Secrets of the Realm

by Bev Stout

  "I think that about sums it up." The captain tapped the side of his face. "Have you been in a fight?"

  Mr. Montgomery reached up to where a bruise was forming on his cheek. "Not a fight, a misunderstanding with Abigail's footman. I didn't see it coming, but we're good now."

  "Who's Abigail?"

  Mr. Montgomery raised his voice. "Never mind about Abigail. I want to know when were you going to tell me that Andrés was a girl, Jonathan?"

  "Never," the captain said.

  "Never?"

  "I felt it would be safer for her if none of the crew knew."

  "I am not simply a member of your crew, Jonathan. Have you forgotten who gave you this bloody ship?"

  "You gave me this ship, because I saved your bloody life."

  While the two traded barbs, Annie wondered what other things she would learn.

  Mr. Montgomery struck the table with his fist. "Knowing she was a girl, how could you have allowed her to board the Margaret Louise? She could have been killed."

  "It was poor judgement on your part to let a cabin boy, any cabin boy, be in your boarding party," Captain Hawke said.

  "I paired her with me for that reason, Jonathan," Mr. Montgomery said.

  Annie looked at Captain Hawke. "So that's why you asked me those questions after I came down from the mast. You were trying to delay me. You were worried I might get on that boarding party."

  Before Captain Hawke could comment, Mr. Montgomery said to Annie, "I never would have let you take Barrette's place if the captain had trusted me."

  "I did what I thought was best," Captain Hawke said.

  Annie needed time to collect her thoughts. She slipped out of the cabin and headed for the fo'c'sle.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Adding to Annie's frustration, the fo'c'sle wasn't empty. One sailor remained, Barrette. Annie watched while he searched through his sea chest. Whatever he was looking for, she hoped he would hurry up and find it.

  He pulled out a white linen shirt. Barrette tossed it to Annie while he unbuttoned the one he wore. She caught the shirt before it floated to the deck.

  "You think the ladies will like it, Andrés?"

  "Aye."

  "Are you all right, mate? You don't look well."

  "I-I'm fine. It's just, just that I visited Christopher's mum today," she said as she tried hard not to stare at Barrette's bare chest.

  "Poor woman. How did she take it?"

  "Better than I thought she would."

  "Good. My shirt, Andrés, hand it back." Barrette snapped his fingers. "Did you hear me, Andrés? Hand me the shirt."

  While Annie stared at Barrette's muscles and hairless chest, goose bumps rose on her arms. "Did you say something?" she asked.

  He grabbed the shirt from Annie and stuck his arm through its billowy sleeve. "Do you want to come along with me? I am meeting Baggott and Carter in town."

  Annie stretched. "It has been a most exhausting day. I would rather stay here."

  "I don't believe you."

  "What is there not to believe?"

  "You will not go into town with me, because I am not Mr. Montgomery. I'm right. Aren't I?"

  "What are you talking about?"

  Barrette folded his arms across his chest. "You only leave this ship with our esteemed first mate and I wager it is Captain Hawke who orders it. Why is that, Andrés? What makes you so special?"

  "You are insane, Barrette."

  "You are not fooling me." He headed for the passageway. "If you change your mind, I will be at the Black Anchor Pub."

  Annie thought to herself, I'm not fooling myself, either. I know what I want.

  * * *

  Annie went back to Captain Hawke's cabin. She didn't hesitate as she pounded on the door.

  "Come in."

  Across the cabin, Captain Hawke pulled up a chair and began shuffling through papers on his desk. He looked up at Annie. "So kind of you to knock this time. As you can see, I am terribly busy"

  Annie slapped her hand in the middle of the papers. "Don't pretend you are reading these papers, Captain. I know better."

  He gestured to a chair. "Take a seat, please."

  Annie couldn't remember Captain Hawke ever addressing her with such niceties before, but all that mattered now was that he remembered who she was. "There is no other way to put this, Captain. I want to remain your cabin boy."

  "Are you certain this is what Annie wants?" The captain reached over, and plucked the cap from her head.

  She snatched it back, pulling it defiantly over her ears. "I don't even know who Annie is anymore."

