Stay with Me (40 page)

Captain Goss eyed her for a moment then said, ‘It seems we understand each other, ma'am.'

‘I'm glad to hear it, Captain. You sail on tomorrow morning's tide in the company of the
William Hustwick
- Captain Checkton, master.'

‘Aye, aye, ma'am.' He saluted her and turned away, heading for his crew.

Lena watched him for a moment. ‘He'll be back with the cargo on time,' she said to Peter, then added with a little laugh, ‘The
Seagull
? I suppose she was so named because once upon a time, with her sails filled, she could fly. Let's pray she still can.'

 

News that the
Seagull
was back in the Humber astounded Lena and Peter. Both ships were due back from Spain today but they had expected the
William Hustwick
to be first. They went to see Goss's ship dock.

As soon as the gangway was run out Captain Goss was on the quay. ‘Ma'am, sir.' He made a mocking little bow as he added, ‘Your wine is served.'

‘Well done, Captain, you have made good time,' commented Peter.

‘The
William Hustwick
?' Lena queried.

The captain smiled and waved his hand in the general direction of the sea. ‘Somewhere out there, ma'am.' A twinkle came into his eyes. ‘You expected her to be home first, no doubt?'

‘Maybe she left after you?'

‘No, ma'am. Four hours ahead.'

‘But . . .'

He laughed. ‘You thought this old tub couldn't fly? She ain't named the
Seagull
for nothing. Glides over the sea as if she has taken wings.'

‘Unloading has all been arranged,' put in Peter. ‘Stevedores and their foremen are arriving now.' He nodded in the direction of a group of tough-looking men approaching the ship.

Captain Goss followed his gaze. ‘Look a likely lot. I'd best be off.'

‘Come to the office tomorrow morning . . .' started Lena.

‘I think the crew might like some cash in their pockets tonight,' interrupted her husband.

‘Aye, they would that,' agreed the captain, and started to walk away.

‘Captain Goss, call at our office first thing tomorrow morning,' Lena called after him.

He raised a hand in acknowledgement.

‘You see to the advance on their wages, Peter. If the
William Hustwick
docks before you are back at the office, I will meet you there.'

He agreed with her suggestion and left for the bank.

Lena noticed the
Maid Marian
at her berth then.

‘Captain Washbrook?' she enquired of one of the crew.

‘I'll fetch him, ma'am.'

A few moments later she was receiving the
Whitby Gazette
and enquiring if her source had any information for her.

‘It seems Ralph Bell was very upset about the contract to ship a particular consignment of wine from Spain.' Lena felt a surge of pleasure at that. So she had guessed right about the identity of the Whitby firm Mr Carter-Brown had mentioned, and had stolen the contract from under Carnforth's noses. ‘It left a couple of ships idle.'

And that would undermine their profits, she thought with satisfaction.

‘From what I hear,' Washbrook went on, ‘Bell is hoping to recoup that loss by trading more timber from the Baltic.'

Lena nodded. ‘That could be useful. Thanks, Captain.' She headed for the office, deep in deliberation, and was still so inclined when she sat down without any thought for the papers that were awaiting attention on her desk; she had much more interesting and far-reaching things to consider.

Peter had just arrived at the office when news of the sighting of the
William Hustwick
reached them.

‘A good voyage, Captain?' queried Peter, when he and Lena met the ship.

‘Excellent, sir. But I am surprised to see the
Seagull
already here. We left before her.'

‘Four hours, Captain Goss said.'

‘Four hours?' The man looked astonished but agreed it must be right by the remark, ‘It will be entered in his log.' He quickly let the matter drop. ‘The vintner's were very efficient in Spain, and, if I may say so, I believe a lucrative trade could be established there.'

‘Very interesting,' commented Lena thoughtfully. ‘Thanks for the information, Captain.'

As they walked back to the office Peter remarked, ‘Two very contrasting masters and two very different ships.'

‘Yes. And both performed superbly,' she said. ‘An excellent result! I hope Carter-Brown is satisfied.'

