Against All Odds: Second in the Liza Marchant Series

By Marian L. Jasper

Liza's journey in life continues through the eyes of the modern-day writer Ellie Fuller, and this second book of the series follows her return to America with her husband, Patrick, and children but no sooner are they on their way when disaster strikes and Liza's life is threatened when she is considered a 'Jonah' by some members of the crew.

Many adventures occur on her journey but finally she reaches her beloved town of Benson. There are still highs and lows in her life and when she experiences a powerful vision of the future, she risks her marriage, her family and her freedom by acting on what she has seen.

Ellie Fuller also experiences that vision but she has yet to interpret its meaning, although she knows that what Liza saw and acted upon was so important that the risks that she took were justified.

Ellie also realises that Lord Jamie Edgeworth had played an important part in Liza's life but the current Lord Edgeworth was being particularly uncooperative, as he expressed that he had no desire to delve into the past of someone whom he did not wish to consider as ever having had anything to do with his family. Ellie and her brother, Eddy, knew that they would have to face the wrath of Lord Edgeworth in order to get to the truth.

As the story continues, both Ellie and Eddy are captivated by Liza's enthusiasm and they look forward to experiencing the next chapter of her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Aug 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781528970020

Marian L. Jasper

Marian L. Jasper was born in Hertfordshire and worked in the publishing industry within that area for many years. On the sale of her company, she moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands and eventually owned a small telecommunications company which served all the islands. She and her husband now live near family in Mandurah, near Perth in Western Australia.

Book preview

Epilogue

About the Author

Marian L. Jasper was born in Hertfordshire and worked in the publishing industry within that area for many years. On the sale of her company, she moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands and eventually owned a small telecommunications company which served all the islands. She and her husband now live near family in Mandurah, near Perth in Western Australia.

About the Book

Liza’s journey in life continues through the eyes of the modern-day writer Ellie Fuller, and this second book of the series follows her return to America with her husband, Patrick, and children but no sooner are they on their way when disaster strikes and Liza’s life is threatened when she is considered a ‘Jonah’ by some members of the crew.

Many adventures occur on her journey but finally she reaches her beloved town of Benson. There are still highs and lows in her life and when she experiences a powerful vision of the future, she risks her marriage, her family and her freedom by acting on what she has seen.

Ellie Fuller also experiences that vision but she has yet to interpret its meaning, although she knows that what Liza saw and acted upon was so important that the risks that she took were justified.

Ellie also realises that Lord Jamie Edgeworth had played an important part in Liza’s life but the current Lord Edgeworth was being particularly uncooperative, as he expressed that he had no desire to delve into the past of someone whom he did not wish to consider as ever having had anything to do with his family. Ellie and her brother, Eddy, knew that they would have to face the wrath of Lord Edgeworth in order to get to the truth.

Dedication

Dedicated to my husband, Paul, whose patience has been phenomenal and whose endless cups of coffee have kept me inspirational.

Copyright information

Copyright © Marian L. Jasper (2019)

The right of Marian L. Jasper to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528939669 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528939676 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781528970020 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2019)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Also by Marian L. Jasper

For All Time

First in the Liza Marchant series

Introduction

Are you still having your dreams? Eddie Fuller asked his sister, Ellie. Whereas he had originally had the vivid dreams about Liza Marchant, she now only seemed to visit Ellie. She was constantly with her when Ellie was researching and writing Liza’s life story. In fact Ellie felt that Liza was writing it herself and whilst doing that, Ellie was experiencing the joys and sadness as if she was Liza.

Yes, I am Ed, but she seems to appreciate that I needed a break from writing for a while. The emotions that she had experienced had drained her and she wondered how Liza Marchant had coped with such traumas.

She had felt Liza’s nervousness during her wedding in 1837 to James Marchant when she was just seventeen-years-old and he was forty-seven; she had cried with her when he and his son from his first marriage died and when her own son, Jonathan, died soon after his birth. She had sensed Liza’s frustration with Lord Jamie Edgeworth’s constant amorous pursuit of her which led to her attempt to avoid him by travelling to America with her companion, Kate Templar, only to be followed by him and eventually captured by the Cherokees who believed that she would fulfil their legend that a green-eyed woman would bring prosperity to their tribe.

Ellie’s stomach had shaken and quivered with fear when Liza had travelled to freedom, ending in finding sanctuary in the small town of Benson, where she gave birth to her son, Matthew, and there was also the love that she found with handsome Lieutenant Patrick Kelly and her happy marriage to him, followed by the unremitting sadness she felt when it was unsure that Patrick had really been able to marry her. She went back to Belfast and friends, but Patrick came to find her and assured her that they most certainly were married and after many ups and downs they made their way back to America having taken Patrick’s nephew, John, into their family.

Have you heard from the current Lord Edgeworth? asked Eddie.

Just a brief note saying that it was part of the Edgeworth history that he did not wish to pursue. What he thinks happened I will have to find out, but I won’t let him get away with not saying what his idea of Liza is. I’m sure he has never been given correct information, said Ellie, or the family don’t want to admit that their ancestor’s pursuit of Liza caused many of her problems.

Well, Ellie, you’ve seen her through two, if not three, marriages; a couple of births, and several deaths; where do you go from here? asked Eddie.

