Phew, I'm so sorry for the long break between posting! I'm trying to finally finish out this story this summer, so be sure to keep checking back here for updates since FFN is iffy again.

Endless thank yous to Mel for her beta work!

TWENTY-FOUR

Our passage is resumed, and it seems that the repairs done to the ship will in fact be enough to get us by. It is little comfort, though, for I am still holding the stupidity of my actions to heart.

I should have known that the piratess was poisoning my mind, removing my clarity as I sought to only focus on revenge. I wanted to hurt her, and with that singular thought in my mind, I left myself vulnerable.

And now, I must pay the price for my recklessness.

The work of a swabbie is grueling, but unfortunately, nothing I'm not accustomed to.

Loyal Jasper never lets me do the work alone, and it becomes another vow in my heart that one day, I shall make all this up to him.

I do not see the piratess much the days after my failed attempt at revenge. She is busy, it would seem, and I am no longer invited into the Captain's quarters for meetings.

I do see the young Miss Brandon, and though it takes me nearly two days to find the opportunity, I go to her as soon as I'm able, guilt pushing me to make things right.

"Miss Brandon," I call to her, wanting to alert her to my presence gently. She's leaning against the port side, her hands braced on the railing. I can see her gaze leave the shoreline and slide toward me. She swallows hard as her eyes focus on me.

"Captain," she says soberly.

Guilt wrenches my gut.

"Miss Brandon," I start, unable to form adequate enough words for how sorry I am. "I owe you perhaps one thousand and one apologies," I say, reaching up to remove my hat. "It was never my intention to bring harm or distress to you, and I regret that my path of revenge led me to do so."

The young woman studies me, her eyes boring through me as if to see into my mind.

Finally, she nods. "I know," she says gently. "You're desperate to get Bella. It's made you blind."

The wind rushes from me, like a storm dying out of sails. I sag against the railing, my hand tugging at my hair.

"Aye," I agree, because she's right. I am blind by my revenge.

"I forgive you, Captain," she says softly.

I don't deserve her forgiveness, but I am grateful for it nonetheless. "You are too gracious," I tell her quietly.

Miss Brandon offers me a very small smile. "Well," she says, glancing back at the shoreline. "It was your man who saved me in the end, was it not?"

I stare at her. Her cheeks are flushed bright pink as she speaks of Jasper. Is she fond of him? When have they had the time to speak? Or is she merely enamored with her rescuer?

I'm not sure, but I decide to keep an eye out for further insight into what might be happening between the two of them.

Instead of pressing the issue more, I turn to look out at the shoreline. We've stuck close, needing the shore and further repairs accessible in case anything more should happen. I'm told we're sailing south around the coast of Africa. I haven't the faintest idea of where we are, having never been this far southeast in my life.

But from the ship, the land is bright and rich, tempting with swaths of lush jungle and golden sand.

"Have you ever been to Africa?" Alice asks beside me.

I glance at her, shaking my head. "No. Have you?"

Alice gazes out at the rich jungle we can see along the shore. "I was born here."

I'm surprised by this, and I turn to take her in. She is so fair, paler than anyone on a ship ought to be. Could she really come from Africa, where people are born with skin of rich browns?

Before I can ask more, Alice continues.

"My parents were scientists, employed to conduct research in rich jungles," she said slowly. "Mother had me while they were working there. I was delivered by a medicine woman in a village in the Congo."

I try to wrap my head around such a start in life. To be born in a jungle, so far from European life.

"How did…" I swallow hard. "Isabella," I say her name, unable to hide my disdain. "Find you to bring you to Nassau?"

Alice looks at me and smiles.

"I'm not the only one with secrets, Captain," she says gently. "How I met Isabella is a story you are not yet ready to hear."

I roll my eyes. "And why is that?" I ask, frustrated.

Alice straightens up, leaning away from the railing. "Because you still think you hate her."

Before I can correct Alice, that I undeniably do hate the piratess, she's smiling at me and walking away, leaving me frustrated against the rails of the ship.