A Hidden Queen

Chapter 24

Josephine creeps into the spacious cabin as Burnt opens the double doors. It was not as elegant as the quarters on The Governor, but it was familiar. Joe sighs heavily. Everything was the exact same as she had remembered it. The old wooden desk sat over to the left, close to the bay windows. The bed that was built into the ship was in the opposite space towards the right. The old red blanket that smelled so much like her Uncle John still laid folded across the end of the bed. Her eyes roam over the built-in wall bookcase. It was still full of books and nick-nacks that he has acquired along his voyages. Joe's chest tightens as her panic and anxiety begins to rise. She runs a shaking hand through her hair.

"Josephine?" Pittman calls.

Joe startles as Pittman places a heavy hand on her shoulder. She quickly spins herself around, placing a hand on her chest. Pittman winces, gliding his hand down to her bicep. He runs his hand up and down her arm in a calming motion. Joe inhales and exhales deeply. She reaches out grabbing at Pittman's shirt.

"Pittman." She whispers for only his ears to hear. "Take me back."

"What?" Pittman questions in disbelief. "Why would we do that child?"

"Please, Pittman." Joe begs unable to keep the tears from her voice. "I can't take this. I promised dad I would make a life for myself on land. I cannot bear to break that promise no matter how much I want to. Please take me back."

"Child."

"Please!" Joe fists his shirt even more. "I cannot bear the abandonment. The lost of my family once again. Please."

Pittman's words die as Josephine pleads with him heartbreakingly. Joe stares into Pittman's eyes. She can see the sadness and confusion within the grey colored irises. She grips his shirt a little tighter, capturing her lower lip between her teeth.

"Pittman. I need you to help Barlow get us underway" John calls from the doorway.

Pittman and Josephine startle at the gruff voice. Joe leans over to look around Pittman to her Uncle John. He stands in the doorway with his hip cocked to one side, all his weight on one leg. Her eyes lock back over on Pittman as he glances at him over his shoulder. He nods his head once, turning back towards Josephine. He smiles sadly at her, patting her arm before letting go.

"Aye sir." Pittman answers, moving out of the cabin.

Joe feels her heart weep at the disappearance of the older man. That was her only hope of being taken back and even he was not willing to indulge her. She was going to have to lie her way out of this. She turns her eyes on Burnt who stands in the corner near her Uncle John. He looks at her with an angry scowl, but Josephine can see joy and excitement in those amber eyes. She groans within herself. What is she going to do?

"Burnt." John calls gaining the bigger man's attention. "I need you to help Hawthorne cripple the ship. Take out the main mast with the ball and chain he should have ready in one of the eighteen pounders. I want to put as much distance between us and that ship as possible."

Burnt nods his head, glancing at Josephine one last time before slipping out the door. Josephine watches as Burnt leaves, his deep voice echoing across the upper deck as he barked out orders. John clears his throat, forcing Joe's eyes to focus on him. He smiles pleasantly at her, walking towards his deck. Josephine side steps as he passes by, skeptically narrowing her eyes. John places her father's overcoat and hat down on the deck. He pats them once, turning to look at her.

"Here." He states, "I'm sure you want to keep these, seeing as they are yours now."

"What do you want with me captain?" Josephine spits out.

"What sort of question is that, Joey? And why do you call me captain? You have never been so formal with me before." He points out.

"My name is not Joey. It's Elizabeth. Elizabeth Phillips." Joe lies through her teeth.

A laugh bubbles forth from John. Joe constricts her eyes, hardening her glare at the older man. He places a hand on the head of his sword as he catches his breath. He coughs several times before resting his face into a playful smirk as he cocks his head to the side.

"Really? Phillips? You could not come up with a better last name than that?" John teases.

Joe growls, "Take me back captain. I am not the girl you seek. My name is Elizabeth not Josephine."

"If that is true than how did you know that the woman I seek is named Josephine?" He smirks.

Joe opens her mouth, narrowing her eyes at her Uncle John. That was a dirty trick he just played on her. She sighs deeply, staring down at the decking for a moment. She needs a way to convince him to take her back. But how can she do that when the man is so stubborn on keeping her?

"Captain I demand that you return me at once." Josephine commands in a stern voice.

"You do not demand anything of me little girl." John sternly reprimands a little parental anger rising in his chest.

"I don't know if you've noticed but I am not a little girl anymore." Joe points out quietly.

John sighs heavily, "No, Joey girl, you definitely are not. But you will listen to me when I give a command."

"Take me back Captain. You have no right to take me!"

"Oh, I have every right Josephine."

"I keep telling you I am not Josephine! My name is Elizabeth!" Joe shouts.

John gets quiet. His face pulls downwards into a hard frown. The deep green eyes ignite with a cool fire. Josephine's own chest rises and falls with her anger as she keeps a hard glare on her uncle. He pinches his lips into a thin line nodding his head.

"Fine. If you want to play this senseless game, you have concocted, then lets. You may claim that your name is Elizabeth, but I know exactly who you are, and I will not let you go back to live a lie on that god forsaken spit of land. So, you better get used to it." John pauses, straightening his back as he strolls his way over to the double doors. "Now, Ms. Phillips, as you so want to be named. I am sure you are very tired from this whole ordeal. You may use my cabin as a resting area until you have regained your strength. Hopefully by then you will be more accommodating and stop this foolish act of yours. Good day Ms. Phillips."

Joe's mouth drops open as her uncle steps out of the doorway, leaving her alone in his cabin. Her face twists into a snarl as anger rises in her chest. How dare he! She seethes in her head. She swivels herself around, grunting in frustration. She runs a hand through her hair, glancing at everything within sight. The loud bang of the eighteen pounder startles Joe's attention back to the doors. She slows her breathing as the cracking, snapping, and groaning of the main mast on The Governor carries in with the breeze. Joe creeps her way over to the doors watching as the men scurry about the decks preparing to make sail. She sighs heavily, wrapping her arms around herself. She turns away, her eyes roaming about the room. They land on the bed in the back half of the cabin. You can use my cabin as a resting area. Her uncle had said. Now that she thinks about it, she can feel her body drag with exhaustion. Joe sighs stumbling over to the bed. She sits down on the edge, feeling the soft fabric tickle her skin. A deep inhale relaxes her body a little more. She slowly lowers herself down to curl up on the mattress. A little rest will not hurt her. She thinks as she closes her eyes.