Page 110 of Valour

Fliss shook her head, still staring out to sea, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Hess.”

24th April 1916, Elephant Island

Five days had passed.

Hester was lying awake in the tent, wrapped in Septimus’s arms. It was early, long before the rest of the crew were due to get up. The scrappy letter she’d penned last night rustled inside her sleeping bag. Her bag lay packed, the harpoon she’d taken from Orcus lying beside it at the edge of the tent. She took a deep breath, about to prise herself out of his arms, but he moved behind her. Hester shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep. He landed a soft kiss on her hair, and she heard a crunch of paper, then his footsteps leaving the tent.

What the Hell was he doing? She sat bolt upright and grabbed at the piece of paper he’d laid next to her. She unfolded it and read.

I know you will never forgive me for this, but eventually I saw no other option. Keeping you safe and well is my utmost priority. If I should not return, know that I love you to the deepest depths of the ocean. Take care of Sooty for me. S

The scheming son of a bitch!

Hester hurtled out of her sleeping bag, tore through the tent flaps and raced down to the shore. “How dare you?!” she cried, as Septimus, Frank and Alex hauled the Misfortune into the surf.

Septimus stopped, their eyes locking, his lips thinning.

“How dare you try to leave without me?” Hester waded into the water and dragged Septimus back to the beach.

Winston and Peggy, bags in hand, approached from their tents.

Septimus tucked a hand under Hester’s chin and forced her eyes up. “Hester, listen. This makes the most sense.”

“No.” Absolutely not. She would not allow it.

“Hester—what’s going on?” Winston asked. “I thought we were leaving. Why are they going?”

Septimus stilled. “It looks as if you were also trying to deceive me.”

Hester looked away, her cheeks blazing. “This is my fault. I should be the one who sails for South Georgia.”

Septimus sighed. “Stay here. Please.”

She balled her fists. “Absolutely not! I cannot believe this!”

“Lord above,” Septimus groaned, rubbing the furrow between his eyes. “You were attempting to do the same thing! Don’t deny it.”

Hester glowered, her face set in a snarl. “I will not back down on this. I’m going.” She could not risk him, not when she felt so deeply for him.

He brushed the hair from her face. “Then we go together.”

“We cannot go together. I refuse.” She dropped her voice. “Orcus will find us. I cannot control myself around you.”

“Let us face him together, if the need arises.”

The rest of the crew had crawled from their tents and stood looking warily between the pair. Fliss marched to Hester’s shoulder. “Let him go with you, Hess. I trust in you, but you stand more of a chance of getting to South Georgia if you both go.”

“Trust in the captain,” Arnold said, and the Valour’s crew repeated his words, “Trust in the captain.”

Charlotte stepped forwards and laid her hand on Hester’s shoulder. “You can face this journey. We have faith in you.”

Hester threw up her hands. This was utterly ridiculous. They didn’t know what they were talking about. “But you do not understand what lies in wait for me out there.”

“We face it together,” Septimus said.

“Valour in the face of fear.” Fliss rolled up her sleeve, the words inked there uncovered.

The rest of the crew followed suit, rolling their sleeves.