Owned by the Ocean (18 page)

That evening,
after dinner Catherine joined Brant on a walk around the deck.

“
I won’t deny the usefulness of the economic warfare
privateers wage on the Spanish. But, don’t you think that
eventually they’ll get tired of it and rise up? They’re prideful
people and won’t sit idly by forever, nor will they accept the
excuse that men like you are acting of your own volition outside of
the law.”

Brant nodded
“But you can’t deny that if we weren’t making their country poorer
then they probably would have already declared war.”

“
Possibly, but if the pot wasn’t being continually stirred a
more stable peace may have been negotiated by now. The Spanish are
becoming extremely angry and it’s becoming more and more dangerous
for my father to make his trips there. Pretty soon he will be
unable to safely go there and then we will be on the brink of war.
Spain still thinks that England is rightfully theirs after Prince
Philip married Bloody Mary.”

“
Then how will negotiations change their mind?”

“
It would buy us some time.”

“
See, now you’re going back on what you said. We’re buying you
time already and making England richer in the process.”

“
Do you want me to say you are serving your
country?”

“
That would be nice.”

“
Well, I won’t, Brant Foxton. You can dress up a pig but a pig
is still a pig. We can give you a letter making you untouchable but
you’re still a murderer and thief.”

Brant smirked.
“A pig, huh? And do you still have a problem with that, with
me?”

Catherine
smiled slightly and turned to face him. “When it comes to you, my
convictions are beginning to crumble a bit. But overall my view of
privateering remains the same.”

“
Good. Then I suppose your time here will not be such a waste
after all.”

Catherine
laughed and continued walking the perimeter of the ship. “Depends
what you consider a waste.”

Brant smiled
and fell back into step beside her. They completed their round and
he walked her back to her cabin where he wished her good night and
went to climb up to the crow’s nest to clear his head for the day.
However, this evening his mind was full of the sophisticated young
woman who had taken up residence in his cabin. He found himself
enjoying her company more and more and was already looking forward
to when morning would dawn and he could see her again.

* * *

Brant was
disappointed that Catherine spent most of the next morning with
Matthew, rather than him, but he was glad to see how caring and
kind she was being. It was like he was seeing a whole different
woman than the one that had been held back by class just a few
short weeks ago.

So, taking
advantage of Catherine being busy, he holed himself up in his cabin
that he had been letting her use and looked over some paperwork.
James had taken inventory last week and supplies were getting low
but there weren’t many places to stop any more. Studying the map,
Brant decided that they would make port in Casablanca, Morocco and
pick up supplies, spend a few days for some much needed rest and
then continue on their way. Brant hoped that they would reach their
destination in another month after that.

Calling Casper
in, Brant went over the detour in their course and sent him to make
the appropriate changes. He was so busy with paperwork and
inventory lists that he didn’t even notice Catherine walk in.

“
I see you’re making use of your desk.”

Brant looked
up and smiled. “I’m afraid I couldn’t put my paperwork off any
longer. I’m sorry if I invaded your space.”

“
Not at all, it’s fine.”

“
You sure do leave it messy though,” Brant said, frowning as
he looked around the room at the various items of clothing strewn
around the floor.

“
Normally I would be travelling with my hand maiden but she
was taken during the attack.”

Brant studied
Catherine’s face, searching for any sign of sorrow or sadness for
the fate of the girl who had spent so much time with her. “Aren’t
you upset about that?”

“
Well, yes but at least she isn’t dead.”

“
She might as well be.”

Catherine was
taken aback. “What did they do to her?”

“
Likely sold her into slavery. Old Richard is not a kind man
and he’ll make a profit off of whatever he can.”

Catherine
paled but held herself strong. “I wish you didn’t tell me
that.”

Brant
shrugged. “You should be more aware of some of the evils in the
world.”

Catherine
nodded and walked over to the chair she had placed next to the
large rear facing window and sat down, picking up her book and
reading. Brant watched her for a few minutes and then went back to
the work at hand.

“
I’m sorry,” he said after a time.

Catherine
looked up. “It’s okay.”

“
I shouldn’t have told you that.”

“
It’s okay. You’re right; I need to be more aware.”

They fell back into their
silence
, one
reading, the other working until James came to tell them dinner was
ready.

Both putting
down what had been occupying their attention for the last few
hours, Brant and Catherine walked together to the dining room. It
was a pleasant dinner. Most of them had been since Brant and
Catherine had stopped their feuding, but this one seemed to have a
particular joy about it. There was more laughter than usual and
everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Perhaps because it had been
weeks since any of them had to kill a man or commit a crime… Or
perhaps it was just something in the air. Whatever it was, Brant
liked it.

After dinner,
when he walked Catherine back to her cabin he invited her to join
him up on the crow’s nest.

“
Oh, I couldn’t! It’s so very high and dresses are not meant
for climbing in.”

Brant laughed.
“Then change. Borrow a pair of my breeches.”

Catherine
looked thoughtful but laughed and shook her head in protest again.
“I can’t!”

“
You can do anything you put your mind to, Miss
Marshall.”

“
Not this.”

“
Anything.”

Catherine
threw up her hands in surrender. “Fine! Just let me change.”

She
disappeared into the cabin and came back out moments later in a
pair of Brant’s breeches that fit her quite nicely, clinging
closely in all the right places. “Okay let’s go before I change my
mind.”

Brant laughed
and took her hand, leading her towards the mast and the long climb
up to the lookout post otherwise known as the crow’s nest.

“
You go up first. I’ll be right behind you to make sure you
don’t fall.”

