The Sea Maiden (6 page)

“What if you urged your father to allow you to travel to New England it would be easier if you did this with his consent.”

“I already suggested traveling to New England to ask Jonathan to help us with the business and guide me how to run a business but my father is too stubborn and will have nothing to do with that he thought it was ridiculous for me to learn anything about the shipping business because I’m a female.  He walked out on me when I challenged him for calling me a girl and a child and yet marrying me off to a much older man. He felt he owed it to Jonathan to, at least give me his message but I also believe that my father wanted me to know about Jonathan in case I needed to have someone other than Lord Harmon to turn to in his absence. Do you think he has doubts about Lord Harmon?”

“Yes I think your father believes Lord Harmon is going to die soon too!”

Lynnette totally missed Karina’s point.

“No! I think deep down he does not trust Lord Harmon and he’s just too proud to ask Jonathan for help, unfortunately he will never admit this.”

“So what do you intend to do?”

“Well I don’t want to become the wife of a man three times my age, and even more repugnantly, I don’t want to bear any of his children. Also I don’t want any of us to end up on the street begging so there is only one thing I can do and that is to go find Jonathan”

“What! Across the sea are you mad? Your father will never allow it!”

“No he won’t and I have never disobeyed him but this time I’m not going to seek his permission. I know he distrust Lord Harmon, and I know he wanted to clear his conscious, so now that I know Jonathan exists I feel compelled to find him.”

“Karina I don’t think you realize what you’re saying. You have never even gone to the village market with Gracie and I and now you’re talking about traveling to New England…by ship….across the sea…alone! You need a guide, and you don’t know anyone outside Pembroke Hall.”

“I do now, and by the way he behaved around you yesterday he would move a mountain for you so if you’re a true friend you must come with me to Harmon Hall tomorrow and help me find him!”

Lynnette was dumbfounded when she realized Karina was referring to her new suitor, Peter.

“You mean Peter? Karina I barely know Peter! Yes he seems very sweet to me but I don’t think he can help, and I would certainly never request anything of him.”

“Oh Lynnette, he’s totally taken with you, you have more power over him then you realize. So just keep him interested and smile pretty. Gentlemen will do almost anything for a ladies approval and trust in the beginning, it’s the perfect time.”

“Oh really and just how do you know all this?”

Lynnette mocked, knowing Karina had never had a suitor.

“Well Bessie told me; also I read several books on the subject.” Lynnette smiled as she was reminded of her romantic encounter with Peter the night before until Karina said, “Just don’t get too
 physically familiar with him.”

“Physically familiar? Karina I have only met with Peter three times, he’s still very much a stranger to me how could you think I will be getting
 physically familiar with him?” Lynnette said sounding offended.

“Lynnette that breathless kiss you shared with him is definitely getting familiar.”

“Excuse me but that was totally unexpected on my part! I never encouraged it!”

“No but you enjoyed it and that will start breaking down your resistance so stop sounding offended Lynnette, I need you to be in control that’s all, or you’ll be like a small mouse in front of a hungry cat. It will work in your favor trust me. Right now you have a certain amount of power over him, and I want you to use it. Wait! When did you see him a third time?”

Karina turned and looked at Lynnette and Lynnette realized she said too much.

“Well he came by again yesterday evening around sunset.
  I meant to tell you but you were so upset. We did get a little romantic but I kept things under control…and NO, I did not get physically familiar with him!”  

“Lynnette, be careful! He’s a ship bound seaman…they don’t spend much time on land he could be very aggressive with you. So be sweet but keep him at arms-length.”

“Well…that shouldn’t be too hard, he left.”

“Yes…but you will see him again soon…that is
 if you come with me to Harmon Hall tomorrow. You want to see him again don’t you?” Karina tempted. “So can I count on you to come with me to Harmon Hall tomorrow and help me get to New England?”

“It sounds crazy Karina. What if you get caught and we both end up in a lot of trouble?”

