Forgotten Fragrance Read Free Page A

You’ll find yourself lulled by the motion of the ship and you’ll sleep like a baby.’
    With a surge of energy he sprang out of the hammock. ‘If you keep it hooked up during the day you will have more room during the voyage.’
    â€˜Thank you, Captain Charity, however I hoped to spend most of my time on deck. I prefer…’
    â€˜Christian. Call me Christian. Everyone else does, even my crew, unless they’re angry with me.’ His booming laugh filled the room again.
    She tried his name on her tongue. ‘Christian.’ Somehow, it didn’t fit. She shrugged. Who was she to argue?

Chapter 2
    Christian bounded up the ladder onto the open deck. The sun had reached its zenith and it beat down on the polished brass sending arcs of light zigzagging across his ship. It had taken close on six months to refit and repair after Jonas died and the small crew who’d stayed with him had worked long and hard. Zephyrus sparkled.
    Letting out a sigh of pure pleasure he surveyed the scene. The thrill of possession still caused a knot to form in his gut, part excitement and part disbelief — excitement at the prospect of so many new opportunities on the horizon and utter disbelief at his good fortune. ‘Henk! Prepare to weigh anchor and the Zephyrus will commence her maiden voyage under my command.’
    With a deal of scuttling and scuffing the crew raced to the braces while the boys scrambled up the ratlines and out along the yards. Canvas spilled down, unrolling in the wind like thunder and within moments the schooner’s bow drifted towards open water. Picking up the offshore breeze the spotless white sails filled. Christian turned to Henk with a grin. ‘Isn’t that a prettier sight than those old smoke-blackened sails?’
    â€˜Might be a prettier sight if that’s what you’re after. I doubt it’s going to be a profitable one.’ Henk hawked his disgust over the deck rail.
    â€˜You’re going to have to come to terms with it. The depression hit hard. With the decline in the price of whale oil it’s no longer the goldmine you imagine. I intend to keep the Zephyrus running. I’ve no intention of operating her as a whaling ship any longer.’
    As they left the Cove and passed out into the Derwent River the wind increased, the sails blossomed and the Zephyrus, true to her name, skimmed the waves of the broad reaches of the river as the open sea beckoned.
    â€˜The old man’ll be tossin’ in his grave, especially if he knew she’d become a bleedin’ hen frigate.’
    â€˜The old man left the Zephyrus to me and I make the decisions. It was his express desire that we quit whaling. And you and the crew have been given the choice. Sail with me on the Zephyrus as a trader, or go and sign up with another whaling ship. There are plenty that’ll take you on.’
    â€˜How in hell’s name are we going to do that? We’re already taking a cut in profit and going to another ship’ll only make it worse. Besides, we’re all owed.’
    â€˜Lighten up, Henk! You’re not going to tell me you’ll miss the stench of the whale oil, are you?’
    â€˜That’s liquid gold you’re talking about and I don’t care what it smells like — anything’s better than the pong of a hen frigate.’
    Christian swung around, his gaze following Henk’s grimy thumb as it flipped to starboard.
    Thick tangles of hair blew across Charlotte’s face and streamed out, bringing a scent that was a far cry from whale oil and infinitely more appealing. Drawn to the wind-whipped figure Christian left Henk at the wheel and strolled down the deck. She stood clasping the rail with both hands, leaning out over the water.
    He stepped up beside her. ‘Your feelings of sickness will pass.’
    She turned and combed her hair back from her face, her smile causing her stormcloud eyes to dance. ‘Oh,