Page 8 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
Amelia smiled. She had not felt this good in weeks. It was about time somebody told her parents, who had grown in self-implied importance since the accolade, what their heritage was.
Besides, none of it made any sense to her. Even if the duke was the seventh in line, at some point, there must’ve been a first in line. Maybe he might have been a lord or something, but along the way, the Templeton French family was once just that, the Templeton French family and nothing more. What was all of the fuss about peerage anyway? Amelia never had been one for the system.
“You are going to Canada to visit your sister, and when Lord Templeton French comes calling, you will comport yourself as it befits the daughter of a noble house. Your sister, Adelaide, has agreed to do the chaperoning with her husband. Is that clear?” said Sir Thomas.
Amelia huffed. “And you don’t worry that I might be attacked by the Americans. If you haven’t forgotten, there is a war going on between this country and that of the United States of America…it would be safer if I remained here until things calmed down.”
“Poppycock! The British Navy has the Atlantic Ocean in her pocket. The yanks don’t stand a chance,” said her father condescendingly.
“I beg to differ. American privateers scourge the sea. They have already captured countless British trading vessels,” said Amelia. “I read that in the newspapers the other day.
Her father seemed surprised that his daughter would even deign to read the newspapers. However, he regained his composure quickly. “Then, you have no need to worry because you shall be on board a frigate of the Royal Navy.” He inflated his chest importantly. “The Duke of Brandon arranged it personally.”
Amelia was about to jump out of the moving carriage, but the thought of Anna’s dream stopped her. She pleated her brow. Weren’t they going on a voyage by sea? Was that not where they would meet their men.This is ridiculous,she thought. She looked up when she heard her father chuckling to find him stroking her mother’s cheek affectionately.
“What’s so amusing, Father?” she asked, not really wanting to.
“Oh, it’s not that it is amusing. It is sweet…the Duke of Brandon said that he wouldn’t ever place his future daughter-in-law in harm’s way, hence the frigate at your disposal, Amelia. What an honor.”
This was going nowhere. Amelia would just have to resign herself to her impending fate and pray for the best. Maybe Anna was right after all, and this was the beginning of a fabulous adventure.
Chapter 5
Black Joe
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, December 1813
“Well, ‘tis our twentieth day at sea, Anna,” said Amelia, gazing over the infinite twinkling expanse of the ocean before her.
The sky was blue and there was not a cloud in sight. The captain of the vessel had said this was very rare at this time of year. Usually, storms would ravage the ocean into a frenzy of angry waves. But that had not been the case. For the duration of the entire voyage, there had been calm seas and favorable winds, propelling Amelia closer to her fate at a far greater speed than was normal. It was as if God had already made up his mind – she was to be the next Duchess of Brandon.
To her great surprise, she had come to enjoy sea travel. Unlike poor Anna, she had not suffered from seasickness. Her lady’s maid had been confined to her bunk for days on end since leaving England. Only when land was a distant memory, had she slowly become accustomed to life on board ship.
Presently, Anna enjoyed it as much as her mistress did. There had been ample time for them to talk, play cards and blush incessantly because of the sailors’ lewd remarks that were hurled at them on a daily basis. Anna enjoyed it a lot more than her mistress did who hardly received any propositions because of her station. Anna no longer felt like a servant, but more like a companion or even a friend to Amelia maybe.
“And, Anna, is this where your dream comes to fruition?” asked Amelia with a smirk on her face.
“It could be. There are plenty of fine men on board the HMS Capricorn.” Anna batted an eyelid at one of her most ardent admirers – Cory Bennett, an able seaman, was the one to whom she directed her attention.
“Oh, do stop it, Anna. One might think you’ve been locked up in a nunnery for your entire life,” chided Amelia.
“I have. Working for your parents is just the same. I haven’t come close to a man other than the servants in your house.” She turned away from the sailor. “This is paradise on earth. So, many strong men who all appreciate me.”
Amelia giggled. “You know just as well as I do what these men appreciate…and it’s not holding hands while going for a stroll in the park.”
“Who’d want to do that anyway?” Anna shrugged.
Amelia burst out laughing. “You are incorrigible, Anna.”
Her lady’s maid became serious. “What about Captain Henry Wimple? He thinks yer the diamond of the first water, that’s for sure.”
“He is handsome.”
Amelia hazarded a brief glimpse of where he stood on the bridge. She had to admit that he looked impressive in his blue frock coat with gold-laced buttons and white trousers with gold lacing. He had a kind face and an even kinder manner when it came to his crew. This was a rarity because Royal Navy captains were either benevolent despots or vicious tyrants.
However, he still was strict and meticulous. A fact that was evident from the cleanliness of the main and lower decks. Amelia often wondered why so many people described naval life as the same as a floating jail sentence. On board the Capricorn, the men seemed happy.
She had asked the captain about this one evening, and he had explained that in the navy, men received ample food, grog and a purpose in life. He had mentioned that this stood in direct contrast to life as a poor man in England where everything lacked. Amelia had smiled when he had said, “Once the sea becomes your mistress, there is no other woman who can outshine her.”
