Chapter 30: Bloody No Good Sailors
Mum's plan to keep Stephen away from me as much as possible worked perfectly fine. Roland didn't mind taking me around the town, most often with Stephanie by his side, but he was never too protective, which was a good thing. He was known to get a tad bit too defensive towards others, but at that time, it was the least of my concerns.
It was on Adam's sixteenth birthday did I finally feel excitement I had not sensed since Christmas. That day, Mum promised that I could spend the whole day with Adam, but also to show me that she expected me to behave, she said Roland and Stephanie had to come along on our jaunt through the town. I didn't mind having them around though. I hadn't spent as much time with Adam in the past months, and to spend a whole day with him was a gift from heaven. It surprised me how heartsick I felt without the dear boy.
The choice of dress I wore that day was not made by me, but by my own mother. She wanted to make sure I looked decent and that I didn't skip off in my pirate attire to the Locke residence with Roland. She chose a pale lavender frock that was adorned with intricate little flowers and also lined in almost every spot with lace. Ruffles of lace on the square neckline. Lace spilling from the sleeves. Lines of lace on the hem of the gown. It all made for a very beautiful, but very heavy and uncomfortable dress. Add to that a corset, and I became the absolute picture of lunacy, at least, I was through my eyes. "Oh, Miss," Maggie squeals. "You look so beautiful! Look at you! Missus, come quick!" Maggie left my side and ran out of the room to grab my mother, leaving me to stare at my own pathetic and dull self in the mirror.
"Astrid! By God, you look absolutely stunning." That was Mum, parading into the room in utter glee, with her and Maggie admiring how I looked in the dress.
"Thank you, Mum," I replied, remembering my manners. I planned on saying, "Can I bring my pirate clothes so that I can change at Adam's house?" But I knew she would never let such a thing be done.
"Roland is waiting for you downstairs, Astrid," said Mum. "Both of you behave, please. I do not want to punish both of you again. Besides, I'd hate to punish Roland at this time of the year. He will be leaving very soon."Why did she have to mention that? I thought. Couldn't she mention anything else but Roland's soon to be departure for the wondrous sea? I sighed and fastened the hat Maggie held in her hands on my head. Grabbing my fan and stepping into my shoes, I walked out of the room, my joy clearly suppressed by my dream that would never be.
"Bye, Mum," I said softly, still too depressed from the mentioning of Roland's second voyage. Mum must have realized my sad face and called out to me, "Don't worry, Astrid. Have fun today and don't think so much about the sea. Just once. Your chance will come someday." But when exactly will it come? And when it does come, will I still want to finish that dream?
My foot lifted from the last step on the staircase and I was greeted by my dear brother. "Now I know you are dressing to impress, sister," he joked.
"It is never my intent to," I replied glumly, taking out my fan and whacking it open.
"Oh, Astrid," said Roland, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and shaking me a bit. "You'll make it out to sea one day, sister."
"But will I still want to when I actually make it there? My romantic thoughts about finally making it out on the ocean might have lost their lovely impracticality when I am finally on a ship, Roland. Why can't I ever get the one thing I want the most? Just to be out on the sea. Just once! But no. I think I'll be stuck here for the rest of my life." I wiped my face with the sleeve of my dress, for my eyes had watered through my confession.
"No, you won't. See? You are about to step out of this house to spend a whole day with your lover. Isn't that just wonderful?" His attempt to make me happy was crashing and burning down badly, and I even grew annoyed at his sarcasm.
"That's not what I meant," I snapped back, and Roland lifted his arm from my shoulders and, with a sigh, helped me into the coach that would take us to the Locke home. After hopping into the box with wheels himself, the door was closed and I was filled with a bitterness that even Adam would not dare confront openly.
Roland sat opposite me, unable to stay still in his seat for one second. He remained his jittery and excited self, while I sat as the complete opposite. "How about we spend the whole day at the harbor, sister?" he suggested, nearly poking his head out of the coach window. "I know that will brighten your gloomy spirits, Astrid. I'll introduce you to my mates, not Tom or Collins, but some of the other midshipmen around our age. Would you like that?" He withdrew his head from the window and looked at me, waiting for my reaction. His suggestion did in fact make me a bit happier and I managed a smile.
"All right," I replied, not as morosely as before. "At least it will get me close to the sea."
"Exactly."
The carriage halted and Roland and I slightly bounced from our seats from the sudden stop. The door was opened, with the footman standing at the side and Roland nudged me gently to exit. As soon as Roland was out, he offered me his arm and I took it, and together we walked up to the doors of the Locke residence, which, I had to admit, was beautifully grand and elegant.
"Ah, friends of young master Locke, I see," said their doorman as Roland and I were showed in. We walked into a cloud of sounds and other excitements, and I took it that all of the Locke children's birthdays were held as very intense and important festivities. Maids and servants were bustling to and fro from the halls, some carrying bundles of items, others yelling out orders, and others just running in order to reach a deadline. I smiled inside at the sight.
I had been to the Locke home before, mainly just to eat dinner with the entire family, and when I first saw it, I was amazed by its luxury. Compared to my own home, it was slightly bigger, most likely because they had a larger family, and therefore there were more places and rooms around the house. Adam honored me with a brief tour one time, and almost every place I laid my eyes on was lavished in extravagance and sophistication. No wonder Adam was such a well-raised boy. He grew up around a home that it itself demanded respect. "You must excuse young Mister Locke's and Miss Locke's tardiness," said their doorman, drawing us away from watching the activity of the frenzied servants. "The whole family was up last night congratulating the young sir."
