Her Three Captains
Arabella Sheen
Chapter Two
Luke,
with hat and cane in hand, and dressed in a long woolen greatcoat with thick
mud encrusted on its hemline, crossed the cobbled street walkway with
determined strides. He was headed toward a tall, sandstone building known as
The Exchange.
As
the hazy star-studded darkness of the heavens thinned and the morning sun rose
on Bristol’s dawn skyline, he joined a group of gentlemen huddled around one of
The Four Nails. In the distance, the sound of a church bell chiming the hour
could be heard. It was 8:00 and too early to be abroad for the purpose of
business.
Last
night, after leaving the tavern, he’d managed to make it home to his lodgings
with his winnings, and with lustful thoughts of the desirable woman he had just
met playing in his head, he had fallen asleep in his chair beside the warmth of
the fire.
It
was only when his manservant unwittingly disturbed him when cleaning the grate
and placing fresh coals in the hearth that Luke recalled he had places to be
and things to do.
The
Exchange and the surrounding streets were bustling. Familiar with the clatter
of horses’ hooves on the cobbles and the loud babble of excited voices around
him, he knew the sounds to be signs of a busy morning to come.
Corn
Street was the place commercial traders gathered to buy and sell their wares.
Aiming to be a profit-making ship merchant, Luke had arrived early in order to
throw money onto The Nail and trade.
One
of his ships, The Mattea, had recently docked in the harbor, and while the crew
unloaded the fresh cargo of tea and sugar, he had come to The Exchange in
search of new merchandise to buy and ship abroad.
“Good
God! If it ain’t Captain Luke Crowe, the man himself.”
A
firm hand had been placed on Luke’s shoulder, making him turn to see who had
called out his name.
On
Luke’s part, there was instant recognition. Dressed in a naval uniform, Edward
Campbell, an old seafaring friend, stood before him with a wide grin of welcome
on his face. It was clear Edward had been eager to attract his attention.
“Edward.”
Luke chuckled, surprised by the unexpected meeting.
“How
have you been, sir?” Edward asked. “It’s been a while since last we spoke. And
why are you out of uniform? If it hadn’t been for your exceptional height and
the way you carry yourself, I would have passed you by.”
The
need to extend a leg and bow in greeting wasn’t necessary. The two men knew one
another all too well to perform such a gesture, and it was with the familiar
sincere warmth of camaraderie and friendship that they hugged.
A
decade ago, they had served together on a sloop. At the time, Luke had been the
captain of a vessel named Splendour, a three-mast topsail schooner, and Edward,
a young, impressionable boatswain, had been learning the ropes of nautical
navigation.
“Campbell.
What on earth are you doing in Bristol?” Luke asked, puzzled. “I thought you
were based somewhere on the south coast.”
Luke
stepped away from The Nail, allowing the other men to continue with their
trading.
Edward
laughed. “How I wish I were indeed in Devon, my friend. But things have changed
since I last served under you. I had hoped to rise in the ranks, but what with
that never-ending war with Bonaparte continuing and the troubles that are to be
found on the coast of the Americas, there’s not much chance of that happening
anytime soon.”
Luke
tapped his cane against his leg. “Don’t be so impatient, my friend. Eventually,
you’ll get the commission you desire. I’m sure it will happen. And if in a
couple of years you’re still in the same boat, I’ll even put in a good word for
you myself. Not that my opinion carries much weight in these matters any
longer. But I could have a word with Admiral—”
Edward
laughed and lifted a hand to halt Luke from explaining further. “Thank you,
Luke, my friend. That’s a most generous offer, and I might just take you up on
it sometime. But enough of this talking on the streets of Bristol, for now. Why
not join me for a measure of rum in that tavern over there?” Edward was
pointing to a hostelry that was tucked in a corner of the square. It looked
like it had seen better days. “I’ll stand you a drink and you can tell me if
you ever did decide to marry the pretty filly that was chasing you all those
years ago. What was her name? Kitty … Kitty Bishopworth, was it not? Didn’t she
intercept you one summer’s evening in Vauxhall Gardens with the intention of
forcing your hand? Tell me, were you obliged to offer marriage?”
At
the mention of Kitty’s name, sharp memories were evoked of a time Luke would
sooner forget. Ten years ago, he’d been a young naval captain of twenty-five.
He had just gained his first ship’s command and was new to the hidden rewards
his position and rank could grant him.
The
doors of society’s elite that had previously been closed were suddenly opened.
And when calling cards and invitations started to arrive, it had been difficult
to refuse all that had been offered.
The
gold epaulets on his seafaring uniform were like magnets for the young ladies
of the demi-monde, and he had soon attracted his fair share of flirtatious
attention and had often enjoyed the salacious pleasures that had followed.
He
had been and still was an eligible bachelor. He was even considered by some to
be an exceptionally handsome specimen of manhood. Ladies had eagerly thrown
themselves at his feet, but it was not for the likes of Kitty Bishopworth that
he had hungered. He had wanted more. He had wanted a wife, a spouse, a partner
that would stay true. The likes of Kitty would never be satisfied with the love
and devotion they were given. Once married, they would always seek out the
attention and passion of a secret lover.
