20. Jonto
Jonto
The promised tour of the Jest finally happened three days into the voyage.
Since Jonto hadn’t been aboard for more than two weeks, the sheer volume of administrative duties that needed her attention took up the rest of the first day and the next two as well.
Both Babette and Sandy had offered to take them around, but Jonto was adamant that she wanted to be the one to escort their guests below decks.
So far, only Celie had been brave enough to wear breeches.
It wasn’t until Priscilla and Isla accompanied Jonto on the tour that they learned why they should wear them as well.
Although the crew regularly cleaned the Jest from top to bottom, moving up and down ladders and through the gun decks was impossible without getting their billowy skirts dirty.
Even Robert conceded the point about the breeches when Jonto had to continually order her men to face away from the companionways—a series of steep, narrow steps leading from one deck to another—as the ladies held their skirts higher than normal to descend into the bowels of the Jest. “I must admit, when I’ve traveled with ladies on board ships, we sailed on East Indiamen rather than a working pira—um, sailing vessel. ”
“We’re not ashamed of being pirates, Robert.
We’re only insulted when people add bloodthirsty or filthy to the term when referring to us, so please don’t censure your words on our account.
Yes, some pirates are just that, and those are the ones we attack when we come upon them.
Several of my ships have come into my hands after I’ve taken on pirates whose lack of moral compass disgusts my sensibilities.
They were walking past lines of smaller canons on the lower gun deck, and several sailors polishing the weapons nodded in agreement at their captain’s words.
The tour continued forward as Jonto spoke.
“And to your point, yes, some of those East Indiamen have quite luxurious accommodations for their passengers. I’ve only traveled on a luxury vessel once, and that was as a young child with my parents and twin sister, Lucrèce. ”
While Robert continued with his opinions about the differences between the two types of ships, Jonto enjoyed walking close to Isla as they strolled down the narrow aisle of the lower gun deck.
Every time they’d descended to another level, she’d shamelessly maneuvered Robert and Priscilla into leading the line as a pair, with Celie and Lily next in line, leaving her and Isla bringing up the rear.
If she secretly enjoyed the occasional ‘accidental’ bumped shoulders, that couldn’t be helped.
“Stop there, Robert, next to that gun crew on your left.”
Hearing their captain’s words, the eight-person gun crew, led by Sandy, faced the aisle and came to attention.
Jonto had arranged a demonstration, not of actually firing the cannon, but of showing her guests the steps taken each time the weapon was fired.
Sandy’s face turned beet red, and, well it should after Jonto had taken her to task over her rudeness to Lord and Lady Fitzgerald.
“Sandy, is your crew ready to demonstrate the steps we take to load and reload our cannons?”
“Aye, Cap’n.”
“Begin.”
Those on the tour stood in a semicircle around the demonstration.
At Sandy’s command, the heavy wooden gunport was lowered, allowing an unencumbered view of the smooth sea and vibrant blue sky.
Everyone except Jonto and the gun crew shielded their eyes, allowing them to adjust to the bright light after walking through the dim interior.
After explaining how they rolled the cannon back and forth on the carriage, Sandy had her people demonstrate sponging the barrel, loading the powder, and then adding wadding on top of the powder to secure it.
Only then did they roll a heavy ball into the barrel and push the cannon forward on the carriage.
Jonto had explained to key people in her crew that she wanted to expose the group, especially Isla, to as much as possible during their voyage.
It was because of this that, to Jonto’s surprise, Sandy stepped forward and saluted.
“With yer permission, Cap’n, we set up everythin’ on that one there so yer guests can load a cannon themselves if that’s somethin’ they care to try. ”
After the initial shock wore off, Jonto thought Sandy’s initiative was a brilliant idea. She smiled and turned to the group. “Well, would any of you care to load a cannon?”
Priscilla and Robert both responded with a resounding “No,” while Isla, Celie, and Lily all nodded enthusiastically. Robert stepped forward to object, but the three women were already on their way to the cannon Sandy had pointed out.
Robert pursed his lips, “Captain, I hardly think this appropriate for someone of Lady Brighton’s standing to participate in this type of activity.”
Isla turned and glared at the man she’d known since early childhood.
