She slept well for the first time since they'd set sail. On awakening she gently stretched her limbs feeling the tender muscles stretch. She winced at the pain from her battered and newly exercised legs. Her shoulder, however, felt much better. It only felt just a little tender. She smiled at the irony of it.
"No more than all the other bruises I've got I suppose!" she chuckled dryly.
She had only just focused on trying to remember where she knew Mr. Smith from when she heard the thumping of footsteps. She felt some trepidation wondering who it might be. It could be Mr. Smith with his familiar face and his cheerful young assistant. That would be nice. On the other hand, it could be that waste of skin Blakeney. She growled and hoped it was the former.
The door opened slowly and the light once more temporarily blinded her. Even before she noticed the size of the silhouette in the doorway she knew it was her friends. The door didn't bang and there were no foul words hurled at her.
"We've come back!" he skipped in and set the lantern behind her as she blinked to adjust to the brightness.
"So you have." Her smile was genuine albeit a little crooked as she didn't want to open the split again.
After she had supped on stale bread soaked in weak broth they helped her to once more walk about. She found if she placed her weight upon her heels and the sides of her feet she could manage with almost no help. After walking twice around the room, she was settled once more upon her blanket. As much as she'd like to keep moving about she was tired.
She did not wish to lie flat again but she couldn't sit up yet by herself. Bending in the middle was still too difficult. Perhaps she could lean on the wall...She turned to find Mr. Smith stepping close and reaching for her waist.
"Nonsense. You can lean on me." His tone brooked no argument.
She was surprised she had spoken aloud but even more surprised when he lifted her to his arms as though she were weightless and set her down near the wall. He settled against the wall and stretched out his legs with a sigh. The he reached out to pull her to him. She wasn't even embarrassed to be held by him. A shadow crossed them and she looked up.
The boy rocked on his heels with his hands behind his back and a broad grin on his face. He stepped forward and held out his hand. When she realized what the silver flash in his palm actually was her eyes teared up.
"I am so grateful. I don't know what to say. It was sweet of you to think of it. I" she touched her hair suddenly self-conscious, "I thank you most sincerely."
His blush was bright as was the smile that beamed from his cherub face.
"I'll brush your hair for you, Miss." He said shyly "Since your arm was hurt and all."
"I—" she ended in a startled yelp.
Mr. Smith lifted her onto his lap. He supported her back with his arm and smiled at her.
"Over her Boy." He nodded.
The boy grinned and knelt behind her.
"It's alright Miss." He said as he stroked the brush gently on her hair. "I used to brush my sister's hair. Bitsy couldn't do for herself so I done it for her. I know how to do it so it won't hurt you none."
Then he patiently brushed the tangles from her hair. As he did so she felt very much comforted by their presence. In this dark place in her life the Lord saw fit to send her not one, but two friends. She could not have dreamt two such perfectly flawed champions. She sighed and relaxed. She never knew when her head settled against his shoulder or when she drifted to sleep.
YOU ARE READING
The Charlotte Series: Book 1: The Pirate's Treasure
Historical FictionRunning from a painful past and seeking solace in the anonymity of the sea Lord James Grayson vows never to love again. Millicent lives under constant threat from an abusive father until he sells her to a brutal pirate to settle his debt. Treach...