“I’d hardly call the thought of marrying you abhorrent.”
“Distasteful, then.”
“Stop putting words in my mouth. I am not the blackguard you are trying to make me out to be. I am trying to do right by you.”
“No,” she said quietly. “I know the blame lies with me. But you are wrong to think I don’t want to marry you because I can have my old life back.”
Just then there was a knock. Jaxon who was standing closer to the door opened it.
“It’s unlocked,” Romy said.
“Thanks,” Jaxon said and dismissed him with a curt nod. “Whatever your reasons, Charlie, I only wish you well.”
Jaxon left without another word.
Charlie bit her lip and wondered if she would ever understand these land rules. Yes, she left the party to see to Morty’s hurt feelings, but she had never said she didn’t want to marry him until he said he didn’t love her. But he acted like she had broken off the engagement. The last thing she wanted was her old life back.
Charlie went into her father’s cabin and retrieved the keys off his desk and made her way to the quarterdeck. As she looked out over the assembled men, Charlie felt a lump rise in her throat. She may have had conflict with them prior to being abandoned, but in the end, they had come back for her and for that, she was grateful. Tears threatened to come, but she forced them back. Now was the time to be strong.
“I want to thank you all for coming after me. It means more to me than you will ever know. My gratitude will be reflected when you receive your pay at the end of the month.”
Murmurs of approval came from the crew.
“Of course, this is a time of uncertainty for all of us. I will speak to the harbor master today and try to find a new captain. If I can’t find one here, we will go to a larger port and try there.”
“Are you planning on staying with the ship?” a voice called out.
Charlie sighed. She didn’t know.
“It will depend on the new captain. If I stay, it will be as first mate, not second. My father always intended for me to take the reins when I was ready. I would like to do that for him.”
“I’m not taking orders from a woman,” Fanzel said.
“Mr. Fanzel, I know you are not the only one who feels that way and I understand completely. You were not on my watch, but I feel if you talk to the men who were, you’ll find I am quite competent.”
“Why did you lock Morty up?” another man called out.
“He found out my secret.”
The men began grumbling.
“I also accosted her,” Morty jumped in. “I took liberties that were unwelcome. My punishment was fair.”
Charlie gasped. For Morty just to say that in front of the men could lead to violence. Her father had always been careful to hire family men and men of moral character.
“That’s not true. Morty did no such thing. He kissed me, that’s all. No harm done.”
His discovery had been accidental and if they thought he had done it intentionally, they might have hurt him. Offhandedly, she wondered what they’d do if they found out she had been bedded by Jaxon.
“I don’t know yet what I’m going to do. It will greatly depend on whether I can find a captain who will let me serve.”
“You should be captain,” Morty shouted.
Charlie smiled at him. “Someday, maybe, but for the time being, we need to get this ship back in order. There will be no shore leave while she looks like this. Starboard watch, you may go below. Larboard watch, it’s time to get to work. Carpenter, as soon as I have these men working, I will need your report about how the repairs are progressing.”
29
Captain Jaxon Bloodworthy cast one last glance down the pier toward Charlie’s ship. He sighed and made his way slowly away from the docks toward his townhouse. He didn’t understand how it could all go so wrong so fast. He supposed it was what happens when you act so impulsively.
How much did he truly know about Charlie? He had to concede with the exception of the lies she told to protect herself, everything she ever told him was true. She was the second mate of her ship and now half-owner. She had lived nearly her whole life on that ship—as a man. She could fight. She had medical training. And yet he could not accept that she loved him. But, he had to remind himself she also loved Thor or whatever that blonde-headed Viking god’s name was. Morty.
One thing Jaxon knew about himself was he didn’t share. What was his was his. If someone else had a claim to something he possessed, he do without rather than share. That was the way it was when he was expected to share his toy soldiers and wooden swords with Grayson. That’s the way it was now.