Rogue Wave (The Rogue Wave Series Book 1), page 5
“Start the biscuits.” Cook pointed to what she guessed to be a bag of flour.
“Uh, biscuits?” Catherine had no idea how to make them or what she needed other than the flour that sat in front of her.
“Aye, biscuits, the water and salt are over there, mix them together and put them there.” Cook pointed to the other two ingredients, then to a pan on the small table.
Catherine poured a bit of flour out, added salt and water. She tried mixing it together like she had seen the cook back home do, but it was far too runny. She added more flour and another pinch of salt. She stirred the batter with a wooden spoon, it started coming together and forming a dough. Catherine turned to see Cook watching her carefully.
“Aye, that’ll do it.” He approved. “Once the meal is finished, you will bring in the biscuits, cheese and more wine for them. Set the biscuits and cheese on the table and they will serve themselves.” Catherine’s eyebrows shot up. “We ain’t like them fancy houses on the Islands. I will bring in the meat and vegetables. You pour the wine for the Capt’ns and the Lord.” Cook explained.
“After I bring the food in and pour the wine, may I leave?” She asked hopefully.
“Sorry laddie, I will be cleanin’ the galley, you need to stay and pour the wine when they should need more and wait in there in case Capt’n asks you for anything else.” Cook shrugged. “Once they are finished with their meal, you clear the table and wait for further orders.”
When the meal was ready, Catherine tried desperately to slow her pounding heart and her shaking hands. She was sure her father would recognize her. Firmly, she held the platter with cheese and biscuits as she followed Cook into the Captain’s Cabin. His desk was against the wall and a large dining table sat in the middle of the room. Where they had pulled the dining table from, she could not imagine.
She carefully walked over to the table and sat the tray down. Turning quickly, she fled the cabin to grab the wine. The men were talking and laughing when she walked back in. Captain Harding nodded and signaled for her to pour his wine. She slowly walked over to him, not daring to look towards her father. Captain Harding flashed her a smile, thanking her for the food and drink.
Captain Lester was telling a story about a seagull that had followed them on an entire journey once. “He became like a part of the crew; he would even eat from our hands.” He laughed. Catherine stepped over, filling Alaric’s glass before moving towards Captain Lester’s. She poured the wine, trying not to shake, for fear of spilling it and drawing attention to herself. Her father was laughing at Captain Lester’s story, Alaric and Captain Harding were smiling politely. She held her breath as she poured her father his wine.
“Thank you, boy,” Her father spoke, causing her to jolt. He was not looking at her, instead, taking a long drink from his glass. She stepped back against the wall, wishing she could sink into it completely. No one seemed to be paying attention to her. She now had to wait until one of them needed more wine or until the Captain gave her further orders. The delicious food that lay on the table in front of her tempted her. The men that sat around the table, ate, drank, and talked jovially. She stayed alert incase anything was said about her or to her.
“What makes a plantation owner such as yourself travel on a merchant vessel, My Lord?” Captain Harding asked her father.
“Aw well, you see, I own a couple of merchant ships, that one out there being one of them,” he stated. “For one thing, as much as I do not enjoy leaving my daughter for long periods of time, I do enjoy being out at sea and traveling. Though, that is not exactly what brought me on this particular venture. To be entirely honest,” her father sat up and leaned forward on the table, resting his arms on it as he spoke. “I am in search of a partner for the plantation, one who will invest a bit in it.” He took a drink before elaborating. “The first several years, my plantation yielded a goodly amount of crops. Unfortunately, these last couple of years it has not done so well. I have invested just about as much as I can to save the plantation.”
Catherine felt as if the world was crashing in on her. Why had her father not told her? She put her hand on her middle, she blinked hard, desperately trying not to pass out. If she left though, she would be most likely discovered. She looked up to see if anyone had noticed her reaction. Her eyes locked with Captain Hardings, a flash of concern passing over his face.
