Time for Love (6 page)

He looked her briefly up and down in an assessing manner that strained Alex’s nerves. “You don’t look like much of a sailor, and you’re too young to have any skill as a carpenter.”

She was surprised he hadn’t already uncovered her disguise. Her instincts warned her he wouldn’t be easy to fool, and she would be smart to keep her distance, even if distance was the last thing she wanted right now. Of course, it wouldn’t be a problem if he decided she wasn’t qualified to work on his ship.

“You’re wondering what possessed him to hire me. Perhaps he took pity on me, or maybe I’m better qualified than I look,” she replied haughtily, and immediately wished she could take the last part back. Now he might think she had some sailing skill.

He snorted, and she got the feeling amusement had replaced his annoyance, though his expression hadn’t changed.

“My guess would be pity. He sometimes has more heart than sense.” He sighed. “Despite some of his more—emotional—decisions, he’s a good first mate and has served me well. We’ll have to see how you fare.” He gave her a slightly puzzled look. “There’s something about you though. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

Alex breathed a sigh of relief when they arrived at the tavern where she’d met the Adonis the night before. This time of the morning everything was quiet, and they had to wait a few moments before anyone came to see what they wanted.

A sour-faced woman entered the room, muttering about the hour and cursing under her breath. But after a quick glance at Nicholas’s face, she quieted and listened to his request. She told them which room the first mate was in then quickly disappeared through the door by which she had entered.

“Follow me.” Nicholas climbed the stairs and knocked loudly on the appropriate door. He didn’t wait for an answer before pushing it open.

The Adonis slept soundly in the middle of the large bed that dominated the room. A blanket draped around his hips didn’t disguise the fact he was naked.

Alex had a difficult time deciding where to look. On his left, the pretty waitress from the night before was hastily pulling the covers up to her chin, while another woman on his right merely reached over to try to waken her bed partner, as though the appearance of two people at the door was hardly cause to cover up.

“I can see why he didn’t show,” Alex muttered under her breath. She hadn’t meant to be heard, but apparently Nicholas had good hearing and laughed.

“Quite understandable,” he said, still chuckling.

Meanwhile, the first mate opened his eyes and looked up at the captain. “Bloody hell. Am I late?”

****

They waited downstairs next to the bar while the Adonis got dressed. He came down a scant five minutes later apologizing profusely. He stopped suddenly when he caught sight of Alex. “Who are you?” He frowned.

Her eyes widened. She had realized he was a bit drunk last night, but it hadn’t occurred to her he wouldn’t even remember her.
What am I going to do now?
The beginnings of panic started in her chest. But before she could say anything, a look of recognition dawned on his face, and he smiled.

“Oh, now I remember. You’re the lad who works for free.”

Nicholas interrupted, “Free, hmmm? So, it wasn’t pity or extraordinary talent that got the job, you were merely a bargain.”

A blush started in her cheeks, and a knot grew in her belly. She couldn’t afford for him to decide not to hire her.

“I need to get to London as quickly as possible, and your ship is my best option. I promise I’m a fast learner, and I’ll work real hard. You won’t be disappointed.” She spoke quickly and hoped she sounded more confident than she felt.

“See that I am not. I don’t take disappointment well. Now, we must get back to
The Reliant
. We have much to do before we set sail, and we are already behind schedule.”

Chapter Four

April 9 (50 Days Remaining)

Alex grasped the rail as a course correction caught her off guard. She’d heard the call to make a starboard turn, but she’d forgotten which direction that was and hadn’t adjusted her weight properly.

She didn’t know her left from her right anymore. Left was larboard and right was starboard, but only when facing the bow, which she had to keep reminding herself, was the front of the ship.

They spoke English, but she’d be damned if she knew what they were saying half the time. At least she’d gotten used to being called
boy
. All it had taken was a good smack upside her head to ensure she wouldn’t forget that one again. Apparently, ignoring a crewmate wasn’t a good idea, even if she didn’t realize he was talking to her.

Overall, the first few days had gone remarkably well. Most of the crew was friendly and willing to help her learn the ropes. She thanked her lucky stars she appeared so young. They didn’t expect quite so much from her that way.

