An Officer but No Gentleman(98)

Daniel pulled another log book off the shelf and brought it back to his seat.

“There must be twenty-five years’ worth of experience here for me to learn from. Do you think Charlie will let me keep these for now?”

“Ask her. I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t.”

Jaxon did a little math in his head and looked for the log that corresponded with the time when Charlie came aboard. He had already noticed there was almost nothing in the logs of the day to day running of the ship. It was mostly their coordinates and cargo information, but surely he would put a footnote about his wife’s demise or Charlie coming aboard. He turned the pages rapidly scanning each page for her name. Then he found it. She was listed last among new crew members with the number six, her age, he supposed, next to her name. Nothing about her mother or even that Charlie was related to him. On the next page there was a sentence that Dr. Kirk would be in charge of Charlie’s education for which he would be financially compensated.

Jaxon flipped the pages looking for Charlie’s name again. Nothing. Jaxon went to the shelf and found the next book. The next mention of Charlie was nearly two years later. “Disciplinary action: Twenty-five lashes—strop—for attempted murder. One for swearing.”

Charlie said she tried to stab the cabin boy with her knife. Apparently, she wasn’t exaggerating. But who takes a strop to a little girl like that? And where was the punishment for the little bully who beat her up?

Jaxon closed the book. He wasn’t going to find out anything from the ship’s logs. He already knew the man was a cold bastard. And apparently richer than God, but wouldn’t spend a couple of coins on his daughter for her birthday. He didn’t need the scant details the logs would provide. Charlie wouldn’t want him going through the records looking for tidbits of her childhood.

Jaxon was glad he never met the man. There was a part of him who hated the thought of even having his money. The only thing he wanted that belonged to John Sinclair was his daughter. He wished Daniel hadn’t shown him her finances. Enough money to live comfortably and bit extra to put away was a good thing. Too much money could ruin lives.

Both men looked up from their books at the knock on the door.

Charlie opened the door. “I’ve finished packing my stateroom. I thought if I won’t be bothering you too much, maybe I can start on this one.”

“Come on in. We’re just looking over some of the books. Since you’re the owner, you should probably be in here as well.”

“You want my owner speech?” she asked with a faux serious expression. “Make me money! More money for me means more money for you. Buy low and sell high. Silks and spices are worth the distance you have to sail to get them. I’ll fire you if ever engage in slave trade. Treat the men fair, but be firm. Hire the best men for the money, but don’t be afraid to sack anyone who’s causing trouble. You might want to get rid of some of that rum in the hold and go to New Orleans for some indigo before you head to Asia.”

“They don’t have indigo in China and India?”

“It’s a different variety. It makes a different shade of blue than what they grow there. They like our tobacco too. It pleased me when President Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France. Have you ever been to New Orleans?”

“We sailed there one summer with our grandfather.”

“Oh,” Charlie said with a grin. It was exciting that they had been some of the same places. “You should go sometime when it’s not so sweltering. The mosquitoes are the size of hummingbirds in the summer. Did you see any alligators?”

“We saw some in Florida,” Jaxon said pulling her onto his lap and kissing her.

“Charlie,” Daniel said drawing her attention away from Jaxon. “Do you want to marry me instead?”

“He just found out how rich you are.” Jaxon slipped his arm around her waist possessively.

“Am I rich? I mean I’ve seen the numbers, but I don’t really have anything to compare them to other than the seaman’s wage or the cargo. I’ve never priced a house or a horse or even a ship. This is probably a stupid question, but is there a certain number that is the line between being wealthy or not?”

“If there was a line, you’d be well over it.”

“Do I have more money than you?”

“Aye.”

“A lot more?”

Jaxon chuckled at the awe he heard in her voice. She had no idea how wealthy she was. “Aye, a lot more.”

Charlie became pensive. She thought Jaxon was rich with his large house and new sleek ship and his extravagant spending on her dresses. And to know she had more money, bewildered her. What did people do with so much money?