Chapter 30 #2
After the boatswain departed, Richard spoke first. “We know for certain now. Wickham was in Greece, and he was desperate enough to risk boarding the ship.” He grimaced in self-reproach.
“This is my error. I focused on our protection from him as we searched, but I never cautioned the crew to watch for him. I had not expected a coward like Wickham to be so bold.”
“It surprises me, as well,” Darcy concurred. “Neither of us anticipated this.”
“At least there was nothing here that will help him find the Library of Alexandria. We all had our journals with us,” Elizabeth said hopefully.
“Ah!” the colonel exclaimed. “But he would not have left empty-handed. Wickham never ignores an opportunity for profit.”
At the thought, Darcy hurried to his quarters and returned a few minutes later with confirmation of his suspicions. “My sapphire cravat pin is missing.” He shook his head. “By now it is sold and the money likely lost at cards.”
“What matters is that Wickham is close, he is watching us, and he is desperate. We must assume he will try again,” Richard warned. “And next time, he may be dangerous instead of merely opportunistic.”
Approximately six weeks since their departure from England, on the eleventh of May, Darcy settled himself comfortably in the Mary Catherine’s galley. Captain Morrison, Mrs. Bell, and Tommy had gathered around the worn wooden table along with Darcy’s cousin and the Bennets.
Despite the threat Wickham posed, the excitement of approaching Constantinople and the memory of Elizabeth’s sweet kiss the evening prior had put Darcy in unusually high spirits.
He did his best to maintain a serious demeanor as they discussed the practicalities of their upcoming visit to the Ottoman capital.
“Now then…” Richard addressed the captain, the ship’s boy, and Mrs. Bell. “You have visited Constantinople multiple times. We would value your insights about what to expect.”
Tommy lit up immediately. “The food, sir! You ain’t never tasted nuthin’ like it. They got these little pastries filled with honey and nuts―every bite’ll make you think you died and went to heaven! And the coffee is proper strong, not like the weak stuff we get in London.”
Captain Morrison chuckled at the boy’s enthusiasm.
“Tommy speaks true about the cuisine, though what appeals most to me is the sheer difference of the place. East meets West in ways you cannot imagine. Byzantine churches stand beside Ottoman mosques, European merchants haggle with Asian traders, customs and languages blend in ways that boggle the mind.”
“And the shopping,” Mrs. Bell added with obvious pleasure, “is beyond anything you will find elsewhere in this part of the world. Silks from China, spices from India, carpets from Persia―all flow through Constantinople’s markets like golden rivers.”
The descriptions moved Darcy—not only the adventure they promised, but the prospect of experiencing such wonders with Elizabeth beside him.
“What cautions should be observed?” Richard, the self-appointed defender of their small expedition, sought different information from the seasoned travelers.
Morrison sobered. “The Ottoman authorities are generally tolerant of European visitors, especially the British. But Constantinople is a complex city with many layers of society and politics. Stay close together, avoid drawing unnecessary attention to yourselves, and remember that we are guests in a culture very different from our own.”
“How long do you plan to remain in port?” Bennet asked.
“Nearly a week.” The captain’s eyes kindled with commercial anticipation.
“I hope to fill every inch of available space with goods that will fetch extraordinary prices in London.
Turkish carpets, fine silks, coffee beans, and leather goods.
Mr. Gardiner's profit margin will be unimaginable. He pays each crew member a bonus based on the value of the goods aboard. If we return the Mary Catherine to the Thames safely with the hold full to the brim, we will each be wealthy in our own right.”
Darcy exchanged a meaningful glance with Richard and Bennet. “Captain, we must discuss cargo arrangements. As you are aware, when we reach Alexandria, we hope to acquire certain scholarly materials that will require careful transport.”
The captain nodded. “Our cargo hold still contains items that will be delivered to the British residents in Egypt. Once they are unloaded, that space will be filled with Egyptian goods desired in England. Under typical circumstances, your passenger quarters would be filled with cargo. Should you need additional space beyond what you can store under your bunks, I am willing to make space in my own cabin available. Manuscripts and scrolls, I assume?”
“Precisely. Fragile items of considerable value must be protected from moisture and physical damage during our return voyage.”
“Then we shall need proper storage containers,” Morrison mused. “Wooden crates lined with oiled cloth…perhaps sealed with wax to prevent water infiltration.”
Bennet leaned forward. “It is possible that there are already containers in place that will be sufficient to protect the documents during the journey back to England.”
“My primary purpose in Constantinople will be to gather information and to arrange for Miss Bennet and Mrs. Bell’s protection while they are in the markets.” Richard’s arms folded across his chest. “Nothing else will take priority.”
Mrs. Bell smiled at him, and the soldier in him retreated, briefly.
Upon finalizing these arrangements, Darcy’s mind drifted to Egypt. He was remarkably happy. The proximity to their destination was enticing.
But it was Elizabeth’s kiss, along with her beautiful words of affection, that had opened possibilities he hardly dared to contemplate. If he smiled like a fool whenever he thought of that perfect moment, it was entirely her fault.