MANIFEST DESTINY Chapter 8.1

Chapter 8



         Ainsley opened her eyes and looked around, surprised to see Jedidiah at the table in the cabin.  “Why are you here?  Where is Gareth?”

         Jedidiah’s head snapped to attention.  “I will get him, mistress.  He is on deck with the crew.  We are getting ready to dock.”  Jedidiah hurried from the cabin a smile on his face.

         Gareth entered moments later also with a smile on his face.  “How are you feeling?  Are you hungry?”

         She saw some hope in his expression.  “I feel all stiff and sore.  Have I been in bed long?”

         “You spent a lot of time in bed lately.”

         “I lost the baby?”

         He sat on the edge of the bunk a look of tenderness on his face.  “Yes, a week ago.”

         She was unsure about his attention as sadness overwhelmed her at the loss of the child.  “Jedidiah said you are getting ready to dock.”

         “Yes.  We are heading into Lewes.”

         “Should you not be on duty, seeing to your ship?”

         “Mr. Thorngate can handle it.”

         “What will you tell this businessman?  Seeing the child is lost.”

         “I will tell him the truth.  You lost the child early in your pregnancy, but we hope to have another as soon as possible.”

         Ainsley did not look at him.  Instead, she looked at the blanket.  “You are not angry with me?”

         “No, I am not angry with you.”  His voice was soft with a hint of tenderness. 

         “Perhaps it was harmed in the window seat after all.”  Tears started down her cheeks.  “What was it?”

         “A boy.”  He watched her.  “Would you like something to eat?”

         “Can I get out of bed?”

         “You may sit at the table, or if you prefer, on the window seat, and watch as we come into port.”

         She looked at the window seat and shuddered at the probable cause for the loss of her child.  “I will eat at the table.”  She pushed the covers aside, and found his help necessary as he led her to the table.  She also found herself fully clothed.

         He went for her shawl.  “You are cold?”

         She allowed him to place the shawl around her shoulders, and accepted its immediate warmth.  “Thank you.  Why am I in my clothes if I have been in bed?”

         “Jedidiah has been your constant companion.”

         She digested the information as she allowed him to seat her at the table, and watched as he went to the door and asked Jedidiah to bring some food.  “You wanted to talk to me about something.”

         He joined her at the table a look of confusion on his face.  “When?”

         “Before I lost the baby.”

         “I do not remember.”

         “The last I remember, we were a week from port.  You said the name of it is Lewes.  Is it a large port?”

         “It is a good sized village.  It will celebrate its one hundred year anniversary in just a few years.”

         “It sounds interesting.  Have I slept the whole time?”

         “No, not all of it, you had your meals and bath each day.”

         “What about the baby?”  She found it the hardest question to ask, as a stray tear found its way down her cheek.

         “Jedidiah and I prayed for his soul, before committing him to the deep.”  His own voice held anguish over his loss.

         She looked at him.  His face bore out what he said.  A knock sounded on the door.

         “Enter.”  Gareth stood to his feet as Jedidiah entered and placed the food on the table.

         She looked at him in surprise when Jedidiah left.  “You care?”

         “Yes.  Of course, I care.  The child was part of me too, but it is over and done with.  There will be others.”

         She looked down at her food and felt no desire to eat.  “Yes.  You need to have a child for your business.”

         “No.  I want a child because he or she will be part of you.  I care for you a lot.  I have been worried night and day about you.”

         She looked up at him as hot tears scalded her eyes.  “Be careful Gareth.  That emotion comes very close to the hated one called ‘love.’”

         “Still, I do care about you, Ainsley.  I always will.”

         He rarely used her name, and to hear it on his lips was like balm to her broken soul.  Tears fell down her cheeks, and into her food, as she tried to stem the tide.

         “Come eat.  I would like to take you on deck as the ship comes into port, but that would be unwise in your present condition.  A soft breeze would blow you right over.”

         “I would like to see this place you call home.  Perhaps you could find something for me to rest on while I am on deck.”

         He went to the door.  “Jedidiah I am going to bring Ainsley on deck.  Could you find something she could rest on?”

         “I know just the thing, Captain.”  Jedidiah hurried away and carried out his captain’s wishes.

         “You will need some warmer clothes.  The air is decidedly cooler than it was the last time you were on deck.”

         The tears subsided enough so she could eat.  In a very small way she was glad she was no longer pregnant.  She had her appetite back, but the loss weighed on her heart.  A stray tear escaped again, and she brushed it away as she ate.