  "Then maybe you should find out who she is before making any hasty decisions," the captain said. "But once I tell the crew that you are a girl, it will not make much difference who you think you are."

  "Please, Captain, I beg of you, don't tell them."

  "Andrés no longer exists. He never did, Annie. You never belonged here."

  "I do belong here!" Annie tugged on her shirt button until the threads snapped. "I can tie every kind of knot from a catspaw to a timber-hitch. I have tended the livestock, worked in the galley and shortened sails. Look…" She pointed to the palm of her right hand. "That is a burn from tarring ropes. You said I needed to earn the respect of the crew, and I have done just that. I deserve to be here."

  He drummed his fingers on the mahogany desk. "I will hold off telling the crew for now."

  "Thank you, Captain." One small victory, Annie thought.

  "Tomorrow morning at nine, you and Mr. Montgomery will meet Abigail Spencer at St. Paul's Cathedral under the clock tower."

  Annie's button tumbled from her fingertips, rolling across the floor striking the captain's boot. "Why?" she asked.

  "Mr. Montgomery made the arrangements with Miss Spencer before he returned to the Realm. And don't even think of not going. I am ordering you to go."

  "I beg your pardon, Captain, but there is no reason why I should meet Abigail tomorrow or any day."

  "You are still in Lord Spencer's employ."

  Annie protested. "There is no contract."

  "You earned money as maid and companion to his daughter. How many years was that…eight?"

  She glared at him. "Why ask when you already know the answer?"

  "Then it is settled," he said

  "Does this mean I am no longer your cabin boy?"

  Captain Hawke picked up the button lying by his boot and pressed it into Annie's hand. "What it means is this: If you ever return to this ship, you better know who you are."

  With a flick of his wrist, he dismissed her.

  * * *

  Needing to be alone, Annie returned to the abandoned fo'c'sle where she sat for hours before going to Doc's quarters. She slowly pushed open the door. The familiar creak didn't wake him. Doc wasn't asleep.

  "The captain wants me to leave."

  "Annie, he doesn't want you to leave any more than I do, but he does want what is best for you."

  "It is not up to him to decide what is best for me. I can't leave the Realm. I can't leave you, Doc. You have been like a father to me. This is where I belong."

  "If I were your father, I would tell you that Abigail and you have some lost time to make up. Mr. Montgomery told me that Abigail thought of you more than simply her maid. Now get some sleep, Annie."

  Like her first night on the Realm, the ship was nearly deserted, but Annie had no need to explore the decks. She knew every nook and cranny, every smell, every movement and sound of the ship. She lie awake, afraid to close her eyes, afraid of what the morning would bring.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  After a restless night, Annie dozed off in the carriage.

  Mr. Montgomery lightly shook her shoulder. "Annie, wake up. We will walk the rest of the way."

  Yawning as she stepped out of the carriage, Annie dragged her feet behind Mr. Montgomery. He kept glancing back at her as if he expected her to bolt at any moment. But the closer they came to the clock tower, Annie realized she was eag
er to see Abigail again.

  Mr. Montgomery's outstretched arm, brought her to an abrupt halt.

  "Why are we stopping?" she asked.

  "Look at her, Annie. Isn't she a vision of loveliness?" Mr. Montgomery said while watching Abigail pace back and forth under the clock tower.

  He let out a long sigh when Abigail paused to primp the strawberry blond curls around her face. "She is waiting for you, Annie," Mr. Montgomery said.

  "I am certain she wants to see you as badly as she wants to see me, sir."

  "I will join you shortly. Now go!"

  "Aye, aye, sir!"

  Racing to Abigail, Annie repeated, "Beg your pardon," to the people she bumped into on the crowded walk. With her arms outstretched to embrace Abigail, Annie didn't see the man coming up behind her.

  Annie's legs went out from under her when he seized her, lifting Annie off the ground.

  Mr. Montgomery was there in a flash. He wrapped his arm across the assailant's shoulders. "Unhand her!"

  "Her?" the man said as he let Annie go.