It has to be their journey across to New York, she is telling me that it needs to be looked at but she is also telling me that Jamie Edgeworth is still not able to rest in peace until his life is also put in order, replied Ellie.

Chapter 1

Patrick and Liza were in the captain’s cabin, which was relatively large, but the bed seemed very small in comparison to what they had been used to. There was an adjoining room which would be used as a sitting and dining room, and the captain would also be using it for his maps and to dine in. There was another cabin on the bridge deck which was for the boys and Mary. The two boys’ beds were placed virtually together and there was a curtain which meant that their children’s nurse, Mary, could have a certain amount of privacy.

Mary was hanging up the boys’ and her clothes that they would need over the next weeks, and when she had finished that, she was going to come and help Liza to sort out what she would require over the following weeks at sea. Patrick had already sorted out his uniforms; he was very easy to look after.

The boys had their supper with Mary fairly early and were tired so they were in bed by the time Patrick and Liza went in for their dinner. Captain Forde was waiting for them and offered them a sherry. During their conversation over the meal, he told them that they had two families from Ireland travelling to America and that when they docked at Southampton on the following day, there were two more families joining them, one from France and one from Spain. He could not remember how many members were in each family, but he knew that there were children.

He said that it was going to be a little crowded as they were carrying quite some goods for the Marchant & Fuller warehouses in New York. Will they be living amongst the stores then? asked Liza.

Don’t worry, there’s room enough for them to live and sleep and they can walk around the deck at allocated times if the sea is not too choppy, said Captain Forde.

You don’t know how many of them there are then, said Liza.

No, but my first mate does, he has it all in hand. There’s no need for you to worry about them, they won’t be packed like the slave or the ‘coffin’ ships; they will be quite comfortable. All we must do is pray for a calm voyage.

I didn’t see them board today, said Patrick.

No, they’ve been aboard for two days. They don’t have the money to stay at a hotel, so when they arrived they were allowed on board but told not to get in the way of the sailors loading our shipment.

Was that how you travelled over the first time, Patrick? asked Liza.

No, I was on a passenger ship and my stepfather gave me enough money to have a very small cabin to myself. It was cramped but private enough. There were many on the lower decks which appeared to be very uncomfortable and one or two did die on the trip, but I believe that they were already unwell when they boarded, said Patrick.

How do they eat, do you provide their food as part of their passage? asked Liza.

No, they bring their own food, although we would not see them go hungry. They have been instructed on what to bring and how to keep it edible. They can utilise our cooking facilities, but under supervision as we want no out of control fires aboard the ship, said the captain.

Do you take many passengers on this type of trip? asked Liza.

On each trip, we do pick up six or eight families. It’s been a while since we picked up foreigners at Southampton and I do hope that they have understood what is expected of them.

If we have time before we leave Southampton, I can make sure that they understand what they should bring and what they should be doing. How long will we be docked there? asked Liza.

We will be arriving soon after dawn, but not leaving until the evening tide. I take it that you speak French and Spanish then. It would be a great help if you wouldn’t mind doing that. It’s all very well agents telling us that everything is in order, but we haven’t been able to make sure that these passengers know what they are doing, said the captain.

Liza never ceased to amaze Patrick. He had known that she was conversant in languages and he had thought that it was mainly French and of course, Cherokee, but had no idea that Spanish was also in her repertoire. He then remembered the Italian and German families in Benson who visited her on a regular basis. For a short while he felt very inadequate, but then the happy smile on her face which was meant solely for him brought him back into the world that they both wanted to be in. He also remembered that he had to rescue her from one disaster or another on many occasions, so even a very clever person wasn’t immune from needing to be taken care of.

She told Captain Forde that she would be up early the next morning to make sure that she saw the new passengers as they arrived on board, and if there was anything that they needed to acquire before they sailed, she would go with them to make sure that they weren’t taken advantage of.

No my Liza, thought Patrick, I’ll be with you to make sure you’re not taken advantage of.

When they were alone in their cabin, Patrick said, You’re full of surprises.

There are those who are good at sewing and those who are good at cooking, some at writing and some at soldiering. I’ve always found it easy to understand languages; it’s nothing clever as I don’t have to work at it, said Liza.

Yes, well, I know you’re not good at cooking and your sewing leaves a great deal to be desired, but I love you despite your faults, said Patrick with his tongue in his cheek.

She asked him what he would be doing the next day whilst she was with the new passengers and he replied that if she thought that he was going to leave her to the tender mercies of either the French or the Spanish who England had been at war with on and off for centuries, then she had another think coming. I shall be guarding you as a good soldier should.

Mary was taking the boys for a short trip around the town the next morning while Liza and Patrick waited for the new passengers to arrive. Patrick looked extremely official in his uniform with his sword at his side and his firearm tucked into his belt. Liza had acquired from the first mate a list of items that the passengers were expected to provide for themselves and she and Patrick were directed towards one of the warehouses where the two families were meant to assemble.

The warehouse was very dark and intimidating and Liza was pleased that Patrick was with her. In the corner, huddled together, were six people, no, seven, one was a very small child. From what Liza could see, they were in a very poor condition and she looked at Patrick with concern and said, I don’t think these people are in a condition to travel.

Buenos Dias, como estas, she said guessing that they were the Spanish contingent and she was right. She moved towards them and welcomed them to England and the ship that they would be travelling on. She asked them if they had received the list of items that they needed before they could travel with the company. No, they hadn’t. She questioned whether the agent they had paid to get them here had told them anything about what would be needed. Just bedding and clothes, food would be provided. The first mate arrived at the warehouse and Liza translated this unhappy information for him.

