Pirate's Bride (Liberty's Ladies) (9 page)

Bethlyn raised a hand, halting Dempster’s further prattle. “Mr. Dempster, I’m not a hothouse flower, I assure you. I shall be pleased with whatever accommodations the
Nightingale
’s captain can make for me.” She rose from her seat and extending her hand to Dempster, she waited while he resignedly took it and placed an obligatory kiss upon it.

Dempster heaved a huge sigh. “As you wish, my lady. I’ll speak to Captain Montgomery myself.”

Bethlyn nodded her thanks and placing her hand on Jeremy’s arm, they left the offices of Briston Shipping.

Ensconced upon velvet cushions in Penelope’s cabriolet, Bethlyn noticed Jeremy appeared uneasy. “I did the right thing, Jeremy,” she spoke in a rush before he could say anything. “Thomas Eversley is not about to tell me on which ship I may travel. After all, I own Briston Shipping. Thomas Eversley and Harold Dempster are in my employ.”

“No doubt Dempster is already penning an urgent message to Woodsley, beseeching Eversley to return to London,” Jeremy stated.

“Let him!”

Her quick retort startled Jeremy. Immediately she offered an apology. “Forgive me, dear Jeremy. I’d be lost these past years if not for you. I fear I must learn to control my temper and not allow my nerves to get the best of me. It isn’t every day that I sail to America to discover if my ‘husband’ has a use for his wife.”

A ready smile from Jeremy told her that he’d forgiven her. “Grandmama will miss you, as will I.”

Touching Jeremy’s cheek with her lips, Bethlyn felt on the verge of tears. “I know you want the best for me.”

His voice cracked a bit when he spoke. “I hope all works out well for you, Bethlyn. That confounded colonial better learn soon what a treasure you are, otherwise, I might be forced to prove your worth at the point of the rapier!”

“Goodness, Jeremy! I do hope Madeline Stanhope knows what a tiger you are.”

“She does,” he admitted, and had the good grace to blush.

~ ~ ~

Later that day, after a teary and warm farewell to Penelope, Bethlyn, Jeremy, and Mavis boarded
Nightingale
. The huge ship sat in London’s harbor while the crew mopped the deck and readied the rigging for the evening sail. Harold Dempster personally escorted them aboard and introduced them to Captain Montgomery. The captain seemed courteous but nervous as his eyes darted past them to a door at the starboard end of the ship.

“I have strict rules aboard my ship,” Montgomery explained harshly, almost as if he expected one of them to already disobey. “All meals are to be taken in the cabin. Your ladyship, I’ve prepared my cabin for you and your maid. Sir Jeremy, you’re to bunk with me and the first mate in his cabin. No one ventures out of the cabins except at midday and late evening.”

“Why?” Bethlyn interrupted. “We’re not ill-mannered children.” For a moment she seemed to catch Captain Montgomery off guard with her pointed statement.

She couldn’t fail to miss the heated gaze the man threw in Dempster’s direction, but when he spoke to her, his voice was laced with respect. “Well, my lady, I must think of your safety. You’re quite a beautiful young woman, as is your maid. I wouldn’t wish my men to be blinded by such beauty and remiss in their duties.” He shot her an ingratiating smile. “And Sir Jeremy, I’m certain, is much too refined to be in the company of unruly sailors.”

“Very wise decision, Captain. Now would you please show us to our accommodations. Her ladyship would like to unpack.” Jeremy took Bethlyn’s elbow and steered her towards a doorway off of the deck before she had ample time to comment further.

 Taking leave of Harold Dempster, they followed after Captain Montgomery, and when the man stopped to speak to his first mate, Bethlyn whispered to Jeremy, “They’re trying to keep something from us.”

Jeremy nodded sharply. “Better not to know, I think, Bethlyn. You might be better off for your ignorance.”

“Posh! I’m going to discover the secret on
Nightingale
. I swear I will.”

Jeremy was afraid she’d say something like that.