"Oh yes, I heard," replied Roland, while I stood slightly baffled. I never knew there was so much commotion over a simple birthday. It was not like Adam had achieved his title as Lieutenant, or rather Second Lieutenant, yet. I prepared to open my mouth and say something of the matter, but was quieted when Missus Locke walked down the stairs, calling our names in undeniable joy.
"So good to see both of you here!" she shouted, approaching us. It was already quite clear that she had been busy for the past few hours directing the servants. "My, the two of you look absolutely glamorous. Why, Miss Turner, you are the ideal picture of beauty itself." Perhaps on the outside, but definitely not from within. It would please me all the more to be back in pirate gear, but alas, I must behave like a lady.
"Thank you, Missus Locke," I said, curtsying and bowing low to her.
"And you, young Roland are looking mighty fine as well. Just like your father." Roland blushed and bowed as well, with one hand behind his back and the other in front of his waist.
"Where are your children?" he asked.
"Oh, Adam is still getting dressed. Poor lad. He woke up not but half an hour ago," said Missus Locke. Even I raised my eyebrows at that. If he woke up thirty minutes ago, he would have woken at eleven o'clock in the morning. "And Stephanie had an accident with her curling iron with all this clamor going about. Both of them should be down before noon, if not sooner. Excuse the wait."
"No need to apologize, Missus Locke," said Roland. "My sister and I are quite content with waiting." She smiled back and directed us to a table and chair in the hallway lobby where we could sit and wait. And wait we did.
"What's with all the ado over Adam's birthday?" I asked, as soon as Missus Locke was out of sight. Roland was scratching his chin, and I deemed he was inspecting it to see if there were any more signs of a beard coming on. Men. All so self-conscious.
"Hmm? Oh, I don't really know, Astrid," he replied, not looking me in the eye. It was all too clear that he was lying to me or hiding something from me.
"But you told the doorman that you had "heard" about all the uproar going about," I returned.
"Well, I heard about it, but I don't know what it was over." I stared disbelievingly at him, and he grinned his sheepish grin.
"Of course you don't," I said, seeming as if I did not suspect him for lying to me again.
"Besides, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough when Adam and Stephanie come parading down the sta—" He never finished because he had immediately risen from his seat and was gawking at something that was heading down the stairs. I stood and turned around as well, and the only thing I could say, or rather, scream, was "Adam!"
"You!" he yelled, pointing a finger at Roland. "Fetch me some wine and bring me a cup!" He winked at me and I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep myself from cackling like mad. Roland only replied with a smirk.
"Honored to serve you… Lieutenant," he said, with the same jesting tone. "Would you like me to bring a glass for your lady as well?"
"No," I answered, already leaping from the joviality.
As Adam walked down the stairs dressed superbly fine in his new Lieutenant uniform, I, for the first time, was hopping about and giggling uncontrollably like what a woman was expected to do. I clapped my hands and gaped and dropped my jaw at his sight, for truly he was indeed quite the picture of decent, handsome and respectful masculinity. His black tricorn hat was in his hands as he walked down, and he was garbed richly in his blue naval coat, brocaded in gold thread and round buttons. He wore a pair of white britches and stockings and nicely polished black shoes. Although he reminded me of a miniature version of the retired Commodore Norrington, he still looked very pleasing to the eye. If he strutted about town dressed so handsomely as he was, the ladies would kill me for walking beside him.
"Good day, Miss Turner," he said, clinging ever so daintily to the politesse that he wished to be rid of. The look to be free for a moment glimmered in his sharp blue eyes. To me, at that moment, I could have cared less about bloody manners.
I didn't reply with the expected, "And good day to you also, Mister Locke." I couldn't. How could I express my utter merriment towards Adam with just a simple, "Good day,"? It would have been a stupid thing to do in such a grand situation. I merely ran up to him and flung my arms around his neck, planting his face with kisses. I knew any onlookers would grimace at the impropriety, but all I saw at that time was Adam. My Lieutenant Adam Geoffrey Locke.
"Where are we going?" asked Stephanie as Roland helped her into the carriage. After Roland sneakily gave her rump a good push into the coach, he replied, "To the harbor, Miss." He took a seat beside her and faced Adam and me, and I saw him snicker at the fact that Adam's face was still red from my perhaps too passionate expression of joy.
"Why there? Adam, is this any of your doing?" she asked, getting slightly worried. I took it that she, like me, had not been down to the harbor many times in her life, but her fear was more vivid than mine.
"No, Stephanie. I don't object to the idea either. I think a visit to the harbor would do us good," he replied reassuringly. Stephanie, delicate Stephanie, whisked out her fan and began to wave it back and forth.
"Don't worry, Stephanie," I replied. "I have my own concerns about going to the harbor as well." Roland knew exactly what I was talking about and he shifted uneasily in his chair and gave a false cough out of the embarrassing incident.
"All too well, I imagine," whispered Adam to me. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight.
"Nothing of that sort will happen again today, I hope," I replied. "As long as Roland's mates behave."
