Second Chances

by Carol Ashby

  Cornelia stepped to the door of her room. As she looked in, she took a deep breath and blew it out. It was worth putting up with anything to get Drusilla safely away from her father.

  “I’m sure this will be quite acceptable. There is one thing, though.” She turned to face the captain. “I have a rather large amount of gold with me, so it will be essential to lock my room after it’s brought in. I see no lock on the door, so how do you propose to do that?”

  The door was hung to swing into the room. The latch was only a narrow piece of wood pierced near one end by a rod that stuck through the door. That piece could be lifted from its cradle inside the room by turning the rod. It could just as easily be opened by anyone from either side.

  The captain didn’t even glance at the door. “That won’t be necessary. Your gold will be safe on my ship.”

  “I don’t feel comfortable leaving it in an unlocked room where a thief can easily get to it.”

  The captain’s friendly brown eyes cooled. “There are no thieves in my crew. I won’t have any man work for me who isn’t honest.”

  “I’m sure you think so, but slaves often fool their masters. Most are thieves and liars.”

  A crease appeared in his forehead as the corners of his mouth turned down. The chill in his eyes grew icy.

  “You know nothing about how hard it can be for a slave to be honest. Would you starve before you’d steal when your master didn’t care if you ate or not? Would you choose to die instead of lie when he might beat you to death if you told the truth?” His eyes snapped. “I don’t think so.”

  Her eyes widened. That scowl on the face of someone so strong he could snap her like a twig was quite frightening. What kind of man was this captain? Was she placing her daughter and herself in the hands of a dangerous person during this voyage?

  He took a deep breath and blew it out. The edge was off his voice when he spoke again. “Besides, my crewmen are not slaves. They’re all freedmen who have worked for me for years, and I would trust any of them with anything, including my life.”

  She’d never seen a man switch from angry to calm that fast, as if nothing had happened. And surely a calm man could see the reasonableness of her request. It was too important to drop.

  “Even if you do, that is no assurance to me that I can trust them.”

  “You can trust me. I give you my word that no one will take any of your treasure.”

  “I still don’t feel it’s safe to leave my ‘treasure,’ as you call it, unprotected in my unlocked room.” She drew herself up to her full height and lifted her chin. She locked her eyes on his, determined to make her point and get him to do something about it.

  His lips tightened as the fire reignited in his eyes. Why was he getting so upset? It wasn’t as if she was questioning his own integrity. Having thieving servants didn’t mean she doubted his honesty.

  His muscled chest began to expand and contract faster. Another deep breath, and he slowed it down.

  “Then leave your treasure in my room...unless you don’t trust me.” The edge was back on his voice, and his eyes challenged her to impugn his honor as she had that of his crew.

  Regret over her last words surged through her. He looked truly angry again, and angry men could be dangerous.

  “I trust you completely, Captain. If you think the chests would be safer in your room, by all means, let’s put them there.”

  “They would be just as safe in your room, your daughter’s room, Malleolus’s room...but they can go in mine if it will make you feel better.”

  He closed his eyes longer than she expected. It seemed like he momentarily left the cabin and the argument they were having. When he opened them again, the anger had faded, leaving a remote coolness. His whole body seemed more relaxed. Hers relaxed as well. Seeing a powerful man like him tensed for a fight was more than a little unnerving.

  Still, she wasn’t convinced of the honesty of his crew, even if he was. Her dowry was too important to let the matter drop, even at the risk of making him mad again.

  “Maybe some in mine and some in yours would be wise. A thief might not look both places, and he should be afraid to take something from his captain’s room.”

  He rolled his eyes at the suggestion. His lips started to tighten until she saw his broad chest expand as he took a deep breath.

  His face relaxed again. “I understand that your treasure is important to you, Cornelia.” His words sounded calm, even patient, but his eyes were still hot.

  “As I said, my crew is trustworthy, but if it will make you feel safer when we’re in port, I’ll have one of my men keep watch to guard your treasure while the dockworkers load and unload the cargo. The honesty of those men I cannot guarantee.”

  She almost asked how she could be sure the guard could be trusted, but she stopped herself. That would have been throwing oil on a smoldering fire, and she didn’t want to hit his flashpoint. Time to get away from the topic that had made this imposing man so angry. They would be in close quarters for several weeks, and she didn’t want to start out as enemies.

  “Thank you, Captain. That would help put my mind at ease.”

  He had calmed down enough to offer her a stiff smile, and his eyes had cooled as well. “Then that is what we’ll do. Now, if you’ll excuse me...”

  He turned and walked away before she could respond.

  She stared at his back as he exited the cabin. From so angry to calm with only a few deep breaths―she’d never seen anyone do that before. She couldn’t even do that herself.

  He made her feel off balance, an unusual sensation for her. She was an expert at reading the aristocratic men of her acquaintance. This Captain Hector was an enigma.

  For some reason she couldn’t quite explain, that was something she hoped to change before they reached Perinthus.