‘There's no reason why he shouldn't be. It could mean more orders from him, and that will make our own business more solid.'

But Lena detected a cautionary note in his remark and the way it was delivered. It was as if he was saying, Don't get ideas about building on this; rest on your achievement. She smiled to herself and linked arms with her husband. He needed softening up. ‘We've cause to celebrate. Let's do it at Raby Hall?' Her sensual tone tempted him and told him they would not be returning to town that evening.

The following morning, as he turned to get out of bed, Peter rolled back and kissed his wife hard on the lips before murmuring, ‘You were wonderful last night.'

Her arms encircled his neck and held him tight so that she could look deep into his eyes. ‘There will be other nights,' she promised. Peter smiled, kissed her again, and said, ‘We'll have to go, Captain Goss will be waiting.'

She was tempted to say, Let him wait, but did not want to get on the wrong side of a captain who could be important to them in the future.

They had a quick breakfast and drove fast into Hull where Lena was relieved to see Captain Goss just entering the office as they neared it. He was making enquiries of the clerks when they walked in.

‘Good timing, Captain,' commented Peter. ‘We'll go up to my room. Our manager had instructions to pick up the rest of the necessary funds from the bank this morning. He should not be long.'

‘Your ship returned unscathed?' Lena asked casually.

‘She did, ma'am. I know she looks a bit scruffy but she's a real gem. Dare say she'd be better if she was done up a bit. I always mean to have it done but . . . '

‘You are the sole owner?'

‘Yes, ma'am.'

‘And no one else has a vested interest in her?'

‘No, ma'am.'

Peter looked askance at his wife. What was she up to? He gleaned nothing from her, though. Lena ignored the query in his eyes.

‘You would not consider selling her?'

‘No, Ma'am, never.'

Thank goodness for that, thought Peter, but he still felt uneasy somehow.

‘Then would you consider hiring yourself to us on a permanent basis?'

Captain Goss's eyes narrowed as he met Lena's intent gaze. ‘Depends on the terms, what was required, and whether it would be worthwhile for me and the crew. I would not hire unless their jobs were guaranteed.'

‘Highly commendable, Captain.'

Peter's heart and mind were racing. He wanted to intervene, wanted to halt what he could only see as her extension of the business which might put it into an unstable position. Lena's own capital was already eaten up. But he did not want to provoke a confrontation with her in front of Captain Goss. A glance at his wife told him she knew this and was prepared to take advantage of the situation.

‘I am going to put a proposition to you, Captain. I would like you to think it over carefully, but if it tempts you there is no reason why we couldn't conclude arrangements quickly. In fact, the quicker the better! Well, here it is. You hire the
Seagull
to us on a permanent basis; because it will be permanent rather than a single engagement, the remuneration will be slightly lower. You will be her master and will engage the crew. You will sail as directed by us.

‘I am prepared to have the ship repaired where absolutely necessary - you will draw up a list of what you think is required but it must be within reason. Don't think you can get away with padding the shipwright's bill - my husband and I know ships. However, there is one alteration to her I will want; the bow must be strengthened in case she meets ice when she sails to the Baltic to engage in the timber trade - a sensible precaution if she sails late in the season. How does that sound to you, Captain?'

‘Intriguing, ma'am! Tempting because it means ongoing work, possibly the whole year through.' He hesitated for a moment. ‘Does this mean you will want the ship based in Hull permanently?'

‘Because of certain cargoes, she will be here a lot of the time, but as trade comes in, and we can look ahead, there is no reason why you cannot operate out of Grimsby. Then your crew will not miss out on home life when that is possible.'

‘When do you want my answer?'

‘As I said, as soon as possible.'

‘I'll have a word with my crew when I go to pay them the rest of their wages then return with my answer. Although I think I know what it will be.'

‘Good, then let us go and see if our manager has returned from the bank.'

