When she finally came to, Alice had a heavy gauze bandage on her head. She was lying on a leather couch, wrapped in what she assumed was a blanket. On further inspection, she realized it was the Captain’s coat. Unsure what to do, she just laid there for a while, absorbing yesterday’s events.
After some time, she pushed herself up on her elbows. He whole body felt achy, especially her stomach, which adopted a brilliant purple hue. The bandage was scarlet red, but fortunately the bleeding had stopped. Satisfied with the inventory of her body, she swung herself into a seated position, wanting to do an inventory of the room she was in. She recognized the space from her first day at sea; it was the Captain’s cabin. Although she had just taken a glance at it when she first introduced here and was assignee to her quarters, she now inspected it more thoroughly.
The ceiling was high and arched made of curved wood. To her side was a heavy oak desk, an unlit kerosene lamp resting on top of it. Behind it was a pompous leather chair and two massive bookshelves, each packed to capacity with leather bound novels. Placing her predicament to the back of her mind for a moment, Alice carefully stood up and made her way to the bookshelf, dragging the coat behind her. She reached out and plucked a book from the shelf, splaying it open on the table. Frustrated, she grabbed another and did the same. And another. And another. She did this until she exhausted all her energy. Much to her disappointment, all of the books were blank.
To her left was an open door. She entered the small room cautiously, the coat now over her shoulders. She was obviously shorter than its owner, as the back of it dragged the floor. The room contained a simple, neatly tucked bed, another extinguished kerosene lamp on the nightstand, and a few shelves where clothing and decorations were stored. What really caught Alice’s attention, though, was the stack of books beside the bed. Unlike those on the shelf, the pages looked yellow and well worn, as if they had been read over and over again.
She picked the topmost book off the pile, and much to her delight it had words. Treating it tenderly, she opened to the first page, determined to skim it a bit before returning it back to its proper place. On the fifth page she became fully engrossed in the novel, losing track of time and place. The novel, titled Arrogance and Prejudgment absorbed Alice so much that she didn't notice the dark figure approaching behind her.
“What are you doing here, exactly?” calmly said the man.
Alice was so startled that she dropped the book. She sharply turned, and was within a couple inches of whom she recognized as the Captain of the ship. He was casually dressed, with a loose fitting long sleeve shirt the color of ivory, and simple black pants tucked into his boots. The lacing on the top was loosely done, and she could see the hollow of his clavicle.
She blushed fiercely from embarrassment of being caught rummaging through his belongings.
Looking at the floor, she answered him honestly, “I was just looking around when the books caught my eye.”
She expected to get chastised, or maybe even worse, but instead the Captain said, “I brought you food and drink,” bringing the platter down from where he initial raised it to avoid her having bumped into it when she swung around so wildly.
Alice awkwardly curtseyed, and then sensing the unnatural silence, she said, “These books are lovely; I’m surprised you know how to read.” The comment came out with more snark than she had intended, and Alice realized that she was feeling embarrassed in front of a pirate, a lowly criminal, and not only that but she had curtsied in front of him.
“Oh, you are mistaken,” he said sarcastically, “I don’t know how to read, I just prefer to stare at the pages.”
Alice felt as if she was turning the same color as the bandage of on her head. She did not enjoy being mocked, not by someone so uncultured, so dastardly, so common.
She took the tray from his hands, and looked toward the doorway back to the main cabin. By coming in, the Captain was blocking most of the doorway, and he knew it, enjoying her mild discomfort. She glared at him and he sidestepped out of the way to let her pass. Alice was positive that he was smirking.
Unceremoniously, she plopped down on the couch. The Captain followed her out, and settled into his desk to review letters and study maps. He used a small penknife to carefully cut the envelopes open, and once reading their contents, he made thoughtful replies. She found herself looking at him, and realized her was a lot younger that she had initially thought.
His hair was dark and loosely curled, his jawline sharp and well defined. His built was that of a trained swordsman, and his skin was lightly tanned. The color of his eyes was strikingly green, which she noticed when he looked up while she was studying his long eyelashes.
Embarrassed for the third time in the span of just minutes, Alice returned to her food. Only then had she realized how hungry she was. Annoyed with the lack of proper utensils, she used her bread to soap up the stew. Within a short period of time, she had finished her meal, and drank it down with what she recognized as very watered down beer.
She did not know where to lay her eyes, so she anxiously observed the ceiling. After what seemed like an eternity, the Captain pushed his seat back and rose up, making his way to the bedchamber. He eyed the crumpled bundle of fabric that lay on the floor.
“I see that you have swept the floor with my coat,” he remarked. He picked up both book and coat, and made his way to Alice. She was suddenly aware of the acute danger she was in, had she not realized it before. Alice did not know who this man was, or his inventions, but there was something intimidating about him.
He approached Alice, and she backed up into the couch. Extending his hand, he offered her the book she had been reading earlier. Cautiously, she took it from him and muttered some semblance of thanks.
The Captain turned around and headed for the exit, dusting of his jacket along the way, and putting it on. When he reached the doorframe he paused, “I advise you to stay here and get some rest. If you run I wont stop you, but as you well know some of the other men aren’t exactly as civil as I am.” With that remark her turned and left.
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