Lucky's Lady (The Caversham Chronicles Book 4) by Sandy Raven Read Free Book Online Page A

you wish to know anything about me at all, sir, it's that I am very practical."
    Mary-Michael began the tour of the topside structures in the fo'c'sle, getting his opinions on the arrangement she'd designed here. Her head easily cleared the overhead, while her companion had to duck his head. "This is a general cargo clipper. The difference in design is not noticed up here but rather below, in the hold. The owner does not plan to house crewmen in this area under the anchor deck, but livestock for consumption." She pointed out the chicken coop on one side and the pens for pigs and sheep on the other. "There are two privies forward, one rear, and one in each of her two cabins." She delicately tapped a foot on the fore hatch as they came back into the light. "This opens to the sail locker which we will see from below." They continued toward the rear of the vessel and she pointed up for him to see the placement of the lifeboats on the roof of the deckhouse. "This freed up space on the main deck and got them out of the way. There will also be two gigs in the rear."
    Seeing him stop and look into the glass of the deckhouse, Mary-Michael asked, "Would you like to go inside?" When he nodded, she opened the door and held it for him. "As I mentioned, this is a general cargo ship. The owner wanted his galley midship, in the deckhouse. So that is the entirety of this area." She pointed out the sandbox and coal box, and the space in the center for the cast iron stove placement. Construction of the tables and benches was underway, and she introduced the new client to the carpenters before moving toward the rear of the ship.
    "Ajax, as you can see, is one hundred and sixty feet, has a raised quarter deck with two cabins and crew quarters below." She led the way down into the saloon. "Since you're looking at one hundred and eighty feet, my recommendation is a long, raised quarter deck." She met his gaze again but she was in control of her emotions this time, because she was talking about one of her creations, her life's work. "You have the room for it. And within that long deck, you can have two very large cabins, or four nice-sized cabins. You could also make them smaller, say six or eight small cabins, with just berths to sleep up to four in each."
    "Neither of us plans to transport passengers. That is not our business. But we did both want two well-appointed, large cabins." He looked around at the furnishings of the saloon. "I think a common area such as this with a dining table and library would be nice." He ran a hand along the leather cushions and looked up at the skylight. "Brilliant idea."
    "Thank you. Tell me what you think so far." It was easier for her to think of him as just another client, rather than someone who rattled her nerves. Someone whose very presence made her skin hypersensitive to his proximity and made her heart race each time he looked her way. She hoped these feelings would subside the more she worked with him and was around him. So far what she was finding was the opposite. In fact, the more time she spent with him, and the more comfortable she got being around him, the more her entire body would quiver under his scrutiny. She sometimes caught him eying her in an odd manner and it discomfited her. Yet she desired it. Wanted more of it.
    "I'm very impressed." His words sent a swell of pride surging through her. His hand trailed along a fiddle rail of the bookcase. "The fittings, the brass, leather, and ivory are exceptional, but what I find the most impressive are the innovative changes made to the placement of galley, the hold for livestock, and cabins. I'm sure I will be equally surprised when I see the below deck areas."
    "I hope so," she replied. "We are very proud of the work we do. Customization to the client's needs is not an obstacle to doing the job."
    After looking through the cabins and seeing the finishings, they went topside again to see the steering deck arrangements, the wheel, the wheel housing, and