A Choice Made

When I left my home I was a child, barely fifteen. Father had died and I had travelled to the Caribbean with my two brothers and servants, Tawny Kent and Mabel Cairns. It was here, in the Caribbean, Port Royal to be exact, Tawny and I began our journey. I remember when we first got off the ship, arriving on the dock. It was warm, the sun beating down upon me. Tawny had passed me a parasol. I had taken it, albeit grudgingly. I longed for Tawny's beautiful honey coloured skin and dark eyes. She had no need to hide from the sun and was wearing a light and simple dress, where as I was weighed down by a blue whale bone corset dress. As I longed for Tawny's freedom, she longed for my wealth. I now see how it may have been our longing for freedom and wealth that had so dangerously thrown Tawny and myself into the world of pirates and adventures, adventures and love. Tawny and Mabel walked behind me, my suitcases in their hands. It had come to feel as they were my only friends as, in England, I was seldom let out. Tawny had told me stories of her home in Africa and I had lapped it up, like a cat with milk. I had found out later that my brothers blamed Tawny for my rebellion, as they called it. Mabel had also been a contributor towards my fleeing, telling me stories of pirates and freedom. I had longed to be a pirate and when we were young Alistair and James, my brothers, had played pirates with me. Then they grew up, leaving me the childish dreamer of the family. It had become worse when my brother, James, had married. His wife, Anna, had taken it upon herself to see me grow to be a lady. I remember one night more clearly than any others. I had arrived at the dinner table late one night in July. Anna had looked at me, her eyes coldly scanning my appearance. She sighed, turning to James.

"She's nothing overly special." She said, walking to me. She took my face in her hand and turned me to look at her.

"Average face but prominent cheek bones and bright eyes. She will be easy enough to marry off, especially with the fortune lying behind her, James." Anna's words always seemed to sting me, her tone especially. She always sounded as if she was surveying a horse to be bought, groomed and sold. James nodded, looking at me through his whisky glass. Our eyes met briefly before Anna's voice filled the room again. She was shouting, shaking me at the same time.

"You have been out with that girl again, haven't you?" She screamed, pointing at some dirt on my dress. I had looked at my feet, blocking out her words. Suddenly a hand came down on my cheek, leaving a burning handprint. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks before James had finally stepped in. He had taken hold of Anna, pulling her back before turning to me.

"Go to your room, Tally." He had ordered, sternly. I knew better than to argue with James and scurried to my room, throwing myself onto my silk layered bed and sobbing.

"Come here, sweetie." Mabel had come from my bath room. She had apparently heard the commotion down stairs and was ready with a warm bath for me. She undid my corset strings, picking up my small frame and placing me in the water. I looked up at Mabel as she filled a jug with water, tipping it over my head.

"When I was in Africa, me an' my boy were in a tribe, There was at least three hundred people in the tribe and each one had there own mark…" She had begun but I was shattered from the story when I heard a loud scream. Mabel looked up, her eyes sorrowful. I looked to her for some reassurance. She had just shaken her head.

"I don't think Tawny will be able to help you tomorrow, sweetie." She had said quietly, tipping more water over my head. I was in shock. My world was falling apart. Tawny was being whipped for my insolence and I was to be married into another family. It was then I had decided to leave.

"Mabel, can you tell me about the slaves that escaped? Where do they go?" Mabel looked at me suspiciously.

"They go to a place for pirates and outlaws, Tortuga they call it. No one in Tortuga is just a normal person. They're slaves and outlaws, all kinds of criminals, even pirates." She said, her voice quiet as if protecting a secret.

"Tortuga…" I had whispered. Looking back, my voice must have held my plans in it. Mabel had smiled at me, a knowing smile. Still I wasn't sure how to go about my plan, just that I would need to do so quickly. Mabel had lifted me from the bathtub, drying me off and placing me in my muslin night gown. I had thanked her before she left, asking her to leave a candle burning, which she did. Later that night, as always, Tawny had come to visit me. Her face was tear stained and her eyes red and puffy.

"Tawny…" I had whispered as she had painfully sat beside me. I had insisted on seeing what had happened to her but seeing her back shook me. She was covered in deep gashes criss crossing over pearly scars and more bloody gashes. I put a hand to my mouth as she turned her back away from me.

"We must leave." I finally said, regaining some of my lost my composure. Tawny had looked at me as if I was mad.

"We can't." She protested but I clamped a hand to her mouth.

"We can. We shall get a ship to Tortuga and work from there. We can be free and do what we like." I said hopefully. Tawny sighed.

"We will never be able to escape, Tally." She said, her brown eyes darting from me to the door. I sighed.

"We will escape, I promise." I had whispered as she had made her way to the door. It's only now that I wonder if leaving had been the best option, although i would have it no other way.

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