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         A fresh breeze lifted her hair as Gareth took her on deck.  Though Jedidiah had set up a suitable place for her to rest, with a warm blanket to keep her warm, it soon became apparent she was very tired.  Gareth took her back to the cabin and remained with her, as she reclined in the bunk and watched as they neared their homeport.

         “You should be on deck as you dock.”

         Gareth sat beside her and watched as the ship nosed its way into port.  “Mr. Thorngate can handle the docking and let me know as soon as the ship is tied up.”

         “I would prefer that you take your duty, sir.”

         “I do have a name.”

         “And so do I, but you only use it when it is necessary to your ends.”

         “Forgive me, Ainsley.  I will attempt to use your name more often.  I was unaware I had not used it before now.”

         “Why would you be aware of it?  The only time you use it is when you are exasperated with me.  Why should you change for so simple a thing as my name?”

         “Please.  Let us not argue.  My partner will be expecting me with a bride.”

         “Yes.  That is what this is all about, is it not?  It has nothing to do with me, or the fact that I lost a baby just a week ago.  You left me with the steward while you took your duty.  Go back to your duty and leave me alone.  When you are ready to leave the ship I will be ready to leave with you as a proper wife at your side.”

         “I said Mr. Thorngate can see to the berthing.  I will be here until you are ready to go on deck with me when it is time for us to leave.”

         “Maybe I should change into something more charming for your partner.  What is his name?”  Ainsley stood, and almost crumpled to the floor, had not Gareth caught her and helped her sit at the table.

         “The dress you have on is my favorite.”  She had on a dress of deep burgundy that brought out the creaminess of her skin.  “Besides you are not ready to go anywhere just yet.  Just rest here, and try to enjoy my company.”

         “I said I would practice to be a good wife, and I intend to do just that.”  She turned from him back to the activity she could see through the windows as the ship made its way into port.  She could see people line the dock, and excitement began to work its way on her.  She wanted to see the new land they had come to.

         “I will be taking you to my home just as soon as we leave the ship.”

         For answer, she stood once more to her feet and made her way unsteadily into the bathing chamber, and shunned any attention from him.  She wanted to be alone.  She looked up a short while later when he opened the door to find her in tears on the chamber floor.  “Go away!”

         He brought her to her feet, and wrapped her in his arms as he tried his best to console her, before he led her out of the chamber.  “Try to look happy that we arrived.”

         She looked up at him as tears continued to flow down her cheeks.  She was still very weak, and did not know if she would be able to stay on deck with him as the ship berthed.  “Is that a command, Captain?”

         “Just a request, it is time to go on deck.”  Gareth grabbed her shawl, and held her as they made their way on deck.  He settled her on a divan taken from the dining saloon for her to rest on while they docked, and tucked the blanket around her.  “Are you all right?”

         “Fine, thank you.”

         “Are you sure?  If you need anything, I will be right here, you only need to ask.”

         She looked up at him and wondered how much of his concern was for his crew, and how much for her.  “Yes, I am fine.  You did not tell me the name of your partner.”

         “His name is Mr. Horace Greenfield.”

         “What kind of man is he?”

         “He is a businessman.”

         “You are just like papa.  You do not pay any attention to details, unless of course it has to do with your partnership agreement.”

         He smiled.  “I am sorry, Ainsley, I do not pay much attention to those matters.”

         “I suppose I will know soon enough.”  She turned away from him, and tried to put him from her thoughts, but could not do so.  The fact was she did not want to do so.  She wanted him to love her, but felt it was beyond her control.  She stemmed the flow of tears as she watched the activity.  She should be happy the voyage was over, but the loss of her baby was still too fresh.

Destiny’s Promise, and her sister ship, Liberty, dropped anchor next to each other.  Gareth left her in Jedidiah’s care with strict instructions.  “I do not want you to exert yourself.  Rest until I can return to you.  Then we will make our way home.”

         She knew it was unwise to argue, and held her tongue as she watched him take his place on the quarterdeck.  Her father joined her as she watched the activity.  Despite everything, the New World interested her.

         Log cabins dotted the village of Lewes, smoke rose from chimneys, and there were as many children as adults excited by the new arrivals.

         She looked up at her father, a smile on her face.  “We are almost home papa.”

         “Yes.  How have you been?”

         “I guess no one told you I have been ill.”

         “I know you have been upset, but I was unaware you were ill.  You should have stayed in your cabin until it was time to go to our new home.”

         “It would not have looked right for me to be in the cabin when we dock.  Gareth’s partner will be waiting for him.”

