by Lucy Monroe
“I don’t understand this unseemly haste, dear. Surely you could have waited to sail on one of our ships after taking proper time to prepare for the voyage.”
Thea gritted her teeth as she answered the complaint from her adopted aunt for what felt like the tenth time in less than an hour. “You have always said that if I were to attend the Season, I would have to buy a whole new wardrobe in London. So, it seems silly to take the time to prepare and pack gowns that I will not wear.”
Aunt Ruth sighed. “Yes. There is that. But, dear, I could wish that you would make a better impression on your great-aunt than to show up with a meager trunk and valise. Are you sure Mr. Drake won’t wait just one more day?”
Thea almost laughed. “Quite sure, Aunt Ruth. In fact, if we don’t hurry, I’ll be left behind as it is.”
Aunt Ruth resumed her packing. “If you say so, dear.”
She muttered something about Ashby and his plans that made no sense to Thea, but she did not have time to puzzle out the older woman’s meaning.
Thea handed Melly the stack of her mother’s journals. “Please pack these in the trunk with utmost care, Melly.”
The older woman took the journals with reverent hands. “You can be assured of that, miss.”
Thea smiled at her maid. Melly had insisted on traveling with her mother to the West Indies. She had served Anna loyally, choosing to remain and care for Thea after Anna’s death. Thea had wanted to give Melly her own cottage and an allowance in thanks for her loyalty, but the maid would not hear of it. A lady’s maid she was and a lady’s maid she would remain, or so she said.
“Melly, are you sure you don’t mind traveling with me last minute like this? I could make the journey alone.”
Aunt Ruth gasped. “No such thing. You are a lady, Thea, for all your business dealings. Your mother would turn in her grave were you to even contemplate such a journey alone.”
Melly agreed. “That she would. Miss, I don’t mind returning to England, no matter what the hurry to catch the ship. I look that forward to it. I do.”
Thea smiled. “I’m glad.”
“I don’t look forward to sailing, though. I was that sick the entire journey here. Your mother had her sainted hands full caring for you and me both.”
Laying her hand on Melly’s arm, Thea smiled. “I’ll take just as good care of you. And perhaps you won’t get so sick this time. It’s been many years.”
Melly crossed herself. “I can pray, miss.”
******
Drake and his men finished hauling the boiler over the side of the ship. They would set sail and reattach the boiler enroute. Turning back to the rail, he scanned the bay. No managing female in a small dingy anywhere in sight. She had not made it after all. He chided himself for believing she would.
Ladies did not prepare for a several week voyage in under two hours. Thea was intriguing. She was unique. She enticed him as no other woman had, but had proven that she was not that different from other ladies of his acquaintance. Even if she was more stubborn. In the end, she had needed more time than he could spare to prepare herself.
The captain gave orders to raise anchor. Drake stifled the urge to ask him to wait as he scanned the bay one more time for any sign of the determined female. He resolutely turned from the bay and stopped in shock at the sight that met him. Thea stood conversing with his sailors while examining the boiler. She had changed her dress and now wore a bright yellow gown of India cotton. The matching parasol tilted at a negligent angle that he was certain did little to protect her skin from the sun.
The sailor speaking to her wore a look of besotted enchantment and a smile that would make most ladies cringe. What teeth he had left were as yellow as her dress and his whiskers were stained with tobacco juice.
Thea did not appear adversely affected. The hand not holding the parasol moved with animation as she spoke. “It’s so large. The engine must be huge. Could I see it, do you suppose?”
“Passengers are not allowed in the engine room.” He knew even as he spoke the words that she would attempt to find some way around them.
She raised her gaze to meet his. “Hello, Mr. Drake. Isn’t there any way you could make one small exception? After all, the first mate allowed a group from shore to see the engine.”
He would ask the captain to talk to the first mate later. He didn’t like the thought of strangers poking about the engine when it was in a state of disrepair. That engine had to help carry them back to England in record time.
Thea went on in a persuasive tone, “I should so like to see it and the machinery attached to the paddles. Do your paddles collapse for swifter sailing like the Savannah’s?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes lit with interest. “How does the engine work? Do you keep the boiler stoked at all times? What caused it to blow? What type of wood are the paddles made from?”
She stopped speaking when the sailors laughed her skin going pink.
Drake moved forward and took her arm. “I would be pleased to answer your questions over dinner this evening, but right now I must see to the engine repair.”
She bit her lip, her hesitation unmistakable. “Are we to have dinner together then?”
How long had she been aboard? Long enough to hear the story of his background and determine not be seen in his company? With the rapidity that she asked questions, it was possible.
“If you would prefer not to, of course I understand.” He turned to resume the move of the boiler, but her words arrested him.
“It’s not that. My maid, Melly, gets seasick and I don’t want to abandon her if she needs me.”
He nodded. He could not allow this woman to become important to him. He needed to focus on his goal of reaching Liverpool in five short weeks. A nearly impossible task, one made even more difficult if he allowed himself to get sidetracked by an intriguing female.
“A place will be set for you at the captain’s table. If you are not there, we will understand why.” As the owner of the ship, he shared the captain’s table for all formal meals. It was expected of him and he enjoyed the man’s company.