  Mr. Montgomery slammed the man to the ground, placing his boot squarely on the man's chest, the tip of his sword at his throat.

  "Not you again!" Robert, Abigail's footman said.

  "Sorry, mate, I didn't realize it was you. But then again, I would say we are now even," Mr. Montgomery said as he slid his sword back into its leather sheath. He offered his hand to Robert. "Let me help you up."

  "If you don't mind, I will get up by myself."

  Mr. Montgomery backed off.

  "You remember Annie, don't you Robert?" Abigail asked.

  "Annie, Annie Moore? Well, I'll be! It is you. I saw you yesterday, but I didn't recognize you then, either, the way you were dressed and all. And it's not my place to ask Miss Spencer her business." He scratched his head as he eyed Annie's clothes. "Why are dressed like that?"

  With more than a hint of bitterness in her voice, Abigail answered for Annie, "She has been working as a sailor these last few months."

  "What is this world coming to? They hire female sailors now?"

  "I can assure you, we don't. It is a long story," Mr. Montgomery said while he watched Robert pat down his jacket and breeches. "I hope I didn't harm you,"

  "I am quite alright."

  "Annie and Mr. Montgomery will be my guests at Spencer Manor today, Robert," Abigail said.

  She turned to Annie. "Let me look at you. You look simply…I am at a loss for words."

  "You are never at a loss for words, Abigail," Annie said.

  Abigail sniffed the air. "Couldn't you have at least bathed? Why is it that Mr. Montgomery smells of sweet violets? And his clothes are immaculate. Is that silk?"

  Mr. Montgomery stroked his tan waistcoat and murmured, "Yes, it is."

  "Unlike me, Abigail, Mr. Montgomery is quite civilized. I would wager he doused himself with cologne just for you," Annie said.

  "Is that true, Mr. Montgomery?" Abigail purred. "Oh my, are you blushing? I would not think the son of an earl could be so easily embarrassed."

  "I thought you did not believe me when I told you about my father," Mr. Montgomery said.

  "Oh, I didn't," Abigail replied. "But I asked my father some questions about the Earl of Leeds. Apparently, he has three sons. Like my brothers, they are all Oxford scholars, even his wayward son. I assume that the wayward son is you, Mr. Montgomery?"

  He bowed chivalrously. "Wayward son at your service, milady."

  Abigail turned her attention back to Annie. "I bet you have some exciting stories to tell me."

  Annie rubbed her arm. "Which one would you like me to tell you first? When I got shot or when my friend was impaled by a yardarm."

  "I have no idea what a yardarm is. Nor do I want to know." Abigail sighed. "Why would you make up such ghastly tales, to shock me? No matter, you are back and everything will be as it once was."

  "I am not making up tales. I told you before, I will never go back to Aunt Mary," Annie said.

  "Before you ran off yesterday, I tried to tell you that Erik told Father how your aunt had mistreated you all those years. When Father found out what she had done, he dismissed her."

  "I never would have thought Erik would turn against his mother."

  "It was not easy for him, but when Father asked him what had become of you, he could not lie." Abigail smiled warmly. "Not Erik."

  "No, not Erik." Annie agreed.

  "Father paid your aunt a tidy sum for her and her younger sons to leave Surrey County and never come back. Father, however, told Erik he could continue working for our groom, Anthony. Your aunt threatened to have the constable on my father for making Erik stay at our estate, but Father knew it was an empty threat. She looked too happy when he handed her the money. So, you can return without fear of being harmed. Isn't that wonderful?"

  "I suppose so," Annie said, but quickly added. "But only for a visit."

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Before departing to Spencer Manor, Mr. Montgomery brought up an issue that needed immediate attention. He eyed Annie out of the corner of his eye, while he held out a leather drawstring purse to Abigail. "Captain Hawke hoped you would be so kind as to help Annie pick out a dress."

  Annie waved her arms in the air as if she were battling a swarm of bees. "A dress. Never!"

  "Oh, Annie, this shall be great fun." Abigail said.

  "For you, maybe, but not me. Dresses are quite impractical."

  Abigail laughed. "You are so silly."

