The Duchess out of Time

XII

Sighing with annoyance the Captain threw the sheet from his body and poured some fresh water in his basin. The cool water was refreshing against his face as he rubbed his eyes. Searching for a fresh shirt he slipped it over his head, not bothering to tuck it in as he knew no one would be awake this early. The sun hadn't even risen yet and he enjoyed the mornings to himself when he could have the spray of the sea on his face instead of his mask. Opening his cabin door he took two steps out before he paused and spotted that the Duchess was awake.

Turning on his heels he went back into the safety of his own cabin and snatched his mask from off the floor. Huffing under his breath he tied a firm knot at the back of his head. He went to tuck in his shirt before he threw his head back in annoyance. He was the Captain not her. If he wanted to look improper and not respectable this early in the morning then he was going to! His mediocre mood already spoiled as he left the comfort of his cabin.

Liz stood leaning against the railing, a piece that didn't threaten to break beneath her weight and enjoyed looking out at the sea. It was cold in the mornings before the sun had risen properly. The wind had a cool nip as it blew through her hair. The only reason she was awake so early was because Henry was kicking in his sleep again. It was like that boy was fighting off bad guys in his sleep with the way he let his arms and legs flail about. Enjoying the soothing sound of the waves she closed her eyes and breathed in the salt air.

"The crew better not hear you whistling. We've had enough trouble already." A thunderous snarl behind her made her jump. She hadn't even realised she was humming under her breath.

"Captain! You scared me." She whispered as she placed her hand over her beating heart. She wondered if he could hear it roaring in her ears, threatening to pound out of her chest. He looked at her with a stone cold expression. Gulping she could see in his eyes that he was angry, she wasn't sure what she had possibly done to deserve such anger, but she knew she needed to tread carefully.

"I wasn't whistling. I was humming. There is a difference." She told him in defiance. She had lived her whole life in fear of men, mainly her father, who had more power over her life. She wasn't going to be this meek, weak, poor excuse of a woman. She was determined to hold her ground as his eyes narrowed a fraction.

"I would keep that difference to yourself. Duchess." His words were like a cold hiss. An uncomfortable shudder went down her neck; goose bumps kissed her skin as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Sorry." The whisper escaped her lips before she could stop herself.

"Captain?" Liz called as his whole body froze.

"What!" He snapped as he turned to face her.

"I know you don't like me but can we at least be civil about our current situation?" Liz countered crossing her arms over her chest.

"I don't have to be civil about anything!" He replied as he took two strides before he stood before her, practically pinning her against the railing.

"I just meant...."

"You meant nothing. Stay out of my way." He warned, his warm breathing tickling her face before he was quick to repel from her. It all happened in a manner of seconds. One second his whole body had been pressed against her and the next he was on the other side of the ship. Liz watched him as he lowered a bucket down towards the sea. She heard a 'plop' of the bucket hitting the water before he reeled it back in. Grabbing his full bucket he didn't dare look at Liz before he disappeared below deck. In frustration the Captain wasn't merciful in who he threw the icy seawater on. Several men all spluttered in their attempts to wake up, one even landed with a hard thud as he fell out of his hammock.

"UP!" His harsh words woke everyone with a jolt.

"We've got work to do!" He snapped before thumping his boots as he stormed back upstairs.

"Well someone is grumpy this morning," Edward grumbled before the crew did as they were told and got themselves up and awake. It was rare that their Captain showed bursts of uncontrollable rage. He was usually annoying calm and firm. When Edward had first met him he thought the man was made from stone, he could count on one hand how many times he saw the man smile. He knew deep down the Captain had a big heart for his men and those under his care, he just held his cards close to his chest. In this world they lived in a calm man with a perfect poker face would go far.

The Captain was right as much as Edward hated to admit it. They had work, a lot of work to do. The damage from the storm was excessive. The men set to work for the day repairing what they could. Any part of the ship that could be repaired the men set to work crafting it back together. Liz was amazed at the skills these men possessed. Sitting on top of a barrel, Liz curled her legs underneath her as she figured she would be out of the way as the men worked.

"Make yourself useful" His sharp word broke the trance of watching the men as thick fabric was dumped in her lap. Liz struggled to gain her balance from the thick weight of layers upon layers of white sail that had been dumped in her lap. Huffing in frustration at the Captain, she childishly stuck out her tongue at his back as he let out a growl as though he could see through the back of his head. Snapping her attention to the task he had given her she frowned realising she didn't have any needle and thread. Glancing around she found the reflective glint of the needle in the layers of fabric. It must have rolled away when he had 'gently' thrown at her.

Liz had never been great at sewing on a project of this magnitude. The most she had ever done was when her dogs during their puppy years kept ripping off the ears and tails of their stuffed toys. She had learnt one trick to make it extremely hard for them to re-rip their toys. A surgeons knot. She had been sick of constantly sewing up her toys and had done what every child would do. Looked up a solution on the Internet. Deciding to apply the same technique to the sail, Liz got to work.

Stitch. Stitch. Prick. OUCH!

Holding her fingers to her lips, Liz knew she was going to end up with a bruise tomorrow after the endless pricking of the needle. Trying her hardest to make sure no drops of blood landed on the sail, Liz arched her back hearing a satisfied 'pop'. Her posture had gotten worse and worse as she hunched in her efforts her work to focus as the hours of stitching past. Hearing a large splash she looked up to see the men gathered on the other side of the ship. They had finished throwing overboard the excess wood that had broken off from the top of the mast. Before she knew it the sail in her hand was thrown overboard as well.

"What are you doing!" She shrieked watching hours of work drift off in the sea.

"We won't be needing it" The Captain huffed as Liz stared at him in disbelief.

"But...I've been working on that for hours! Why did you give it to me if you weren't going to use it" Liz was angry and her anger only rose when the Captain ignored her and went to the helm.

"Don't take it personally Lizzie" Her brother told her as she was ready to pull her own hair out.

"Personally? But....why would....I don't....WHY!" She couldn't form her sentences as she plonked back down onto the barrel she had been sitting on. Giving her shoulder a pat and a tight squeeze Liz could see the exhaustion on her brother's face. All the men were exhausted but not a single one of them complained.

"We will be on our way to England in no time"