True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery by Lisa Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

of the ordinary.
    The ocean breeze ruffled Mary's hair. “It is so beautiful out here.”
    Mary looked up at the sky. The moon slipped behind a cloud, and the deck went dark. Mary pitched one way as the ship went the other, and the captain reached out to brace her. His touch sent a shiver down her back. He kept his hands on her arms, and spoke softly, “You will get your sea legs soon. Every pitch and sway will be natural. Then when you are back on shore you will wish you were at sea again.”
    “Is that how it is for you?”
    He waited a moment before answering, “Yes.”
    The moon came back out from behind the clouds revealing them to any who would look their way, so the captain dropped his arms from hers.
    “Do you not have any loved ones on shore? A family to come home to?”
    “A brother. He is assigned to another ship. Our paths rarely cross.”
    “Have you never wanted a wife, children, a home?”
    “The ship I am assigned to is my home. Being the wife of a naval captain would be a hell for any woman. She would always come second to duty for country and king. When you are back on shore you will meet another landowner’s son, and have a home and a life. You will soon forget about your adventure aboard the HMS Devonshire.”
    “No! I could never forget you.”
    She reached out and placed her hand on his arm, as they strolled down the promenade, chaperoned only by the sailors on the night watch who were perched high above in the crow’s nest, at the steerage, and on the bows.
    He smiled. “You are young and foolish. Of course you will forget. We are a million miles apart by fate or God. Even if I wanted, you would be out of my reach.”
    Mary stopped and pulled on his arm until he faced her, “Do you? Do you want?”
    He looked into her eyes. They did something no battle could do. They took his breath away.
    “Yes.”
    He abruptly turned away and called over to the sailor at his station in the bow. “Mr. Whaley. See the young lady to her room and then report back immediately to your station.”
    “Captain!” Mary called out. He briskly walked away without turning to answer her call, leaving her in the care of the young sailor. “Miss? I have my orders.”
    Mary stood for a minute. Not sure what to make of the captain's admission. Of course he would find her attractive. She was a female, young, of marriageable age. What was she thinking? She’d never been attracted to a man before in this way. Would it wear off? Was it a spell cast by the attacking pirates, the beautiful weather, and a sense of the unknown?
    She wanted to walk and talk with Captain Graham some more, but she knew she was in a dangerous position with her chaperone sick below deck. When she looked at him, he made her want more.
    He was right though. Her parents would not approve. It was impossible.
    She had not thought of her prospects before. She would not be allowed to choose whom she would marry. The possibility of some suitors she considered—would be off limits. Her parents would disapprove of a sea captain who did not own land. His service to the Royal Navy would always come first and any wife of his would lead a lonely existence stuck in a port city.
    Still—she could not stop thinking about him. She wanted him. She wanted Graham.
    “Miss?”
    She came out of her revere and followed the night watchman to her cabin. Bennett Graham was so near, and yet so far. As he had said, a million miles apart.
    ***
    The next day Mary set up her painting station at dawn. One of the men had caught a curious beast, a sea turtle. She drew it, and committed to memory its colors before the men took it below decks.
    She asked the young cabin boy assigned to her station, “What will they do with it?”
    “Cook it to eat it, miss.”
    She decided not to ask about the other sea creatures they pulled up for her to sketch. Rounding the tip of a promontory, she spied a beautiful waterfall cascading down a high peak all the way to the sea.
    She looked about