Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie (23 page)

She blinked. Whatever did he mean? Her eyes widened as understanding flooded over her. He intended to make her his
wife
, not simply give her his name.

Her legs trembled and she leaned against him for support. “I see. But if you wish to live apart once we arrive—”

“Be quiet, Lis.” Her argument was swallowed up by his kiss. His soft lips moved with possessiveness over hers, and he pulled her snug against him. Her fingers splayed over his chest.

Sweet
Mary
and
Joseph.
She could explore Daniel’s hardened body without any cause for shame once they spoke their vows. And he could explore her too. Her stomach somersaulted. The thought of baring herself to his eyes made her tremble even more.

He broke their embrace and captured her hand to lead her to the great room where everyone waited.

“If I may have your attention,” Daniel called, and every eye looked their way. “Mademoiselle Lavigne has accepted my offer of marriage. We shall marry today.”

Cries of delight and applause erupted around the table, even from Serafine. Her cousin bounced from her seat and across the cabin to fling her arms around Lisette. “This is the right thing to do,” she murmured in her ear. “Don’t doubt yourself.”

Why
the
change
of
heart?

“Let’s go below deck. Amelia has the perfect dress for the occasion.”

“Did everyone know his intentions except me?”

Amelia linked arms and whisked Lisette out the great cabin door. “Mr. Ramsey folded under pressure. He didn’t stand a chance at maintaining Daniel’s confidence.”

Serafine and Amelia giggled like young girls as they assisted Lisette with preparing for her nuptials.

“I’ve grown fond of Daniel over the last several months,” Amelia said. “I believe he will make an excellent husband. Perhaps a bit overbearing at times, but from what I’ve seen, he’ll not get away with riding roughshod over you, mademoiselle.”

Lisette bit the inside of her cheek. “Do you think he truly wishes to marry me?”

“Of course.” Amelia repositioned a hairpin and stepped back to admire her creation. “You look lovely. Perhaps I’ll no longer require a lady’s maid once we arrive home. I’ve gotten quite good at arranging hair.”

“You employ a lady’s maid?” Lisette hadn’t given much thought to Amelia’s station in England.

Her friend laughed, her bluest-of-blue eyes sparkling. “What a silly question. No lady goes without one. You must begin interviews the moment we arrive in London.”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t expect a lady’s maid to travel onboard with us. Besides, I’m not certain I should burden my groom with the expense.”

“Dear girl, do you really have no idea whom you are marrying? Daniel Hillary is one of the wealthiest gentlemen in England. Your future husband not only owns the
Cecily
, he is part owner of the second largest shipping company in the world. Daniel, Jake, and their older brother inherited their grandfather’s fortune. You have no cause to worry about burdening him.”

Merde.
Lisette wanted to crawl under her chair. At The Abyss, she had called the owner of the
Cecily
greedy. She buried her face in her hands. “I am a complete fool.”

Amelia hugged her. “You’re nothing of the sort, dearest. And you are good for Daniel. Now, I’ll leave you so you may have some time with Serafine before the vows are spoken.”

She bustled out the door, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.

Lisette glanced up at her cousin. “Did you know about Daniel’s wealth?”

“Amelia hadn’t said a word.”

“He’s my Englishman. We’ll have no more worries once we reach London.”

“Heavens above, how could that be?” Tears welled in Serafine’s eyes. “I’m sorry I misled you.”

Lisette grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d claimed his intentions honorable.”

A knock at the door startled them. “Enter.”

One of Daniel’s men poked his head inside. “The captain ordered me to bring yer things to his quarters, miss.”

“So soon?”

Serafine nodded toward Lisette’s trunk. “At the end of the far cot.”

The man completed his duties with efficiency, tossing the trunk on his shoulder. At the door, he stopped. “Congratulations on yer upcoming nuptials, miss. The captain’ll take good care of ye.”

Once the man disappeared, Serafine sat on the edge of her cot and leaned forward. “About the wedding night…”

“Stop!” Lisette held up both hands. “Must we discuss such things
now
? Don’t worry. Someday I’ll enlighten you on what transpires between a husband and wife.” Such as the day the devil donned a ball gown and danced a country jig.

Serafine’s mouth dropped open; her cousin was finally at a loss for words.

Another knock sounded at the door. “Miss, the captain is waiting for you.”

Twenty-one

The wind-swollen sails of the
Mihos
carried her over the waves, and her flags whipped from the mast. Frothy white water parted for her bow. Daniel’s newfound enemy would be upon them soon.

He handed Lisette the spyglass. She gazed through it then passed the glass back to Daniel. “It’s him. I recognize the flag.”

The
Mihos
’s personal flag displayed a red lion standing erect with claws bared against a white background.

Daniel hugged Lisette to him and kissed her temple. “Take Rafe, Serafine, and Amelia below deck. Stay out of sight no matter what transpires on deck. Have I made myself clear?”

Lisette’s emerald gaze narrowed and her jaw jutted forward. He returned her glare without blinking. She may dislike him ordering her about like one of his men, but he was in charge.

She turned to her entourage. “You heard the captain. We are to cower below deck.”

“Now, that’s a good wife,” he said. To annoy her further, he popped her on the bottom, eliciting an outraged squeal.

“Monsieur!”

Several of his crew chuckled, and she turned crimson, slaying Daniel with one dirty look.
Good.
He preferred her angry with him than frightened by the coming confrontation.

“Run along.” He made shooing motions with his hands and grinned in the face of her displeasure.

