Call of the Sea (18 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

Ellie paced the captain’s cabin. Her long wool skirt brushed over the floorboards and tangled around her calves. She pulled at the tight sleeves of the white blouse she’d donned. Her breasts, free of their bindings after years of suppression, felt foreign to her, huge. The last time she’d worn women’s clothing, she’d worn smock dresses and stockings.
How do they walk in all these petticoats?

Mr. Jameson had assured her that a corset was the height of fashion, the tighter the better, but Ellie refused to cross that far over the line of good sense. She did like the mantua gowns he’d shown her, and ordered two of those, one in green and one a deep sapphire with a powder blue sash he’d vowed set off her eyes. Everything else Ellie ordered had been practical and modest. Skirts, blouses, nothing fancy or, heaven forbid, lacy.

Daniel peeked his head in the doorway. “You rea– Oh, my…” His words stuttered to a halt, mouth falling open.

Ellie made a face. “That bad?” She smoothed her hands over the front of her skirt.

“Not at all. You look amazing. Are you ready to go?”

Her fingers played with the ends of her hair where it touched the nape of her neck. She caught herself, wrinkled her nose, and forced her arms back to her sides. “Aye,” she answered finally.

On uneasy steps, Ellie crossed to Daniel, tucking her hand into the crook of his offered arm. “I feel like an imposter. What if I make a fool of myself?”

Daniel placed a warm hand over hers. He leaned close, his breath kissing her ear. “I’ll be right beside you. You’re stunning, you’ll do fine.”

His words sparked a fire in her core, heating her from the inside out. She took a deep calming breath and stepped out onto the quarterdeck with Daniel.

Papa’s crew waited on the deck. All eyes swung their way. The soft murmur of whispered voices reached her.

“Why the hell is Ellis wearin’ a skirt?”

“Who’s the looker with the captain?”

Ellie stiffened her spine, released her hold on Daniel’s elbow, and stepped forward.
No turning back now.
A hand on her arm stopped the words from escaping her throat. She swung her gaze to Daniel.

“Let me do this. I’m their captain now.”

Cool relief washed over her. Ellie nodded and stepped back, allowing him to take center stage. She gripped her skirt to dry the perspiration lining her palms.

Daniel addressed the crew. “Gentlemen, I have wonderful news to share with you all. Something I feel brings a spark of joy to a dark and confusing time for us. Though we recently lost a fierce leader, one we all loved and respected, life forever moves forward, like the never-ending waves of the ocean we make our living on.” He turned, reached a hand back toward Ellie.

Ellie swallowed back a surge of panic and took it, moving to his side. The smile he awarded her sent a shiver along her arms.

“This beautiful young woman, whom many of you knew as Ellis, is actually Elysandra Winters, the captain’s daughter.” Daniel returned his gaze to the crowd. “And now my betrothed, since she’s agreed to be my wife.”

The buzz of voices grew louder. Ellie scanned the assembly looking for Nelson.

He stood with his shoulder resting against the mainmast, arms folded over his chest. The scowl on his face told her he wasn’t pleased.
He’s probably annoyed I didn’t tell him first.

“Once we have completed the repairs on the ship and have her outfitted to sail again, we’ll celebrate the nuptials. But each man should be aware that she will be sailing with us as a member of the crew when we do head out again.” He hesitated, his gaze sweeping over his men. “Anyone who takes issue with that should speak up now. I’ll not be listening to any whining about it later. I’ll just toss your whimpering ass overboard and continue on my way.”

To Ellie’s great surprise, not a single man spoke up. She squeezed Daniel’s hand, indicating she had something to say. “I promise you all, I won’t cower behind these skirts. You’ve seen me at work here on the ship. I’ll continue to lend back and mind to
The Call
and her crew, just like my father did. He considered you all part of his family. I’d like the opportunity to do the same. If you’ll have me, that is.”

After a long silence that danced tendrils of fear along her skin, a voice called out, “Three cheers for the captain and his fair bride to be!”

“Hip, hip!” another shouted, raising a fist in the air.

“Hurrah!” the crew answered in unison, the sound echoing through Ellie’s soul. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Hip, hip!”

Their voices reverberated in her chest.

“Hurrah!”

