AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Tea?” Raven doubted either of them was in the mood to share a soothing cup of tea, but he thought it best not to comment on her suggestion. They had just started across the deck, when Randy approached carrying a spyglass.
“The lookout’s just spotted smoke on the horizon.” He led them across the deck to the starboard rail, and then handed Raven the small telescope so he could see for himself.
Other than a cloud of black smoke, Raven could make out nothing. Knowing Eden would expect to have a look, he handed the spyglass to her. “What do you make of it, my dear?”
Eden knew that endearment was more for Randy’s benefit than hers, but she was too curious about the smoke’s origin to be offended by it. Like Raven, she could see only the smoke, but not its source. “There’s nothing worse than a fire at sea. Hadn’t we better investigate?”
Raven looked first at Randy, who wore an apprehensive frown, and then explained the situation to her. “The storm blew us way off course, Eden. We’re much farther north than I intended us to be. That doesn’t present much of a problem, but rather than a shipboard fire, it’s far more likely we’ve sighted smoke from cannons.”
Immediately she thought of the Southern Knight and in an instant Eden’s expression went from one of concern to absolute horror. “All the more reason to get close enough to judge!” she insisted.
Knowing he would never be able to talk her out of that, Raven shook his head sadly. “We’ll sail only close enough to learn whether it’s a ship in distress due to a fire, or a battle. If it’s the latter, then we’ll not remain to see who wins. Is that clear? This is a British merchant ship, and I’ll not involve her in your country’s Civil War.”
“Yes, I know, I know. You think the War’s stupid, but while we’re debating the issue, it could be a British ship that’s sinking, and since we’re close enough to render assistance, I think we should ascertain whether or not it’s needed.”
“My recommendation exactly, Captain,” Randy agreed with an encouraging smile for Eden. Upon learning of how tenderly she had cared for John Rawlings, he had been as deeply impressed as those who had actually witnessed the deed. While he doubted he would ever be able to make up for his previous standoffishness, he was willing to make the attempt.
“Then set our course accordingly,” Raven ordered. As the mate turned away to do just that, he reached for Eden’s hand and pulled her close. “I meant what I said. I want no part of your War.”
Eden nodded. “I understand.” She took turns with him using the spyglass, but before anything was clear to the eye, they could hear the boom of what sounded like cannon fire in the distance. “It certainly sounds like a battle, but couldn’t that just be gunpowder exploding?”
“If that’s the case, we’ll not be likely to find any survivors.”
Eden held her breath, expecting at any second that Raven would change the ship’s course again and that she would never know what had happened. She was far more concerned they would soon find a Confederate ship sinking, and dreaded that it would be the Southern Knight, than she was a British ship might be on fire, but she dared not speak her fears aloud knowing that Raven would only repeat his opposition to the War in response.
A sudden shift in the wind allowed Raven a clear view of what had been hidden by the smoke. He recognized the stars and bars of the Confederate flag immediately, and that it flew from the mast of one of the Commerce-Destroyers that had plagued the Union’s merchant fleet to the point of ruin. He handed the spyglass to Eden.
“I’ve seen enough. It appears that one of your Commerce-Destroyers is actually battling a ship that can defend itself. That must be a novel experience for the captain.”
Eden ignored her husband’s sarcasm as she strained to make out the ship’s name. Few people had the privilege of viewing a naval battle without having to dodge bullets and she was fascinated by the spectacle. Knowing Raven intended to change course immediately, she reached out to grab his sleeve. “We’ve got to get close enough to read the ship’s name.”
“That’s completely out of the question,” Raven replied sternly.
“Oh please, I’ve got to know if it’s my father’s ship. We can’t just sail away not knowing whether or not it’s his.”
“I intend to do just that.”
“Raven!”
Raven began to smile as he realized how much power the chance sighting of the naval battle had given him. Eden was devoted not only to the Confederate cause but to her parents as well, and he was not above using that devotion to further his own aims. “Is that all you want, just to be able to read the ship’s name?”
“Yes!” Eden insisted, for indeed she was too excited to think past that point.
“Then we’ll satisfy your curiosity, but I’ll expect you to show your gratitude in a manner I can truly appreciate.”
Eden considered the sly smirk that graced Raven’s features utterly reprehensible. That she could have become aroused while undressing him now appalled her. “How Alex could have described you as the finest of men I will never understand.”
“He was prejudiced,” Raven
replied with an even wider grin. “If you’ll find it impossible to reward me for my consideration, then I’ll risk going no closer.”
As he raised his hand to wave to Randy, Eden gave in. “All right, I’ll give you what you want! You needn’t make threats.” She then turned her attention back to the ships that were firing on each other with what could now be heard as thunderous volleys. With the beauty of a ballet, they fired their cannon as they sailed past each other, and then came about to begin another potential deadly pass. While neither ship had yet inflicted heavy damage on its opponent, when each seemed equally determined to sink the other, it appeared to be only a matter of time before one was successful. As the battle progressed, she was disheartened to see the Confederate ship appeared to be getting the worst of it.
Eden heard Randy’s voice as he came up to seek new orders, and Raven’s response that he wished to identify the ships. She paid no further attention to the men’s conversation until the Jamaican Wind had drawn close enough to enable her to read the lettering on the Confederate ship’s bow. There was no mistaking the words as they had been deliberately painted large enough to provide not only recognition, but a bold warning. She was the Southern Knight. Eden handed the spyglass to Raven, but as her eyes filled with tears, she could not bear to look up at him.
Raven had already read the ship’s name in Eden’s crestfallen expression, but the decision he now faced was not nearly as difficult a one as he had anticipated. He knew what he was about to suggest was at least wicked, if not evil, but he wanted Eden too badly to care. Excusing himself to Randy, he took Eden’s arm and moved her a few feet down the rail so they could discuss the situation privately.
“Neither side in your War can afford to fire on a British ship. We’ll observe awhile longer, and if your father can’t score a victory, or escape harm on his own, I’ll provide him with the opportunity to get away. But I’ll expect something more from you than affection in return.”
