Uncharted Lands

Delphine had been sitting on the pebbled beach for hours already and still there was no sign of the ship. She shivered and huddled in close, wrapping her arms tight around herself. Her legs had gone numb, and the fair hairs on her arms stood on end, protesting against the cold. Grey clouds scudded across the May sky chased by the biting northerly wind. She had not thought to bring a shawl, the Perseus was supposed to be sailing on the ten o’clock tide and now it must be almost noon. The morning had started fair with blue sky and sunshine, but like so many Spring days, it had failed to live up to its early promise.
At last she saw the tell tale sign of the bow sprite and figurehead making its way through the narrow channel. Waves flecked the hull of the ship with spume. The boat was so close into shore Delphine could see the faces of the boys in the rigging. The top sails unfurled and the ship prepared to turn right into the open waters of the English Sea. With this northerly wind the Perseus would make good speed and would soon be out of sight and on her way to Australia. Delphine could not decide if this was a good thing or a bad one. Every day less that the journey took meant that Jack had a better chance of surviving the voyage, but every mile the ship travelled took Jack further from Delphine.
On the upper deck Delphine watched as the Master turned the helm, the ship responded slowly, she was heavily laden for the voyage, but soon enough the Perseus caught the wind, the sails billowed out and the ship headed north picking up speed as she went. As the distance between them grew Delphine stood up, she was determined to stay until she could see the ship no more.
The town of Ryde stood out sharp and clear across the Solent, today she could easily make out the spire of St Mary’s church on the hill. Robert had told her that this was a sure sign of rain to come, and sure enough fat drops began to fall. Still she did not move. The ship had now reached the north east corner of the Isle of Wight, its three masts now merged into one. Delphine knew that she should go, that standing here in the rain watching the ship disappear over the horizon achieved nothing. But she was rooted to the spot and could not tear herself away. The rain, the cries of the seagulls, the empty beach; were all a fitting backdrop to the scene. So focused was she on the Perseus she did not hear footsteps approaching her across the shingle.
A shawl was placed around her shoulders; Delphine looked around, the spell broken. Delphine’s face was wet with rain.
“I am going to go after him.”
“You can’t.”
“I can and I will.”
Eliza put her arms around Delphine, tears were intermingled with the rain. Eliza took the edge of the shawl and gently wiped Delphine’s face.
“How?”
“I don’t know yet, but I shall find a way.”
“Well one thing I do know is you won’t be going anywhere if you catch your death from pneumonia. Let’s get you home and get a nice cup of hot soup inside you.”
Delphine smiled ruefully, comforted by Eliza’s practicality.
“Yes, you are right.”
Eliza put out her hand and together they walked back towards the city wall.