Chapter 10 #2
Samples of soap from Elizabeth’s crates covered the galley table, alongside her graphite pencils and pastel chalks. She studied the pristine supplies her uncle had purchased in London with new optimism. The chalk felt smooth between her fingers, its colors bright and promising.
Prudence set a fresh cup of tea in front of her, the steam curling between them. “Do not give away your valuable commodities cheaply. Wait until you see a piece of art that takes your breath away, that you cannot imagine living without. Then negotiate.”
Elizabeth fingered a piece of blue chalk, considering. Prudence’s recommendation made sense. These art supplies could be traded for local artwork.
“There is another piece of information you should know before we arrive in Portugal.” Mrs. Bell moved to the doorway and called out, “Tommy, would you spare us a moment?”
The ship’s boy appeared, his usual confident swagger tempered by uncertainty as he entered the galley. Mrs. Bell beckoned him with an encouraging smile. “This youngster knows the tricks of port cities better than most grown men.”
Tommy shuffled his feet, color rising above his collar. “Beggin’ yer pardon, miss, but Mrs. Bell says I’m to teach ye about…well, about keepin’ yer belongings safe from them who’d take them.”
Elizabeth set her teacup down with a delighted clink. At Longbourn, her education had been confined to drawing rooms and libraries. This would be knowledge born of life experience.
“I am all attention.” She settled herself on a stool, arranging her skirt like an eager pupil. “Please proceed as if I know nothing at all…which is the truth.”
Tommy brightened at her obvious interest. He straightened his shoulders, adopting the manner of an instructor. “Right then, miss. The first rule is never wear any o’ yer best things. Makes ye look like someone worth robbin’, see?”
He pulled coins from his pockets and jangled them conspicuously, and then quickly tucked them away. “Keep yer purse here, close to yer heart, where slippery fingers can’t reach easily.” His palm pressed against his chest.
Fascinated, Elizabeth asked, “And what of jewelry?” Her fingers moved instinctively to the small pearl pendant at her throat.
“Leave the fancy bits on the ship, miss. Every port has some characters with right clever fingers, and they can take a brooch off yer gown before ye know it’s gone.
And always, always keep one hand on yer reticule.
Don’t matter how pretty the trinket someone’s showing ye.
As soon as you let go…whoosh!” He demonstrated with a swift grabbing motion.
“You are an excellent teacher, Tommy.”
At Elizabeth’s praise, he stood taller.
“What else should I know?”
For the next quarter of an hour, Tommy and Prudence regaled her with tales of distraction techniques such as false beggars and taught her the art of appearing purposeful instead of merely lost. Elizabeth absorbed every word, filing each piece of advice away for easy recall.
When he finished, she curtseyed. “Your training has been invaluable. Now, what can I do for you in return? Surely there is some way I can repay such excellent instruction?”
His confident demeanor evaporated like morning mist. He stared at his bare feet. “Oh, miss, ye don’t owe me nuthin’. Just doin’ me duty, like.”
“I insist.” Elizabeth’s voice was firm. “What would you like that I might be able to provide?”
The boy fidgeted uncomfortably, wrestling with some internal debate.
Finally, he looked up with a mixture of hope and embarrassment that quite touched her heart.
“Well, miss…if it wouldn’t be too much trouble…
” He swallowed hard. “I’d like to learn to read proper and learn my numbers, so I’m not cheated in port. ”
She grinned broadly. “What a wonderful request.”
“I know it ain’t my place,” he rushed on, mortification clear in his voice. “A ship’s boy don’t need letters, and I know that. But I see others with their books an’ the cap’n with his charts that have writin’ on ’em, an’ I think…Well, I think it might be useful, like.”
“Not your place?” Elizabeth was stunned. “Tommy, the desire to learn is the most natural thing in the world. There is no shame in it whatsoever.”
He ducked his head. “I…well, miss, I already got somethin’.” He disappeared briefly and returned with a small slate and a piece of chalk, handling them as if they were precious treasures. “I bought this in Liverpool last voyage. Jes’ in case, ye see. In case someone might…”
“Tommy,” she said. “It would be my very great pleasure to teach you. However, the very man who taught me to read is traveling on the Mary Catherine. When you have time, please present yourself at our quarters. We shall start with the alphabet, and by the time we reach Egypt, I warrant you will be reading well enough to enjoy a proper book, along with being able to do some mathematical equations.”
“Like plus and add?” The joy that spread across his face could have powered the ship’s lanterns.
“Yes, like plus and add.”
Not two hours later, there was a knock on their cabin door, and Tommy appeared. Color returned to her father’s pale cheeks. His enthusiasm for teaching enlivened him. His voice grew stronger as he began explaining the mysteries of letters and sounds.
Leaving the two of them absorbed in their lesson, Elizabeth took her journal to the galley, where she documented the day’s events.