His eyes narrowed as he witnessed this, straining his neck to watch them proceed toward the front of the ship. She was holding on to the young girl’s hand, walking along with her and occasionally allowing herself to slip into a skip or a run. He found himself unexpectedly drawn to her vivacious and unreserved nature. She seemed not at all concerned what others might think of her actions.
With his mind engaged on the scene playing out before him, he gradually became aware of someone standing next to him, disturbing his preoccupation and speculations.
He turned to see a woman standing by his side. She was definitely striking, more so in a fashionable than handsome way. She had been gazing off across the room, but when he turned his eyes upon her, she met his gaze and knowingly mistook it as a sign of the gentleman’s interest.
“Good afternoon, sir.” He was taken aback by her forwardness. “What a relief it is to finally find someone onboard this ship who obviously frequents the same circles in society as I! I can certainly guess your thoughts at the moment. You are thinking how insupportable it will be to spend a month in such tedious company as found on this ship.”
Darcy’s jaw tightened as he pondered his response. “Your assessment is more correct than you would imagine.”
She smiled, pleased with his apparent agreement. “My name is Eleanor Brewster.” She held out her hand, extended with her palm down, in hopes that he might take it and bestow a kiss upon the top of her hand.
She was more than disappointed when he merely answered, “I am Fitzwilliam Darcy,” and gave a quick, short bow.
Despite her disappointment, she asked, “Are you travelling with family?” She looked around him and quickly added, “Are your wife and children with you?” She put on a smile that was intended to evoke a response.
Darcy eyed her suspiciously and felt the all too familiar sense of discomfiture come over him as she continued her ploy of persuasion. The very fact that she claimed to frequent the same circles of society as himself, yet was completely disregarding the dictates of that society by approaching him and beginning a conversation with him, appalled him. She obviously thought herself above the good manners of polite society, having the unrivalled audacity to approach him so boldly.
Every movement of hers was meant to entice and ensnare, but Darcy was more annoyed than allured. He forced a civil smile upon his face and offered a simple, “I am travelling alone.”
This pleased her greatly. Desiring nothing more than to continue the conversation, she asked, “May I inquire, sir, as to why you are heading to the colonies?”
Darcy, lacking all desire to continue this conversation or encourage this woman, replied with a paramount lack of enthusiasm, “Strictly to retrieve my sister and then return to England as soon as possible.”
“Oh, sir, what a kind brother you must be! To have such concern for your sister, to give up at least two months of your life to travel to and fro…” Her hand went up to her neck and she fingered a rather large brooch that hung there as she calculated her next comment. “But perhaps, Mr. Darcy, while you are there, you might find the need for a companion to show you around. I would be…”
“I think not,” Darcy interrupted.
His response was not the one she wished for. Darcy felt a surge of agitation infuse throughout his body and he impatiently excused himself, bowed, and turned away. He quickly finished the tea and set his cup down, anxious to put as much distance as he could between this woman and himself.
As he quickly headed for the door, an older man and his wife entered, followed by a young lady in her late teens. The older man greeted him and immediately introduced himself.
“Good day, sir. My name is Gerald Summers.” He extended his hand and Darcy reluctantly, but civilly, extended his.
“Fitzwilliam Darcy,” was his only response.
Summers jovially expressed his pleasure at making the acquaintance. “And may I introduce my wife, Henrietta Summers, and my lovely daughter, Miss Angela Summers.”
Darcy bowed to both, sensing that the father and mother were eyeing him and going through a checklist of sorts of eligible suitors for their young daughter. He sensed uneasiness rather than eagerness, however, in the young girl’s demeanour.
“May I assume that you are travelling alone, sir?” Mr. Summers inquired.
Darcy nodded reluctantly. “You assume correctly.”
“Good, good! You can complete our table tonight at whist. Can we count on you?”
Darcy took in a deep breath. His natural tendency would lead him to brusquely brush him aside and not give a second thought about putting him in his place. But he knew spending a month with the same people in the confines of this ship required him to make more of an effort at civility, so replied, “Thank you, Mr. Summers, but I rarely play. If you will excuse me…”
Darcy removed himself from a most discomfiting situation for the second time in just a few minutes. As he walked past them, he sighed. How am I ever going to endure a month on this ship without keeping myself sequestered in my cabin?
Darcy walked out, eager for some fresh air before he finally succumbed to temptation to return to the solitary confines of his small, private room.
It has begun, he groaned to himself, and it was only the first day.
He absently found himself turning in the direction in which he had seen the young lady and the child earlier, but apparently she was no longer up on deck.
***
Later that afternoon, the captain made his way down to steerage to address the ladies. When he came in, he welcomed them to his ship and informed them that he had come to give some general guidelines for travelling aboard Pemberley’s Promise .
“Ladies, I know that some of you have husbands in the men’s steerage compartment, but I do not want you to think that this announcement is not intended for you. I have some things to say to all the women as commonsense guidelines, and you would be wise to listen. I am especially directing this to those women who are travelling unescorted, however. I strive to make this ship and the journey we are on a safe and pleasant one. But I cannot guarantee the character of everyone onboard this ship. Of my crew, I will say without doubt that they will behave as gentlemen around the ladies. If I hear word otherwise, they will suffer severe penalties. But as for the other passengers on this ship, I cannot vouch for them all. Therefore I say this to every woman. Do not walk around this ship after dark unescorted. I can only guarantee your safety to a degree. Again, if there is any impropriety that you become aware of, please inform me. If there is anything you need, please let me know.”
The captain ended by giving instructions for various things they would need to know for this voyage, ending with meals. The meals were served in a large dining area that would also be available to lounge in during the day and into the evening. He gave them the hours meals would be served, along with some other essential information, answered some questions, and then left.
After the captain departed, Elizabeth found her way to the large dining room. She seated herself at a table with some women she had met in steerage who were now joined by their husbands. She enjoyed making their acquaintance and conversing with them.
The meal that night, as it would be for only a few days, consisted of some fresh meat and vegetables, a little fruit, and a light bread. They had been told, however, that due to the length of time at sea, they would eventually have to subsist on dried, salted meat, hardtack biscuits, and some hardy vegetable such as potatoes. Most other vegetables and fruits, unless dried, would spoil.