Read Online The Captain by Lynn Collum - Free Book Online

Majesty’s officers showed little concern for those who’d been caught in their sweep for new recruits. They needed men and that was that.
    Drew leaned his head back and tried to concentrate on something other than the pain and the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. But the word “pressed” and all that it meant continued its endless swirl in his brain.
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    The street lamp’s dim yellow glow brightened a narrow stretch of street near the Tower of London. A forest of ships’ masts cluttered the night sky ahead of them as Jacinda and Lili made their way through the dark alley to the Impressment Service’s Rendezvous beside the River Thames. From Thames Street they heard a watchman call the hour as midnight and they paused to listen, but only the sounds of the river greeted them. At this late hour, few lights twinkled at them from Southwark on the far side of the river. The stench of fish, rotting food, and bilge in the water almost overpowered Jacinda. A longing to see the lovely River Axe, so near to Chettwood Manor, filled her.
    Lili squeezed Jacinda’s hand, then put a finger over her lips and pointed to the lone guard, who lounged on a stack of old fishing nets stacked on crates at the wharf ’s edge. The roof of the Impressment barge was just visible in the water below him. A small lantern on deck hung on a peg and illuminated a closed door at the entrance to the cabin below.
    Jacinda’s pulse jumped at the thought of Ben being alone in that dank, dark place. She resisted the impulse to rush the man on the wharf, knowing that such a noise would likely bring others from the Press Gang to his aid. If she got Ben safely back, she would need to find a way to take him to Chettwood. She was no longer a child and could take care of herself, and Ben was getting to an age where he was vulnerable to the dangers of a big city. But first she had to get Ben off that barge. She prayed that whatever Lili had poured into the gin would work quickly.
    The large woman stepped into her role with ease. She patted her hair, then strolled across the damp cobblestones, humming a cheerful ditty, until she reached the wharf. She pretended to spy suddenly the guard, whose wary attention had locked on her the moment she stepped into the glow of the lamplight. The man appeared to be in his thirties and was dressed in the Impressment uniform of ivory canvas breeches, stripped shirt, and blue coat. His round black hat sat low over a bush of dark hair.
    The sound of Lili’s voice barely reached Jacinda in her hiding place.
    â€œWell, and here I was thinkin’ I’d have to drink alone this starry night.” Lili pulled the stopper from the bottle. She pressed the stem to her lips as if she were taking a large swallow. She wiped her mouth, then said, “Oh, and ye be a handsome fellow at that.”
    The ganger licked his lips and grinned, his gaze moving from the bottle to her ample bosom, then back to the bottle. “Yer a fine lookin’ lass. I’d be ’appy to share your refreshment.”
    Lili giggled, then made her way over to where he waited. At the last moment, she pretended to lose her balance and tumbled into the man’s lap. There was a great deal of laughter and Jacinda couldn’t make out what the man whispered to Lili and she wasn’t certain she wanted to know.
    Lili handed him the bottle and whispered into his ear. He took a good swig, gave a hearty laugh, and nuzzled her neck. Jacinda’s cheeks warmed as she watched the man’s hand wander over the larger woman’s curves. She knew she would owe their neighbor a large debt for what she was enduring for them. Lili playfully batted his hand away and said, “Why, yer a naughty one. Lucky me.” He chuckled and again drank from the bottle.
    The next fifteen minutes seemed an eternity to Jacinda as she sat crouched behind the boxes, half afraid to watch what was happening on the crate.