Darcy's Voyage: A tale of uncharted love on the open seas Page 3

  With the two of them pressuring and encouraging him, Darcy wrote to his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, who shared Georgiana’s guardianship with him.

  On the surface, Fitzwilliam tended not to take things as seriously as his cousin. He had a lively personality that Darcy lacked and often envied. Darcy therefore enjoyed their special familial relationship, close friendship, and joint decision-making responsibility regarding Georgiana. Fitzwilliam had strongly encouraged Darcy that this would be good for her, an experience that could bring about much growth and maturity, and he gave his hearty approval. Darcy knew the only thing hindering her from going was his own fear and concern for her safety. Finally, and most reluctantly, he gave in.

  He waited anxiously for that first word back that they had arrived safely. He was grateful at length to learn they had a good, uneventful crossing. But he received word, soon after, that Mrs. Annesley had taken ill and it was unlikely that she would be able to make the trip back for some time. Darcy adamantly refused to allow Georgiana to make the return voyage unescorted, so he was now sailing on his own ship to America, to bring her back with him.

  Darcy sat down on one of the two benches astride a very small table in his cabin. Two beds were situated on opposite walls in the narrow berth, and a small closet, a chest of drawers, and a dressing table and mirror would be the extent of his world for the next month.

  Durnham finished putting away Darcy’s belongings and gave him some well-needed advice. “I have heard, sir, that the ways on board a ship differ greatly from what we have come to expect in good society. You may likely have people boldly approaching you without first seeking an introduction.” He looked over at Darcy and raised his eyebrows as he fixed his eyes on his master. “The ladies, sir, when they find out who you are, will not, I fear, leave you alone.”

  “Then they will not find out who I am. I am quite certain that there is no one on this ship who frequents the same circles I do. And I shall have a little talk with the captain so that he does not let anyone know anything about me, especially the fact that I own this ship.”

  “That is wise, sir, but I fear it will not stop the ladies… or their mothers.” He smiled a knowing smile.

  Darcy shifted uncomfortably. The last thing he wanted was to be pursued on this trip. A month in the confines of a ship, where anyone would be bold enough to come up and strike up a conversation with him, would disconcert him to no end. He could certainly be polite when the situation demanded it, but there most likely would be times when he would prefer solitude. He knew he would not be able to stay in his cabin for extended lengths of time. For his own sanity he would require to be out in the open, getting some fresh air, and taking ample opportunities to walk up on deck.

  “Then what do you suggest I do?” Darcy asked, not really expecting an answer.

  “I suggest you find yourself a wife for the duration of the voyage.” Durnham laughed and Darcy grimaced.

  Darcy had always respected his wise, faithful valet. But Durnham had a tendency to occasionally tease him, and it had taken Darcy years to accept it as part of his personality. Darcy had never nurtured the ability to tease others himself, and sometimes wished he could. Whenever he did make an attempt, it usually was not taken in the way he intended. He had learned over the years to read his valet’s face to determine whether or not what he was saying was in jest.

  Durnham continued. “Oh, and sea sickness, sir. Until you get your sea legs, it is likely that the movement of the ship will cause you to be sick. Eat just enough during your first few days to keep food in your stomach, but do not overdo it. If you begin to feel sick, breathe slowly and deeply. Keep out in the fresh air as much as you can. It will help.”

  “Thank you, Durnham. I shall heed your advice. Er… the sea sickness part, not the wife part.”

  “Yes, sir.” Durnham tried to hide a small smirk as he thought of all the years he had been with this man and how, slowly but surely, Darcy had come to accept his friendly humour. Durnham strongly felt that his master still took himself too seriously, and it was only in very rare and exceptional moments that he let his guard down and really enjoyed life. It was truly his only fault of character.

  With his task completed, Durnham asked if there was anything else he could do before he disembarked.

  “No, but I thank you for everything. Let me accompany you back aloft. I want to be up on deck when the ship pulls away from the dock and the sails are unfurled.” He was anxious to watch the crew as they climbed the rigging and manoeuvred the sails when she set out.

