Page 41 of The Swan Syndicate
Jamie shook his head after setting down his mug. “The first one is more likely a decoy. When you’re in a private cove, it can be dangerous sailing out without knowing what might be waiting for you. It’s not typically done, but with the war and the increase in British patrols, it’s more common.”
She nodded. “So, they board the first one, don’t find anything, and sail away. The second ship is safe.”
“It doesn’t always work,” Beckworth added. “The patrols are becoming wise to that, but they also can’t sit in front of the cove for days. If the first smuggler ship doesn’t go far and waits for the second one to leave, they could outflank the patrol, which puts them at great risk.”
Stella frowned. “A risky game indeed.”
“So, where does that leave us?” Lane asked.
“We continue on with our mission,” Jamie replied. “I’ll send a message to Hensley at the next port with our speculations.” When Fitz and Lando growled, he added, “We don’t know enough to change the mission we’ve been given. As far as we know, they could be smuggling fine silks, laces, and china. We know our route. With any luck, Hensley’s response will reach us at one of our next ports.”
The men nodded, knowing Jamie’s decision made sense, but Stella guessed they all wanted to pursue Cheval—even Beckworth. Jamie once told her he didn’t work for Hensley, but since he agreed to the paid mission, he had to follow the plan regardless of his own feelings. If they weren’t on an assignment, she had no doubt the discussion would have gone differently.
“We should make port by evening.” Jamie stood. “That should give us time to run through the pubs. This is a larger port, so we’ll probably need one more two-man team to ensure we cover them all.”
“We should rotate the teams through the pubs every hour,” Fitz suggested. “It will be less suspicious.”
“Agreed.” Jamie turned to Beckworth. “I believe Michelson explained the rigging to Stella this morning. Why don’t you give her a full tour of the ship?” He smiled at Stella. “With Cheval out there, it’s best you know the workings of the ship. I don’t expect trouble, but I would feel better if you can find your way around if you need to help Michelson with injured sailors.”
Beckworth started the tour of the ship by walking Stella around the top deck, explaining how the sails worked, when they used the anchor, and the lines used to moor the ship when docking. He’d been surprised when he stopped to explain the rigging, and she interrupted with what Michelson had taught her.
“So, you’ve already had a tour.” Beckworth leaned against the railing, squinting at the coastline in the far distance, but it was too far away to distinguish anything without the glasses.
“No tour.” She turned her head to see what he was looking at. She had a beautiful profile. A shapely nose, not small nor large, and a graceful neckline. “When you went off to check the cove, Michelson kept me occupied by explaining the lines and rigging. There are two types of rigging, right?” She turned to find him watching her. “What?”
He pulled her close but refrained from kissing her with the men around them. “Nothing. I just like looking at you.” When she blushed, he grinned. He liked that he could still make her blush, considering how bold of a woman she was, her demure side was a rarity. “When would Jamie use a standing rigging?”
“Always. They’re used to support the masts.”
He nodded. “And the running rigging?”
“That’s what Michelson showed me. They’re used to control the sails.”
“And, of course, you know about the crow’s nest—AJ’s favorite job.”
She laughed. “It really is. It’s the climbing and being up high where she can be alone with the wind and the sky. She learned to rock climb after her father died.”
“His heart I believe.”
She nodded, then shielded her eyes as she glanced up to the nest. “The climbing focused her. He’d been a mentor and a good friend in addition to being her father. It was a hard loss for her. But, as is her nature, she became obsessed with learning everything she could and now climbs several times a week.” Her gaze fell on Beckworth with an impish grin. “From the way Finn tells it, she’d gotten a sparkle in her eye the first time she glanced up and saw the ladder. That’s what you call it right? The ropes they use to climb up?”
“I think you have the basics.” He tapped the tip of her nose. “You’re getting too much sun. Let’s explore the lower decks.”
He kept a hand at her waist as he steered her below. Although she was familiar with the galley, he pointed out where the first aid station was located next to the pantry. “When you have time, you should probably review everything in here. From what I’ve been told, it usually holds sutures, bandages, and the like. But when Maire spent time onboard, she added a fresh selection of various herbs and tinctures. There should also be a few bottles of medicine that Bart supplies, mostly for pain and infections.”
“I miss that old man. Does Jamie send someone out to his cabin in the woods and hope not to get shot?” There was humor in her question.
“Bart puts a package together every few months, and Lincoln delivers them to Hensley. Jamie picks them up whenever he’s inBristol.” He led her to the navigation table where Jamie kept his maps neatly stowed except for two that were currently spread across the surface. Four small brass figurines of what looked like mermaids held down the corners. A compass, pencils, an hourglass, and a journal lay on the topmost map.
He explained how the charts worked, and Stella followed along for a while, but he could tell when her interest waned. It wasn’t obvious. To most people, you’d assume she was still listening, but her fingers played at the edge of the map.
“I think that’s enough of that.” He clasped her fingers. “If I don’t stop, Jamie will discover his charts have turned into giant swans.”
“Sorry. I get the gist of it. This was another area AJ loved. It’s interesting, but I’m afraid I’ll never understand all the squiggles on the maps.”
They were alone at the table, so he took the opportunity for a sweet kiss—gentle but with lots of promise. Her hand ran along his thigh, and he stepped back. A wicked smile crossed her face, but she moved past him and turned right down a hall.
He cleared his throat. “That’s the way to the captain’s cabin.” He turned her left, past their cabin and the one next to it.
