On Stranger Prides

by Amy Cecil

  As I turned to leave the room, Elizabeth pleaded, “Max! Please do not go up there!”

  “I must. I cannot leave my crew to do work that I would not do myself,” I replied.

  “But what if you get hurt?” she cried.

  Surprised, I asked, “Would you be sad if I did?”

  “Of course I would. So why do you not stay here with Thomas and me? We need you,” she replied.

  “If I could, I would.” I walked over to her and kissed her and Thomas on the forehead. “But it warms my heart that you worry for my safety.” I turned to leave, but before I walked out of the door, I turned back and said, “Be safe. I shall return.” I wanted to profess my love for her and her son right there. But I knew it was not the time. I thought, Perhaps her concern for me is because at the moment, I am all she has to keep her safe. Maybe her concern is born out of selfishness … No, I cannot believe that. I do not believe Elizabeth Bennet to be selfish on any account, even when her life and the life of her son are in danger.

  I returned to the deck and sealed the final hatch with canvas. I then worked with the crew to establish some form of stability on the ship. The storm was getting worse and it took four of us to hold the wheel steady. Thunder rumbled and lightning streaked the sky as the ship swayed.

  The storm raged on for at least an hour more. But for those of us on the ship, it seemed like an eternity. The wind was ferocious and angry. It threw the Absolution about as if she was weightless on the water. The sails that were still unfurled were stretched to their limits, in the hopes that they would provide some type of control against the storm. But the storm always maintained control.

  Then, as suddenly as if there had been no storm at all, an eerie calm came over the skies. It was still windy and the sea was still choppy, but the rain began to subside and the thunder and lightning stopped. It was if the storm had not happened at all.

  From what I could see, we had suffered some damage, but it was still very dark and I would not get the full scope of the damage until morning. The boys at the wheel had it under control—it appeared that we had regained control of the ship.

  I had no idea where the storm had cast us and would have to quickly refer to my maps and compass to determine our heading.

  I turned to Smead and said, “Make your rounds, check on the crew, and report any casualties. I will be back shortly.”

  I pulled the canvas from the hatch and proceeded down to the next level. I wanted to check on Elizabeth and Thomas, but first I had to get our heading corrected before we sailed too far off course. Going straight to my office, I did just that.

  After spending about an hour checking and rechecking our heading, I noticed that the ship’s swaying had significantly subsided. Now that I was sure that we were back on course to Nassau, it was time to check on Elizabeth and Thomas.

  When I reached her room, I knocked, but again, I did not wait for an invitation to enter.

  Elizabeth and Thomas were huddled together on the floor. It appeared that Thomas was asleep, but Elizabeth was wide awake. She raised her finger to her lips to indicate quiet. I nodded in agreement, but could not take my eyes from her. She gazed at me in a way she had never before. Was there love in her eyes? Or was it just gratitude that I had managed to keep her and her son safe? I could not tell, but in either case, I rather liked it. In that moment, she made me feel that there was hope for us after all—that she truly could love a pirate.

  I whispered, “The storm has passed. We have suffered some damage, but it is much better than I had expected. Smead is assessing the situation with the crew. I would have been here sooner, but I had to review our bearings first. I can assure you that we are back on course to Nassau.” I paused and then added awkwardly, “I did not want to disturb you and Thomas, but I needed to know that you both were safe.” I turned to leave.

  Before I closed the door behind me she whispered, “Thank you, Captain. I am glad to find that you are safe as well.” I did not turn back to face her, because if I had, I would not have left her. I would have run straight to her and pulled her into my arms. Instead, I nodded at her words and closed the door behind me.

  Chapter 12

  Elizabeth

  What is happening? I asked myself after Captain Sterling left Thomas and me. I had been so worried for his safety! I had been worried for all of us, but my concern for him was second only to Thomas. Seeing him alive and well a minute ago had caused a flush in my heart that I had never felt before. Is it gratitude? Could it be some form of relief? Or, dare I say it, could it be love? I shook my head and admonished myself. Of course it is not love. I could never love a pirate!