~ ~ ~

A sliver of a moon shone through the porthole and bathed Bethlyn’s hair and face with silver fingers. The night felt warm, and she’d opened the window earlier, hoping to catch a breeze. Still, she was unable to sleep and quite restless as the
Nightingale
rode the crest of the waves. Finally she sat up on the bunk and plumped the pillow to lean against the wall and watched moon-kissed clouds skitter across the sky.

It was then she heard the high flutey laughter which drifted from somewhere on the deck above her. She barely gave the sound a thought until she remembered that she and Mavis were the only two females on the ship, and Mavis was sleeping quietly on a cot not two feet from her.

Were there other women on the ship? Could some of the men have brought their wives though Briston Shipping forbade such a policy?

The voices became clearer, the female ones interlaced with male laughter, then they melted away into the night.

“Mavis,” Bethlyn whispered and gently shook Mavis, who instantly came awake. “Did you hear women’s voices?”

Mavis’s sleepy-eyed gaze settled on Bethlyn. “Yes, but I thought I was dreaming. I didn’t know there were other women on board ship.”

“Neither did I,” Bethlyn admitted. Minutes later Mavis was sound asleep again, but Bethlyn was wide-awake. She contemplated the situation minutes longer and finally she made up her mind.

Rising from the bunk as not to disturb Mavis, she reached in the dark for a gray calico gown, the only thing available to her at the moment. She hadn’t packed more than a few gowns and the necessities she’d need for the voyage, not certain she’d be welcomed by Ian Briston. If the man did want her as his wife, she could send for her other clothes and personal effects later. For now, ordinary traveling gowns would have to do, and she was glad that the dark-colored gown would blend in with the shadows of the passageways.

She pulled the gown over her chemise-clad figure, then quietly made her way to the door. Easing it open a bit, she involuntarily grimaced at the squeaking noise it made and glanced towards Mavis. Mavis’s steady breathing told her that her friend was in deep slumber. A sigh of relief escaped from between Bethlyn’s lips. She doubted Mavis would be pleased to know of her midnight jaunt and most probably would inform Jeremy first thing. However, Bethlyn was determined to discover who these women might be, and why Captain Montgomery or none of the crew had mentioned them.

Standing in the passageway, Bethlyn wasn’t certain which way to go. Two doorways stood on either side of her, the hall being lighted by the small lantern swaying from a wooden beam. She felt suddenly exposed but confident that no one would see her if she made her way up the short flight of stairs to the upper deck. Somehow she knew she’d find the crew and the mysterious owners of the feminine laughter there and would put to rest the secrets surrounding this voyage.

Moving towards the right doorway, she placed one foot on the stair, bunching the material of her gown in her hand to prevent tripping on the hem. Bethlyn never got the chance to move further. Glancing up, she saw the imposing figure of Captain Montgomery hovering above her.

“May I be of assistance, my lady?” he inquired in such a silken voice that a chill ran down Bethlyn’s spine.

The blood rushed to her face, and Bethlyn wondered if she looked as guilty as she felt. She attempted to hide her discomfiture with a ready smile.

“I was quite warm in the cabin, sir. I thought the night breezes might help lull me to sleep. If you will excuse me…”

Making a move to pass him, she found the captain still blocked her way and stood like a sentinel guarding the gates to hell. “I’m sorry, my lady, but I insist you return to your cabin. A storm is brewing, I fear, and you must stay where I can be assured of your safety.”

“A storm! How wonderful! I’d love to see a storm at sea. I spent many years at Hallsands and am quite used to vicious winds and rain blowing in unexpectedly.” Bethlyn doubted a storm was brewing at all. The moon and clear skies were proof of that. The captain didn’t want her above deck.

Montgomery shook his head. “I fear I must refuse your request, Lady Bethlyn. If anything were to happen to you, I’d never be able to forgive myself. Your safety is my first concern. You are the daughter of the Earl of Dunsmoor, and I know you wouldn’t wish me to lose my position. Would you?”

He flashed her a disarming smile, but his eyes held a brittle hardness which Bethlyn knew she’d be unable to penetrate. Once again she backed down before this man, realizing that he could very well be dangerous. She knew then that he feared she’d learn his secret.

