“You like the feel of me, don’t you? Do you know your way around a woman?”
Still somewhat spellbound, Heinrich was at a loss for words.
“Come on now; show me what else you can do to satisfy my longings,” she said in that same sultry voice as before. Am I not to your liking, captain? Come now; don’t keep me in suspense.”
Whatever it was, he couldn’t exactly put a handle on it, but the entire situation bothered him, when he should have enjoyed it, and he broke off the embrace pulling his hand away and said, “Please Miss Lucy, I ca … can’t do this. You are too lovely, and this isn’t proper. I am so sorry for giving you a wrong impression.”
Lucy’s expression turned into a wild snarl, and she stated firmly, “Well, you ungrateful sailor. I wasn’t looking to be proper. You have insulted me by turning down what could have been a delicious afternoon. What are you? Some sort of a eunuch or choir boy? Look at me. Don’t you realize what I have to offer you? And you turn me down! Well, I declare. Never has anyone done that before. Any other man would have been grateful and quite satisfied.”
She was seething with rage.
Softly he tried to reason with her. “This is not a lover’s rendezvous to me. I’m afraid this is way too early in our friendship to be so brazen. I respect you much more than that. You are a lady of higher class. It is not the proper time.”
She stared back at him with astonishing eyes that could not believe what he was saying. Heinrich continued to bestow her with compliments as a wondrous and fair lady she was and how he would behold her in his sight as such. She, on the other hand, continued to mock him. After a short momentary spell, she ran out of words to say, most likely stunned due to his complete opposite reaction to her charms. She calmed down enough to make a show of straightening out her attire and sat up.
“Let’s just go back to town and pick up Laura,” she demanded. “I can’t say the day has been a most delightful one, Heinrich. I must say, I would never have imagined me with a sailor boy that could not get interested in my overtures even when I practically threw myself in your lap. I thought I had you hooked when we kissed. I almost wish I could explain this incident to father. He would be astounded that a man actually turned me down since he figures me for a naughty girl.”
She began laughing almost deliriously over the thought.
“Oh my, what indeed would father say if he were to find out? He’d have me horsewhipped, and you hunted down with coonhounds leading the chase.”
Heinrich just didn’t know what to make of Lucy’s choice and meaning of her words. She was a mystery of sorts to Heinrich. He had never met anyone remotely like her. She had a wild streak in her; that was for sure.
“You are too much of a refined lady to throw yourself at just anyone man before getting to know him first.”
“Refined lady, mule’s ass!” she remarked in an exaggerated coy tone still wearing her snarl as if it was painted on her face permanently by an artist’s brush. “You believe even a refined woman does not desire sexual escapades once in a while? You think only those slutty types that men hustle at the docks use their sensual attributes? They do so simply for money, while I do so for personal gratification. There’s a big difference in that. I am but a simple country lass hounded by wild sailors with thoughts of amorous plunder, which I happen to enjoy. What am I to do with a bore like you? Do you even have what it takes to send a woman reeling with pleasure? Perhaps not. Oh, forget all this. It’s all been a total waste. Just get us out of here. We must be going now. And don’t you dare even hint that nothing took place when we see Laura. She knows my … let’s say playful attitude, and I pride myself in being able to seduce any man. Just act as you were satisfied, wearing a smug smile and not let on that nothing happened. That’s the least you can do for me. You hear me?”
Heinrich felt powerless under the spell of her charm.
“All right, Lucy. I will do my best to act as you say, but I will also continue to behave as a gentleman should with a lady.”
“Yes, you have made that quite clear. Oh, you poor boy. You have no idea what you missed out on. You could have had your fill of me, but you squandered it away for both of us.”
