Home of the White Dolphin - Segment 23

Chapter 111

August 22, 1864 – On board the White Dolphin

Mitchell’s question, “How about Robbie as your husband?” had the effect of instantly silencing Blythe’s furious tirade.

Elizabeth saw Robbie looked even more horrified at this question. She tried a bit of cajoling to convince him that marriage to Blythe would be good for all of them. “Mitchell and I will be leaving the ship soon, and we need someone to take care of our daughter.” She hurried before Robbie could say anything. “I’ve been begging Mitchell to buy a place on land where we can settle down. Well, he surprised me yesterday when he finally agreed to do this.”

Meanwhile, Mitchell first tried threatening his daughter. “Robbie said you keep saying you want a baby. Well, I won’t allow that unless you’re married, and I’m serious about that. If you’re not married by tomorrow, Elizabeth and I are going to send you to London’s Tyburn Convent. We’d rather have a nun for a daughter than a disobedient one.”

Blythe gave him a scornful look and called his bluff. “Mama and you’ve been threatening me with that convent since I was little.”

Resigned to his fate, Robbie decided it was his turn to convince Blythe to marry him. “Think about it for a second, Blythe. You know your parents make sense for us to marry. I mean, do you know any other man who’ll put up with you?” Hearing her outraged gasp, Robbie realized he might have said the wrong thing and tried again. “What if I promise to give you a baby?”

“Are you sure you can?” Unknown to any of the adults in the room, Blythe at 17 had no idea where babies came from. Her father thought his daughter should learn about sex from a woman. He assumed Elizabeth had already discussed that subject with Blythe. On the other hand, Elizabeth still became embarrassed at times when in bed with Mitchell. She had been unable to tell her young daughter about some of the unusual and slightly painful ways Mitchell enjoyed having sex.

Robbie, of course, never for an instant considered it his place to explain the facts to Blythe. Her innocent questioning of his virility, however, annoyed him as it would any normal male. “Of course I can,” he snapped, ignoring the big grin on Mitchell’s face.

It took another hour or so before Blythe agreed to marry Robbie later that afternoon. This she did only on the condition that Robbie give her a baby that very night. His promise of “I’ll do my best” satisfied her, even though she couldn’t understand why her mother was rolling her eyes at his answer.

Chapter 112

August 22, 1864 – On board the White Dolphin

Everyone looked in Mitchell’s direction when he let out a loud hoot of laughter. “Robbie, you finally will be wrong about Blythe’s last name. Remember?”

Robbie shook his head, confused about Mitchell’s strange comment. “Her last name?”

“Yeah, when she was born, Elizabeth and I had a slight disagreement about what last name our new baby girl would have. I still remember what you said. ‘You two ain’t married, so the baby belongs only to Miss Elizabeth. You only concepshuned little Blythe. Miss Elizabeth was the one who birthed her.’”

Mitchell couldn’t help gloating, while looking toward Elizabeth. “So, when Robbie marries her, our Blythe Templeton becomes Mrs. Blythe Whiting, and it only took 17 years to get my way.”

Robbie hesitated before slowly saying, “Ah, about that name. You’ve forgotten you came up with the name Robert Whiting when we first met Lord Edgeworth.” Seeing Mitchell did remember, Robbie went on, “Well, the Robert was close since my real first name is Roberto.”

Elizabeth took pity on Mitchell, knowing how much he wanted his daughter to carry on the Whiting name. “Robbie, Roberto is a lovely name. Is your last name as nice?”

“Only if you like Medici. My Pa swore we were related to the Medici family of Florence, but he only said that when drunk.” Robbie said, rather sadly, “That was quite often, I’m afraid.”

Blythe had been silent until then. “So, if I married you, I’d become Blythe Anne Medici?” She wrinkled her nose, not particularly liking that name.

“Not if you don’t want to. As long as Mitchell doesn’t mind, I’d like to keep the name of Whiting. I’ve got too many bad memories with Medici.”

“Maybe it’s time to tell us who your family is and how you ended in that filthy pub.” Mitchell leaned back in his chair, slowly recovering from the surprise Robbie had sprung on them. “Exactly who is Roberto Medici, and where did you come from? I think we should know before you marry our daughter.”

Chapter 113

August 22, 1864 – On board the White Dolphin

Robbie began pacing, wondering what the three people he loved most in the world would soon think of him. Mitchell had rescued him from certain death that day so many years ago. Not once since had either Mitchell or Elizabeth questioned where he originally came from or what he was doing swamping out that pub.

Taking a deep breath, Robbie made up his mind and began. “Ma used to work in a little restaurant near the docks, and my pa would come by for lunch every day. He once told me he fell in love with Ma the first time he saw her. Despite using all his charm, and he had plenty back then, she refused to let him bed her without marriage. She was determined, and he was desperate, so they did get married. My sister arrived almost nine months to the day after that.”