Well, I hope they have money to get the provisions that they need for this trip. The agent has taken their money and left them high and dry, but they’re not our responsibility.

But they are as we have been paid for their passage. I’ll see what money they have and what we can do for them. I see that the French contingent has arrived. I hope they have not been misinformed also.

Bonjour Mesdames et monsieur, said Liza. She welcomed them to England and to the shipping company and told them that she would be with them shortly.

She went on to ask the Spaniards what funds they had to cover their provisions as they had been misinformed regarding what was required on their voyage. There was a great deal of chatter and shouting, mostly in panic, but once again Liza was pleased that Patrick was there. The only money that they had was for their future in America and that was very little. What were they to do? She asked them how much the agent had charged them and then asked the first mate how much the passage had cost. The difference was staggering.

Have we any recourse against the agent, asked Liza of the first mate.

I’m sure the company will have, smiled the first mate, especially when you have finished with them.

Right, we’ll take the difference between what should have been a fair price for an agent, plus the passage money and what they have paid and give them the balance. We’ll deduct it from what that agent charges us for his services. He certainly gets it both ways. When we have recouped our funds from him, we’ll stop using him, said Liza and she conveyed this to the Spanish passengers, much to their delight. She told them that when she had spoken to the other passengers she would go with them to the suppliers to ensure that they had everything that they needed.

She then asked the French passengers the same question, but their agent had been honest with them and they knew what they had needed so she left them in the capable hands of the first mate to settle them in and told them that she would see them later to make sure they were comfortable.

Liza looked at Patrick and said that they had some shopping to do at the Marchant & Fuller store. It was not too far to walk and the whole family trooped behind them. Liza had the list of items which were necessary for the voyage and she called the shopkeeper over and told him what was needed for this family.

And how are they going to pay for it? he asked and Liza told him that it was to be placed on an account which would shortly be settled in full.

Who are you to tell me this? he asked and Liza gave him a look that told him to do it and not to query anything she said. You’re Mrs Marchant, aren’t you? he said suddenly realising who she was. He had heard that she was travelling on that particular ship and he apologised to her. She explained to him how this family had been duped by the agent, but the company was going to recoup the money.

It looked as though this family would be having their first decent meal in weeks, and possibly their quarters in the ship’s hold would also be luxury to them. They also managed to get a few extra items that were not on the list, so they became very excited about their trip; they felt that their luck had already changed.

On the way back to the ship, Liza said that she was sorry that the storekeeper had called her by her previous name. You know, she said, I’m very proud to have your name Patrick, but here the name Marchant obviously carries a lot of weight.

He bent down to her and said, It doesn’t hurt me, Liza; you’ve done a great deal of good this morning and part of it is because you are known as the Marchant part of Marchant & Fuller. Well done, you’ve just gained a few more admirers.

They are going to have to learn English and very quickly. They are so very open to unscrupulous people. If they are willing I’ll teach them the basics whilst on the voyage, said Liza.

It will give you something to do on a long voyage. I know you like to be busy. And what are you going to teach me, my Liza. Something special, I hope, said Patrick.

I’ll have to think about that as I know we’ve tried just about everything there is to try, laughed Liza.

The family asked Liza who the handsome American soldier was and she proudly told them that he was her husband and they smiled and nodded at Patrick. They were all helping to carry the goods, and as they approached the ship, some of the sailors rushed to take the supplies from Liza and Patrick and they then guided the family to their places in the hold. Liza told them that she would see them later to make sure they were settled and they thanked her profusely.

Mary and the boys were back from their trip and were being waited on by a sailor who had made them their favourite lunchtime meal of eggs and bacon, but they were not using their fingers to eat with, much to Liza’s relief.

After lunch Liza asked to be taken down to the hold where the passengers were housed. It was not an easy task getting down the steps in her long dress and smart shoes and she was thankful for Patrick’s help. The passengers were settled; they had their beds laid out and there were one or two hammocks. Food was stored neatly and Liza met the Irish contingent for the first time. She spoke to them and found that they were a little on edge with the new passengers and she asked them if they were having problems.

We don’t have much information about what is happening and how long we are going to be on this voyage. Are we going to be allowed on deck at all and if so, when? asked one of the men.

Didn’t the first mate tell you anything? ask Liza.

Yes, he told us a lot of things, and handed us a list which we took to the stores, but there were items on it which weren’t to do with food or clothing and we don’t know what they meant.

Liza looked at her list and asked them for theirs to make sure they were the same and they were. So, they couldn’t read. She smiled at them and said, You will be allowed on deck at allocated times if the sea is not too choppy. They obviously don’t want the workings of the ship to be interrupted at certain times, and those times could vary from day to day, which is why they will be posting them on the entrance to this hold.

Well, that won’t be any use to us, said one of the men. His Irish accent was so broad that Liza had difficulty understanding him.

I’ll make sure that you know, said Liza and she told both the French and Spanish passengers that they would be told when they could go on deck. She also asked them if they had introduced themselves to one another in English, French and Spanish and they all shook their heads. She had a list of their names and so, she introduced them to one another in all languages, and this seemed to break the tension that had been building between them.

