Pirates and Prejudice (7 page)

After Darcy had
met – and approved – all the men, Foster told the men to remain where they were
while Lockerly had a chance to inspect the ship. The men had been working hard
to get it in shipshape condition.

The four men
boarded alone so Foster could actually acquaint Darcy with the ship without
arousing suspicion. As they walked around, he showed Darcy where things were
stored, the galley, dining hall, hatches, and the cabins on each level.

He then came to
a door and stood there. “Now this, Lockerly, is your cabin, and I must say, it
is quite nice.”

When Darcy
walked in, he was amazed. Lockerly certainly had fine and expensive tastes. He
would not be uncomfortable here. He noticed first the small paned windows that
looked out the back of the ship. Polished wood shelves, a wall mirror, and
mounted desk looked as though they came out of the finest home. Shiny brass
fixtures, from wall sconces to rivets in the chair and bed to hooks on the
wall, reflected the early afternoon light. Plush deep red cushions rested upon
a single chair and the bed. An intricate Asian rug lay across the floor.

Darcy shook his
head and let out a long puff of air. “It appears Lockerly ’as an appetite fer
expensive things!”

“That he does!
Now, there are a few more cabins on this level, but the crew will sleep down in
the berth.” He paused. “There is one more cabin, Dar… Lockerly.” They stepped
out and walked down the narrow passageway. Foster slowly opened the door, and
the men stepped in. Each gasped.

“Who in heaven’s
name is
this
cabin for?” Darcy asked, his refined language sneaking back
in. “No sailor in his right mind would claim this as his own.”

The room had the
same polished wood and shiny brass, but the cushions were a deep pink. Lace
curtains hung across the windows, and a thick rug lay in the centre of the
cabin. A small table, secured to one wall, was covered in a pink tablecloth
with a lace border. A plush cushioned chair sat in the corner, as well as a
wooden chair at the table. A rose-coloured silk counterpane lay over the bed.

“No,” Foster
said. “As you can imagine, this is a cabin for ladies. Lockerly wanted any
woman he brought on board to be comfortable, so he fixed this up according to a
woman’s taste. The door there connects to your cabin.”

“I will have no
use for this!” Darcy exclaimed. He looked at Evans and Lindel. “And I will not
allow any man to bring a woman on board this ship!”

“We shall make
sure the men abide by your wishes,” Foster reassured Darcy.

Foster left
later that evening once he was satisfied everything was under control. He told
Darcy, Evans, and Lindel that he was going to see what more, if anything, he
could find out about Lockerly. He would return as soon as he had additional
information. Or, he would return at the end of seven days when this scheme –
and Darcy’s charade – would come to an end.

Chapter 7

Melanie took Elizabeth up to her room, which the two
ladies were to share, so they could dress for dinner. The room was decorated in
soft blues, with lacy pillows piled high on the bed. A few paintings of the
ocean lined the walls, and a small bookcase held some novels.

“You have a very
nice room, Melanie,” Elizabeth said as she glanced about. She walked to the
bookcase and ran her fingers over the spines of the books. “And I see you are a
reader.”

 “Yes,”
Melanie replied. “I adore love stories and gothic novels. What about yourself?
Do you enjoy reading?”

Elizabeth
nodded. “Indeed, I do, very much. I love historical and adventure novels, and,
of course, sweet romantic stories.” She turned to Melanie with a twinkle in her
eyes. “You may correct me if I am wrong, but do I see a little romance story
being acted out here on the island of St. Mary’s?”

Melanie lowered
her brows and tilted her head. “I fear I know not what you mean.”

Elizabeth leaned
towards her with a sly grin. “Between you and Mr. Adams, of course! I could not
help but notice how well you two get along, and he appears to be a fine, young
man. Quite handsome, too, which is an uncommon advantage in completing a man’s
character!”

Melanie shook
her head, and a blush coloured her cheeks. “Oh, indeed, there is no one finer
than David, but there is nothing of that sort between us. We are merely good
friends, having known each other all our lives.”

Elizabeth drew
back a little as she murmured, “Hmm. I confess I am surprised. I thought I had
seen admiration as he looked at you.”

Melanie looked
down at her hands as she knitted her fingers together. “I think, perhaps, that
he has felt more for me than I have for him.”

Elizabeth pursed
her lips as she thought about Alice Whiting and how she regretted turning down
an offer of marriage because she only thought of the gentleman as a friend.

Melanie walked
to the window, pulling back the curtain. “To own the truth, Elizabeth, my heart
belongs to Robert Mintner, who is currently serving in the Navy. I often come
and gaze out at the ocean from my window, longing to see his ship come in.”

“I hope it is soon.”
Elizabeth said as she joined her cousin to look out. “Melanie! You have the
most beautiful view from here!”

