Cutlass Anne

Cutlass Anne - Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-five

As we walked off the dock some of the men who were working nearby stopped and stared. It was unnerving having so many people watch me at once that were not my crew.

"Why are they watching us?" I could feel my cheeks flush.

Flynn leaned towards me and whispered, "Not us."

"What?"

"You. I told you, you look ravishing. I am fairly sure some of them are having thoughts that one should not about a lady."

"I should have brought my sword," I muttered.

"That is one thing a lady does not have," he said. "Besides, I'm with you."

"Yes, you are."

"Where do you want to start?"

"Find a ship or shipping company owned by someone with a title." I glanced at the ships that were docked.

"Do you think he would have one?"

"Or an entire fleet. The man said it was a lord or baron who bought Jane. Why would a lord or baron be in Port Royal?"

"Are you thinking he used his business as a reason to travel there?"

"Yes." I scanned the bay for a sign of a wealthy lord's ship.

We continued along the pier. But the further we got, the more disappointed I became. There were no lords or barons around. They were all crew and captains.

"Do you see anyone who looks like an aristocrat or someone important?"

"No, they're all crew."

"Come on, we will go further into London and see if we can find some information."

"Hold on." I released his arm.

There was a magnificent mahogany ship sitting at the end of the row of ships. I left Flynn standing in the middle of the pier alone. I approached a man in an elaborately adorned outfit who had an air of snobbery about him.

"Excuse me?" I smiled as I stood in front of him.

He glanced at me briefly before a smile spread across his lips. "What can I do for you, um?"

I extended a hand to him. "Lady Anne Crowley."

"Lady Anne, lovely."

"Thank you, sir. I have a question if you do not mind humoring a silly woman."

"Of course not." He stopped what he was doing and gave me his undivided attention.

"I am looking for someone. She would have arrived here in port a few days ahead of me, and the silly dear forgot to tell me where she is staying. You seem to be a man who knows what happens around here."

"Nothing happens without me knowing about it. Tell me, Lady Anne, what this young woman looks like?"

"She would be about sixteen. Her hair is soft and the color of the sun. Her eyes remind you of a bright summer day, and she is impossibly sweet."

His smile dropped, and his demeanor completely changed.

"I have seen no woman matching that description come through this port," he muttered, turning away from me.

I grabbed the man's arm and pleaded with him. "Are you quite certain? You see, she is my little sister."

He stopped but said nothing.