Chapter Six
Josephine stared out the window, an uncomfortable ache gnawing at her gut.
With a sigh, she turned to Lola, whom had been brought along with her bag shortly after the lieutenant abruptly left earlier.
Several hours had passed since he had slammed the door behind him and left her alone, but his anger still hung heavy in the air.
“What did I expect?” She stroked the parrot’s back. “Of course he’s upset.”
Upset might be an understatement. Her hands smoothed out the skirt she’d changed into as she bit her lip.
She may have ruined all chances at… A bitter laugh broke free—all chances at what?
Though she hadn’t counted on being discovered, she also hadn’t thought through how she would have explained her sudden appearance in Savannah to the lieutenant either.
After his reaction today, she doubted he would have felt much differently discovering her ashore.
Still, he couldn’t stay mad forever. Perhaps this was better.
By the time they got to Savannah, surely he would forgive her.
Yes, best to get all misunderstandings out of the way.
Turning, she approached his table and poured the rest of the water from a pitcher there into a mug she’d found on a shelf.
One thing she hadn’t anticipated when deciding to sneak on board was how thirsty she’d become.
Her hand stretched out to run over a nautical map and she smiled.
The whole room was an insight into how the lieutenant spent his days.
Nothing amiss—which shouldn’t surprise her for a ship commander.
Books on the shelf were organized by title, and the sheets on his bed had nary a crease in them.
She had opened the wardrobe earlier to find several uniforms hanging in a neat line.
Now, she slid open the drawers of the desk, sorting through pages of navy orders, ledgers, and extra tubs of ink.
The large white feather quill next to the map begged to be stroked and she did so, running her fingers along its luxurious length.
She took a deep breath and smiled. The woodsy scent he favored permeated the air, drowning out the briny smell of the sea and oiled floorboards. A knock interrupted her and she spun as the door opened. Lieutenant Caldwell stood framed by the setting sun, holding a plate.
“I brought you dinner.”
He didn’t move and several quiet seconds passed before Josephine realized he was waiting for permission to enter.
She waved him in and leaned over the table, sliding the map and compass to the side.
After a glance behind him, he stepped inside and brought the plate, setting it down in the space she’d cleared.
“Thank you.” Josephine’s mind went all jumbled as he looked around the room.
“I need to grab a few things.”
“Of course.”
He rolled up the map and placed the compass in his jacket pocket. She nibbled on her lip as he took one uniform from the wardrobe and collected a shaving blade from his washstand before walking back toward the door. If she couldn’t make small talk with him, it would be a wasted opportunity.
She cleared her throat. “Lieutenant Caldwell?”
He stopped at the threshold, but didn’t turn. “Yes?”
“Would you care to join me?”
“I already ate.”
Of course. She swallowed. “I…I’d like to properly apologize for earlier.”
That got him to turn, but his eyes had narrowed. “And how does one properly apologize for what you did?”
She winced, but stood with shoulders straight. “I didn’t think things through when I decided to…stowaway.”
It sounded so much worse to say the word out loud.
His expression didn’t change. “So you’ve said.”
“I made the decision in haste and overlooked all of the risks I would be taking as well as how it would affect you if things didn’t go as planned. I’m truly sorry.”
He stood silent, his eyes searching hers before lowering his head in a subtle nod. “Thank you. I believe an apology is in order from my end as well. I should not have been so harsh with you.”
A weight lifted from her chest. “So, you forgive me?”
He frowned. “It’s not that simple.”
Josephine’s shoulders sagged as he pivoted to the door. “Oh.” The single syllable slipped out so quiet, she didn’t think he heard.
His hand tightened on the doorknob. “Tell me, what made you want to leave Tortuga so bad that you dressed as a boy and snuck on board?”
You.
Her fingers drifted up to play with the ribbon around her neck. She couldn’t very well tell him that. In retrospect, it hadn’t been a wise decision. Yes, she was here on a boat with him. But he was upset with her.
“You wouldn’t understand.”
He turned again and crossed his arms. “Try me.”
Her mouth had gone dry, but she forced the words out. “My whole life, I’ve wanted something…something different. I don’t even know what exactly, but I know whatever it is, it won’t happen on Tortuga.”
“But why my ship?”
Her hands clenched into the folds of her skirt. “You were kind to me. I felt like…like I could trust you.”