“Yes, I do love
it. But I would love it more if I knew Robert was home and safe.” She let out a
long breathy sigh. “The sea can be so deadly, especially when we are at war
with France.”

“Are the two of
you engaged?”

Melanie slowly
shook her head. “Not yet. But I hope to be once he returns.”

Elizabeth walked
to a chair and sat down. She ran her hands along the arm rests. “Do you know if
your cousin…
our
cousin… David, has an affection towards any lady?”

Melanie reached
out for Elizabeth’s hand. “I think not, and you just say the word and I will do
everything in my power to help the two of you get to know one another while you
are here!”

Elizabeth
smiled. “I think I should like that very much!”

That night at
dinner, Elizabeth was delighted to discover that she had been placed next to
David. He seemed as interested in finding out about her as she was about him.
True to her promise, Melanie was willing to assist in furthering their
acquaintance.

“Tell me,
Elizabeth, what is it like to grow up with four sisters?” Melanie asked.
“Having only two brothers, I cannot imagine it.”

Elizabeth
laughed. “Oh, we are all quite different, both in looks and personality. My
eldest sister, Jane, however, is five times prettier than any of us and at
least three times more agreeable.”

David smiled.
“You make her sound like perfection itself, which I find difficult to believe.
Despite having known you for only a few hours, I cannot comprehend that she
could be prettier or more agreeable than you.”

“Well, we shall
not argue on that, but my position would be easily proven true if you ever have
the opportunity to meet her. I must insist, however, that Jane is the most agreeable
in my family and of my whole acquaintance, as she has the ability to see only
the good in a person while I tend to be a little more severe in my estimation
of one’s character.”

“Heavens!” David
declared with a look of mock distress. “I wish I had known that from the start.
I would have taken better care to leave you with only a good impression of me!”

Elizabeth
smiled. “You have nothing to worry about, my good cousin. I have seen nothing
in your character that has given rise to any objectionable notions!”

“I am most
relieved!” David picked up his glass of wine and looked at Elizabeth over the
top of it. “Most relieved, indeed!”

*~*~*

Elizabeth woke
the next day to the sun shining through the window. The window faced east, and
she quietly slipped out of bed to see something she had never beheld before –
the sun was rising up out of the sea on the horizon.

Wispy clouds
were splashed with colours of red, orange, pink, and yellow. The blues of the
sky ranged from the softest blue, to a deep azure, to an almost navy darkness
as it stretched overhead.

She sat down and
propped her arms on the window sill, lowering her head and resting her chin on
them. She watched in amazement as, before her eyes, the colours in the sky and
water changed from moment to moment.

Elizabeth felt
that if she lived in such a place, she would sit at the window every morning
just to welcome this amazing display of creation. She unwittingly let out a
sigh at the awe-inspiring sight before her, which caused Melanie to stir.

“Elizabeth?” she
said yawning, as she stretched her hands up to the ceiling. “Are you awake
already? Did you not sleep well?” She slowly sat up in the bed.

Elizabeth turned
to face her. “On the contrary, I slept wonderfully. I normally rise early, and
when I looked out the window and saw the sun rising out of the water, I could
not take my eyes from it. It is beautiful.”

Melanie fell
back down onto her pillow. “I always wished I could get up early to see the
sunrise, but I just find it too… early.”

Elizabeth
laughed and peered out the window again, noticing someone walking. After a
moment, she said, “Oh! It appears that David is out for a morning walk.”

Melanie groaned.
“He always does that. You should go join him.”

“I might just do
that, but not today. He will be long gone before I am ready, and chances are
good I would not find him, or heaven forbid, get lost!” She turned back to
Melanie and smiled when she saw that her cousin had quickly fallen back asleep.

Elizabeth went
downstairs a little later and found her aunt and father visiting in the sitting
room.

“Ah, come in,
Elizabeth,” Viola said. “I see that you take after the Bennet side of the
family and know the pleasure of rising early.”

“Of my five
daughters, she is the only one that does,” affirmed Mr. Bennet.

“Good morning,
Papa. Good morning, Aunt Viola. How are you feeling this morning?”

“Tired, as
usual. But I am very happy. I have some of my favourite people here, and that gladdens
my heart.” She took Mr. Bennet’s hand and gave it a quick, frail squeeze. “If I
had more strength, I would take you out on a walk about the grounds and up to
the top of the hill. There is a view from there of the ocean on almost all four
sides of our little island.” She coughed into her handkerchief, and it took a
while to catch her breath.

An expression of
concern flooded Mr. Bennet’s face.

She waved her
other hand through the air. “I am… all right. Just need… a moment.” After a few
minutes she said, “I shall ask Melanie to show you both around. She and David
know almost every inch of this island.”

