George nodded, twisting his worn cap in his hands. “Lady Catherine, are you certain you’ll be all right? You know a fine lady as yourself shouldn’t be traveling alone. It isn’t proper.”
“I appreciate your concern, George, but circumstances warrant that I must.”
“It isn’t safe on the open seas with pirates and such.”
“I’m sure Captain Morley will provide safe passage for me, and I shall arrive at my destination without incident.”
George nodded his head reluctantly as though he didn’t entirely agree with her. “If you say so. You won’t be gone long, will you? Your father will be missing you terribly.”
The cold winter wind grew blustery at that moment, causing Catherine to wrap her wool-lined cloak more tightly around her. “And I’ll be missing him,” she answered, deciding it was best she didn’t comment on the unlikelihood of her return anytime soon.
One of the sailors from the ship hurried toward them. “Excuse me, but the captain, he wants to be sailing now.”
Catherine was glad for the interruption, since she was finding it difficult to say good-bye to George and the last remnants of her life in England.
“Keep well, George,” she called as the young sailor took her arm and assisted her up the gangway.
“Be careful and God bless,” George yelled.
But the wind carried his blessing away and all Catherine heard was “be careful.”
She was shown to her cabin. It was small but adequate. Her baggage had been stored in the ship’s storage and she had been left with her traveling case. It held enough clothing and essentials for the journey. Her destination was Jamaica, where she would be met by an emissary representing Captain Lucifer. Captain Morley knew naught of her true reason for her journey, only that he was to deliver her safely to Jamaica.
The ship pitched and rolled considerably and Catherine quickly seated herself on the narrow bed, holding firmly to the wooden sides.
They were sailing. The men had released the ropes, setting the ship free, and it was headed to the open sea away from England.
Catherine let the tears come then. The ones that had remained locked away these many months. They burst forth and raced down her cheeks. She hugged her cloak around her and gave voice to her greatest fear. “Captain Lucifer must have a soul. He must.”
Chapter Two
It was a tiny speck floating in the distance. Catherine could barely make it out. Craning her neck and widening her eyes she focused on the natural beauty of the watery landscape surrounding her. An endless sea met a forever, deep blue sky, rich with thick white clouds. It resembled a perfect painting with the exception of the speck.
The crew was obviously disturbed by it. Although she felt they were a safe distance away from the vessel, if that was what the speck was, the crew appeared to think otherwise. Their eyes strayed often to the horizon and their movements seemed strained and fearful. Odd, since these were experienced sailors accustomed to all the variables of the sea, and the two weeks they had been at sea, the crew had been congenial and relaxed. Yet now something was frightening them beyond reason. She herself could feel it. Its presence was tangible and as Catherine sniffed the salty air she could almost smell the sickening odor.
Fear.
She was too familiar with it. These last few months fear had been her constant companion, feeding off her day and night. But here on the ship it was no companion. It was their adversary. An adversary that was far stronger than any human opponent. But what or who caused it to spread and lurk with such intensity?
Catherine walked toward the quarterdeck, steadying her step with each pitch and sway of the ship. Her eyes stole glances at the crew members, and her apprehension grew as she watched sailors cross themselves in protective prayer. The strange mumbling disturbed her even more for she could only hear snatches of their conversation and what she did hear heightened her own fears.
“Pray it ain’t the Black Skull.”
“Hell holds a better fate.”
“Bloodthirsty lot.”
“No soul.”
Catherine turned in such haste she almost lost her balance. Had she heard Dulcie’s warning or had one of the crew voiced the same fear?
Tension filled every muscle and fiber of her body like a band that had been strung too taut. She wrapped her cape snugly around her not to ward off the chill, but to keep her alarm at bay. She would go to her cabin and read. If she kept her mind busy and focused, this uneasiness would dissipate.
She continued walking in unhurried steps. She didn’t wish to show that her misgivings equaled the crew’s. It was better to keep her emotions in check. After all, her worries might be for naught and she didn’t wish to appear a fool.