16. Isla #3
Isla hadn’t noticed the slight tremor in his voice because worrisome thoughts had begun shouting a litany of warnings concerning everything that could possibly go wrong while climbing the ladder.
What if she slipped and fell into the freezing ocean?
Her dress would pull her under before anyone could find her.
The trip had been arranged in so much haste that she hadn’t had time to process the practicalities of sailing on a ship in the middle of the ocean.
She didn’t know how to swim, and it only now occurred to her that she’d be surrounded on all sides by nothing but water.
With her heart beating painfully against her chest, she was having a difficult time catching her breath.
Her hand tightened spasmodically on the wooden rung, freezing her in place.
“Lady Brighton.” When she didn’t respond immediately, Jonto’s voice gentled. “Isla.”
She started, forgetting in her panic that he stood a mere few inches away. By the way he said her name, she guessed it hadn’t been the first time he’d spoken.
“Grasp this rung here with your other hand.” He tapped a rung above her head.
When she didn’t move, he carefully peeled her second hand from the rope and moved it to where she could grasp the higher rung.
“Breathe, My Lady. You’re fine, and I won’t let anything happen to you.
I promise. This is my home, and you’re my guest. Do you think I’d invite a fine lady into my home only to let her fall into the sea?
” He squeezed her hand and, with mock pomposity, added, “Heaven forfend.”
The ridiculousness of the phrase jerked her out of her near-panicked state.
She smiled despite herself. “Heaven forfend?” When Jonto leaned in, Isla pulled in a steadying breath, catching the heady scent of lemon and bergamot on top of a base of sandalwood and cedar.
Jonto’s cologne mixed with the sea air was both elegant and invigorating.
Isla privately thought she could come to like the aroma if given half the chance.
Obviously relieved that his playfulness had achieved the desired effect, Jonto gave his next command. “Step onto the gunwale and then put your foot here.” He bent and tapped the rung slightly higher than the side of their boat.
Isla raised her foot as instructed but clearly hadn’t thought through the process of climbing a rope ladder when she’d dressed for their travels. “My…” she paused, “…I’m afraid I didn’t tuck my skirt high enough, and my foot will catch on my dress.”
With a quick glance down at the hem of Isla’s skirt, Jonto blushed at the thought of seeing the smooth, white skin beneath the maroon fabric.
“I promise I won’t look when you raise your skirt high enough to climb.
” He tilted his head high and roared at the top of his lungs, “If I catch anyone watching while these ladies climb this ladder, I swear you’ll end up as food for the fish. ”
Men’s faces disappeared from where they’d been watching from above, and those in the rigging and crows’ nests turned to face away from the operation below.
Jonto bellowed again, “Sandy! Jade!”
Isla winced as he yelled close to her ear.
“Aye, Cap’n?” First, one head, and then, after a short wait, another appeared over the Jest’s gunwale. The first had a full head of curly brown hair that reached the woman’s shoulders, while the second’s straight blonde hair fell no further than the top of her ears and the nape of her neck.
“When we reach the top, you two will help the ladies over the hatchway so I can return for the others.”
The curly-headed woman grinned around a scar bisecting the left side of her mouth. With a jaunty pull on her bangs, she shouted, “Aye, Soir.”
Isla shivered when she looked up into the menacing, pug-like face of the other woman.
Aware of Isla’s fear, Jonto ignored it to address a more pertinent matter.
Keenly attuned to every movement while onboard a sailing ship, no matter the size, he felt their boat rock slightly and looked over his shoulder to where Celie had moved closer to the Jest. “Please stay where I put you, Miss Smythson. Weight distribution on these smaller boats can be critical.”
At Celie’s embarrassed nod, he waited for her to shift back to her assigned place and then glanced back at Isla, who was staring up at the glowering sailor.
He spoke softly so that only Isla, Celie, and Lily could hear.
“Jade can be a bit menacing, but she’s skilled with sword and knife and is loyal to a fault.
And while none of my people would dare harm you at the risk of losing their lives, I’ve asked her and one other swordswoman to watch over all of you when you’re on the ship to put any possible fears you may have to rest. With me as your captain and her as one of your watchdogs, nothing and no one will harm you.
Treat her with respect, and she’ll come to like you, you’ll see. ”
Considering Jade the least of her worries, Isla tamped down her fear, gritted her teeth, and raised her foot to begin her climb.