Commanding Heart by Madeline Evering Page B

have this time
with my uncle if it does not interfere with his duty?” Captain Knight stared
down at her from his great height, his dark blue eyes full of some emotion
Catherine could not read. “Please, make yourself easy, Miss Gibson” he replied
in a low voice: “Enjoy this time with your uncle. I shall arrange to have your
meal sent here, as you request.” With that, Knight took her hand in his and
raised it to his lips in brief salute before turning and leaving Catherine and
Matthews alone on deck.
    Catherine remained rooted to the spot
after he left, her hand tingling from the contact of his lips. Matthews looked
over his niece, carefully choosing his words before speaking: “He is a good
man, Captain Knight. He is all generosity as you can see. I feared at first
that you seemed to dislike him, Catherine?” he finished questioningly.
Catherine turned slowly to face her uncle, struggling to hide the many emotions
at play in her face. “Yes….. No!” she stammered then started again; “I fear I
did not form a favorable impression of Captain Knight at first, uncle. But
now…” she trailed off. “But now?” Matthews pressed gently. “Now,” Catherine said
haltingly, “I must agree with your assessment. Captain Knight is a fine man,
indeed.” Matthews nodded his head sagely, struck not only by her admission but
by the wistful tone in her voice. Perhaps, he thought, there is more than one
reason she does not wish the journey to end? The wise lieutenant kept the
thought to himself and settled down to enjoy Catherine’s company before the
afternoon’s duties would take him away.
    The sun shone brilliantly overhead in
a startling blue sky. The waves lapped gently against the Triton’s bulk
and all seemed at peace – all save Catherine. Matthews watched his niece
closely as they talked together over lunch. Though she did her best to engage
in discussion, Matthews could sense her unrest. He paused in his speech and
asked with fatherly affection; “What is troubling you, child?” Catherine turned
her lovely face skyward and closed her eyes a long moment. The sun warmed her
skin and a gentle breeze tugged at stray wisps of her golden hair.  She strove
to find calmness in the beauty of this moment but she could not. So many things
were troubling her, but at the heart of all was their imminent arrival in Jamaica. She opened her eyes once more and turned to her uncle, her face wreathed in
sadness; “What do you think will happen to me when we reach Jamaica?” The bluntness of her question took Matthews by surprise. He blinked and looked
away as she had just done and tried to find an answer that would satisfy her. Before
he could answer she spoke once again: “When my father sent word that I was to
join him, he requested that a recent portrait of me be sent ahead…..” Matthews
stiffened in response to her words. The brave man had encountered many
difficulties and hardships throughout his life but nothing prepared him for the
agony he felt in this moment. A father to three sons, he knew what it was to
worry about a child, but Catherine’s words caused him pain beyond anything he
had ever thought possible. “You should prepare yourself, Catherine,” he said
with great tenderness. “I expect it is as you guess…. That your father wishes
for you to marry….” Catherine turned away, her bright eyes spilling over with
tears. Her voice was husky as she spoke; “I thought as much, Uncle Matthews,
although I confess I had hoped there might be some other answer.” Matthews
pulled Catherine to him and embraced her with fatherly affection as tears came
into his own eyes.
    They remained together like this for
a long moment before Matthews could speak once again; “Oh dearest heart, what
shall I tell you….” he said with great emotion. “How I wish your aunt was here
with us now. She would know just what to do to make us both feel better.”
Catherine gave a small, sad laugh at his words and leaned against