Authors: Jessa Hawke
“Do I look a little different from the drifter you rescued in the village.”
Annabelle’s eyes observed Charles’s fine clothes. “You do indeed.”
“Annabelle. I’m sure you will be pleased with this news.”
“You have news for me?”
“Yes. Me and the Duchess will be holding a charity ball this Friday. It will aim to gain funding for the library and school that I mentioned the other day.”
“You’re keeping your word?”
“Of course!” Charles sounded annoyed that she doubted his promise. “My word is cast iron. What I saw brought great shame on me.”
“Why would it bring shame on you?”
“These people, these villages. They are the ones who bring me my wealth… yet I have abandoned them. It’s time I came good.”
“Well…” Annabelle felt emotional and wasn’t sure what to say. “I do believe you will be rewarded for your kindness.”
“Also, Annabelle, there was one other reason why I wanted to see you.”
“Yes?”
Charles smiled as he handed over a small hardback book. “I wanted to give you this.”
“What is it?”
“A book.”
“I know it’s a book.”
“It’s titled, Pamela. It is popular novel by Samuel Richardson.” The delight on Annabelle’s face caused Charles to melt inside. “It’s yours to keep.”
“Really?”
“Of course it is. And it’s a privilege for me to give you your first ever book..”
“I never thought it would be possible…” Annabelle thought that she had never felt such emotion. “…to have my very own book.” She suddenly felt faint and rocked on her feet.
“I chose it because the heroine reminds me a little of you…” Charles suddenly leapt to catch a fainting Annabelle. Holding her in his arms, he gently rested her on the floor. He then called for Benoit while he rested her head on his rolled up jacket. “I wonder what the bloody hell would happen when you actually read the damn thing.”
~
The yellow and gold flames painted the small and simple room in shadows. Annabelle felt engrossed in the words of her book. So much so, that the spluttering snores of her father hadn’t affected her. But she then lifted her eyes from the page of her book as her father suddenly stirred from his sleep. “You finally woke?”
“Oh, I didn’t hear you get back?”
“I have been back an hour.”
Jacques turned his head to face his daughter who was sitting on her bed reading from her book. “Then I must get up and heat up your stew.”
“I spotted it upon my return and ate… It’s good that you found such deep sleep. It must mean that the pain in your leg is fading.”
Jacques carefully touched his leg. “Aye, I suppose it felt a little better today.” He then gingerly stood from the fireside chair. “Still, I don’t think it’ll ever be what it once was… unfortunately.”
“Do you need help getting up, Papa?”
“No. I just need to wet my lips.”
“You sure?” Annabelle felt a little skeptical. “I can get it for you.”
“Yes. I have to use my legs or I’ll lose them. “
“You’ve always been too brave for your own good”
“Funny. That’s exactly what your mother used to tell me.” Using his walking stick, Jacques, slowly walked across the room until he reached a large bucket that sat on a worktop. “So, I see you suddenly have a book that isn’t the bible. “Picking up a wooden drinking vessel, he dunked into the bucket of water. “I wish I learned to read.”
“It’s not too late.”
“It is, I can barely see the end of my nose... all those years in the darkness of the mine.”
“Maybe I could read it to you.” Annabelle held the book against her chest. “If you want.”
“That’s a good idea, Annabelle.” Jacques greedily drank from the wooden cup. “I must admit I’m tempted to feel disgruntled that you would fork out for a fancy book when not too long ago we struggled to eat.”
“Papa.”
“But must hold my tongue… as I know you have been through the mill and deserve something special.”
“But Papa.” Annabelle jumped from the bed. “It didn’t cost a penny.”
“You didn’t steal?”
“The Duke gave me the book.”
Jacques placed his cup on the worktop and hung his head. “What does he want from you in return?”
“He asked for nothing.”
“Don’t give me that.”
“But he is a good man.” Annabelle felt shocked at her father’s reaction. “I don’t know what you mean, Papa.”
“He is a libertine. Be weary.”
“He is not, though is he? He is an industrialist. A good man who tells me of his plans for this village.”
“His foremen at the colliery are always full of promises . But when my leg was crushed they did bugger all.”
“Maybe I can mention you to him… I seem to have his ear.”
“All you have is his eye.” Jacques pointed his boney finger towards a distressed Annabelle. “No. You will not say a word. You hear?” He then barked. “Not a word.”
“He sounds so genuine that I believe him.”
“That’s just it. He is like his father. He is successful in business as he is with his women.” Jacques’s hand trembled on top of his walking stick as he returned to his chair. “That is for sure.”
“But all men do? Do they not?”
“That much is true. But I fear for you, Annabelle. You are angel walking this grim earth. You need to live a life of virtue. Do not let this seedy libertine corrupt you.”
Annabelle bookmarked her page with a short piece of card. “Papa, I will be careful. I promise.”
“I have lost a wife. I do not wish to lose my beloved daughter.”
“But his words are always so kind and helpful.”
“Then the man is a wolf who is leading a lamb from its flock.”
~
Inside the grand master bedroom Daniela and Charles busied themselves getting ready for the Charity ball. Staring at her appearance in the mirror, Daniela was finally satisfied with her ball gown. She noticed Charles struggling with his cuff links. “Why don’t you ask Annabelle to fix them for you?”