Alan Frampton was waiting for them in his office. ‘I collected the sum you required in cash, and have all the necessary documents ready for Captain Goss to sign.'

‘Well done,' commented Lena. She turned to the captain, avoiding her husband's eye as she did so. ‘Everything satisfactory for you, Captain?'

‘Ma'am, there is no need for me to count the money. I am sure the amount will be what we agreed.' He took the pen offered to him by Frampton and signed the four documents with a flourish.

Almost before he had finished, Frampton was dusting them with fine dry sand and then examining them to see the ink was dry. He folded two sheets and handed them to the captain. ‘Your copies.'

Captain Goss smiled. ‘Thanks.' He swept Peter and Lena with his gaze, letting it settle finally on Lena. ‘It has been a pleasure dealing with you, and your offer for the future is very tempting. I'll away and consult my crew.' He touched his cap and strode from the office.

Before anyone could speak Lena was out of the door and heading up the stairs. Peter was quickly after her, and by the time they'd reached the next floor she could feel his dipleasure.

She started to head for her room but Peter's terse tone stopped her. ‘My room!'

From the time she had started to put her proposition to Captain Goss she'd known this confrontation was inevitable. There was no point in trying to avoid it. She followed Peter into his room and closed the door behind her.

As it clicked shut he swung round to face her. ‘What have you done? You know full well we cannot possibly go ahead with this scheme to hire Captain Goss, his crew and the
Seagull.
To offer to repair his vessel and suggest fortifying the bow . . . what's got into you? You know we can't afford any of it.' His eyes darkened with every word he spoke.

‘Can't? There's no such word in my vocabulary.'

‘Don't talk so foolishly.'

‘I'm
not
talking foolishly. This last transaction went well except that we did not make as much profit as we expected, and what was that due to? The terms
you
gave Captain Goss.'

‘And if I hadn't, we would not have got the second ship we needed for Spain and so would have lost the contract. And then it might have been taken by Carnforth's,' he spat the words viciously, ‘and
that
would have hurt
you
!'

‘Yes, it would. And so it is not going to happen in any future transactions.'

‘You are letting this need to best your family firm turn into an obsession. If you don't watch out, it could lead to disaster.'

‘I'll see that it doesn't.'

‘You can't guarantee that. Pull back, Lena, before it's too late. When Captain Goss returns, rescind your offer.'

‘No!'

‘Well, I will.'

‘Don't you dare!'

‘Let me remind you that on all major decisions we have to act as one. If either of us is against it, a project is null and void. And I regard engaging the
Seagull
as a major decision. I know I hired her once, but only when I was desperate. Now, heed me, Lena, I'll not have my father's firm destroyed.'

‘For goodness' sake, Peter, I'm not going to destroy it - I'm going to make it the biggest firm along the Yorkshire coast. People will look up to you. Look to you for a lead.' She was careful to make the future appear rosy for him but, seeing he was not to be drawn into her web, added, ‘Might I remind you that I put money into this firm too!'

‘That's all been swallowed, and what you have in mind carries risks I am not prepared to take.'

‘Well, you had better be prepared to do so. If you don't, we'll get nowhere.'

‘But I am satisfied to remain as we are.'

She spun away in disgust. ‘I thought I had married a man, not a . . .'

He reached out, grabbed her arm and pulled her back, preventing the words she was about to speak. His expression was cold. ‘Don't you dare use a derogatory tone to me.'

Lena held his gaze for a moment then softened so that he would release his grip. With a swaying motion she inched closer to him and relaxed into his arms which reluctantly came up to support her. She looked into his eyes. ‘Don't let us quarrel, Peter. There is too much at stake for us to be in conflict with each other. Believe me, I don't want to jeopardise what your father built up and you have so skilfully maintained. I only want to make sure that the firm will never be put in danger, especially from outside sources. What I have suggested to Captain Goss was only to strengthen our ability to withstand any possible setbacks.' She left the slightest of pauses to emphasise how reasonable her response was. ‘Let me see this through? I promise you won't regret it.'