“Allen, thank you, you may go and enjoy your own meal, we will call you if we need anything.” He nodded to Catherine and smiled, then returned his gaze to his guests. Catherine turned and stepped out, closing the door behind her. She felt like screaming, like crying, like running back in that room and confronting her father. Demanding him to tell her how he could let this happen and why he had not told her. She wrapped her arms around her middle and stood at the closed door. Catherine wanted to know what else her father had to say but was thankful the Captain had excused her.
“I am sorry to hear it. If you cannot find someone to partner with you, what will you do?” Captain Harding asked.
“I am afraid, the Governor will seize the plantation. I would hate for that to happen. I know my daughter would be devastated. I am just thankful she will soon be wed, we have yet to announce it publicly but as soon as I return, I will be arranging for her to marry a Lord who recently became the owner of another plantation nearby.” He replied, swirling the last of his drink in his glass before swallowing the rest.
Captain Harding’s voice traveled loudly through the closed door. Catherine bit her lip, holding back the tears as best she could. That is why her father was having her marry Lord Anderson and so soon. It made sense. She closed her eyes, envisioning her home, her chamber, her father’s study, the gardens and the stable, all the things she would miss terribly if they lost it.
From behind the door, a chair scraped against the floor. She stood up straight and inhaled, she thought of quickly going on deck but thought better of it. Cook had told her she was to clear the table. She better go back in and do it. She did not fancy the idea of facing the Captain if she disobeyed. Placing her hand on the handle, she opened it slowly, and stepped inside. Captain Harding caught her eye again briefly, before looking back at her father.
“At least you will not have to worry for your daughter. I am sure you will be able to find a partner to assist you with your plantation.” Captain Harding raised his glass, the rest of the table followed. “To new adventures.” He said, before bringing the glass to his lips, the rest of the men followed suit.
Catherine kept her head down as she gathered the plates and trays from the table. She quickly brought them to the galley. Cooked thanked her as she turned to head back to the Captain’s cabin to clear the rest of the table. As she opened the door, she heard a tune begin on deck. The men started singing, she could hear what sounded like a violin and another instrument she could not name.
“Ah, a jolly tune, what do you say boys? Shall we go up and join the crew? Captain Lester asked, looking quite pleased.
“After you.” Captain Harding and the others rose, he held his arm out indicating for them to exit the cabin.
Catherine stood against the wall, waiting for the men to leave before cleaning up.
Lucas noticed the boy begin to sway, he looked as if he would suddenly be sick. Perhaps being below decks for so long had brought on his sea sickness again. He had excused the boy, not wanting him to be sick in front of their guests. Alaric had already mentioned Allen’s insecurities about serving their guests. He did not quite understand why the boy would be so worried, but he supposed he had his reasons. The rest of the crew enjoyed such events. It gave them a chance to take a break from their duties, play music, drink, and play dice.
As Lucas and the other men finished, Allen came back in, to Lucas’s surprise and admiration. He suspected most young sailors would not have been able to pull themselves together to finish their duties. He saw many first-time sailors curled up or hanging themselves over the railing, ridding their stomachs of all their contents and not getting up for days. Lucas figured the boy’s stomach would settle as soon as he got above deck and felt the breeze.
He felt sorry for Lord Benedict and was glad when Captain Lester suggested they go above deck and enjoy the entertainment from the crew. He had to admit, being a partner for a large plantation like Lord Benedict’s was a mighty good offer. He was surprised he had not found a taker yet. Lord Benedict seemed like a decent fella; any man would be lucky to be his partner.
On the quarter deck, the men were having a good time, laughing and dancing a jig as the music played. Eddie played violin, he brought the instrument on board with him the day he signed on as part of the crew. Lucas found a comfortable seat against the wall next to the hatch. A lantern shined above him. He sat down on a barrel, tapping his hand against his leg to the rhythm that played around him. One of the crew members walked over to him and handed him a jug of ale.
