New Frontier - 13. NF Chap 13

During dinner that evening, Edwin was often looking in my direction and gave me a smile every time our eyes met, which often made me blush a little. As well as Edwin and James, and all of my staff, there are also the four officers of the yacht dining with us, so it was quite a lively table.

After a very enjoyable dinner, we thanked our host for dinner, and we all headed back to the island for the night, with a light shower, which had most of us fairly damp by the time we arrived at our cabins, and I had a shower to warm up before preparing for bed.

The following morning I was up early and I went for a walk down to the pontoon, to have a early morning look at the yacht, which was absolutely amazing on the inside, and I looked up to the bridge deck and wondered which cabin would be where Edwin is sleeping.

“Good morning,” a voice said unexpectantly which made me jump in fright, and Edwin soon appeared out of the darkness of the upper aft deck. “Cripes, give me a heart attack,” I said as I recovered from the surprise, and Edwin chuckled.

“Sorry about that, please come in, and we can enjoy the sunrise from the Sundeck,” Edwin responded, and I walked towards the main deck ramp and stepped onboard and entered the foyer, before going up the stairs, where Edwin was waiting for me on the upper deck foyer.

From there, Edwin led the way upstairs to the Bridge deck and around the corner, through a door and up some more stairs, until we arrived up on the Sun Deck. “Wow, we are above the tree line,” I commented as I looked around the island, and also part of mainland Tasmania.

“Yes, the top of the mast there is approximately 14 metres above the water, and you can only just see above most of the trees, so most of the yacht is fairly well hidden from the outside world, which was not the case in Strahan, where she was berthed at a private jetty in a small bay just out of Strahan,” Edwin responded.

A steward arrived with a large tray that contained bowls of fresh fruit, yoghurt, a pot of tea and two cups. “Breakfast is served,” Edwin said to me smiling, and he indicated for me to take a seat on the lounge facing East so we could watch the sun rising.

“Wow this is quite amazing, I can’t really get used to all of this grand scale of a yacht, its way more than what I have, and our company has had to work hard to get where we are, with a few hiccups along the way,” I said. “Do you mean the two years that you went missing, where you were working on a cargo ship based out of Singapore?” Edwin asked, “You know about that?” I asked sounding surprised.

“Yes, and a lot more too, a lot due to research, but also I have been briefed by my friends Vic and Rita,” Edwin replied, “Oh, ok, very sneaky, I might say,” I responded, “True, but when I fall for someone virtually at first sight, I wanted to get as much information as possible. You see, because of my title and everything that I have, my cousin Robert has taught me to be very cautious when meeting new people,” Edwin explained.

“I understand. Did I pass?” I asked, “With flying colours, which I am pleased about. Also it helps that you have good friends who are in the Western Australian Police Force,” Edwin replied. “Yes, well Simon who is my skipper for the power yacht called ‘Front N Back’ is actually first cousin to Sergeant Jasper Adamson at Jurien Bay Police.

“He helped me and my Gramps who has passed now, when we first arrived in Jurien Bay, when I was in Year 11,” I replied, “Abusive father from what my research tells me,” Edwin said softly and I dropped my head and nodded slightly, as I tried not to think back to those terrible times in my life.

“I’m sorry to hear that you had to go through that, it must have been real tough. Now on a brighter subject, how would you like to go on a special day tour, you, me, James and Sarah,” Edwin said changing the subject. “Where are we going exactly?” I enquired, “Now that my friend is a special secret, until you get there of course, all I need to know is where the nearest airfield to here is,” Edwin announced.

“There is only one, and that is at north Bruny Island, and there is a scenic flight company based there, the next airfield to that is Hobart International,” I replied. “Wow, we are very remote here, ok well after we have eaten breakfast, and enjoyed the sunrise, I need you to wake up the crew of your fastest yacht and prepare them for a trip to the nearest location to the airfield,” Edwin announced.