“
Now I’m really glad I’m not wearing a dress,” she mumbled as
she began climbing. Brant chuckled and followed a few rungs
behind.

“
You think that I’d be so dishonourable as to peek up a ladies
dress?”

“
I wouldn’t put anything past you, Captain Brant
Foxton.”

Brant laughed
loudly and fully. “You make me out to be such a rogue!”

Catherine
mumbled something under her breath that Brant didn’t manage to
catch but he figured it wasn’t very nice anyway so it probably
wasn’t worth hearing.

As they
climbed the last few rungs Catherine pulled herself up onto the
platform, Brant right behind. She was panting slighting from the
exertion, not used to physical activity, but she was smiling wildly
as she looked around. “This is amazing, Brant.”

“
You’re glad you made the climb?”

“
Yes, very much so. Thank you.”

Brant smiled
and put his arm around her—telling himself it was to protect her
from the cool breeze, but really he just enjoyed the feeling of her
in his arms.

“
I can understand why you come up here so often. It’s
incredibly peaceful.”

“
It is, so don’t you go invading my personal time now. Even
captains need to clear their heads sometimes.”

Catherine
smiled and snuggled in a little closer as a burst of cold wind
enveloped them.

“
It won’t be long now until we reach London, you
know.”

Catherine
nodded. “Yes. I’m looking forward to being home again. How long
have we been sailing?”

“
Just over a month. We’re going to make port in Casablanca,
Morocco for a couple of days. If you like I can take you to shore
so that you can explore a bit.”

“
Could you? I think I would enjoy that.”

They fell into
a comfortable silence for a while--both alone in their thoughts. It
was quite unbelievable to Brant that he had such a beautiful and
smart woman sitting with him in the crow’s nest of his own ship. He
almost dreaded the day that they would dock in London and she would
walk out of his life for good.

“
Are you happy here, Catherine?” he asked, breaking the
silence.

She didn’t
answer right away, mulling his question over for a couple of
minutes. “I suppose I am. I’ve never been able to let go of my
inhibitions quite like I’ve been able to here. And it’s very
refreshing to have you, a man, see me as an intelligent person. In
my circles women are expected to be good at running their house and
raising a family, which is all very good but sometimes I wish the
men would talk politics with me. My father is the only man who ever
has before you. It’s refreshing. Thank you, Brant.”

“
You a very smart woman, Catherine. You should let people
know. What’s stopping you from joining in the men’s conversations
if that is what you wish to discuss?”

“
Decorum.”

Brant nodded.
“Of course. You know, you and I didn’t start out so
differently.”

Catherine
turned to face Brant, moving out from under his arm in the process.
“Am I going to hear the story of Brant Foxton’s past?”

“
If you care to sit through it. It’s a long one.”

“
Please.”

Brant sighed
and looked out to the ocean. “Not tonight. It’s getting late. I
promise I will tell you soon, though.”

Catherine
looked disappointed but she forced a smile and stood up, allowing
Brant to lead the way down the ladder.

* * *

Catherine didn’t see much of Brant the next couple days as
they drew closer to land and made their way up the coastline to
Morocco. She found herself missing his company but she kept herself
busy by looking after Matthew and reading. She would watch the crew
from time-to-time, wondering about their lives outside of
the
BlackFox.
Did
they have families or sweethearts they had left behind?

Eventually it
grew tiring so she retreated to her cabin where she spent the
remainder of the afternoon reading. Brant had a good sized
collection of books and Catherine was enjoying it immensely. She
had finished multiple books, being as there wasn’t much of anything
else for her to fill her time with. After dinner she finally got
Brant to herself again, the first time in three days.

“
You’ve been busy lately.”

Brant strolled
with her around the deck. “Yes. Casper isn’t quite what a sailing
master should be so when it comes to navigating closer to shore I
have to step in. It will be like this for most of the remaining
voyage.”

“
So I shall have no friend to talk to?”

Brant smiled. “I’ll still make time for you.
Don’t you worry
about that.”

“
And you still have to tell me your story. You
promised.”

“
Be patient. I will tell you in good time. Don’t forget that
it won’t be long before we dock in Casablanca and then we can
explore the beauties of Morocco for a few days. I’m giving you one
thing to look forward to at a time.”

“
So you’re saying that I won’t hear the story until after
Casablanca?”

“
Correct.”

Catherine
pouted a little causing Brant to laugh. “You’re much prettier when
you smile. Don’t look so disappointed, it will be worth the
wait.”

“
It had better be.”

“
And if it isn’t?”

“
Then I won’t be your friend anymore. I cannot abide a
liar.”

Brant laughed
and opened the door to Catherine’s cabin. “I’m going to have to bid
you good night now. I’m afraid I have an early start in the morning
as we expect to be getting close to land.”

“
Good night, Brant.” She kissed him on the cheek before
ducking into her cabin and closing the door behind her, but not
before seeing the shocked look and blush creeping up Brant’s face
as he stood, stock still and dumbfounded.

* * *

When they
docked in Casablanca on Friday, Brant went in search of Catherine
to bring her ashore, as promised. But, she was nowhere to be found.
He went around to the crew members asking if they had seen her but
they all shook their heads. How a young woman had just disappeared
off a ship was beyond Brant. Not sure where she was, he decided to
leave for the afternoon, hoping that she would show up for dinner.
Walking down the ramp, he heard a woman shouting his name. Looking
around he saw no one but then he looked up and saw Catherine
standing in the crow’s nest waving down at him. She had a pair of
his breeches on again and her long blonde hair, which was usually
done up carefully, was flowing freely in the wind like a banner.
Chuckling, he trotted back up on deck and climbed up to meet
her.