She told them that she would now leave them in peace and see them again the next day when they would be well on their way to their new homeland. In the meantime, if they had any real difficulties then they were to ask one of the sailors to get a message to her.

She was asked her name and she replied ‘Liza Kelly’ in all languages. The Spanish woman said that she had been called a different name in the store; she had been called Marchant, which was the name of the shipping company.

Yes, she said, I’m sometimes called that. That was all that she wanted to say on the subject.

Liza was very thoughtful as they made their way back to their cabin. Patrick removed his sword and gun. They are all going to be fleeced when they get to America. They’ll lose all their money and end up begging on the New York streets because they’ll get no further than there, said Liza sadly.

It’s really not your problem, said Patrick, but you’re going to make it so, aren’t you?

Only if they want me to, said Liza.

They would not be sailing until after dinner that evening and Captain Forde joined them just in time for the meal. I’m very grateful for the job you did today, Mrs Marchant, he said.

Liza corrected him, I’m Mrs Kelly now, Captain.

Of course, I’m sorry, he said. The people from Spain were well and truly robbed. Hopefully we’ll get the money back from the agent.

Oh, we’ll get that back all right, it just might take until the next people he wants to thieve from arrive, said Liza. But they are all going to lose everything when they get to America. None of them can understand either English or read it. I’m going to suggest to them that they learn it on the voyage. It will give them something to concentrate on other than the swell of the sea.

You won’t be able to see what you are doing down in the hold. If the weather holds then part of the deck can be used, but really, I suppose you can use this room. How long would you need to use it each day? asked Captain Forde.

It would have to be at least a couple of hours a day. I have to keep up the education of our boys but that can be done in our cabin. If all the passengers want to learn then initially it could be a little chaotic. I really don’t want to take your ready room away from you. The last thing I want to do is disrupt the smooth running of this ship, said Liza.

I can assure you that I won’t let that happen, said Captain Forde.

They may not want to learn; I can’t force them, but I believe it would be a grave mistake if they don’t. We’ve already seen one disaster with the Spaniards, and the Irish had no idea what was on the list of goods needed, and posting notices on the doorway will be of no use to them. The French have fared better, but they also don’t know what anybody is saying to them. I hope they have people meeting them when we dock in New York otherwise they are all going to be in trouble, said Liza.

I had nobody meeting me in New York Liza, when I arrived, but you’re right, Sean and I could read, write and speak the language. We had been educated enough to recognise the money grabbers that were waiting on the docks for all the unwitting immigrants, said Patrick. "These people are going to be fleeced, if they haven’t been already. It’s happened to many people before and no doubt it will go on happening to many more. You can’t help everyone, I’m afraid, Liza."

No but in a small way perhaps we can help these people, said Liza. I’ll go and see them again tomorrow and see if they would be willing to learn.

Have you taught before, Mrs Kelly? asked Captain Forde.

Yes, I’ve had some experience in the past. The difficulty will be finding enough material to write on and instruments to write with. I only have enough with me for the boys’ education, said Liza.

If they want to have lessons then we’ll have to see what we can come up with for you. I have to say that I’m not happy sending these people out into the world so very unprepared to not only look after themselves but their families also. America invites them to go to their land of opportunity and leaves them stranded on the docks, it would be good to give them a proper start, said Captain Forde.

Whether it will be a proper start, I doubt very much, all I can do is make sure they understand the language and know what they are getting themselves into, anything further is down to them, said Liza.

Are you sure you’re not taking on too much, Liza; remember how unwell you became when you were trying to teach the German and Italian families in Benson, said Patrick.

There were also a great many other issues going on at that time, Patrick. It wasn’t just those families that made me ill, don’t forget that we had just lost Danny and Angus and many people weren’t coping well with all that, said Liza.

Yes, you’re right, anyway, I’ll make sure you don’t do too much, laughed Patrick, knowing that he didn’t stand a chance of stopping her once she got started.

When they got to their cabin, Patrick reiterated that he was concerned that she may be taking on too much, but Liza said that they may not want her help, so he wasn’t to worry and she promised not to work too hard and she would save a lot of time for him. I’ll come with you tomorrow to see the passengers, I have an uneasy feeling about what the Irish have let themselves in for and if I’m right then they will find it hard to admit and live with.

That sounds mysterious, Patrick. Is it anything I should know? asked Liza.

No. I’ll sort it and if necessary, let you know, but I don’t want it to get in the way of what you are trying to do, said Patrick.

They heard the bustle of the sailors casting off and the shouts and calls from the docks and they were underway, at last, to America. Liza checked on Mary and the boys and all were awake so Liza suggested that they wrap up and go out on deck to watch the ship leave port. The passengers were also watching the ship leave England and they were on their way to a new life. Liza hoped that she could do some good for them. She would find out tomorrow. Patrick came and put an arm around her and said that they would not see England again for a very long time, if ever.

A wave of sadness swept over Liza, but she was with her family so leaving was not as difficult as it might otherwise have been. They all then went to bed and nobody seemed to be disturbed by the ship’s movement.

After breakfast the next morning, Liza organised some simple lessons for the boys and left Mary in charge and then she and Patrick went to the hold to see the passengers. They had slept quite well and had been relatively comfortable as the ship had been quite smooth.