“The Bruny Island Scenic Flight group has a mini bus, they can collect us from Ford Bay, near the community of great Bay, and from there it is just a two kilometre drive to the airfield, and if we take the trimaran, we can be there in a little over an hour,” I replied. “Good, I look forward to sailing on a trimaran for the very first time, and I will get things organised once I get my team up and about,” Edwin said to me smiling.

After wonderful sunrise breakfast, we headed back downstairs, where James met us in the foyer. “James always seems to be where I need him, always perfect timing,” Edwin said, “Your Lordship as you know it is to keep you and my former employer happy,” James replied, and Edwin laughed.

“He is referring to my second cousin the Earl of Crawford. Now James, we are going on a day’s excursion, just us two plus Anton and his business manager Sarah, we need to contact Bruny Island Scenic Flights, to book a plane to take us from the Bruny Island airfield to the airfield near home, then arrange for Brad to collect us, and take us to my main office please,” Edwin instructed James, who gave a small bow and disappeared to another part of the yacht.

“How many crew do you have onboard this yacht?” I asked. Twelve in total, not including James, as he is my personal staff, as is Brad, who runs the Strahan Lifestyle Village, that I established, and where my mother now resides. He also manages a few odd jobs for me when needed.

Brad is one of just two old school friends who I told about my heritage and kept me safe from the group of bullies that often caused a few issues in my last year and a half at Grammar School,” Edwin replied. “So, we are going to Strahan today?” I asked, “Yes, that is correct, I have something to show you and a suggestion to present to you, which may be beneficial to your cruise company,” Edwin replied.

“Is Lady Alexandria not coming too?” I asked, “No, she is staying on the yacht for a week, as a bit of a cruise holiday, which she likes to have every two months or so, and the crew spoil her rotten while she is on the yacht, which she happily enjoys,” Edwin replied.

We stepped off the yacht and onto the pontoon, and we were soon walking along the boardwalk towards the little village as I call it, where we found most of the team gathered around the table, and when they saw Edwin, they all stood up.

“Sit, please, this is just a social call, Anton has a few things to organise, I just came along for the walk,” Edwin said as he motioned everyone to sit back down. “Boss; is there anything I can help you with?” Simon asked me, “Yes, when is the next cruise booking please?” I asked and Simon looked towards Sarah who had just arrived.

“That would be tomorrow morning boss, with the Frontier, so leaving here this afternoon with ten guests joining us, and two days later onboard the Catamaran, with four guests,” Sarah replied, “Ok, that means a slight change of plans for us, but that is fine. Simon, you better go and get Vic and Rita from the big yacht, and let them know that they have a cruise lined up, and that they leave this afternoon.

Before you go Si, I will need you to skipper the Front N Back to Ford Bay, and stay with the crew there until we return in the late afternoon, an for your crew, I think we can get by with just Finn and Nathan” I announced. “Yes boss, I will get organised right away, Simon replied, before heading down the boardwalk.

Finn and Nathan stood up and also headed that way, no doubt to get the Front N Back catamaran ready for the sail to Ford Bay. “Where is everyone, what is happening?” I heard my brother say as he and Jedd approached. “Hey lads, well the Frontier is going on a cruise, so they will be setting off later this afternoon, and Lord Edwin, James, Sarah and I are going to Ford Bay, and flying to Strahan for the day on business, so you guys can just sit back and relax,” I replied.

“Why can’t we come along too?” Jedd wined, “Well mate, the scenic plane that we are going on only has five seats, including the pilot, so there isn’t enough room for either of you,” I replied. “Well that stinks,” Jedd complained, “Keep that attitude going my little brother and you will defiantly be in the poo, now mind your manners, we have Lord Edwin here at present,” I said sternly to my younger brother.

“Yeah, what are you going to do about it?” Jedd said testing my patience, and I retrieved my mobile and dialled a number that I knew at the top of my head. “Hello, I have a favour to ask you, would you mind if I sent you two packages, to look after for the rest of this term, and maybe the following one,” I said when the call was answered… “Yes that is who I am meaning,” I added after listening to the response, and then I handed my mobile over to Neale, who looked at me suspiciously, before taking the phone.

