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chapter
4 4
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January 1864
“I am very sorry indeed, Katrina, but it is absolutely necessary that you leave my home as soon as may be,” Clergyman Franklin said.
“Husband, do not speak to her in such a manner, for what do you speak?” Elizabeth stood up from the table where she sat with Katrina having tea. The clergymen had just stormed into the parlour.
“Wife, we have been deceived by my cousin Alexander Norrington. For he did not tell us the truth of things. He did not tell us everything about this woman that we have taken into our home,” He said.
“Whatever do you mean husband?” Elizabeth said.
“It is quite shocking indeed. In truth, I do not know how we have extended hospitality to such a person,” Franklin said.
“Pray tell what you mean?” Katrina said.
“Only that I have just heard from Lady Patricia who has heard from a relation of her own, that Miss Katrina Proctor is an infamous thief,” He said.
Elizabeth was stunned. She turned to Katrina and then turned to Franklin.
“Husband, this must be some mistake, indeed it must. For Katrina is nothing more than a young woman that is had misfortune,” She said.
“No wife, that is not true. For she was involved in something of the most scandalous nature, she indeed is accused of stealing very valuable jewels from a Miss Eleanor Dawson, while she was in residence for a wedding. The jewels were found in her very own trunk, the trunk of Katrina Proctor,” He said.
“Is this true, Katrina?” Elizabeth asked.
“It is half true, Elizabeth; it is not what you think.”
“There, wife, what did I say to you. This woman is a thief. Of course I should have known that my cousin the scoundrel would ask to house such a woman, for he has always had dealings with fallen gentry.”
“Katrina,” Elizabeth said.
“Do not be alarmed, Elizabeth, clergyman Franklin. That is not the entire truth. I was accused of such a thing, but I did not do it. I am innocent,” Katrina stood tall and proud.
“And yet you were cast out of that home were you not?” He said.
“I offered to leave. I did not like being accused of something I did not do. There is a very long story behind this, but I can see that you have already cast your vote of what you believe to be the truth, clergyman Franklin,” Katrina said.
“You do us a great dishonour by being here, Miss Proctor. I can no longer house you in my home. You will tarnish our reputation as well. Would you like myself and my wife to be associated with a thief, and then to ourselves be accused of being a thief simply because we tolerate such company?” Franklin said.
Katrina looked at Elizabeth, the woman that had been nothing but kind to her. Indeed she did not wish to drag her name in the mud. Nobody deserved that, and no one knew better than herself what the consequences were of having such a thing happen.
“No, indeed I do not want that. You both have been nothing but kind to me. Regardless of my innocence, people speak gossip and it spreads wide, without any notion to someone's guilt or not. I will not have you accused of being thieves simply because of an accusation that was brought against me that is false. I shall leave, as you request,” Katrina said.
“But where will you go, Katrina? You are not due to visit your relations in Hampshire for another three weeks. Surely, husband, we could stand to keep her a little longer, for the damage is already done if we are to have a reputation.”
“No, that is not possible. Now that we know the truth of her, we will be found guilty of such an association; before now we are innocent because we did not know. And Lady Patricia herself has deemed to come to our defence on such a manner and say that she is the one that told us of this information should it come to that,” Franklin said.
“Oh, I cannot abide by this,” Elizabeth said.
“It is alright, Elizabeth. I shall be able to take care of myself somehow or someway,” Katrina said, knowing that she had been in many situations best far in her life. Indeed she was stronger than she ever was before. She was no longer the young girl that left her small village lost and confused. Now she had the strength and the will to survive.
“Now Miss Proctor, if you will go and pack your belongings. I wish you out at first light tomorrow,” Franklin said. His chin was in the air in a very stubborn manner, and Elizabeth look to him with pleading eyes.
“I shall go pack as you say,” Katrina said and left the room.
It did not shock her at all that she was being kicked out of her home, for this had happened many times so far. She never had a true home, not like the one she had in her small village with her own family. But even that did not belong to them, it belonged to Lord Gavin and as soon as he was able, he kicked them out as well. Katrina knew she only had herself, and in some way that was a kind thought; at least she had that much.
A few hours later, she heard the arrival of a horse, indeed trotting very fast. She looked down from her window and saw the post rider stopped in the front of the house. Elizabeth handed him a letter and some coin. Then the rider mounted his horse and rode off just as quick as he had come.
Katrina thought that it was a bit unusual, for it was very rare that anyone had direct mail. Often she walked with Elizabeth into the village in order to send the weekly mail and receive it. But it was no business of hers. She had packed, and was ready to leave the next morning, so she had no plans other than to make her way into the village. Perhaps then she could find work and room and board for the next three weeks before she went out to Hampshire to join the Douvaine party.
Later that evening, after the house had gone to bed, there was a light tapping at her door. Indeed Katrina was not sure if she had imagined it or not. She moved from the bed and opened the door slowly. Elizabeth whispered and quietly came in.
