Chapter Text
It was one of the coldest, bleakest and stormiest winters that Anthony has ever seen. Even when standing right next to the fire atop of his lighthouse, the cold couldn’t be expelled from his bones.
The year 1798 was coming to an end, and this century was slowly creeping to the next. Tomorrow would be New Year’s Eve, but for Anthony it wasn’t any more special than any other day. He would only be annoyed from the loud sounds of the festivities going on in the town. He never liked crowds, or people in general for that matter. He was content with the life he had, far away from everybody, as the lighthouse keeper for the harbour of Crestgate.
He was only in his early forties, but looked older. The sea wind has accelerated the greying of his hair, and years of staring at the waves, shielding his eyes from the setting sun have left wrinkles in the corners of his eyes. Spending his years alone, but never really lonely. Until that summer day, merely a few months ago. When she passed by his lighthouse, riding on a black steed. A summer breeze in her brown hair, heading to the beach a bit further ahead. His gaze had followed her there, and watched her as she pulled up her skirts to let her feet cool in the water. He had felt a huge urge to walk up to her and introduce himself. But he couldn’t. He wasn’t good with people. He could live with the fact that the entire town saw him as a hermit, but not with the idea of the most beautiful woman in town thinking of him as a fool.
She had seen him stare, leaning on the balustrade atop the lighthouse, and gave him a shy smile. Anthony has seen her smiling, and that image has stayed in his mind and heart as if a picture was taken at that very moment, and was glued stuck to his eyes ever since.
The unknown beauty has been riding past for many times that summer. Bathing her feet in the surf, or gazing upon the sunset over the waves. And every time, Anthony was watching her, his heart aching and rejoicing at the same time.
If only he knew her name…
But Anthony had other things on his mind today. Ships were sailing in and out of the harbour, and he had to make sure all of them passed the reef separating the bay from the sea safely. One of those ships was a big, white barque called the White Pearl. It would come to the harbour today, and set sail again shortly after midnight tomorrow. In the meantime, the townspeople could go on deck to celebrate New Years.
The arrival of this ship has meant a great deal for the people of Crestgate. It was a small town with a small harbour, and having a ship this magnificent visiting its port was a rare privilege. The White Pearl was a fairly new ship, and was planned to sail to many distant places. Many people used this occasion escape the town, if it was for a short while or even forever.
The ship captain came by Anthony’s lighthouse that afternoon. He was waiting for him outside by his front door. Approaching him was a tall man with long black curls tied up in a ribbon.
“Captain Peter Kaperson.” The man introduced himself, while shaking Anthony’s hand firmly.
“I trust you know that we will be sailing out the harbour on New Years night?”
“I was informed about this, yes.” Anthony replied.
“You are also aware that there is report about a storm that night?” Captain Kaperson asked with a worrying frown.
“Yes, I am. These reefs are already treacherous as they are, but with high waves it becomes quite the challenge indeed to pass them. I advice you to stay a bit to the right side of the cove. The water is the deepest between the reefs on the left and the cliff on the right”
The captain peered pass the lighthouse, to the narrow strait that Anthony just described.
“It will be a tight squeeze, but I think we will make it. Luckily, the White Pearl is a sturdy ship. It will not topple that easily.”
“I have no doubt that it is…” Anthony said absentmindedly. While the captain had his gaze turned to the cove, another person approached. As the figure came closer, Anthony recognized his love, the girl from last summer.
But she had no eye for him, and was clearly looking for the captain.
“Well now, I expect to see your beacon lit once we depart. May it guide my ship to calmer waters.” The captain shook Anthony’s hand again, and turned around, to see the young woman approaching him.
“Good afternoon Captain. I was hoping to speak with you today. Your crew told me I could find you here at the lighthouse.” She said.
“I just finished my business with our friend here. How can I be of service, my lady?” Captain Kaperson said, while he took the girl’s hand and kissed it.
“Well, I will be boarding the White Pearl tomorrow night, but I was wondering, since there is talk about bad weather, if you will still be sailing on New Year’s Eve?”
“Well, my friend here and myself had just been discussing this. Don’t worry dear; the White Pearl will depart on schedule. I was assured that with the light from the lighthouse guiding the way we can depart safely from Crestgate harbour. Isn’t that right mister… ehm..?” The captain looked at Anthony, who realized he never got to introduce himself.
“Kacher. Anthony Kacher, sir. And yes, I assure you that the ship will leave the harbour in one piece.”
“Oh, good.” The woman said. “Personally, I can’t wait to set sail. Rather today than tomorrow.”
