The Silent Thief

XIX

XIX

       “Jake, what happened to you?” I asked taking the shirt from his hands.

John rushed to another room and came back with a fresh cloth. “Your lip is busted,” he stated calmly handing Jake the cloth.

“Thank you. Let me take a seat and I’ll explain everything,” Jake muttered through his already swollen mouth.

“I think it best you don’t, Jake. You can barely talk. Seems like you took a nasty hit in the mouth,” I said examining him.

“In the morn then,” said my father helping Jake to his room.

When he came back, I asked him, “So we’re in a hotel?”

My father answered in an African accent, “Yes, ‘the best hotel in this small African town’, said the townsmen.”

I laughed then immediately yawned. “Is it late?”

“I suppose so. You woke up a couple hours before sunset and it’s been a while since then. Get some sleep, Grace.” My father came over and kissed my forehead. He began to walk away but I grabbed his arm.

“Can you stay with me?” I asked. I felt lonely now that I wasn’t on a ship crowded with a hundred British men.

He nodded, “Yes, dear. Let me first go and order your mask at the blacksmith’s shop. Hopefully he’ll be able to buy you a hood.”

I was satisfied with that and after pulling over the shirt Jake brought me, I fell asleep quickly.

*******

       “Wake up you sleepy, little, boyish, girl! Sleeping all day are we now? The Captain will be here in twenty minutes time. You should be glad I already got some feminine clothes for you to wear on your romantic date with Captain James.” Jake would’ve kept on babbling if I hadn’t had jumped out of bed yelling for him to shut up and get out.

“I need to get dressed you blonde headed, annoying, skinny, rich boy!”

He laughed and ran out of the room before I could throw something at him. My father was not in the room. I sighed thinking to myself, I’ll find him later. I picked up the clothes he left for me and scoffed. A dress. I could not recall the last time I wore one. Beside it lay an undergarment item I saw frequently in Spain. All of the women wore it, except for me of course. The undergarment would tighten my waist and push up my breasts making them look rather large. How ridiculous! I thought, I will not wear this.

Jake called from behind the bedroom door as if knowing what I was thinking, “If you truly want to distract the Captain for the whole day, I suggest you wear it.”

I sighed. Was my identity really that important? I answered my own question by stripping off my clothes and pulling on the very uncomfortable garments. I heard a knock at the door and asked, “Who is it?”

Jake answered, “I’ve called for some ladies to come and pamper your face so the Captain won’t gag at the sight of you.”

I walked to the door and quickly opened it. A young African woman stood behind an older woman. They rushed in and laid out the colorful powders and accessories. Jake was smiling widely at the tease he had said previously. Suddenly his smile left as an amazed expression replaced it. He unintentionally looked me over. When his eyes returned to my face, they widened as he realized what he just did. I smirked and kicked his shin before slamming the door.

“That’s for the comment!” I said loud enough for him to hear as he held his leg in pain.

“Come, my dear. Your stunning Captain is almost here,” the older African woman said blushing.

“I see the Captain has already made an impression on the woman of this town?” I asked while sitting on a stool in front of a mirror.

“Oh certainly,” the younger lady said a little too enthusiastically. She also blushed then grabbed my hair combing it furiously. She was too caught up in her day dream to hear me protesting.

*******

       Jake banged on the door for the tenth time in the last five minutes. “I’m telling you Grace, Captain James will be here in,” he paused, “literally thirty seconds.”

“It’s your fault for not waking me sooner,” I yelled back at him as the African women finished the final touch.

“Don’t blame me! I-”

I interrupted him by throwing open the door.

“Wow, I just forgot what I was going to say,” he said looking at me. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I said smiling. I heard footsteps coming down the hallway and turned to look. Sir William was walking a few steps ahead of Captain James. His gaze was fixed on the ground. When he reached us, he looked up and greeted Jake.

“So good to see you are well, Jake.”

“As to you too, Sir,” Jake replied.

Sir William noticed me for the first time and took a step back. “Who is this rather splendid creature you have here, Jake?” Did he really not know?

Jake looked at Captain James who was approaching and quickly answered, “That’s Grace, Sir. Just pretend you don’t know and I’ll explain everything later.” He turned to me, “You need to be at the front door, right now.” I tried to respond but Jake picked me up. “Out the window, Grace, complain later.”

I growled inwardly and stepped out of the window Jake had lifted me to. Once I was out, I turned and glared at him, “I will see you later!” Jake smirked then pushed my head down making me fall on by bottom. That man is such a—my thoughts were cut short when Sir William resumed their conversation.

“Ah, I see, speaking of explaining things, what happened to your face?!”

“That is exactly what I was going to ask,” Captain James said startling me.

I crouched down and listened.

“Um,” Jake mumbled. “I-”

Just then the two African women opened the door and strolled out saving Jake the explanation. Captain James’ attention turned to them and he asked, “Is the lad well?”

Jake must’ve told them what to say for the older lady answered, “He is resting. You mustn’t go in or you’ll disturb the poor soul.” She said it so dramatically that the younger woman pulled a handkerchief out and wiped fake tears away. “We beg you, let him rest!”

“Oh, alright then. I didn’t mean to-” Captain James started to say but was interrupted.

“Just leave and come back another time!” the older lady said grabbing the handkerchief from the younger one and blowing her nose. It seemed that one of the women had grabbed the Captain’s arm and was pulling him away.

“That lad is fine, Captain. He’s just sleeping,” Jake quickly yelled to him to keep from causing any further confusion.

“I’ll…come back later then,” the Captain’s voice was distant.

I sat there a second then suddenly remembered that I had to meet Captain James at the door. I got up and ran to where I hoped the door to be.

*******