  "The captain wants Annie to have only the best." Mr. Montgomery's gaze shifted to Annie's boots. "And shoes, a fine lady must have appropriate footwear."

  "The captain is a fine one to talk about fashion. He dresses like a drunken toad. Besides, I am not a lady," Annie said.

  Her complaints went unheeded.

  "Captain Hawke mentioned a dress shop on Paternoster Row," Mr. Montgomery said.

  Robert assisted them into the carriage before giving the coachman their destination.

  Abigail sat next to Annie. As Abigail shook the purse, they both listened to the jingling coins. Opening it, Abigail peered inside. "Apparently, your captain has no idea how much a dress costs."

  Annie tried to sound disappointed. "It is too bad there is not enough money to buy me a dress," she said.

  "Oh, there are enough gold coins to buy you a dress. In fact, you can buy yourself an entire dress shop. We are going shopping." Abigail said.

  The carriage rumbled along the bumpy cobblestone streets past St. Paul's Cathedral to Paternoster Row.

  "There it is," Mr. Montgomery said.

  A wooden sign, Marlowe's Dress Shop, swung from an iron bar. The freshly painted storefront stood out among the other shops.

  "How on earth would the captain even know of this place?" Annie asked.

  "No doubt he escorted one of his lady friends here," Mr. Montgomery said. "I will wait outside while you two enjoy yourselves. Now Annie, if you need me…"

  "Don't worry. I doubt there are any pirates in there."

  Annie looked at the love-struck first mate and turned to Abigail. "Why don't you entertain Mr. Montgomery while I go inside by myself?"

  Abigail pouted. "But I wish to come with you."

  She whispered to Abigail. "After you have kept Mr. Montgomery company for a few minutes, then you can join me."

  "But only if you promise to at least look like you are having a good time. You look like you are going to the gallows," Abigail replied.

  "I will try."

  Annie stood outside the shop getting up the courage to enter. Through the window, she saw two girls in matching blue-gray dresses. One tidied up the shop while the other hunched over a ledger. A woman, her flaxen hair pulled back in a neatly pinned bun, showed an older woman some fabric.

  When the transaction was finished, the woman with the golden hair walked her customer out. While the bell jingled above the door, the older woman barreled through. Annie avoided her ample figure as well as her disapproving look.r />
  Annie didn't want to disappoint Abigail, so she sucked in her breath and entered the shop.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  "Good morning. How may I help you?" The shopkeeper's voice was warm and friendly.

  Her greeting surprised Annie. She expected the woman to chase her out of the shop with a broom or, at the very least, fall over laughing. "I want to buy a dress," Annie said.

  "You have certainly come to the right place. We have garden silks and brocades. Some of our fabrics are only twelve shillings a yard. But money is not a problem; now is it?"

  "No, it isn't," Annie said.

  "What do you have in mind?"

  "To be honest, I haven't given it much thought. Something pretty, I suppose," Annie said. She glanced over her shoulder at the girls snickering behind her.

  "Excuse me." The shopkeeper walked over to the girls and softly reprimanded them.

  Returning to Annie, she asked, "Is this for a special occasion? I neglected to ask Captain Hawke when he came in earlier today." She winked at Annie. "A charmer, that one is. He was in a hurry, had some fancy lady waiting for him in an open carriage."

  "Captain Hawke was here?" Annie said.

  The shop girls sighed in unison every time Captain Hawke's name was mentioned.

  "I thought you knew," the shopkeeper said.

  Annie shook her head.

  "He did not want me to send you away when you came here, said you were to be treated like a lady. I do not mean to be rude, Miss, but it is not every day I have customers dressed like you coming into my shop." She again asked, "Is this for a special occasion?"

  Annie wondered if looking like a girl again would merit a special occasion. She decided it didn't. "No," she said biting her lower lip.

  "I will have you look at some bolts of fabric and then I will take your measurements," the shopkeeper said.

  "I am sorry to put you through so much trouble, ma'am, but I'm afraid this is all a mistake. I don't need a dress."Annie turned to leave, but Abigail had waltzed in blocking her exit.

  "Now Annie, let this nice lady do her job. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner we can leave."