Bess was silent as they returned to Kingsgate, and she remained quiet for the remainder of that day. “If Sir Francis is hanged, you’ll lose your position as captain of Maid of Kent,” she said at last as they sat in their room in the inn.
Maid of Kent“Is that what’s troubling you?” Smith knew there was more. “You’ve less to worry about than you think. Do you know how ship ownership works?” He poured them both a tumbler of brandy.
“No,” Bess admitted, downing half the brandy in a single swallow.
“A ship is divided into sixty-four shares,” Smith explained. “And most vessels have more than a single owner. In theory, as many as sixty-four people can own one ship, although that would be a rarity.”
Bess held the tumbler in both hands, with her grey eyes fixed on Smith.
“I’ve been purchasing
