Annabelle was so distracted by Lieutenant Bush that she had forgotten to go about her duties. When the time came for roll call, Annabelle couldn't help but stare down the line at the new lieutenant. It was only when he started to stare back, that Annabelle resumed her position. When Captain Sawyer passed by her, he looked down at her feet, and noticed that they hadn't been washed.
"Mr. Farleigh, I can see that not only you lack a proper admiration for work, but also for hygeine." said Captain Sawyer.
"I apologize for my feet, sir, but I thought it best to start my duties early, and had forgotten to-"
"Two evenings without supper." ordered Captain Sawyer.
Annabelle sighed. "Aye, sir."
Annabelle watched as Captain Sawyer proceeded down the line. She saw when he came to Lieutenant Bush, that they shared a brief conversation. Of course, Annabelle was unable to hear it from her place-in-line, but she knew that there was no pleasant words whenever it came to the captain.
That evening, Annabelle laid in her hammock, feeling the pangs from having to go without supper. Of course, Captain Sawyer had done worse, but Annabelle was beginning to believe that his behavior had reached another extreme.
"I've brought you a little something." said a voice.
Annabelle sat up and there stood Styles with a bowl of stew in his hand. She smiled and huddled her knees together; allowing Styles to sit with her in her hammock. He handed her the bowl, and she reluctantly began to eat.
"What if the Captain finds out?" asked Annabelle.
"Never mind him. I'd take a dozen lashings, if it meant keeping you well." said Styles.
"I sincerely hope that he wasn't too hard on Mr. Bush." said Annabelle.
"You've taken a liking to the lad, haven't you?"
"Well, he does seem friendly enough, and I'm certain that Mr. Buckland, Mr. Hornblower, and Mr. Kennedy can always use an extra hand."
"Mind your step, Annie. No matter what you feel, he is a lieutenant. If you ever tell him your secret..."
"Come now, Mr. Styles, I'm sure that this is nothing but an infatuation. It will pass quickly, just as it has before."
"Of course. You'd best finish your supper before someone finds us."
Annabelle looked up, and Styles could see that she was frightened. He turned around and saw Randall, a fellow seaman and enemy to Styles and Annabelle.
"Sneaking food, are we?" said Randall.
"I'm not ready to let him starve, Randall. He doesn't deserve this punishment." said Styles.
"Can't he defend himself? Or has he suddenly gone mute?"
"I find no joy in conversing with someone of poor character." said Annabelle.
"You talk more like a lady, than a sailor."
"Leave it alone, Randall!" shouted Styles.
"You just wait till the Captain gets word about this. You'll both be flogged, mark my words."
Randall walked away, and Styles was about to go after him, until Annabelle grabbed onto his arm.
"No, Mr. Styles. You'll only increase his anger, and then God only knows what will happen to you." said Annabelle.
Styles shrugged Annabelle off and then ran to catch up to Randall. He grabbed onto him and pulled him down the steps, before Randall could even make it to deck. Suddenly, he and Randall were pushing and punching one another. Annabelle tried to restrain Styles, but found to no avail.
Worried that the fight would turn violent, Annabelle rushed to deck and bumped into Matthews.
"Annie, what's gotten into you?" asked Matthews.
"It's Mr. Styles. He snuck me some food, and Randall found out. He tried to stop him from telling the captain, and now they've begun to fight." said Annabelle.
"Stay here." said Matthews.
Matthews went below deck, and Archie and Mr. Hornblower approached Annabelle.
"What's happened, Charles?" asked Archie.
"Randall and Styles are fighting. Matthews just left to sort it out." said Annabelle.
Mr. Hornblower rolled his eyes and went below deck, with Archie following close behind. Pretty soon, Annabelle couldn't tolerate waiting, and went to see if everything was all right. When she arrived, Mr. Hornblower and Archie were leaving and Styles was walking away from Randall. She went up to Styles, and saw that the top of his forehead was bleeding severely.
"Good God, did Mr. Randall do this to you?" asked Annabelle.
"He's done worse." said Styles.
"Shouldn't you allow Doctor Clive to treat your injuries?"
"I'll be all right."
"Thank you for defending me, Mr. Styles, but you must learn that I'm not this little girl that needs your protection. I can fight my own battles."
"Not if you're against Randall."
"Come on, let's get you to your hammock."
As Annabelle led Styles to his hammock; she saw Randall over her shoulder, staring at her and smiling. It was almost as if he knew something, that she didn't.