The Sea Maiden

by Mary Speer

  “Alright Miss Karina be careful.” He paused. “What if your plan does not work?”

  “It will I know it will. Thank you Nate your services proved to be invaluable, I’m sorry for all the times I didn’t appreciate you enough.”

  They hugged and Karina was about to walk out when Nate called her back.

  “Miss Karina, wait! I almost forgot.”

  He went under the bed by the headboard and withdrew a long large object.

  “Take this sword as protection.”

  “Nate! Where did you get this?” Karina gasped.

  “Just call it a parting gift from Lord Harmon.” He smiled. “Here is the holster for it.”

  “What can I say Nate, tonight you have been my knight in shinning armor, once again thank you.”

  Karina kissed him on the cheek then checked that the hallway was clear and hid the sword and holster under her dress and went upstairs. She went in her room and scolded herself for not leaving the engagement ring with Nate so he could leave it in study on Lord Harmon’s desk. She removed and placed the ring in her cloth purse temporarily while she went downstairs. Then as she removed her satin blue dress, which she planned to leave behind, something fell on the floor, it was the extra sedative. She would leave that with Nate too, her father seemed to get much more rest with it. She put the vile in the sack along with the ring and jewelry. Then she took the male clothes and boots Peter brought for her and changed into them and hid her hair by securing it tightly with a scarf. Karina looked at herself in the mirror she was a strange site to behold dressed as man. She put on a floppy hat to complete her disguise and put the money from her trade in the small cloth purse as well then tied it around her waist under her clothes. After tweaking the details of her disguise she went to leave the room but some of the servants were still picking up down stairs. Karina remembered that Lynnette’s room had a balcony with a vine that ran up along the outside. Quietly she opened her door and locked it then entered Lynnette’s room, walked over to the balcony, and climbed over the rail then climbed down the vine easily and quickly in her male clothes. Once on the ground she called for Lynnette. Both she and Peter emerged from behind the stone bench were they had been sitting. Lynnette gasped and Peter scratched his head at Karina’s transformation from beautiful temptress to cabin boy. She even smudged a bit of dirt around the chin and lips to make her appear as if she had stubble and to help conceal her female form she wore a loose fitting hip length vest, it was a brilliant disguise she thought.

  Now it was time for both Peter and Karina to say goodbye to Lynnette, although the ship wouldn’t leave till Wednesday, Lynnette would leave on Monday with Nate and Lord Pembroke. Peter would have Karina to watch over on Sunday and would not be able to come back to see her. Karina and Lynnette hugged and cried together and Karina warned Lynnette about Lord Harmon’s dirty deed, insisting that she lock her door at night and only drink things she poured herself and lastly to take care of Thunder for her. Then Peter and Lynnette hugged and kissed good-bye.

  Karina gave them some privacy and went to a bush for her bag; Peter informed her he had already placed it on the carriage, which was hidden just beyond the trees. Clifton told him he would be in town visiting his sister and told Peter to leave the carriage by the peer with the night watchman. Peter was about to assist Karina on the carriage, when she said,

  “No Peter if I’m pretending to be a man I will have to stop depending on you or any man to help me with anything.”

  Karina climbed on to the carriage unassisted.

  “Karina’s life as a man chapter one.” Peter joked.

  “Alright Peter let’s leave now.”

  Peter took the reins and turned to look at Lynnette one more time, Karina waved good-bye to her friend. Lynnette continued to wave until the carriage was out of site. Peter turned to Karina.

  “I’m coming back to marry her you know.”

  Karina turned at once toward Peter in surprise and exclaimed,

  “Oh Peter that’s wonderful news!” She could not contain her joy and hugged Peter as a gesture of congratulations. “I’m so happy for the both of you. I hope someday I can enjoy such a moment.”

  “I’m sure you shall.”

  The moonlight helped them see the road. The time was now past 11:00 O’clock. The road was lined with trees; they turned toward the main road up ahead. Karina was telling Peter about Lord Harmon’s attempt to sedate her tonight and pay a late night visit to her room but she and Nate had turned the tables on him and switched the tainted drink on him; Karina refrained from mentioning the kiss between her and Captain Drake.