Ellie removed the lid on the Pandora’s box of insecurity she buried deep within and released its soul-sucking demons. They dissolved on contact with the warm air of reality.

Hip, hip, hurrah!

***

Daniel hugged Ellie to his side, a feeling of euphoria coursing through his body.
This is what home feels like.

“Let me be the first to congratulate you on your nuptials, Captain O’Roarke.”

General McTavish stood at the top of the gangway, flanked by four uniformed soldiers. Each was armed with a sword at his left hip.

Daniel’s heart lurched into his throat. How long had the general been standing there? Had he heard everything? He plastered a smile across his lips, tried to look relaxed despite the tension rippling through his muscles. “Thank you, General.” Releasing Ellie’s hand, he pretended he didn’t notice the expression of shock painting her features.

He hurried down the stairs to the main deck and waved the general and his men aboard as if they were guests at a party. “The corsair prisoners I told you about are in the brig.” He had to concentrate to keep his hand from shaking as he extracted a ring of keys from his waistcoat pocket. The general hadn’t even given him the chance to have the prisoners transported as they had agreed not hours earlier. What could the general be up to now? Daniel handed the keys to Jacobs, the closest sailor to him. “Unlock the cages for General McTavish, would you, Jacobs?”

He crossed the deck in a few long strides and reached a hand of greeting to the general, praying he understood why a salute was impossible.

Thankfully, McTavish picked up the cue, taking Daniel’s hand and giving it a firm shake. His grey eyes bored into Daniel. “Tsk, tsk, boy,” he whispered, low enough for only Daniel to hear. “I hope you don’t mind the interruption, Captain.”

The slow tone of his voice set Daniel’s nerves on edge.

“I would have a private word with you.”

“Of course, General.” Daniel directed the general to a more secluded area of the deck. “This way.”

Once they’d moved a safe distance away, General McTavish twirled about to face Daniel. His words hissed through clenched teeth. “Do you think me a fool, O’Roarke? Did you honestly think you could slink off with your imp bride on a mission of revenge and I wouldn’t notice your long disappearance? One might consider such action an act of treason.”

“Oh, no, sir. I had every intention of sharing what I’ve learned, and my plans, when we met again in six weeks.” He cringed as the next words passed his lips. “I’d only just learned from one of my new crewmen the identity of Captain Winters’ assailant.”

The general’s face softened, but only slightly. He rubbed his hands together. “Excellent work. What did you find out, lad?”

“Jashir, the gun-running pirate you hooked us up with, shot the captain. I haven’t been able to figure out why. Not yet, anyway.” The anger Daniel kept under tight control snaked its way out of its hole, obscuring his more logical thoughts. “I plan to ask the bastard right before I run him through.”

The general chuckled, a twisted sort of sound that made the hair on Daniel’s arms stand up. “Has it not occurred to you that someone like Jashir, someone in his position, would need a rather strong reason to kill the man who supplies seventy five percent of his smuggled goods? Why would he cut off such a lucrative arm?”

Daniel’s hands balled into fists at his sides.
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
“I don’t care why. I only care enough to ensure my face is the last thing he sees before he meets the Almighty.”

General McTavish lifted a hand, silencing Daniel. “You asked earlier for your orders. I have them ready for you now, Captain.”

After a deep intake of air, Daniel leveled his glare at the general. “Aye, sir.”

“You will take your little vengeance trip to Gibraltar with your new bride. You even have my blessing on your plan to slit Jashir’s traitorous pirate throat. However, you aren’t to do so until you learn the reason behind his assassination of Captain Winters. If you ask me, someone else is pulling the deadly marionette’s strings. Find out who before you cut the little ropes. Understood, O’Roarke?”

Daniel bit down on the inside of his cheek. “Aye, sir.” His jaw flexed. “Understood.”

The soldiers emerged from below deck, positioned two in front and two behind the dozen or so prisoners who’d survived the liberation of
The Siren’s Call
. Jacobs trailed behind them, his face a mask of disinterest.

“Ah, here they are.” General McTavish stepped around a seething Daniel to greet his men. He addressed the blond soldier at the front. “You know what to do with them. I shall be along directly.”

