His blue eyes glittering with anger, Jamie clenched his fists. “Let me punch him for you, lass.”
“No, listen to me. I fear he means to buy one of those ladies for . . . immoral purposes.”
Jamie frowned at her. “And what would ye be knowing of a man’s immoral purposes?”
“Father, I grew up on a farm. I can make certain deductions, and I know from the way he looked at me, the man is not looking for someone to scrub his pots.”
“What can I do aboot it?”
“If he decides he wants one, you could outbid him.”
“He would just buy another, Ginny. I canna be buying the whole ship. I can scarcely afford this one here.”
She bit her lip, considering. “You could buy one more if Aunt Mary pays for George. She can afford it much more than we.”
“Nay.” Jamie shook his head. “I willna have my sister paying. This is the least I can do to help Mary before we leave. Besides, I seriously doubt I could outbid the dandy even once. Look at the rich way he’s dressed, though I havena stet clue why a man would spend good coin to look like that.”
The ship rocked suddenly, and Virginia held fast to her father’s arm. A breeze wafted past her, carrying the scent of unwashed bodies. She wrinkled her nose. She should have displayed the foresight to bring a scented handkerchief, though not as overpowering as the one sported by the lavender popinjay.
Having completed his leisurely perusal of the women, Mr. Stanton was now conversing quietly with a young boy.
“Look, Father, that boy is so young to be all alone. He cannot be more than ten.”
“Aye,” Jamie replied. “We can only hope a good family will be taking him in.”
“How much for the boy?” Mr. Stanton demanded in a loud voice.
The captain answered, “You’ll be thinking twice before taking that one. He’s an expensive little wretch.”
Mr. Stanton lowered his voice. “Why is that?”
“I’ll be needing payment for his passage and his mother’s. The silly tart died on the voyage, so the boy owes you fourteen years of labor.”
The boy swung around and shook a fist at the captain. “Me mum was not a tart, ye bloody old bugger!”
The captain yelled back, “And he has a foul mouth, as you can see. You’ll be taking the strap to him before the day is out.”
Virginia squeezed her father’s arm. “The boy is responsible for his mother’s debt?”
“Aye.” Jamie nodded. “ ’Tis how it works.”
Mr. Stanton adjusted the lace on his sleeves. “I have a fancy to be extravagant today. Name your price.”
“At least the poor boy will have a roof over his head and food to eat.” Virginia grimaced. “I only hope the dandy will not dress him in lavender silk.”
Jamie Munro frowned. “Oh, dear.”
“What is it, Father?”
“Ye say the man was interested in you, Ginny?”
“Aye, he seemed to like me in his own horrid way.”
“Hmm. Perhaps the lad will be all right. At any rate, ’tis too late now. Let me pay for George, and we’ll be on our way.”
An Excerpt from
TURN TO DARKNESS