“Hello?” he said nervously and moments later he stared at his younger brother in an angry manner, “Do we really have too? I can make him understand that he needs to behave himself, please can we not go?” we heard Neale say into the phone. I watched as I saw Neale’s shoulders drop in resignation.

“Ok, we will come and stay with you Aunty Anita, but I am not happy about it,” Neal said before handing the phone back to me. “I will make the arrangements and text you all the travel details in a day or two. Thanks for doing this for me mate; it is really appreciated, what was that? …. He did, did he … well it is not definite yet, it is early days, you will know more when we talk again, thanks Anita, bye for now,” I said before ending the call.

This time it was me who looked at Jedd in an angry manner, for what he had done by sending a text with some information which was not entirely true. “Ok boys, you are to stay here on the island, and not go on any vessel while we are away, understand?” I said to my brothers, “Yes” the boys chorused to me, before they headed back to the cabin, with Jedd slamming the door behind him.

“What was all of that about?” Edwin asked me, “I will tell you a bit later, lets start getting organised for this day trip,” I replied, now in a bad mood from what had just happened with my brothers. Edwin convinced me to get my swimming trunks on and to follow him back to this yacht.

After changing and grabbing a beach towel, I followed Edwin to the big yacht, where he led me upstairs and forward till we arrived in a spa room, were a staff member was waiting, “Elizabeth is my chief steward and a qualified masseuse, so she will take away all of your worries. Enjoy,” Edwin said before he left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

After a half hour massage, I was definitely feeling a lot better and relaxed, and as I was sitting up, there was a knock on the door, before it opened. “How do you feel now?” Edwin asked smiling, “Much better thanks to your wonderful chief steward,” I replied smiling. “Good, now up to the sundeck for a soak in the hot tub,” Edwin said to me, and that was when I noticed that he too was dressed in board shorts, with a singlet on and his body looked hot.

Another half hour later, all my worries had melted away, and I was feeling so much better. “I wish I could have this every day,” I commented, “Oh you can if you play your cards right,” Edwin replied with a cheeky grin and a raised eyebrow, which made me laugh.

“Time to go sir, the catamaran yacht crew are ready to take us to the airfield,” James said as he arrived with a tray that had two white fluffy towels on it. “Thankyou James, we will be down there shortly,” Edwin replied, and he led me down to the Bridge deck and into his very luxurious suite.

“Wow, this is very … comfortable,” I stated as I tried to find the right words to describe the suite. “It is ok, not as luxurious as my place in Scotland at Fordell castle, now that has very big suites there. Now lets get you comfortably dressed, then we can be on our way,” Edwin responded.

Twenty minutes later feeling very uncomfortable wearing some of Edwin’s neat semi formal clothes, we headed to the yacht were the crew were waiting for us. “Looking good boss,” Simon said as we stepped onboard the catamaran, “Ok Si, lets get moving, we have a plane to catch.

When we arrived at the Strahan Airport, there was a minivan there waiting for us, with a fairly tall chap standing next to the vehicle. “You’re Friend, Brad?” I enquired to Edwin. “Yep, now you can see why he was an ideal body guard in high school,” Edwin replied smiling. I chuckled at that statement, as we approached and I was introduced to Brad, and we climbed in for the short drive to Risby Cove.

“Wow, that is one huge log cabin,” I commented as we climbed out of the van and I looked at the three level building, “Yep, pretty good eh, it is the base for tourist information including cruises on my yacht, and also the top level is my administration base for Australia, which is in regular contact with my main office at Fordell Castle in Scotland,” Edwin replied.

Edwin showed me and Sarah around the ground floor of the building, with the two business areas for tourism, before he took us up to his administration centre on the top floor, and directly into his conference room, where we sat down.

“What I want to present to you, is to have all of your bookings taken care of from the one main location, here in Launceston. My yacht will now be offering cruises in the Macquarie Harbour region, based from Strahan, as well as the Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour, plus the Bruny Island Region,” Edwin announced to us.

“So you want Anton to hand over all booking services over to your office downstairs?” Sarah asked to clarify things.