The Complement

Chapter Twelve

Caspian nodded and winked, "I wouldn't dream of it."

*********************************************************************************

Arabella wanted to ram her head against the nearest wall. Her left temple throbbed relentlessly. Placing two fingers on each side of her pounding head, she massaged in circles, hoping to alleviate some of the pressure. She had hoped that a good night's sleep after the busy day and reading yesterday might have helped, but the pain only doubled, making sleep difficult to impossible.

"Are you quite well, Arabella?" The nasal voice grated on Arabella's sensitive ears and she arched her back, shoulders scrunching up to her ears.

"No, Samuel, just tired. Thank you for your concern. Where are the manifests from the Everlast's last voyage?" Arabella pushed the docket of papers she had been studying back across the desk. "It was supposed to be in this file but I don't see it there."

Samuel stood from his overly ornate mahogany chair and began rifling through the papers strewn across a nearby credenza. "It was over here yesterday. Did you have another appointment for a reading yesterday? I thought Lucretia was going to let you wait until your next birthday celebration."

Arabella's breath whooshed out in a great sigh. "I had thought so as well, but I indicated my desire to attend the Maritime Ball this year and she got a little...eager."

Samuel chuckled softly as he extracted a small packet of papers. "Typical. How did the reading go then? Any progress?"

Arabella accepted the papers. "None at all. How have the profits in the western trading route been holding up? I was concerned about their lack of appropriate textiles in the last-"

"Arabella." Samuel's voice often sounded irritating and contrived to Arabella, but for once his tone interrupted her preoccupation with trade lines and profit. She abandoned her paper trail and looked up at the older man.

Though he was only ten years older than Arabella, she often felt as though there was a much greater age gap between them. The years had not been kind to the man, evinced in his balding, grey head and the increasing bulge in his paunch. His dull brown eyes had lost their vivacious sparkle soon after his Complement, a lovely girl named Rebecca, had passed in childbirth along with their baby seven years ago.

Arabella typically thought of Samuel as a protective uncle, always concerned for her well-being and mentor in the maritime trade world. He chided her on her impulsive headstrong ways and she accepted his goodwill and business advice. The look he leveled at her now had her bracing for a scolding.

"Yes, Samuel?"

"You know it will all work out in the end, yes?" Samuel took a few steps toward her armchair and knelt in front of her, clasping her small hands in his pudgy ones. "Your aura will be revealed soon and even if it is not, you have plenty of options."

Arabella huffed, some in frustration that Samuel would think she was upset about the reading, and some relieved that he didn't suspect the true reason for her headaches. "I know, Samuel, and I thank you for your encouragement. Mother just gets so invested in these readings and quite morose after a disappointing one like last night."

Samuel squeezed her hand lightly, "If it would smooth things over with Lucretia and help you feel more at ease, then I would be honored to escort you to - "

The rest of Samuel's words were cut off as the door to the cozy office banged open and a burly man strode in as if he owned the building. His bushy black hair was caught under a wide brimmed hat, a red feather plume drooping behind. A thick black beard could not hide the scowl set on his face. Samuel jumped to his feet and took a few steps back toward his ornate chair, face paling.

Arabella glanced between the men, curling back into her seat as she felt the malice fairly rolling off the dark-haired man.

He stomped further into the room, stopping just before Samuel's desk and casting a withering look upon the cowering man. He looked about ready to pummel the poor businessman until Arabella shifted in her seat slightly and the Everlast manifest slipped from her lap, spilling to the floor with a rustle.

The intruder's eyes shot to Arabella and he froze momentarily, then winked at her when he noticed Arabella watching him with wide eyes. "Ah, good mornin', lass. I did not see ye perched there so pretty. Why don't ye nip outside while we men talk business?"

Arabella bristled at his dismissive tone, forgetting her intimidation at the man's imposing stature. She rose to her full height, nearly up on her toes, and puffed out her chest, trying to match her opponent's girth. She poked a finger towards the man, scowling as she began her tirade. "I think you may want to rephrase that statement, sir," She fairly spit out and stepped closer to the ill-mannered visitor. "No lady should be spoken to that way, least of all me." She jabbed him in the chest with an accusing finger. "If anyone should be discussing business, it should be-"

Arabella jerked back as Samuel grabbed her forearm and hauled her toward the door. "My apologies, Captain Radcliffe. One moment while I settle accounts with the lady. Please make yourself at home."

Before Arabella could protest further, Samuel had dragged her from the office. The last glimpse she had of the room was Radcliffe flopping into Samuel's pristine chair and propping his large feet on the desk, mud dripping from his boots onto the stacks of paper littered there. His empty black eyes followed her exit, unblinking.

The door slammed behind them and Arabella turned her fury to the hapless businessman. "What was the meaning of that, Samuel? I have a right to be respected in my -"

Samuel slapped a thick hand across her mouth and gripped her shoulder with his free hand. "Hush, girl. I had a reason for that. Radcliffe isn't from the Island. He is very dangerous and doesn't treat women as he ought. I didn't want you to blurt out your role in the office to him. Fates only know what he would do to have some leverage over us."

Arabella nodded and relaxed enough that Samuel felt assured to release her. "I apologize, Samuel, but should you be keeping such clientele?"

Samuel rubbed the back of his neck and glanced sheepishly at her. "He isn't a client."

"Then why do you put up with him at all?"

"He is one of our contracted sea captains. And the best one we have, to be frank. He can deliver goods far quicker and cheaper than any of our other crews."

"That was the captain of the Everlast?" Arabella felt her jaw hang slack.

"Aye. He is a new addition, though. The old captain died last year and Radcliffe snatched the command from the first lieutenant. He's been in the fleet for some years though, captaining other smaller vessels."

"Fine, but why would he want leverage over the office? You are paying him, right?"

Samuel's face turned the ghastly grey color Arabella had noticed on his face in the office when Radcliffe first walked in. "Of course. He's greedy, though. He does not want just to be employed, he wants to take the entire business outright."

Word Count: 1,850