The Frozen Bride

Chapter 3

The ship they would embark on was of a medium size. It was a trade ship, filled with the fine cargo of silks, teas and fine spices. The captain was a surly man with eyes as cold as the sea he sailed and with hands the size of bear paws. Eleanor shook his hand the way a young boy might and almost gasped at his crushing, vice-like grip. The sudden change in her expression earned her a glare from the giant of a man she would call her captain for the next few days.

Quinn quickly decided he didn't like this man. He didn't like any man who glared at Eleanor or who's gaze slid up and down her figure menacingly. Heat spread down his neck at the thought of him touching her, or worse. Suddenly he wanted to shoot this devil man between the eyes. Quinn grabbed her other hand and yanked her away from the captain.

"Stay away from him," He warned in a whisper. 

"Don't worry, I will." she answered, clutching her aching hand. 

~*~

Over the next three days Eleanor stayed mostly in her cabin, only venturing out for meals and the facilities. She did her best to avoid her captain, who she later learned was named John Davis. Eleanor shared her cabin with Tom and Quinn. Nate slept in the room across the hall with the cook's son. One day she was with Tom, who was teaching her how to tie knots. While she was topside the cabin boy approached her. 

"The cap'in wants to see ya in his quarters." 

She gulped and bit her bottom lip, "Me?" she squeaked. 

"Am I talking to anyone else?" he retorted in frustration. He walked away, shaking his head. Eleanor went below deck and crossed the dimly lit hallway to the Captains quarters. Stopping at the door she took a calming breath and knocked on the rough wood. A faint "come in" from inside cued her to open the door. She opened it wide and stepped past the threshold. 

"Alexander, I need to talk to you, for there is urgent business we need to attend to."

"Yes, sir." Eleanor was greatly unnerved by this man; something about him was off. 

"I was wondering something." The corner of his mouth twitched, " I was wondering how you lasted this long without one of the boys noticing that you aren't who you say you are."

She froze; he knew? But how? She had taken every precaution. 

"Your name isn't Alexander. I don't believe you are even slightly related to Tom." John eyed her with amusement. It was as if he was expecting her to gasp with surprise at his cunning. Eleanor thought hard about how she should play this. She had been dealt low cards in this mental poker game, and her opponent had just called her bluff. Lying had gotten her into this situation, perhaps the truth could get her out. 

"You are correct, Captain; I am not. I was wondering when someone would connect the dots. What tipped you off?" 

"One night your door was open and I saw you take off your cap. Your hair spilled out of it, long and black. Also when the wind picks up it plasters your baggy clothes to the feminine shape of your body."

"You are very observant, Captain."

"Yes, I usually won't abide a stowaway, but since we are so close to home I won't have you thrown overboard." He stood from his desk. 

"Oh, you are too kind, Captain." she spoke with feigned sincerity, "May I take my leave?" 

He confirmed her request with the slightest nod of his head. Eleanor couldn't wait to leave. She turned to open the door. Like lightning his hand shot out and whipped her wool cap from her head. Her silky black hair tumbled down her back. She faced Captain Davis and blew a frustrated breath from her nose. He held her cap to his nose and inhaled. 

"Give it back, please." she held out her hand, greatly unnerved. 

He grasped her wrist and yanked her towards him. 

"I'll thank you to let go now, Captain." she said, a mix of fury and fear building inside her.

"You, my dear, can call me Johnny." 

"I shall not ask again, Captain." She ignored his request.

"Why so formal, darling? You don't wanna hurt my feelings, do you?"

Eleanor glared at him and yanked her hand from his grasp.

"I couldn't care less." 

She spun on her heel and had just put her hand on the door handle when John picked her up and held her by the back of her shirt. 

"Now you've gone and hurt my feelings." he said in a mock pout.

She thrashed her arms and legs to no avail. The tips of her shoes were half a foot off the floor. Eleanor cursed her stupidity that allowed her to get into this situation. 

"Come on, darling, be a good girl now." 

"Unhand me, Captain!" she growled at him. 

John set her down and leaned his muscled frame against the door post, his eyes hungry for her. 

"If you say so darling." 

"I am not your darling!"she said with fire in her voice. "My name is Eleanor!"

He didn't seem phased by her furious outburst, instead he seemed to enjoy her anger. 

"Mmm… Eleanor…" he acted as though her name was a delicious treat that he was savouring. "Eleanor…" her name rolled off his tongue, "I quite like it." His lips quivered. 

"Open the door or you die." She said with tight lips. 

He gave a small chuckle, low and soft as he pushed his body off the cabin wall. Eleanor moved backwards, keeping her hand ready to pull the knife from her boot.

"You've got a lot of nerve to talk to your Captain like that. Where I come from you respect your superiors, and you always obey." 

Eleanor's fingertips touched the bare wall farthest from the door.

"I obey no one." She reached for her blade but was quickly pinned to the wall by a strong arm. 

"Don't move, darling. You are perfect right where you are. "

He stooped his towering frame down till his lips were scarcely a breath away from hers. Eleanor tried to move, but she couldn't. 

"Don't move, darling," he said in mumbled speech. "Don't move…" 

John's lips touched hers, then smothered them. His mouth moved to her cheek, her ear, then her neck. His beard scratched her face. All the while her throat was frozen. It felt tight and restricted. She wanted to scream before this went too far, but she couldn't. She couldn't stop him. With every ounce of strength she had she tried to fight him off, but she was no match for this mountain of a man. 

"Let me go, sac à merde!" She yelled, finally finding her voice.

"Shut up!" He threw her to the floor. Eleanor tried to scramble to the door but he pounced on her before she could even move an inch. "I'm gonna enjoy this..." he growled before he started to kiss her again.

~*~

Tom rushed down the steps and into his room. Eleanor wasn't there. 

"Shit!" She must still be in his quarters. The man was notorious for whoring, and Tom feared Eleanor's fate. Did he know about her? Tom prayed to the high heavens he didn't. Quinn sat in the corner of the room and looked up at the flushed Tom. 

"Whats up with you?"

"Eleanor is with the captain! He called her into his room and I haven't seen her since." Tom spoke with rapid urgency.

"WHAT!?" Quinn practically jumped up. "I asked you to keep her safe!!" He rushed past Tom and began to run down the hall to the captain's room. He hit the door dead on but it stood fast. 

"It's locked!" Quinn gestured for Tom to come and help him break down the door. Inside he could hear muffled voices and the sound of a body hitting the floor. Together Tom and Quinn broke open the door. The sight before him stopped Quin dead in his tracks. 

They were both on the floor, Davis on top of Eleanor, practically smothering her. She was in nothing except a thin chemise, and Davis had removed his shirt. In a split second Quinn's eyes met Eleanor's, tears pouring from them. She mouthed the word 'help'.