background, to understand fully
what Jamaica represented. But even now, when her personal request to him might
have opened this door for inquiry, his strong sense of honor would not allow
it. Captain Knight looked in admiration at the proud, stubborn young woman
before him. He rose to his feet and moved to where Catherine stood in anxious
expectation. She trembled as he drew near; her head hung low to shield herself
from what she expected would be a rather curt dismissal of both her and her
request. To Catherine’s great surprise, Captain Knight did not speak but reached
out instead, capturing her two hands in his own. She felt the warmth and
strength of his long fingers envelop hers and a tingling sensation like fire
raced through her body at the contact. Catherine remained with head bent low,
her eyes starring in wonderment at the spectacle of her hands captured in those
of the captain’s. With great gentleness, Captain Knight raised his hand to the
soft line of her jaw and tilted her face upward until her blue eyes were caught
and held by the light of his own. Catherine’s heart hammered in her chest at
the closeness and unexpected intimacy of the moment. Anxiously she searched his
normally stern face, still certain that her request was to be dismissed as
childish fancy. Instead, Catherine was astonished to find Knight’s features lit
with warmth and kindness. His fingers brushed against her cheek softly as he
spoke; “You have my word, Miss Gibson that I will help. I am yours to command
in this matter.”
Words failed Catherine as she stood
locked in his gaze, unspeaking. After a long moment, Captain Knight gently
released his hold on Catherine, but his smoldering eyes never left her face.
Freed from their close contact, Catherine took a step away and attempted to regain
some semblance of order over her thoughts. “You….you agree to help me?” she
stammered questioningly; “You accept my proposal?” Captain Knight replied with
a broad smile; “I believe that is what I said, Miss Gibson.” A look of sheer
delight came into Catherine’s face, her eyes glittering like jewels: “Captain
Knight, you are most generous” she said earnestly as she starred into the warm
depths of his dark eyes “I shall never forget your kindness.”
“I believe the kindness is all yours,
Miss Gibson” Knight replied quietly. “Leave the matter with me and I will let
you know when I have some response to your request. Now, if you will excuse me,
Miss Gibson, I am afraid I must return to ship’s business.” Catherine nodded
her agreement and moved to the door of the cabin, reeling slightly at the
unexpected turn the interview had taken. At the threshold, Catherine paused,
elated by her success but shaken as well by the intimate turn the interview had
taken. She turned and gave Knight a polite bow but retreated before her eyes could
meet his once more.
The door closed firmly behind
Catherine. For a long moment after, the captain continued to stare at the place
where the young woman had just been. At length Knight returned to his maps but the
meaning of their contours and symbols long evaded him; his mind was too
occupied by other, troubling thoughts.
Chapter IX
The buoyant mood Catherine felt that
morning carried through the rest of the day. The world seemed a better place
all round and Catherine fairly danced as she went about her usual rituals onboard
ship. It was not until the afternoon was drawing to a close that her attention
was finally caught by the hurried preparations that many of the crew seemed to
be making. Catherine located her uncle near the mizzen mast and moved to his
side. “What can be afoot, Uncle?” she asked; “The crew seem in a great hurry?”
Lieutenant Matthews turned to his niece and gave her a solemn look: “The
weather glass has been dropping all day. I’m afraid we are in for a bit of a
storm, Catherine.” A look of concern crossed Catherine’s face: “Will it be
bad?” Catherine asked
what Jamaica represented. But even now, when her personal request to him might
have opened this door for inquiry, his strong sense of honor would not allow
it. Captain Knight looked in admiration at the proud, stubborn young woman
before him. He rose to his feet and moved to where Catherine stood in anxious
expectation. She trembled as he drew near; her head hung low to shield herself
from what she expected would be a rather curt dismissal of both her and her
request. To Catherine’s great surprise, Captain Knight did not speak but reached
out instead, capturing her two hands in his own. She felt the warmth and
strength of his long fingers envelop hers and a tingling sensation like fire
raced through her body at the contact. Catherine remained with head bent low,
her eyes starring in wonderment at the spectacle of her hands captured in those
of the captain’s. With great gentleness, Captain Knight raised his hand to the
soft line of her jaw and tilted her face upward until her blue eyes were caught
and held by the light of his own. Catherine’s heart hammered in her chest at
the closeness and unexpected intimacy of the moment. Anxiously she searched his
normally stern face, still certain that her request was to be dismissed as
childish fancy. Instead, Catherine was astonished to find Knight’s features lit
with warmth and kindness. His fingers brushed against her cheek softly as he
spoke; “You have my word, Miss Gibson that I will help. I am yours to command
in this matter.”
Words failed Catherine as she stood
locked in his gaze, unspeaking. After a long moment, Captain Knight gently
released his hold on Catherine, but his smoldering eyes never left her face.
Freed from their close contact, Catherine took a step away and attempted to regain
some semblance of order over her thoughts. “You….you agree to help me?” she
stammered questioningly; “You accept my proposal?” Captain Knight replied with
a broad smile; “I believe that is what I said, Miss Gibson.” A look of sheer
delight came into Catherine’s face, her eyes glittering like jewels: “Captain
Knight, you are most generous” she said earnestly as she starred into the warm
depths of his dark eyes “I shall never forget your kindness.”
“I believe the kindness is all yours,
Miss Gibson” Knight replied quietly. “Leave the matter with me and I will let
you know when I have some response to your request. Now, if you will excuse me,
Miss Gibson, I am afraid I must return to ship’s business.” Catherine nodded
her agreement and moved to the door of the cabin, reeling slightly at the
unexpected turn the interview had taken. At the threshold, Catherine paused,
elated by her success but shaken as well by the intimate turn the interview had
taken. She turned and gave Knight a polite bow but retreated before her eyes could
meet his once more.
The door closed firmly behind
Catherine. For a long moment after, the captain continued to stare at the place
where the young woman had just been. At length Knight returned to his maps but the
meaning of their contours and symbols long evaded him; his mind was too
occupied by other, troubling thoughts.
Chapter IX
The buoyant mood Catherine felt that
morning carried through the rest of the day. The world seemed a better place
all round and Catherine fairly danced as she went about her usual rituals onboard
ship. It was not until the afternoon was drawing to a close that her attention
was finally caught by the hurried preparations that many of the crew seemed to
be making. Catherine located her uncle near the mizzen mast and moved to his
side. “What can be afoot, Uncle?” she asked; “The crew seem in a great hurry?”
Lieutenant Matthews turned to his niece and gave her a solemn look: “The
weather glass has been dropping all day. I’m afraid we are in for a bit of a
storm, Catherine.” A look of concern crossed Catherine’s face: “Will it be
bad?” Catherine asked
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