Wild Rover No More: Being the Last Recorded Account of the Life & Times of Jacky Faber Read Free Page B

that’s better. Have another sip.”
    I did sit then, and attempted to quiet my heaving chest. “What I am going to do, Higgins,” I said, more quietly now, “is outfit the
Nancy B.
for a cruise down the southern coast, deliver a cargo, then put in to New Orleans and kill that scheming bitch in the most gruesome way possible.”
    â€œNow, Miss, I know you do not mean that—”
    â€œYes, I do, Higgins,” I retorted. “I befriended her, helped her out when she was in need, shared my bed with her, introduced her to my friends, gave her shelter from the storm, employed her in Faber Shipping Worldwide, and now I find I have clasped an asp to my bosom! And if Richard marries her, I shall have to call her Lady Allen! Oh, God, not that! I can’t stand it.
I just can’t stand it!
”
    I stood and collected myself, then said to Higgins, “After that, I shall ready the
Nancy B.
for a cruise to the South Seas. Faber Shipping already has routes into the Oriental spice trade, and the
Lorelei Lee
is prospering in bringing Irish workers to New York and Boston. When I get back, I will load more armament on the
Lorelei Lee
and take her out on the broad ocean, and woe to any person, any company, any nation, and any vessel that dares to interfere with my trade. If need be, I shall turn pirate, and to hell with all of them!”
    I paused for a shaky breath.
    â€œAnd I will tell you this, Higgins,” I continued, “I am done with love and the false love of young men. I will live single all my life, and this time I mean it. Do you know what love is, John? Do you? I will tell you: It is humbug . . . Humbug and nothing more! I have hardened my heart and will have nothing more to do with it, and I vow to become the most ruthless, heartless, determined businesswoman on this globe. Faber Shipping Worldwide will prosper and will cover the world, and I will rule that empire. We will sail in three days. If you want to go with me, you are most welcome. As for now, John, good day, as I want to be alone.”
    I seethed . . .
 
I fumed . . .
    HUMBUG!
    Â 
    â€œI sense you have suffered much, Jacky,” says Ezra, putting down that letter and picking up Clarissa’s again.
    â€œYou may rest assured that the readings of those letters were not high points in my life. I sense that Higgins accompanied me on the last cruise to make sure I did not carry out my threat to kill the divine Miss Howe. Trust me, the
Nancy B.
went nowhere near New Orleans or Kingston on our last jaunt. Furthermore, you may also trust me when I say I shall suffer no more in matters of love.”
    â€œUmm,” he says, continuing to muse. Finally, he says, “There might be a complication here, a complication of an immediate . . . personal nature, Miss.”
    â€œHow so? I believe I have my personal affairs in order.” I sniff primly.
    â€œPerhaps. May I direct your attention to a particular paragraph in Miss Howe’s letter? Yes? Very well, to wit: ‘Mr. Fletcher . . . Oh, yes, you will probably want to know about him. We parted at New York and he took ship for England, while I continued on to New Orleans. I believe he will try to regain his commission in the Royal Navy, and I say good luck to him. Actually, I think he still loves you, poor man.’”
    â€œSo? I do not care where he is or whom he loves. Good luck to him. He is out of my heart and out of my life.”
    â€œPerhaps you noticed on your way here that HMS
Shannon
is docked on Long Wharf?”
    â€œYes, I did, but I am done with the British Navy as well, and British Intelligence, too. I am now a simple Yankee trader and proud of it. John Bull has no more claim on Jacky Faber.”
    Ezra opens a drawer and pulls out a slim white envelope. He passes it over and I see that it has
Miss Jacky Faber
written on the front. Suspicious, I let it lie on the desktop