  As they walked up to the top deck, Darcy resorted to the stern, taciturn mannerism he had come to perfect over the years. He avoided eye contact with the multitude of people about him, hoping to disappear in their midst. They had not yet called for non-passengers to depart the ship, so the deck was replete with tearful farewell hugs and kisses as loved ones prepared to depart.

  Durnham solemnly turned to his master, whom he had been with for five years, having moved into that role when Darcy’s father died. He had kept the position of head valet, merely changing masters. He had not been out of his presence save a few days here and there for all those years.

  “Sir, I must now take my leave. I pray you have an excellent crossing now, and again when you return with Miss Darcy. I hope that your sister is well and I look forward to your return.”

  “Thank you, Durnham. I hope all goes well with your father. I shall see you, hopefully, inside three months.”

  The two men shook hands, and Darcy sadly watched him leave. He was an exceptional valet, and even though Darcy was capable of taking care of himself, he would miss the respectful friendship they shared. Durnham was without equal in his ability to know when Darcy needed solitude or companionship, silence or a tactfully placed word, and when he would tolerate teasing and when best to refrain from banter of any sort.

  Darcy found a place to stand out of the way of passengers. He was anxious for the voyage to begin and passed the time by watching the other passengers as, one by one, family members or loved ones departed the ship. He tried to conjecture why those passengers sailing on his ship were going to America. It touched him to think that families were possibly being separated for the rest of their lives. It had been hard enough to know that Georgiana was such a distance from him for only a few months. He could not imagine her going off indefinitely. But he had heard of many doing that very thing.

  He stood with his back to the side of the ship, leaning against it, and his elbows bent back, resting upon the rails. He was grateful that at this point, everyone was more concerned with their goodbyes than with noticing him. He could watch without drawing any unwanted attention to himself.

  He noticed a young, dark-haired woman he estimated to be about twenty, on the arm of an older gentleman. He initially thought she looked familiar, but given the clothes she was wearing, he judged she most likely did not frequent the same social circles as he. As he watched them, he was surprised when the elder gentleman gave her a fervent hug and, with tears in his eyes, left the ship.

  Could she be travelling unescorted? He found that impossible to comprehend and would never have allowed Georgiana to do such a thing. He wondered what her circumstances could be that would have induced her to do this. Perhaps she had secured a position as a governess in America. Perhaps she was a mail-order bride. No, he absently shook his head. He did not like that idea.

  He looked over at an older couple. He pondered whether they might be travelling to see a son or a daughter who had set off for the new world to find a better life. Perhaps they had finally sent for the parents, having secured work that raised them to a higher position than they had been in England.

  There was the young man who, Darcy conjectured, was off to America solely for the adventure. Perhaps he loved to travel and for him, this was just another exciting place to visit.

  He saw many ladies, fashionable and not so fashionable, and began to feel their eyes and the eyes of their plotting mothers, and someti
mes even their fathers, upon him as they noticed the absence of any lady on his arm. He knew his patience would be tried and his composure stretched to the limit as he would have few places on this ship to seek the solitude he needed and desired, except for his room. And that was too small for him to remain secluded in for the length of the trip!

  It was announced that those not sailing had to depart the ship. Loved ones bid their final farewells, and the passengers lined the railing for one final glimpse. He looked over at the dark-haired young lady who was now waving at the man he supposed to be her father. The gangway was removed and shortly after, a few sails were unfurled. Darcy looked up at the beautiful white sheets that billowed like clouds against the deep blue sky. Only a few were set free, to give the ship just enough wind to pull slowly away from the dock.

  He brought his eyes down and noticed that the young lady, whom he had seen earlier, was watching the sails, as well, and she was smiling with apparent joy. He kept his eyes on her as she turned back to her father on the shore. The ship slowly began to sail away from the dock, and she continued waving. As people on the shore grew smaller to the eye, many left the railing. But this lady remained as long as she could see the dock where the gentleman stood. He wondered whether she was ever going to see her family again.

