“Can you see the other boat?” asked Amelia.
“It’s a ship.” Anna did not look at her mistress. Her eyes that had swiveled away from the deck were glued to the horizon again.
“There’s no need for that…can you see it…the enemy ship?” she hissed, feeling the nerves claim her body. She had never felt more apprehensive in her life.
“There,” cried Anna.
The man in the mizzen top confirmed her sighting. “SHE’S COMING ABOUT!”
“What’s that mean?” Amelia’s mind was a cauldron of incomprehension.
“She’s changing tack to better claim the wind for the direction she’ll be taking,” said Anna.
Amelia thought of asking Anna how she knew all of this, but the sight of the enemy ship that was obviously larger than the one she was on, made her swallow the words. All she could do was watch on in horror as the vessel came bearing down on them.
It was an elegant ship with meticulous lines. She glided over the water like the dorsal fin of a shark. The hull was black with a thick white segment where one line of gun ports resided. Below that, there were more guns. Her sails were pregnant with the wind, propelling the vessel forward at an astounding speed.
“BEAT TO QUARTERS!” yelled one of the midshipmen after Captain Wimple had given the go-ahead.
The order to prepare for battle induced even more activity on board the HMS Capricorn. Men ran hither and thither, completing their tasks of readying the ship. The marines came up from below deck in their red uniforms and armed with muskets. They would provide enfilading fire on the enemy as the cannons shot.
Nearly all of the sailors moved about at the behest of the officers and midshipmen. The entire vessel was a beehive of industry. The gunners (a crew of twelve per gun) took up their positions by the cannons as ordered. The deck was swabbed over with water to prevent fire and the men up in the masts did the same with the sails. Barrels and other equipment were fastened into place as if a storm was on the horizon.
“RAISE THE GUN PORTS!”
Amelia gulped when she heard the familiar voice belonging to the first lieutenant. Just when she thought the two ships would align, the American ship changed tack to portside and slipped in the other direction in an attempt to cross the British ship’s bow. By God, this man knows what he is doing, thought Amelia, admiring the American captain’s skill and audacity. She did not know much about sailing, but the maneuver intrigued her nonetheless.
“Oi, ladies, what are ye still doing out here? Come along, the deck of a ship about to engage the enemy is not the place for ladies.”
It was Simon Biddle the friendly master’s mate, a petty officer with extensive nautical experience and in charge of the ship’s supplies and seafaring capabilities. He had noticed Anna and Amelia by chance as he was completing a final run of the ship’s readiness.
“Come along aft to yer cabins; tis the safest place.” Biddle broached no room for argument as he somewhat too roughly urged the ladies to the back of the ship where the cabins were located.
“What’s going to happen now, Simon?” asked Anna.
“We’re going to engage the enemy…I can’t for the life of me understand what an American frigate is doing this far north. We was told that they were all bottled up in port or captured.” He shuddered.
Amelia saw the gesture as she worked her way down the steep stairway to the cabins. “What…what?”
“It’s gotta be ‘Black Joe’,” vented Biddle.
“Who is ‘Black Joe’?” asked both women in unison, as they exchanged nervous glances.
“The scourge of the Atlantic. They says that he is like a ghost, appearing out of nowhere and then he is upon ye. We had blue skies and perfect vision, but he still appeared like the ghosts of his parents.” The color on Biddle’s face was as white as a sheet. He hastily pushed the two women into Amelia’s cabin that had been kindly placed at her disposal by the second lieutenant.
“The ghosts of his parents?” Amelia frowned.
“Yes, they were killed during the War of Independence by a ruthless English colonel who massacred the inhabitants of entire farms. He is here for revenge.”
With those words, he darted down the gangway and mounted the steps to the deck. When he disappeared, the first cannon sounded. Amelia and Anna screamed when they felt the frame of the HMS Capricorn shudder.
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Thank you very much
Also by Hanna Hamilton
Thank you for reading A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke!
I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE? It would mean the world to me. Reviews are very important and allow me to keep writing the books that you love to read!
Some other best sellers of mine:
The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
The Legend of the Betrayed Duchess
A Dashing Duke for Emily
Diana Adores the Puzzled Earl
Annabelle Enchants the Rejected Earl
The Governess Who Stole My Heart
Also, if you liked this book, you can also check out my full Amazon Book Catalogue HERE.
Thank you for allowing me to keep doing what I love!
Hanna Hamilton
About the Author
Hanna Hamilton has been fascinated with the regency era ever since she was a young teen, first discovering historical romance novels by famous authors such as Jane Austen and Lisa Kleypas. She believes that love was just so much more magical back then, more like a fairy tale. She always daydreamed about finding love herself that way, but since that is impossible in the twenty first century, she decided to write about it instead!
Born in Texas, Hanna Hamilton obtained a degree in Creative Writing, and has worked as a literature teacher before becoming a novelist. When she isn’t writing, Hanna likes to explore the countryside with her husband and two children, gaining inspiration from the natural world around her.
So, come on a journey into love, confusion, and redemption all within the regency era. Hanna hopes that you will enjoy immersing yourself into her novels, and that you too will find a love for old fashioned romance, just as she has.
Let’s connect
hannahamilton.com
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