"O'course they will," interrupted Roland, apparently hearing every bit of my supposedly private conversation with Adam. "They will. I promise. Plus, you have a Lieutenant at your side, Miss Astrid. Why should we feel even the slightest bit of fear?" he asked in the jocular tone again.
"Because we don't know if your mates are respectable sailors or crude boys," I sent back. "Do I need to remind you of ol' Tom, Roland?" I said, mimicking the hoarse voice and accent of the very sailor. Adam chuckled, as did Stephanie.
"I assure you all, these are midshipman, boys like Adam and me, and they don't know enough to act like Tom. All right?" growled Roland, irritated whenever he was made sport of as usual.
"We'll see soon enough," I replied, nodding my head towards the nearing harbor.
The coachmen dropped us off close to the docks, but not too close, considering that the ground down there was malleable and far from sturdy. Stephanie and I exited first, then Roland and lastly Adam. After we hooked arms with our corresponding love matches, we strode off to see who young Roland's mates were.
There were many ships just arriving to port, and the sailors were busy on deck preparing to dock and finally plant their feet on land that they most likely had not done in months. Roland and Stephanie ran off ahead of us, so that he could spot the ship he was looking for quickly and therefore avoid any humiliation for bringing us to the harbor for no reason. I had to admit though, that Roland was right. The harbor did indeed brighten my gloomy spirits, and I tugged on Adam's arm so that we could see almost every bit of the harbor possible. He agreed willingly and we only stopped every now and then for him to exchange salutations with his other commanding officers.
We were speaking with the current and only Commodore in town, Commodore Theodore Perry, when Roland at last found his band of miscreants. "And who, might I ask, is this?" asked Commodore Perry, nodding his very amused head in my direction. Adam was not at all ashamed of me and proudly introduced me to the said Commodore.
"This is Miss Astrid Jacqueline Turner, daughter of Elizabeth and William Turner, and granddaughter of the former Governor Swann," said Adam, making me seem as if I was the finest lady that ever walked the earth, though I certainly was not.
"Pleasure to meet you, Commodore Perry," I said, bowing and curtsying as I was fixed into doing among high class men.
"A fine woman you are acquainted with, Lieutenant," said Commodore Perry. "Just remember your duty and let us not get too carried away with the ladies," he added in jest.
"I certainly will not, Commodore," replied Adam, his face light crimson again.
"Carry on the—" began Commodore Perry before being cut off by Roland's sudden outburst.
"Astrid! The ship's come into port! Come on!" he screamed. Adam and I whirled our heads around concurrently and found Roland and Stephanie all the way at another dock. He was waving his arms rapidly back and forth.
"Excuse us, Commodore," said Adam hurriedly before we took off flying towards the incoming ship.
By the time we arrived at the ship, Roland and Stephanie had already walked up the gang plank and were happily causing some commotion on board the H.M.S Valiant. "Roland! Are ya up there?" I called, already on my way up the plank.
"Sorry, Miss, no women permitted on deck this ship or any ship for that matter," said a midshipman guarding the entrance to the ship from the dock.
"What?" I squawked, steam about ready to shoot out of my nose. "My brother is on this ship," I said. "Midshipman Roland Turner. You heard of him?"
"Your brother, Miss?" said the midshipman, highly doubtful of my word.
"Yes, my brother. Now, let me on deck."
"Can't do, Miss." I heard the heavy thuds of Adam's shoes creep up behind me and I gathered my confidence and pride and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Well, it appears as though they won't be lettin' us in, Lieutenant," I said, mimicking a tone similar to the way haughty Stephen Westley would talk at times. Adam caught on quickly to my plan and peered at the midshipman in fake, but growing distaste.
"What exactly did you tell this woman?" he demanded. I knew it was not a good thing to use his rank as a motive of getting in, but it was the only way.
"Apologies, Lieutenant, but we had orders specifically not to allow any women on board."
"Really? I see my sister walking around the deck laughing with some of your comrades, including this here young woman's brother. What have you to say about that?" The midshipman grinned, and I gritted my teeth at the grin he displayed to me. I just knew that Roland had some ill-conceived prank up his sleeve and this was part of his doing.
"Welcome aboard the H.M.S Valiant, Lieutenant Locke and your lady, Miss Astrid," said the midshipman, and Adam gave a smile of relief. But by the looks of it, it seemed as if even my own suitor had some understanding of Roland's trick. Dear brother, you will certainly have a sorry arse when you get home .I promise you that. Adam led the way and as he stepped on deck, there came a few cheers from the sailors. I though, lingered behind for a moment to exchange glares with this midshipman.
"What be your name?" I demanded, looking him straight in the eye. He certainly was around Roland's age, for he still had the boyish aura about him, not to mention the very cheeky smirk he showed me. He was my height with light brown hair and brown eyes with a sprinkle of brown freckles across his face.
"Timothy Monroe or Tim, as my mates call me, Miss," he said. "I take it that you aren't pleased with Roland's prank at all." I shook my head back and forth and shot him a very threatening glare.
"Timmy," I said. "Watch your back. Astrid Turner is a lot more than what you see before you." I left him with that warning and joined Adam on deck.
"Great God, who's the lass?" came a yell.
"Happily Taken," I returned, causing a cloud of laughter to spread among the working sailors.
"Looks like you got yerself a fine lass, Lieutenant Locke," came another call. "Ya gonna introduce her to us?"
