Chapter 1

I looked out of the second story window, watching the bustling docks of Nassau Port, my mind drifting as my eyes slid automatically to ship sailing into the distant setting sun. I couldn't help but wish I was on it. Ever since I could remember I'd been drawn to the sea. My father used to take me fishing before I went into service. I could never remember catching a thing but being out there with him was enough for me. The gentle rolling of the waves never failed to lull me to sleep.

"Charlotte!"

I jolted suddenly, startled out of my memories.

"Charlotte!" Rose shouted from the stairs below me.

I sighed and rested my heard against the cold windowpane. "What is it?"

"Lord Dunmore will be home very soon, we have to finish our duties. I need help preparing dinner," Rose complained.

"Okay, I'm just coming." I turned back to the beds I was supposed to be making and finished them as quickly as I could while still making them passable. As I closed the door softly behind me to leave, I caught one last glimpse of the harbour basking in the last orange rays of sunshine

That night the Lord hosted a surprise dinner party and beneath stairs the whole household was rushing to make sure everything was prepared and in place. The guests were typical; high opinions of themselves which had absolutely no founding what so ever. And not to mention they treated staff as though they were nothing, which in my book placed an automatic black mark against their name.

I felt especially sorry for Jonathan who when pouring wine had been elbowed by a naval officer who had managed to get drunk already and caused the wine to go over a retired gentleman who was nearly nodding off. Of cause Jonathan was blamed for the whole incident and was publically humiliated in front of the guests and was warned that if there was one more incident, he would be thrown out.

In the kitchens Rose and I offered to put extra pepper in the stupid naval officer's food, but, unfortunately, Jonathan refused much to our disappointment.

The next day past quickly, we all had clearing up to do after some of the guests stayed the night and had left the rooms in utter devastation. As the evening drew in I sat in the pantry cutting up potatoes for tomorrow's meal. I almost fell off the stool I was sitting on as Rose burst through the door and the potato I was peeling fell to the stone floor.

"Charlotte I've done something very, very stupid" She gasped, leaning against the doorway to keep herself upright.

"What have you done" I grabbed her arm to steady her and studied her shocked face.

"Well, I was angry, because Lord Dunmore had told me that my 'cleaning of his silverware was not adequate'" She mimicked a posh accent and then hesitated as if she couldn't believe what she'd done. "So I went into his study and took these." Wide eyed and slightly shaking, she produced a medium sized pouch full of gold coins and a ruby necklace with matching earrings. "You didn't," I whispered, my eyes not leaving the treasures she held in her hand. I stared mesmerised, in awe of the sparkling jewels. Then the sudden realization of what Rose had just done hit me. "Rose, you idiot!" I whispered frantically. "Do you know how much trouble we're going to be in? We'll be lucky if we aren't hung for this!"

She'd stolen jewels from the Governor of Nassau. What if that made me an accomplice in the crime now she'd shown them to me, I thought panicking.

"I know, I'm sorry, I was just so angry..."

She was cut off by an angry, booming voice coming from the study.

"ROSE JAMISTON, WHERE ARE YOU?"

I didn't have to think about it. I grabbed Rose's arm tightly and whispered, "Run!"

We ran through the streets bumping into people and not caring if we sent them flying. The sight of the docks spurred me on and I dragged Rose behind me, skirts billowing out behind us, not stopping once. I didn't want to think about what would happen if we were caught. My cap flew away behind me and sent my auburn hair flying loose. I pulled Rose into the shadows at the docks and shushed her quickly when she began to speak. I peered into the moonlight to check no one would overhear us.

"Okay, here's what we do," I said, low and fast. "We find a non-navy ship, we get on board, hid and hope no one finds us until we're away from the Port."

Rose nodded mutely, still tightly clutching the stolen treasure that was sealing our fate.

It seemed only navy ships filled the harbour and I became convinced that all hope was lost and we would be found and hung. And then we found a dark ship that was almost unnoticeable amidst the elaborate navy ships. It was made of very dark wood, almost black, and its sails were tattered, repairs evident by the assortment of patches. We crept aboard, the moonlight providing us plenty of shadows to hide in. Luckily, the only person keeping watch was fast asleep in a drunken stupor, an empty bottle lying discarded next to him. We crept through the ship trying to find the cargo hold and not alert anyone to our presence. Once it was located, we settled down uneasily between crates of ammunition and rum (I counted more rum that ammunition though).

"I say we stay here," I said and put an arm around Rose to stop her shaking. "We stay hidden for as long as possible and when we have to face the Captain, we show him that we have gold as payment for letting us stay on ship and dropping us off at the next port," I said, nodding to pouch. I then added as an afterthought, "Assuming he does let us stay on the ship that is."

Rose looked at me, panicked. "He wouldn't make us walk the plank, would he? He must be a reasonable man. I mean this won't end badly, will it?" She looked at the pouch in her hand. "Oh God," she whispered hoarsely, covering her mouth in shock.

"Try not to think about that, Rose. From now on we stick together and everything will be fine." I hugged her closer in an attempt to comfort her and tucked back the pale blonde hair that had escaped from her cap.

Questions of our safety buzzed around me head, refusing to leave. Gradually, I managed to slip into a restless sleep, the soft breathing from Rose reassuring me and the gentle rocking of the ship soothing me as I remembered my childhood days fishing with my father.