The Sea Hawk (16 page)

It is a long journey and my sister wishes for Joaquin to continue his studies."

"I would rather stay on board the
Northumberland
with you and Kitty. But I assume that choice is not mine to make," Julia frowned.

"I will relay your request to
Faucon
if you wish."

Standing and rubbing her hands together briskly, Julia shook her head. "No. But please convey to the Captain that I do not wish to have her lover anywhere near me."

"Esperanza will be punished, I assure you,
Mademoiselle
. She has left
Faucon
little choice."

"What do you mean by punished? Banished from the Captain's bed?" Julia smirked.

"For what she did to you, my sister can no longer trust her. It is nothing for you to be concerned with. It is Simone's decision. She will carry out the punishment herself."

Turning to face him as he stood, Julia asked, "Where are they?"

Glancing at the ships lolling in the cove, Anton nodded toward them. "Aboard
Le Faucon
. Esperanza will be sent to another vessel afterward."

Julia felt panic as the meager breakfast began to rise up in her throat. "Take me there! I must speak to the Captain."

"I cannot.
Faucon
has ordered--"

"I don't give a damn what she ordered," Julia said as she grabbed his shirt. "Take me to the ship immediately!"

"Prepare your things,
Mademoiselle
. We will be leaving soon," Anton said coldly, pulling her hands from his shirt.

"Shit!" Julia muttered to herself as she looked around. Running as quickly as she could, she intercepted a long boat being pushed away from the shore.

"Which ship are you going to?" she asked in English and French.

"
Le Faucon
," one of the men answered, looking at her appreciatively.

"Take me to the ship immediately!" Stepping onto the boat, she said, "And set a world record rowing pace." When the men looked at her dumbly, she raised her voice.
"Vite! Vite!"

IT SEEMED AN eternity passed before Julia made her way onto the deck of
Le Faucon
, cursing the clothing she was wearing. She would have given anything for her old cargo pants to allow her more freedom of movement. Crewmen were untying the ship's sails and storing materials being brought aboard. She grabbed the arm of a passing older man. "
Faucon
. Where is she?" When the man didn't answer, she shook him. "Where is
Faucon
?"

Quietly he answered, "Below." Then he pulled his arm away and went quickly to the railing to help bring material from the long boat on board.

Julia ran across the deck and made her way to the ladder leading down toward the hold, searching quickly as she moved farther down into the ship. When she couldn't go any lower, she stopped to catch her breath and heard the sickening snap of a whip and a muffled cry.
No!
She moved toward the sound until she reached the farthest end of the hold. She stopped, not wanting to believe the scene in front of her. Esperanza's hands were tied around the stern capstan. Three bleeding angry lashes striped her exposed back and her body shook. Simone stood a few feet behind her, preparing a small whip to strike again.

"No!" Julia screamed. She dashed toward Esperanza and stood between her and Simone. "How can you do this?" she seethed, turning to face Simone. "It's barbaric!"

"If you do not wish to take her place, you will return to the deck immediately," Simone said coldly.

"Why are you doing this? Because of last night? Surely it cannot warrant this," Julia pleaded. "Nothing happened. I am fine."

"Leave!" Simone ordered. Julia had never heard Simone sound so menacing. Suddenly, she could believe the woman was capable of much worse than killing.

Standing her ground, Julia stared into Simone's eyes. "No," she said, her voice low.

Simone drew her arm back and swung the whip forward. Julia hoped Simone would stop the whip before it struck, but it lashed across her upper arm, cutting through the thin material of her blouse and drawing blood. Julia's hand flew up and covered the stinging cut. She sucked in a breath and squeezed her eyes shut. A tear trickled down her cheek as she opened her eyes again and stared resolutely at Simone.

"Go," Esperanza whispered. "Do not shame her."

"I am the cause of this and will not see you suffer for it," Julia responded, dropping her bloodied hand and lifting her head slightly, challenging Simone to strike her again, hoping the blow wouldn't come.