Liza told them all that she wanted to speak to them about assisting their understanding of what they may expect when they reached America and part of that would be understanding the language. She firstly spoke in detail to the French passengers offering to teach them to read and write in English. They talked amongst themselves but the outcome was that they felt that it would benefit them greatly to have some knowledge of the language prior to arriving in New York. Liza said that she would organise a time and place when they could start.

She then approached the Spanish passengers. They were a little reluctant to take advantage of Liza’s offer but thought that their children should learn. Liza pointed out to them that they had already nearly lost everything due to the fact that they could not understand English and she asked how they were going to communicate with the people they were going to meet when they arrived at their destination and how they were going to distinguish between the genuinely helpful people and those who were only out to take what little money they had from them. Finally they agreed that it could well be a good idea to learn the language of the country that they will call home.

Lastly, she spoke to the Irish passengers. She told them that speaking the language was not enough to help them in America; it was really essential that they could read and write in English also.

That won’t be necessary, said the man who appeared to be the spokesman for them all. Maybe the children could learn something from you, but we don’t need to be able to read. We already have a place to go and somebody will be meeting us in New York to take us to our employment.

Patrick butted in using his best Irish accent. Have you signed up as Bond Servants?

With some hesitancy, the man said that they had.

How did you sign and do you know what you signed? asked Patrick. Liza realised that Patrick knew exactly what he was talking about and this had been his concern.

Mr and Mrs Cavanaugh and my wife and I made our mark in agreement, said Mr O’Rourke, the spokesman.

Patrick nodded and said, I suppose you knew what you were signing for. Was the document read to you then, Mr O’Rourke?

Yes, the man who organised our trip and the work read it all to us, he said.

I hope he was an honest man then, Mr O’Rourke, said Patrick smiling. Come on, Liza you have a lot to organise if you are going to teach those who want to learn.

Liza then told the passengers in their own languages that she was going to get everything ready for them and that they would start the following day and she would let them know the time and lessons were to be held in the Captain’s Ready Room, which seemed to excite them.

On the way back to the upper deck, Liza told Patrick how very wise she thought he was. How long do you think it will be before they ask for our help?

It will probably be this afternoon; maybe tomorrow at the very latest. The proud Irish man may not ask you, but will be more than likely to ask me, said Patrick, and I shall tell him that if he had been able to read then he would know what he had signed. I still have a very uneasy feeling about this; I believe they have been misled, but we will see if they show me their signed agreement.

A couple of times during the afternoon Patrick noticed Mr O’Rourke looking towards him, but he chose to ignore it. He helped Liza accumulate paper and writing implements for the following day. While she was writing out the alphabet on several pieces of paper, Patrick was finally intercepted by Mr O’Rourke and asked to read the Bond Servant agreements of both families.

As he quickly read the documents, he realised that they had indeed been misled over the time that they would be expected to be in bondage to what could only be described as their owner. Patrick said that he would like to study the document further before giving his opinion on its content and if he had no objection, he would like to show them to Liza who has had some legal experience in the past. Mr O’Rourke nodded his agreement.

Liza was in the Ready Room preparing for the next day when Patrick came in. On the way he had asked Captain Forde to join them.

I have been concerned about the Bond Servant agreements that our Irish passengers have signed. In the past I have seen such agreements and know that they can be fraught with at best, misleading terms and conditions and at worst, downright lies. Unfortunately, I believe that these are the latter, said Patrick and he handed one document to Liza and the other to the captain.

When they had both finished reading through the terms, they were both very silent for a while. Liza laid her document on the table and started reading it again. Captain Forde was staring up at the ceiling and shaking his head.

Finally Liza said, Unfortunately, it appears to be a properly drawn up legal document, signed and witnessed correctly. Do we tell them now, or do we wait a little while? Whenever they find out, they are going to be suicidal and you don’t want that to happen.

I was right to be concerned, said Patrick. As far as I see it, not only are the parents in bondage but all the children and any future children will also be in bondage for seven years from the age of eight and as long as there are children then the parents and the older children have to stay in bondage until the last child has served its seven years. I can’t see a get out clause for any of the children who may themselves have children; they will also be under the same rules. And you are saying that this is legal, Liza.

I said that the document has been legally drawn up, signed and witnessed. I didn’t say that the situation was legal. I would have thought that if they have been misled due to the fact that they were unable to read, then there may be a legal way out of such a contract. Do we know this unscrupulous man? asked Liza.

I believe he’s one of your customers and although he sometimes comes to New York to pick up his goods, most of the time, he’s on your delivery list, said Captain Forde.

Do you know what he buys, anything in particular? asked Liza.

He gets just about everything from us, but mainly seed for his large plantation. He also owns and runs a drinking place in his area. We don’t supply alcohol to him, but drinking vessels, plates, cutlery and many other items, said the captain.

Patrick and Liza looked at one another. I’ll have to see this man when I get to New York and he may be returning to his establishment empty handed.

He’s one of your very large clients, Mrs Kelly, so you could be creating a problem for yourself, said Captain Forde.

If he’s such a large client then he is going to suffer considerably having no supplies delivered to him. It’s something that I will have to discuss with Henry when we reach New York. It may be that we will be able to persuade him to alter his agreement to what was believed to have been signed. If people want to be Bond Servants then that is up to them, it is a way that they can eventually start a new life, but when they are tricked into signing their lives and the lives of their children away, that is criminal. I think you had better tell them Patrick that I am studying their documents and will let them know in a day or two. Oh, this is such an example of why everyone should be able to read and write. I do despair of people.

