“Very much so.”
“Well, I already have a very competent first mate—”
“I was not thinking of anything quite so high ranking,” he assured her, brushing back the hair from his temples.
“On the other end of rank then, I have a very competent cabin boy.” She laughed. “Except for his inability to draw me a hot bath.”
“Perhaps I could be of service there?” he suggested a little too innocently.
“Oh, no!” she answered quickly. “I know what that look in your eye means. I might need Peach’s tepid baths if I am going to get any work done.” She jumped out of her chair as he reached for her hand. In a few quick strides she was at the door. She opened it, bowing low and motioning him out with a graceful sweep of her arm. “You’ll just have to find a niche for yourself somewhere between the two ends. My men will be pleased to help you. Feel free to come to me with any questions you have concerning this ship.”
Cloud slipped out the door in front of her, but not before he whispered, “Don’t forget to let me know when the effect of the drug wears thin.”
Alexis muttered ineffectual curses under her breath and followed him through the companionway, braiding her hair as she went. Once on deck, she motioned to Jordan to come to her and formally introduced Cloud. She was satisfied when the two men seemed to like each other at once and exchanged firm handshakes. How different it had been at their first meeting.
“Captain Cloud is at your disposal, Mr. Jordan,” she told him. “He wants to join our crew.”
“I don’t think the title is necessary or accurate any longer,” Cloud reminded her, grinning. “Cloud will do just fine.”
“Tanner would be better,” she said quickly, thinking she could not bear to hear anyone give him orders by the name she had always thought of as so intimate. She was not ready for that just yet.
“Tanner, then,” Jordan repeated. “Welcome aboardDark Lady.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jordan. Do you think I might be able to get some clothes like the rest of the crew? This uniform is a bit out of place.” He saw Alexis wince at his request. He understood her reluctance to see him physically stripped of his command but he would not withdraw his request.
“I’ll see what I can do.” He turned to Alexis and noted her discomfort but could not name the reason. “Will there be anything else, Captain?”
Alexis composed herself. “One item before I leave him in your hands. Tanner has explained to me that his crew was correct in their information about Howe. He can tell you the details later. I want to know if there is anyone in Charleston you can trust with the delivery of letters to the President and Tanner’s sister in Boston? I am willing to pay very well to see the letters reach their destination.”
Jordan only had to think a few seconds before he brightened. “David Hastings is the one you want. He’ll do it and you can trust him not to read the contents.”
“Will you be able to find Mr. Hastings once we get to Charleston?”
“Finding him won’t be half as hard as getting past the British into port.”
Alexis laughed. “Then it’s settled. We’ll manage the blockade. Tanner will have the letters for you by the time we reach Charleston and I’ll have the money. You can take our new man on a tour. And, Mr. Jordan, you may want to introduce him to Peters and Allan Wilkes. They’ve exchanged a few things but I don’t believe words were among them.” Alexis left them alone and went to the quarterdeck to make course adjustments.
Cloud stared after her. “I suppose Peters and Wilkes are the men she foisted on me last night.”
“The same,” he chuckled. “C’mon. You’ll get the grand tour and then I’ll put you to work.”
Cloud followed Jordan’s lead and soon he was acquainted with the vessel as well as how Alexis ran it. He was impressed with the accommodations she had for her crew. Their quarters were larger than most men were accustomed to and the bunks actually looked comfortable. The larders were well stocked from theDark Lady’svoyage to Tortola and not with the usual fare one expected to find on a ship.
Jordan saw Cloud’s eyebrows and he answered the unasked questions. “When Captain Danty had this ship gone over she knew she was asking the men to be away from their families longer than they ever had been when they’d worked for her father. She insisted they be quartered well, fed well, and paid well. For these reasons as well as others she got her crew.”
“The British could learn something from her.”
“The Americans, too, although our men have it a little better.”
Cloud nodded. “You carry cargo?”
“Some. This way. I’ll show you.” Jordan led him into the hold and showed him the cargo of rich silks, linens, and cottons. “We picked this up in London and got rid of a load of rum. The profits pay for Captain Danty’s voyage. None of the other ships on the line provide us with any money. They’re used occasionally to pass information. This particular cargo we were going to sell in the islands. Bad weather took us off course and the captain was going to get rid of it in New Orleans. Never did though. Seems even simple merchant vessels aren’t safe these days.”
Cloud could not miss Jordan’s pointed sarcasm. He laughed and motioned toward the wall, to a door partially hidden by some crates. “I’ll wager a month’s pay that whatever is beyond that door will make a liar out of you naming this ship a simple merchant.”
Jordan grinned. “Very good. I won’t take the wager.” They removed the crates and Jordan opened the door, placing the lantern he carried outside the room. “This is the reason we don’t take kindly to boarders,” he said as Cloud stepped in.
“My God!” was all he could say while his eyes scanned the contents of the compartment There were barrels of gunpowder, muskets, pistols of every description, and cannons on dollies so they could replace damaged ones with little time lost. The size of their cache amazed him.
