slowly roaming all over her manly clothing. “I can’t speak for the others though.”
“I thank you, Mr. Mate.” She said, almost blushing under his stare. He was unlike any man she had seen before, leave alone talked to. “For your caution.”
“Do you know how to use a blade?” He inquired with a raised eyebrow.
“Uh, no…” Bella replied nervously.
“Have you ever held one?” His brow clouded over.
“No.”
“Damn, boy… do you know how to fight?” He leaned forward, his large hands pressing down on the wooden table.
“I’ve had no reason to.” Her shrug was forced.
“Where were you before this… in a monastery?” He gritted his teeth, lifting the tankard to his lips. “Being out here is all the reason you need to get into a fight.”
“Fight for what?”
“Are you that naïve, or just a fool?” He stood up, pushing the table back. “Or maybe both. This is a merchant ship, laden with wealth… and we are prone to attack from pirates and privateers alike. Every man on board is expected to fight and defend her.”
“I was not aware…”
“Are you a runaway, lad?” He eyed her closely. “Did you stow away on this ship? Have you any papers?”
“I… yes.” She looked away, shuffling her feet.
“Yes to what?” He demanded.
“I… I do have the papers.” She lied, hoping Bran would have prepared something like that for her.
“I must see them.” Hinds loomed over her like a great bear.
“I have them in safekeeping with my friend.” Bella kept her voice firm.
“Who is that?” She could feel his fetid, rum soaked breath on her face.
“Bran.”
“Bran?” He moved away, scratching his thick dark hair. “Oh, yes… the steward’s lackey.”
“Yes.” She replied, a sense of relief in her tone.
“But why him?”
“He’s my friend.” She replied with caution.
“Have him bring me your papers in the morning, boy… along with you.” Hinds stepped toward the narrow door.
“Where…” She peered at him warily.
“He should know where my cabin is.” The large man remarked as he stepped out onto the stairway leading up. “And if you are a stowaway, boy… the two of you will be flogged.”
“I… I understand.” She lowered her head. “Mr. Mate.”
“And stay below until then, you won’t find me walking the deck all night to look after you… and there’s a storm brewing.”
“Yes, Mr. Mate.” She looked up at him curiously. “But I must ask why this concern for my wellbeing?”
“I don’t know, boy.” He replied, his grin making her heart race. “Perhaps I like you.”
She sighed deeply as his heavy footfalls faded away. She didn’t know why she felt that way. Hinds was certainly a handsome man but she had met many handsome men before. There was something else about him that left her breathless, a reckless and wild quality that called out to her. She wanted to get closer to him, to feel his touch. Sensations stirred in her young body like never before and yet she knew she could not afford to let herself be discovered for who she was.
0-0-0
“Who are you?”
“I… I am Bel… Belen, the new scrubbing boy.” The brunette pressed herself against the walls of the cellar as the fat man stared at her.
“I hired no scrubbing boy.” The Steward growled. “Get out of my wine cellar.”
“Master Steward Gillard.” A familiar voice rang out behind the fat man. “The Cap’n wants you above deck, sir.”
“Bran, how did this one get in here?” Gillard the Master Steward rounded on Bran.
“He’s my cousin, Belen, sir.” Bran grinned at the look of relief on Bella’s face. “I told you about him last week, when we were drinking in that tavern ashore. You agreed to hire him.”
“I did? I plumb don’t remember…” Gillard stared at the stocky sailor. “We’ll talk about this once I see what the Cap’n wants. Stay here.”
“Where were you, Bran?” Bella whispered as soon as the Steward was out of sight. “What are we going to do when he comes back?”
“That’s the least of our worries now.” Bran nodded as he frantically gathered up some of the largest butchering knives in the kitchen.
“What do you mean?” She grabbed at his arm. “What’s happening, Bran?”
“The storm last night blew us many miles off course… into dangerous waters.”
“What?”
“Aye, a pirate ship has been sighted.” Bran exhaled deeply. “It’s all hands on deck.”
“What am I going to do?” Bella stared at him in disbelief.
“Best lock yourself in the wine cellar.” He nodded at the little room full of aging bottles behind her.
“And you?” She reached out to touch his arm.
“I have to get up there and fight.” He jerked his head upward.
“You might get killed.” She stared at him in fear.
“Yes, Milady… that is a possibility.” He shrugged, tearing his eyes away from her.
“But…” She protested.
“This is the life, Bella… the life out in the big bad world that you want to live.” He looked at her once more, with sad eyes. “Hide here, be safe… pirates can be very ruthless to women.”
“What?” She shook her head vigorously. “B-but I can’t just…”
Bran didn’t say anything further; he just gave her a solemn nod and ran up the stairs onto the deck. A horn echoed down from the deck, three sharp blasts followed by a longer one. She didn’t know what it meant but she could guess its intent. This was the first time in her life she was in danger of any kind. She had fallen off her pony once, and landed on the soft grass of the meadow in her father’s estate. Her mind raced. Now she realized why Hinds had asked her if she knew how to fight. The pirates, she had heard many tales of them, were merciless killers, looting and plundering out on the high seas. It was exciting to hear such things in the stories, but to actually live through one was a different matter entirely. Her hands shook as she reached for the cellar door. Caught in two minds whether to lock herself in or run up on deck and join the battle, she struggled with her conscience.
Bran, who had risked everything for her was ready to fight to the death. A man she had never met before she ran away from home. And First Mate Ronan Hinds, rough and uncaring though he may seem, showed some concern for her, when he shouldn’t have bothered at all. He was there on deck too, risking his life as well. They were doing this for a ship full of wealth, a small fraction of the fortune she had been born into and had taken for granted all these years. She made up her mind, curling her slender fingers around the thick haft of a skewer and grasping a pot cover in the other hand, the young brunette steadily made her way up the stairway leading to the deck.
The thundering report of something heavy crashing against the ship made her lose her footing as she clambered up onto the deck. Everywhere men were running around, yelling and screaming, their swords and blades held high and pistols going off.
“The pirates have boarded.” Someone yelled from above.
Bella had never seen such a state of confusion before. Her head was spinning, she couldn’t tell a sailor from a
pirate. A large man bore down on her; he looked even more disgusting than the three sailors who were bullying her the day before. He had to be a pirate she concluded, hurriedly stepping backward. The man chased her down, his broad blade swinging in an arc for her head. She closed her eyes and held up the skewer and the pot cover, fearing for the worst. Instead of pain, she felt a splash of something warm and sticky on her shirt and arm, and a coppery scent wafted to her nostrils.
She opened her eyes to the grisly sight of her attacker lying in a pool of rich, red blood, some of it staining her shirt and arm. She fell faint and staggered backward.