Chapter 1
Amber watched as she did most evenings after tea, the soft waves foaming into white peaks. It wasn't that she enjoyed the continues dance of the sea, rather that even after three weeks her stomach was still delicate with the movement of the ship as it bobbed gently on its journey. Fearing each night that she was going to loose the well prepared dinner Amber ambled onto the deck and began the wait for her stomach to settle. It wasn't time wasted however, it did give her time to think about the purpose of her journey and more interestingly the previous couple of days.
Amber had been sent by her mother and father from England. A messy break up from her fiancé was enough to send her mother into panic that her only daughter would never wed. Despite the protests and plea's to her father Amber had been given a bag and her maid and the simple orders to 'go away and have some fun' of course what her mother had really meant was go away and don't come back until she had found a suitor and future son in law. This was depressing enough but as a last remark she had to make time to visit her newlywed cousin who was, already, trying for a child. After a long and undetailed conversation with Rosemary her maid it had been decided that Stephen and Lorraine could wait a few months until their lovemaking would not burden or be effected by Amber's presence.
The ship itself was pleasant, there were several ladies aboard the vessel that were travelling from England, seeking the sun and some Caribbean men Amber suspected, they all appeared slightly looser than herself with many daily gossips about who had had who in bed the previous night. Many of the woman were fairly young and travelling with each other or with family, had Amber been from a more unrefined background she may have called them all whores. She appeared to be the only lass on the ship that was holding onto her honour with both hands and with no intention of letting it go on this ship or the next she had become somewhat outcasted from the other women, choosing instead to eat her dinner with Rosemary than with the sex crazed tarts that batted their eyelashes at the male crew and travellers.
Her thoughts stirred to the male travellers, one in particular. He had been rescued some days before from a deserted island, shipwrecked and alone, the Grand Hawk had taken him aboard. The other ladies had become infatuated immediately by the lad, his hair tied tightly behind him in a ponytail, he was (after a bath) clean and well shaven. His moustache trimmed neatly and his clothes after a wash smelling of lemon soap and coconut. Well spoken and polite Amber had struggled to work out what it was that bothered her about him, something niggled her, something that just wasn't right about him. A handsome devil in most respects, and no wedding ring, although by the light stripes on his other wise tanned fingers it did look although he used to wear a ring or several. But what bother Amber most about him was him infamous grin that had captivated the other ladies, personally Amber wondered why a man of such stature in the high class world or so he said, should have a mouthful of gold teeth.
Feeling at last the food in her stomach was not going to reappear she stepped back from the barrier and sighed. It was still going to be at least a week before they hit their destination of Port Debrine.
"Something the matter?" she knew by the accent it was the man that had just so quickly left her thoughts.
"Just getting fresh air." she squinted against the setting sun at him as he looked out towards the empty horizon.
"Not a better place to get it darling." he took a deep breath himself and flashed her a smile, "Certainly settles unsettled bellies, was you sick?"
Amber felt the colour rush into her cheeks.
"I wasn't sick, I was getting fresh air like I said before." she turned away from him to face the sea. She felt his eyes on her, staring at her and really beginning to irritate her. Opening her mouth to demand an explanation for his presence he cut her off.
"So, have you got a partner for the little party they have going on tonight?" Amber gave him a quick look of surprise. She hadn't planned on going to the blasted thing. It was the Irish that had organised it, they all played some sort of instrument and with a little persuasion had been allowed to play on deck for the evening to celebrate a birthday of one of the sods who they were travelling with. Of course it had been looked forward too by all the ladies, an excuse to woo some blind drunk man into there beds however the one that they all really were pinning their hopes on was the one who was standing before her, apparently about to ask her of all people to accompany him.
"I don't, no, I wasn't really thinking about going in all honestly." she smiled shyly and blushed as he returned the smile.
"Then you wont mind if I drag you along?"
Music floating merrily over the deck, Amber avoided the questioning looks she received as she made her way onto the deck linked arm in arm with her partner.
"I'm really sorry but I forgot to ask your name." she whispered walking close to his side as if he may protect her from the barrage of bitching and comments that would surly fly behind her back.
"Just call me Jack."
"Is it short for something?" she glanced up at his clean shaven cheeks and short cropped goatee. Smiling mischievously he nodded down at her.
"Aye love, you could say that." Frowning Amber took a seat near the edge of the so called dance floor. Only a couple of the woman were dancing in the arms of two drunk tobacco runners. Rolling her eyes she allowed Jack to hand her a tankard of wine, she stared at it dubiously.
"What?" he questioned noting her expression as he drank readily from his own.
"If my mother were to see me drinking from this she would surely disown me." Jack cocked a dark eyebrow and eyed the tankard.
"Your mother isn't here love, drink up or I'll be having it from myself." he tapped his own tankard against hers and winked. "cheers."
Jack, it appeared was well travelled, he had more stories than even her old grandfather had. He didn't say much about himself, that had been something that she had noted as being absent in all his stories and conversations. Fearing a troubled past Amber had not brought it up with him and instead enjoyed the patter of jokes and funny situations he had found himself in, however Amber noticed slightly unusually for a gentleman such as himself , never the less she put it down to the drink and an over used imagination.
As the kegs emptied and bellies grew full of the alcohol that circulated freely, Amber's mind was beginning to blur somewhat. She had never been permitted to drink stronger spirits and large quantities but as Jack had noted several times; her mother was not here to check her for it. She had tested the wine, drank the ale and guzzled at her new found favourite; the rum, Jack's rum in particular from his tankard. Noticing for the first time he prized it from her fingers and shook his head.
"That's enough love, you'll be reaping the rewards tomorrow if you drink anymore." he casually draped an arm round her shoulder to steady her as she tipped back. Blushing Amber thanked him.
"I hope I'm not a burden to you?" she caught his eye and he grinned.
"There are few things in this world that burden me darling, least of all a fine lady such as yourself." Amber looked away embarrassed by his compliment, it had never occurred to her that he may like her in such a way.
"You had all the woman on this ship to pick from," she waved a hand over the heavily made up ladies that had draped themselves amongst the crew and travellers, "Why me?" she turned her attention to him, peering into the darkness of his eyes for an answer that she had sought after most.
"Because," one half of his mouth curled into a rather mischievous smile, "I know these kind of ladies, where I come from they overrun the streets, you on the other hand," he paused to muse on her for a moment, "are a breath of fresh air in my eyes,"
Amber smiled gently and lend her spinning head against his shoulder.
"You are such a gentleman Jack, your life must be so humble and placid." she did not catch the grin that curled round his mouth.
"Indeed Lady, you could say that."