Read Online Beloved Captive by Kathleen Y'Barbo - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathleen Y'Barbo
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momentary discomforts.’ ”
The repair of the package complete, she searched about for a place to hide it. Finally, she settled on sliding the package into the secret pocket in her underskirt alongside the miniature of her mother. While it was heavy enough to pull at the waist and tug down on the hem, her green overskirt hid the evidence. That accomplished, she rose and patted her front. Unless someone were to breach the bounds of propriety, the package would remain a secret.
Emilie said a prayer of thanks. Papa might have given the money, but she had no doubt where the idea had come from. She then extinguished the lamp and, with one hand clutching the wall, carefully made her way first to the door of her claustrophobic cabin and then onto the deck. After standing near the rail for a few moments, Emilie found the sunshine did indeed help her queasiness, but the wind buffeted her such that she had to repair to the shadows of the quarterdeck.
Other passengers seemed to have the same idea, for none strayed near the rail. Since they left the river and begun plowing across open water, she had seen very few of her dozen or so fellow travelers. Most, it seemed, kept to themselves and their cabins.
A rather sturdy barrel beckoned, and she managed to settle atop it without toppling it in the process. Before long, she’d become so comfortable there that she closed her eyes and allowed the tangy ocean scent to fill her lungs. Her breathing slowed, and a lovely feeling of peace descended.
The ringing of a bell jarred her, and Emilie scrambled to keep from falling. Where was she? Surely she slept in her bed. No, a bunk, that was it.
A second look revealed she still sat atop the barrel, albeit just beneath the upper deck where the watch bell was situated. The bell rang several more times as Emilie collected herself and attempted to slow her racing heart.
Heat flooded her cheeks as embarrassment set in. Panic quickly followed as she patted her skirt in search of the hidden package.
She finally found it hanging much farther to the side than when she originally had donned the outfit. Obviously during her ill-timed nap, her underskirt had shifted with gravity and taken the package with it. Repairing the damage while above deck was unthinkable, but reaching her cabin without being seen seemed unlikely as well. She stepped off the barrel and did her best to hide the bump now protruding from her right hip by removing her bonnet and holding it atop the problem.
With one hand occupied, the other guided her around the corner and toward the passageway from which she’d come. Emilie had gone only a few steps on the pitching deck when the captain appeared on the quarterdeck above.
“A fine morning it is, Miss Gayarre,” the affable captain called down to her. “We’ll be making good time today.”
“Wonderful,” she said as she held the bonnet tight against her side. “If you’ll excuse me, Captain.”
“Indeed, we shall see port sooner than expected.” He lifted his spyglass to peruse the horizon, oblivious to her discomfort. Emilie seized the opportunity to slip away and had almost made it when the captain shouted, “Oh, mercy, no!”
His tone stopped her short. She looked up at the quarterdeck, then over in the direction where the captain seemed to be aiming his spyglass. On the horizon she saw some sort of sailing ship. If she squinted, Emilie could barely make out three large sails.
Nothing about the vessel distinguished it from the others they’d seen during their voyage thus far. When the bell above began to clang again and men scrambled from all points to gather on the quarterdeck, Emilie knew something about the vessel had caused the alarm.
“You’ll have to go below now,” the captain called down to her. “And I’ll have no sightings of you until someone from my crew comes to tell you ’tis safe to leave your cabin. In the meantime, take all safety precautions.”
“Safety
The repair of the package complete, she searched about for a place to hide it. Finally, she settled on sliding the package into the secret pocket in her underskirt alongside the miniature of her mother. While it was heavy enough to pull at the waist and tug down on the hem, her green overskirt hid the evidence. That accomplished, she rose and patted her front. Unless someone were to breach the bounds of propriety, the package would remain a secret.
Emilie said a prayer of thanks. Papa might have given the money, but she had no doubt where the idea had come from. She then extinguished the lamp and, with one hand clutching the wall, carefully made her way first to the door of her claustrophobic cabin and then onto the deck. After standing near the rail for a few moments, Emilie found the sunshine did indeed help her queasiness, but the wind buffeted her such that she had to repair to the shadows of the quarterdeck.
Other passengers seemed to have the same idea, for none strayed near the rail. Since they left the river and begun plowing across open water, she had seen very few of her dozen or so fellow travelers. Most, it seemed, kept to themselves and their cabins.
A rather sturdy barrel beckoned, and she managed to settle atop it without toppling it in the process. Before long, she’d become so comfortable there that she closed her eyes and allowed the tangy ocean scent to fill her lungs. Her breathing slowed, and a lovely feeling of peace descended.
The ringing of a bell jarred her, and Emilie scrambled to keep from falling. Where was she? Surely she slept in her bed. No, a bunk, that was it.
A second look revealed she still sat atop the barrel, albeit just beneath the upper deck where the watch bell was situated. The bell rang several more times as Emilie collected herself and attempted to slow her racing heart.
Heat flooded her cheeks as embarrassment set in. Panic quickly followed as she patted her skirt in search of the hidden package.
She finally found it hanging much farther to the side than when she originally had donned the outfit. Obviously during her ill-timed nap, her underskirt had shifted with gravity and taken the package with it. Repairing the damage while above deck was unthinkable, but reaching her cabin without being seen seemed unlikely as well. She stepped off the barrel and did her best to hide the bump now protruding from her right hip by removing her bonnet and holding it atop the problem.
With one hand occupied, the other guided her around the corner and toward the passageway from which she’d come. Emilie had gone only a few steps on the pitching deck when the captain appeared on the quarterdeck above.
“A fine morning it is, Miss Gayarre,” the affable captain called down to her. “We’ll be making good time today.”
“Wonderful,” she said as she held the bonnet tight against her side. “If you’ll excuse me, Captain.”
“Indeed, we shall see port sooner than expected.” He lifted his spyglass to peruse the horizon, oblivious to her discomfort. Emilie seized the opportunity to slip away and had almost made it when the captain shouted, “Oh, mercy, no!”
His tone stopped her short. She looked up at the quarterdeck, then over in the direction where the captain seemed to be aiming his spyglass. On the horizon she saw some sort of sailing ship. If she squinted, Emilie could barely make out three large sails.
Nothing about the vessel distinguished it from the others they’d seen during their voyage thus far. When the bell above began to clang again and men scrambled from all points to gather on the quarterdeck, Emilie knew something about the vessel had caused the alarm.
“You’ll have to go below now,” the captain called down to her. “And I’ll have no sightings of you until someone from my crew comes to tell you ’tis safe to leave your cabin. In the meantime, take all safety precautions.”
“Safety
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