“I’m…” she indicated both Celie and Lily with a wave, “…we’re on an adventure, Robert.
Archduchess Pierpont didn’t send me on this voyage to hide in my cabin, and you can either join us or stand there sputtering like a pompous, disagreeable prig. ”
Jonto shot her sailors a warning glare and was gratified to see that, to a person, they were standing at attention, staring straight ahead as though they hadn’t heard Lady Brighton chastising a lord of the realm. Even Celie and Lily kept their faces absolutely neutral.
At the mention of Lady Pierpont’s title, however, the brows of the nine crew members rose in unison.
At one point or another, all of them had taken shore leave in Fachan’s Bay and had heard of the grand lady who lived in the castle near the end of the cliffs.
None had ever been near royalty, and here, Lady Brighton had casually mentioned that she was on this voyage at the behest of the most powerful woman in their captain’s adopted kingdom, after the Queen, of course.
Their reactions were to be expected. Anything more, and Jonto would have taken them to task, something all of her sailors assiduously avoided.
No, it wasn’t their reactions that caused Jonto’s jaw to drop.
It was Priscilla’s when she said, “She’s right, Robert.
There’s no one here to judge us, and Archduchess Pierpont said we were to allow Isla the freedom to experience the life that has thus far eluded her.
You and I both know that her mother’s spirit lives in her, yet we’ve stood by, lived our lives to the fullest, and not encouraged her to do the same.
People are cruel, Robert. Society’s rules, especially where single women are concerned, are cruel, and I won’t align myself with those who would deny my friend, our friend, her heritage any longer. ”
“Her heritage?” Robert looked to Jonto for support.
“Isla holds the inherited title of Lady Brighton, Mistress of Windsong Hall. She holds that title despite never having married. She has her heritage, isn’t that so, Lord Jonto?
What other single woman do you know has inherited land and title without it coming to her through her husband or the King?
I’d say her heritage has been given to her. ”
Since Robert had brought her into the conversation, Jonto thought maybe he would listen to her—a man, as far as Robert knew—far sooner than he’d listen to his wife.
“I believe the heritage Lady Fitzgerald was referring to is the freedom her mother unapologetically grabbed with gusto. The freedom to live her life to the fullest and not give a damn about society’s strictures.
The freedom to be a fulfilled human being despite the narrow confines of our misogynistic culture. ”
Seeing the blank look on Robert’s face, Jonto tried again. “As a man, can you drink whiskey and play cards well into the night without censure? She can’t. Do you have a say on the council? Can you get a formal education? Have legal autonomy, social freedom, or freedom of movement? She can’t.”
“As a woman of property?—”
Priscilla interrupted, “Something our King is determined to take from her.”
“Yes, well, perhaps if a man had owned Windsong Hall from the beginning, none of this would have come about.”
Priscilla straightened to her full height.
“Of course, it wouldn’t, Robert! That’s the point we’re trying to make.
I’ve never known you to be this obtuse. Dignified, refined, proper, yes, but obtuse?
I thought you were better than that.” Running her hand through Isla’s arm, Priscilla turned to Sandy and announced, “Please show me how to sponge out the barrel.” She walked to the cannon with determined steps, expecting the sailors to obey.
Sandy blinked several times, unsure of her next course of action. Obey the lady and risk the ire of a lord or do nothing and risk the lady’s anger. Having them angry at her had earned her a painful punishment two short days prior. Instead of risking either option, she froze.
Understanding her dilemma, Jonto addressed Isla and Priscilla.
“Could I beg your patience for a moment, please?” The redness suffusing Priscilla’s high cheekbones clearly indicated she didn’t enjoy arguing with her husband, especially in a public setting.
When she nodded, Jonto signaled for Sandy to wait and received a relieved look from her Master Gunner.
Stepping to where Robert stood fuming at his wife’s betrayal, Jonto placed a hand on the man’s shoulder.
She directed him to a private area on the other side of the deck and silently prayed she’d have the skills to diffuse the tense atmosphere that had arisen in such short order.
Perhaps Sandy shouldn’t have taken it upon herself to teach the ladies how to clean a cannon.
On the other hand, her gunner was only doing as her captain instructed.
And damn it, Jonto was determined to give Isla experiences that, should it become necessary, would last her a lifetime.