  “That bastard hope he never wakes up!”

  They laughed in regards to Lord Harmon passed out in the study when suddenly the carriage hit a bump that almost knocked them over at the exact moment they heard the popping sound of a pistol. Peter heard and felt the zooming sound of a lead ball go past his ear, just missing him thanks to the bump in the road.

  The two men waiting in the shadows to ambush them had decided to kill both of the male travelers since there was no woman and since they didn’t know what man they should be looking for they had waited past 11:00 o’clock like Lord Harmon told them.

  “You take the boy; I will kill the other one.” The taller man told his accomplish.

  They had aimed their pistols to shoot when the carriage hit a bump on the road which saved Peter from a deadly hit. The highway man reloaded his pistol.

  “Jesus! Someone is shooting at us!” Peter yelled.

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know?”

  Another shot followed. Karina was stunned, and Peter jumped off the cart pulling Karina to the ground with him. He took out his pistol and used the cart as a shield from whoever fired at them. Still away from the clearing the trees made it difficult to see with only a small amount of moonlight. Sensing somebody behind him Peter instinctively turned and shot first, wounding the man on the hand and causing his assailant to drop his unfired pistol. Both men at once drew their swords. Through the corner of her eye, Karina glimpsed the other man run across the road. Peter engaged in fighting his attacker forced her to her own devices. Karina drew the sword Nate gave her. She ran behind a tree as the man approached when she saw the tip of the pistol she slashed at it hitting the pistol to the ground. The man drew his own sword and came around the tree and tripped Karina then tried to impale her with his sword but she rolled away and missed her, on her knees she scrambled away grasping at anything that would help her get to her feet. Terrified she ran from him then she tripped and fell when she turned the man was upon her once again ready to thrust his sword into her but she countered the thrust with her own sword from the ground then using both legs kicked him away, she quickly got to her feet with the help of the tree. The man returned lunging at her every chance he got, with a spurt of adrenalin Karina now angrily returned blow for blow.

  Peter still fighting his own battle with the taller man caught sight of Karina and could not believe his eyes, Karina fighting furiously across the road. As she came up upon another tree the man lunged his sword at her again but Karina moved out of the way and fell on the ground and the man’s sword hit the tree instead of Karina and got stuck. Peter lunged at his attacker’s side crippling him for a moment, seeing the opportunity he grabbed hold of his opponent’s head and slammed him into the nearest tree, momentarily rendering him unconscious. Peter ran toward Karina’s attacker still distracted with his sword stuck in the tree and ran him through with his own sword. The man fell dead. Behind Peter, emerged the other man now recovered from the blow against the tree ready to thrust his sword into Peter when Karina found the unfired pistol on the ground she slashed at earlier and without thinking twice, fired it at Peter’s attacker who fell dead behind him.

  The two assailants were dead one at the hands of Peter and the other at the hands of Karina. Both Peter and Karina panted from exhaustion after the deadly encounter with the highwaymen. Karina on the ground, and Peter against a tre
e sliding slowly to the ground trying to catch his breath.

  “Are you alright?” Peter asked

  “Yes…just scared out of my wits… and you?”

  “Fine, I do confess I’m a bit shaken myself.

  “What just happened?” Karina asked.

  “Road-side robbers or an ambush? I don’t know but we have got to get the hell out of here.” A moment later Peter got up then extended his hand to Karina and pulled her to her feet. C’mon.” He patted her back as they walked toward the carriage, “Damn, where did you learn to fight like that? You swung that sword as good as any man I know, perhaps even better.”

  Peter told her, in complete admiration of her swordsmanship.

  “Before Lynnette came to Pembroke Hall, I was often bored so my father arranged for me to get piano lessons, which I liked but, one day we went to a fencing tournament and I loved it, so I got my father to agree to fencing lessons instead. I took lessons for three years.”