“Cheers, Mate.” Lucas grinned, smacking his cup against the sailor’s. He looked around; a group of men, three from his ship and four from Captain Lester’s, were engrossed in a game of dice. The men were cheering each other on and slapping one another on their backs, sloshing their drinks. One man stumbled as he was dancing along to the music, causing his drink to fly in the air. The sailor tripped, landing on his back. The men around him howled with laughter. Lucas shook his head, chuckling.
Alaric was leaning against the railing, talking with a man from the other ship. He spotted Allen sitting next to Ol’ Shorty and a couple others. Ol’ Shorty looked as if he was telling the young man a grand story. Lucas snorted, he could only imagine what exaggerated tale Shorty was telling the boy. Ol’ Shorty stood up, waving his arms around frantically in the air before sitting down with a plop.
“Mighty fine night, wouldn’t you agree?” Lord Benedict stood next to Lucas, watching the activity around them.
“Aye, it is.” Lucas nodded. “Where is it you will be headed to from here?”
“Oh, I would like to make it to England. I am a bit behind schedule. I have exhausted all my resources in the West Indies, so must try further from the Islands. I mentioned earlier that the Governor would seize my property if I can not get the plantation back to what it used to be and pay off my debts. The truth is, I do not have much time, I know there is a man the Governor has promised the plantation to. If I cannot find a partner in time, this man of his will get the deed to my property.”
Lucas gave the Baron’s shoulder a brief squeeze. “I wish you the best of luck, Mate. The Governor is a tough man.” He thought about mentioning that he was under orders from said Governor, but thought twice of it.
“Ah but my daughter, she would love to be here, seeing this right now.” He gestured to all the excitement on board the ship. “You know,” he shrugged, “she asked to come along. I could not let her, of course. She does not know of the situation with the plantation. I believe a ship is far too dangerous for a female, particularly long voyages. She longs for adventure, she will be eighteen soon, and is growing restless.” He smiled. “She is a lot like her mother.”
Lucas could relate, he was much the same way at a younger age. “Well, you cannot blame the lass. Boys, waiting to become men, are often times just like that. That is the reason Alaric and I ended up here.” Lucas looked up at the sky then back to the crew. He drained his cup and stood up, stretching. “I will see you first thing tomorrow to make sure you are set to sail.” Lucas turned and opened the hatch, looking back over his shoulder at the Baron. “Enjoy the rest of your night.” He said with a quick nod before ducking under the deck.
Lucas laid in bed, tired, but sleep evaded him. Something was bothering him but he did not know what. He felt uneasy about the parchment he was to deliver and after all the Baron had divulged, he felt even more uncertain about the Governor’s order. The Governor was hiding something. Clearly there was someone he wanted for the Plantation for one reason or another. Lord Benedict was obviously doing all he could.
Lucas sat up and swung his feet off his bed. Not bothering to pull his boots on he headed for the hatch. By the sound of it everyone, except the men on duty, were asleep. He strode on deck, pausing as the cool sea air hit his face. He rubbed his hand along his stubbled jaw. Gray, one of the new recruits high in the rigging, was keeping a close eye out for storms and approaching ships. The small waves hit against the hull of the The Trinity. There was a large splash, he turned but did not see what hit the water. By the sound of the splash and the force behind it, it was a whale, breeching the surface. He had seen whales leap from the ocean depths before, it was quite the sight, and certainly not one you are to forget in a hurry.
He spotted a figure with slender shoulders leaning up against the railing. He walked over to the boy. “Couldn’t sleep either? Or is the sea sloshing in your stomach again?” The boy jumped at the sound of his voice but did not turn around. Lucas stepped up to the railing beside the lad.
“Did you see the whale?” Allen spoke quietly.
“Aye, I did not see him but I heard the splash as I walked up on deck. Quite a sight, eh?” Lucas leaned over and rested his forearms on the railing.
“Yes, it was. I have never seen anything like it before. I did not realize such large creatures were capable of leaping from the water like that. I had heard dolphins often follow ships and I have seen them once or twice from my window back home.” His voice sounded far off but he now spoke a bit louder.