“That isn’t necessary, truly.”
Why did she insist on arguing with him over every little thing? She should be grateful. Passengers vied for a place at the captain’s table. Not only was it prestigious to be chosen to dine with the captain, but fond mamas with unmarried daughters also vied for the opportunity to bring their offspring to Drake’s attention. “I will instruct the steward to seat you beside me.”
She did not look grateful. She looked irritated.
Pulling her arm from his grasp, she swung her body and parasol around to face him squarely. “Mr. Drake, I appreciate your offer, but I must decline. I should feel very badly leaving an empty place at the captain’s table”
“I will send someone to sit with your maid should the need arise so that you will not concern yourself about leaving a vacant seat.” He didn’t know why he was being so insistent, but the thought of her sitting at another table sharing conversation with the male passengers gnawed at him.
She blew out a breath in exasperation. “Thank you.”
He almost smiled as he realized manners had forced her to acquiesce when she clearly did not wish to.
“I believe I will retire to my cabin and check on Melly.”
Good idea. What she was doing on the deck in the first place without her maid, he did not know, but someone needed to take the strong minded female in hand. “In the future, bring your maid with you when you walk the deck.”
“Oh.” If her spine got any straighter, the first mate could use her as a line for his navigation. “I am years past needing a nursemaid, I can assure you.”
“I did not suggest you seek one out. It is a lady’s maid you seem to have forgotten on this particular stroll, Miss Selwyn.”
Her expression turned arctic. “I do not need you or anyone else to dictate my behavior. If I choose to walk about on deck unescorted by my maid, then I will do so
.”
She punctuated her words with shakes to her parasol. Twice it came perilously close to hitting him in the face. Snapping his fingers around the handle, he held it in place.
Meeting her glare for glare, he said, “No, you will not.”
She yanked on her parasol. “Excuse me.”
He let go just as she yanked again. Her momentum carried her back against one of the sailors, who took obvious delight in catching her. One look from Drake and the sailor let her go without a single ribald comment.
She made a show of smoothing her gown and adjusting her parasol. “If you are finished issuing superfluous orders, I will leave you to your boiler problems.”
Drake did not appreciate the look of amusement on the sailors’ faces witnessing this exchange. He abandoned his stance near the boiler and walked toward Thea, pleased when she began to back up. He did not stop until her back was pressed against the ship rail and he was mere inches from her body.
He leaned down until his face was so close she would be certain not to miss his words. “I own this ship. The only man aboard who would dare to refuse my order is the captain, and even he would consider it carefully before doing so. I suggest you follow his good example.”
Wide eyes stared back at him as her breathing grew rapid. “What if my maid is sick the entire voyage? You cannot expect me to stay in my cabin for six to eight weeks.”
A soft curl of chestnut escaped the confines of her pins. He wanted to wrap it around his fingers and pull her face the remaining distance until their lips met. Suppressing the urge with a supreme act of will, he forced his mind to assimilate her statement.
“Five weeks.”
Her eyes were fixed on his lips. “What?”
“Five weeks. We will be in Liverpool in five weeks.”
Her head snapped back. “But, that’s impossible. None of our ships have ever made the voyage in less than six weeks. You cannot possibly believe you will make it in five.”
He gave into the urge and touched the strand of hair. It felt like the silk thread his mother used to do needlepoint. “We will make it in five weeks.”
“Not if we don’t get this boiler back on the engine.”
The sailor’s voice jolted Drake back to reality. He dropped Thea’s hair and stepped away. Without saying anything else to her, he turned back to the boiler. Her blue eyes bewitched him, but he would not forget his duty.
CHAPTER FOUR
Langley arrived unexpectedly to berate me for sneaking in my attempts to see my son. Had he arrived but five minutes earlier, he would have caught me rocking Thea to sleep for her afternoon nap. He had the gall to accuse me of being without integrity. I do not know what to do. I cannot see my son and if I stay here, I may very well lose my daughter.
June 12, 1798 Journal of Anna Selwyn, Countess of Langley
Melly’s prayers appeared to have gone awry because they weren’t two hours out of port and she was intimately acquainted with the chamber pot. “Oh, miss, this rocking is sending my stomach into my toes.”
Thea thought the ship’s rocking rather mild, but did not mention that fact to Melly. The sound of her maid being ill was having its own affect on Thea.
She breathed deeply, regretting the action almost immediately. “Melly, I believe I’ll just open the door and let some air in.”
“Yes, miss, that’s a good idea.”
Thea opened the door and was startled by the presence of a young seaman on the other side.
The sailor’s arms were full of bundles, which he thrust toward Thea. “Compliments of Mr. Drake.”
She stared down at the bundles wrapped in rough cotton that rubbed against her skin. The odor of ginger and cinnamon was unmistakable in the small confines of the cabin.
“What are they?” She didn’t understand. Why had Drake sent her spices?
“Ginger tea, miss and soda crackers. There’s some salt beef and biscuits too.”
“Salt beef?” Did her voice sound as confused as she felt?
