He was a huge man with a barrel chest. He had a full beard of golden curls, but his head was shaved bald. When he raised his voice to shout orders to the men, it could be heard from one end of the ship to the other. His laugh was full-bellied and his mouth showed the glint of gold teeth. “Jemmy! Jemmy! Take this lady to the small cabin next to mine. Ma’am, I’ll be sailing on the evening tide, I’d be obliged if you can keep to your cabin until after we sail.” He nodded a curt dismissal and Kitty followed the cabinboy below decks. The cabin was small with a neat wooden bunk built into the wall. There was a tall sea chest, which doubled as a table with a stool beside it. There was no cupboard or wardrobe for her clothes, but only wooden pegs on the walls. The floor was bare boards without covering, and the room boasted only three things to add to her comfort: an oil lamp, a tin bowl for washing and a chamber pot. Kitty was quite pleased with the cabin. It smelled salty fresh. The floorboards had obviously been scrubbed with seawater, and she was thankful the bed was clean.
