Chapter One #2
Georgiana did not even pause but kept walking. The man could have been calling to any sailor given the docks were full of them.
“Why are you leaving the ship?” The voice was nearer and her stomach tightened as she suspected the voice was calling to her. Still, she did not alter her pace and pretended she had not heard anything.
“Why are you leaving the ship before all cleaning and repairs are made, not to mention helping in the unloading of the cargo?”
Now she knew the man was calling after her and his voice was even closer yet.
Georgiana wanted to run but had no real direction since she’d never been here before. Instead, she kept her head down and looked for areas in which she could disappear and then run before the man caught up to her.
“I said wait.” A heavy hand settled on her shoulder, though gently and just enough for her to know that she’d been caught.
Her heart sank. She had been nearly free.
“Did you not hear me?”
Oh, she had heard him very well. She had just chosen to ignore him, not that she would tell him that.
His hand lifted as he came around to stand before her.
Georgiana did not look up. Instead, she stared straight ahead and directly at his chest. It was broad, firm, and tan from being in the sun.
He was not wearing a suitcoat, and his waistcoat was open over a light linen shirt, minus a cravat, revealing a portion of his firm, upper chest. Goodness, she was only used to seeing men properly attired.
Not that she minded as she appreciated the smooth muscles…
Her face heated. She should not be admiring this man’s chest. She was simply shocked, that was all and panicked because she had been caught.
“Who gave you permission to leave the ship early?”
“Capt.…” Georgiana tried to recall the name of the captain. She knew that she had heard it but the name escaped her.
“Jenkins would not let a sailor go until the work was done,” the man insisted.
There had to be an excuse that he would believe but all words failed Georgiana. Further, she was afraid to speak because she feared her voice would give her away. So far this man in front of her believed her to be a male and he must continue to believe that.
“Are you going to answer me?”
Instead of saying anything Georgiana dropped her chin further.
“Deserters forfeit their pay, especially if they leave a job undone.”
As Georgiana had never expected wages, and was not really a sailor, that was not a hardship.
“And since you are sneaking away, I can only assume that you have a nefarious purpose for doing so.”
At his implied assumption Georgiana gasped before she could control her response.
“Perhaps I should search your belongings to see what you may have stolen from my ship.”
She placed a protective hand over the satchel as she tightened her grip on the valise, which held nothing more than her clothing.
She could not under any circumstances allow him to look inside either. Not because she had stolen anything but because half of her clothing was for a female and he would realize that she was not the lad she hoped to portray.
“Come along. I am returning you to the ship.”
Georgiana shifted her eyes to the left, to the right, and beyond him. There was no way she could allow him to take her back. She needed to disappear.
“Do I need to haul you back there or will you come along with me?”
Ahead to the left was an alley and Georgiana could only pray that it did not end at a wall but would give her access to another street where she could disappear.
“Are you coming with me?”
She gave a quick nod. The man returned to her side, expecting her to follow. Instead, Georgiana darted past him, running as fast as possible, and ducked down the alley.
“Come back here,” the man yelled.
Georgiana did not look back but kept running, noting the opening ahead and the location of the sun with every intention of turning to the right where there would be more shadows.
But just as she neared the opening to the street, her toe caught on a raised stone and she stumbled forward.
Georgiana let go of her valise as she thrust out her hands in hopes of stopping her fall just as her knees slammed against the hard cobblestone.
Her palms scraped against the ground as her hat flew off her head.
Georgiana scrambled forward to grab it and stuff her braids underneath then reached for her valise.
As she came to her feet ready to run again, Georgiana was forced to halt because the man had already caught up to her, his feet planted, blocking her escape.
She slowly looked up. His arms were crossed over his chest as he scowled down at her. His straight nose was perfectly aligned with his other features of strong cheekbones and lips pressed firmly together in disapproval.
“Do you care to explain how a female came to be aboard one of my ships?”
“I would rather not, if you do not mind.”
His cold blue eyes narrowed. “Oh, I mind very much.” He held out a hand to assist Georgiana to her feet. “You either return with me to Trade Wynd or I call for the constable and he can take you before a magistrate to decide your fate. Which do you prefer?”
Georgiana swallowed against the tightness of her throat. A constable would see her in a jail cell, and she honestly did not know the punishment for being a stowaway. At the very least, she would likely be shipped home, which could not happen.
She stared up and into his blue eyes, shadowed by strands of auburn hair, and prayed that he was understanding and would let her go.
“I will answer you here,” she said decidedly.
“Trade Wynd or constable,” he repeated, auburn eyebrow arched.
Once again Georgiana swallowed against the tightening of her throat.
“Trade Wynd,” she finally answered.
He motioned for her to turn around so they could go back the way they had come. She trudged ahead of him slowly, her knees sore from hitting the pavement. But she did her best to ignore the discomfort and planned for another potential escape.
“Do not even think about going in any other direction or I will chase you down and carry you back to the office and keep you there until I have my answers,” he warned as they reached the street at the end of the alley.
Georgiana hesitated and looked to her left where more streets branched off to various areas of Southampton.
To her right were the docks. She could attempt to run away again but concluded that she would be even less successful this time especially since the man already anticipated her flight.
With a sigh of resignation, she turned toward the docks.