Authors: Heather Manning
Lady Trenton's face flushed to a comely pink. She clambered to her feet, but tripped on her voluminous gown.
"Blast these skirts," she muttered. Caspian chuckled at the word “blast” coming out of those pretty pink lips.
"Shame on you, Lady Trenton. A lady such as you should not use such loose language. Surely 'tis most improper." Caspian suppressed a grin at her reaction.
Lady Trenton gave him a deadly glare. The woman ceased struggling with her skirts and tried to rise quickly. In the process, she whacked her head against the corner of his desk.
After a moment of looking dazed, she crumpled to the floor in an unconscious heap.
Caspian immediately sobered and stooped down to take her limp form in his arms.
After a second, her head jerked up, and she struggled against his grasp. Caspian gently laid the woman on his bed. She moaned and curled onto her side, mumbling something incoherent.
He placed his hands on her shoulders to keep her in place lest she injure herself. “Stay still, milady.” He ran a hand over her head near her wound and was horrified to find that a portion of her brunette curls was already matted down with slippery blood. An all-too-familiar metallic scent slithered its way up to his nose. Blood. No, no, no!
“Papa? Papa, what is wrong with Miss Eden?”
“Reed, now is
not
the time for your questions. Go get the surgeon.”
The child ran out the door, his face white.
Caspian followed suit and sped out of the cabin. Memories flooded back, haunting him. Memories he had tried to push aside through the last five years. Isabelle lying in his arms, the blood from the wound on her chest dripping down her neck into her honey-colored hair. He hated blood.
Caspian snapped out of his thoughts like a sail snapping in the wind. Lady Trenton.
"Davis! Come at once!" The ship’s surgeon was definitely needed. "It is an urgent matter, Davis!"
He huffed when the surgeon did not come instantly at his bidding. Why could the man not hurry for his captain? There was an injured lady who needed his assistance immediately. Caspian ran a hand through his hair.
Finally, Davis eased up the companionway. Reed was trailing behind him, tears running down his face.
"What on earth took you so long, man?" Caspian hurried Davis down toward the door of his cabin. “By all rights, I should have you punished for such sluggishness.”
"Sorry, Cap'n. Johnstead was sick, and I was tending to him. A fever seems to be spreading among the men."
Caspian grunted. Johnstead would live. Eden was hurt. He could only hope she would fare the same as Johnstead and not sustain a permanent injury from his own idiocy. His youthful impetuousness had injured another young woman in his care before.
Once they reached the cabin, Caspian stepped aside in order for the ship’s surgeon to enter first so he could tend to the lady. A look of bewilderment crossed Davis’s face when he saw Lady Trenton resting on the bed. Her eyes were closed. Caspian assumed she had fainted again or simply fallen asleep.
"I-I wasn’t aware I’d be tending a lady for you, Cap’n. Besides, she shouldn’t really be aboard. Don’t you know ‘tis bad luck?”
"Yes, you will be tending her, you insolent jackanapes. She is not bad luck at all, and you had better see to her immediately and ensure that she is all right, or I will personally throw you overboard for the sharks to feast upon your carcass. Then you may be able to spare a moment to consider your luck!" Caspian regretted being so harsh with his crew, but he was upset and worried over what would happen to Lady Trenton.
Reed stood next to Caspian, unusually silent.
"Aye, Cap'n. What’s happened to ‘er?" Davis scratched his chin as he studied the woman. He seemed relatively unaffected by his captain’s strong words.
Caspian decided Reed should not stay in the room. “I will tell you what Master Davis determines.” He nudged Reed toward the door.
“But, Father, Miss Eden…” Reed lifted his tear-stained gaze to his father’s.
“She will be all right, Reed. Go above while Master Davis examines her.”
Reed squeezed Lady Trenton’s limp hand and reluctantly walked away.
Davis began to examine the woman’s wound. “What ‘appened to ‘er?” He repeated.
"I would assume any simpleton could see she has hit her head, you fool. She fainted afterwards."
Caspian watched as the surgeon shook his head but cleaned her wound and wrapped a pristine white bandage around her head.
“It doesn’t need stitches, but she does have a nasty cut. I think if we change this bandage every day or so she will be all right. The cut will hurt terribly for her, though. And it will feel worse if she touches it, Cap’n.”
