The Wandering Knave of the Seven Seas: The Voyage of Neptune's Mermaids

Chapter Four: A Royal Affair

 

He watched me scrutinisingly with narrowed eyes across the darkening room, his lips tightened into a thin line. The room was alighted by the dancing flames of candlelight playing lightly against the breeze drifting in from the open windows. The partygoers had dispersed to retire to their rooms in the Manor for nightfall, exhausted after the day’s festivities. All except most of the gentlemen, who were drinking and laughing with ease.

 

I tried to keep my eyes on the men or to make sure I kept up with Sophie’s constant babble rather than glance over at the man where he stood leaning against the outer wall, hidden in the shadows. I remembered our first meeting, where only a wall had separated us. He had knocked, once, to tell me he was there. To tell me I wasn’t alone. Then, I saw him burst out from that same Confessional and almost single-handedly destroy countless Pirates.

 

Despite everything, I was in awe.

 

I learnt his name as soon as the other men had seen him that morning, when he failed to get me to run away with him. He had turned from me, confusion dawning on those strange features of his, and started out when George had found him. William. William Cahir, George had called him. William Cahir, hired by George to capture the Pirates.

 

William Cahir, former Pirate.

 

Of course George didn’t say that, in fact no one mentioned it. But as the day went on and William interacted with the other gentlemen, I began to wonder. The way he moved, the way he drew his sword to show the men, and the way he spoke reminded me so strongly of the Pirates I had studied. William even carried a coin with him, strung around his neck, similar to the one around my own. The same coin dropped by the blue-eyed Pirate two nights ago. Maybe he had taken it that night too… but it seemed too much a coincidence to not consider.

 

“He’s staring at you,” Sophie muttered, nudging me slightly.

 

We had been told to stand here to escort the Ladies out, but when Abigail dismissed us, we came back here to clean up. Now, we stood against the far wall, as per instruction. I had only just realised that Sophie had been silent for a while now, and perhaps was upset with me for ignoring her, but her tone was more excited now. More gossip, perhaps?

 

Immediately, I turned towards George, but he was talking with the other men, a glass of dark red liquid in his fingers. He looked so gracefully tonight, so very elegant and handsome; a man suited to a General position. It wasn’t George who had been staring.

 

I knew who had been staring. “I know,” I whispered back.

 

“He’s quite very handsome, isn’t he? Even in the darkness. He doesn’t look like a killer though, perhaps a business man? Certainly not someone who would be capable of killing! But, oh, those muscles! He is quite strong, right? Do you think so?”

 

“Um… yeah.” I muttered. Sophie had startled to ramble. I only had to say one word and she had immediately started again, so very obviously staring back at William. She didn’t bother whispering anymore, either, and had once or twice caught the attention of the gentlemen, George included. He looked slightly amused rather than annoyed at being interrupted.

 

But another man looked simply appalled. “George,” He started, his voice loud enough to suggest Sophie and I were to hear, “Do you think we can dismiss the servants now? I think they are rather too excited. You should really keep them underhand.”