The River Maid. Dilly Court
You needn’t worry about me. I’d get up, but I’m not dressed.’
She laid her hand on his forehead. ‘You feel cool enough. Thank heavens for that, at least.’
‘I’m sore but I don’t seem to have a fever. I’ll rise as soon as Hooper returns my clothes.’
‘Esther, I want you to examine the wound,’ Lady Alice said imperiously. ‘You’ll have to do the necessary. I’m sure you’re a born nurse, whereas I am not.’
Essie edged past her, but she hesitated, eyeing Raven warily. ‘Do you mind?’
‘No, go ahead,’ he said, closing his eyes. ‘I suppose you’ll do as you wish, whatever I say.’
His grudging attitude was uncalled for and unfair. Essie folded her arms, glaring at him. ‘You are a very ungrateful man. If it weren’t for me you might be in prison at this moment instead of lying there like a lord, while the rest of us are virtual prisoners on this rusty old bucket of a ship.’
His eyes opened and he stared at her in surprise. ‘Well now, so you can stand up for yourself, Essie Chapman. I was beginning to think that your father had bullied the spirit out of you.’
‘Stop fidgeting or this might hurt.’ Essie unwound the bandage and eased off the blood-soaked pad.
‘I’m going to my cabin,’ Lady Alice said, backing out of the door. ‘Call the girl in if you need assistance, Esther.’
‘Alice never could stand the sight of blood,’ Raven said with a wry smile. ‘Do your worst, Essie. I can take it.’
Hooper, the first mate, had left a pile of torn cotton sheeting, presumably intending to change the dressing at some point. Essie did not think the material looked too clean, but there was no alternative. She worked quickly and was relieved to find that the bleeding had stopped and there was, as yet, no sign of putrefaction.
‘It looks as if you’ve been lucky,’ she said as she secured the bandage in position. ‘But you must rest or you might start bleeding again.’
‘I need to see Falco. I want you and my cousin put ashore as soon as possible.’
Essie met his gaze with a steady look. ‘He says he won’t put into port until we reach Brindisi. Was that your plan?’
‘For myself, yes, but I didn’t know that Alice and her maid would be on board, let alone you, Essie. You helped me, and for that I’m grateful, but I didn’t intend for you to become so involved. This is my business.’
She piled the soiled dressings into the bowl. ‘It’s become mine as well, and short of jumping overboard I don’t see how we’re going to get ashore.’
His eyes lit with a smile. ‘Don’t do that, you might drown and then I’d feel really guilty.’
‘I’m serious, Raven.’ Until this moment Essie had never called him by name, but the time for observing the rules of etiquette was past, and she faced him angrily. ‘You seem to think this is a joke, and I can see the funny side of most things, but this has gone too far. You must make the captain put into port before we leave England.’
His smile faded. ‘You’re right. Send Falco to me. I’ll put an end to this charade.’
They disembarked in Brindisi after what seemed like a lifetime on board the Santa Gabriella. Despite Raven’s alternate pleas and attempts at bribery, Captain Falco had refused to put ashore in England. Lady Alice had tried everything from tears and tantrums to mild seduction, all of which were ignored, leaving them no alternative but to accept their fate.
If she were to be truthful, Essie had enjoyed some aspects of life at sea. The sunrises and sunsets over the water had been magical and she had seen dolphins playing in the bow waves, a sight that filled her with joy despite the dire conditions on board. The sanitary arrangements left everything to be desired and the food was awful, but, for the most part, the crew were friendly and cheerful, and Captain Falco was not only an entertaining host but was also a talented singer with a beautiful tenor voice that could move Essie to tears. Lady Alice was frequently at loggerheads with him, but even she had to resort to her crumpled handkerchief when the captain came to the end of a particularly passionate rendition of a love song.
The voyage had ended now and it was good to step onto dry land at last. Essie breathed in the scents of Italy. The tantalising aroma of cooking floated on the gentle breeze, mingling with the scent of wild thyme and marjoram from the surrounding countryside, and Essie’s mouth watered at the thought of good food. The air was surprisingly sweet and clean, even allowing for the fact that they were still in the docks and vast catches of fish were being landed nearby, but the heat was stifling, and Essie was in desperate need of a change of clothes. Lady Alice looked pale and tired, probably due to the fact that she had never stopped moaning about her lack of wardrobe and the insanitary conditions on board ship, where fresh water was too precious a commodity to waste on laundering clothes.
‘Find us a hotel, Raven.’ Lady Alice stood on the quay wall, refusing to move. She glanced round, shaking her head. ‘I doubt if they have any decent shops in a place like this, but I must have new garments. We’re all in desperate need of a bath, including you.’
‘I look a hundred times worse than any of you ladies,’ Raven said gallantly. ‘Hooper tried to get the blood out of my jacket, but nothing can disguise the damage.’
‘Yes, you look quite disreputable, so please go and find somewhere for us to stay.’
‘But we are supposed to be looking for the monastery, Alice. The sooner we find Freddie, the better.’
Essie laid her hand on Raven’s sleeve. ‘Another day or two isn’t going to make any difference, and we do look like a band of didicoys.’
A reluctant smile curved his lips. ‘You’re right, of course. I’ll make enquiries in the dock office. They’re bound to know everything. Wait here and I’ll be as quick as I can.’
‘I’m hungry.’ Sadie clutched her belly, which was rumbling loud enough for all to hear.
‘I’m sure we’ll eat soon,’ Essie said vaguely as she watched Raven stride off with a feeling of relief. Her most pressing need was to have food that wasn’t boiled to a pulp or mouldy, and then the luxury of a tin tub filled with warm water and a bar of soap seemed like heaven on earth. Worries about her father and what was happening at home had long since taken second place to the act of survival, but relief was within her grasp and she experienced a surge of optimism. How she was going to get home was another matter, and one that she pushed to the back of her mind. Damp, cloudy London seemed a million miles away from the brilliant sunlight and blue skies of Italy.
Minutes later Raven returned with news that he had found an inn that could cater for their immediate needs and it was only a short walk from the harbour. Lady Alice fanned herself with her hand. ‘Aren’t there any cabs in this place? It’s far too hot to walk any distance.’
‘It’s half a mile at most, Alice. Surely you can manage that?’
‘Just think how nice it will be when we get there,’ Essie said with an encouraging smile. ‘Maybe we could find someone to wash our clothes. They’ll dry quickly in this heat.’
Lady Alice seemed about to argue when Captain Falco joined them. ‘How may I help you, my lady? You look a little perplexed.’
‘My cousin wants me to walk to the inn.’
Captain Falco’s dark eyes gleamed with amusement, but he put his head on one side, giving her a sympathetic smile. ‘Perhaps it would help if you took my arm, my lady. I have business with the landlord. I will make sure that you are given the respect due to an English lady.’
Essie held her breath,