The Governor's Daughter (Winds of Change Book 1) (6 page)

“Thank you. I have brought books to read and my sketching pad,” she answered politely.

“Oh, I have heard you are quite good at drawing, Cathryn,”
Olivia
Montgomery
interjected
into
the
conversation.
“I
saw
a
portrait
you
sketched
for
Melanie
Johnson
of her little girl, Sophie. It was adorable, I must say. I don’t suppose
you
might
be
able
to
do
the
same
for
my
boys
while on board. I wouldn’t want to impose upon
you.”

“It
shouldn’t
be
an
issue,
Mrs.
Montgomery.
You
have so
graciously
agreed
to
oversee
my
journey.
It
would
be
the least I could do,” Cathryn said and smiled at the lady who seemed greatly
pleased.

“I’m impressed, Miss Blankenship,” Lieutenant Pennington said, eyeing Cathryn. Something in his look challenged her. “If the opportunity arises, I would love to see your works.”

“I’m sure you will have plenty more to do than look over
some
simple
drawings,
Lieutenant,”
she
retorted
without looking at him. Her attention turned back toward the Montgomerys.
“Do
you
know
who
else
is
on
board
with
us? I saw a young girl with a
companion…”

Mrs. Montgomery leaned over across the table. Her eyes cocked to the side. “I’m afraid we probably won’t be seeing too much of the young lady. Her aunt is traveling with
her,
but
in
her
condition...I
had
suspected
because
I
had heard rumors in Charles
Town…”

“Olivia!” her husband immediately cried out indignantly. “She is but a child herself.”

Cathryn, confused at the outburst, wanted to question further, but the look upon Mr. Montgomery’s face told Cathryn not to press the point. She would be patient. Mrs. Montgomery seemed the sort that needed to expel gossip. Captain Sanborn turned the conversation.

After
supper,
the
Montgomerys
excused
themselves
to retire
for
the
night,
thanking
the
Captain
profoundly
for
his kindness.
Cathryn
followed
suit.
Lieutenant
Pennington
accompanied them to the
companionway.

“It
is
early
yet.
Would
you
ladies
care
for
a
turn
around the deck?”

Cathryn
would
have
liked
nothing
better
than
to
refuse, but she had a need for air and was pleased Mrs.
Montgomery
accepted.
Lieutenant
Pennington
offered
her
his
arm
and preceded her up the ladder into the night’s air. The night was
brilliant.

She could hear the ship cutting through the water and feel the spray floating back against her face. The breeze sang lightly through the sails. All seemed so peaceful.

Cathryn
refused
to
glance
up
at
Lieutenant
Pennington, ignoring his attempts at idle conversation. She heard Mrs. Montgomery
rambling
on
to
her
husband.
Mr.
Montgomery fussed about with the logic of traveling in such confining quarters.

Lieutenant
Pennington
gave
pause
at
the
railing.
Cathryn released his arm and gazed up at the night’s sky. Her hands gripped the varnished wood and she pulled herself into
the
wind,
inhaling
so
deeply,
she
seemed
to
take
in
the whole of the ocean.

“It
is
a
magnificent
view,”
Lieutenant
Pennington
said.

She turned. The glow from
the
binnacle lamps caught his eyes fixed on hers. She felt blood rush to her cheeks, but said nothing.

“If I profoundly apologize, would you find it within yourself to talk to me once more? It will be such a long journey to remain silent, for I know it will gnaw within you.”

“It
would
mean
more
if
I
felt
you
are
sincere
with
your apology, sir,” she said simply, but she realized he was
correct in his assumption that left to Mrs. Montgomery, she would
be
clawing
at
the
side
of
the
ship
for
conversation.
“I hope
you
can
understand
my
position
being
in
such
a
mortifying situation. Can you not understand that I might not want to be reminded of
it?”

“I have forgotten it already. But, pray, can you not blame me for my actions?”

“I’m confused, Lieutenant, upon your meaning.”

“If
you
will
permit
me
to
be
honest,
Miss
Blankenship,”
he said with a smile on his lips. “Here I’m asked to
look over your wellbeing upon your journey. It isn’t often to have such an agreeable mission and to find that mission is plotting her escape.”

“How
dare
you!”
she
exclaimed.
Her
eyes
glanced
over at Mrs. Montgomery. She had no desire for her to hear. “You don’t know!”

“Ah,
Miss
Blankenship,
but
I
do,”
he
said
without
hesitation. “Most young ladies in your situation would be ecstatic
with
the
prospect
of
a
London
Season.
Your
grandparents
offered
you
an
opportunity
that
your
mother
wished
for her only daughter.”

“I have no desire for a London Season, sir,” she said indignantly. “I am only going to please my father and only for a year. I promised him a year. Then I will return home.”

“To your beau you tried to coax the other night?” he asked.

She gave him pause. Why did she let him needle her? “It’s none of your concern, sir.”

“No,
I
suppose
not,
but
I
believe
you
may
find
you
will enjoy
England.
You
should,
Miss
Blankenship.
Most
would be envious of the position you find yourself in at the moment. You will be well sought after in London,” he responded.

Cathryn
stood
quietly,
turning
back
to
the
ocean.
“You talk as if you know of what you speak. William said that only a select few are invited to these
events.”

“I have been known to attend.”

She eyed him suspiciously, drawing her shawl about her tighter. For the moment, she didn’t want to banter
with him. Cathryn could feel the ship moving quickly over the water away from her
home.

“Are you always so sure of others’ feelings, Lieutenant?”

“No,
I
usually
try
not
to
assess
what
others
are
feeling, Miss Blankenship. What they are thinking perhaps, but I feel
a
certain
responsibility
toward
you.
I
admire
and
respect
your father, Miss Blankenship,” he said sincerely. “I can imagine
you
must
feel
lost
at
the
moment.
I
want
only
to
relieve your fears and anxiety over the situation that you obviously find distasteful.”

They
stood
in
silence.
He
broke
it,
saying,
“If
this
William loves you, he will
wait.”

“Love?
Wait.
Why
would
he?
We
have
nothing…”
she questioned,
confusion
rang
in
her
tone.
Glancing
up
at
him, a broad smile emerged. Mother of all! He had baited her. Her eyes glaring, her temper burst forth. “Oh, is this what you want, sir? To constantly antagonize
me?”

“No, again I apologize.”

Cathryn doubted his words. She heard no sincerity in his
voice.
No…instead,
he
seemed
quite
pleased
with
the
information.

Ignoring her silence, he continued, “I haven’t been fair to you. I know about you, but you know nothing about me.”

She
wanted
to
respond
that
she
had
no
interest,
but
curiosity
got
the
better
of
her.
“I
assume
you
live
in
England.”

He
nodded.
“I
come
from
a
small
estate
outside
of
Plymouth. When I was five, my uncle took my
mother,
sister and I in after my father was killed in service to the
Crown. Shortly after, my sister lost her sight during a sickness.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He shook his head. “We all have our own burdens
to
bear.
My
uncle
may
be
only
a
simple
squire,
but he has been kind to us. My mother has no worries. He bought me my commission when I was
eighteen.”

Cathryn watched him as he talked of his family. Warmth surfaced in his voice; his face softened.

He
paused
for
a
moment.
“I
went
to
school
at
Winchester
with
a
relative
of
yours.
Lord
Lyttleton.
I
believe
he would be your cousin.”