  “Fencing lessons?” Peter chuckled between gasps for air. “Well they certainly paid off tonight me lady, you had your first kill!” Peter announced. The next second Karina was on the ground. “What did I say?” Peter scratched his head. He lifted her and placed her in the carriage and hurried away before someone else came after them. An hour later they were at the peer, “Karina my lovely, we are at the peer we must get on the boat and row out to the Sea Maiden!” Karina slowly opened her eyes there was a strong pungent smell of fish or urine or both. Karina sat up momentarily confused about her whereabouts then it all came back to her. Peter had thrown her belongings on the rowboat. “You ready?” Peter asked.

  “Hmm? Oh yes.” She answered still sounding groggy.

  “Here I got you a three point hat,” failing to tell her it was from one of the robbers, “...you lost the other one back on the road, but this one looks better.”

  “Thank you.”

  “By the way thanks for saving my life back there, I meant to say so earlier but you passed out on me.”

  “Well thank you also Peter you saved mine in more ways than one tonight. I owe you.”

  “I say we’re even and if I ever turn pirate, you’ll be my first recruit, ay matey?”

  Peter joked and put his arm around her. They laughed but Karina’s laugh was a nervous one. Remembering she shot a man, oh God, she would surely go to hell now she thought.

  “You still upset over our little encounter back there? Let me tell you something you’re about to board a ship and cross the Atlantic; we sometimes have to fight off pirates. I was a bit worried about that at first, you being a prim and proper rich girl but I underestimated you.” Shaking his head, “After what I saw tonight I say you’re good to have around. C’mon.” Peter held out his hand to help her on the rowboat. “The good news is the Captain is not on board tonight…he’s having a little escapade with a local serving girl…” Karina felt a twinge of jealousy upon hearing Peter reveal the Captains whereabouts, “…most of the crew is gone too that helps. Only the man on watch is on deck right now so keep your head low and pretend you’re drunk.”

  Peter stopped for a moment and swept her up and down assessing her disguise.

  “What?” Karina looked herself over.

  Then he thought of something.

  “Hmm…pull out some hair from around your temples.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Your face is too feminine; we have to cover up some of that beauty.” Karina did as she was told but her hair fell to her waist. “Hmm… I’m afraid we have to cut some off-”

  “What!”

  He took out a knife. Karina took a step back a bit off balance standing on the rowboat.

  “Don’t worry my lady, I will only shorten a few strands and just to your chin.”

  Karina cringed as he slashed at her hair. The newly shortened blond strands fell to her chin the slashed strands fell to the bottom of the row boat. “There, just a little tweaking was all you needed now you’re more like Aaron and less like Karina, ay me lovely?” He chuckled.

  He adjusted the hairs to cover a good part of her face, she was ready, he thought.

  “I went around with Aaron today the 16-year-old boy the Captain thinks he signed on, so they will think you’re him. We don’t have any guest aboard so I was able to get the key to the guest quarters Lynnette stayed in, so you can stay there as well, just make sure you don’t make any noise, do you snore?” Peter asked.

  “No not that I know of.”

  “Good, because you’ll be right next door to the Captain’s cabin.”

  Karina had forgotten that she was now going to be on board with Captain Drake, her heart jumped at the thought of their earlier encounter still provoking a thrill of emotions in her, she sighed she would be close but under unusual circumstances.

  “Hello, Karina!”

  Peter made a koo-koo whistle sound and waved his hand in front of her face.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry…what?”

  “I got you some soap, a bucket and a bed pan to keep in the room so you can wash up and you know…go.”

  “Go where?”

  Peter gave her an obvious look.

  “Nature call.” He said sarcastically and smiled.

  “Oh.” Embarrassed, Karina looked away

  “Ever been on a ship?”

  “No.”