         “Right or not, you will end up dead if you do anything foolish.  I already lost my wife; I do not want to lose you also.”

         Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked away.  “So, not only is Gareth angry with me, so is my father.”

         “I am not angry with you, just concerned.  You are too pale to be out in this weather.  I am going to see to it that Gareth puts you straight to bed when we reach our new home.”

         She turned her gaze to Gareth.  He looked smart as he stood in his dress uniform on the quarterdeck.  His gaze stirred hope inside her.  She wanted to see the new land where she would live.  She turned her attention back to the dock.  Groups of men and boys had come to help get the ships berthed.  She could see and hear their excitement.  A ship always meant news of home, friends, and family left behind.

         As soon as Gareth secured the ship, he came to her side and helped her to her feet.  “Are you ready to go home?”

         “Yes, but are you not going to see Mr. Greenfield first?”

         “I will see him later.  I want to see you settled first.”

         She brought his attention to the man who stood on the dock as he tried to draw his attention.  “There is a gentleman waving for your attention.”

         “I can see there is nothing for it then.  I will introduce you to Mr. Greenfield.”  He escorted both Ainsley and her father from the ship.  She leaned against him as he almost carried her.

         Mr. Greenfield met them as they reached solid ground.  “I see you made it back in good shape.”

         Ainsley could feel the difference right away.  She had gotten used to the gentle to severe roll of the ship over the past several weeks as she leaned against Gareth to keep her balance.

         “Yes, though we did encounter a small difficulty.  I was grateful to see the Liberty come to our aid.”  Gareth mentioned the ship anchored beside theirs.  “May I introduce my wife, Ainsley, and this is her father, Ian MacPherson.”

         Mr. Greenfield bowed over her hand.  “I am indeed enchanted.”

         “Mr. Horace Greenfield,” Gareth finished.

         Mr. Greenfield’s interest annoyed her.  He was not heavyset but he was not lean either.  She guessed he was the same age as her father, dressed with affluence, or perhaps overdressed.  She took her hand from his as soon as she could.  “I am glad to meet you.  My husband has told me a little about you.”

         Horace led them to the shipping office.  “Where did you find this jewel?”

         “In Scotland.”

         Annoyed that he would talk around her and not to her, she found his voice held an oiliness she could not abide.  “If you do not mind I would like to take a walk around the village.”

         Gareth looked at her with concern.  “That would not be wise.  I can give you a guided tour at a later time.”

         “I can escort her while you take care of your business with Mr. Greenfield,” Ian said.

         “Jedidiah, find a wagon and escort my father-in-law and my wife around the village while I conclude my business with Mr. Greenfield.”

         “Aye, Captain.”  Jedidiah hurried away and soon returned with a wagon that would see them home as well.

         “Good.  I am fatigued by all this excitement.”  She was settled and about to leave, but not soon enough as she heard Mr. Greenfield’s comment.

         “Perhaps there is a reason for her fatigue, eh my boy?”

         Her eyes blazed her anger at his transparent insinuation to her state of health.

         Ian pried her attention away from Mr. Greenfield.  “Ainsley, come, let us enjoy this little trip around the village.”

         “Yes, of course papa.”  Ainsley put her hand through the crook of his arm, as Jedidiah guided the wagon around Lewes.  She seethed with anger.  Mr. Greenfield was an overstuffed pompous oaf, and she wondered what Gareth saw in him.

         Ian looked down at her a concerned look on his face.  “You had best curb that highland temper.  It will not do in this fair land.  Besides you do not want to bring shame on your husband.”

         She did her best to school her features.  She did not want her father to be concerned about her as they made their way around the village.  “He is the embodiment of a common guttersnipe dressed like a buffoon with manners to match.”

         “I am sure you are mistaken, Ainsley.”

         Jedidiah cleared his throat as he clacked the reins to get the horses moving.

         Ainsley watched the small wiry steward as he started the wagon around the port city.  “Jedidiah does not think I am mistaken.”

         “Even so, keep yer wits and yer tongue, or it might go bad for yer husband and ye do not want that.”

         Jedidiah looked around at her.  “Yer father does have a point mistress.  Mr. Horace Greenfield is a powerful man in these parts.  You do not want to get on his wrong side.”

         “I will keep that in mind.”

         “You still look a bit out of sorts,” Ian said.

         “Do not worry about me papa, I am fine.”

         One and two story log cabins drew her attention.  Children played in yards, along with dogs or cats, which caused the general malaise.  She calmed as they took in the village and the beauty of the countryside.  It did indeed look like a pleasant land.