The Wilde Flower Saga: A Contrary Wind (Historical Adventure Series)
Page 51
“Good day, gentlemen,” she called to Dr. Llewellyn and Mr. Murray, who had yet to blend in with the rest of the crew.
They tipped their hats.
"I’m so happy to see you again. Will you be sailing with us then?” Kate said.
"That we will, Ma'am," Dr. Llewellyn said.
Mr. Murray just grinned and gave a little bow.
"Stop your dawdling and be on about your business," Sir Edward yelled from above.
They went, and Kate did too.
* * * * *
It was getting towards evening as Kate watched the waves wash against the bow down below. She knew from their footfall that both the first officer and the bosun approached. Before they could scold her, she said, "Gentlemen, I understand that on the one hand you may be angry with me. But once you think on it, are you not relieved that the other is not really his wife?"
It took a moment for them to respond.
"Aye, there is truth in that," said one.
"I have a feeling this is going to be a very interesting voyage," said the other.
Kate took them both by the arm, one on each side and started strolling. "Gentleman, you have no idea of what benefits I can bring to the journey," she said. “We’ll have potions, and poetry, and pagan rites to discuss.”
The captain came out of his cabin just then. "That makes a cozy picture,” he said. “I can see how you spend your time while I am on the King's business, Madam. What are you about over there?"
Kate felt the officers stiffen, but she did not let them go so easily. She had a huge grin on her face. "We are discussing the captain’s wife, sir. I heard it said that she’s a bit eccentric, maybe a bit of a witch. I was about to convince your officers of the many purposes of white pine needles, and the advantage of storing them by stuffing their pillows to have them closest on hand."
Sir Edward thought for a moment. “You gentlemen are on your own.” Then tipped his hat. "Carry on then."
As he left, the officers exchanged glances over the top of Kate's head. They were sure that their captain probably hadn't meant it the way that it sounded. And both men already knew without saying that they would probably have to get used to such things.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 52 - The Wedding Ring
At the coming of the New Year, they were back in Plymouth, England—this time, in a guest bedroom at Vice-Admiral Tobin’s house. Kate dried off from her bath as Sir Edward pretended to read. It was still early evening, but they would soon get ready for dinner.
She glanced over and said, “What is it that has you thinking so hard, sir?”
"I was wondering what were you doing in the tree?"
She thought for a moment. “What kind of tree was it, I wonder?”
“Pardon?”
“I could tell you better if I knew the kind of tree you mean.”
He did not reply, so Kate started flipping through her medical journal.
“White willow bark for an aching head,
then take a long, quiet rest in bed.
The taste is quite bitter and terribly bad,
you must keep the patient happy, not mad.
Use white willow tea and a honey bun . . . “
“I don’t remember the rest, and I can’t seem to find it again. Then there is the one about slippery elm.”
“Kate.”
“American elm, not the British one. My mother used to soak the bark in water and then wrap it around fresh meat. I suppose it was to stop the flies and the maggots. But she used it for medicinal purposes too. The bark not the flies, but maybe the maggots . . . Anyway, the Indians used to eat it. Not off the tree, but ground up and mixed with water like oatmeal porridge.”
“Kate.”
“Yes, what is it?” she said.
He did not reply. She looked up, pushing the wet hair from her face.
“I have spent most of my years at sea,” he said. “I do not really know what kind of tree that it was, but I do not recall it being either an elm or a willow.”
She let the journal fall shut, then rubbed her nose. “Oh, dear. Maybe I shouldn’t have used it on Ambrose then. Still, there it is and what’s done is done.”
“What were you doing in the tree, Kate?”
She shrugged. "Trying to not get my feet wet?"
"It was not raining or flooding, the tide did not matter there in the park, nor were there any puddles about."
She laughed. "So you see that it worked."
"What were you doing in the tree?" he said, again. This time he closed his book and gave her full attention.
"Waiting for you," she said very low.
"Waiting? I do not— Explain."
"I didn't finish the story about the piccolo and the apple."
He waited, but he didn’t have a clue as to what she was about. Most times with Kate, the wait was worse than the answer.
"After he took my piccolo and my apple, I kicked him.”
“The Marine, as you said at the dinner party. I remember.”
“The man chased me, but a young-pup-of-a-sailor who was just coming by told him that he looked ridiculous chasing little girls for the want of their lunches when the rest of the men were after spirits, warm beds, and accommodating women."