The soldier saluted. “Yes, sir.” He nudged one of the pirates in the ribcage. “Let’s go, scum.”

The riffraff parade of prisoners marched across the deck and down the gangplank, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the air long after they’d disappeared from sight.

Ellie swept down the stairs, reaching the general at the same time as Daniel.

He had a hard time keeping his eyes from the curve of her waist in the form-fitting blouse, her round breasts.

The picture of the perfect hostess, Ellie awarded the general with a brilliant smile. “Thank you for coming, General McTavish. Those men were stinking up my intended’s pretty ship. I’m in your debt.”

McTavish perked up like a peacock in heat, flushing and bowing grandly before her. He placed a gentleman’s kiss on the back of her hand. “My pleasure, milady. Let it be known the king looks out for his loyal subjects.”

Daniel stared at Ellie. He’d never have believed her capable of such outrageous blarney. But the general slurped up the attention like a starved codfish. It seemed he’d underestimated his bride to be.

Ellie moved to Daniel’s side, her arm slipping about his waist. “Perhaps you would honor us by attending the wedding, General?” she cooed.

McTavish favored her with a smarmy grin. “It will depend on what the king has planned for me. If I’m still stationed nearby, you might convince me.”

Daniel grew tired of the insipid game of cat and mouse. He wanted the vile man off his ship. “Thank you for coming so quickly, General. You truly are an asset to the crown.”

The general blinked, glanced at Daniel as if he’d just realized he still stood beside Ellie. “Yes, yes, of course. You’ll remember what I said, O’Roarke. I expect your complete cooperation.”

Daniel’s shoulders slumped as any hope he had of keeping Ellie in the dark about his affiliation with McTavish disintegrated. He could feel her eyes boring into him. “You have my word, General.”

General McTavish nodded his head, spun on his heel, and left the ship.

As soon as he was out of sight, Ellie turned on Daniel. Anger flashed in her stormy blue eyes. “Care to explain what the hell that was all about?”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Daniel searched for the right words to explain away her doubt, but his oath stood in the way. Not to mention Ellie would be devastated to know the man she looked up to her entire life traded guns to pirates. He gave his shoulders a nonchalant lift. “I went to see the general at The Bristol Inn this morning. I told him about our hold full of prisoners, where and how they were acquired. He agreed to come collect them.”

Ellie narrowed her eyes. “Why did he need to speak with you in private, then?” She settled her hands on her hips, tapped her toe on the deck.

Her stance reminded Daniel of his mother when she’d caught him snagging biscuits from the tin before dinner. “He wanted a detailed account of what happened during the initial attack. I recalled the facts as I remembered them. He told me I would have to give testimony to the magistrate in Truro before we sail and suggested the sooner I took care of my civic responsibility, the better.” Daniel relaxed his shoulders.
Nicely done, O’Roarke.

Doubt still lingered in her eyes. “How long do you think that will take?”

“A coach leaves for the city every third day, but I’ve no idea which day this is on the cycle. I’ll have to check the schedule on the way home, but the trip itself will take a few days each way, and probably a few days to file my testimony with the magistrate, assuming he’ll see me without an official appointment.” The more reasons he had to be away from her while he indulged his seal side, the easier it would be for him to keep his selkie curse a secret. She couldn’t know the truth. He had no guarantees she’d be as understanding about his deformity as her father had been.

Her teeth peeked out to nibble at her lip. “I can see to the repair work while you’re away. I’ve got a full week of sorting to do at Papa’s office, just to get to a place where I can try to organize the piles. Splitting time between the office and the ship shouldn’t be too troublesome. I’ll just tell Mama not to expect me home every night. There’ll be some nights where staying on the ship will be easier.”

Her easy acceptance of his lie sat in Daniel’s chest like a lead weight. He’d finally managed to wiggle his way past the protective walls she hid behind, but if she learned of his deception, Ellie would lock him out forever. He wouldn’t allow that to happen. “I had an idea to run past you. I was thinking about it when you were talking to the crew.”

At her inquisitive look, he continued. “I’d like to head up to the house and speak with your mother. With your da gone, I think it appropriate I ask her blessing on the marriage.” While a small gesture, Daniel was desperate for anything he could do to assuage the guilt eating at him. “What do you think?”