  But after reflecting on the past several hours, our walks on the deck, breakfast and dinners in his personal dining area, and his complete adoration of Thomas, I found myself wondering if it really mattered that he was a pirate. Of course it matters! You are a duchess with a young duke to raise!

  I had to stop these thoughts and get Thomas into bed. “Thomas, sweetheart, you need to wake up so I can get up off the floor. I need to get you into bed.”

  Sleepily, Thomas rubbed his eyes and said, “Mama, is the storm over?”

  “Yes, my love, it is over,” I replied.

  “Are we safe?” he asked.

  I chuckled. “Yes, sweetheart, we are just fine. You and I are standing here talking, so we are all perfectly safe.”

  “And Max?”

  I smiled. He was quite fond of Max; the two of them had developed quite a relationship over the last several weeks. I replied, “Max is fine, too. He was just here to check on you.”

  “Can I go see him?”

  “No, my love, it is still night time. You must go back to sleep,” I replied.

  “But Mama …” he pleaded.

  “No, Thomas. But I promise that you will be able to see Max first thing in the morning.”

  He reluctantly proceeded to get into his hammock. I covered him and waited for him to fall asleep. I began to sing to him to help him along.

  Mellow the moonlight to shine is beginning

  Close by the window young Eileen is spinning

  Bent o'er the fire her blind grandmother sitting

  Is crooning and moaning and drowsily knitting.

  Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring

  Swings the wheel, spins the wheel while the foot's stirring

  Spritely and lightly and merrily ringing

  Trills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing …

  The Spinning Wheel was one of Thomas’ favorites and I hoped it would soothe him so he could return to his much-needed sleep. I continued to sing.

  … Slower and slower and slower the wheel rings

  Lower and lower and lower the reel rings

  E're the reel and the wheel stopped their ringing and moving

  Through the grove the young lovers by moonlight are roving.2

  Once Thomas was asleep, I proceeded to the deck. I was sure that things were a mess and there was no reason for me to stay below when I could be of some help.

  When I arrived, I could not believe my eyes. Max had said that the ship had suffered some damage, but it looked like Napoleon had attacked the ship and blown it to pieces. There was broken wood everywhere, along with debris and water. The crew was scurrying about trying to repair as much damage as possible. Max was at the helm commanding his crew.

  He was magnificent. I stood there briefly in awe of this tall, broad-shouldered man whom I had loathed upon our first meeting. As always, his shirt, unbuttoned down to his navel, blew in the wind along with his long hair. The tie that he usually used to secure it must have come loose during the storm and I assumed he had just been too busy to adjust it. His muscular chest caused my skin to prickle with goosebumps and I realized right at that moment that I wanted him.

  He stood there majestically commanding his ship and crew. I had never felt more passion for any man in my entire life. I had never experienced those feelings before and could only surmise that what
I was feeling was sexual, since every time I looked at him I wanted to be lustfully in his arms. If we were in a different place and a different time, I would not be the lady I had been brought up to be. I would not hold back the passions that stirred me right down to my core.

  He is a pirate! He is a bad man! I kept telling myself. But I was beginning to realize that the stories about pirates that I had been told were not completely true. If anything, I believe that those stories had done nothing but cloud the truth. These men were just that—men. Just like my father and just like Bash. They were sons, fathers, and brothers. They had families just like I did. They also had fears as well. Max hid so much with me. I had not yet been able to pinpoint his fear, but I knew he was desperately afraid of something. One of these days, I was going to find out exactly what it was.

  Realizing that I had been daydreaming about a man that I would never have, I began to hurry up to Max to see what I could do to help.

  He yelled, “Elizabeth, what are you doing up here?”

  “I came to help!” I replied.

  “Thomas needs you, go back to your cabin!”

  “Thomas is asleep and I am more than capable of helping. What can I do?”