  He walked with long strides toward the front of the ship. He knew he would enjoy being out on the deck, and hoped that at least two things would be in his favour on this crossing. The first was that the weather would be accommodating so that he could come up often and take undisturbed walks. He knew in bad weather he would need to remain below. The other favourable condition would be that he would not be assaulted by single ladies or their matchmaking mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, or friends, looking at him as some sort of prize in the pursuit of a husband. He was in no mood to contend with such intrusions as his thoughts were singularly focused on reuniting with Georgiana and returning her to England.

  Darcy noticed a few people had begun greeting one another and were making new acquaintances. Most everyone extended amiable courtesies toward one another, impervious to one another’s standing in society.

  As the ship slowly made its way toward the open seas of the English Channel, Darcy continued to quietly conjecture about his fellow passengers instead of converse with them, and stood off by himself, content in his preference for solitude.

  At length he was grateful to find his good friend, the captain, up on deck, and he walked over to him. “Good day, Captain Wendell.”

  “Darcy! How do you find your room?”

  “Excellent, sir.”

  “Good. It is one of our finest; only the best for the owner of the ship.”

  “Yes, well, I would prefer that you not make that fact known to anyone. I would not want people coming to me with their problems and concerns.”

  The captain laughed. “And neither would I want them to do that. Take no offence, Darcy, but I fear your knowledge of sailing and this ship would be most inadequate to help them with their concerns.”

  “That is true.” Darcy looked at him wryly. “May I inquire something of you, Wendell?”

  “Certainly!”

  “If we are now on our way, and as you are the captain, who is sailing the ship?”

  “Ah, how often I am asked that question! I do have others perfectly capable of taking the helm. Be not dismayed, Darcy, you are in good hands.”

  “I did not doubt that, sir.”

  “Good.”

  Darcy noticed the young lady he observed earlier coming toward them and pass by them. She nodded to the captain, glanced in Darcy’s direction, and continued on.

  “Captain, another question, if you do not mind.”

  “Yes?”

  “Do women often make this voyage unescorted?”

  “Yes, frequently. On each voyage I normally have a handful. They do it for various reasons, usually financial. But do not fear, Darcy, I issue them some commonsense guidelines and try to ensure that there is no impropriety aboard this vessel. You can be confident of that.”

  “Thank you, Captain. I am reassured to hear that.”

  “Good. I would not want to have to use my upper hand in keeping you in line with the ladies on board.”

  “Do not worry yourself, Captain. I have only seen meagrely tolerable women on this ship; certainly none handsome enough to tempt me in the least.”

  The captain laughed. “Darcy, you have not changed one bit in the years I have known you. You and your impeccable, fastidious nature. I have seen several whom I would regard as quite pretty.”

  “I have no intention on this voyage to give consequence to ladies who have been unable to secure a husband for themselves in England and who are determined to find one aboard this sailing vessel even before arriving in America. It is apparent to me that the ladies on this ship, for the most part, have very little beauty and no breeding at all. Most are decidedly beneath my station.” At this the captain raised his eyebrows. Darcy continued, “As it is, my main goal is to retrieve Georgiana and return her to England, not to seek out a female diversion; let alone secure for myself a wife.”

  “You are still the interminable critic. Always determined to be displeased with everything and everyone you meet. Well, Darcy, I shall leave you to your scrupulous musings. If you will excuse me, sir, I need to see to the passengers on my ship.” The captain smiled and walked away, wondering just what it would take to penetrate the Darcy armour.

  “Of course,” Darcy nodded as the captain turned and walked away.

  Elizabeth’s eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped in derision as she heard the gentleman’s disagreeable assessment of his fellow passengers. She turned and eyed the man who had been standing with his back to her, talking with the captain. She had not intended to eavesdrop, but as she walked past them, there was a vague sense of familiarity with the gentleman, but not such that she could put her finger on. When she saw a bench situated directly behind where they were standing, she decided to take a seat there, hoping to hear something that would help her determine if she had met him before. However, after overhearing his caustic words, she was quite certain she had never made his acquaintance and was even more certain she did not wish to.