A
light dalliance with Kitty had served him well. And having learned a lesson,
when, by the skin of his teeth, he had escaped matrimonial bondage with her, he
had come to realize women were a fickle breed and not to be relied upon. With a
clear conscience, he had decided that a bachelor’s lifestyle was a better
alternative than being shackled to an unfaithful wife.
Although
if honest with himself, last night, he might have been persuaded to have
changed his mind. When the curtain of the tavern’s card room had lifted to
reveal the sight of a very desirable female, he had felt a sudden surge of lust
and masculine vigor gush through his loins once again. Had the unknown woman
been a true wanton wench of the tavern, which she clearly wasn’t, he was sure
he would have found a way to secrete her to a hidden corner of the inn and
indulge his manly urge to possess her then and there. As it was, he knew in an
instant that the woman was a lady of noble birth, and to indulge in an act of
shameless fornication with her, simply to appease his need for release, would
be wrongfully immoral and worse … ungentlemanly. Only a rake and a scoundrel
would dare take such blatant innocence from someone so obviously pure and
untouched. But he had been tempted.
Luke
shook his head and laughed. “Edward, you’ve got it wrong. Kitty and I parted
long ago. Our paths went different ways.”
“Come,”
Edward said. “I insist we have a drink and talk at our leisure. We can
reminisce over old times, and you shall tell me about all the ladies that got
away.”
The
hostelry across the road had an overflow of patrons standing outside on the
flagstone walkway, and Luke suspected the place was crammed to the rafters with
men well into their cups. It wasn’t a tavern he was prepared to spend his
morning in. Plus, he was still groggy from the excessive amount of alcohol he
had consumed the night before.
With
regret, he had to decline. He would have liked to have heard the news his
friend had to impart, but he had business to attend to.
“I’m
sorry, Edward,” he said. “I’m at The Exchange with a purpose. I’m looking for a
cargo, and the sooner I find it, the sooner my ship can sail.”
Edward
looked surprised. “Since when does a ship’s captain have to find cargo?”
“Since
I became a merchant.” Luke smiled. “A lot has happened since we went our
separate ways.”
“Yes,
indeed it has.” Edward looked thoughtful. “Especially since that dreadful
business with Trevillion and his crew. Not the nicest of things to have
happened.”
“Viscount
Trevillion? Why? What happened?”
Joseph
Trevillion was an old and trusted friend that had served on board Splendour
with Luke and Edward, but Luke had not seen Viscount Trevillion in recent
years.
“You
haven’t heard?”
“Heard
what?” Luke asked. “I’ve been away for a few months and only sailed into
Bristol yesterday.”
The
morning before, Luke had returned from India. The Mattea had sailed from the
far-east and had reached the southwest coast of England, where it had followed
the incoming tide on The River Avon to dock at the port of Bristol.
As
a merchant trader, Luke had a duty to stay on dry land and attend to the
commercial side of his business. But with a strong love of the sea running
through his veins, he often sailed with his cargo ships to their destinations
and was sometimes crossing oceans for months at a time.
A
frown appeared on Edward’s brow. “Trevillion’s ship and cargo were captured by
pirates,” Edward confided. “A few weeks ago, reports from another vessel
reached England saying that an attack had been witnessed, but it was unclear if
Trevillion and his crew were able to abandon ship and swim to safety.”
Luke
was shocked by the news of Joseph’s plight. And then the penny dropped. In the
tavern, when the woman had entered, he thought he had felt a flicker of
recognition and there had been. But that was before his manly feelings of lust
and desire had taken over. She had the same coloring and features as Joseph
Trevillion, only he hadn’t realized it at the time Could it be that she was
Joseph’s sister? Had she come in search of help and in his ignorance, he had
brutally and cruelly turned her away?
“Campbell,”
he said. “I’m most obliged to you. I had heard nothing of Viscount Trevillion’s
misfortune until now. Forgive me if I seem abrupt, but I must be off.”
“Is
there something wrong?” Edward asked.
“I
must complete my business here and then see if I can trace Miss Trevillion’s
whereabouts.” He had no idea where the Trevillions were based in Bristol, but
he was determined to find out.
Having
said farewell to Edward, and promising to meet again before too long, he
returned to the business at hand. The sooner he found cargo for his ship, the
sooner he could go in search of The Honorable Olivia Trevillion.
The
crowd of merchants in front of The Exchange had increased in size, and they
were huddled together, deep in negotiations.
When
Luke joined them, he soon had his eye on a shipment of terra cotta earthenware
along with a substantial collection of various bolts of the finest wool. With
confidence and self-assurance, he began competing for a fair price.
When
the bids ceased and he realized he had outbid his competitors, he pulled from
his coat pocket a leather purse filled with gold guinea coins and placed it
onto The Nail. His day’s trading was over. He had achieved what he’d come for.
A fresh cargo.
“Thank
you, gentlemen,” he said. “I must now make haste to ensure my cargo is loaded.
It was a pleasure trading with you, and I’ll be sure to call upon your services
again when my ships are next in port.”
Satisfied
with his morning’s work, Luke turned and, leaving Corn Street, made his way to
the harbor to inform the captain of The Mattea that as soon as the cargo of
earthenware was loaded the ship would be sailing for the Americas.
But
for now, he had another task to complete. It was one he was reluctant to become
involved with yet felt duty bound to undertake. He had to find Miss Trevillion
and discover why she had risked the dangers of entering a squalid tavern and
had come in search of him.
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