Page 10 of A Captain For Clarissa
“Regrettably, I am called to my duties,” he said after replying briefly to the man. “I will escort you back to the cabin. While I have the respect of my men, it would be best if you and Ana remain in the cabin unless I am there to escort you. I will make sure you are able to come on deck twice a day at least, and we should be in Livorno no later than tomorrow evening.”
Clarissa thanked him with genuine appreciation for his taking the time, and she and Ana returned to the captain’s cabin. The cat Fernando accompanied them, throwing himself on the floor and rolling to show a thin white stripe on his sleek furry belly.
“Don’t touch it!” Clarissa exclaimed as Ana cooed and bent to stroke the cat. “The captain warned me off touching his belly, lest he draw blood.”
“Ah, a wicked demon to tempt us so,” Ana chided the cat. “Be off with you.”
Fernando rolled, yawned, and jumped up onto the window seat beside Clarissa. Sitting down, he wrapped his tail neatly around his front paws and gazed at her. Clarissa reached out a cautious hand and this time, the cat deigned to permit her touch, leaning into the caress as she gently stroked his glossy head.
Lost in thought, Clarissa remained where she was for hours, petting the cat and gazing out at the rolling waves, until a tap at the door heralded the arrival of a meal for them, delivered by a shy young boy who couldn’t look directly at either woman.
After the awful food she had been given as a prisoner on the corsair ship, and the simple meal the night before, the food delivered now looked like a feast to Clarissa. Fresh flatbreads, thinly sliced meats and cheeses, olives and tiny tomatoes, were accompanied by grapes and peaches and a pitcher of fresh fruit juice Clarissa couldn’t immediately identify the flavour of.
“Rummien,“ Ana said in her own language when Clarissa asked, then tried in Italian. “Melograno?”
“Pomegranate?” Clarissa thought that was.
“Iva, yes!“ Ana nodded enthusiastically. “You like?”
“Delicious.” Clarissa was starving hungry. She tried not to make a pig of herself, eating in a ladylike way and forcing herself to slow down so Ana could have her share, but when Ana wiped her fingers on a napkin and said she was done, Clarissa finished off every scrap of food on the tray.
“You should rest, miss,” Ana suggested as Clarissa sipped the last of the sweet pomegranate juice, and Clarissa nodded. Her eyelids were already beginning to droop. Terror had kept her from proper sleep since being snatched from her bed in the middle of the night in Athens almost a week ago, even when Rafael stood outside her door the previous night. Now she felt warm and safe, and with her belly full, she settled into thesurprisingly comfortable bed, closed her eyes, and fell into a sound, deep sleep.
Chapter Five
The golden sun peekedabove the horizon, casting a warm glow on Clarissa’s fair skin as she stood at the railing of the Santa Dorotéia, near-becalmed on the still Mediterranean Sea in the early morning. The gentle rocking motion of the ship lulled her into a contemplative state as she gazed out upon the shimmering sea. Her hair, bleached by the sun and tossed about by the salty breeze, framed her thoughtful expression.
“Captain de Silva,” she called, turning to where Rafael stood nearby, his eyes fixed on the horizon. “May I ask you something rather personal?”
Rafael’s sea-green eyes flickered with hesitation, but he nodded. “Of course, my lady.”
“Tell me about your family.” He interested her, this enigmatic Portuguese captain.
He hesitated, tugging at the cuff of his jacket before replying. “My father and older brothers were killed in the war. It fell upon me to become the head of the family and care for my mother and sister.”
Clarissa’s gaze softened with sympathy. “How terrible,” she murmured. “How old were you?”
“Twelve,” Rafael answered, his eyes growing distant as he spoke, his voice tinged with sorrow. “We had to abandon our home.”
“Is that why you joined the English Navy?” Clarissa asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Indeed,” he said, a small, sad smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “My mother found refuge in England, and I enlisted in their navy so that I might improve my prospects and provide for my family. That is also how I came to speak English so well.”
“And now you have your own ship, sailing beneath the Portuguese flag?” she prompted, hoping to learn more about him.
“Once it was finally safe to return to Portugal,” he replied, his voice heavy with emotion, “we found our estate in a state of near ruin. The war had taken its toll, and there was little left of the home I once knew. Plying my trade upon the sea was the only way I could raise the funds to even begin restoring our fortunes.”
Clarissa’s heart ached for him. “I can only imagine how difficult that must have been for you and your family,” she murmured.
Rafael smiled faintly, though the sadness still lingered in his eyes. “It was a great challenge,” he admitted, “but I knew it was my duty to restore our home and provide for my mother and sister. Their well-being has always been my top priority.”
“Your dedication to your family is truly commendable, Captain,” Clarissa remarked, her admiration evident. “Many would have buckled beneath such adversity, but you’ve faced it head-on and remained steadfast in your resolve.”
“Thank you, Lady Clarissa,” he replied, inclining his head humbly. “But I am merely doing what any honourable man would do in my place.”
“Perhaps,” she allowed, her eyes never leaving his face. “But I believe it takes a rare and exceptional individual to maintain such strength of character and conviction in the face of overwhelming hardship.”
He smiled slightly and inclined his head, but said no more, looking away from her and up towards the sails, still hanging almost limp from the masts.
