Corsets & Crossbones (22 page)

Brooke made it outside just in time to see the sun rise over the sea.  It bled its color into the clear, blue ocean, causing an array of colors to form.  Golden yellows, soft pinks, even some bold red was mixed in with the palette of the sea.  Brooke leaned against the door frame, a smile eclipsing her face.  She had never seen anything as simple, and yet as brilliant, as what she had just witnessed.  She continued to watch the horizon with awe, when something struck her as odd.  Tilting her head, she hoped to get a better view of what she was seeing but a voice caused her eyes to snap up.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing out of bed?” Charlie asked, his dark eyes narrowed at her suspiciously.

Brooke was too surprised to come up with a quick retort, so she decided to tell him the truth.

“I wanted to watch the sun rise,” she said quietly, almost meekly even.

Charlie’s eyes softened and he sighed.

“You have to be careful, love,” he told her.  “I don’t want you hurting yourself more than you already have.”

Brooke nodded, but shifted her eyes back to the horizon.

“Charlie,” she said, and reached out to point at where she was looking.  “What is that on the horizon?”

Charlie smiled.  “That, my dear,” he told her, following her gaze, “is New Providence.”

“New Providence,” Charlie explained to Brooke as he began to ready the boats that would sail to the shore, “is much like
Torro, save there is an actual order, however loose it may be.”  He turned to his crew, all whom were waiting behind him, standing at ease and awaiting his next command.  “Gents,” Charlie continued, looking at them with his piercing stare.  Brooke watched him with a small smile, leaning on the side of the ship.  “You are probably my best crew to date.  While we have not yet gotten to know each other as well as I would have liked, I thank each and every one of you for embarking on this adventure with me.  It is not over yet, no, but as of right now, you are free to roam around the island.  I will call on you sometime in the future, but have no need for you currently.”

The men started to clap at Charlie’s speech, and Charlie smiled at them, and nodded his head in a manner of thanks.  Afterwards, they drew towards the railing of the ship and began to help drop more boats into the sea.  As his crew did so, Charlie pulled Kenneth aside.

“You know you will be staying with me,” Charlie stated surely.  His brow rose and he pressed his lips together, looking at the older man expectantly.

“
O’course, Charlie!” Kenneth said, slapping the younger man on the back.  “It’s about time I see yer relatives again.”

“Let’s keep our words mum about my relatives until we actually get to there, ay?” Charlie asked quietly, glancing sharply at Brooke.  However, the young woman wasn’t paying attention to her captain; she was talking to Hugh and Po about something or other.

“Aye aye,” Kenneth said with a nod, following Charlie’s glance.  “Mum be the word.”

Once everything was set, Charlie motioned for his crew to disperse down the side of the ship and into a boat.  The island of New Providence was not far off, but despite the island’s tolerance for pirates, Charlie made sure he anchored his ship somewhere where it was well-hidden.  It was, after all, Lord Sutherland’s ship even if the head of the East India Company was most probably deceased.  After the crew had made it into the boats and began rowing to the island, Charlie motioned Kenneth to start on his way, and sent Brooke after the old man.

“This way,” Charlie told her, “he will be able to prevent further injury if you happen to fall.”

“I doubt that I will fall,” Brooke said firmly.  Although the pain had nearly disappeared, Brooke did have some trouble hoisting her legs over the side of the ship.  She flipped her body as carefully as she could and began to make her way down.  “At least I know Kenneth’s not going to be staring at my bum the whole way down.”

“Eh, you’d be surprised,” Charlie said as he quickly followed the two, hoisting himself over and proceeding to crawl down the side of his ship.

“No, what I am surprised about is the fact that you let an opportunity like looking at my bum escape you,” Brooke said with a victorious smile.  She had one-upped Charlie, and she was letting the triumphant feeling sink in.

Kenneth reached the boat and stepped in it, waiting for a moment to make sure it was steady before walking over to Brooke and helping her down.  Charlie boarded soon after, and once everyone had settled, Kenneth detached the boat from the ship.  Charlie sat in the middle of the boat, while Brooke sat at the bow and Kenneth sat at the stern.  Then, taking the two oars in his calloused hands, Charlie proceeded to row towards New Providence.

“Where will we be staying?” Brooke asked curiously, turning her head from the sea to look at Charlie’s back.  Even through the white tunic he was wearing, she could see the indents of his back muscles ripple, and she could not help but stare.

“Oh, I know some people,” Charlie said nonchalantly.  Kenneth gave him a squinted stare, but said nothing and looked away, out to the sea.