“Lynnette relax don’t think like that.  I have a plan and all you have to do is not think like you always do. Think about Peter he is so handsome and he is so smitten with you.” Karina tempted.

Lynnette sighed thinking of their last encounter. “So you think he’s really smitten with me not just toying with me?”

“Absolutely!”

Lynnette smiled and nodded, “Of course what kind of a friend would I be otherwise?”

Karina embraced her, nearly knocking her off balance.

“Thank you Lynnette I will never forget this.”

It worked, Karina congratulated herself. Now she could concentrate on planning other things.  She only had a narrow window of opportunity for her plan to work. Like pieces to a puzzle they were all needed. Going to Harmon Hall was the next important one.

“So what do you have in mind?”

“Tonight we prepare for the trip to Harmon Hall. We will be leaving very early tomorrow and you must not tell your mother anything other than you’re accompanying me and father for a few days. We will talk about this tomorrow. For now we must prepare for the trip, now go!”

Both girls parted, Karina full of anticipation, Lynnette petrified, she wanted to see Peter again but she definitely had to be resistant to his seductive charm.

Early Wednesday morning a buzz of activity at Pembroke Hall broke out as Lord Pembroke, Karina, Lynnette and Nate prepared for the two-day journey to Lord Harmon’s harbor-side home. Overcast and cloudy the day promised to be chilly; which prompted Karina to dress warm. She emerged in a burgundy hooded cape and matching buttoned down dress, with tiny white pearl buttons traveling down the center to the waist. The pearly buttons also adorned the cuffs on the sleeves, giving the dress a touch of elegance. A perfect ensemble for a cold climate with a high top collar made of lace and a small v opening at the neck.

Lynnette wore her black hooded cape over a simpler pearl gray dress with a square laced collar. Being slightly more endowed at the bust, Karina had given it to her. The dress gathered at the waist, providing a simple yet sophisticated and graceful appearance. Karina’s hair fell to her waist in long blond waves with two twisted strands secured in the back and little blond ringlets softly adorned her beautiful oval face and bright blue eyes. In contrast Lynnette’s silky dark hair fell in thick layers to her mid back, and long bangs parted along side of her pretty freckled face and green eyes. Blessed with naturally deep rose lips both girls would surely be the envy of many of the lady guests at Harmon Hall.

Lynnette’s mother Elaine, 10-year-old twin brothers, Tommy and Danny as well as the rest of the household staff escorted them and wished them a good trip. Nate assisted Lord Pembroke who appeared tired and ill. He had unsuccessfully tried his best to convince him not to go even suggesting that Jim accompany the girls in his stead but Lord Pembroke wouldn’t heed his advice. Charles challenged himself to the difficult trip ahead. He managed to put on a smile for his daughter and staff as he waved. Once all three boarded the carriage Nate himself climbed up and took the reins, gave them a tug and they were off.

Karina’s enthusiasm baffled Charles. He had expected tears and a certain amount of opposition from her but instead she seemed cheerful and cooperative. He assumed Lynnette’s company made the difference. A low roar of thunder sounded across the sky and rain began to fall soon thereafter. Karina felt badly for Nate outside having to drive in the rain but he did prepare well for a bit of wind and rain. Charles did suggest to Nate to wait till after the rain, but Nate assured him he wanted to proceed.

Charles let the girls take the seats facing forward and he closed his eyes, he needed to sleep his evening had been difficult. The roll of the carriage worked better than any sleep aids. Karina and Lynnette chatted a while then Lynnette, tired after staying up to pack, fell asleep also. Karina on the other hand felt wide-awake her mind was too busy with her plans to travel to New England. She reviewed her plans now that Lynnette and her father were sleeping. A low rumble in the sky caused Karina to gaze out the carriage window. She listened to the combination of sounds, the pounding of horse hooves, the roll of the carriage, the clatter of the rain, and the far off thunder, even her father’s light snoring seemed relaxing. She found the gray covered sky oddly attractive; a natural beauty she thought. Even the color of the grass and trees along the road seemed to intensify as the rain fell across the countryside; like a painting with movement. She wanted to wake Lynnette but she seemed so peaceful and she didn’t want to wake her father. Karina liked it when he slept he seemed not to suffer. It stressed her when she could not make him more comfortable. She simply sat back looking out the carriage window, admiring the beauty outside and blocked out all the unpleasant thoughts.

