A Hidden Queen

Chapter 5

Joe's head falls forward pulling on her neck. It snaps back up, her eyes going wide the moment her chin touches her chest. The young woman sighs, rubbing her hands down her face. Her body ached with exhaustion. She repositioned herself, setting her feet on the floor. Her chin rested in her hand as she gazed back over to the bay window. The world outside was shrouded in darkness. She could just make out the dim glow of the streetlamps that have been lit some time ago. She sighs, wondering what time it must be. Without seeing the moon and stars she could not know for-sure. She straightens her back, raising her hands above her head. Her muscles stretch and joints popped. A tired, bored sigh leaves her body as it sags back down.

Josephine stares at the window blankly, listening for any signs of life outside the door. After several minutes of silence, her ears pick up heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. She slows her breathing, calming it enough to hear every little detail she could. One. Two. Three. Four. Four extra people were with her grandfather. She holds her breath as the footfalls cease right outside her door. The silence is soon filled with the creaking of the doors echoing off the bare walls. Long outstretched shadows raced into the room as the candlelight clawed its way towards the window.

Josephine cocks her head to the side as none of the shadows move. Several seconds tick by before finally one of them seemed to crawl its way further into the room. Joe leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. The shadow stops halfway into the room. Joe glances over at the door, peering through the small slither of the jam. She can make out the dressy overcoat that her grandfather had worn to the trial. A huff forces out of her nose. She leans back, slouching in the chair. She rests her head within her hand, resting the other arm on the leather arm of the chair. Her knees knocks together as she waits for the man to regain his nerve. There was a heavy sigh from the doorway before the shadow started its creeping forward.

Smithen's dark silhouette form appears a second later. He turns his head every which way, no doubt looking for her. Joe keeps still wanting him to find her on his own. He swivels that big head of his in her direction, passing over her before doubling back. Josephine lowers her hand, cocking her head to the side. She didn't need a mirror to know she had a nasty look upon her features. The pull on her facial skin that her frown was producing was enough of a testament. She was proven even more correct as Smithen's own face twisted up into a hateful, angered parental stare.

"Is that any way to sit young lady? Like a heathen?" He jabs.

Josephine laughs at the statement, "Heathen huh? I see that there is no love lost between you and me dear old grandfather."

Smithen huffs, a snarl pulling at his upper lip, "There is no love at all my dear granddaughter. I merely took you in because it would not look good on my reputation to send such a young woman to the gallows to swing. Especially one being my own granddaughter."

"Oh. Well, forgive me then. I did not realize that my age and status played such a part in your prosperity."

"Do not flatter yourself young lady. You are more of an experiment. A testament to what may be than anything else."

"A testament?"

"Yes. If I can mold you into a proper English woman, get those heathen and devilish ways that filthy pig has taught you out of your head, then it will show that not all is lost to the pirates."

Joe's face burns as her anger rises. She sits herself up, leaning her elbows on her knees, "You know what Smithen; bite me."

Smithen huffs, wrinkling his nose, "That is no way to speak young lady."

Josephine smirks, throwing herself back into the chair. She rests one of her boots up on the edge of the seat, her forearm laying upon it. Smithen and Joe keep their eyes locked on one another. He had a smoldering fire behind those vibrant green eyes. Josephine could imagine the war, the vexation, which was going on inside his head. She was doing everything within her power to resist him and that was something the good Governor was not entirely used to.