The sailor nodded, his mouth split wide in a grin. “Nothing better aboard ship for settling a stomach. Most passengers won’t eat it. Think it’s fit only for the crew. Be a lot less green around the gills if they did, miss.”
Drake had sent seasickness remedies for Melly.
“I’ll try it. I’ll try anything,” vowed the maid as she attempted to sit up on the bunk.
“Yes’m. I’ll be back with some hot water for the tea.”
Thea collected her wits about her. “Thank you. That is very kind. Please thank Mr. Drake as well.”
“Yes’m. I’ll go for the water now.”
She let him go without further protest. Drake had shown concern for Melly’s comfort. Thea did not generally associate overbearing arrogance with consideration. Surely he was too busy with the repairs to his ship’s engine to be bothered. However, the inescapable fact was that he had bothered.
“Mr. Drake is a thoughtful gentleman.”
“He’s shown us consideration,” she agreed.
Remembering the way he had held her in the warehouse that morning, Thea doubted his gentlemanly instincts were that strong however.
“I know your sainted mother warned you against giving your heart unwisely, but I’m sure she didn’t mean to mistrust every man you meet.”
“I don’t. I trust some men.”
Melly snorted. “Who, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I trust Uncle Ashby. I trust Jacob and Philippe.”
In fact, she’d trusted Philippe enough to tell him a little of her plan and ask him to watch over Uncle Ashby while she was gone. Surprisingly, he’d agreed without a huge argument about her stated intentions to investigate the ledger discrepancies.
“That’s three men you’ve known most of your life and all of them old enough to be your father or grandfather. You don’t fool me, miss. You don’t trust young gentleman and that’s a fact.”
Thea finished depositing the bundles on top of the small table that made up part of the meager furnishings of her cabin. “I see no reason to trust a man just because he calls himself a gentleman. My mother trusted my father and look where that got her.”
Melly gripped her stomach and moaned.
Thea rushed to her side and pressed a biscuit into her hand. “Try to eat this. The sailor said it would help and he ought to know.”
The maid took a small bite and chewed it slowly. Her mobcap had gone askew and her black bombazine dress was rumpled. Thea had often wondered how the maid could stand the heavy folds of fabric she insisted were proper to a woman of her station.
“Your mother had you and she never regretted it.”
“Yes, but she lost my brother and she never got over that.”
“I often wondered if we’d gone back to England, if your father would have relented. His anger had to spend itself eventually.”
Thea looked askance at Melly. “You were there the day he took Jared away. You must know he would never have relented. He is much too hard a man, vicious in his proud certainty he could never be wrong.” Not to mention that eventually, there had been no choice.
Anna Langley could not have returned to England had she wanted to, not and take up her rightful place as Countess of Langley.
Melly took another nibble of the biscuit and chewed in silence. When she spoke again, Thea was surprised.
“I was there the day your mother told him she never wanted to see him again, too. The look on his face when he left was that different. If you ask me, he finally realized he lost her.”
“He didn’t want her. He was and no doubt still is a monster.”
Melly shook her head. “You never saw him with her in the beginning. He treated her like she was glass. It was only after that blackguard told Lord Langley that his wife had been unfaithful that he changed.”
Frowning, Thea unwrapped the salt beef and sliced a piece off with the knife provided. “I never saw him at all. He should have believed Mama, not some rake with a terrible reputation
with women.”
“Aye, but jealousy does funny things to a gentleman. Anyway, you’ll be seeing him now, won’t you?”
Not if she could help it. Thea had no desire to meet the man that had treated her mother so cruelly.
******
Thea moaned and turned in the small bunk, trying to find a comfortable position. After drinking the ginger tea, Melly had lain down and gone to sleep. Thea wished she could find the oblivion of slumber. Her stomach felt like someone had tied it in loop knots and was drawing the string tight.
The steward had come to escort her to dinner and she’d sent him away with a message for Drake that she was indisposed. He would probably believe she was defying him on purpose. She didn’t care. She just wanted to be left alone. Her stomach hurt, her head felt like fish were swimming in it and her mouth tasted like sea brine.
She moaned again, trying to do it quietly so as not to wake her maid. She needn’t have worried. Melly snored and flung one arm over her face. Thea wondered if there wasn’t something besides ginger in the tea. The maid’s sleep was terribly deep. Lucky woman.
A peremptory knock sounded at the door. She ignored it. Probably that blasted steward again, going to insist she join Drake for dinner.
The knock sounded again and Melly stirred in her sleep. Thea groaned, but knew she had to get up. It wouldn’t be fair to wake the maid to experience more of this misery. She cautiously slid her legs over the side of the bed as the pounding resumed on the door. Someone was shouting something on the other side, but she couldn’t understand them. The roaring in her ears blocked out the noise.
She hobbled to the door, furious with whoever was on the other side. If she didn’t feel so bloody awful, she would give him a speaking to he wouldn’t soon forget. She pulled on the latch of the door, opening it a crack and shivered at the gust of air that pressed into the airless cabin. Surely they were not so far from her island that the weather had turned cold?
“What?” She meant to snap out the question to whomever dared to force her from the relative comfort of her berth, but her voice came out raspy.