“I should like
that very much,” Elizabeth said.

Mr. Bennet
winked at Elizabeth and then turned back to his sister. “I should not wish to
intrude on the young people, nor would I be able to keep up with them. I should
very much like to just stay here and visit with you.”

Viola shook her
head. “Nonsense! I know you, Brother, and very soon all the people in this
household shall compel you to flee from its midst.”

Elizabeth
laughed, knowing her aunt was probably correct.

“Well, if that
proves to be true, I shall be content to take my book and find a spot nearby to
read in solitude.”

Viola nodded her
head. “Yes, you always were the reader. There is a bench about half-way up the
hill that has a view of the ocean to the east. You shall find it an easy walk
and a splendid place to get away from all the folly that goes on here.”

As they
continued to chat, more of the family came downstairs and joined them. The aroma
from breakfast being prepared grew stronger, and Elizabeth found herself
greatly looking forward to eating.

David came in
after a while, looking refreshed from his walk. “Good morning, everybody! Did
anyone see the sunrise this morning?”

“Yes!” Elizabeth
said. “I saw it from Melanie’s window. It was a beautiful sight.”

“It is one thing
I have always enjoyed seeing when we come here. But there is nothing finer than
to view it from the top of the hill on a clear, sunny morning with only a
slight breeze.”

Viola waved her
handkerchief in the air. “Yes! You and Melanie must take Elizabeth to see the
view at the top of the hill.”

He turned to
Elizabeth and grinned. “That is a splendid idea. We can have a picnic up there
today, and perhaps we can walk up to see the sunrise tomorrow morning?” He gave
his head a toss. “I am not certain Melanie will want to go. She enjoys her
morning sleep too much.”

“I enjoy what?”
Melanie said as she came in. “What are you saying about me?” She walked up to
David and poked him in the ribs. “I hope it is nothing unkind, for if it is, I
shall be forced to tell Elizabeth about all the pranks you used to play on me
when we were younger!”

He abruptly
turned to Melanie, bracing his hands on his hips. With a smile he said, “You
would not dare!”

“Tell me what
you were saying about me!”

David gave her a
deep bow. “As you wish! I merely said that you enjoy your morning sleep. Do you
think you might join Elizabeth and me on a walk tomorrow morning to view the
sunrise?”

“Only if
Elizabeth is able to wake me up.” Melanie walked over to her mother and gave
her a kiss. “Good morning, Mother.” She then proceeded to greet everyone else
in the room. When she came to Elizabeth, she leaned over to whisper in her ear,
but spoke loud enough for everyone to hear, “Do not let me forget to tell you
about the time David scared me silly when he pretended to have fallen down a
short embankment.”

“He did not!”
Elizabeth exclaimed with a look of feigned shock.

“Yes, well, I
was a silly lad of fifteen who was only hoping for a little
comfort
from
Melanie.”

“Shocking!” said
Elizabeth with a laugh. “Did it work?”

“I suppose it
worked if you consider
comfort
to be Melanie shaking me violently, all
the while screaming for help. I only wanted her to think I was hurt, not dead!”

“Well, you
deserved it for scaring me like you did!”

“All right, you
two,” Viola warned. She turned to her brother. “These two behave more like
brother and sister than Melanie and either of her two brothers ever have.”

Elizabeth
watched the two of them and felt a slight stab of jealousy, as she had never
had a close relationship with a young man close to her own age. Despite
Melanie’s insistence that he was only a friend, she saw something between them
that she truly wished she had.

After breakfast,
the three young people chatted with the family while food was prepared and
packed for their picnic. While Melanie and David had a lifetime of acquaintance
that led to a friendly camaraderie, Elizabeth felt a kinship with the two of
them. They were both fun, teasing, lively, and intelligent, and she knew that
in a week’s time when they returned home, she would miss both of them.

Once they had
the food and supplies for the picnic, they set out for the top of the hill. It was
a mildly warm day, the breeze had picked up, and the salty scent in the air
tickled Elizabeth’s nose. She had never experienced anything like it.

The trio stopped
for a while at a lookout that gave them a view of the eastern sea down to the
south. “This is beautiful!” Elizabeth said.

“Are you getting
tired?” David asked.

“Not at all! I
frequently walk up Oakham Mount, which is not much higher than this.”

“Good! Shall we
continue to the top?” David extended both his arms. Melanie took one as if she
did it all the time, and Elizabeth took the other. He looked down at her and
smiled.

When they
reached the summit, it was true that they could see at least parts of the sea
surrounding the island. Elizabeth wrapped her arms about her and slowly turned,
taking in the different views. Looking to the east gave her a full view of the
sea, while she could see other islands and rocky outcroppings dotting the
horizon in the other directions. Looking down, she could see the waves lapping
up onto the shore.