Simone glared at Julia for a moment before turning and stalking away. Letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, Julia moved to the far side of the capstan and worked the thick rope around Esperanza's wrists loose. As Esperanza rubbed her wrists and began drawing her dress up over her body, Julia gingerly touched the cut on her arm. "How can you possibly love such a woman?" she asked as she winced.

"What I did was wrong," Esperanza answered quietly. "Simone cannot maintain control of her crew if she allows even the smallest violation of our code to go unpunished. I was willing to accept my punishment without judging her."

"But Joaquin. He would hate her for harming you. Doesn't she realize that?"

"Of course, but I left her no choice."

"There is always a choice," Julia said softly. Turning to leave the hold and its damp musty smell now intruded upon by the smell of blood and sweat, she was stopped by Esperanza's voice.

"Simone is fighting against her own desires. She wants you."

Looking at the woman over her shoulder, Julia said flatly, "But
I
don't want her."

Julia considered demanding to be returned to the
Northumberland
, but decided against it. She helped Esperanza leave the bowels of the ship, pretending her injuries were much greater than they actually were. Julia couldn't believe the lengths Esperanza was willing to go to in order to maintain Simone's control among her crew members. If she was capable of beating the woman who shared her bed, anything she might do to them was too horrible to comprehend. Julia saw the look of gratitude in the woman's eyes as the long boat began moving away from
Le Faucon
and toward the waiting sloop. She knew she and Esperanza would never speak of the incident again. As she watched the boat leave, Joaquin came up and leaned against the railing next to her.

"What happened to your arm?" he asked.

"I slipped and cut it. It was a stupid accident," Julia lied, unable to look into the boy's eyes.

"Have you been to New Orleans before?"

"Yes, a long time ago," Julia said. She and Amy spent a romantic weekend in the Bayou City during the Mardi Gras celebration not long after they met. She smiled at the memory even though she felt certain the New Orleans she was now traveling to would look nothing like the one she remembered.

"Joaquin!" a strong voice called out.

Turning away from the railing, he saw Simone motioning for him to join her on the wheel deck. He smiled up at Julia. "
Faucon
is letting me pilot out of the cove."

"Good," Julia smiled. "When we are underway we will resume your lessons." She watched the boy run across the deck and climb onto the bridge, and wondered if he was told why his mother had been sent away. Taking his place behind the large wheel, Joaquin stood in front of Simone who rested her hands on his shoulders as she leaned down to speak to him. The stinging cut on her upper arm brought Julia back from her thoughts about the woman she had been so attracted to as she left the deck to attend to her injury.

Chapter Twelve

WHILE THE FLOTILLA of nine ships of assorted original ownership sailed away from Isla la Margarita, Julia rearranged her meager belongings in her cabin. It would feel strange not to hear Kitty's soft snoring each night. She was told the trip to New Orleans would consume nearly a month and wasn't sure she could avoid Simone for that length of time. But she fully intended to try. Once they arrived in the Bayou City, the Big Easy, the city where one day the motto would become
Laissez les bon temps rouler
, she would be free of the conflicting feelings roiling inside her.

For several days Julia spent her time alone with her thoughts or tutoring Joaquin, carefully avoiding contact with Simone. Her arm would heal, but she was certain it would leave a scar. It was early November and the winds were calm, although cool.

Julia and Joaquin sat on deck discussing political events, a subject that mystified the boy. Julia attempted to explain the differences between the monarchies of Great Britain and France and the democracy of the United States. He asked good questions and she searched her memory to recall who the President of the United States was in 1814. Eventually she changed their studies to English, a subject she felt a little more confident about. As she looked over his shoulder watching him practice writing, a shadow fell over his journal. Squinting against the sun behind the figure, she recognized the tall figure at once. "Captain," she said.

"
Mademoiselle
, may I have a word with you privately?" Simone asked in a subdued voice.

"Of course. Joaquin, complete the line you are writing and we will be finished for the day," she instructed as she stood up and followed Simone onto the wheel deck.

