Jessop kept a low profile and his inventions and words to himself. No need to antagonize Fin more than he had to. He kept to his duties, his lessons with Patrick or whatever her name was, and listened to Fin’s followers for any clues or news he could get.

Unfortunately his actions did not go unnoticed by Fin. One night when Jessop was on deck on his way to check on the mead’s progress, Fin came out of the shadows and shoved Jessop up against the railing.

“I found a little something that might be interesting you, Andrews or should I call you Aster?”

Jessop felt his stomach do a backflip. He swallowed hard, how could Fin know his true identity.

“What might ye bein’ up to?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Fin.”

“Don’t ya? That strikes me odd. I found me a journal amongst the booty of items we scavenged from the Victory. Can ye guess whose that might be?”

“No,” Jessop answered his mind reeling and searching frantically for a name or an answer as to how this came to be.

“A Lt. Damian Crock. He has an entry about ye and yer very wealthy father—Maximillian is it?”

Jessop didn’t answer he tried to show no emotion whatsoever as Fin revealed his skeletons.

“Don’t know why you’d be keeping such secrets. I imagine the good lieutenant would have sent ye home to daddy for a fee. Or did he not have time to correct the mistake his pressgang had made?

“What I be wantin’ to know is why would ye be lying about yer name when ye came aboard the Revenge?”

“I don’t know, Fin. If you’re so smart, you tell me?”

“I’m thinkin’ daddy liked to beat ya with his riding crop, or maybe he liked to…”

But before he could say another word, Olaf who had just emerged from the middle deck and had overheard a bit of the conversation, gave Fin a monumental shove surprising him and throwing him off his balance.

“What…you. This ain’t concernin’ you, viking.”

“Jesse is my friend and that makes it my business,” Olaf said.

“That’s not even the lad’s name. It’s Cornelius of all things.”

“Doesn’t matter. His name could be Dritthode for all I care. You need to gi rom!”

“Or what?”

“I think we both know I’m bigger than you, I’m stronger than you and in a fight, I will beat you down. Now, se til helvete å pell deg vekk!”

“This is far from bein’ over, Aster. I’ll find out what yer up to one way or the other,” Fin said as he headed to the quarterdeck.

“Was this your dangerous secret revealed?” Olaf whispered.

“No…this…this is nothing. The dangerous secret isn’t mine, it’s just one I have to bear.”

“Well then. That’s a relief.”

“I’m not sure I would agree. Now that he knows my secret, he’ll dig further to see if there’s more.”

“Will he find something?”

“Not from me, but you know how it is with trouble—if you go looking for it, it usually finds you.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“No, but thank you for what you did tonight. Fin was surely looking for a fight and as frustrated as I’ve been, he’d probably have found one.”

“Take care of yourself, Jesse, or should I call you Cornelius?”

“No. Jesse is fine. That’s what my mother called me—short for Jessop my middle name. Cornelius was my father’s idea and like most of his ideas, they’re not to my liking.”

“Goodnight, then Jesse. Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

* * *

A week passed after the incident with Fin. He did not go to the captain for he felt Fin’s eyes always upon him. He wouldn’t inform the captain of what had happened and his true identity until it was safe. They’d already been at sea for three weeks prior so it was just a matter of time before they would go to shore for supplies and that was when he’d make contact with the captain.

They made their way through the Davis Strait, Labrador Sea, then downward into the Gulf of St. Lawrence heading to Diamond Island, looking for lone British ships as they did. Once on land and a night of drinking and eating, Jessop snuck out of the inn and to the lighthouse making sure he was unseen.

He knocked lightly looking around him in the darkness of the night when Patrick opened the door and invited him in.

“I’m sorry to disturb you both, but I needed to talk to you and I didn’t think it was safe to do on the ship.”

“What is it?” the captain asked.

“It’s Fin. He’s found a journal from the Victory where the quartermaster Crock had noted my identity.”

“What do you mean your identity?”

“I mean I’m the son of a wealthy aristocrat—Maxmillian Aster.”

“And you kept your identity hidden, why?”