“I apologize, Captain Montgomery, I had no idea of your concern for my well-being. I’m quite aware of your worth to my father’s company.” She moved away from the stairs then suddenly stopped. “I thought I heard women’s voices earlier. I assumed my maid and I were the only women on board.”

“You are, my lady. I think you must have heard the wind.” Montgomery nodded to her, their conversation at a seeming end.

Slipping quickly inside the cabin, she shut the door and leaned against it, unaware of her rapid breathing and the beads of perspiration on her forehead. She’d been so close to the truth! What could be going on above deck to cause Montgomery to be worried she’d discover who these women might be? Not for one minute did she believe she’d heard the wind. She’d heard women’s laughter. Mavis had heard them, too. Did the man think she was such a simpleton she’d believe anything?

She undressed and, in a silent rage, she kicked the gown away from her and climbed on the bunk. Once more the sound of voices drew near to her. She strained to listen and clearly heard a man demand, “Kiss me, wench.” Then a woman’s delighted laugh, followed by a pregnant silence which spoke more eloquently than any words.

~ ~ ~

True to the captain’s word, Bethlyn and Jeremy, with Mavis in tow, weren’t allowed outside of their cabins until the appointed time. It seemed to Bethlyn that a sailor was always near the cabin door. Whenever she’d carefully open it to peer into the lantern-lit hallway, a man would suddenly appear and inquire as to her wants. Each morning and evening Captain Montgomery would come and escort them above deck, politely answering their questions concerning the ship as they took the air. At one point, Bethlyn admitted she’d like to see all of
Nightingale
, and she thought the man was going to refuse her, but he escorted her and the others down the long passageways, through the galley and into a small storeroom. However, one door he never went near.

“Where does that door lead, Captain?” Bethlyn inquired despite the warning glance thrown her way by Jeremy.

“To a storeroom, my lady.”

“I should like to see it.”

“Ah, my lady, I would most like to show it to you, but it is locked at the moment, the key having been lost by a careless fellow.”

“Then force the lock, Captain. What do you keep in the room anyway that it should be locked?”

“The room is empty, my lady,” Captain Montgomery ground out evenly. “There is no reason to open it until we have need. Now, please, come with me above board to catch the last of the evening breezes.” He attempted to take her elbow, but Bethlyn pulled away and stared up at the man with large, defiant eyes.

“You’re quite aware that I am the owner of this ship, and that you’re in my employ, sir.”

“Certainly, my lady.”

“Then I insist you force open the door.”

 “The lock would have to be broken.”

“Break it, then.”

Captain Montgomery’s face grew red with rage, not used to being ordered about, especially not by a woman. For an instant, his fist clenched. Jeremy quickly moved forward and propelled Bethlyn away from the man and into the passageway. “Come, Bethlyn, let’s not annoy Captain Montgomery with such nonsense. I have no wish to see an empty storeroom anyway. The sunset is much too beautiful to while away the time down here. Do let’s watch it set together.”

For an instant, Bethlyn nearly balked. She didn’t care for Jeremy leading her away like she was a mischievous toddler, and once they were on deck and out of hearing distance from the captain and Mavis was dismissed, she told him so.

“I did it in your best interest, my dear. I told you that you might be better to remain ignorant,” Jeremy said, an apology in his voice.

“You know as well as I that the key wasn’t lost. The horrid man didn’t want us to see what’s in the room. Or whom.”

“What do you mean?” Jeremy asked.

Bethlyn tossed her honey-brown locks in outrage. “Haven’t you heard the laughter each night? Then again, perhaps you’re not aware of all the noise since your cabin is on the inside. Well, Captain Montgomery’s cabin has a window, and each night since we’ve been on board, I’ve heard voices drifting through the window. Female voices,” she said with emphasis. “Mavis has heard them also.”

“Oh” was Jeremy’s only comment.

“Is that all you have to say? Don’t you think it odd? Or have you known about this all along?” Bethlyn asked, a growing suspicion inside her that Jeremy couldn’t be trusted either.

“Yes, I admit I know about the women.”