"Of course he will," said an all too familiar voice. Roland came marching up, Stephanie giggling by his side and looked at me, a very pleased look on his face. "What say you, sister? Will you honor these men with an introduction?"
"To what? A bloody nose?" I returned, not happy with being made sport of. Men truly needed a good washing of their brains if they thought I'd honor them with anything else but my name.
"She plays tough, mate," came another voice. It came up from behind Roland and a boy about Adam's height stepped forward, dressed in a midshipman uniform. He was slim, with pale blond hair that was tied back in a pony tail, and had a fairly decent face, with a sharp nose and blue eyes. "Since you are not keen on introducing yourself to a bunch of men, I'd be honored to introduce myself to you, Miss." Again, there was that same teasing sound in their voice.
"Go on then," I said.
"I am Midshipman Robert Lester. Or Dobbin as some call me. My home's in England and I'm only on duty in the Caribbean for two years." I honored him only with a very slight curtsy before finally honoring him with formal speech.
"For you and for any other men wanting to know my name, I'm Astrid Turner. And if you think you can make easy sport out of me, you'll all go home with sorry arses. Am I understood?" Dobbin smirked and returned my talk with a very slight bow.
"A feisty one, your sister is," he said, still looking at me but directed the message to Roland. "I'll tell you this now, Astrid. Ya gotta be a little more kind to us seamen. We're really not that bad. You and Miss Stephanie Locke have been the first women we've seen in months. Can you excuse us for our crudeness?"
"I suppose so, in return for showing me around the ship."
"Not in my power to do so, Miss. I'll ask the Cap'n for you though."
"That won't be necessary," interrupted Adam. "I'll speak with him. Stephanie, Astrid, I leave you both under the watchful eye of Midshipman Turner and these other fine men. May they guard you with their lives, or otherwise they shall pay with their lives if any harm shall come to you." Adam's orders quickly got the men on high alert and I knew it all had to do with his superiority.
At that, he walked over to the Captain's quarters, hands neatly behind his back, and my eyes watching him leave. "So," said Dobbin, drawing me away from my daydream.
"So I have been acquainted with Tim and Dobbin, Roland," I said, ignoring Dobbin's attempt to speak with me again. "Any of your other mates you'd like for me to meet?" I asked, facing Roland with a cross look on my face.
"Follow me, Miss, and you shall meet some of the British Navy's finest men." Finest men. Right my arse you're gonna show me fine men. Try Britain's saddest lot of scoundrels.
The men, or rather, young men Roland introduced me to were not as horrible and scandalous as I pictured them to be. Aside from Timmy and Dobbin, Roland gave me the honor of meeting three more of his close pack of mates, which included Midshipman Samuel Gordon, Third Lieutenant Kenneth Murray and ship's boy Andre Newton. All in all, the lot of them were decent and good fellows, but that was only from the first meeting. I was certain that they were secretly very naughty troublemakers, for they were all friends with Roland. It was expected of them to act like idiots. "Your Locke's fine lady?" questioned Lieutenant Murray. He, like Adam, was still new into the role of Lieutenant, and could not have been over seventeen years of age.
"I am. Why?" I asked, narrowing my eyes on Kenneth. He was a fine-looking man indeed, with a cheery, square face, grey eyes like that of an approaching storm, and a seemingly impregnable smile.
"No reason," he said, his grey eyes twinkling. Oh no, not another man to have the look Stephen always has in his eyes, I thought.
"Hey, Murray," said Roland. "You back off now. Adam's not giving her up any time soon, and I doubt she's gonna leave him either. You just go off and look for yer own lady to catch, awright?" Roland's sailor accent made me chuckle and I had to hide my face with my fan to make sure he didn't see that I was laughing at him. I had to admit that he was talented to know how to talk like a gentleman and also as a sailor.
"I think I'll wait 'til after I'm done with this voyage, Roland," replied Murray, winking at me. I choked on my own laughter and I began to burn badly at the face. Why were men all so endearing?
"If Adam saw that wink, he woulda jammed his sword right in your gut, Murray."
"Let him try," replied Murray, sounding serious to my own dismay.
"Well," I began. "It was all a great pleasure to meet all of—" I was cut off with my own yelp, because someone had pinched my behind. I whirled around furiously about to strike the damn bastard what did that to me, when the person who had done it, grabbed my arm midair and grinned down at me.
"So this is the charming Astrid Turner?" he said, and I tried to free my arm from his grip but the young man had too strong a hold.
"Sod off, Griffith," growled Roland. "Touch her again and Locke will kill you." Griffith let go of my arm and eyed Roland coolly. They must have been rivals when they were on sea.
"That threat doesn't come from Locke himself, Turner," replied Griffith with little amusement from the warning. "Mind who you're talking to."
"I think it is you, Midshipman Griffith who should watch your mouth," came a voice. Griffith turned his head promptly to the side to face whoever had dared to address him. I thought I had seen the most arrogant a man could have been, having known Stephen, but this Griffith surpassed it greatly.
Griffith, or Victor Griffith as I would later find out, was a tall and well-built young man, not to mention that he, sadly, was also on the handsome side, with black curly hair that was slicked back and tied neatly into a pony tail, at the lower back of his head. His eyes wide, clear and blue as the sky would ever be and his face was finely carved to please many a lady. At that moment, his face was expressionless and stern, his lips forced into a hard line and blood in his eye.