“No offense, sir, but we had been captured by pirates. I didn’t know what I might be getting into if you knew I was from a wealthy family.”

“Why didn’t you have the Victory return you to your family? I’m sure they would have given your lineage’s ties to the king.”

“I imagine they would have had we gone to port, but we were attacked by the Revenge before it could all be arranged.”

“What is your given name,” asked the captain’s daughter.

“I could ask you the same,” Jessop retorted.

The captain chuckled. “I guess you two really haven’t been properly introduced, now have you. May I present to you my daughter, Patience Hartly.”

“It’s a pleasure. My given name is Cornelius Jessop Aster. I’ve always hated the name Cornelius and took the opportunity of being away from my father to be recognized as Jesse instead.”

“Though I admit I’m surprised by your identity admission I don’t think it is something to be alarmed about.”

“That in itself is not the issue, the problem is that Fin is digging and he won’t be happy until he finds something that he can use against us. I told you Fin’s men have been suspicious about where it is you go when we’re here…If I can easily find that out, don’t you think it’s plausible they might do the same?”

Jessop turned to Patience and said, “And you, you cannot be wearing such garb in the presence of the captain.”

“What? I haven’t been clean and in a dress in weeks, I…”

Her complaints resonated in his head. Seeing her washed, her hair up hanging spirals down to her neck. “You…It’s you, isn’t it. All this time I knew I had met you somewhere. You’re egg woman. You’re Miss Patti.”

His head ached. How could he have not noticed it before? He couldn’t think—heck he couldn’t breathe. He backed away from her as if just being around her was lethal. He tripped over a stool fell backwards hitting his head on a nearby table making stars appear before his eyes before everything washed to a gray-black.

* * *

Jessop felt something snug around his head. His eyes opened and blinked several times. He didn’t know where he was. Nothing looked familiar until a face appeared before him—her face.

“It’s okay. You’ve hit your head pretty hard on the table,” she said to him.

If he could have moved away from her, he would have, but his back was firm against a bed and his head hurt too much to move much.

“Here, drink this,” she offered strange smelling tea.

“What is it?”

“Just drink it. Trust me.”

“Trust you?” he said with alarm.

“Yes. It’s not my fault you’re uncoordinated. I didn’t push you over the stool.”

“Patience. Give the man a moment. He’s only just awoken after a good fall.”

“Fine,” she said in a huff setting the tea cup down hard on the side table.

“How are you feeling, Jesse?” the captain asked.

“A little foggy, sir.”

“I can imagine. I want to thank you for coming here last night to warn us of Fin and his meddling. You’re right, we need to be more cautious about our dealings with him—especially you, Patience.”

“Me? What did I do, Daddy?”

“Jesse has been kind enough to keep our secret, which I’m sure has been no easy task. Fin’s turned his eye to Jesse for the moment, but he’ll be back to us soon enough. I know this has been hard on you, Patience, but it’s going to get a whole lot worse when he starts sniffing around us. No more midnight showers. I suggest too, that you start binding your chest.”

“But no one can see anything with these big blousy shirts.”

“Maybe not, but what if you bump into someone. Something as innocent as bumping you with an elbow could reveal your femininity. Best be safe.”

“Easy for you to say,” she mumbled.

“You think I like seeing my beautiful daughter dressed like a ragamuffin sailor? No. It kills me, but dressed like a man and close to me where I can protect you if need be.”

Jessop was fading in and out during the conversation, but he got the gist of it. He was still trying to make his brain figure out how he had not recognized Patrick all this time to be Patti, but it was no use, it wasn’t working well and he was starting to get a little nauseated thinking at all.

He drank the tea Patti made for him and after twenty minutes or more, he was actually able to sit up and focus on objects around the room. Patti was dressed in her Patrick clothing, though she seemed to be pouting about it.

Patti was able to get food down Jessop and later they went outside for a walk for fresh air and to get Jessop up and about. He kept his distance from Patti. It was obvious she noted it.

They came to a bluff where a large downed tree laid and he asked if they could sit. He was having problems breathing, something that he’d always had trouble with this time of year. He coughed with every other breath or so, making his head pound in pain.