He stood silent, a muscle ticcing in his jaw, and she sighed.
“At the very least, it would be nice to see another part of the world before…” She trailed off, swallowing past the lump in her throat. “My father is trying to arrange a marriage with a wealthy merchant.”
A knowing look crossed his face. “That explains everything.”
She blinked. “It does?”
“You don’t want to face your future so you’ve run away.”
She bristled. “No. That’s not true at all. Well, mostly not.” If only he knew how much she’d taken her future into consideration before her decision. “I don’t even know him.”
“You realize that is how most reasonable people get married?”
Her nose pulled up. “He’s older than my father.”
“So?” He asked it so nonchalantly, she couldn’t answer for a moment.
“So?” She sucked in a breath, a burst of heat flushing through her veins. “So, shouldn’t I have a say in my future?
“Do not mistake my lack of agreement for not having sympathy.” He exhaled. “It’s hard to go against the way things have been done for so long. Maybe someday that will change, but doing what you did put yourself in danger and caused a lot of trouble. Did you at least leave a note for your father?”
She shook her head and he groaned. “He could very well accuse the United States of kidnapping a foreign national.”
His eyes locked on hers, and after a tense moment, she averted her gaze. “I’ll write him as soon as we get back.”
He shook his head. “It could take weeks for a ship to deliver your missive. The damage has been done and I will have to deal with the fallout.”
Her throat went tight. “I wouldn’t let anyone accuse you of such a thing.”
“And what if they didn’t believe you?” He didn’t give her an opportunity to answer, turning and opening the door. “You will stay here the rest of the voyage.”
Though she ached to follow, she stayed seated. She would follow his orders and show him what a reasonable woman she could be.
*
Josephine yawned and sat up. Sleeping the night before had proved fruitless.
How was one supposed to lay in the very sheets the lieutenant had used, to breathe in his scent, and be able to relax?
Hours of tossing and turning had finally given way to fitful dozing once the cabin shone pink with the sunrise.
She groaned and stretched, pausing with her arms above her head.
The up and down movement of riding swells had stopped. It had been replaced with a barely perceptible rock. A thrill ran through her. They had arrived in Savannah.
She jumped to her feet and rushed to the windows, pressing her face to a cool glass pane. Another ship blocked the view. Her mind raced as she noted the sun’s position high in the sky. How long had they been in port? Had the lieutenant left the ship already?
She snatched up her blouse and skirt and changed from her nightgown. Sweeping her hair up into a bun, she hurried to the door and opened it. Lola squawked from her perch on the lieutenant’s chair.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be right back.”
Outside, she squinted in the sun and turned to climb the stairs to the quarterdeck, her bare feet slapping each warm step. Up there, nothing blocked her view. At the railing, she leaned over, her mouth dropping open.
Docks stretched as far as she could see in either direction, lined with a multitude of moored ships.
The land rose steeply from the river, with precarious stone stairways snaking up from the thick timber planks lining the water’s edge.
Buildings of all sizes lined the waterfront and crowds of dockhands bustled about on the docks along with a multitude of men and mules pulling carts full of crates and lumber.
“Why are you out here?”
The lieutenant’s curt words cut through her astonishment, but she didn’t turn to him.
“If this is small, what does a bigger port look like?”
He stepped forward so that he stood next to her at the railing and she could almost feel his gaze on her in the silence that followed. Still, she could not drag her eyes from the scene in front of her.
Somehow, she’d expected Savannah to be similar to Tortuga. Unease slid through her veins. How would she be able to cross paths with the lieutenant over the next few days in such a large city? She clamped her teeth together as the impossibility of her original plan fully sank in.
“You’ve made it to Savannah. Now what?”
She swallowed as he seemed to read her mind. “I’ll find an inn or boardinghouse to stay at.”
He scoffed. “With all the Navy sailors pouring into town, I’m not sure you’ll find lodging of any kind.”
If he wanted to see her break down into hysterics, he’d be disappointed. Still, her heart beat wildly. “I’m sure I’ll be able to find something.”
“And then what?”
She finally swiveled to meet his scrutiny, blinking at the intensity in his eyes. For a split second, she considered how he would react if she told him her plan to conveniently show up wherever he was—a plan currently smoldering in flames.