“You can and you will. You can return them when we get to shore and buy you some dresses.”
“Dresses? Me? I haven’t worn a dress since I was six. I wouldn’t recognize myself in the looking glass.”
He really didn’t know what Jaxon’s plans were regarding Charlie. He dreaded another confrontation with his brother, but knew she was their responsibility.
“I should imagine they’re all clean since it’s only Tuesday.”
All sailors washed their clothes on Sunday. It was the only day the men were given leisure time. Adjusting the sails was the only duty.
“I’ll be sure they get washed again before I return them.”
Charlie opened the chest and began removing the clothing from the neatly ordered contents. The chest had been packed with care for Jimmy’s family and she hated to disturb the contents.
“I’ll take good care of them,” she said hiding the unmentionables in the middle of the small stack.
“Take the sweater, too. The nights are beginning to feel nippy.”
“I don’t know if I should. His wife or mother knitted that for him. I don’t know if they would want me to use it.”
“Nonsense, Aunt Pru would be glad someone is getting good use of it,” he said. “Just don’t wear it when we get back to port until we’ve had time to break the news to our family.”
She removed the striped wool sweater then closed the sea locker. Daniel took the lamp and led her out of the hold.
“Do you knit?” he asked.
She laughed. “If it’s something that girls know how to do, I can assure you, I do not. My father didn’t want anyone to view his son as missish. I didn’t even know until you told me, that it was improper to be in your quarters with the door closed. I mean, now that I think about it, it makes sense.”
He looked at her, only beginning to understand. “Well, that explains why you didn’t slap Jaxon when he kissed you on deck.”
“Why would I do that? I liked the kiss.”
Daniel grimaced. He couldn’t believe he was going to have to explain this to her. “Because you aren’t married or even engaged to him. He was treating you like a harlot or his mistress.”
“He has a mistress?”
Was that what she took out of his remark? Daniel sighed and rubbed his temple.
“No, but thanks to him kissing you like that, half the men on this ship think you are his paramour or soon will be.”
“And a land girl would have known to slap him because he sullied her reputation, even if she liked it?”
Daniel raked his hand through his hair just like she had seen Jaxon do. “And another thing: don’t go around telling people you liked my brother’s kisses.” He could see the question forming in her mind. “It just isn’t done. Maidens shouldn’t have been kissed, not the good girls anyway and the rest either don’t like it or pretend they don’t.”
“They’ve never been kissed by your brother then.”
Daniel was still laughing as they entered the passageway to the officer’s quarters.
“My watch starts in about fifteen minutes, do you want to use my cabin while I’m on duty.”
“No,” she said. “I’m going to have to face him at some point. But I do need an escort to check on the other injured men.”
“You’ll have to do it quickly.”
13
Facing Jaxon when she finished attending the other injured men was not to be. His cabin was empty. Charlie found the key in the lock, just as he said it would be, so she took her moment of privacy to change into her new clothing. It had been a couple of years since Charlie had given up the uniform of a common tar. The duck trousers and striped shirt were the universal uniform of jack. It made her feel more like herself to have it on. Charlie even decided to retrieve the strip of cloth she used to bind herself and loosely bound herself again. It just made her feel less on display, less vulnerable.
The trousers were a little large in width, but the buttons could be moved easily and the length was perfect as she had always been long-legged. Charlie decided to remain barefoot. She wondered if she should ask Daniel if it was inappropriate for her to go around shoeless. He’d probably let her know eventually if it wasn’t.
The rattling of the doorknob alerted Charlie to Jaxon’s return.
“Charlie, may I come in?” Jaxon asked.
She turned the key, opened the door fully and stepped to the far side of the room where the hammock stretched across the corner of the room. Piece by piece, Charlie refolded her newly acquired clothing as Jaxon stepped in and closed the door.
“Shouldn’t we leave it open?” Charlie said despite the fact she didn’t want to talk to him at all. Now that she realized it was improper, she had to stand up for herself.