Page 35 of A Siren for the Duke

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jemima's feet barely had a chance to touch the deck before she witnessed Ellis falter and cry out in pain. Concern lanced through her, sharp and immediate, as she hurried to his side. Now, in the safety of her cabin, she assessed the extent of his injury.

Ellis sat on the edge of Jemima's bed, his face contorted in pain, and his arm dangled at an unnatural angle. Jemima winced at the sight, her heart clenching in sympathy for his suffering. She was not one to shy away from a challenge, though, and she knew she had to help him

"Alright, Ellis," she said with a determined glint in her eyes. "Let's see what mischief you've managed to get yourself into this time, shall we?" She was trying to lighten the mood and hoped Ellis would be receptive.

He winced but managed a smile nonetheless.

His response came in the form of a weak smile, tinged with a touch of self-deprecating humor.

"Just a slight misstep, my lady. No need to make a fuss."

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“Are you a physician, and you haven’t told us?”

“No, but my sister-in-law, Margery, is very interested in medicine. She taught me a few things in England,” she explained. She tore off the bottom part of one of her muslin gowns to use as a bandage and a sling. . “It seems you have sprained your wrist. I will bandage it tightly and you must keep it still and in place. When the storm is over you can have the physician take a better look at it”.

She proceeded to bandage him as well as she could with what she had at hand and tied a sling to support it arm.

"Alright. The worst is behind you now. But you must take care. Allow yourself time to heal."

Ellis managed a weak smile, his voice strained but filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Jemima. You have my deepest appreciation."

“Lionel must lighten your workload,” she said as she wrapped his arm in a tight sling.

“There is always much to do after a storm. Count the crew, take inventory of supplies, clean and repair anything that may have been broken... it is a first mate’s busiest time.”

A sudden commotion at the cabin door caused her heart to skip a beat. The wooden frame swung open with force, and Lionel, drenched from head to toe, burst into the room. His usually stern face was etched with a mixture of concern and relief. Jemima braced herself for Lionel's reproach, expecting his anger at her disregard for her own safety. But to her surprise, his expression softened as his eyes fell upon her and Ellis, safe and sound.

"Jemima!" Lionel exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine relief. Without hesitation, he closed the distance between them, his arms enveloping her in a warm, protective embrace. It was a moment of unspoken understanding and gratitude, a testament to their shared journey and the bonds that had formed between them. She could have sworn she saw a curious glint in Ellis’s eye as he witnessed the interaction.

"I'm glad you're both alright," Lionel murmured against Jemima's wet hair.

Her heart swelled at the unexpected tenderness in Lionel's embrace. She allowed herself to lean into his strength, finding solace in his presence. The storm outside raged on, but in this brief respite, they were safe. Lionel pulled back, his eyes lingering on Jemima's face before shifting his attention to Ellis's injured arm. Concern etched lines on his forehead as he took in the sight.

"How is he?" Lionel asked, his voice laced with a blend of worry and genuine care.

Jemima offered a small smile, reassured by Lionel's evident concern.

"He has a sprained wrist so I have bandaged it tightly and put it in a sling. It will take time for him to heal, but with proper care, he should recover. We were just saying, perhaps you ought to lighten his load.”

“I did not consent—that is her idea,” Ellis said. She was happy to see that his jovial attitude was still intact.

“But he will need to rest and take it easy on that arm.”

“All this time, you’ve been a scullery maid, and I should have had you assisting the physician,” Lionel mused.

“Feel free to reassign me until we reach Jamaica,” she said jokingly, but there was a grain of truth to it. As fine as Mr. Coade was, she knew she was a nuisance in the galley.

“I underestimated your bravery and skills. Yes, perhaps you ought to help the physician.”

Jemima feigned a shocked gasp.

“Captain, I do believe that is the first compliment you’ve paid me this whole journey!”

The three of them laughed, and very soon after, the storm was over. They’d weathered it together. And now Jemima no longer felt guilty about leaving home, nor did she pine for it. Perhaps fate had done right by calling her to this particular ship.