The ride back into Charleston was a fitful silent one while neither desired to converse in the awkwardness of the situation. They arrived back in the downtown area in a short while and found Laura marking time within a quaint tea room near a window overlooking the street. It wasn’t hard to locate her as they only had to spot Henry standing beside a post in front of the establishment. The large servant was easily seen. Heinrich jumped off the carriage seat and spun around the rear and lifted his hand out to Lucy, who took it with her soft and supple fingers. Henry stepped to the rider’s side and took the reins. Laura looked up and spotted them through the window. She took her time paying before coming out. Heinrich surmised easily that Laura knew her sister way too well and allowed them a couple more moments to say their farewells. Instead, Lucy was more than ready to go and tapped her foot annoyingly on the wooden walkway impatiently.
In the meantime, Heinrich was thinking hard what words to say in farewell to Lucy when her sister would come out to make it sound they had a wonderful time together. Laura came through the door and smiled at both of them.
“You must have had a lovely time together over the past few hours.”
“Yes, indeed we did. Lucy is quite the travel guide around the city and on the outskirts of town,” Heinrich stated with a wink at Laura. He then turned to Lucy and said, “All right, Lucy. I was just beginning to enjoy being together with such a refined lady. The time has surely flown by way too fast in our marvelous time together; especially at the lovely orchard setting.”
“Thank you, Heinrich, for a most pleasurable afternoon. I’m glad you thought so as well?”
With narrowed eyes, Heinrich’s eyes bored into hers, “It was most gracious of you, Lucy, to spend the time with me. Will we see each other again if I return from the sea?”
“Why, of course. I will not want it any other way. I will be waiting and thinking of you under the maple tree at the orchard and remember your response to my … invitation,” she said testily. “Heinrich, do please be extra careful on your journey to the Caribbean as it frightens me so with all the horror stories I have heard. I do want to see you again soon. I will be ready and waiting for the next time in your company.”
She was laying it on way too thick he thought. Then again, he was also.
Heinrich shifted the conversation in a different direction. “Do not worry so much, Lucy. We will be well prepared to meet the worst on our voyage. I will think of your touch daily and will long to return as quickly as I can.”
“Oh, there you go again with your ranting as a wild romantic,” she giggled flirtatiously. You have been sheltered way too long. Or it’s because you spend way too much time with the likes of those tavern women you frequent within every port. I do not know if I could completely trust you, my dear captain,” she said with several lewd winks.
Laura was standing on the wooden sidewalk nearby patiently waiting for them to finish their ludicrous behavior. There were several packaged articles beside her of her day’s shopping, and Heinrich immediately stepped over and picked them up and loaded them in the carriage.
“My, what a gentleman,” Laura stated. “And he did it without having to ask.”
“Now I am convinced you two are sisters; you both share the same mocking habit,” Heinrich commented slyly, but made sure he smiled as he said it to infer he was only kidding.
“Now, now, sir. We ladies have the obligation in this wild new world of ours to ensure that the men have proper manners,” Laura responded. “I hope your afternoon was full with innocent flirtation. At least I like to believe it went that way, not altogether sure knowing the wild, mischievous streak my dear sister can be capable of at any time; especially in the company of such a handsome man as yourself, Captain Drope,” she laid out in a syrupy tone.
“My heart i
s full of noble thoughts, and honorable intent, Lady Laura,” Heinrich replied in an overdone fashion.
Laura gave Heinrich a questionable glance that had thoughts of doubt written all over and then stepped to the carriage. Heinrich always ready to show his manners, jumped to her side and assisted her up to her seat. Lucy was next and took his hand stepping up on the foot rail and sat down.
“Oh, Heinrich. Please take this scarf with you to remember me by when you get lonesome on your voyage.” She handed him her blue silk scarf.
“Ladies, again I thank you for a most delightful day and may we meet again when I return from the sea.”
“We wish a safe journey and calm seas, Captain Drope,” Lucy said and blew a kiss toward Heinrich, who responded with a bow.
“Good evening, ladies.”