She waited for the ship to straighten course before continuing to the galley. Time to get the captain’s dinner ready, and she had been made the unofficial cook’s assistant. Oh, if Jessie could see her now! Her friend used to tease Alex unmercifully about her lack of skill in the kitchen.

As she entered the galley, she smiled at Bartholomew Adolphus VanWiesel, known to all as Cook for obvious reasons. He looked a bit like a weasel with his wiry frame and beard that seemed to take over his entire face, but he was a sweetheart, and she enjoyed helping him.

“Ah, good.” He tossed her a potato and pointed to a huge pile next to him. “Get those ready while I start the sauce.”

He cast an encouraging grin, barely noticeable through his hair, and turned his attention to a bowl so large he could practically curl up in it.

As he chatted about this and that, Alex recalled him telling her the circumstances that brought him on board
The Reliant
when he had no real love for the sea.

He had signed on after a disastrous
affair of the heart
had left him unemployed and without references. Having little chance of securing another position in a respectable establishment, he had been drowning his sorrows in drink when he met the captain.

“It were years ago, right after the captain had left the Royal Navy and bought
The Reliant
with money his mother had given him. He had a foul temper in those days, nearly scared me out of me wits when he sat down at the table next to mine.

“He were a sight to see with the scar on his face still fresh and bloodied, part of his hair shaved away from another wound at the back of his skull. Then Mr. Grayson comes in, and the barmaids start preening and smiling to get his attention, fighting over who would serve him.” Cook winked at Alex, before adding, “All the wenches act that way around him. And I’ve watched our first mate in too many tavern brawls to mention when the other men get jealous. But that’s another story.

“So then he strolls over and sits down with the captain, and I laughed out loud at the looks of dismay on all the women’s faces. None of them relished the thought of coming closer to the captain, even for the chance to bed our handsome Mr. Grayson.

“Well, that laugh caught the captain’s attention, and he turned those piercing eyes of his to me. Shocked me to the core when I realized he was also amused by their reaction.

“Turns out they were discussing the crew they had been taking on for
The Reliant
, and I heard them say they was still needin’ a cook.

“Now, I thought to myself, he might be a right scary lookin’ devil, but if he could laugh at his own self, then he couldn’t be that bad. Better than starving anyway, so I popped over and presented me credentials.

“They had heard the details of my situation, everyone had! Rumor flies faster than the wind in the houses of the
ton
, but he didn’t mind and here I am. And now that he’s a marquess, he’s taking me with him, and I’ll be able to get away from the sea and have a proper kitchen again.”

She had been dying to ask Cook about his
affair of the heart
but hadn’t wanted to be rude. In any event, he had switched to another topic, and the moment had passed.

Her ears perked up as she heard Cook mention the captain. “What was that?”

“Oh, I was just saying as how the captain’s going to miss the sea when he returns home.”

“It’s true, then? This is his last trip?”

Cook nodded. “Yes. He’ll be much too busy now he’s to be Lord Oakleigh. Mr. Grayson will take over as captain. The first mate’s learned well. He’ll make a right fine job of it.”

She nodded; the crew had almost as much respect for the Adonis as they did for the captain. He’d do well. She wished him luck of it.

The watch called out the hour, and she threw her last potato into a dish. “Gotta go. My turn in the rigging. I’ll come back after and help you serve dinner.” She returned his absentminded wave goodbye and rushed out.

She’d only taken one watch so far but couldn’t wait to do it again. It was amazing and she loved it. Sitting up in the rigging with the ship and the sea laid out below her, she felt as though she were flying. Just climbing up there was an adventure, with the ship pitching and heaving under her. The motion of the ship was exaggerated at such a great height, but it made it all the more exciting.

Coming down after her hour-long watch was more of a letdown than she’d counted on. She spotted the ship’s carpenter, Mr. Duff, below and worried the voyage might not continue to go as smoothly as it had so far.