Resting her hands on the railing, Simone watched the ships behind her for a moment. Without looking at Julia, she said, "When we arrive at Bayou LaFourche we will accompany Laffite to a plantation on the German Coast. A few days later I shall escort you and
Mademoiselle
Longmire to the Cabildo in New Orleans to be placed safely in the hands of the Americans."

"Thank you, Captain."

Glancing at the woman beside her, Simone continued, "I also wish to convey my apologies for my behavior at Isla de Margarita. While it is true I was angry, it was no excuse for my actions. Is your wound healing satisfactorily?"

"Yes, it is fine. I am sure Esperanza is recovering as well." Julia saw a glimpse of hurt flicker across Simone's eyes and regretted reminding her of the incident.

"I am sure she is. She and Joaquin will be accompanying us to New Orleans. The boy will want to wish you a safe journey back to your home."

"It has been an interesting voyage, Captain. I want you to know I have appreciated your hospitality," Julia said.

With a laugh, Simone turned to face Julia. "You remain my prisoner,
Mademoiselle
. I would hardly consider that hospitable."

"I--I wish we could have met under different circumstances. You are an...interesting woman."

"Perhaps we shall meet again one day," Simone smiled. "Joaquin will miss you. I appreciate the manner in which you have treated him."

Looking down at the main deck, Julia smiled. "He is a wonderful boy and shall one day be a fine man."

"I hope you are right." There was sadness in Simone's eyes as she glanced at the boy as well. "It would be my wish that he live a long and peaceful life."

"Is there anything else, Captain?" Julia asked.

"No," Simone said, returning her gaze to the sea around them. "It has been a pleasure to know you, Julia."

Julia turned to walk away before she realized it was the first time Simone had used her first name. She liked the way it sounded, with a touch of the captain's French accent, even though somehow it sounded as if it was goodbye.

FOR FIFTEEN DAYS the ships made their way north toward the southern American coast. Although Simone saw Julia from time to time, she avoided her whenever possible. A cautious mood seemed to descend over the crew and they remained vigilant as the ships approached the waters near Jamaica. Simone kept two crewmen aloft during the daylight hours searching the horizon for signs of British ships. If an attack on New Orleans was planned, the British could be expected to patrol the Gulf of Mexico between Jamaica and the American coastline with regularity. Signals were passed among the ships while Laffite and Simone made sure they were positioned to fight if necessary.

The closer they came to Jamaica, the longer Simone spent pouring over her maps and charts. She hoped Anton would not have to be involved in a battle, uncertain of how prepared he was. She taught him much, but knew there was a vast difference between knowledge and application. There were many who let panic set in only to lose everything. She would take
Le Faucon
to the bottom of the sea if it meant she could protect him. She and Laffite formulated a plan for the middle portion of their journey and now she watched calmly as Laffite's ships began moving away from her group. Laffite commanded more heavily armed ships which would have to react quickly in the event her ships engaged the British.

Tired of attempting to second-guess what the British might be up to, Simone rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands and stretched as she rose from the table strewn with her papers. The next two or three days would leave her with little time for sleep and she needed to prepare herself mentally. Leaving her cabin, which was becoming a prison of loneliness, she strolled along the main deck, stopping occasionally to speak to the members of her crew who were passing the time patching sails or checking and cleaning their assigned cannons. She tried to keep her voice light and unconcerned as they chatted. These men were her family and she hoped their eventual reward would be worth the risks they were being asked to take. Her decision to help Laffite in a cause she cared little about promised nothing in return for their effort other than the dubious gratitude of a government which didn't want their assistance. Laffite argued convincingly of the riches that could be theirs if they helped the Americans. She chose to stay away from Laffite's discussion with her captains, not wanting to influence their decision in any way. Now that he had been successful in convincing them to join with the Americans, even temporarily, Simone would do what she could to make the venture a successful one.

By the time she reached the bow she felt calmer. The sea was a beautiful place on days such as these. Despite the knowledge it could turn on them, constantly warning them of its silent power, Simone knew there would be times she would miss it.