She snatched Rafe’s hand in hers and marched to the hatch with him in tow. Serafine hurried behind, throwing a wary glance over her shoulder before disappearing below deck.

Jake shook his head and offered his arm to Amelia. “You’re hopeless. I’ll be back in a moment. Don’t start the fun without me.”

Amelia looked paler than normal. “Jake, you will be careful, won’t you?”

“Of course, sweetheart. There’s no cause for concern.”

Daniel felt a twinge of apprehension as his brother escorted his pregnant wife below deck. What if Daniel had underestimated Reynaud and was placing everyone in danger? Perhaps he should have tried outrunning the other ship. He shook off his uncertainty and squared his shoulders. There was no turning back now.

Daniel gazed through the spyglass again. The
Mihos
had dropped half her sails and was slowing.

“Heave to,” he said to Patch.

His first mate called out his command. “Heave to.”

They would hold their position, readying for battle if they must. The
Mihos
was still out of range of the guns, but Daniel refused to shed blood if he could avoid it. Putting the fear of God into the
Mihos
’s crew was another story.

“Fire a warning shot in case she is contemplating unfriendliness.”

His order echoed along the deck. “Fire once across the bow.”

The thunderous boom of the cannon vibrated in Daniel’s chest, and the deck under his feet quivered. The ball crashed through the surface of the sea, shooting water into the air approximately thirty feet from the approaching ship. Her remaining sails dropped amid distant shouts from the seamen on the
Mihos
.

Daniel had their attention.

He counted on most of the crew from the other ship having no experience in battle. Not so on the
Cecily
. After the war, the Royal Navy no longer required the services of as many sailors and released them from their duties without pensions. Daniel had employed several of these men, paid them well, and provided the best conditions possible on ship. In return, the
Cecily
possessed a loyal crew ready to fight for her.

The
Mihos
raised her white flag, the first victory for Daniel and his men.

“Let’s see what she wants.”

The crew on the other ship bustled on deck, readying a rowboat. None of the men appeared to be the captain.

Jake met Daniel on the main deck. “The firing of the gun has the women on edge. I hope this matter can be resolved quickly.”

“Me too,” he said. “This jackass is interfering with my amorous rites.”

“Only you would think on such things at a time like this.”

“Are there more pleasing subjects to contemplate than bedding one’s wife?”

His brother grinned. “You pose a valid argument.”

A rowboat carrying a crewman from the
Mihos
headed their direction. Each dip of the oars into the waves carried the vessel closer and increased the tightness in Daniel’s shoulders. Reynaud must be mad to chase Lisette this distance. His mental state didn’t bode well for negotiations.

He glanced at Jake’s hardened profile. “You will watch out for her if I’m unable.”

“There will be no need.”

A few moments later, the rowboat bumped against the ship’s hull. Miguel, the
Cecily
’s most skilled marksman, crouched on the mast-top platform and trained a rifle on Reynaud’s man while Patch pointed a pistol over the side.

“Captain Reynaud wants no trouble, sir,” the man called. “Permission to come aboard?”

Daniel gave a sharp nod to lower the rope and withdrew his flintlock from the holster as Jake raised his firearm.

A moment later, Reynaud’s man climbed over the railing, eyeing the weapons with caution. “I want no trouble either, Captain Hillary.”

Daniel flicked a hand in the man’s direction. “Check him.”

His first mate patted down Reynaud’s crewman, found a pistol in his waistband, and disarmed him. Stepping back, Patch pointed the man’s own firearm at his chest.

“State your captain’s business,” Daniel said.

The man’s drawn face was unshaven and dark circles marred the skin under his eyes. He hadn’t slept for some time if appearances were any indication. Perhaps Reynaud had pushed his men to the point of exhaustion, making a tense situation potentially volatile.

“Captain Reynaud seeks his lost property. He asks that you return it, and we shall leave the way we came.”

“Your captain is mistaken,” Daniel said. “I’m in possession of nothing belonging to him. Everything onboard the
Cecily
is mine.”

“’Tis not goods, sir. He searches for his betrothed. She is a passenger on your ship.”

Daniel smirked. “Sounds as if your captain’s betrothed has cried off. Perhaps she doesn’t wish to go with him.”

“Nothing more than a lovers’ quarrel. Surely, Captain Reynaud and the lady could work out their differences if you allow them to speak privately.”

What methods did Reynaud wish to employ to convince Lisette to return to him? A dark storm stirred within Daniel’s chest, and his fingers curled around the smooth handle of the gun.

“Perhaps I could allow a meeting
if
your captain’s betrothed was onboard, but I assure you, she is not.”

“The young lady travels with her brother and another female, Mademoiselle Serafine Vistoire.”

Daniel schooled his features to give nothing away. “As I said, your captain is mistaken.”

“Captain Reynaud spotted her by your side, sir. He knows his betrothed is on your ship.”

“Damnation. Are you implying my
wife
was betrothed to your captain?”

“Wife, sir?” The poor man’s complexion paled to that of a powdered wig. “You married the lady?”

“This is a pickle,” Jake interjected, speaking directly to Daniel while keeping his firearm pointed at the man. “But I suppose a marriage renders a betrothal null and void. Nothing to be done for it, I fear.”

Daniel wasn’t convinced Reynaud would give up easily after coming this far. “Indeed. Quite unfair to the gent, though. He is likely out a lot of blunt.” He offered a conciliatory smile. “Tell your captain I will make reparations double the amount of my wife’s dowry.”