“Katrina, I must speak with you.”
“Elizabeth, I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused. Believe me when I say that I am innocent of such a thing, but once a woman's reputation is ruined, it is ruined forever.”
“Yes, I am quite aware of it. It is why I am married to Franklin,” Elizabeth said with sadness in her eyes.
“What ever do you mean, Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth grabbed her friend's hands and let her over to the bed to sit down. “ I have never told anyone this, but I consider you a true friend dear Katrina. And since you will be leaving, I guess there is no point in hiding.”
“You have my sworn secrecy,” Katrina said.
“I married Franklin, but I do not love him. Indeed, I know that there is not love in many of the marriages that we are forced into. But I was someone that was in need of a comfortable home, I will not go into my dark past. But I had to make a decision, and Franklin was there. I took his offer of marriage simply for the comfort of a roof over my head and food in my belly. Indeed, no one expects the wife of a clergyman to be anything more than angelic. It has done me well. I will not trouble you with my past, but I often do not agree with my husband. We are completely different, and if it were just I hear you could stay as long as you wanted. But it is his home, but I have made arrangements for you.”
“For me? Whatever do you speak of, Elizabeth?”
“I have sent word to my brother in Rainham. He is a captain on a ship, Captain Jenkins, and he makes port there.”
“Your brother? I am confused, Elizabeth,” Katrina said.
“There is a wagon coming through the village tomorrow. I have sent word that my friend would be paying for a lift on the wagon to the docks of Rainham.”
“Elizabeth, slow down. I do not know what is happening. Why would I go to your brother?”
“My brother is a good man. He does not care for such things as reputations, for a captain sees a lot of mischief all over the world. Such things he does not care for. Not to mention that he would do anything for me his sister. He does not question when I send word to ask things of him. I have sen
t word earlier today that he should be expecting you. He has a very large ship with many cabins aboard. He shall give you one for three weeks’ time until your friends are ready to receive you in Hampshire. Indeed, he often makes sail around the coast down to Portsmouth. If that be the case then you are in luck. Portsmouth is in Hampshire, and from that town you can take a carriage to your friend's home.”
“Portsmouth?” Katrina said. For she never wanted to return to that town ever again. It was the beginning of her misadventure of having being sold to a brothel.
“Yes, but that is only if he has a voyage to that port. If not, at least he can house you on his boat until you are ready to make your way to your friends. Oh say that you will do this? It is the least I can do, and I cannot bear to think of you out there alone without any sort of plans or accommodations. This is my husband's doing, and I will not allow it to make you destitute.”
Katrina grabbed her hand, and smiled. “I will. Thank you so much, Elizabeth. I am ever grateful. You cannot understand how much this means to me. I will go to your brother, the Captain.”
“Oh, good. That makes me ever so happy. Now I must return to my room or my husband will know that I am gone. Take this. It is another letter to my brother, so that he knows that it is you.” Elizabeth gave her friend an embrace, and then quietly left her room.
Katrina was shocked by her good fortune of meeting someone such as Elizabeth. She wondered what the woman had been through herself in her past. But she was very glad that she would now have a roof over her head until she was ready to depart to meet her old friends in the country. Once again, pushed out of her home for a new one, but this one was on the water – how strange it would be!
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chapter
4 5
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The wagon jostled as it hit a hole in the road. The ride was very rough, and it had been years since Katrina rode in an open wagon filled with farm goods. Indeed it reminded her of her mother and father. For this wagon cart was much like the one they used to take to the market town to sell their goods. But this time, she did not cry when she thought of her family. For she was very much appreciative of the time that she had with them. She would not take that time for granted now, now she knew that it was very special. She smiled as she enjoyed the passing countryside on the back of the wagon. She felt like the young girl again, riding through the country with her father, but she was much stronger than that young girl had been.
Now for the first time since she left her family farm, she had real plans for herself. She knew what she wanted. She didn't want to be an actress. She didn't care if she had a reputation in society. In fact she didn't care if anyone knew her at all. But what she did want more than anything, was a plot of her own. She would need to figure out a way to earn some money. Perhaps maybe even steal it. Since she was known as a thief, she might as well become one. She wanted to buy a small plot of land to have her small cottage into grow vegetables and crops. Perhaps even have a few small goats. These were the simple things in life, and she now knew just how precious they were to her and how happy it made her.
The road to the town was rough, but she enjoyed it that way. But as there was quite a lot of time to get to the town where she would meet the brother of Elizabeth, her mind began to wonder. And just as ever, whenever her mind had time to contemplate, it immediately went to the face of Mason Byers. How handsome he was when she first laid eyes upon him in Portsmouth. She had been through a lot with him, and indeed she did not regret the time in his company. She only regretted that she allowed him to get too close to her at the wedding. She had already known that he was a rogue. In fact, when he first met her that night at the brothel, he warned her when he said that gentleman of high society were very selfish indeed, and he had proved that when he did not stand up for her. He had warned her and she did not take that warning, how foolish she felt now.