Liza spent a very happy two days revelling in teaching so many willing students. Even the two Irish ladies joined the classes. Matthew and John were as helpful as they could be with the younger children teaching them all that they already knew. Even Patrick came in and assisted with some of the Irish children and towards the end of each lesson Liza would spend around half an hour reading to them, and translating where necessary.

As the lesson on the second day finished, she was approached by Mr O’Rourke and Mr Cavanaugh and she knew that the time had come to tell them the bad news about their Bond Servants agreement. She asked their wives to remain behind after the lesson and also asked Patrick and the captain to join them.

When they were settled, Liza told them that she was going to read their document to them and hoped that it was not going to be a shock for them. She could sense their unease and looked to Patrick for support. He moved around the table and sat next to her.

The first part of the document was in order, but when she reached the details regarding the number of years involved and the members of the family who were also going to be indentured, Mr O’Rourke stood up, banged the table and shouted at Liza that she was wrong and that it was only he and his wife who were to be indentured for seven years, none of the children were to be involved. Mr Cavanaugh nodded in agreement telling her that he would never sign his children away. They were both getting very heated and their wives were also denying what Liza had said.

Liza waited for them to calm down and then said, I’m only reading what is on these agreements in front of me. Can you confirm that this is your mark at the bottom, Mr O’Rourke and can you, Mr Cavanaugh?

They looked at the papers and said that it was their mark, but she must have read it wrongly. Liza turned to Patrick and said, Would you please read it Patrick and then if they are still not convinced, perhaps the Captain would also read one of the documents.

Patrick read the document from the beginning and once again, when the details of the years and who was to be indentured was read, both men looked as if they were going to hit Patrick. He put up his hands and said, Please don’t blame the messenger.

Captain Forde stood up and banged the table also telling them to be silent as shouting was not going to solve the problem. Unfortunately, what has been read to you is exactly what you signed when you were in Ireland and I know that you will probably have signed three documents each, one which will already have been sent to your employer, one retained in Ireland and you have the third. I hate to push the point home, but if you had been able to read, then you would not be in this situation. These people prey on such as you and they have probably made a fortune this way.

Mr O’Rourke was holding his temper in check, and his tearful wife asked what were they to do; they couldn’t let their children be enslaved, she’d see them dead first.

Don’t say that, Mrs O’Rourke; there has to be a way out of this, said Liza.

What are you going to do about it? demanded Mr O’Rourke.

With all due respect to you, Mr O’Rourke, Mrs Kelly doesn’t have to do anything about it. You signed the document and you obviously didn’t get independent advice on it. There may be nothing that can be done but I do know that both Lieutenant and Mrs Kelly are going to move heaven and earth to get you out of this situation, possibly to the detriment of themselves and the company. So, before you start shouting and blaming everyone else, just remember that you did this yourself, said Captain Forde.

Were you cajoled in any way into signing? In other words, were you forced or intimidated into putting your mark on these documents? asked Liza.

These are not the documents that we were told we were putting our mark on, said Mr O’Rourke.

Is there a way that we can prove that, Mr O’Rourke? Can anyone else apart from your family state that? asked Liza.

Yes, the person who witnessed my mark, he said.

I see the signature here, who was he? Not somebody employed by the agent, I hope, said Liza and from the looks on all their faces she knew that she had guessed correctly over who the witness had been.

There are three things that can be done, said Patrick. The first is to appeal to the employer’s better nature, but I’m not sure that he has a better nature. The second is to convince a judge that these documents were not the ones originally shown to you and therefore, should be considered null and void.

That will probably take more money than we have and how would we prove it anyway? What is the third? said Mr O’Rourke.

We’ll have to resort to blackmail, said Patrick quite happily.

How do we do that, we have nothing that we could blackmail them with, said Mr Cavanaugh.

You’ll have to leave that to my wife and myself. It would be better if you don’t know the details, said Patrick.

We must know what you have in mind; it does affect the whole of our families. Please don’t leave us in the dark, said Mrs Cavanaugh.

Captain Forde came to the rescue. Ladies and gentlemen, you know that this ship and the company behind it is Marchant & Fuller and that company can be quite powerful if it chooses. I hope Lieutenant and Mrs Kelly won’t mind me telling you that Mrs Kelly was previously a Marchant and still owns part of that company. Marchant & Fuller supplies most of your employer’s everyday needs. I don’t think I have to say more, and I apologise to Mrs Kelly for talking so freely about her private business.

Liza and Patrick were a little concerned at the smiles and the sighs of relief that came from the four Irish people in the room and Liza felt that she had to say that whatever they may think, she may not be able to create a miracle for them so they should not get their hopes up too high.

I’m sure you can, said Mr O’Rourke, after all, you’ve created one with me; I’m coming to your reading and writing lessons tomorrow.

Me too, said Mr Cavanaugh and they both stood up laughing obviously quite confident that Liza and Patrick were going to solve their problems. They all left still laughing and Liza, Patrick and the captain all looked at each other.

Well, perhaps tonight you’ll bring me a pitcher of water with my meal and I’ll wave my hands over it and then we’ll have some excellent wine with our dinner, said Liza.