Brooke rolled her eyes at the lack of explanation Charlie had given her, and crossed her arms over her chest.

“You seem to know at least one person on every island we have been on,” Brooke mumbled sarcastically.

The ride proceeded in silence, and soon the boat had reached the docks.  Charlie quickly pulled out a shilling and handed it to the dock master without giving a name.  The dock master watched the three walk on, and then shook his head, scribbling down a common surname.

Charlie led Kenneth and Brooke off of the docks and into a secluded area that was hidden by multiple trees, bushes, and other green shrubbery.  There was no trail they were following; Charlie seemed to know exactly where he was going.  They were traveling more slowly than usual due to Brooke’s healing condition, and while Brooke would normally hasten their pace despite her pain to save her pride, she was actually glad to have an excuse to gaze at the scenery that engulfed them.  Besides the trees and the bushes, there were stones and rocks that littered the trail.  Colorful butterflies flew in and out and between them, usually in pairs, signifying that spring was indeed coming soon.  Flowers of all different hues were perking up in different places, some as odd as on a tree branch.  Bees and flies were buzzing about, their sounds mixing with the chirps and caws of the different birds.  The sky was blocked by the tall trees, but light blue would peak out between the leaves every now and then.  The air was clean and fresh, and every breath she took, Brooke felt as though her heart was fully replenished.  In a way, the air somehow cleansed her being it was so pure. 

After a good half hour, Brooke could make out smoke coming from a stone chimney.  She wanted to point out her findings, but decided against it.  Charlie’s brow was creased, and sweat decorated his forehead.  He did not seem to be angry or upset; Brooke decided that he just wanted to get where they were supposed to be.  Luckily for the trio, they did not have much longer to travel.

A small cottage soon made its way into view.  It was made of stone, save for a red, wooden door.  The window was covered with a regal purple colored cloth.  Unlike Kenneth’s home, there were no farm animals wondering about.  Apparently whoever lived in this secluded abode was not a farmer.

Charlie walked up to the door as Brooke hung back with Kenneth, watching her captain as he knocked on the wooden door.  Brooke tilted her head when she noticed Charlie’s expression.  He looked to be hesitant, almost, though not quite, afraid of the situation he was currently in.  Well, that was odd.  In the time that Brooke knew Charlie, never did she see him afraid of something.

At that moment, the door opened and a short, old woman, maybe in her sixties, stood there with a big smile on her face.  She had on a worn, loose-fitting dress, and her grey hair was pulled into a bun that rested on the back of her head.  Her skin was predominantly pale with some color to it, and comfortable looking slippers were on her feet.

“Oh Charlie!” she exclaimed, pulling Charlie into a tight hug.  “It is so good to see you again.  You know, you really should visit us more often.  I don’t like to think about all the dangers my only nephew could get mixed up in.  Then again, I don’t like to think of the dangers my husband could get mixed up in, but does he listen?  He darn well does
not
.  Lord, the men in this family have no sense.”  It was then that she noticed Kenneth and Brooke standing quietly off to the side.  Kenneth was squinting at the nearby flowers while a mischievous smile tugged at the edge of Brooke’s lips. 

“Why, hello!” the old woman exclaimed, throwing her arms out in excitement.

This must be where Charlie got his accentuating gestures
, Brooke thought to herself.

“Kenneth, it really is such a pleasure to see ye again,” the woman said, moving around Charlie to pull Kenneth into a hug.  Kenneth was surprised by the gesture, but wrapped his arms around the woman nonetheless.

“Good to see ye too, Nora,” Kenneth said with a curt nod.  “How’s ol’ Noah, then?”

Nora pursed her lips.  “You know Noah,” she said, flicking her wrist.  “He’s impatient for his dinner.”  She glanced up at Charlie and then back to Kenneth.  “But you know men; they are always hungry!”  Nora, then, glanced at Brooke and her mouth dropped into an ‘o’.  She spun on her heel and glared at Charlie, who was standing impatiently in front of the doorframe.  “What did you do to her, Charlie Colt?  She looks terrible!”

Heat flamed Brooke’s cheeks, embarrassed suddenly at her outward appearance.

“I did nothing,” Charlie said, surprised that the woman would even think that he could do something like that.  He sighed, and then walked over to Brooke, standing beside her.  “Aunt Nora, this is my…”  What, exactly, was she to him?  She was his mate, but she was much more than that.