  Reluctantly, he said, “Some of the sailors have been hurt. Do you think you could assist the doctor by tending to their injuries?”

  “Of course I can,” I said, relieved to finally have some useful employment. I hurried away and headed below to find the ship’s doctor. I had not met him yet, but I assumed I would be able to pick him out in the crowd of injured men.

  I found him standing next to an injured sailor saying, “Hold still, Flint. Let me get your forehead bandaged up. After that you just need rest for the next 24 hours and you’ll be good as new.”

  I approached as the doctor began to bandage up Flint’s wound. I said, “Hello, I am Elizabeth. Max—I mean, Captain Sterling—sent me down here to assist you.”

  “Pleasure to meet you, madam. I apologize that we are meeting under such circumstances, but you could not have come at a better time. Most of the wounds the men have received are not life-threatening, thank God, but they do need tending. Just walk about the room and help whoever needs assistance. There are bandages and Dragon’s Blood on the table over there. Take what you need,” he said.

  “Dragon’s Blood?” I questioned.

  “Yes, ma’am, it is used as a salve and will help close up their wounds,” he replied.

  “How interesting. I have never heard of it,” I replied. I began to assist where needed and before I knew it, all the men had been tended to. The doctor had been right—the majority of their injuries were cuts and bruises, I imagine from being hit by flying objects during the storm. Many patients required rest, but others who were not hurt as badly returned to their duties on the ship after treatment.

  I returned to the deck to see that the sun had come up. I stood there looking at the rising sun on the horizon and truly thanked the Lord for giving us another day of life. The ordeal was finally over. After what I had endured that night, the fear that encased my body and soul, I believed that I could face anything. I was a stronger woman because of it.

  I scanned the deck for Max, but could not find him. Most of the debris on the deck had been cleared and everything looked almost normal. I did notice that one of the masts had been torn and there were several men working on it stitching it back together.

  I noticed Smead at the helm and decided to ask him about Max. “Excuse me, Mr. Smead, perhaps you might be able to tell me where I might find Captain Sterling?”

  “I believe he is in his cabin, Your Grace, eatn’.”

  Disappointed that Max was having breakfast without me, I set off to find him.

  Chapter 13

  Captain Sterling

  Not long after Elizabeth left the deck to tend the wounded, Thomas appeared on deck. He was most curious about what had happened. Since the sailors had the cleanup under control, I offered to get him some food.

  “So, did the storm cause a lot of damage?” Thomas asked.

  “Some, but we were quite fortunate.”

  “So that means we will be able to get to my grandfather soon?” Thomas asked eagerly.

  I nodded and said, “I believe so.”

  Thomas was quiet for a couple of minutes and then he said, almost sadly, “Thank you for eating with me, Max.”

  “There is no need to thank me, Thomas, it is my pleasure,” I replied.

  “So can you tell me about Calico Jack?” he asked excitedly.

  I chuckled. “Well, Calico Jack was one of my favorite pirates,” I started, but was quickly interrupted.

  “Did you know him?” Thomas asked eagerly.

  I laughed. “No, Thomas, I did not know him. Calico Jack lived in the early 1700s, more than 100 years ago. I am old, Thomas, but not that old.” I paused for a moment, then added, “But I do know a few things about him.”

  “Oh, Max, do tell! Please!” he pleaded.

  “John Rackham, also known as Calico Jack, started out by serving as Captain Charles Vane’s quartermaster. Vane was voted out and that is how Rackham became a pirate captain. He was only a captain for a short time, but do you know what he is best known for?”

  “No, Max, what?” Thomas replied.

  “Captain Calico Jack is credited with the traditional skull and crossed swords of the Jolly Roger pirate flag.”

  “Grandfather never told me that. Why is your flag different from the Jolly Roger?” he asked.

  “Well, after the Jolly Roger became known as a pirate flag, many pirate captains created variations of the original design. I have my own flag, for my own reasons. I guess you could say it is a bit of a personal thing. It’s like my signature,” I explained.

