Chapter VI
VI
He made her body sing. Once through the first pain and last lingering uncertainty, she gave in to the flood of desire.
Night after night they spent together in the bed in his chamber, though from time to time, he was called away, and she covered her ears so as not to hear the talk, the shouts, and the movement of casks and crates from the hold.
She had gleaned enough during her days onboard ship to know that the customs men were more of a danger than the pirates.
James had spoken of ‘free trading’ and railed against the money lenders, bankers, and magistrates – men like his cousin Lord Robert – who had ‘brought Cornwall to her knees’.
Bess did not fully understand – nor did she want to.
But whatever cause James was fighting for, she would support him body and soul.
The only blight on her happiness was the knowledge that soon – very soon – it must come to an end.
Already they had docked for several days in Weymouth, then Plymouth, as well as a foray to the coast of France.
James had delayed their arrival as long as possible, but now, Cornwall was growing very near.
The weather worsened, the mist and fog set in, and with it came the rain.
It kept her confined to her cabin, forced to spend time with the Misses Applebaum playing cards or sketching.
Every minute she spent with them was a minute not spent with him.
It was becoming unendurable. Only in his arms did she feel safe, even as they careered towards an unconscionable and painful ending.
‘What shall we do?’ he asked her on the night before they were due to dock at Penzance. ‘For now that I have found you, how can I let you go?’
‘Do not let me go,’ Bess said. ‘Remake my fate into a life worth living. Which, for me, can only be with you.’
‘And for me, with you. But I have nothing to offer you, Bess. This ship is owned by my cousin, Lord Robert. I have no lands and little property of my own. What I have has been obtained through ill-gotten channels. I can’t keep you in the manner to which you are accustomed. And that makes me feel ashamed.’
‘Do not be!’ she said. ‘For you are everything I desire. In my heart, we are already married – for richer or for poorer.’
‘Your heart may be resolved, but your head must be satisfied too. And there is a way in which perhaps I can raise some capital to establish us somewhere out of reach of my cousin – perhaps in France, or Ireland. Places where I already have connections. But I must have some time to make it happen, and I am already scheduled to embark on another voyage for my cousin.’
‘I will be staying with my aunt until the wedding,’ Bess said. ‘How long will it take you to complete your arrangements?’
He straightened up, swinging out of bed. She wished she had not spoken.
‘If we are to have any chance at success, then I must start now. But until all is complete, we must bear the present with strength, fortitude, and hope.’
‘I will try, but without you—’
‘Shh.’ He put a finger to her lips. ‘You will not be without me for long.’ Turning to the shelf, he handed her a parcel wrapped in brown paper. ‘Open it,’ he said.
She did so, revealing a glass bottle on a carved oak stand. The bottle contained a perfect miniature replica of the Halcyon, with each detail crafted to perfection.
‘Keep this as a reminder of our bond. And every night, look out for the real ship that will come and bear you to safety. And never forget,’ he took her hand in his, ‘I will sail through fire, through storms, I will sail through death and to the ends of the earth, but I will come for you.’
‘I trust that you will,’ she said, sealing their pact with a kiss.