We may not be able to do anything to help them, said Patrick, but at least they will have a much more contented voyage in the meantime. At the very least, the employer will not be viewed in a very good light when people learn how he tricks families into slaving for him.

***

Over the next three weeks, the voyage was relatively smooth both in the calmness of the seas and the fact that Liza’s English lessons were running well. It was good to hear the French and Spanish passengers making valiant attempts to communicate with not only their Irish companions but also with the sailors. As always, the children found it easier to learn than the adults, and that meant that they were helping their parents to further their education. Reading was a little more difficult for the foreigners and writing was not easy for the Irish passengers, but they were making great headways, and they all seemed to enjoy congregating in the Ready Room trying to outdo one another with their knowledge. At times, it was quite noisy, but good humoured.

Patrick and Mary also enjoyed being part of the socialising that Liza’s lessons seemed to create and one morning, whilst they were all competing to be the best at reading, the first mate looked into the room and told them all to stay where they were until told otherwise as they could see some very rough weather on the horizon, and it would be safer for them in that room rather than trying to make their way back to the hold. In fact, they had already battened down the hatches in readiness for the swell so they couldn’t return.

The door to the Ready Room had been left open up until that time as the room was rather crowded and they had all felt the need for fresh air, but the first mate insisted that it was now closed for safety reasons.

I know it’s getting a little dark in here, but if we can light the overhead lamps, I’ll be able to read to you and we don’t need as much translation as we used to, but if we come to anything that you don’t understand, I’ll make sure it’s clear for you all. If we are here even longer and it gets too difficult to see, then we’ll get our French and Spanish students to tell us a little about where they come from and let them do it in English as much as possible, said Liza.

We could tell you about where we come from as well, piped up Mrs Cavanaugh.

That’s a good idea; yes, we’ll do that as well. In fact, there’s no reason in the future why we don’t incorporate that into our lessons, said Liza.

It would be interesting to hear your story, Mrs Kelly, so you should go first, said Mrs O’Rourke.

No, shouted one of their children, I want to hear the lieutenant’s story. He’s fought Indians and Mexicans and lots of other battles. I want to hear all about that. I want to be a soldier when I grow up. Please tell us your story.

One day, I may, said Patrick, but we could be here some time, so let’s start with being read a story and see how we get on. He really didn’t want to say what he had done over the years, some of it had been quite distasteful, but he would water it down for the children.

The ship was beginning to rock quite considerably and suddenly there was a flash of lightning and a loud crack which seemed overhead. Each family gathered closely together and Patrick brought the boys and Mary over. He placed the boys on either side of Liza, with Mary next to Matthew and he took up a position next to John. Everyone was becoming uneasy and the ship was listing badly one way and then the other.

Liza looked at Patrick over the head of John and smiled reassuringly and then she did the same to Mary and calmly she started reading to everyone but she now had to raise her voice a little to combat the sound of the waves, the wind and the thunder. The large table that they were sitting at had been secured to the deck presumably for just such an occasion as this, but their chairs were beginning to slip and slide. Liza carried on reading for a while, but it was becoming obvious that sitting around the table was not going to be safe, so everyone was moving towards the walls, although the chairs were going to be a problem but everyone felt safer sitting on the floor up against a wall.

It was felt that the overhead lantern ought to be put out as it was swaying considerably and becoming dangerous. It was now very dark in the room, apart from the lightning flashes which were increasing frighteningly.

Patrick put an arm around John and eased him together with Mary to the corner of the far wall, he then came back but the sea swell was now so vast that he could only cope with getting Matthew over to Mary and John. Liza stood up and was also moving towards them holding on to the table as she went, but then there was a loud crash and part of a book case came adrift and hit her on the back of the head and she fell to the floor. The storm was increasing and the ship tipped again and Liza slid under the table along with some chairs and other debris and as she tumbled with great force, she once again hit her head, this time on the large table leg which knocked her unconscious.

She was nowhere to be seen. Patrick called her name but could hardly be heard above the noise of the unrelenting storm. Mary pulled at his trouser leg and pointed to the floor under the table and when he looked down, all he could see was a small part of Liza’s head and she was bleeding and not moving. He couldn’t get to her from the side because of all the mangled chairs and bits and pieces which were on top of her. He managed to slip under from another angle and started pulling what he could from her, all the time fighting the horrendous listing of the ship. His heart was in his mouth; she wasn’t moving. He pulled a few more pieces of wood from her and slid closer putting his hand on her, he could feel her breathing and he, in turn, breathed a sigh of relief.

As he reached up to move her head, there was another loud crash and the table collapsed on them both, splitting as it went. One of the masts had crashed through the roof and onto the table, luckily missing everyone but breaking the table and pinning both Patrick and Liza to the floor. Patrick was now also unconscious and a large piece of rough wood was pressing heavily on his back.

Liza was having some very strange thoughts. She really wished Patrick would move away from her as he seemed so heavy. He must have been eating too well recently, I must ask him to move, she thought, but somehow she couldn’t form the words. There were some loud noises going on, she wanted Charlie Penn, the carpenter, to stop banging so loudly. What was that screaming? It was Matthew shouting for mummy and daddy and there was another voice saying the same thing.

Mummy, Daddy, he was calling. Ah, that was young John, that’s nice, thought Liza; he’s finally become our son. She also wanted the ground to stop moving and wondered how they managed to build houses with moving floors.

