The Sea Maiden

by Mary Speer

  The Sea Maiden docked close enough to the peer and the crew began to disembark. She and Lynnette had planned to visit the area and hopefully buy some much needed clothes. Karina was now down to only one suitable dress. When Gail Barrett came on board Karina gladly gave her the white dress given to her by the pirate Captain Tate who made her wear it. She was also glad to rid herself of the disturbing memories, so the yellow dress was worn constantly now that Captain Drake had a say in her attire, she did wear breeches occasionally when her dress needed washing. The burgundy dress with its high neck and long sleeves was much too warm for the Caribbean but she would surely use it in New England.

  After a while she started feeling better and Karina wondered if she was mistaken about her condition. She and Lynnette were getting ready to go on shore when she saw Peter coming back; he avoided her and Lynnette and instead went directly to Captain Drake. Karina noted both men looking toward the peer then back toward them; they seemed to be assessing some situation. Karina saw nothing unusual. Lynnette approached Peter who mentioned something to her and Lynnette turned and looked back at Karina. Karina became suspicious. Peter and Lynnette came toward her. Gail was feeling much better but was still a bit weak and Karina and Lynnette offered to help her. A tug on her dress made Karina turn.

  “Karina will I see you again?” Amelia asked.

  “Of course you will darling. I have given your mommy an address where she can reach us if you’re ever in New England.” Karina said and smiled at Amelia.

  Peter and Lynnette stood right behind her.

  “Karina, Lynnette is not feeling well perhaps you can accompany her to the cabin to lie down a few minutes.” Peter suggested.

  That was odd, Karina thought, Lynnette had not reported feeling ill much lately.

  “Of course I can Peter no hurry if she’s not feeling well.”

  Peter smiled at her then turned to Lynnette.

  “I will see you in the cabin in a little.”

  “Peter we need to help Gail off first.” Karina told Peter when Amelia asked a strange question,

  “Mommy who is the lady in the white dress talking to Captain Drake?”

  Karina automatically turned toward the peer and went numb when she saw a beautiful brown skinned woman with long dark silky hair, holding a light skinned child. Eric seemed to be trying to block her from view. Karina straightened out. Peter lowered his eyes and bit his lower lip.

  “Peter, who is that?”

  “Who?” Peter said playing dumb.

  “Why that woman holding a child talking to Eric?”

  Peter continued to play dumb as long as he could.

  “Where?”

  Frustrated, Karina took his chin in her hand and turned his head in the direction where Captain Drake and the woman where standing.

  “That one, nearly stepping on his toes!” Karina said sarcastically.

  “Oh! …Um she’s um…asking for directions.” Peter blurted.

  Karina blinked and squinted at Peter in disbelief,

  “WHAT? A local woman is asking a man who just stepped off a ship for directions? Uh-uh.” Karina said shaking her head, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’s ridiculous!”

  Lynnette looked at him and rolled her eyes. Karina pushed Peter out of the way and started walking toward Eric and the woman. Peter, Lynnette and Gail exchanged looks.

  “Is that someone from the Captain’s past?” Gail asked.

  “Apparently.” Lynnette said.

  Peter caught up to Karina.

  “Karina wait!” Peter pulled her by the arm, “Look-”

  “Let go Peter!”

  “No! Not until you hear me out!”

  Karina’s mind was racing.

  “Well?”

  “Come let’s sit?” Peter said. Karina yanked her arm loose in frustration. “Alright, alright, wait…look.” Peter tried to talk to her once more.

  Peter paused for a minute trying to think how he was going to explain. “Captain Drake, he has, I mean had a few lady friends.”

  “Obviously!” Karina blurted.

  She turned toward them; now closer she could clearly see that the child had lighter skin and hair than the woman holding him. ‘Was this Eric’s child’, she thought.

  Peter hesitated, thinking back to what the Captain told him just a few days earlier when he mentioned that he was hoping the hot tempered Maria wouldn’t come looking for him. He had a wild affair with the dark haired beauty on more than one visit and feared she might show up. When he saw her at the peer holding a young child, he panicked and asked him to keep Karina occupied while he talked to Maria.