  “Well, some people get their sea legs quick, I hope you do otherwise you’re going to spend a lot of time looking over the side.” He chuckled. “Now you can’t just go to the guest quarters as if you were home, you’ll have to sneak in and out when nobody’s looking. I asked the Captain if I could store some supplies and some personal belongings in it and he gave me the key. Now if anybody asks your name, it’s Aaron Brown, you’re 16 years old, and your parents are dead got it?” Karina nodded.

  The night watchman stood by a lantern; Peter called him over and paid him to row them out to the Sea Maiden and watch over the horse and carriage for a man named Clifton who would pick it up in the morning. They came up to the side of the ship. Karina looked up at the ship in awe of its size. She looked back at Peter in amazement. Peter winked.

  “This is the Sea Maiden?”

  “The one and only.”

  “It’s enormous!

  Peter smiled,

  “The largest I’ve ever sailed on. Very well matey, we best be boardin the ship now ay.” Peter joked talking like a pirate

  “What exactly do you carry on it?”

  “Everything from, furniture, fabrics, and spices, or anything that’s on demand basically, a customer pays the Captain to transport goods and we fill the order. On this trip we will be traveling to Yucatan peninsula to pick up a shipment of cocoa that’s the furthest port we will be traveling to on this trip.” Peter whispered so the man rowing them out would not hear, “I will go first so that the man on the night watch does not get a good look at you. Now get a good grip, remember I will not be able to help you climb over the top on account he might think we’re strange, rumors spread quickly on ships you know. I will take your belongings though. Alright beautiful, here we go.”

  Peter started climbing up the ladder then disappeared over the top. It was Karina’s turn; she started climbing and came over the top unassisted.

  “Hello Stu.”

  “Hello Peter.”

  “My friend Aaron here is a little drunk he lost his parents so I was trying to cheer him up.” Peter told the man on watch. “Stay close, keep your head down and play drunk.” Peter whispered to Karina.

  They went down the gangway to the guest quarters, Peter looked around making sure no one saw them, he unlocked the door and set her belongings inside.

  “I will be down below in my bunk, I left you fresh blankets and a pillow, so make yourself cozy, just remember when you go in or out make sure nobody sees you. You did great tonight.”

  “Thank you Peter…for everything.”

  Peter gave her a side hug, winked then walked away. Karina smiled lightly.

  CHAPT
ER 17

  Aaron the Cabin Boy

  Lord Harmon woke up with the light shining through the window in his study confused as to why he awoke in the study. Then he remembered the party. He must have been more tired than he thought falling asleep like that how unusual. He thought of Karina sleeping in her room, and mentally scolded himself for missing the opportunity; there was still Sunday night he thought perhaps he could persuade Lord Pembroke to stay a few more days. He looked at the documents he and Eric exchanged the night before, feeling happy Eric was finally off the deed, he cursed his father for doing that to him. Then he remembered the men he posted on the side of the road. He meant to meet them early to compensate them and get confirmation of their dirty work. He had told them to dump the man’s body over the cliff. More than likely the two went whoring afterward or back to the taverns but would be looking to get paid early today. Karina would most likely still be asleep it was still early. Lord Harmon went to his room to prepare to leave.

  Karina woke to the sound of men talking and moving about on the ship, she sat up and wondered if the Captain was back yet. The thought of him being with some serving girl made her uncomfortable. She was wondering if she should go outside or wait till Peter came by. He didn’t say he would but it was only logical that he would be checking on her.

  It was early morning, Karina looked in the small mirror and fixed her scarf and arranged her hair to cover part of her face then she got her cloth purse from around her waist and looked for her father’s old pocket watch when she ran into the diamond ring and the vile containing the sedative. She gasped in silence. In her rush to leave she forgot to leave the vile and ring with Nate so he could in turn leave them on Lord Harmon’s desk. She cursed herself, if by some chance Lord Harmon was not going to come after her, now he had a definite reason to. Of course he didn’t know her whereabouts but now she had to be extra careful. Then she heard a knock.

  “Karina! It’s me, Peter, you can come out now.”

  Karina opened the door.

  “Good morning my lady, I mean Aaron. I pray your accommodations were adequate?”