The man who had spoken was none other than Adam himself, and he certainly looked fuming mad at Griffith. He should have been too, for the damn midshipman had pinched me. "Get back to your post," commanded Adam, mercy not part of his voice at the moment. Griffith was steaming as well, but marched off, his steps purposefully loud and heavy from his rage. "Are you all right, Astrid?" asked Adam, laying a hand on my shoulder.
"Yes. Fine." Too many things had happened at once, and I was still faintly caught up in all of them. "What did the Captain say?" I asked.
"I could not persuade him to allow you to be given a tour for the place. He said it was not a duty for his men to show a woman around. Perhaps when my father comes back, he'll show you around." By his tone, he wasnot happy and I deemed everyone else noticed that as well, for Roland and his mates were silent and looking uneasily at each other. Adam certainly held quite a load of authority in his hands.
"What would cheer you up, Adam?" I asked, pulling him aside from Roland's friends. "It is your birthday and you were just positioned as a Lieutenant. Don't let that bastard or what he did make you worry. I would have punched him…"
"But you didn't, Astrid. Sometimes you think you can protect yourself, but you obviously cannot. And I am not always going to be right behind you to catch you when you fall." I gulped at what he said and it was if something pricked my finger, signaling that it would the beginning of a terrible end. Nonetheless, I continued on, hoping to prove him wrong, but Adam was too smart for me.
"If I had a sword I could have—"
"You would have killed him and would have gotten yourself in jail. Astrid, sometimes you are too naïve to handle things out here. Perhaps you are better off staying at home. Perhaps that is why they keep pretty girls like you at home." That felt worse than having a corset put on for the first time combined with the pain from being hit with the rod. My eyes burned from the water that would soon leak out of them, and I sent a weary look at him, but he only looked away. Adam, you've never hurt me. Why have you chosen to now? I swallowed hard and turned away as well, my hands clenched and my head down. After the first drop fell from my eye, I shook the rest away and walked firmly towards the gang plank.
"Astrid!" yelled Roland from behind. I didn't answer, and I wobbled down the wooden board anyway, too ashamed with myself to care.
"Let's go," I heard Adam order, and I only quickened my pace as I headed for the carriage because I did not want to listen to his comforting voice anymore.
I reached the carriage and hurriedly opened the door and hopped in, telling myself not to burst into tears when Adam walked into the same box. Roland was the first to come in after me and he looked at me, understanding what had happened, and said not a thing. Stephanie came in after him, and smiled reassuringly at me, but I couldn't accept the thought that things would mend. All I was wondering at that time was, "How long had he wanted to say that to me? How long had he tired of my naivety? And if it had been for some while, why had he bothered to return affection?" Lastly came Adam, and with eyes hooded away from my stare, he sat beside me. There was a jolt, and the carriage was off again, most likely to take Roland and me home, therefore ending our supposedly day long trip together short.
I had thought correctly, and Adam did direct the coach to my home, and as we stopped in front of the doors to the house, I quickly stepped out as soon as the footman opened the door. I knew I should have waited, for that was what a true lady would do, but I would always be a childish little girl inside. I knocked vigorously on the door to indicate to the doorman that my entrance was urgent, and he opened it with a concerned face, but I bothered him no longer and sped off to the gardens where I could find some peace.
From afar, I could hear the voices of my comrades speaking with Mum who had most likely been called down on account of my less than ordinary behavior. "May I have a word with your daughter?" I heard Adam say.Don't burden yourself with my idiocy anymore, Adam, I thought. I might make your brilliant mind stupid, considering how green I am.
"Of course, Adam," said Mum. "I think you know where to find her." There was nothing more said because I had busied myself not with their talk, but now to hide myself from anything that Adam could possibly say to me. Weaving aimlessly around the gardens trying to avoid his eye was a rather pointless thing to do, because in the end it never got me anywhere.
"Astrid!" he called distantly. I ignored it. "Astrid!" it came again. I still didn't listen, but oddly enough, it was getting louder. "Astrid!" Adam popped before me, catching be my surprise, literally. I would have shrieked but he caught me and muffled any whimpers I would have been giving off as I buried my face into his chest.
"W-Why d-did y-you c-c-come b-back?" I sobbed. .
"Because you clearly misinterpreted what I said on the ship. I'm sorry, Astrid. I was just… just a little mad because of Griffith."
"And that moved you to tell me I was naïve? I know I am a bit green, Adam, but you could have at least given me a chance to prove my worth." I pulled away from him, quieting my sobs.
"The things you assume will prove your worth, Astrid, may only hurt you more. You said you could have punched and beaten Griffith, and yet he caught your arm before you even had the chance. Men are sly and are certainly not stupid folk, especially Griffith. You have to learn to fight them back without acting all tough or letting them manipulate you. And with your looks, I fear that, with all the men after you, that you might think about even giving up your virtue."
"I'd never do that," I yelled. "What do you think I am, Adam?"
"Astrid, I didn't mean it in that type of way. It's just, I urge you to be more aware of your surroundings. You don't see the way other men look at you and therefore you are unsuspecting. Has your father ever told you of such dangers?" Keep a sharp eye. Daddy had said that to me before, and again, I ignored it. If I hadn't regained my bearings in the last moment, Collins would have had me, and at that memory I felt even more shame land on my shoulders.
