Page 45 of My Gentleman Spy
“Mr. Saunders may I suggest you and I retire to my cabin. The young lady can take refuge in your cabin until things have calmed down,” said thecaptain.
Hattie clung tightly to the first mate. Her look of fear, quickly replaced by hope at the captain’swords.
Will stared at Hattie for a good while. His jaw was set hard. Finally, he released his fingers from their tightly held fists and backedaway.
“I can see that I won’t get a fair hearing out here ondeck.”
Will followed the captain to his cabin. The first mate escorted Hattie back to hercabin.
“Will you be alright miss? he asked, opening thedoor.
She wiped at her face, brushing pretend tears away. She hoped he would not notice the mess that was the bedclothes, evidence of her and Will’s occupation thatafternoon.
“I don’t know. There is still a full day before we dock in London. Who knows what lies he will tell the captain to get him on side. I fear what Mr. Saunders will donext.”
“Is there anything the boys and I could do to helpyou?”
Hattie thought for a moment. She had regularly made deals with the market traders at Covent Garden when trying to secure food scraps for the local parish church. She knew that people were more open to helping others if they could see that they were getting something in return. The tight- fisted traders were happy to hand over rotten vegetables if their names were read out in church every Sunday, their benevolence on display for all tosee.
Apart from offering herself, which was not an option under any circumstance, Hattie considered what else she had that the crew could possiblywant.
“Do you have a lady waiting for you in London?” sheventured.
She had a bag full of gowns and lady’s toiletries which Will had bought for her. While her gowns would not be fashionable enough for the ladies of thehaute ton, they were still of excellent quality. Any sailor worth his salt would know he would be assured of an extra warm welcome home from his long sea voyage if he came bearinggifts.
“I have a lovely lass who will be waiting dockside for me,” hereplied.
Hattiesmiled.
“Then I think we could be of mutual assistance to oneanother.”