The previous carpenter had elected to stay behind in America since this was the captain’s last trip. Mr. Duff didn’t fit in well with the crew and was universally disliked. But they had been hard pressed to find a man with the special skills needed, and Mr. Grayson had reluctantly hired him the same night as Alex.

Like a typical bully, he picked on anyone smaller or weaker than he was, and was smart enough to do it out of sight or earshot of anyone who might come to their aid. Alex believed Nicholas and Mr. Grayson were largely unaware of the problem as it was not in the nature of most of the sailors to complain.

And, just as she’d feared, since she appeared to be so young and slight, she was a prime target. He knocked her down the last few feet with a five foot length of wood intended for a minor decking repair. She landed hard on her backside with a startled, “Oof.”

“Clumsy little fellow, ain’t you.” He laughed as she picked herself up. “You best watch you self, or you might get hurt.”

Alex suppressed her wince of pain and gave Mr. Duff a smile. A few members of the crew were around. She didn’t want to appear weak in front of them.

“Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.” She looked him up and down. “Did
you
need some help? You seem to be having a bit of trouble carrying that heavy board.”

She kept an all-too-innocent expression on her face as she said it, but she could have bit her tongue the moment the words were out of her mouth. The result was satisfying, but she had a feeling she’d pay for it later.

Mr. Duff’s pockmarked visage turned purple with rage. She was saved from his response as Nicholas and Mr. Grayson appeared from below deck at that moment.

“Is everything all right here?” Nicholas asked, a slight frown upon his face.

She smiled. “Everything’s fine sir. I was heading to the galley to help Cook serve dinner.” She nodded to Mr. Duff and left, but not before noting the scowl on his face.

Next time, she’d have to keep her big mouth shut. And there would be a next time, she had no doubt. She couldn’t afford to get into it with the carpenter. She’d avoid him whenever possible and keep her head down when it wasn’t. She knew it wasn’t over.

****

The next night, another encounter made Alex desert all hope for a peaceful journey. The night shift was on duty with the majority of the crew asleep. Alex was returning from the galley after helping Cook clean up from Nicholas’s weekly dinner party for his senior staff. The time was much later than usual, and when she walked around a corner, she almost collided with a young girl coming out of the cargo hold.

The girl stopped dead in her tracks, and her eyes widened in terror. It took Alex a second to overcome her surprise and realize the girl must be a stowaway who was probably terrified at being discovered. Alex gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile and held one finger to her lips as she motioned with her other hand for the girl to precede her back down to the cargo hold.

Alex used her lantern’s meager light to find the girl in the dark after closing the hatch. The girl cowered on the far side of the hold, half hidden behind some large crates piled high to the ceiling. She looked to be about fifteen, with long, brown hair pulled back into a single braid and dirt smudged along her cheekbones. She was a tiny thing, maybe five feet at most. Alex’s heart went out to her.

Alex was unsure of the punishment for a stowaway, but it wouldn’t be pleasant. She remembered reading that throughout history punishments for stealing were very harsh.
Cutting off a hand or something?
Alex couldn’t remember exactly, but she shuddered at the thought. Not only did a stowaway steal passage, but to survive she must be stealing food and water as well. “Don’t worry, I won’t give you away,” Alex whispered as she moved closer.

The girl’s jaw dropped, but she quickly clicked it shut and looked wildly around for a way to escape since Alex blocked the hatch. Alex’s brow furrowed as the girl seemed ready to panic.

The girl gave up her search and raised her chin in a defiant manner. “I know what you want, but I won’t do it. I’ll scream if I have to.”

Alex gaped at her and then realization came. The girl thought she was about to be raped.

Alex hurried to reassure her, “No, no. I don’t want anything, I promise. I won’t hurt you. Let’s sit, and you can tell me how you came to be here.” Alex approached the girl, squeezed into a tight spot next to a water barrel and sat, her knees tucked practically to her chin. She patted the floor of the narrow aisle by her side. “Have a seat. My name’s Alex. What’s yours?”

After a few moments of shifting from foot to foot, the girl sat. “Evelyn Burges.” Her eyes narrowed, and she tilted her head to the side as she peered at Alex. “You won’t reveal my presence? Why?”