Seduction Upon A Voyage

Chapter 7

Charlene put the last of her jars on the table in her cabin. She was ecstatic! They'd been venturing into the forest and back for three days. Charlene collected many peculiar flora and insects. They were all preserved in the jars provided by Roarke. She planned to study them when the Eagle set sail, which would be this afternoon.

Thinking about Roarke brought a smile to Charlene's face. Since their almost-kiss incident, she hadn't seen him. She was told he went ahead on the Eagle to see to its preparations. She was excited to see him again. She wanted to shared with him all the extraordinary differences she already noticed in her collection.

Charlene started humming gleefully while organizing the jars. She was so lost in her pleasures that she didn't noticed the door opening.

"Charles?" Philip said standing in the doorway. Charlene let out an feminine shriek in surprise. "Ye! Ye is a girl!" He accused.

"I must tell Cap'. Yer a girl!" He repeated before twisting away.

After recovering from her shock, Charlene raced after him. She caught him on the top of the stairs, with Roarke a few feets away. He was focused on a discussion with some of the sailors so he hadn't noticed them.

"Wait, Philip. Let me explain!" Charlene plead. "At least, hear my story first. Please."

Philip looked at her than back at Roarke a couple times until finally resting his accusing gazes on her. He let Charlene guided him back into the cabin.

Charlene explained to him about her loves for the natural world, her fascinations with Earth's creations, and her restrictions in London. Most importantly, she told him her purposes regarding Charles.

"So yer brother's in the navy? An' lost at sea?" Philip asked after contemplating Charlene's explanation. "What's makin' ye think ye can find 'im here, on the Cap's ship?"

Charlene moved to her belongings and after shifting through her things, pulled out a paper. She handed it to Philip. 

"This is Charles's last letter, before he went missing. He said he was on the Continent and will be making his way to South America. I'm positive he's lost somewhere along the way. Please, Philip. He's the only real family I have left. Please." Charlene said, coming close to tears.

Seeing the glisteries in Charlene's eyes, Philip said uncomfortably, "I do no' like lyin' to the Cap'. He'd be mad when he know."

"At least let me tell him when I'm ready. I'll tell him soon," Charlene promised.

Philip waited till a full minute passed before nodding his head. Charlene smiled and throw her arms around the young boy. He turned scarlet when she finally let go of him. 

------------------

It had been more than three days since Roarke last saw Charles. He was sure he felt Charles's presence earlier. He looked toward the empty stairs again. He still hadn't figured out what to do about his feelings. He missed the lad, that Roarke accepted with grievances. But he didn't had to liked it. He didn't want to liked it. And he most definitely didn't have to act on those feelings. He'd just pretend nothing happened. He'd act like before. And he'd avoid the lad as much as possible.

It was dark when Roarke finally made his way down to his cabin. The Eagle already set sail from Cape Verde Islands, making its way toward a new destination. Roarke didn't want to laid awake thinking about Charles so he worked himself into exhaustion up on deck. Roarke came to a full stop when he saw Charles on his bed, waiting for him.

"What are you doing in here?" Roarke asked annoyingly.

"I was waiting for you." Charles countered.