“There it is miss, the port town,” The farmer that pulled the cart said. Katrina turned to look up ahead. It was a very small village along the river that swept out to sea. The smell of sea air hit her face, and she was very glad to be in the company of a captain that was not going to judge her, even though she was very anxious to be on a ship full of a crew. It was highly improper for a woman.
“I am searching for Captain Jenkins; can you show me to his ship?” Katrina said as she walked up to the Dock Master Podium. All ships had to be logged on arrival. He opened his ledger and looked down rows and rows of writing.
“It is that one miss. The one with the blue and white flag.” He said.
Elizabeth turned and saw a very large ship flying a blue and white striped flag. She found it very confusing. With such a big ship, the captain must have a lot of money. Then why would Elizabeth have to settle for clergyman Franklin if her brother had money enough to support her?”
“Thank you kindly.” She said and walked down the dock toward the ship.
“I am here to see Captain Jenkins, he is expecting me. I am a relation of his sister Elizabeth,” Katrina said as loudly as she could as she shouted to the crewman on the deck of the ship. He waved in acknowledgment and disappeared inside the large cabin.
Then she did something that she had promised she would not do. She scanned every single flag for deer prongs. It was very possible that Mason had his ship in this porch. He was a captain after all and was constantly on the move. But she had made a promise to herself that she would not look for him when she arrived at the port. Unfortunately she did not keep that promise to herself.
After searching every flag pole, his family crest was not to be seen. Relief and disappointment combined inside of her. Oh how that man hunts my thoughts.
“Miss Proctor!” a burly voice shouted.
She turned to see a man walking down the gangplank of the ship toward the dock. He looked just like Elizabeth, though much older, around the age of 50. But he had the same features as she did.
“Captain Jenkins, I am delighted to meet your acquaintance. Your sister speaks highly of you,” Katrina said.
“She would,” He said.
“She bid that I deliver this to you,” Katrina pulled the letter out from her bag and handed it to him. He quickly opened it and mumbled to himself half reading out loud.
“Yes, yes as she said in her previous letter. Elizabeth is one for words, a lot of them. You are in luck, miss. We are in this port for one more week while I await my shipment to be ready. Then we set sail for Portsmouth, where I will stop to wait another ten days complete to load another shipment before continuing on to Cornwall. Therefore I can take you in and to Portsmouth in a week's time.”
“Thank you kindly, that is most fortunate. You do me a great favour, sir.”
“No, I don't. I do my sister a favour, as always. But I love my little sister and do anything for her. Even if she did marry that stupid ass. Now come, follow me, I will take you to your cabin. It isn't much, but it is safe and locks from the inside. Lucky for you, my men are off the ship for the most part. They are not a rough lot, but when you're out at sea for months, things can change. We have been at port for a month now, so they have got their fill of debauchery. They will be respectable to you or I shall have their hands.”
“Thank you sir, I value your protection.” Katrina said nervously at the words that she did not know what to make of. Was she safe on this ship or not? But she did not have a choice, there was no other place for her to go.
“This is your room. Here is the key for when you want to walk the deck. I suggest you lock the door behind you. I will bring food and water to your room. Settle if you please.”
“Thank you again.”
Katrina found her cabin rooms very agreeable. They were simple and had all that she needed, a bed, a table, and a privacy area all to her own with a chamber pot.
Life on the boat was simple and she enjoyed the company of the captain, because he did not care about Society one bit. He was her folk; the kind she grew up with in the village and reminded her of a farmer.
She was very glad for his company though he was a man of few words.
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4 6
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After he received the shipment that he had been waiting for, the ship set sail out of the port and into the open ocean.
“I have never seen anything so beautiful,” She said, as she stood next to the captain when they hit the open water.
“Be careful miss, that is how a sailor is born. With those very words,” He teased her.
She laughed and allowed the spray of the sea to hit her face. The wind and salty air was refreshing. But what she enjoyed most was being free. There was no one to judge her. There was no one to take her home from her or call her a thief. And most of all there was no way that she would run into Mr. Mason Byers. She could get used to this; being out on the open water was freedom, and it was addictive.
The ship only took a day and a half to make it to Portsmouth, which she hoped would be a longer journey, simply because she did not want to return to that port town. It held nightmare memories for her. Would anyone recognize her as the courtesan from the brothel that she was in her? Or what if Mr. Dunbar saw her and tried to capture her once again? All of these things made her feel very nauseous, and before they made port, she found herself hurling over the side of the ship, giving up her lunch.
“That is quite interesting. Most that are going to get seasick do so as soon as we set sail. But yours was delayed, Miss Proctor,” The captain teased.
Of course he did not know what was truly making her ill; just the anxiety of having to make her way into Hampshire by way of Portsmouth.
“And how will you Journey from Portsmouth to Hampshire? You are relations are expecting you? Have they sent a carriage for you?”
An Alone and Destitute Girl (#3, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 20
