Read Online The Secret Diary of Eleanor Cobham by Tony Riches - Free Book Online Page B

countess up the narrow gangplank and wondered when I would next set foot on English soil. Every ship in the harbour was crammed with young soldiers, their equipment piled high. More waited on the quayside, huddled in noisy groups. Men-at-arms stood apart from archers, who in turn distanced themselves from the duke’s mercenary foot soldiers. I was amazed at how quickly the sailors climbed the towering masts to set the sails. The men in command were shouting orders. Sailors were heaving on ropes with a clever arrangement of blocks and tackles to raise the sails and all around the harbour I could see other ships being readied for the journey.
    Horses protested loudly as they were hauled up gangplanks and tethered on the decks. Some of the families of the men had gathered on the quayside to say farewell and I remembered my father’s warning. He had worried when I told him of our plans but knew it was my duty to accompany the countess. That was the first time I met Anne, my father’s third wife. She seemed wary of me, as if I would somehow turn him against her. I remember thinking my father looked older, his grey hair thinning and his face deeply lined. He privately handed me a velvet purse, heavy with gold coins. He told me it was the last of my once great inheritance, so I must guard it well and use it only in an emergency.
    Despite our ship being the largest of the fleet in the harbour, our cabin space below decks was cramped and soon filled with our supplies and belongings. As it was my first time at sea I wanted to be on deck when we sailed, so I put on my cape with a hood that would give me some protection if it rained. I left Jacqueline in her cabin and went to find Duke Humphrey. He was in good spirits, clearly glad to be sailing to France at last, standing high on the stern of the ship talking with the captain, who pointed to the approaching black clouds.
    The experienced sea captain was right, as we had barely cleared the safe shelter of the harbour walls when a violent storm hit us, making the sails flap loudly and causing waves to break alarmingly over the bows. The soldiers on the deck had no shelter and were quickly soaked through to the skin, some hanging over the side to be sick. I was scared the ship would be swamped but the sailors continued on their course and the sea water simply washed off the deck. I gripped the wooden railing with both hands but was nearly thrown off my feet as the ship pitched to one side. I clearly remember how Humphrey put his arm around my waist to steady me. It had been some time since we had been together, so I felt safe in his embrace, although I knew he was no sailor.
    One of the ships to our side turned suddenly in the strong breeze and came straight for us, its sails full and barely under control. I braced myself for the impact but both ships had good men on the helm and passed with a few feet to spare. I could hear the captain shouting for the sails to be reefed and the ship slowly settled back on course. Such near-misses must be commonplace with ships sailing so closely but it made me realise how vulnerable we were, even on this short journey.
    It began raining heavily and Humphrey led me back to the cabin, where we found Jacqueline on her knees in prayer. I saw that Humphrey made no effort to comfort her and he seemed more concerned about my need to change into dry clothes than he was for his wife. I carefully chose an expensive deep blue velvet gown which I had been saving for a special occasion. Humphrey looked at me approvingly once I had changed and took my hand, leading me to the captain’s cabin. I suspected that some of the crew who saw us together could have mistaken me for the countess.
    The captain had a nautical chart spread out on his table and was carefully checking the position of the other ships. The storm had scattered the fleet but the strong breeze was in our favour and their captains showed great skill in bringing them into line again. As one came closer