"He has, but… I get too caught up in what I am doing that I…"
"Forget?" he finished. I nodded weakly, severely aware of what my empty-headedness could get me.
"I'm sorry," I said softly. It almost came out as a squeak. "Can… Can we still go out to town?" I asked timidly, fearing what he'd have to say. To my relief, he laughed his lighthearted laugh and I looked up at him, a smile gradually curving on my face.
"Of course, Astrid." I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a tight squeeze, and he replied by pressing his lips against mine in a kiss that said, "I forgive you."
We did in fact have an absolutely smashing time finishing our little trip around town. Coincidentally, we happened to run into Roland's small crew of villains again, and they appeared to be overjoyed to see us as well. Adam, Roland and the other boys all knew each other quite well. Adam had known Kenneth, Samuel and Timothy for they had all attended the local boys school in Port Royal. It was only Dobbin and Andre who had direct family in England, and Roland knew them better for they had been shipmates on the H.M.S. Paramount. Nonetheless, all of them happened to bond happily together, being young men with similar interests, and thankfully, made sure Stephanie and I were included in their talk.
"Your sister is courting this rascal here?" jeered Dobbin as he hooked his arm around Roland's scrawny neck and dug his fist into Roland's mess of brown hair. Stephanie giggled, hiding her teeth with her fan. Adam grinned, but said not a word. He knew what his business was and what was not.
"I suppose so," Stephanie said weakly, embarrassment getting the best of her. Her pasty face was already bright red.
"Well then, has he shown you any of his tricks?" Dobbin added with a laugh, releasing Roland from his iron grip. Looking back at Adam's sister, she wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion, seemingly unaware of what "tricks" Dobbin was speaking of. Roland gathered himself and sent Dobbin a jab in the ribs.
"Don't mind him, Stephanie. He's not much of a smart one, he is," laughed Roland, as Dobbin tried another swing at him. But the two were just fooling around like little wee boys, and my brother ducked his head just in time to avoid Dobbin's clutched fist.
"If ya know any betta, Miss Stephanie, you best stay away from Turner here." There came another rapid swish of an arm, its aim for a face, and it was followed by a few uncalled for curses and then some laughs. It surprised me how they never tired of the game. I would have. "He's nothin' but a no good bast—" Dobbin cut himself off as he and Roland continued to wrestle about, strangely still walking on the streets alongside Adam, me and his other companions. "—ard," he finished, giving Roland a shove, which happened to make him run straight into me. And therefore because I was pushed back, the fluctuation pushed Adam back as well.
"Would you stop that?" I snarled, ramming back into Roland so that he would hit Dobbin. "For God's sake you are all almost old enough to marry and you act like…" My voice trailed off. They weren't even listening to me and continued to playfully bash each other's heads in. Men. Both stupid and ensnaring at the same time.
"You sure attracted more than a dozen pairs of eyes towards ya when ya stepped on board the Valiant, Miss." That came from Andre, and I was surprised for it was the first thing he had said to me all day. The boy was a shy one, but at least he was not too degrading of himself to drift away from speaking.
"Newton," said Adam under his breath, and by the sound of it, it portrayed a warning.
"I mean no harm, Lieutenant," answered Andre. "Just pointing it out. That's all." Adam let the matter go, seeing that I only held on tighter to his arm. I took it that pleased him. "Bad luck to ya though if you caught Griffith's eye." I felt Adam's arm tense at the name, and even Roland and Dobbin stopped their horseplay. Kenneth's eyes were focused on Andre and so were everyone else's.
"Where is he from?" I asked, just out of curiosity. If this Griffith did indeed have a lust for me, then I'd like to know more about him before I gave him a broken nose.
"England, Miss Astrid," said Andre. "His father's quite a respected chap, but Griffith was his last son, and so he sent him off to join the Navy. Fancy that."
"The bastard should have stayed back in Britain if he knows what's good for 'im," brought in Dobbin, his gleeful voice turning hard.
"Why do you all hate him?" I asked, although I knew the reason would not be surprising at all. This Griffith happened to be a very powerful and pompous cove who used that authority to bend others to his will. At least, that was what I thought he would be.
"He was midshipman when he came aboard the Paramount," said Kenneth, taking part in this oh so important conversation of a young man they all seemed to hate. To be honest, I really wanted to see this Griffith again and obtain my own thorough examination of his coldhearted personality. "He liked to pick on the ship boys, mainly Roland. Sometimes Andre. Rarely Dobbin. Of course, I was midshipman on that ship also, but I didn't treat these lads as if they were just a pile of stinking horse shi—"
"You're getting off topic," I interrupted. Sailor talk would not be permitted in the innocent presence of Adam and his sister. For me, it was perfectly fine, but I did it out of propriety sake.
"Excuse me then," continued Kenneth. "The brute was just awful. He'd beat and kick the lads sometimes on the ship jus' 'cause they didn't deliver a message in less than ten seconds and he especially liked to pick on your brother, jus' 'cause he had a fancy to Miss Westley."
"Is that why you asked Stephen's help?" I inquired, whisking my head in the other direction to face Roland. He nodded shamefully. Tis perfectly fine, dear brother. I'll get that Griffith. Just you wait. "Go on," I said. Kenneth smiled, and the shimmer came in his grey eyes again.