The light dawned, and Sir Edward remembered most of it now. "That was you? A scruffy, scrawny little brat if ever I saw one. If I recall correctly, and I think now that I do, I told you that I would not always be there to help you.”
“You were wrong there, it seems, for you help me all the time,” she said. “I may be pathetic, but I am not sorry for it."
"Kate." It was all he could manage to say as she drew closer with her drying linens now damp and clinging quite close to her form.
She said, "I have loved you for most of my life, though I didn't know it was you."
Kate slipped into his lap, and her drying linens fell away.
* * * * *
They were late getting to dinner, but the dinner was late getting to the table.
“There is our new squadron commander, coming late to the battle, sir?” Vice-Admiral Tobin said.
Before he could answer, the dinner gong sounded. Sir Hugh took Kate’s hand and led her away. Sir Edward was left to follow after with a charge of his own.
At table, they spoke of the war and politics as usual. They spoke of the trial of Standish, the spy.
“So he was a spy for the French?” an old soldier said.
Sir Hugh finished his wine, shaking his head. “The Americans do not claim him at all. No, it turns out the blackguard was working for the Spanish too. American expansion has them nervous. Some factions in the French were just enthusiastic players, and he used them all quite well in the game.”
“And that game is?” said the old soldier.
“Wealth and position on the new continents, North America, and South.”
“Ah, the new world again rears its ugly head,” the old soldier said. “Well, not the first time there was a rush for riches and land. Me, I will be staking my own claim on the sub-continent, gentleman. India, that’s the future, and all points east.”
There was a silence for only a moment, and then Sir Hugh offered toast to the war and the navy. When he sat down, he reminded Kate of her thoughts on the Royal Navy before. “I believe there was a story about an apple and a piccolo.”
She blushed.
He leaned closer. “So tell me, my dear, what do you think of our Royal Navy now. No, on reflection, I do not think I want you to answer that question. Tell me what do you think our Captain Lindsay now?”
She glanced to her husband. He was staring quite intently at his plate. She leaned closer to Sir Hugh and spoke in conspiracy and a bit of Irish too, “Oh, but he's a terrible man, I hear tell, sir."
Sir Hugh was taken aback.
Kate grinned. "They say he spoils his wife, sir, and it's a sorry thing to see. Personally, I hold with the practice myself, but I might have some bias in the matter.”
Hi
s mouth fell open, but Kate kept on, calling down to the other end of the table, “Lady Millicent, what is your opinion on such things?"
"Oh, I agree, a woman should be spoiled," she said and offered her own glass in toast.
"I believe if we took a vote, you'd see that we’d carry the day,” Kate added.
Then the other ladies joined in the toast.
"Women vote? What a foolish notion," some old soldier said. “Sounds like something you would hear there in America. Or from those blasted Frenchies right now. Let every common man have the vote and we’ll soon have a Parliament full of cowherds and cobblers.”
“Or if women vote, then fops and dandies that pass the best compliments, no doubt,” someone else added. “Or perhaps doctors who give them those tonics and pills. That’s just what we need, more tonics and pills. Give me a good Brandy and a bleeding, that’s all a man needs.”
That brought on a whole different topic.
* * * * *
It was only a few days before they sailed once again. This time they were headed for India. Kate had her journals and her medicine pouch was full of goodies. They stood on the quarterdeck and watched the sunset together. He did not touch her, never in front of the men, never on duty.
But when the day was over, when it was dark, Sir Edward kissed her hand and slipped off her mother’s ring.
“I had this brought back from London. I have not had the right moment to give it—I hope . . .”
He slipped on a band of gold, not ornate, but solid.
Kate stared at it a moment, then at him. Then she took her mother’s band from his hand, kissed it, and then quickly tossed it into the sea.
He looked at her in some surprise.
“I don’t need it anymore,” she said, now examining her hand with her own gold wedding band.
“Kate, are you certain?”
The sassy Irish lass replied, “Sure, and you’ll be changing my mind with all your mumbling. Jump right in and fetch it back for me then, there’s a lamb.”
His eyebrows went up, but he was smiling.
She smiled back. She couldn’t help it. She always smiled back when he did it first.
She leaned close and whispered, “If you’re going to refuse me every little thing, our life together is going to be hell.”
“Madam, I am counting on that.”
THE END
Volume III: In the Sea Unshaken
~~~
THE END
THE WILDE FLOWER SAGA
Copyright © 2010 by Marilyn M Schulz
~~~~~~~~~~~
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