True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery Read Online Free PDF

one should be checking for her until the morning. She had left a note addressed to her parents on her pillow.
    She was on her way to having an adventure! Now the hard part. Talking her way onto the ship. She finished packing all her paper, canvas, oil pencils, paints, turpentine, rags, and charcoals. Her supplies took up two whole trunks. Dresses, boots, and aprons took up three more.
    She went to find Pedro to let him know one of the other servants would have to wait on Mama as she was taking Magdela with her. Pedro loaded her trunks onto a horse drawn cart. “Deliver the trunks to the HMS Devonshire, on behalf of Mr. Welch,” she said stressing the ‘Mr.’ “Here is a letter to hand to the boat docking master.”
    Magdela showed up carrying a bundle tied on the end of a stick, with a coat thrown over her arm.
    “Si, ready?”
    “Si.” Mary smiled as she waited for the groomsman to open the door to the waiting carriage that would transport her and Magdela to the soon departing ship.
    ***
    Aboard The HMS Devonshire that Morning
    “Randall,” Captain Graham called out to his first officer, “I have decided to plan our course for the coastline this afternoon. If M. Welch the painter doesn’t show up by this afternoon, please send an escort to bring him onboard, forcibly, if need be. Make sure his hands are not hurt, and he has all the necessary supplies for a month’s voyage brought onboard. I plan to leave shore at first light on the morrow. See to it he has his own room, and do not disturb me for any reason.”
    “Yes sir.”
    Captain Graham gestured for Randall to leave his state room, so he did.
    As Randall walked along the balustrade of the upper deck, he heard a commotion down on the dock. A woman’s voice was raised and she seemed to be arguing with the guard on duty. Randall hurried down to see what the commotion was.
    “Sir,” The guard was interrupted by the lady whose voice he’d heard from above.
    “Sir? Are you the captain? I’m here to see the captain. I demand to see him now.”
    She was young and beautiful. Raven black hair pulled up and decorated with her own tresses tied in a braid. He just stopped and stared. Her dress, a blue too bright and gaudy to have been worn back home in England suited her perfectly in this tropical paradise. A color less bright, would have looked austere. The material spoke of wealth, as did her demanding attitude. She reminded him of someone he knew well.
    “I have a letter from the captain insisting I report for duty.”
    The young soldier at his guard post tried to keep a straight face and almost succeeded.
    Randall himself had a hard time keeping the corners of his mouth down.
    “May I see the letter? I am Captain Bennett Graham’s First Officer, Randall Cullen. I may be able to help.”
    Mary held out the letter. Her hands were bare so her long delicate fingers were visible. A lone ring with a sizable stone adorned her right hand. A beautiful ornament on a lovely graceful woman.
    He read the letter. “You are M. Welch?”
    “Yes, I am. And I have brought my Chaperone, Ms. Magdela, to accompany me.”
    “You do understand we were under the impression M. Welch was a man. Of course, we will let you out of this contract, as now we realize you—” he looked her up and down, “are not.”
    “No, no! You are not getting out of this agreement so easily. I have brought a chaperone, and I am honor bound to use my artistic talent for the King.”
    At this the young soldier standing at attention guffawed out loud. Randall gave him a stern look and he fell back into his alert stone like stance.
    Randall reached out and took her by the elbow gently steering her out of the hearing of the young soldier.
    “May I be honest?”
    “But of course, as long as I may be honest back.”
    “Why on earth would a beautiful thing like you want to come on a ship full of barely tamed men? Where are your parents? We are to survey the coast in a dangerous area bursting with