"Well, we began to assume that Griffith had a fancy to the disposable Alexandra, and we were beggin' Roland to stop liking her so the two pieces of sod could stay together. But apparently, Griffith didn't like Alexandra, and she didn't like him. Which was strange because looking back on it now—"
"Stay on track, Murray," I said. The boy liked to talk a bit too much. At least he didn't talk so freely and abruptly like Dobbin. "I still haven't figured out who this Griffith is. You don't know yourselves for sure, do you?" There was silence after that. I was amazed that I could silence the pack of howling adolescent wolves, but their shut mouths were, for once, dreadfully haunting.
"No," said Adam, looking down at me. "Griffith's too proud to let anyone know who he is, but we hate him because of what he does to others. And I fear now, for what he may do to you." There Adam went again, with the warnings about how I was incapable of protecting myself. I shall show you one day, my love, that Astrid Turner can and will beat this Griffith into dust.
"Yeah. Griffith don't usually mingle with the women who hang about us," said Tim. "He wouldn't want to be caught among lowly seaman as he assumes us to be. So him comin' to you was strange and…"
"Suspicious," said all the boys at once. Wonderful Astrid. Another problem up your sleeve that has to do with a well-groomed, spoiled and heartless cad. I had had too many collisions with men like that. Matthew for example, way back when, and also Stephen. Not to mention a bucket full of other boys I was forced to dance with at those sickening parties.
"All right. You all hate Griffith, and he hates you back. But he pinched me and so I'm gonna get him back for it. Come on. We're going back to the Valiant and I am going to speak with this Griffith." Tugging on Adam's rigid and unwilling arm, I tried to drag the group back to the docks, but Roland had to squawk at me for my idiocy.
"Astrid, are you mad?" he yelled. "Griffith will have you stripped as soon as you dare to speak a word to him!"
"Let him try. Meet me at the harbor!" Eagerly, I let go of Adam's secure arm, and took off flying down the street. I could hear the boys yelling my name from behind trying to stop me, but no. Once I got going, there would be nothing that could stop me. Nothing. Nothing except…
Stephen Westley.
A corner was nearing as I gained speed down the street, and as soon as I made a sharp turn around its bend, I nearly collided into the heavy, muscled bodies of two gigantic horses. With a shriek, I ducked, covering my head with my arms and rolled under them, waiting for some crushing weight to fall on my head and end my life. Thankfully though, the pounding thuds of the horses' hooves and the rattle of the unsteady carriage wheels passed over me in a brief cloud of pandemonium, and I was able to open my eyes into a storm of brownish red dirt.
It hovered like mist around me, getting sucked up my nose and making me wheeze terribly. With a few coughs and a couple rubs on the eyes, I stumbled to my feet, still partly confounded by the encounter that could have killed me. I peered back at the carriage that nearly ran me over, and I saw that it had stopped, and people on the streets were postponing their errands to take the time to look at what had happened. The door to the black box on circles was opened and out came a black booted foot, and then… the rest of the well-built body of young Mister Westley. "Astrid!" he called, running up to me. The onlookers had still not returned to their business. His voice was echoed by the many calls of my name coming from the little band of boys and one petite girl running towards me. "Are you all right? What in the blazes were you doing, running straight into this coach?" He came up to me and gripped my shoulders in a tight, but still lenient grasp. I blinked away any dust that was still bugging the hell out of my eye before I looked fully at him and he did looked terribly concerned.
"I was in a hurry to get back at the docks," I mumbled, scratching my head. A few specks of dirt from the road shook off. Maggie will be furious when I get home. I dirtied such a lovely dress too. I can never do anything lady-like, can I? I wondered, while Stephen went on blabbing away about how I could have been killed by my rash and incautious action. He wasn't alone though. Adam and the others soon caught up and began to bombard me with worried and critical words. "I'm fine, all right!" I screamed, shutting them all up. "I see now that I could have died. But I'm still alive. So, if you can excuse me, I'd like to get going to the harbor. I have a very important matter to…"
"Attend to?" The sudden intrusion made us all gasp in unison, even me, for I felt an all too familiar hand place itself on my lower back. Perhaps too low. The bastard.
"Mind your own business, ya son of a bitch!" growled Dobbin. "Ya have no reason to be here, Griffith. Get back to the goddamn ship." Griffith removed his hand from my back and stepped into the center of attention with a very smug smirk on his face. As soon as he had his back turned, I sent him a very ferocious glare.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but listen to what all this tumult was about, and over a mere girl? It was most interesting, if you ask me," he snickered. Even his rich and mellow voice, despite how luring it was, sounded nauseatingly condescending.
"We didn't," hissed Adam. "Your orders were to stay on board the Valiant. The captain would be most displeased to hear of this."
"For your information, Lieutenant Locke," began Griffith, turning his head rigidly to the side to meet Adam's livid glare. "I already asked for permission from my captain to spend a time out in the town. What I think he'd be most displeased about, is this matter right here."
"What has happened here has nothing to do with your captain or his men," said Stephen firmly. Now it was a battle between the undeniably haughty. "I suggest you turn back and continue whatever you were doing before deciding to intrude on business that is not your own." Griffith's grin could not be ripped off his face no matter how hard one tried. Even imperious Stephen could not bend that smile.
"Stephen Westley," said Griffith, in the faintest mockery. "Your sister… how is she doing?"