A red spot blossomed on the cloth, marring its immaculate white color. Caspian grimaced at the sight. The cloth was tied firmly against her tender wound. He was glad the woman was unconscious while being examined, for he knew it would hurt a great deal if she were not.
****
Ivy watched as churchgoers, all dressed in their finest, passed by her. This was one of the few places the wealthy and the poor came together. She gazed at all of the peasants exiting the church down the stairs, their clothing drab, plain, and worn. Even after her father’s poor business investments, she had never been dressed in anything but the finest silks and satins for church. She closed her eyes, trying to imagine what life was like for those unfortunate people but could not. It was a blessing to live like she did.
A man who she recognized as a merchant sailor moved toward the pew she and Aimee were resting on. The pungent smell of fish seemed to be attached to the man even though he was on land.
Ivy stepped toward Aimee. “Should we ask him?” She whispered, leaning near her friend’s ear.
Aimee nodded, and they both rose. This was the fourth time they had asked a man to assist them in helping find Eden and each time they had been rejected.
Ivy prayed this time would be different.
“Good morning, Captain Hall!” Aimee exclaimed, as if the man were a long-lost friend and not a mere acquaintance. She touched her golden blond hair that was swept up into an elaborate coiffure.
The poor man appeared startled as he glanced from the women to the line of people behind him, waiting to exit the church.
“The same to you, ladies.” He turned and started to walk away. Ivy threw a panicked glance at Aimee, who jumped to set her hand on Captain Hall’s arm.
“May I help you, ladies?” He tugged on his cravat.
“Oh, yes, please, sir!” Ivy nudged the man out of the line of church-goers so they did not block the crowd’s flow. “You may have heard, Captain Hall, that our dear friend, Lady Trenton, has gone missing.” She paused, waiting to gauge his reaction. He appeared quite bored.
“Yes, milady, I heard of it. ‘Tis most unfortunate. But why, may I ask, are you informing me of this?” Captain Hall’s gaze shifted to the door of the church as if he were itching to leave.
“Well, sir, Lady Dawson and I were wondering — hoping —you would assist us in finding her. We wondered, since you have a ship, if you could search for her? If you wanted, we would come along, and we would pay you handsomely, I assure you. We think we know where she was going,” Ivy supplied.
“I’m sorry, ladies, but I think it is pointless. A pretty, wealthy girl like her can’t have gone far. Certainly you’ll find her on your own. With my business, I’m far too busy to be wasting my time with things like a little lady who got herself kidnapped. Someone should offer a ransom soon. Now, I have work to do, so if you will excuse me, please.”
The man ducked back into the line and was gone before either Aimee or Ivy could respond. They sank back down onto the pew.
“What are we going to do, Ivy? No one will ever even take us seriously. We
need
to find her.” Aimee seemed close to tears. Ivy took her friend’s hand.
“It will be all right, Aimee. Look, there is Captain Emery coming towards us. Surely he will be able to assist us. Eden has known him since she was a babe.”
Chapter Eight
"So, as you can see, sir, we are in desperate need of your help." Lady Shaw’s brow crinkled as she talked.
Captain Matthew Emery sighed. He did not like to get himself involved with women and their problems. The majority of the gender, from what he had witnessed, was deceitful and only cared about acquiring wealth.
"Please, sir. Don’t let Lord Rutger harm her. You are the only one who has even been willing to listen to our pleas. Help us find Eden, please," begged Lady Shaw.
Lady Aimee Dawson leaned toward Matthew, fluttering her fan. Her sweet lavender fragrance wafted over him.
He could not resist a glance down at the woman's glossy golden curls. How could he say “no” to those sweet, jade eyes and that pink pout? Besides, he truly wanted to help Eden. She was a good, kind woman and did not deserve to be treated cruelly by an unwanted suitor. What made it all the worse was the suitor was Lord Clive Rutger — a man Matthew knew from personal experience could be rather inhuman and uncaring. The man hated anyone who did not have a title or who was not as wealthy as him. Matthew had been treated coldly by the earl more than once. Eden deserved far better than a man like that.
And, perhaps, just maybe, once he found her dear friend for her, Lady Aimee Dawson would reward him just a little bit instead of looking down her snooty, upturned nose at him.
