Storm Tide by Wilbur Smith

Author:Wilbur Smith [Smith, Wilbur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zaffre Publishing

R

ob woke late next morning. The welts Sophie had left throbbed on his back. He had to wait until the midshipmen had gone on deck before he rolled out of his cot for fear they would see the marks. He pulled on his shirt quickly, still smarting with the memory of it. Yet when he went on deck, Sophie was in her usual seat under the awning, working at her embroidery under Crow’s watchful gaze. Rob tipped his hat to her but she pretended not to notice.

‘What does she mean by it?’ he thought in anguish. Angus noticed it, too.

‘Have you done something to upset Miss Bracewell?’

Rob tried to keep an impassive face, but he was not old enough to keep from blushing. Angus saw it in an instant.

‘You had her,’ Angus deduced. ‘You canny devil.’

‘But this morning she will not look at me.’

Angus burst into laughter at the sorry look on Rob’s face.

‘She’s testing you,’ he explained. ‘She does not want you to think you can have her too easy.’

Two can play at that game, Rob thought.

For the rest of the morning, he acted as if Sophie did not exist. He kept his attention on his men, taking unusual interest in their work. When he had to cross the quarterdeck, he gave Sophie a wide berth. It took an enormous effort of will not to look at her. Visions of the night before kept forcing themselves in front of his eyes. He didn’t dare glance to see if his behaviour was having an effect on her. He knew her catlike instinct would catch him in an instant.

A warm breeze came up in the afternoon. Sophie’s nimble hands worked deftly at her embroidery. Suddenly, she gave a cry. She had pricked her finger on her needle, and in her surprise she had let go of the embroidery. The wind lifted it from her lap and blew it over the rail.

Before it disappeared into the ocean, a firm hand snatched it out of mid-air. Coyningham crossed the deck and handed it back to Sophie. He bowed.

Sophie looked at him, eyes shining with gratitude. She held the fabric to her bosom.

‘Thank you,’ she breathed. ‘I have spent so many hours at this, I would have been quite desolate to lose it now. Truly, love conquers all.’

Coyningham flushed. ‘I beg your pardon?’

Sophie smoothed out the embroidery and held it up. Stitched across the centre was the Latin motto Amor Vincit Omnia: Love conquers all.

A sickly smile spread over Coyningham’s face.

‘I am glad I could be of service.’

There was still a drop of blood on Sophie’s finger. She put it in her mouth and sucked the fingertip, rolling it around between her moist lips.

‘You can be sure of my gratitude, Lieutenant.’

Tew’s voice interrupted their moment. ‘If you are finished, Lieutenant, it is past time for exercising the guns.’

Coyningham tipped his hat and bowed again. As he passed Rob, he shot him a look of triumph.

‘Do not get ideas above your station,’ he said.

That night, Rob went to the rope store again.

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