  Chapter 7: Curiosity

  Cornelia and Anthusa left the cabin and strolled back to the canopy. They settled into the cushioned chairs after Cornelia turned hers to face the roadway. Malleolus had joined Clitus to get the various trunks and chests from the raeda and freight wagon that Aristarchus had lent them. She planned to watch the progress in bringing aboard her “treasure,” as the captain had insisted upon calling it.

  Drusilla had not accompanied the others into the cabin. Instead, she’d worked her way along the rail, often leaning over to watch the activity on the pier below. She walked past Cornelia to the swan that rose at the rear of the boat.

  She ran her hand along the smooth white wood of the swan’s neck. Then she looked over her shoulder at her mother. “Why is there a swan’s head here?”

  Cornelia glanced at it before returning her eyes to the ramp where Malleolus was carrying her jewelry chest while Clitus carried one of the chests containing her gold.

  “I don’t know, dear. I’ve never been on a corbita before.”

  “Would Malleolus know?”

  “Maybe. You can ask him later.”

  “I could ask the captain. I’m sure he would know.”

  Cornelia and Anthusa exchanged glances. The captain might not be a man who liked children, and she certainly didn’t want to irritate him anymore today. “I wouldn’t bother him with any questions right now. He’s very busy loading everything onboard.”

  Drusilla moved back over to the rail and leaned against it. “Malleolus is almost back. Who is that with him?”

  “Probably the first mate. The captain said he would be in charge of getting all our things onboard.”

  “I hope they bring my library box soon. I might want to read something later.”

  Cornelia focused on her daughter’s cheerful eyes. “You are so much like your aunt Claudia. She always loved reading, too. You’ll get to meet her when we get to Perinthus, and I’m sure you’ll get along wonderfully.”

  “And I’ll meet my cousins. It’ll be fun to live with them for a while.”

  “Yes, it will. We might start out with Claudia or may
be with Titus until we get our own home. Your uncle Titus is a fine man. He probably picked a fine woman to marry. I’m sure we’ll like them all.”

  Many times, she’d wished Lucius Fidelis was like his brother or his father. But there was no point in thinking about that now. Those sad years of marriage to Lucius were over, and she would make sure Drusilla never had to suffer like she had.

  Drusilla alternated between leaning on the rail so she could report what was coming from the wagon and watching what was being stowed in the cabin. The cook had just delivered a selection of cheese, fruit, and rolls for their lunch. A pitcher and several brass goblets sat on a tray beside the bowls of food.

  Malleolus came from the cabin, lowered himself into a chair, and blew out a slow breath. “There are days I wish I were still a younger man, but it’s done. The two trunks you packed with things for the voyage are in your room with your perfume and jewelry boxes. The special chests are stowed two in your room, three in the captain’s. They wouldn’t all fit in yours. The captain has one of his men sitting in the galley, as you wanted. Anthusa’s trunk had to go into Drusilla’s room.”

  Drusilla stood with her hands resting on the back of his chair. “And my library box is where I can get to it easily.”

  He lifted a brass goblet from the tray and filled it. He raised it toward Cornelia. “To the future. May it be everything we hope.”

  Cornelia raised her own, then took a sip. “Everything we hope…and more.”

  A flash of white caught her eye, and she turned to see the captain slap his first mate’s arm before walking down the gangplank.

  A few hours, and they would set sail. What lay beyond the horizon in Thracia remained to be seen. But she was free of Lucius, and Drusilla would be safe. That would be enough, but would there be more?

  Drusilla had checked the contents of her small library trunk and pushed it back under her bed where it was easy to pull out. Now she was back at the rail, watching the activity on the pier.

  She started out near the chairs behind the cabin. The crane grabbed her full attention as it raised crates from the pier and swung them to where they were lowered out of sight behind the cabin. She moved forward along the rail until she could see where the captain stood with his back toward her. He sometimes stopped a crate swinging before it was lowered into the big hole.

  She gradually worked her way up the rail to a point just to the rear of the opening. From there, she could almost see into the hole if she stood on tiptoe. Almost, but not quite. If she were full grown, that wouldn’t be a problem, but she was still only ten-years’ tall.

  A stream of slaves carried sacks of something up the gangplank, across the deck, and down a set of stairs into the dim recesses of the ship. One stream in, another stream out. Where exactly were they putting the sacks? Were they near their trunks? Could she see her trunk if she peeked in?

  She left the rail and stepped over to the edge of the opening. As she leaned over and stretched her neck to see, she wasn’t watching the crane anymore.

  Hector listened to the creaking as the crane lifted the heavy crate behind him. When he heard it begin to swing the crate toward the ship, he turned to follow its motion. From the corner of his eye, he saw the girl leaning over the edge. He snapped his attention on her when she straightened. The crate was headed right for her head. He leaped toward her, grabbed her, and dropped to the deck with her wrapped in his arms as the crate swung over and past them.

  He stood and pulled Drusilla to her feet. “What were you doing, child? You almost got yourself killed.”

  Her eyes were wide and her face pale as she stood, shaking, in front of him. “I’m sorry, Captain.” She bit her lip. “Please don’t tell Mother what almost happened. I don’t want her to know I did something so stupid.” She bowed her head, then raised it just enough to look at him. “It’s just that...well...I’ve never been on a ship, and I wanted to see what they were doing down there. I won’t do that again.”

