Page 33 of My Gentleman Spy
Chapter Thirteen
Will paced backand forth along a short stretch of the cluttered deck. Every inch of the deck of theCanis Majorwas crowded with wooden crates and barrels lashed together with rope. There was little room to maneuver about the deck, let alone go for a properstroll.
He tapped his fist against the side of one of the oak barrels, it was full. He licked his lips, thinking that a large glass of rum would be perfect right now. The crates stacked next to the rum, were markedSUGAR. PINNEY ESTATE. NEVIS. FREE MENPRODUCE.
The former slave plantations in the West Indies were now being worked by free men, paid for their labor. It sickened him to think that at one point theCanis Majorwould have regularly shipped slave labor goods to England. Goods he and his family would have purchased and used. England may have won the war against a French tyrant, but it most certainly did not have a clean moralsheet.
The slap of a thick rope against his legs stirred him from his musings. He stepped to one side as two members of the crew pushed past him and lashed a rope around a stack of nearbybarrels.
“Expecting rough weather?” said Will, half injest.
“Yes,” they replied inunison.
He looked to where one of the sailors was pointing his head. The clear skies of Southern Spain had disappeared. In their place was a near black cluster of stormclouds.
Within minutes he noticed a perceptible increase in the wind. The sails flapped loudly against the mast as the crew working in the ropes overhead struggled to bring themin.
Looking over the side of the ship, he could see the waves rising and falling in ever increasingtempo.
The ship's captain got Will's attention with a firm tug on hissleeve.
“Mr. Saunders, I suggest you might wish to retire to your cabin. The ship is heading into the North Atlantic and storm weather. It's going to be a rough night. The young lady may be in need of your comfort beforelong.”
Will nodded. It was going to be a long night in the cramped cabin, the oncoming storm would only add another layer of discomfort for the two ofthem.
“The captain says we are sailing into a storm. It's going to be rough sailing through until the morning,” said Will, stepping back into thecabin.
Hattie was sitting quietly on the bed a book inhand.
“I had noticed that the motion of the boat was getting stronger,” shereplied.
Will looked down at the floor. She had made up his bed while he had been out on deck. While Hattie had used all the blankets and the soft mattress given to him by the captain, it did not look particularly inviting. With the ship heading into a rough storm, he doubted he would get muchsleep.
“Will they feed us?” sheasked.
Food. He had not thought to ask. Hattie ever practicalhad.
“I shall makeenquiries.”
With that he disappeared back out onto thedeck.
When Will returned a short time later, Hattie was seated in the same spot as when he left. He crossed to the bed and handed her a plate containing two apples, some cheese and four thick slices of bread. A small knife was stuck in thecheese.
“The extent of our supper I’m afraid. The cook and cabin boy are busy helping to secure the cargo below decks. There will not be any hot food tonight.” hesaid.
“Better than many will eat tonight,” shereplied.
The words rolled off her tongue so easily that Will suspected it was a common saying in the Wrighthousehold.
“Come sit and eat something. I remember the weather on the journey here. Mama was terribly ill for several days as we crossed between theseas.”
* * *
Will satdown in the chair opposite the bed and faced Hattie. There was a matter of inches between their knees. They both chuckled at how cramped the space was betweenthem.
“We are going to be the best of dance partners by the time this voyage is over. Moving around one another will be second nature. Our bodies will be as one,” saidWill.
He had the manner of one whom she expected would be a skilled dancer. She had always enjoyed dancing in her younger years. Her brother Edgar had spent many hours patiently teaching her the waltz the year of her coming out. She had barely got to use all those lessons before her father determined that dancing was a sin and it was not permitted for hisdaughter.