Elizabeth stopped him. “You have a sister? Where is she? Can we meet her?”

Robbie shook his head. “She lives in America now, and I don’t know where. Anyway, I came along about five years after Adriana. Pa was a skilled dock worker and earned enough coin for the four of us to live well. Ma was so proud of our small house and made sure to teach Adriana and me our letters.” He glanced at Mitchell who was sitting silent, simply listening. “You once asked me if I could read, and it was Ma who wanted me to be an educated man.

“When I was around nine, my Pa got crippled at work, losing a leg. The company pensioned him off with a small pittance, not nearly enough for the four of us to live on. Both Ma and Adriana tried to help out by taking in neighbors’ laundry, but even that wasn’t enough.” Robbie saw Elizabeth sharing a look with Blythe, and he wondered what the women were thinking. “Don’t get me wrong, there was no shame in doing laundry. Many women did it to help out their husbands.

“By the time I was ten, Pa no longer was the charming man my Ma married. He’d turned to drink, a bitter man unable to support his family. Having to depend on the women for all his basic needs, he turned mean and took his anger out on me. Never Ma or Adriana, though.” Robbie hurried to get this point across. “Pa never once raised his hand to them, not at first.”

“When Adriana turned 15, she was able to get a job in a London bakery. You should have seen her back then. She was beautiful with long black curls and blue eyes the color of a cloudless summer sky. A handsome toff from the better part of London came in one Sunday and swept Adriana off her feet. She was young and unhappy with her home life, so it was easy for this scoundrel to talk her into marrying him that very day. At least, I hope they got married.

“When she didn’t come home that night, I went to the bakery to find out where she was. There was a note from her saying she’d was going to marry an Edgar Statham. After that, they were taking the next ship to America. We tried to find this Edgar Statham’s home in London, but couldn’t. That note was the last we ever heard from Adriana.”

Blythe went over and put her arms about Robbie’s waist. “I’m sorry about your sister. Your parents must have been so upset.”

“Ma was.” Robbie didn’t want to continue. He knew any sympathy Blythe had for his father would be sorely tested by what he had to say next. “Pa was furious, not at Adriana’s leaving but at the loss of her income. When Ma’s laundry money wasn’t enough, he took to beating her. About a week after my sister left, Ma went out that night to deliver some clean laundry and never came back.

“The police came by a few days later to tell us they’d found her body. Someone probably thought she had some coins on her and dragged Ma into a deserted alley. When they found nothing, they cut her throat and left her there to bleed to death.” Robbie heard Blythe’s little sob and put his own arms around her, pulling her closer.

“Son, I’m so sorry about your mother.” Mitchell spoke for the first time since Robbie started telling them about his past. “Is your father still alive?”

Robbie shrugged. “I have no idea. Pa’s beatings got worse after we buried Ma, and soon I couldn’t take it any more. One day when he’d passed out drunk, I ran and never stopped running. After eating out of dustbins and sleeping wherever I could get warm, I got that job swamping out the pub where you found me.”

He gently took Blythe’s arms away from his waist, his sadness apparent on his face. “So, you see why I shouldn’t marry Blythe. I’m just a wharf rat who doesn’t deserve her.”

Chapter 114

August 23, 1864 – On board the White Dolphin

Blythe was sitting in her mother’s cabin with tears flowing down her face. Elizabeth had just explained that Robbie might need more time to keep his promise.

“He lied to me. He promised to give me a baby right away if I married him yesterday, and I believed him.” Blythe looked at the floor in embarrassment while whispering, “You wouldn’t believe what he did to me, Mama. Would you believe Robbie said this was how women got babies?” This last she said in an outraged voice at Robbie’s perfidy.

Elizabeth took her daughter’s hand in hers and knew she needed to explain Robbie’s actions. Otherwise, the one-day-old marriage might not last past a week. “Blythe, I don’t know what Robbie did to you, but I doubt if it’s different from what all women go through on their wedding night. Perhaps I should have told you the first time with a man can be painful, at least it was for me.” Not wanting to discuss Mitchell’s actions in bed, Elizabeth hurried on. “If Robbie is the considerate man I think he is, he tried to get that first time over with quickly.”

Blythe looked at her mother, sniffling as she began to calm down. “Well, yes, he did. He’d left the cabin so I could change into my nightgown in private. When he came back, he told me I should get into the bed, which I did. Mama, he undressed right in front of me, and climbed into bed all naked.” She looked at Elizabeth, lowering her voice to share a big secret. “Did you know Robbie looks different from me…down there?”