"Ask her for yourself. She's in the carriage," replied Stephen tartly. Griffith's grin was now driving me insane. I had the urge to pull Adam's sword from its scabbard that hung rightly by his side and slice the lips off myself.
"I would, but…" his voice trailed off and he turned his head around to look at me. Bravely, I met his glare and I held my ground. To stare into those inexplicably blue eyes was not an easy task, for certainly it appeared as if he was trying to read your thoughts. "But I would like to have a word with Miss Turner." Even I was taken by surprise, for it was I who had originally planned on meeting him to have a word with him. Maybe the cad could read minds after all. "That is, if it is all right with her."
"Perfectly fine," I answered. "What say you gentleman? May we have one moment?" Adam turned his head swiftly in my direction, his face pinched in bewilderment. He must have thought me truly insane to agree to spending one disastrous moment with Griffith. Next to catch my eye was Stephen's equally worried visage, and his jaw trembled somewhat with the need to say, "I forbid it. I absolutely forbid it!" Roland just gawked at me, as did his companions. Except for Kenneth, who was not looking at me, but was sending a very threatening glower to Griffith. Stephanie herself was a bit uneasy with the situation, looking awkwardly back and forth, from face to face.
"One. One only, and it shall be your last," said Adam strictly. I realized then that his hand had been grasping the hilt of his sword for the whole entire time, and I beamed inside. To think that he would even use that blade to protect me.
"I am most grateful, Lieutenant," replied Griffith, though it was all too apparent that what he said was a lie. "Just a quick word and we shall be through." He took a step toward me and wrapped his arm around my waist again, much to my discomfort, and I heard a couple of snorts come from my loyal band of miscreants. Don't worry fellows and Stephanie. I'll take care of myself. I think…
Griffith escorted me away from the watching eyes of my friends to a street alley, where he only wrapped his arm around my abdomen even tighter. "What is it that you could possibly say to me?" I asked, not at all pleased with him touching me.
"Can I not have a word with the darling Astrid Turner?" he answered, chuckling lightly. Go ahead, ya bastard. Chuckle again and all your teeth will be knocked in. "I've heard much about you."
"From who?"
"Take a guess, Miss," he said, the same loathsome smirk on his face.
"Roland," I blurted out immediately, without even remembering how the two did not get along. Roland would never tell Griffith anything.
"No," he said, extending the "oh" sound. "Try again."
"I don't know," I scowled. "Alexandra? Stephen? Adam? Spit it out!"
"Miss Westley," he said, making my heart stop out of complete and utter abhorrence for him. The lad was in alliance with the wench! "And I know how you hate her so, Astrid. But there is no need to get angry. I don't like her much either. I merely entertained myself with her womanly presence on board the Paramount when I found nothing to do. She spoke to me about you. She failed to mention your beauty though." I laughed. I let out a big and fully staged laugh.
"Alexandra does not know me at all. All she knows is that I hate her, and she hates me back."
"I think it is a matter of jealousy, not hatred, Astrid," said Griffith, at last sliding his arm from my waist. I thought I was free, but he only let go so he could position himself directly in front of me, both his hands on my hips. Adam… kill this man please. I would, but I don't have a sword, I thought. "She is most envious of you." He neared me even closer, so that the space between us was now gone, and I could feel his own body against mine. Try anything and I will kick you between the legs. I swear it. I felt his hands leave my waist (finally), but my joy was miniscule and brief for he only lifted his hands to pull me in closer. So close so that his handsome face was but an inch from mine. Leaning forward, he rested the side of his face against mine and I could smell his hair, which I predicted to be doused in cologne. Carefully, he whispered into my ear. "She is especially covetous now that you have Adam. Sweet Adam, correct? Adam who loves you…" His voice seemed to drone on, and I was falling under his spell, just as I had under Stephen. Why? Why couldn't I ever resist? Before I knew it, he was brushing his lips against my ear, whispering things to me that I couldn't remember and talking about… I think… running off to his bunk on the ship. Ship… Ocean… which is where pirates roam… and Jack… Jack!
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" roared a voice just as I had escaped Griffith's spell through my recapturing of my dream to find Jack. Before I had the chance to punch Griffith for even daring to seduce me (which, he unfortunately managed to do… partly), I heard the ring of metal against scabbard, and I knew exactly what was going on. Swords were drawn. "Get your hands off her you vile, impudent philanderer!" Griffith nearly pushed me aside, thrilled with the challenge and unsheathed his own sword in the narrow street alley. Dear God. Astrid what the hell have you done!
"You really should mind your own business, Locke," growled Griffith through his teeth. "Not my fault the strumpet allowed me to tempt her."
"If I ever catch her with you again, I swear I will kill you, Griffith," hissed Adam, the tip his blade advancing. I was becoming very awkward with the situation, as if I should not be around to see the brawl that would break out because of me. Slowly, I inched myself away from the two, who began to circle each other, their flashing swords being used as an extension of their arms.
"I take that as a challenge, Locke. Just… one more thing." Although I was nearly free from their provoking circle of threats, Griffith seized my arm and pulled me to him. Very quickly he whispered into my ear.
"Courtesy of the soon-to-be suitor of the lovely Miss Westley," he cackled, before pushing me back and flying off down the alleyway. Hell's fire burned in my eyes, and a storm surged from me as I sped off in gaining speed to pound the boy into his grave.