  At that moment, Darcy turned to walk on and saw Elizabeth sitting directly behind him, her eyes mocking, one brow raised. Darcy tensed, feeling at the moment the object of this young lady’s scorn, believing she had heard his every word. He turned away from her and briskly walked to the other side of the ship.

  He certainly seems to think himself above everyone, she mused. Not one lady handsome enough to tempt him, and most everyone decidedly beneath his station. She stood up and brushed her hands lightly over her dress, walking over to the ship’s rail. If Jane were here, or perhaps her good friend Charlotte, she would heartily laugh at this gentleman’s blatantly proud and arrogant manner.

  Darcy proceeded to the other side of the ship and leaned against the hull, holding himself stiffly. He watched people coming and going, trying to appear as indifferent and as invisible as he could, so he would be left alone.

  The winds picked up a little and the sails billowed out even more. Darcy was anxious to see the Dover cliffs and watch the coast of England as they sailed past. He turned to walk over to the other side of the ship and took in a deep breath, recognizing that first scent of salty air. He contentedly let it out slowly when suddenly a great sound from above caught his attention and prompted him to look up.

  Elizabeth had been drawn out of her reverie, watching the land pass by, when the remaining sails were unfurled and, in catching the wind, abruptly propelled the ship faster.

  “Oh my!” exclaimed Elizabeth in awe as she glanced up at the magnificent ship in full sail. She brought her hand up to secure the bonnet on her head as she stepped back a few steps to get a better view.

  Darcy continued to gaze upward at the magnificent sight as he strolled across the deck of the ship. Being more captivated with the sails than where he was going, he
was suddenly dismayed when he inelegantly collided with someone. He looked down and found himself face-to-face with the young lady he had seen earlier.

  Elizabeth’s eyes continued to sparkle in delight from the sight of the sails as she turned her gaze to the man into whom she had just collided. Unwittingly, Darcy found himself captivated by those eyes, but when Elizabeth saw who it was, the sparkle quickly departed.

  “Excuse me. Please forgive me!” As he said these words and reached out his hands to steady her, a very fleeting memory teased his thoughts. He looked at her, wondering if she would return a look of recognition, but instead she gave him one that reflected an air of indifference, laced with a touch of agitation, as she coolly replied to him that no harm was done.

  After Elizabeth collected herself and walked past the gentleman, she wondered, as well, what it was that swept through her mind when they collided. He was of a higher class than she and not someone she would have an occasion to know. So what was that tenuous recollection that touched her mind and then evaporated? She shook her head absently as any sort of remembrance eluded her. She doubted that he would ever have heard of the little village of Meryton, let alone visited it. And when she was in Town visiting her aunt and uncle, it was highly unlikely that he would frequent the Cheapside area in which the Gardiners lived.

  Her determined departure from his presence, however, did not remove thoughts of her from his mind. He concluded she was definitely not a woman of society, most likely had very little fortune and connections, and would, by all means, be most ill suited for him. He turned back to the cliffs, which were now growing smaller in the distance, and for some strange reason found himself sighing.

  Chapter 3

  Elizabeth walked briskly away from the gentleman whose character she had determined to be proud and disagreeable, but lingered up on deck as long as she was able to see the coast of England. She leaned against the rail of the ship, letting the breeze lightly play against her face as she kept her eyes set upon the shore. At length it slowly grew smaller and smaller and soon the last vestiges of it disappeared from the horizon. At that moment her stomach quickened and she wondered with a fleeting sense of apprehension whether she had made a sensible decision in making this voyage. Tears pooled in her eyes as the realization hit her that she would be at the mercy of the unpredictable seas, changing weather conditions, and this large piece of floating wood for at least the duration of a month, and then have to endure it on the return voyage. Would she ever see her family and England again?