“I am Brooke Cunningham,” Brooke said, noticing Charlie’s silent struggle with description.  “And these marks are not from your nephew.  We had gotten into a bit of trouble on our journey, but really, there is no need to worry; you should have seen me before!”  Brooke smiled at her joke, and glanced at Charlie, who was looking down at her, smiling proudly.

“Brooke Cunningham,” Nora said, tapping her chin with her forefinger.  Suddenly her eyes widened.  “Aye ye not the rice
merchant’s daughter who lives on Port Royal?  The one who went missing?”

“Really, Aunt Nora,” Charlie said, cutting into the conversation.  “I promise I will answer all of your questions, but we have traveled a long way and would greatly appreciate some sustenance.”  He flashed a smile at her, his gold teeth twinkling much like his dark eyes.

“Don’t give
me
your charm smile; ye know it won’t work,” she retorted.  She smiled suddenly, and looked at Brooke.  “But of course, ye all look like ye could use some food.  Supper’s almost ready.”  She led the three toward the house, but before she entered, she threw a concerned glance in Brooke’s direction.  “While you wait, dearie, I am going to run ye a bath.  Even if ye do look better than before, I think it would be best if ye cleaned up.”

Brooke opened her mouth to object, but then shut it quickly.  Who was she kidding?  She desperately needed a bath, and was not about to refuse.

The three followed Nora into the cottage, Charlie shutting the door behind him. 

“Noah!  We have guests!” Nora called, before throwing a smile over her shoulder.  She led her guests immediately to the left, where there was a sitting room, complete with a fire place.  The old woman looked at her husband, who was currently reading some sort of newspaper.  Either he had not heard her, or he had, and paid them no mind.  “Noah!” she exclaimed, causing him to jump slightly.

The older man looked up at his wife over the edge of the newspaper, furrowing his bushy brow.  It was then that he noticed the people behind her, and he broke out into a smile.

“Charlie,
m’boy!” he exclaimed, closing his paper and putting it on the coffee table.  He stood up and pulled his nephew into a tight hug.  “How are you doing, son?  Been on any nonsensical adventures?”  He released his nephew, but continued to look at Charlie with pride.  He turned to Kenneth, sticking out his hand so that the two could heartily shake hands.  They clapped each other on the back as they did so.  “Kenneth, haven’t seen you in a while now.  Heard about the wife.  I am so sorry.”

“Oh, Noah, it’s just like you to bring up inappropriate things at inappropriate times,” Nora said, throwing her arms up helplessly and letting her dark eyes roll up to the ceiling.

“It’s quite all right, Nora,” Kenneth said, waving off her worry.  “I appreciate your sympathies, Noah.  And it’s good to see ye too.”

Noah’s clear, blue eyes finally rested on Brooke.  He shot Charlie a curious glance.

“And who is this beautiful young lady?” he asked as he stepped in front of her.  “My name is Noah Elliot, Charlie’s uncle.  And you are?”

Charlie quickly introduced Brooke, coming to stand beside her.  “This, Uncle Noah,” he said, resting a hand gently on her shoulder, “is Brooke Cunningham.”

“Ah,” the man said, nodding.  He said nothing more, but gave Charlie a look that read that they were to have a private conversation soon about the matter.

“Noah,” Nora said, breaking Noah’s stare.  “Look at her; she’s sore and tired.  Can ye help me heat up some water for a bath?”  She glanced at her nephew. 
“Charlie, why don’t ye show Brooke around since she’s never been here before?  Give her a tour of sorts while your uncle and I get her bath ready.”

Charlie nodded, and glanced at Brooke, nodding his head to the doorway that led back out to the entrance hall.  Brooke followed Charlie from the sitting room and back out into the hallway. 

“I’m sorry if my relatives seem particularly eccentric,” Charlie said quietly as they walked down the short hallway.  A painting of the sun either rising or setting hung on the wooden wall, catching Brooke’s eye.  She stopped to study it, overtaken by the simplicity of the colors and the beauty it eroded.

“No more than
yourself,” Brooke said with a smirk, not taking her eyes off the painting.  She waited for Charlie’s response, but when she received none, she glanced up sharply at him, hoping she did not offend him.  He was staring at the painting as she was, but there was a sad emotion in his dark eyes.  It would have been sad to see anyone look so silently reminiscent, but the way Charlie’s dark eyes reflected his sorrow was different.  His lips were curled downward, in a very slight pout.  “I am just jesting, Charlie,” Brooke told him quickly.  “Your family seems to be very kind, and I hope to learn more about them as our visit progresses.”