  Enraged Karina Suddenly felt sick to her stomach and threw up…most of her breakfast landing on Peter’s boot once again.

  “GEES! Not again! Same boot you got in Florida too.” Peter said in frustration.

  Gail gasped and watched while holding her baby and Amelia who stood nearby blurted out,

  “Mommy is Karina going to have a baby too?” Amelia said, having been a witness to her own mother’s morning sickness.

  Everyone’s mouth dropped open as they looked at Karina. Peter poured a bucket of water over his boot then helped Karina sit on a crate. Karina sat in between Peter and Lynnette holding her head in her lap. Peter suddenly remembered Gail and stood at once and offered her his seat on the crate. Gail knew instantly that Karina was with child. Karina started to cry.

  “Come on let’s go to your cabin”, Lynnette urged her and helped Karina up.

  Now that it was entirely possible that Karina was with child and that Maria might also be holding the Captain’s child, Peter decided to go down to the peer and find out exactly what was going on. Captain Drake was in a real crisis if things turned out, as they seemed, two children, wow! Well at least he could afford them. Then it occurred to him, what if he faced a similar situation on some port, would he lose Lynnette? He concluded that being confined to a ship for extended periods of time and the short liberty calls at different ports could have very negative consequences for seamen like himself and the Captain.

  As he approached Captain Drake and Maria, he saw another man approaching, obviously a foreigner with a light hair and green eyes. Then he heard Captain Drake introduce himself and the man extended his hand to him.

  “Jim Coulter, my wife Maria told me she knew someone in the shipping business that might give me a good price on shipping supplies….”

  The man went on explaining his business needs, when Peter noticed the child reach for the man and called him ‘papi’ the Spanish version of daddy. The man took the child from Maria. Captain Drake was all smiles after that. As it turns out Captain Drake just made a new client. Peter turned around ready to go give Karina some good news before she felt well enough to go looking for her sword. As he turned he heard the Captain and the man come to an agreement. Peter waited for Captain Drake as he concluded business and turned toward Peter. He seemed to be recovering from the scare of his life, he placed his hand on his stomach, and blew air out of his mouth looking like he was about to be sick too.

  “Close one ay Cap?”

  Peter grinned. The Captain let out a low whistle of relief and rubbed his temple.

  “Good news! Looks like I have a new client. Her husband seemed clueless to Maria and I having some history together.”

  “Well Karina has some news for you too Captain.” Peter smiled and raised his eyebrows. “She…um…saw you with Maria and the child and assumed the worst. I was only too happy there were no weapons around. Lynnette and Gail are in your cabin with her. They’re probably plotting your early demise.” Peter chuckled

  “Very funny Peter.” Captain Drake stated.

  They arrived at the Captains Quarters, Peter gestured with his hands, to go first.

  “You first Captain…um…you might want to duck as you go in...” Peter warned and grinned to himself. “…oh and don’t drink anything she gives you.” Peter was enjoying himself.

  “Alright Peter I get it!” />
  Captain Drake walked in Karina was lying on the bed crying and facing the wall. Lynnette and Gail both stood and decided to leave. Lynnette pulled Peter out with her. Then Amelia announced,

  “Karina is going to have a baby like my mommy.” Captain Drake blinked and looked at Peter, Peter gave him a half smile and raised one eyebrow then Lynnette pulled him harder till they were all out of the room.

  Captain Drake sat on the side of the bed and called her name softly.

  “Karina darling…”

  “Go away!”

  “Not until we talk …first of all it’s not what you think out there.” She buried her face in the pillow. “Turn around! I don’t like talking to your back”

  She continued to ignore him he pulled her around to face him she tried to strike him he pinned down her arms on the pillow. She looked away from him.

  “I know you don’t want to hear this but that woman was someone I had an affair with in the past, you know I have a past!” Karina tried to turn away, “Stay still and listen. Her name is Maria and she is now married, that child is hers and her husbands, not mine.” Karina looked at him. “They came looking for me because he needs to get materials from London; it was just a business call.”

  Karina hesitated for a moment digesting everything.