“I can’t make it any earlier than tomorrow, I’m afraid.” Captain Kaperson said. “Until then, I hope you enjoy the festivities. And I will see you tomorrow.” He bowed his head, and left.
The woman was still standing there, and Anthony suddenly realized he was staring at her all this time.
“So, Anthony Kacher, was it?” The woman said. “I think it was about time we got introduced.” She stepped forward and shook his hand. “Joanna Hewlett. Pleased to meet you.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” Anthony stuttered. Finally he knew her name. And what a beautiful name. Joanna… who was sailing away from Crestgate tomorrow.
“So, you’ll be leaving town then?” Anthony asked.
“Yes.” Joanna sighed. “I was thinking about it for quite some time and now the opportunity finally presented itself. And it’s a nice idea to leave at the turn of the year. It puts some added emphasis to making a new start someplace else.”
“Where will you be going?” Anthony hoped that she wouldn’t go far.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Joanna smiled. “Anywhere but here! The ship will make port at many places. I will see where it will lead me.”
“Crestgate can’t be that bad?” Anthony asked.
Joanna shrugged. “It’s…. a nice town, surely. I grew up here. But there is more to the world that this.”
Anthony felt like she was hiding something. Joanna gestured vaguely to the sea while talking, and her gaze was avoiding his. He was curious what could bother this fair lady, but decided not to enquire about it.
“It is indeed a nice town. The view from up the lighthouse is quite splendid. You can see the whole town from there.” Anthony said quickly. There was not a better excuse he could think of to spend some time with her, even just for a moment.
“How about you show me that view, mister Kacher?” Joanna said playfully.
“Oh please, call me Anthony.” He said. “I’m no ‘mister’. I’m just a simple man.”
“Alright… Anthony.” She smiled again.
That smile of hers… never before has a woman smiled that much in such a short timespan at him. And after tomorrow, he will never see that smile again. He could not help but stare in awe at the beauty she revealed with that smile.
“Well, aren’t you going to take me up there?” Joanna said after a while.
“Oh, yes, of course!” ‘Shy, lumbering, idiotic fool!’ Anthony thought to himself. The most beautiful girl in town was talking to him, and all he did was stand there as some halfwit. He opened his front door, bowed his head and made a welcoming gesture. “After you, milady.”
Joanna pouted her lips amused, and entered the small cottage attached to the lighthouse.
Anthony led the way to the stairwell to the lighthouse, and up they went.
“When I was a boy, my father always joked this lighthouse counted ten thousand steps. I remember it sure felt like ten thousand steps at the time. It’s no more than fifty or so, in reality.” He explained while making their way up. Joanna didn’t reply. Judging from her heavy breathing, she was too focussed to make it to the top in the first place.
Once at the top, Joanna said: “My apologies, my physical condition isn’t what it used to be.” And kind of laughed it off.
“The view is worth it, I promise.” Anthony said, as he led her around the torch, to the edge.
“Indeed! You can see the whole town from here!” Joanna exclaimed, as she approached the ledge. After admiring the view for a while she pointed to a large house just outside the town main square. “That’s my house. Or... well... was, by tomorrow.”
“That’s quite the abode!” Anthony said. “Why on earth would you leave a palace like that behind?”
“It will not be left behind on it’s own. My mother is still there… and…” she paused, and the smile left her face. It was quiet for a while, but then Joanna perked up again, and said: “But what about the view on the other side?”
Anthony merely gestured towards the direction of the cove. Joanna skipped past him and sighed deeply as she laid her gaze upon the waves that were stretching towards the horizon.
Anthony came standing next to her, and watched as the sun was already beginning its decent.
“Have you ever sailed out there?” Joanna asked after while.
“No. My father was a sailor for a while. But he preferred to stay ashore and make sure that the local sailors did not get lost in the night. After he died, I took over the lighthouse and that was it.”
“Not really a very adventurous life, is it?” Joanna smirked.
Anthony shrugged. “It suits me.”
“You don’t come into town that often, do you?”
“No. I don’t really feel the need to.”
“You’re quite the hermit, are you?” She smiled again, and bit her lip. “Or am I insulting you now?”
“Oh, of course not, milady!” Anthony said hastily. “I’m used to it by now, I mean.”
He laughed nervously. He saw Joanna didn’t buy it.
“Why don’t you come into town with me, just for once?” she said. “You showed me your view, I can show you mine.”
His heart started pounding. Was she really inviting him to her home? How on earth could he refuse that?
“I don’t see why not…”
“Good!” Joanna slipped passed him, making her way to the door to the stairwell. Anthony followed, hardly believing his luck.