Matthew jerked away from her. What was wrong with him, allowing such traitorous thoughts to pass through his head? He did not want to have anything to do with Lady Dawson, spoiled little brat that she was. Besides, he needed to have his ship careened. It was past time to do so, and if he went much longer without it, the
Cross’s Victory
would be sailing a lot more slowly. But he knew the right thing to do was help the women find Lady Trenton. He did not want her to be abandoned and abused like he was as a child. She did not deserve that. No one deserved that.
"Yes, I will gladly assist you. Where were they heading for?" His merchant work would be requiring him to sail to the Caribbean sometime soon anyway. He might as well help the women while he did so.
"Thank you so, so much, Captain Emery!" Lady Dawson cried, nearly leaping up and down. It looked like she was about to give him a hug so he stepped away quickly. Matthew remembered when he had first attended the church and seen Lady Dawson, her golden hair in braids. He distinctly recalled an occurrence where she had selfishly ripped her doll out of another child’s hands, refusing to share. Matthew had always been mesmerized by her beauty and yet appalled at how spoiled the young woman was.
"They were going to Port Royal, Captain Emery. We must set sail immediately; I heard Lord Rutger started off on the voyage last night. We need to hurry if we wish to find Eden before he does." Lady Shaw pushed a tendril of hair behind her ear.
"We?" Matthew questioned. He had not agreed on the women accompanying him. It could be dangerous, and they could be a distraction to his sailors.
"Yes, Aimee and I must join you, of course," Lady Shaw explained patiently, glancing over at Lady Dawson.
"I will not have it." Matthew crossed his arms across his chest. A merchant ship was no place for two lovely ladies.
"Please! We must be there for Eden." Lady Dawson’s pretty pink lips formed to make both an adorable yet ridiculous-looking pout.
Mathew rolled his eyes.
"I will not put you women in danger aboard my ship." A deep, sudden sadness weighed on Matthew’s chest. It upset him to refuse to take these ladies with him, but he did not want them hurt.
"Please, sir, we will pay for our way. You truly can't refuse us.” Ivy held out her reticule and cocked her eyebrow.
"No, it is not about the money, Lady Shaw. Besides, I own a merchant ship, not a passenger ship. You ladies—“ he truly meant Lady Trenton and Lady Shaw; he did not know Lady Dawson besides what he had seen from her while he stood in the background, “—are practically my family, you have helped me so much. I have none of my own." Lady Dawson was never one to help or care about anyone other than herself.
How could Matthew refuse to try to help save Lady Trenton from Lord Rutger? She had befriended him far more times than he could count. He knew the right thing to do was help, and the ladies were not going to take no for an answer. Surely nothing dangerous would happen if they went on his ship just this once. Besides, they would be helpful in assisting him to search for her. Well, Lady Shaw might. So far, he was not yet convinced of Lady Dawson. Nonetheless, he knew his answer, whether he liked it or not. "You women are welcome any day onboard my ship."
****
Caspian sat in the armchair he had pulled up next to Lady Trenton's bedside, elbow planted on his knees, chin resting on his palms. His late wife’s Bible was perched on his lap. He had uncharacteristically taken to praying for Lady Trenton days ago. The little lady was always so certain her God was with her constantly that Caspian thought he had better check in with her heavenly Father, just to make sure He was remembering her. Caspian glanced over at the angel sleeping on his bed. Umber curls cascaded down her back. She groaned and rolled over in her sleep. Her dark, thick lashes fluttered.
He dropped his arms and raised his head, depositing the Bible on his desk. Her pretty brown doe eyes opened and then soon grew wide with fear and shock.
Thank you, God, if this was truly Your doing.
"Where-where—“ she stammered, struggling to rise. “Are you going to… to…” She gave up and finally sank back down onto the bed.
"Shush, sweetheart, it's all right.”
She was either in an extremely groggy state or did not notice the endearment he threw her way, for she gave no objection. From the frightened look in her eye, all her old fears of being beaten had made a resurgence. He decided to placate her, “I would never hurt you. You are in my cabin, and you have hit your head on my desk. It might take a while for you to remember everything." He gently took her hand in both of his. The softness of it almost made him smile.