  “So you and her are not…?”

  “No, we are not!”

  “And the child is not…?”

  “No the child is not mine.”

  Ecstatic, Karina jumped up wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He smiled at her happy everything turned out good.

  “Now… is it true what Amelia just said? About you having a baby, our baby?”

  “I think so.”

  “Well you’re the only woman I would love to have a child with.”

  He smiled and placed his hand on her stomach then leaned down and kissed her there and then kissed Karina sweetly on the lips. They forgot about the clothes she wanted to buy in town…they wouldn’t be disembarking just yet.

  Later Gail and the children thanked everyone and urged both Karina and the Captain to make right their union in the eyes of God, which Captain Drake assured her that was his full intention upon their arrival in New England since it was Karina’s wish to have her brother attend.

  The Sea Maiden was there over two weeks getting needed repairs both Lynnette and Karina purchased simple frocks and open footwear worn by the local Indians. They experienced delicious, spicy native dishes and drank plenty of the cacao beverages as prepared by the natives, which were said to inspire love. Dr. Tibbs confirmed Karina’s condition. “It’s the force of nature.” He concluded.

  CHAPTER 37

  Karina Arrives to New England

  It was several weeks before docking in New England. Karina was very excited and anticipated the arrival and meeting of her half-brother Jonathan. As promised upon arrival, Captain Drake sent a messenger to Jonathan’s shop requesting an urgent visit to the Captain’s home. Karina had never been happier; she counted her blessings to see this day come. Her meeting with Jonathan was among the final steps in accomplishing her goal to meet her half-brother and get her father’s business running again. If all went as hoped it would be a family business but she would be fully involved in running it. Karina had no intentions of letting the men run it alone. She wanted to know everything there was to know about the shipping business and never be in the dark again.

  Before arriving Karina and Lynnette had been discussing their new homes in New England. Since Peter now needed a home for his wife and coming child, as a gesture of good will, Captain Drake had offered to let out the extra apartment on his property to them at a bargain price. To Karina it was like the icing on the cake to have both Peter and Lynnette living close by. Both young women loved the idea that they would have each others company while their husbands were away.

  A courier arrived at the Spices & More shop. A young man at the counter greeted him. The courier handed him an envelope addressed to Jonathan Williams.

  The young man took the envelope and presented it to his father. Jonathan took the envelope and opened it.

  ‘Dear Jonathan

  Your presence is urgently requested this evening at 6 o’clock at my home in River Oaks Court down River Oaks Road. I have recently arrived and have more to discuss with you than a filled order….

  Yours truly,

  Captain Eric Drake’

  The letter went on to give the address and directions to River Oaks Court. Jonathan’s interest was piqued. He sent the courier back with a note confirming the meeting and told his son to mind the store while he paid his business associate a visit.

  Karina and Lynnette boarded a carriage toward Captain Drakes home. Peter and Captain Drake remained on the ship overseeing the unloading of the cargo. They were finally in New England; Karina looked curiously out the carriage window. She had succeeded she thought, not only had she avoided marrying Lord Harmon but had fallen deeply in love with his half-brother, the handsome Captain of the very ship that helped her escape thanks to Peter who by fate had become her best friend’s beau back in England after a chance meeting at the village market. Even more bizarre was the circumstances that lead to Lynnette’s appearance aboard the Sea Maiden and now sat next to her, married and expecting a baby. How things had worked out she thought. She looked over at Lynnette who was busy preparing a letter to her mother and brothers and let them know she was safe and married to Peter De Marco and was expecting their first child. She was going to send it on the next ship traveling back to England.

  They arrived at River Oaks Court, Captain Drakes’ home. It was beautiful, Karina thought, large and secluded within the woods. The house was white with tall beams that seemed to support the house. The carriage stopped and both Karina and Lynnette stepped off the carriage with the help of the staff who were informed by the driver that Karina was Captain Drakes’ future bride. The staff welcomed them and showed them inside. Inside were two staircases; light marble floors and a beautiful chandelier adorned the entryway. Karina and Lynnette were in awe of the beautiful home. Captain Drake and Lord Harmon may have never been on good terms but they obviously shared the same good taste. Elliot the head butler had Captain Drakes things brought in, except for a few dresses, Karina didn’t have much to be carried. Elliot introduced her to the staff and they in turn greeted her back. Elliot informed them that refreshments were being served in the dining room as he showed them around the home. Finally he led them upstairs to the Captain’s bedroom where he had her and the Captain’s things brought in. Before Elliot took his leave he asked Karina if there was anything else she needed he would be downstairs.

