Her Heart's Captain by Elizabeth Mansfield Read Free Book Online

Cullum, the butler, knowing how eagerly his mistress had been watching for them, brought them upstairs to her abigail, who woke her at once.
    A short while later, Jenny, who was lingering at the breakfast table wondering whether it would disturb her mother if she sat down so early at the pianoforte to practice the sonata by Haydn she’d purchased the day before, was startled by a noise in the hallway. The door of the. morning room burst open, and her mother (in a shocking state of dishabille , wearing only her nightdress) stormed in. She was waving a sheaf of papers and sputtering incoherently about Jenny’s underhanded secrecy, flagrant immorality and treachery. “You’ve nipped your brother’s career in the bud !” she declaimed. “And before it’s even had a chance to bloom!”
    â€œIf I’ve nipped it in the bud, of course it hasn’t had a chance to bloom,” Jenny said, laughing. “Whatever are you talking about, Mama?”
    â€œGo ahead, laugh! It’s all of a piece with your shameless conduct in Portsmouth. Jenny, how could you—?”
    Jenny’s smile faded. “But who—? How—?” Though utterly confused, Jenny could nevertheless feel herself coloring to the ears.
    â€œYour brother has written about it.” She sank into a chair. “To think that a daughter of mine would comport herself like a common lightskirt!”
    â€œ Lightskirt ? Really, Mama, I may have behaved unwisely, but surely Robbie doesn’t say that I—”
    â€œHe says very little, but I can read between the lines. Taking up with a perfect stranger in a public place? How else can I interpret such conduct?”
    â€œI should think you could find a less opprobrious interpretation if you tried,” her daughter said with a tinge of sarcasm. “But what has my conduct to do with Robbie’s career?”
    â€œHere. Read his account for yourself.” And she threw one of the letters across the table to Jenny’s place.
    Jenny smoothed the sheets and began to read. Dear Mama and Jenny , the boy had written, I have been aboard the Providential for three days now and at Sea for two, and thus far I am finding it quite Disappointing. The work is very Difficult and Tiring, as I must stand Watch every four hours and never seem to get enough Sleep. On Duty, I must dash from Stem to Stern with messages, assist the Signalmen, help with the Guns during Gunnery Practice and assist the Lieutenants with Anything else they wish me to do. To make Matters worse, the Captain has taken a great Dislike to me, and that, Jenny, is all your Fault .
    My dealings with the Captain commenced in a most surprising Manner which I will relate to you in Detail since I have almost an hour until eight Bells when I have the Watch again. I had not been aboard Ship for more than an hour and was unpacking my Gear in the midshipmen’s Berth (which by the way was the subject of much Mirth, for it should all have been packed in a sea chest) and becoming acquainted with the other Fellows, when a steward came in with a message that the Captain requested my Company for Dinner. This caused a great Stir among the other Middies, since none of Them had been asked. As you can well Imagine, I was quite Proud and dressed Myself in all my best for the Ocassion .
    When I presented Myself at the Captain’s Cabin, I found that I was the lowliest Person there, the others being the first and second Lieutenants, and a Captain of Marines — not even a third Lieutenant in Evidence. No one paid any Attention to me at all, making me feel quite Awkward, as you can well Imagine .
    Then they all got to their Feet and Captain Allenby came in. You can well Imagine my Feelings of Shock when I saw that the Captain was None Other than the Fellow to whom Jenny had attached herself on the Dock !
    As you can well Imagine, I was rendered almost Speechless by the Sight of him, but he didn’t make any