“We should try to take things off his plate. Perhaps we can mitigate his exhaustion.” I began thinking of ways to help him. I’d offer to take shifts or have the more experienced ship’s boys teach a few lessons in his stead. There were ways to help, certainly.
My thoughts of Tallow evaporated as we entered the purser’s office and took our usual chairs opposite Mr. Ashby. He seemed more frazzled than ever. His sleeves were rolled up and ink stained his hands, some even leaving marks on his face. His hair was chaotic, and when helooked up at us briefly, acknowledging our entrance, I saw fear in his eyes.
“What is the matter?” I asked him, leaning on my elbows.
He blinked at me and then dropped his pen with a rough sigh. “Where do I even begin?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, no.”
He nodded. “It is much worse than that.” He stood, then opened and closed the door as if checking to see if anyone was nearby. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I don’t think any of the crew are getting paid when we dock. I wouldn’t be surprised if Captain Selton jumps ship before we reach land.” He dragged a hand down his face, smearing some of the ink there.
My heart thudded with nerves. “Is there nothing that can be done?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t found anything yet. He told me before we set sail that he hoped I might be able to correct some mistakes…but this goes far beyond any of my capabilities.”
“Did he expect you to fix the books for him?”
He shook his head. “The thought has not escaped me.”
“You wouldn’t…” I began, but after only a couple of weeks, I still did not know Mr. Ashby fully. Perhaps hewould.
“No, of course not. At least, in an ideal situation I would never even consider it. But this…” His eyes tightened as he met mine. “I’m a man of integrity, Miss Findlay. But I fear for your safety if things don’t go well. I may have to conceal some of this for the crew’s sanity. I’m certain the captain is counting on my desire to protect you in order to gain my allegiance.”
“What will happen if the crew finds out?” Patrice asked from my left.
I clasped my hands tightly, allowing dozens of potential scenes to play out in my mind. Riots, men thrown overboard, Mr. Ashby imprisoned,perhaps Patrice and me as well. A knot formed in my throat and traveled to my stomach, where it sat like a pit.
“I have heard men cry mutiny for far less.”
Deafening silence followed his words. Mr. Ashby’s eyes locked on mine with an apology, his face still as if he’d constructed a dam to hold back worrying emotions.
Then he frowned deeply and I saw a weight on his shoulders. “I should have made us wait for another ship.”
“You know I wouldn’t have waited,” I said, hoping to assuage his guilt.
That elicited a small laugh from him, for which I was grateful. “We’ll get through this. We just have to keep our heads. Follow my lead. I will keep you safe, I promise.”
There was nothing to do but believe in Mr. Ashby and hope the captain’s finances remained a secret for the remainder of our journey.
But we still had weeks left, and if I knew anything about secrets, it was that they didn’t keep forever. If the crew found out about their wages before we made it to the harbor…
“Keep your pistols loaded and at the ready.” Mr. Ashby’s face was grim. “Just in case.”
So much for those dolphins and their good tidings.
I startled at the sound of bells in the night. I dropped the stocking I’d been mending by candlelight in my quarters, glancing at the pillowthat concealed the pistol I had prepared at Mr. Ashby’s insistence. I picked it up and put it in my dress, though certainly there was no need for it…
Patrice awoke. We looked at each other with worry, then quickly readied ourselves to see what was going on. Before we made it above the gun deck, however, Mr. Ashby stopped us. He put a finger over his lips and shook his head.
He meant to keep us from the ruckus above deck. We followed him to the scullery and listened to his explanation.
“They’ve found out,” he whispered.
It had been only two days since I’d learned the truth of the captain’s finances. How had the crew learned of it so quickly? He easily understood the question in my eyes. “Someone must have been listening outside the captain’s quarters when I spoke to him. I have to go up and explain things. You need to stay below. Return to your quarters if you hear fighting.”
“But they could hurt you!” I whispered urgently as he left us there. He didn’t respond as he climbed through the hatch.
I hesitated only a moment before moving toward the hatch to follow.