  The bedroom was beautiful and masculine in decor. All the furnishings including the floor were dark wood. There was a large bay window overlooking the woods, a four-poster bed with rich red covers and canopy and a large wood chest at the foot of the bed. There were also a variety of artifacts from the many places around the world the Captain had traveled to as well as a large dresser. Karina sat on the bed she would share with her future husband and ran her hand over the soft red material. She remembered her first passionate encounter with him at Harmon Hall; the memory of it still thrilled her senses. This time however it was infinitely better. Both girls admired the room they agreed that it was indeed masculine but beautiful. Then they went out back to view the smaller apartment where Lynnette and Peter would live. It was a small but picturesque cottage by a stream. Lynnette was thrilled over the new home that she would share with Peter.

  Later Captain Drake and Peter arrived; Karina nearly knocked him down as he walked through the door. Playfully he swung her around the room happily admitting to her she was the best souvenir he ever brought home then they kissed passionately. Lynnette and Peter also happily rejoiced in each others arms and went off to their new home. Karina and Eric discussed their future plans. He informed her that Jonathan confirmed to be there at 6 o’clock. He told the staff they would be having guests for dinner. Eric was an exper
ienced Captain in the shipping business; he would help his future wife, and father in-law get their shipping business back on track. They also discussed their meeting with Jonathan to involve him in the business as well as their impending wedding. Karina beamed with the happy knowledge that she was about to wed the man of her dreams, with a baby on the way, and how together they would rebuild her father’s business and merge it with Eric’s. She would finally meet her half-brother Jonathan and her two closest friends Peter and Lynnette would be living nearby. She just needed her father to come to America to complete her circle of love.

  At sunset there was a knock on the door. Karina nearly jumped with excitement to finally be able to meet her half-brother Jonathan. She came downstairs with Eric following close behind. Jonathan Williams waited in the living room then Karina stepped in the room she was not nervous but fully exhilarated. Not knowing what the urgent meeting was all about. Jonathan stood up at once to greet the pretty young woman and his long time associate, Captain Drake. Jonathan had salt and pepper hair with a kind face and was of average height and weight.

  “Captain Drake, good to see you again.”

  “Welcome Jonathan it was good of you to come with such short notice.”

  Jonathan and Eric shook hands then Jonathan turned to Karina who stepped forward and took his hand before Eric had a chance to introduce her and with a big smile she introduced herself.

  “It’s such a pleasure to meet you Jonathan I’m Karina Pembroke…your sister.”

  Jonathan froze in complete shock, his mouth dropped open. Karina smiled so did Eric who stood behind her. “Please take a seat.” Karina motioned. “Our father Lord Charles Pembroke, who is in England, recently disclosed your existence to me in this letter.” She handed the letter to him. “He wanted me to embrace you for him as my brother. Regretfully he grew up with a certain mindset that was engrained into him as a young child. I’m not here to make excuses for him he’s not a perfect man but his neglect of you deeply troubles him. Being older and ailing has made him more reflective I know that in my own life the challenges I’ve encountered have strengthened me and helped me become more understanding and appreciative of the people in my life who range from my butler Nate, my friends Lynnette and Peter to my wonderful future husband Eric standing beside me.” Karina reached for Eric’s hand and smiled at him. “What I’m saying is that father finally understands that blood has no price tag. Unfortunately he also believes you wouldn’t be receptive of such a late acknowledgment and believes you would turn him away but I believe different and took some life changing steps to reach you. Although I don’t know you from what he’s told me about you I believe that you’re not small minded and that you wouldn’t turn me away because I’m here to embrace you on behalf of both myself and our father…I hope I’m right?”