Patti said, “Look at us…we’re sitting next to one another and you haven’t hurt yourself or me?”

Jessop stared at her smirking face for a moment until all he could do was laugh.

“Maybe there’s hope for me *cough* after all,” he sniggered.

“Do you have a cold?” she asked.

“No. I just get this annoying hack from time to time.”

“I might be able to help with that.”

He scooted away from her as a jest and she smiled for a second. She pulled out a pipe and packed it with herbs.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t think smoking is a very good remedy for a cough.”

“Give it a chance. I have a similar affliction—why else would I carry a pipe around?”

She lit the pipe and handed it to him, which he hesitantly took. She urged him on with a scowl. He surrendered and took a couple of puffs. Within seconds his chest felt less constricted and he could inhale fully.

“That’s astounding. What is it?”

“It’s a mixture of herbs…rosemary, lavender, thyme, eyebright, and coltsfoot leaves.”

“I’m very grateful. Thank you. I haven’t been able to breathe this deeply for a month or more.”

“I’ll give you a pouch of it before you leave.”

“That’s very generous of you.”

The wind was starting to pick up on the water as the sun began its descent into the ocean. Its light glowed on her face and brought out an iridescent sheen upon her mahogany locks making them look almost on fire. Jessop had never seen anything so beautiful in his life and he started to lean in to kiss her when he stopped himself knowing how inappropriate it would be.

What was he doing? Had William been right all along? Had he fallen in love with a girl he’d only meant once? But surely that couldn’t be for they’d known each other for months on the ship, and for God’s sake, she’s dressed as a man.

But somehow none of that mattered. It was if now that the veil of secrets had been lifted, things seemed clearer. Or maybe it was just the blow to his head earlier.

“You know that he…the captain, is getting worse,” she said having not noticed his moment of insanity.

“Is he?”

“Yes. He told me not to burden you with his condition, but he’s had two collapses on the ship and I’m quite certain his leg should have be taken. He just keeps putting it off as if another day will make all this madness be solved tomorrow. He’s dying, Mr. Andrew, I mean Mr. Aster…”

“You can call me Jesse. I think we’re familiar enough with one another, don’t you?”

“Yes. I guess we are.”

“I’m sorry. It must be hard watching him deteriorate minute by minute.”

“It’s awful.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Truthfully, no, but I wish you could talk some sense into him. I’d rather be here where we’re not being watched and he can live out his days in a less stressful arrangement. I don’t know how much longer we can keep up this charade on the ship.”

“If his leg needs to be taken, how will I explain that to the officers? Or what if he collapses again and dies? What will become of me?”

“I can’t answer your questions, but I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I do think if I can inform William and Olaf of what is happening, they can help us cover all the possible scenarios that could arise. I, too, wish the captain would retire his duties. Do you know why he won’t?”

“It’s the ship. Any money he ever had, has been invested into the Revenge. It was the only way he could have a ship without having to explain why he had no credentials after he left the navy.”

“What about the money from selling the goods to the patriots?”

“Each plunder is split up among the men as wage. He has a little money set aside, but most of it he sends to me for food and herbs for his illness.”

“And the lighthouse? Does he own that?”

“Massachusetts owns the lighthouse. Mother and I accepted the duties as lighthouse keepers and collect a modest stipend for the supplies and maintenance of it. She thought it was a way to be closer to father when he was away. When mother died, I applied for the position and since I already lived there and knew how to maintain it, they granted me acceptance. The problem is that with me away, I’ve had to delegate the work out and if I don’t come back for a more permanent stay, Massachusettes may revoke my tenancy.”

“Makes for more complications, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I agree with you. Something needs to be done and soon.”

She nodded as she contemplated, looking out over the ocean. “I suppose we should be getting back.”

“Yes, and I should be heading to the inn before anyone gets suspicious.”

They returned to the lighthouse, heavy in thought. Jessop talked a bit more with the captain about a possible alternative and tried to change his mind about going back to the ship, but the captain would not hear of it so he said his goodbyes and headed to the inn.