  “Can you tell me what your flag means?”

  I hesitated for a moment, thinking to myself that it was probably too much for a young boy to understand, but he looked so eager and curious I could not leave him in suspense. “Well, you know that my ship is called the Absolution, right?”

  He nodded. “Well, I did something a long time ago that I am not proud of. I hurt someone who was really special to me. I have never been able to forgive myself for this, so my ship and my flag represent those feelings. That is why the skull in my flag is blinded and there is blood dripping from the swords. It was the only way I could express the feelings that I had.”

  “Do you think you will ever forgive yourself?” he asked.

  I winked at him and said, “I am working on it.”

  My explanation must have satisfied him because he asked nothing more about it. Instead, he said, “Tell me more about Calico Jack! Did he plunder a lot of ships?”

  “Well, Rackham made a career of plundering small vessels close to shore, just like all pirates did. It was smart for them to remain close to shore so they could quickly unload the weight of the cargo they had just acquired. One of the ships he seized was the Kingston, which was a small Jamaican vessel. He made that his flagship and continued to make several conquests throughout the West Indies and even acquired more ships.”

  “How did he die, Max?” Thomas asked.

  “In 1720 I believe, all pardons that Calico Jack had received had been dissolved and he was once again declared a pirate. A pirate hunter, Jonathan Barnet, who was a former pirate himself, attacked Rackham’s ship and captured it just outside of Jamaica. Rackham and the crew were brought into town and were tried and convicted of piracy. They were executed by hanging.”

  Just as I was finishing there was a knock on the door. “Enter,” I said and Elizabeth walked in. She looked relieved to see Thomas and me together for some reason, but I also saw a hint of disappointment in her countenance.

  “Mama!” Thomas cried. “Max was telling me about Calico Jack! He didn’t know him because he died 100 years ago! But he knows a lot about him! More than Grandfather does!”

  Elizabeth looked over at me and said curiously, “Was he, now? And what else have you two been talking about?”r />
  “Oh, nothing else,” Thomas replied shyly, as if to hide something. He turned back toward me and asked, “I forget, Max—how did he get the name Calico Jack?” I looked over at Elizabeth as if to ask her permission, though it came a little late. She nodded, which I assumed was her way of telling me to continue.

  “Well, Thomas, his nickname came from the calico-looking clothing that he wore. And we all know that Jack is a nickname for John. Hence the name Calico Jack!”

  “Thank you, Max!” With that, Thomas got up from his seat and walked over to me and hugged me. I was surprised by the gesture, but what truly shocked me were the tears that pooled in Elizabeth’s eyes. Thomas turned toward his mother and asked, “Mama, may I go spend some time on deck with Mr. Smead?”

  “I should think that Mr. Smead has a lot of work to do this morning, Thomas. How about you and I go for a walk this morning and tomorrow you can spend some time with Mr. Smead—if that is acceptable with Captain Sterling,” she replied.

  “Yes, Mama, you are right. He has a lot to clean up,” Thomas replied. With that he took his mother’s hand and proceeded to pull her toward the door.

  Before she left, she turned toward me and said, “Thank you, Max.”

  As soon as they left the room, the emptiness of their departure consumed me. I was not sure my heart would survive the ache that it now constantly felt. It was an ache I had thought I would never feel again.

  For the remainder of the day, I did not have the pleasure of Elizabeth or Thomas’ company. It was as if they were both avoiding me for some reason. Even at dinnertime, I merely received a note from Elizabeth stating that she was tired from last evening’s adventure and that she and Thomas were going to retire early without dinner. So I ate my dinner alone, spent an hour or so on deck walking about, and then retired myself.

  I had not been asleep long when the door to my cabin flew open. There, standing in the darkness, was a woman dressed only in her nightgown. Am I dreaming? I thought. The clarity of moonlight shining behind her told me I was not. I have to be dreaming! But I could clearly see every shape and curve of her body. Aroused, I could not remove my eyes from the vision before me.