The door opened, and Gabi poked her head into the room, giving her a sympathetic smile. “Are you all right?”
“I will be. I just need to be more careful. And I certainly need to work on my skills with the fan.” Her attempt at a jest fell flat.
“I am supposed to meet with Mr. Davis this morning in the park for a ride, but I can ask him to come here instead. We could keep you company.”
Vivian shook her head. “No, go ahead with your plans. I’ll be fine.” Gabrielle deserved to spend her free time with her beau. Gabi nodded and closed the door as she left.
Vivian straightened her shoulders and got out a few pages of parchment from the drawer of the desk. She would write to Captain Aston. He said he wanted to hear about her exploits in London. Well, she'd been racking them up. She had forgiven the captain for his behavior onboard not long after she arrived in London. It seemed silly to hold a grudge when they were so far apart. She would most likely never see him again. Perhaps her letters would never reach him, but it had been cathartic to write, nevertheless.
She dipped her quill in the inkpot and thought about how much she should say. She shrugged; might as well tell him the worst of it. That man could use a good laugh.
May 2, 1798
Dear Captain Jack,
So I have learned I need to improve my skills with a fan…
****
June 10, 1798
Dear Vivian,
You did the right thing by slapping that bastard. I would have done considerably worse to him had I been there as your protector. Don’t fret. Some new scandal will erupt at the next event. No one will remember the slap, except perhaps Grendel, who will no doubt know never to bother you again.
I am at home in Nassau and have begun the construction of my new house. Thanks to your sketches, the architect could discern exactly what I wanted. The building skeleton is up already, and the stone for the courtyard has been delivered. I am very excited to see it take shape-finally.
What sort of fountain should I have for the courtyard? The sculptor assures me he can carve any shape I want for the center.
Jack
****
July13, 1798
Dear Captain Jack,
The weather is still rainy, but with occasional days of sunshine. It’s finally warm enough to get out to walk in the park on days with sunshine. On these days I just stand in a sunny spot and lift my face, trying to soak up any meager warmth I can get. How I miss Nassau and my warm sandy beach. London is too crowded for my taste, although we have been sightseeing a bit. My favorite thing to do is go to the theater. The crowd is almost as fun to watch as the play itself.
The past few months, I have been poked and measured and discussed as if I am a pig to market. My new wardrobe is quite extensive. But you can’t imagine how many layers of clothing I am wearing. No wonder ladies need a maid to help them in and out of all these parts. Alas, my hair is still the bane of Molly’s (she is my lady’s maid) existence. She reminds me of how unruly the curls are every time I complain about how blasted long it takes to tame it into some fancy coiffure.
The balls and parties have been as glittering and extravagant as I expected, but I find myself feeling rather alone and out of place despite my fancy dress and appropriate jewelry. It’s like I am observing the scene from the other side of a glass partition at the zoo. I have been doing my best not to disappoint my aunts. Unfortunately, my faux pas seem unavoidable.
As for your fountain, I think perhaps a mermaid bursting up from the sea. Like the one on the front of your ship.
Yours,
Vivi
****
July 30, 1798
Dear Captain Jack,
We are repairing to Lady Evelyn’s manor house in Kent for the month of August. My aunts are banishing me to the country. What, you ask, did I do this time?
I may have punched a certain gentleman in the stomach after said gentlemen fondled my arse while standing behind me at the refreshment table. And I may have also said “you bloody bastard” to him in mixed company.