The rest of the journey was uneventful stopping only for relief at Inn’s along the way. Once at Harmon Hall Karina planned to be polite and cooperative to prevent any suspicions of her escape. The Senior Lord Harmon built Harmon Hall near the harbor to keep an eye on things as well as for its beauty. Karina was thankful for the convenience; having access to the ships in the harbor to aid her escape. She had to be careful, not to get caught; she needed to work fast and smart. According to Nate, whose daughter, lived near Harmon Hall, they would arrive early Thursday afternoon. The engagement dinner would be Saturday evening this meant she had Friday to try and find Peter. Karina planned to request a tour of the town for her and Lynnette to familiarize herself with the area. Once in town they would look for the Sea Maiden. Peter told them she would be anchored off shore for one more week before deploying. A perfect time to get on board without her father or Lord Harmon finding out but first she needed to find Peter. How hard could it be to find him in a small harbor town she wondered? She would hire Peter as her personal guide and travel companion, and have him go talk to his captain about letting her travel, as a passenger. If not possible, surely Peter would know which ships took passengers to New England.

Before leaving Pembroke Hall she had gone through both her mother’s and Melissa’s old jewelry separating a few pieces belonging to her mother to keep in her memory. Karina anguished knowing Lynnette would not be traveling with her to New England. They were like sisters but Lynnette did not need to run from anything and her mother and two brothers needed her, also she needed to watch over Thunder and Storm. Old Jim would care for the horses but he didn’t ride them. She also wondered how Lynnette felt about her and Peter being constant companions throughout the trip. It would be a long trip but at least she could keep an eye on him for her, she reasoned. Unfortunately aside from Peter she knew no one else.

Once in New England she would contact her brother Jonathan her greatest hope. The word brother, a positive but foreign sounding new word in her vocabulary made her smile. Together they could accomplish much she thought, but he would need to come back to England of course, at least for a short time. She intended to share the business with her brother she just hoped he was not opposed to the idea of women in business. Her father’s letter to her mentioned Lavinia, Jonathan’s mother, as being a successful businesswoman. Karina determined she could be one also given the chance.

She had prepared a letter to her father explaining her actions and left it in a sealed envelope by his bed at Pembroke Hall. She also asked him to forgive her, but she simply would not marry a man she didn’t love, and confessed she took several pieces of her mother’s and Melissa’s jewelry to help pay for expenses along the way. She told him how much she loved him and in turn hoped for his understanding.

Naively, Karina only saw simple challenges to overcome, and not the probability of failure. All she needed to do, she thought, was get to Jonathan he would know what to do her father mentioned he was a successful businessman in his letter to her. Thankfully she didn’t think like Lynnette who viewed all life’s challenges as risky and impossible and would more than likely accept whatever fate she was handed. Karina would not allow this to happen to her or her friend, this was more than a quest to run away, this was a rescue although no one would see it that way. Anxious and excited she reviewed her plans until finally falling asleep herself with the roll of the carriage.

As predicted by Nate they arrived early Thursday afternoon into the harbor town. Karina alerted Lynnette. They watched as people and carriages traveled up and down the pebble stone streets soon the carriage left the busy area and drove down a long wooded road. The drive was beautiful and scenic with pillar-like trees aligning the road and soft rays of sunlight seeping through. Finally a large estate could be seen in the distance. Charles had not spoken much throughout the trip. He seemed to be in pain.