  Her large brown eyes were pleading with him. Charissa had always been curious like that, and more than once she’d placed herself in danger because she was trying to see what was going on or how something was done. Those eyes reminded him of the times she’d begged him not to tell Damara. A hand squeezed his heart again. He tilted his head as he looked into those imploring eyes and sighed.

  “We won’t tell your mother...this time.”

  “Oh, thank you, Captain!” Her eyes sparkled, then dimmed. “Can I still stay by the rail and watch, or are you going to make me go back to the canopy?”

  He furrowed his brow. “I should send you back, but...would you like to stand up there instead?” He pointed to the cabin top. “You can stay out of the way and still watch everything.”

  Her face lit up. “That would be wonderful.”

  “Up the ladder with you. If you want to come down, you ask me before you do.”

  “Yes, Captain. I’ll do anything you say.” She was beaming as she headed for the ladder.

  He started to smile as he watched her climb. Then the smile faded, and a sigh escaped. Charissa would have loved to stand up there and watch, too.

  Cornelia and Anthusa were both dozing in their chairs, so Malleolus decided to join Drusilla at the rail watching the activity on the pier. He walked to the port rail and looked along it. She was not where she had been. He crossed to the starboard side, assuming she must have moved over there to watch the ships being pulled into the other piers by the rowboats. She wasn’t there, either. He walked into the cabin to see if she’d gone inside to read. She was nowhere to be found.

  His brow furrowed as he hurried out to find the captain. If she had left the ship, surely he would know.

  Hector stood watching another crate being lowered into the hold when Malleolus approached him.

  “Captain. I can’t find Drusilla. Did you see her get off the ship?”

  The captain turned to face Malleolus, then pointed toward the cabin top.

  “She was curious. She’s safe watching from there.”

  Malleolus heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you for letting her watch instead of sending her back to her mother. She wants to know how everything works. Sometimes her curiosity gets her in harm’s way.”

  Hector glanced up at Drusilla, and she waved at him. He raised his hand. “Curiosity is a good thing. She can stay up there until supper.”

  Malleolus turned his eyes on Drusilla, and a huge grin lit her face as she waved down at him. He smiled as he waved back. He glanced once more at the captain before heading back to the canopy. After the argument with Cornelia, he thought Hector might be a short-tempered, difficult man. He’d just seen another side of the captain of the Claudia, and he liked what he saw.

  Chapter 8: One She Can Trust

  Hector crossed his arms as he watched his men drop the cover over the hatch and secure it with ropes. The corbita was fully loaded. It was still tied to the pier, but the rowboats would soon come to pull it into the open harbor. It was time to join his passengers for the light supper of cheese and bread his cook always served on the day of departure.

  He chose a chair next to Malleolus, who sat alone on the couch. Hector was not a talkative man, and that should be the least likely place for too much conversation. At least he wouldn’t have to talk too much with his rich female passenger. She and her people were welcome on his ship, but he didn’t want a repeat of their earlier disagreeable encounter. The regal woman of enormous wealth and inherited privilege had questioned his integrity, and his one point of pride was that he was an honest man. She had an uncanny ability to make him angry, and that was never pleasing to God.

  Cornelia wasn’t feeling talkative, and Anthusa always followed her lead. They were about to sail away from Rome and everything she had ever known, and Cornelia’s confidence was wavering. She glanced at the captain, who sat in silence as he watched the other ships in the harbor.

  She couldn’t explain why, but something about him made
her feel safer just because he was there. He looked about her age, so he’d probably made this voyage many times. Publius’s close friend had personally arranged for her to sail with this man, and Malleolus had learned from the first mate that Hector had played a key role in rescuing Claudia from Lucius’s cruel plans eight years ago. She could trust him, just as he said.

  After their energetic disagreement about the appropriate way to protect her dowry and the way he turned his back on her so abruptly when he left the cabin, she’d expected him to avoid speaking to her. Not so. He hadn’t said much, but he had asked her whether she enjoyed the afternoon as if he genuinely hoped she had.

  Genuine―that was a good word to describe him. There was something about his eyes that made her feel he was exactly what he seemed with no pretense. During her many years with Lucius Fidelis, she’d become expert at detecting those tell-tale signs around the mouth and the corner of the eyes that betrayed a lie in progress. She saw none of them with the captain.

  Hector’s attention was drawn from the ships when the old steward spoke.

  “I’ve been looking forward to this trip, Captain. For years, I’ve been arranging shipping to many parts of the Empire for some of the businesses of the Drusus family, but I’ve never actually been down to the wharves or on a corbita before. I have some questions.”

  He focused on Malleolus. He already found himself liking this man who’d proven himself the most loyal of servants to the family he loved. “What would you like to know?”

  Malleolus began asking about the cargo capacity of the ship, how fast it sailed, the ports where they would be landing, how long it usually took to unload and load cargo in a port before moving on, and other assorted topics.