“Yes, dear, that’s what you need to get a baby.” Elizabeth remembered the first time she’d seen Mitchell undressed and understood her innocent daughter’s shock. Perhaps it hadn’t been wise of her and Mitchell to keep their daughter so sheltered on the ship. Learning that 11-year-old Blythe overheard some rather vulgar terms, Mitchell cautioned his crew to watch what they said and did around the impressionable young girl.

“Well, I’m not sure I want a baby if Robbie has to keep doing what he did last night.” Blythe started crying again. “He’s a brute, and he hurt me. He did say he wouldn’t do it again last night, and at least he kept that promise.” She let out a loud wail before she told her mother what happened next. “Robbie said tonight will be better, and the pain will be gone by then.”

Elizabeth let Blythe cry, realizing it was her fault for not preparing her daughter better for her wedding night. After Blythe left to return to her own cabin, Elizabeth made her way topside. She found Mitchell instructing some of his crew on what chores he expected them to finish that day. She waited until he was alone before approaching him.

Before she could say a word, Mitchell spotted her and held up his hands in surrender. “I know, Elizabeth, I know. Robbie already cornered me and told me how upset Blythe is.” He took her arm and walked with her to a secluded place on deck. “If those two have a chance of making a go of it, I think we should leave them to figure it out alone.”

Elizabeth nodded since she’d already come to the same conclusion. ‘It’ll take me only an hour to pack.”

Chapter 115

April 10, 1865 – On board the White Dolphin

“Mama, Poppy, I’m so glad you came.” Blythe slowly made her way across the deck to greet her parents as they came aboard. “Robbie says he doesn’t want me to go ashore in my condition, but I couldn’t miss celebrating Mama’s 36th birthday.” She stopped to catch her breath before continuing the rest of the way. Robbie hovered close behind her, ready to catch his wife if she fell.

This was the first time Mitchell and Elizabeth had returned to the White Dolphin since the previous August. After deciding Blythe and her new husband needed privacy, Mitchell found a small house to rent in the country a short distance from London. Almost immediately, Robbie and Blythe had set sail on a new trading route to the Carolinas in America. The voyage took seven months during which Robbie found plenty of time to get Blythe pregnant.

On learning of their return to London, Mitchell sent a runner to invite them to Elizabeth’s birthday party. Blythe’s parents would meet them at the ship, and then the four of them would walk the short distance to a nearby restaurant.

When Mitchell came aboard and first spotted Blythe, he grinned at his son-in-law. “Son, it’s good to see you keep your promises.”

Elizabeth rushed to her daughter’s side and tried to hug her. Blythe’s large belly got in the way, though. “My goodness, Blythe, when’s the baby due?” Elizabeth tried to remember how big she got with Blythe and knew she never was this huge.

“Mama, I have no idea, but it better be soon,” Blythe complained. “Robbie’s driving me crazy.” She turned to glare at her husband who was standing right behind her. “Today’s the first time since we got back that he’s letting me off the ship. Can we go before he changes his mind, please?”

Taking pity on his daughter, Mitchell led the small group off the ship and toward the cobblestone street next to the docks. Where filthy pubs once filled the area near the water, small stores and the occasional eatery lined both sides of the street. People intent on shopping crowded both sidewalks left muddy by a recent April shower. Used to the comforting noise of the ship and ocean, Blythe covered her ears against the cacophony of people and horse-drawn carts.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” asked Robbie. He stopped to face Blythe, just as they were about to follow Mitchell and Elizabeth across the street.

“Yes, it’s just so loud here. I just hope the restaurant will be quieter. I’m all right, Robbie, really I am.” Blythe managed a smile even as the noise got louder. She waved at her parents waiting for them halfway across the road. Private buggies and wagons of all sizes filled with goods passed on either side of Mitchell and Elizabeth.

Yelling to be heard above the clamoring racket surrounding them, Mitchell managed to tell Elizabeth, “I think it might be safer for Blythe if we go back and help Robbie.” At the same time, Robbie took hold of Blythe’s arm and headed into the street to join her parents.

None of them paid attention to the approaching rumble. Half a mile away, a large wagon was left unattended while the driver unloaded his cargo of beer kegs. Spooked by a sudden noise, the wagon’s team of horses took off, racing madly down the street. The rumbling grew in intensity, shaking the ground under the crowds of people until the wagon passed them. When the sound of the racing hoofs faded off into the distance, a new sound filled the air.

A horrified scream shattered the sudden silence. Another followed and then another, each growing louder and more hysterical. Men nearby crossed themselves while some women fainted at the sight in front of them. Still the screaming went on and on, now verging on the edge of madness.

Continued in next segment

Home of the White Dolphin - Segment 24  (GC) Chapters 116 thru 120 #2091665 by J. A. Buxton