Nobody but Mary and the boys knew that both Patrick and Liza were trapped. There were screams coming from one or two people and Mary could see that some bones had been broken. She couldn’t leave the boys and in a grand effort, she screamed and made herself heard by Mr O’Rourke.

She held the boys closely to her and screamed again until Mr O’Rourke made his way towards her. He realised that Liza and Patrick were missing and he looked to where Mary was pointing and all he could see was a small part of Liza’s head poking from the side of the table leg and blood seeping onto the floor.

Oh dear God, he said. Are they both under there?

Mary nodded and tried to comfort the boys who were crying and still calling for their mummy and daddy.

It didn’t take long for Mr O’Rourke to gather enough helpers to firstly lift and move the mast which was still leaning on part of the table and ease the smashed table top from Patrick and Liza. They carefully removed the splintered wood from Patrick’s back and then lifted him off Liza and the debris which seemed to have accumulated around her again. He was regaining consciousness and it took him a minute or two to come around completely and he could see that Mr O’Rourke was attempting to clear the way for them to get Liza out of the tangled mess that had once been the table and a few chairs.

Regardless of his sore back, Patrick was on his knees also pulling at the debris and finally they got to her and Patrick gently pulled and slid her from the mess. The ship was still rocking badly, but the worst seemed to have passed. Patrick was trying to lift her but his strength seemed to have disappeared and Mr O’Rourke put a hand on his shoulder leading him to the side where Mary and the boys were, while Mr Cavanaugh lifted Liza and carried her to where Patrick was and placed her gently on his lap.

She’s not dead, is she, Daddy? asked Matthew who was still crying.

No boys, she’s not dead. She’s just hit her head and it’s made her sleepy. We’ll be able to make her better when this storm is over, said Patrick.

I thought you both were dead, whispered John between sobs.

So did I, said Mary and Patrick realised that she was also crying.

It took another hour for the seas to ease a little and for the sailors to move the mast away from the door so that they could easily leave. The first mate was the first to enter and was shocked at the devastation that had happened in the room. He had also found that the cabin that he was sharing with the captain had been seriously damaged.

Patrick, Liza, the boys and Mary were the last to leave. Liza now had her eyes open but wasn’t really aware of what was happening. She made an attempt to stand but found that her legs didn’t seem strong enough to hold her body upright which she found puzzling. Patrick carried her to their cabin and laid her on their bed. Their cabin hadn’t been damaged too badly. There were many broken objects and clothes and furniture was strewn everywhere.

Captain Forde came to see how Liza was; he had heard that she had been hurt. Patrick suggested that the boys and Mary move in with them so that the captain and his first mate could at least have somewhere to sleep. So beds were moved and the boys would be sleeping in one bed and Mary could have a little privacy behind a blanket slung across a rope in one very small corner. The cabin was not large, but they would manage through this emergency.

Mary and the boys helped Patrick clear up all that was broken and they managed to move most of their clothes into the wardrobe. Liza was lying on the bed watching what was happening and Patrick was now beginning to worry about her as she was asking nothing and just accepting what was going on. Obviously the bang on her head had done more damage than he had thought. He had already bathed her head and cleaned the wound and she had just smiled at him as if it was a regular occurrence. Hopefully, she would be better in the morning.

It was now late afternoon and nobody had eaten anything since early that morning. There was a knock at the door and a sailor was standing there with a tray with bread and cheese for them. He apologised as they were unable to cook anything that day but they were all thankful for something to eat, even though the bread was a little stale. A bottle of wine was with the food, but there was only water for the boys.

Liza was now coming out of her daze and her head was beginning to seriously ache. Patrick persuaded her to have a little bread and cheese and offered her some wine. She decided that it might be a good idea to put a little in each of the boy’s mugs and fill them up with water; it should relax them a little and do no lasting harm. In fact, she would have the same as she didn’t think it wise to drink too much alcohol with the headache which was getting worse by the minute.

After eating, Liza rested her head and must have slept for a while. When she woke; Patrick was sitting on a chair with his shirt off and Mary was busy pulling splinters out of his back with a small pair of tweezers. Liza hadn’t realised that he had been hurt and told him that she was so sorry that she hadn’t helped him. The boys were sitting side by side watching his face as each splinter was removed and commenting that each one must hurt and whether it was a big one or not. They seemed to be enjoying the experience whereas Patrick most definitely was not.

Liza sat up in bed and watched what Mary was doing. I dare say that smarts a bit, she said stating the obvious. The boys seem to be making the most of your discomfort. We were all very lucky to come through that, have many people been hurt?

One of the French boys has a broken leg and Mrs Cavanaugh has a badly dislocated shoulder. The ships medical man is going to try to put it back in place when he has finished putting a splint on the boy and I think we may hear her shout when he starts. Most of the crew have cuts and bruises but nothing serious, thank goodness, said Patrick.

Of course you were hurt too Patrick, and I didn’t know. I couldn’t even help you, I’m sorry, said Liza.

What do you mean you’re sorry? exclaimed Patrick. "Have you looked in the mirror? Have you seen your face? It’s not me who was hurt, Liza, it was you. You’re the only one who had to be rescued. You have a nasty cut on your head and the beginnings of a beautiful black eye. You also have a bump on the back of your head and when you talk, you don’t make much sense, although that is getting better now. You’re going to have to thank Mr O’Rourke and Mr Cavanaugh and