Henry swung the reins forward and clicked his tongue a few times, and the horse began to move. Heinrich stood watching them depart until the carriage turned a corner and out of sight, and his feelings were split down the middle. Half of him felt a sad refrain of having to depart the lovely Lucy Bainbridge. The other part was relieved now that Lucy had left. What a ravishing creature of elegant stature and yet with the raunchy touch of mischievous character. He brought the scarf to his nose and smelled the sweet powdered fragrance. Then he neatly folded it up and pocketed it. He didn’t know what to make of what had taken place at the orchard. He just shook his head.
It was early evening, and even though he had spent a full, eventful day, he decided before going back to the ship he was going to find an unscrupulous pub or tavern to help forget the memory of the time spent with Lucy under the maple tree. He decided having a few drinks would help blight the time he had spent on the slope above the city with her.
He walked into one of the many dives the city offered and tossed a few coins on the bar. He didn’t waste time in downing the first of three beer tankards with a thirsty craving. Satisfied, he got up and made his exit.
* * *
After swinging by the tailors to pick up his package of clothes and walking back through the city, Heinrich strode up the gangplank whistling a happy tune, when Otto heard him approaching. Heinrich was typically in a jolly mood, but Otto found him in a most revel attitude as the captain almost seemed to skip up the gangplank and across the main deck, his cheeks bloated with air as he whistled a melodic tune. Sailors nearby stopped what they were busy with and cast their attention toward their captain with spiked interest.
“Back so soon? I didn’t think you’d return until much later tonight or even the morning after an evening of carousing,” Otto remarked after stopping close nearby so not everyone could hear him.
“It didn’t take that long, my dear Otto.”
“Oh, dear. You were one fast sex-starved sailor. And how many wenches did you assault?”
“Not a one. But I did meet a gorgeous lady!”
“You say a … lady? What would a genuine lady of prominence, if I may assume, be carousing with a sailor such as you, and for that matter during the daytime hours?”
“She was indeed a sweet and lovely angel,” Heinrich stated; trying hard to convey the image of a well-mannered lady. “Despite her refined presence, she had the most attractive figure, tantalizing eyes, and oooh … mouth-watering lips that could stop a ship dead in the water.”
“Now I know you must be completely drunk on spirits. No respectable lady would give you the time of day. You must be daft, man, filled with grog.”
“And why would a perfectly sensible lady of character refrain from any interest in me? She was smitten even before I told her I was a captain of my own ship, lock-stock-and-barrel,” Heinrich swooned out the words as if a magic spell forever entranced him. “She could not stop kissing me and holding me in her embrace. Well, that’s not altogether true, but she fell for me as if I was a royal prince.”
Otto’s eyes narrowed, and his face took on a curious expression, “You need to go lay down, my friend, before you trip over yourself and break a leg. Since when did a lady of prominence ever interest you? And what was someone like her doing in a grungy tavern for that matter? I think you were so long without a woman that anyone of them seemed like a lady-in-waiting to you.”
Heinrich was only half attentive to what Otto was saying but continued to play up his act for effect. “We did not meet in a tavern. What I mean is … I mistook an elegant establishment in town for a tavern, and she and her sister were right behind me in line, and then when I was told I couldn’t have a table, she invited me to join her and her sister at one. It was quite grand.”
“Heinrich, now I’ve heard it all. Go sleep off your drunken binge, and I’ll continue to supervise the rest of the work.”
“But, Otto, don’t you believe me? Why would I lie to you about something so wonderful? I must tell you everything.”
“Ja, ja. You must, but first, you go rest in your cabin, and I have to finalize the rest of the tasks if we’re going to sail in the morning. Now go on. I will hear you out later,” Otto shoed Heinrich away and made off before he knew his friend could continue with his made-up fanciful tale, and never be able to finish the work that was left to do. Heinrich briefly quizzically looked at Otto as he strode off down the deck. For the first time now, he noticed a bunch of his crewmen staring at him with grins on their faces. Not wanting to impose on their captain, they all turned away and went back to their work. He still overheard some small laughter and mumbling from some of them as he went to his cabin to change into work clothes. He then sat down and pulled the sea charts closer and began to study them once more before they sailed.