“Annabelle?”
“Please. Don’t act as if you have forgotten her name.”
“No. I haven’t.” Charles nonchalantly shrugged. “I just want to know why she angers you?”
“Benoit told me she fainted in your arms today.”
“Yes. Would you believe that… over a silly book.”
Daniela barked. “No. Charles. I don’t.”
“Well it happened.”
“You were fondling her weren’t you? With your wicked hands.“
Charles stepped up to Daniela. “I wasn’t doing such a thing.”
“You’re just like your father.”
“I have always despised the man.” Charles placed a hand on each of his wife’s slender shoulders. “Now, let’s put this to bed. We have a show to put on and I wish it to be a success. Now put on your best smile. “He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against his wife’s. “I wish to forget this whole unsavory episode. I suggest you do the same. ”
~
As Daniela expected she found herself alone and forgotten about. She wondered alone the ballroom among a sea of unfamiliar faces. She did not know where Charles was or who he was with. But she no longer cared.
Thinking about retiring for bed, Daniela finally spotted a familiar face. A face she had not seen since her schooling. “Giles… Captain Giles Bradshaw. What are you doing here?”
“Commodore Bradshaw… if you wish to call me by my full title.”
“Whatever you want to call yourself. So good to see you. I never thought...”
“I always told you we would meet again. Can we talk?”
“Yes, of course.” Daniela’s eyes greedily consumed Giles and his navy uniform. She then walked at his side as they walked towards the patio. “I must say, Giles. You look incredibly dashing. Quite the man you always told me you would become. Bravo.”
“I will get to straight to the point of why I am here. I don’t give two jots about the charity… I heard through Maria Goldstein that you were not happy.”
“I am not. But…”
“I must say… It gave me hope.”
“Giles ”Daniela felt shocked by Giles’s frank admission. “You know full well that I waited, and waited.” She felt a rising anger that surprised her. “But you chose the navy over me.”
“Then worry no more. I have now come to take you away.”
“Giles. You’re bloody crazy. It seems that age has not tamed your sense of reckless adventure.”
Giles twisted the tip of his carefully kept moustache. “Such beauty as yours stirs passions in the most placid of men.”
“Giles, you know full well that Charles is related by blood to the crown. You’re signing your death warrant… as well as mine.”
“I have it all worked out.”
Daniela crossed her arms as she prepared herself for another one of Giles’s poorly structured plans. “How so?”
“I have the best warship in the fleet with a loyal crew who owe their lives and riches to my seafaring excellence. We can outrun and outmaneuver anything the king can throw at us. ”
“How do you expect me to believe your tales?”
“My insignia, you don’t become a commodore in seven years if you’re not the best. I command respect even in highest echelons of the admiralty.”
Daniela felt like bursting into a roar of laughter. “You’re going to kidnap me?”
“For not having a better word... yes.”
“Giles. You’re completely bonkers. Seriously so.”
“You love me, you always did.”
“More than anybody.” Daniela raised a hand to her closed lips. She struggled to control a full range of emotions. “But you said no.”
“I just wasn’t ready… But I am now and I have comeback to claim my treasure.” Giles stared deeply into Daniela’s ocean blue eyes. “We will sail for the Mascarene islands and live as privateers. I’ll be king with you as my queen. We will have own little kingdom in paradise. Believe me. I’ve been there. It’s beautiful.”
“You’re as foolish now as you were back then.”
“Daniela. I will fight for you… I would even lay down my life for you. Charles doesn’t even give you his time. Look, where is he now?”
“You do things the hard way, don’t you?” Daniela stepped backwards. “Why didn’t you just say something ten years ago?”
“Because although you didn’t know it… your life was decided by others. I was just a middle class school boy with dreams of fighting on the seas.” Giles then pointed at his insignia. “But now I have respect and the self-belief to know that I can do anything that I set my heart on… It’s set on you.”
“But why do you want me. I am a married woman.. there are a million better and available..”
“But I never stopped thinking about you.”
“Go. Go. Leave me alone. You’re only breaking my heart for a second time.”
“Don’t come now and don’t say a word. But my ship is birthed at Prince’s Dock in Plymouth. She is called Goliath and will sail at noon on Saturday. Meet me there… and I will be with you for eternity. ”
~
Giles stood on the aft deck of his frigate. Standing by his trusted lieutenant, he watched as the last stores were loaded onboard. The lieutenant glanced at his manifest one last time. “Commodore, I do believe that is the last barrel of drinking water… we are now ship shape and ready to sail.”
“We’re not ready, yet, Lieutenant.”
“Sir, the tide is high. We must make haste.”
“Steady, boy. There is a crewmember yet to board.” Giles watched the young lieutenant inspecting the manifest. Shaking his head Giles turned and gazed over the starboard of the ship. As always the docks were alive with workers of all trades. Crates, barrels and livestock littered the dockside waiting to be loaded on to ships bound for different corners of the empire.
Giles’s eyes then widened as he spotted taxi carriage emerging from the corner of a warehouse and then approaching his ship. He made his way from the aft deck. Promise then turned to excitement as he finally broke into a run down the ramp. He shouted as Daniela climbed out of the carriage. “I thought you weren’t coming.”