Lucas stared at the water, at night it looked almost black. “I have had dolphins follow the ship on occasion. It is not often I get a chance to see a whale leap out though. Usually, we see them simply swimming along, letting the sun warm their backs.”
“They are so massive, have they ever attacked a ship?” Allen asked.
Lucas laughed. “Nah, I have heard tales of the Sperm whales being not too friendly towards ships, they can be mighty protective of their waters, but it is not something sailors need to generally worry about.” He said, casting a sideways glance at the boy.
“Will Captain Lester’s ship be sailing on in the morning? Where do they plan to go?” Allen asked.
“Aye, they are on a schedule as well. They are headed to England. They have goods to deliver. Well what is left of them, the pirates took quite a bit, according to the Captain. They will be bringing goods back to the islands and the Baron is in search of a partner for his plantation.”
He felt Allen tense next to him. Allen was staring straight at the water. Something was clearly bothering the boy. “You mentioned your father owns several books. I have a chest in my cabin filled with all kinds. If you want, tomorrow you can look, you are welcome to borrow any you wish. A few of the sailors on the ship enjoy a good book every now and then. Just be sure if you take one out to put it in the logbook. It is sitting in the chest as well.” He thought maybe it would cheer the lad up if he had something to occupy his mind when he was not on duty.
Allen looked up at Lucas then, his eyes shining and his lips moved as if he were trying to speak. Lucas chuckled. “You are welcome.” Lucas looked back at the rolling black water. The stars and moon’s reflections were visible on the the glassy surface. Lucas looked up at the night sky, staring at the lights that broke up the blackness. “Carina,” he said simply.
Allen turned to him. “I’m sorry, what?” His brow furrowed.
“Carina, it is a constellation. Many ships use it in these parts to help them navigate. It is part of the constellation Argo, named after the great ship. Carina means “keel” as in part of a ship.” He paused. “Knowing your stars is important for sailing.” Lucas pointed at the constellation. He put his hand down and stood up. “I’ll show you the chest of books tomorrow, lad. Try and get some rest.” Lucas turned to leave.
“Thank you, Captain.” Allen whispered. Lucas looked over his shoulder; the lad was busy staring up at the night sky.
In his cabin, Lucas moved to his desk though he was not entirely sure what he was looking for. Spotting the parchment, he carefully slid the ribbon off. Laying the letter flat on the table, he realized it was not a letter at all, but a deed, a deed to a plantation. Lucas clenched his jaw, he quickly scanned the document, looking for the name he prayed very much was not on it.
Lord Henry Benedict. Lucas slammed his fist onto the deed. He had felt sorry for Lord Benedict. He had enjoyed his company and dining with him. The Governor’s actions towards the Baron were unjust and it angered him that the Governor was willing destroy a man’s livelihood for his own benefit. It was made far worse by the fact that Lucas was the one that was to carry out the task of delivering the deed to Lord Benedict’s plantation to the Governor’s man in France.
Lucas fumed; he needed a way of getting out of delivering the deed. Of course, then the Governor would take away his Letter of Marque and simply have someone else deliver it. It was simple, do the task for the Governor or lose his Letter of Marque.
Lucas walked to the water basin on a small cabinet and splashed a bit of the cool liquid on his face. He leaned over and placed both his hands on either side of the basin. He had to deliver it whether he thought it right or not, he just prayed that the Baron was able to find a partner in time. Even once he delivered the deed to Monsieur Dupont, it did not mean the man could take possession of the property. If the Baron found a partner in time and was able to get word back to the Governor, the deed to the Frenchman would be void and the Baron would still own his Plantation. Back in Barbados, the Governor had told Lucas, “Know that, while one man on the island might be displeased by my man receiving the parchment, it must be done and will not make a difference to anyone on the outside.”
Lucas looked at himself in the mirror that hung above the cabinet. His hair was falling every which way and his blue eyes were angry. He shook his head and reached for a cloth, patting his face and neck dry. He took off his shirt, tossing it aside and headed for his bed. Feeling more exhausted than before and hoped now he would be able to rest.