It was later that evening when Otto came to the cabin, his hands holding two plates full with food and Klaus at his heels carrying two tin mugs. They set them down as Heinrich folded the charts and placed them aside.
“Captain, Otto told me that you had your head in the clouds when you -”
Otto gently smacked Klaus upside of his head causing the lad to stop his yapping.
“Hey, what was that for!” Klaus exclaimed while rubbing his head.
“That’s for talking too much and out of turn as well. Now get your little arse out of here and join your young peers. The captain and I have things to discuss.”
Klaus gave Otto a pout and then a harsh look before he went out. Otto shoved a plate across to Heinrich.
“So, we are all set to sail at first light. You were the last one back on board.”
“Well, good job in preparing the ship and crew, Otto. We will definitely sail at first light.”
“By the way, did you take my advice and sleep your drunken stupor off? You seem to be much better now.”
“Nein, I didn’t. I wasn’t drunk. You still don’t believe me about the ladies I met.”
“Heinrich, why do you go to such great lengths to set me up with wild tales and expect me of all people to swallow it? We’ve known each other for so many years now, and I know you better than that.”
Heinrich straightened up in his chair and extracted the lace scarf from a pocket and held it out to Otto. Otto hesitated a moment before taking it in his hands. He looked at it and then smelled the scarf.
“You’re either still pulling my leg or -”
“Or I am telling you the absolute truth.”
“This is certainly not a scarf that an ordinary wench would own. It is real silk and very costly by my assessment.” He looked up at Heinrich; right into his eyes and searched his friend’s composure for a clue, and found no beguilement. “So, you didn’t hoodwink me after all. You were serious.”
“Ja, of course, I was. Why do you think I was so cheerful?”
“All right, I believe you. Cheerful? You were rapturous and euphoric.”
“Alright, one big word at a time now. Don’t go scholarly on me all of a sudden.”
“She must have been a real ravishing wench … ah, I mean woman? I have never seen you so elated over a woman of higher stature. They usually bore you.”
“Not this one. You shou
ld have seen her, Otto. She is a prize, all right. Nothing at all what I have ever been used to. Her father is a cotton plantation owner, and she and her sister were so delightfully nice to me. Her name is Lucy Bainbridge, and her sister is Laura. Lucy took me all around the city by horse carriage and then we set high upon a ridge overlooking the city and harbor just outside of town. I think I talked more in one afternoon than I have over the last month.”
“Well, that’s not like you. You’re a man of action,” Otto stated and winked at Heinrich. “Now I hope you treated her as a gentleman? Or did you act like a wild sailor … Heinrich the woman-slayer?”
Still playing the part as an actor on stage, “I was a perfect gentleman even if you probably don’t believe me. In fact, between you and me, she had me rather speechless for a while as I’m not used to such type of company. But she made me feel very comfortable in no time with her pleasant personality and down to earth attitude.”
“Well, well, well. The great young brute, Heinrich Drope, speechless. I like to have seen that. So that’s why you came back to the ship early. The lady wouldn’t have you take her in her arms and ravish her.”
“That’s true. But we did sneak in a few blissful kisses underneath a large tree near an orchard,” Heinrich explained with a blithesome exuberance as he recalled the incident in his mind. I didn’t want to leave her, but she had to pick up her sister back in town. I wish we had another day in port so we can get together again.”
“Well, Heinrich. You are the ship’s captain; you can change the sailing plan at your convenience.”
“I suppose so, but I think it best we stick to our schedule and resume our plans. We have a lot to do in the coming weeks, and then I plan to perhaps come back to Charleston for another visit. Her father may have a need for our ship with a contract to ship cotton. Next time we’re in port, you and I will go to their plantation and get introduced.”
Winds of Fury Page 20
