Read Online An Inconvenient Mistress by Caroline Kimberly - Free Book Online
Authors: Caroline Kimberly
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me—if it’s all right with you, sir. To keep him occupied.”
Phillip scowled, annoyed that he was so transparent. “I don’t want that scrap underfoot, Kolton.”
“Aye, Cap,” the big man said, his expression carefully blank. “But I don’t mind. He’s a good lad and a hard worker. Don’t hurt a boy to learn a trade.”
Phillip nodded his assent. Against his better judgment, he asked, “And what of Mrs. Marshall? I hope she’s not too bothersome.”
Kolton’s eyes brightened, and Phillip immediately regretted the inquiry. “I haven’t had any complaints regarding Mrs. Marshall.”
It took all of Phillip’s restraint not to pursue the matter. He hated to press the issue, especially since his quartermaster looked so eager to tell him. On the other hand, Phillip mused, it might be good to know her whereabouts so he could avoid her as much as possible.
“I imagine a woman of such a delicate constitution is languishing in her cabin, succumbed to seasickness and the megrims,” Phillip offered, not believing it for an instant. That horrible little prig had a backbone of steel.
“No, sir,” Kolton said, seeming oblivious to the captain’s obvious discomfort. “She’s hale and hardy.”
When it was clear that more information was not forthcoming, Phillip shut his eyes and shook his head in disgust. He opened them to witness the usually stoic quartermaster’s expression go from curiosity to glee. Kolton was almost grinning.
“Well, Kolton? You so desperately want me to ask, I’d be a cad not to humor you. How is the delightful Mrs. Marshall occupying her days?”
“She’s in sick bay most of the day, helping Doctor Sullivan tend the lads,” Kolton said matter-of-factly.
Phillip chuckled, imagining the grizzled ship’s doctor giving the impertinent lass the thorough dressing down she undoubtedly deserved. The ancient sawbones was the only person on the
Intrepid
more ill-tempered than the girl. Phillip fleetingly considered a visit to his ship’s doctor, but quickly talked himself out of it.
“I imagine old Sully hasn’t taken kindly to having that shrew nurse his patients,” he said, his spirits boosted.
Kolton shrugged a shoulder. “Sully doesn’t seem to mind.”
“She mentioned her father had been a physician, so I suppose she has some limited knowledge,” Phillip conceded with a slight frown. “Still, even if she is able to help in some capacity, the good doctor must find her presence taxing.”
Kolton’s face lit up with his grin. “On the contrary, he seems a bit smitten with Mrs. Marshall. He refers to her as his angel.”
“Mrs. Marshall? An angel?” Phillip scowled. “I think Sully’s finally cracked. At any rate, if she’s in the infirmary she’s out of the way. I was worried she might be a distraction for the crew.”
Kolton cleared his throat, his demeanor serious once again. “Right.”
Phillip narrowed his eyes. “What?”
“It seems we’ve had several epidemics on our hands,” the quartermaster said, shifting uncomfortably. “Most of the lads have paid a visit to sick bay at least once.”
That was enough for Phillip to make up his mind. Without another word, he marched across deck and descended into the depths of the ship to the infirmary. It was bad enough she’d manipulated him into crossing an ocean, but wasting his crew’s time was inexcusable.
By the time he’d reached the doctor’s quarters, with the quartermaster fast on his heel, Phillip’s blood was boiling. The small line of sailors outside the infirmary door—half dozen or so—further fueled his ire. Someone shouted, “Captain,” and the crew immediately snapped to attention.
Phillip grimaced, “You’d all better be dying.” The guilty looks told him all he needed to know. “Anyone in full possession of their limbs and senses best get back to work,” he growled, “or I’ll make damned sure you need a doctor.”
The men scurried off, muttering apologies and excuses,
Phillip scowled, annoyed that he was so transparent. “I don’t want that scrap underfoot, Kolton.”
“Aye, Cap,” the big man said, his expression carefully blank. “But I don’t mind. He’s a good lad and a hard worker. Don’t hurt a boy to learn a trade.”
Phillip nodded his assent. Against his better judgment, he asked, “And what of Mrs. Marshall? I hope she’s not too bothersome.”
Kolton’s eyes brightened, and Phillip immediately regretted the inquiry. “I haven’t had any complaints regarding Mrs. Marshall.”
It took all of Phillip’s restraint not to pursue the matter. He hated to press the issue, especially since his quartermaster looked so eager to tell him. On the other hand, Phillip mused, it might be good to know her whereabouts so he could avoid her as much as possible.
“I imagine a woman of such a delicate constitution is languishing in her cabin, succumbed to seasickness and the megrims,” Phillip offered, not believing it for an instant. That horrible little prig had a backbone of steel.
“No, sir,” Kolton said, seeming oblivious to the captain’s obvious discomfort. “She’s hale and hardy.”
When it was clear that more information was not forthcoming, Phillip shut his eyes and shook his head in disgust. He opened them to witness the usually stoic quartermaster’s expression go from curiosity to glee. Kolton was almost grinning.
“Well, Kolton? You so desperately want me to ask, I’d be a cad not to humor you. How is the delightful Mrs. Marshall occupying her days?”
“She’s in sick bay most of the day, helping Doctor Sullivan tend the lads,” Kolton said matter-of-factly.
Phillip chuckled, imagining the grizzled ship’s doctor giving the impertinent lass the thorough dressing down she undoubtedly deserved. The ancient sawbones was the only person on the
Intrepid
more ill-tempered than the girl. Phillip fleetingly considered a visit to his ship’s doctor, but quickly talked himself out of it.
“I imagine old Sully hasn’t taken kindly to having that shrew nurse his patients,” he said, his spirits boosted.
Kolton shrugged a shoulder. “Sully doesn’t seem to mind.”
“She mentioned her father had been a physician, so I suppose she has some limited knowledge,” Phillip conceded with a slight frown. “Still, even if she is able to help in some capacity, the good doctor must find her presence taxing.”
Kolton’s face lit up with his grin. “On the contrary, he seems a bit smitten with Mrs. Marshall. He refers to her as his angel.”
“Mrs. Marshall? An angel?” Phillip scowled. “I think Sully’s finally cracked. At any rate, if she’s in the infirmary she’s out of the way. I was worried she might be a distraction for the crew.”
Kolton cleared his throat, his demeanor serious once again. “Right.”
Phillip narrowed his eyes. “What?”
“It seems we’ve had several epidemics on our hands,” the quartermaster said, shifting uncomfortably. “Most of the lads have paid a visit to sick bay at least once.”
That was enough for Phillip to make up his mind. Without another word, he marched across deck and descended into the depths of the ship to the infirmary. It was bad enough she’d manipulated him into crossing an ocean, but wasting his crew’s time was inexcusable.
By the time he’d reached the doctor’s quarters, with the quartermaster fast on his heel, Phillip’s blood was boiling. The small line of sailors outside the infirmary door—half dozen or so—further fueled his ire. Someone shouted, “Captain,” and the crew immediately snapped to attention.
Phillip grimaced, “You’d all better be dying.” The guilty looks told him all he needed to know. “Anyone in full possession of their limbs and senses best get back to work,” he growled, “or I’ll make damned sure you need a doctor.”
The men scurried off, muttering apologies and excuses,
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