With that, he had told me that he wanted to keep her, and that she would be a good addition to the crew. Larry and I had always had a way of communicating through subtleties.
I nodded, thinking. The rumors I’d heard of people selling their children said they never fetched a price of more than five gold pieces. Looking down at the dock, the father shifted his weight nervously, possibly ashamed at having underestimated his daughter’s worth. I hoped that he feared the judgment of the townsfolk for selling her in the first place.
“Thank you, Little Larry,” I said, still contemplating. “I’m going to steal her away for a quick parlay. You stay put,” I ordered her father. Then I glanced at my men with a nod, signalling for them to keep watch.
I took Flora’s hand, leading her to the far side of the ship, behind a stack of cargo bales for a moment. “My men like you,” I said, low enough so that only she could hear. “I would never bring a soul aboard my vessel they didn’t trust. Little Larry likes you very much, and his opinion means the world to me. You do sew, then?”
She nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ve been
working hard since I was small. I could easily outfit your entire crew with the proper supplies, and I can repair things so well that they’ll hold up for years.” She leaned closer, reaching to examine a tear on the collar of my coat.
Her hair smelled so fresh, like a spring breeze. Her delicate skin looked as silky as a rose petal. Yet her bright blue eyes, so clear with concentration, told me that she was a woman who could stay on task.
She was so focused on the fabric that she didn’t realize her proximity to me. “I could fix this within an hour...”
Then her hands snapped away. She looked up at me shyly, and a lower man would have snuck a kiss. I realized this innocent young girl needed protection. She needed someone to show her the ways of the world. From the way my heart began to thud unevenly in my chest, I needed it to be me.
“Did ye know ‘tis lucky to touch a sailor’s collar?” She shook her head. “I think it’s a sign, sweet girl.”
Her long light hair, big blue eyes, and pale, rounded face made her look like a porcelain doll. Yet it was the way her gaze darted around the ship that made me truly take notice. She was curious. Smart. A gal like this would be interesting to have around.
Reaching out, I tucked a stray tendril of soft hair back behind her ear, letting my fingertips graze her cheekbone. “I’ve never seen a lass so beautiful.”
Somehow her tiny sigh, soft as a whisper, reached my ears. I could plainly see her wide pupils, how her breath trembled with each exhale. The lass enjoyed being this close to me. I was intrigued. It had been a long time since I’d been with a woman, and even longer still that I’d considered keeping one around for more than a few nights.
For the moment, I decided, I’d bring her along and see what developed.
“Do you want to come with us for a life of adventure?”
She bit that perfect full bottom lip. Then she gave me the softest smile. “You’re the first person who has ever asked me what I wanted, sir.”
My heart may have broken for her, but for the fact her sweetness was warming me clear through. She looked off into the distance, contemplating only for a second. “Yes, please, sir.”
“You’ll obey me, serve me, serve my crew and this ship?”
“Yes, sir.”
I nodded, a wide smile overtaking me. “You have no idea what a treasure you truly are, lassie. Now be a good girl and play along while we humiliate that rotten father of yours, yes?” She nodded very seriously.
I took her arm gently, and marched her back to where her father waited impatiently. The crowd of townsfolk had tripled. It was my duty as an honorable man to shame the townie bastard of a father who would treat a good woman this way.
I stood beside Flora so all could see her clearly. The glow of the setting sun ignited the gold of her hair, and warmed her delicate skin.
The villagers seemed to take a careful look at her, as if for the first time. She was radiant, beautiful. I had a deep instinct that she was kind. Why hadn’t anyone tried to help her escape that man before?
“So, since her father is throwing away a perfectly good daughter, we’ve determined that we’ll take her.” The townsfolk who still weren’t sure what was happening all gasped in shock. Selling one’s daughter to a pirate, or any kind of sailor? Horrified whispers ran through the crowd like a brushfire.
“There has, however, been some discrepancy as to the price. What is a fine young girl worth? My men seem to think that she might be worth five gold pieces. Some say as high as seven.” The murmurs silenced, as every person assembled was dying to hear the verdict first hand. This was the sort of tale they’d be telling their grandchildren. They likely wanted to get every detail correct.
“A pretty little lass like this, with flaxen hair and eyes as blue as the sea itself. A girl who can mend, and sew, and immediately offered to fix my coat without being asked.” A few of the older ladies laughed, but were quickly shushed. “A brave girl who wishes to set out on the open sea for a world of adventure rather than be trapped under the thumb of a father who despises her, and has told her she’s worthless.”
The father looked like he’d rather slink away empty-handed than face further humiliation, but he was trapped by my poisonous glare.
“I asked Flora what she herself wanted. She declared she’d rather sail away with us than stay here with her family.”
An older woman gasped, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. The crowd murmured for a moment, then became silent again.
I paused. This was not a time to make a deal. This was a time to make a point. This poor little lass might consider her absolute worthiness by this exchange. Looking over at her hopeful face, I wanted her to know that she was a precious thing. All women were, of course, but she was a treasure all her own.