idea what to do. Mae was feeling poorly but told her to leave the child with her and try to seek the help of the captain.
Captain Wakefield received Elise in his cabin. Though he must have known of her position as a slave if not a woman of ill repute, he was very polite and understanding.
“I’m afraid I have no medical personnel aboard.” He rubbed his hand over his graying whiskers. “My first mate has some medical knowledge, but I know for a fact that he has no experience with children. I suppose that would be better than nothing—” He stopped short, and a light brightened his expression. “There is a woman aboard with three children. Perhaps she might know what to do.”
“Who is it? I’ll speak to her.”
But the captain hesitated, seemingly flustered. “Well . . . I . . . uh . . . that might not be . . . you see, she is a minister’s wife.”
Ah yes. Again, Elise had forgotten who she was and the great impropriety it would be for a genteel woman to associate with her. But she wasn’t about to back down, not when Hannah’s life was at risk. She had already sacrificed much for the sake of this child.
“Captain Wakefield, could you speak to this woman? Perhaps she will relay any information she might have through you.”
“That’s an excellent idea! I’ll do that very thing. You go wait in your cabin, and I will be there directly.”
Rebekah opened her cabin door to find Captain Wakefield standing before her.
“Good evening, ma’am.” He was a soft-spoken man with a gentleness about him one did not expect from a sea captain.
“Good evening, Captain. I’m afraid my husband is not here.” She could think of no other reason for this man’s visit. Benjamin was off somewhere at his evening prayers.
“Actually, ma’am, it is you I wish to see.” He quickly and somewhat awkwardly explained his mission. “The young woman feels she is too far beneath your station to expect you to come to her, but I will gladly impart to her any wisdom you might have.”
“Well, that’s nonsense, Captain. I see no reason why I shouldn’t go to her.”
“Ah . . . it’s just that . . . well . . . your husband might not approve.”
Rebekah knew her husband had many quirks, but snobbery wasn’t one of them. He had often visited the poor in their Boston neighborhood and ministered to them.
“I’m sure you are wrong. My husband has encouraged me to serve the poor.”
“It’s more than that, ma’am. I mean, there’s more to it, but it just isn’t proper for me to say more.”
“Captain, you are not making sense. And as we stand here mincing words, a child lies ill. My husband isn’t here, so I must make the judgment. And I say I need to see this child for myself before I can help it. Now please wait a moment while I gather up a few things.”
Before the captain had arrived, Rebekah had been feeling sick herself with a queasy stomach from the rock of the boat, but suddenly she forgot about that. She had always been a person eager to serve others, but more than that, it was exhilarating to make her own judgment in this particular matter without having to seek her husband’s wisdom.
“Micah,” she said as she gathered a few items into a satchel, “please mind your sisters while I go on an errand.”
Feeling a lightness in her step she had not felt in weeks, Rebekah followed the captain down the corridor.
CHAPTER
13
R EBEKAH WAS SHOCKED TO FIND four women sharing a tiny cabin half again as small as the one she shared with her family. It was stuffy inside and reeking with the stench of seasickness. Had Rebekah not been so intent upon her mission, she might have wondered at the peculiarity of four women, two obviously women of color, traveling together.
But upon entering the cabin, the crying baby immediately absorbed her attention. It was all the more pathetic in that the poor child was having quite a difficult time breathing. The young woman holding the baby was in nearly as much
Captain Wakefield received Elise in his cabin. Though he must have known of her position as a slave if not a woman of ill repute, he was very polite and understanding.
“I’m afraid I have no medical personnel aboard.” He rubbed his hand over his graying whiskers. “My first mate has some medical knowledge, but I know for a fact that he has no experience with children. I suppose that would be better than nothing—” He stopped short, and a light brightened his expression. “There is a woman aboard with three children. Perhaps she might know what to do.”
“Who is it? I’ll speak to her.”
But the captain hesitated, seemingly flustered. “Well . . . I . . . uh . . . that might not be . . . you see, she is a minister’s wife.”
Ah yes. Again, Elise had forgotten who she was and the great impropriety it would be for a genteel woman to associate with her. But she wasn’t about to back down, not when Hannah’s life was at risk. She had already sacrificed much for the sake of this child.
“Captain Wakefield, could you speak to this woman? Perhaps she will relay any information she might have through you.”
“That’s an excellent idea! I’ll do that very thing. You go wait in your cabin, and I will be there directly.”
Rebekah opened her cabin door to find Captain Wakefield standing before her.
“Good evening, ma’am.” He was a soft-spoken man with a gentleness about him one did not expect from a sea captain.
“Good evening, Captain. I’m afraid my husband is not here.” She could think of no other reason for this man’s visit. Benjamin was off somewhere at his evening prayers.
“Actually, ma’am, it is you I wish to see.” He quickly and somewhat awkwardly explained his mission. “The young woman feels she is too far beneath your station to expect you to come to her, but I will gladly impart to her any wisdom you might have.”
“Well, that’s nonsense, Captain. I see no reason why I shouldn’t go to her.”
“Ah . . . it’s just that . . . well . . . your husband might not approve.”
Rebekah knew her husband had many quirks, but snobbery wasn’t one of them. He had often visited the poor in their Boston neighborhood and ministered to them.
“I’m sure you are wrong. My husband has encouraged me to serve the poor.”
“It’s more than that, ma’am. I mean, there’s more to it, but it just isn’t proper for me to say more.”
“Captain, you are not making sense. And as we stand here mincing words, a child lies ill. My husband isn’t here, so I must make the judgment. And I say I need to see this child for myself before I can help it. Now please wait a moment while I gather up a few things.”
Before the captain had arrived, Rebekah had been feeling sick herself with a queasy stomach from the rock of the boat, but suddenly she forgot about that. She had always been a person eager to serve others, but more than that, it was exhilarating to make her own judgment in this particular matter without having to seek her husband’s wisdom.
“Micah,” she said as she gathered a few items into a satchel, “please mind your sisters while I go on an errand.”
Feeling a lightness in her step she had not felt in weeks, Rebekah followed the captain down the corridor.
CHAPTER
13
R EBEKAH WAS SHOCKED TO FIND four women sharing a tiny cabin half again as small as the one she shared with her family. It was stuffy inside and reeking with the stench of seasickness. Had Rebekah not been so intent upon her mission, she might have wondered at the peculiarity of four women, two obviously women of color, traveling together.
But upon entering the cabin, the crying baby immediately absorbed her attention. It was all the more pathetic in that the poor child was having quite a difficult time breathing. The young woman holding the baby was in nearly as much
Similar Books
