Passion's Tide Read Online Free PDF Page B

his face as he saw Amber . He regained his composure and smiled, taking her offered hand and kissing it . “This must be the beautiful Miss Townsend.”
    “Please, ca ll me Amber.”
    “Amber, then . Well, the crew and I are all thrilled that you will be joining us on our journey . I am Captain Henry Watson, at your service . ”
    “Watch out!” She jumped to the side as two burly men carried her second trunk past them and onto the ship, the poor driver lugging the third one behind him . Breathless, he reached them, letting it fall heavily.
    “Is there anything else you need, Miss Townsend ?” he asked her, panting between word s and inching backwards towards freedom.
    “No, that will be all, thank you . I’m sure the Captain can carry my last trunk for me,” she said, turning towards him.
    He cleared his throat . “But of course I can, Miss Town…Amber . If you would like to go ahead of me, I think we’ll be ready to set sail within the hour.” With a slight curtsy she turned and headed up the gangplank, aware that his eyes were following her .
    “How are you faring, Captain Watson?” she asked as she glanced over her shoulder . He tried to smile at her, but his teeth were clenched and the result was a half grimace, half grin that made Amber snicker behind her hand.
    “Light as a feather!” h e wheezed, reaching the top of the ramp . He struggled to rest it squarely on the deck, a process that had him on his knees and leaning over, ba lancing the trunk with his other hand . He pulled himself to his feet and wiped his hands on his breeches . “If I may say, those must be some heavy dresses, Miss Townsend.”
    “Those aren’t dresses, Captain. Those are my books.”
    He looked down at the trunk he had just wrestled to the ground, then back at her . “Books?”
    “Yes, books . You know, Shakespeare, Plato, Homer, Aristotle? You can read, can’t you Captain?”
    “Of course I can, but—” he stopped as he noticed her teasing smile . “I think you are going to be a much needed breath of fresh air aboard this ship, Miss Townsend . How about I show you to your quarters?”
    She agreed, and he began looking around for a new victim to carry the trunks .
    All of a sudden, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she spun around . A tall , skinny man with stringy brown hair stood with his legs planted and his arms crossed on his chest, glaring at her . His eyes were so dark they almost looked black, and they bore into hers with surprising animosity . She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder, comfort ed only slightly as she realized it was just the Captain . He followed her gaze .
    “Ah, I see you’ve noticed my first mate, Lyle . His personality leaves something to be desired, but the men work harder under him than any other officer I’ve ever seen.” Amber didn’t doubt it, wincing as the Captain called out to the hostile looking man . “Lyle, don’t just stand there gaping. Either come say hello to Miss Townsend or make yourself useful.”
    Lyle blinked, as though taken off guard by the command, then pushed a strand of hair from his eyes and smiled, a cruel leer that made Amber want to bathe herself thoroughly, as if cleaning her skin would rid the feeling of being watched by such a malicious man . Instead, she repressed a shudder as he walked away and allowed the Captain to take her arm and lead her towards the stern of the ship . He stopped and opened a hatch on the floor, then turned and descended the narrow stairs . Amber climbed down after him, ignoring the hand that he offered, and looked around .
    “To your left is the doorway that leads to the orlop, which is where the men sleep and eat . If you go down a second flight you’ll find yourself in the hold, where we store everything.”
    “Where will you be sleeping?”
    “I will be sleeping in Lyle’s quarters for this voyage . Can’t say he’s too happy to be displaced, either. But here is where you will be staying,” he