by Dawn Brower
“Thank you.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” His eyes were full of warmth as he looked down at her. “You’re my only daughter, and I thank God that you are still with us.”
Noah stood next to a vicar, waiting for Rubina to join him. Their friends and family all sat in chairs, watching for her arrival. Lily and Rand had even made another trip from America to attend. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits at one of the guests—Pearla Montgomery. What was she doing there? Rubina hadn’t seen her since that fateful day she’d interrupted her wedding to Noah. She sat next to Gemma and Liam. Maybe this was some torturous closure she was putting herself through. Rubina didn’t care. She could be generous after all—she had Noah. Maybe if Pearla was lucky enough, she would find someone as equally wonderful. It was the least she could wish for. The woman had lost a wonderful man—she deserved to move on and find her own happiness.
They all turned to see her walk toward her husband.
This was so very different than the wedding she interrupted.
It was all about her and Noah.
Her husband’s smile grew wider with each step she took toward him.
She moved forward to meet him. “Hello, caro.”
“I was beginning to think I’d have to come find you.”
Rubina smiled. “You will never have to come find me ever again. I will always be right here by your side…”
They said their vows. Emotions welled up inside her as she spoke them. Hearing them reaffirmed everything she wanted with Noah. They had been through so much. Going through the ceremony again helped them take back what belonged to them. Nothing would separate them again. They had their whole lives to look forward to.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
Noah stared down into her eyes. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“Pardon me for interrupting—I always did show up late for important events.”
Noah and Rubina glanced across the room. A gasp of surprise fell from Rubina’s lips. Her brother strutted in—as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Never mind they believed him dead. This must be how her family felt when they thought she’d died. His hair was a little longer than she remembered. It fell to his shoulders in long black waves, but his silver eyes held something she couldn’t identify. He’d changed. Rubina didn’t know what it was, but it looked good on him.
Rubina ran to him and hugged him tight. “I’m so glad to see you. Where the bloody hell have you been all this time?”
Damian hugged her tight in his embrace. He kissed the top of her head.
“Easy now, Rue.” He eased back. “I rather like breathing.”
“Are you going to answer my question?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I will explain it all at another time.” He scanned the guests. “I came for another reason.”
Rubina pursed her lips in displeasure. She was happy to see her brother but… She stopped and looked at him. Then she turned in the direction that held him riveted.
Pearla stood up. Her blue eyes shot daggers at Damian. Her hand flew to her chest; her mouth hung open with shock. She shook her head several times as if not believing what she saw in front of her. Rubina could relate to what she appeared to be going through.
She turned to her brother and asked, “Do you two know each other?”
“I think a man would know his wife when he sees her.” Damian’s eyes never left Pearla.
Rubina stared back and forth between them. Even more questions entered her mind. When had these two met? All she knew about Pearla was she was gone for more than a year nursing a broken heart—who could blame her? She’d have been devastated if she’d lost Noah to another woman too.
“I am not your wife,” Pearla said with disdain.
Pearla pushed her way past everyone. She left the house in a huff, with Damian not far behind her. Rubina shook her head. It was their mess to straighten. They would work it out—or wouldn’t. She just hoped her brother found happiness. He could explain what happened when he settled things with Pearla. Rubina liked to think she learned patience over the past several years. Damian deserved happiness, and if that was with Pearla she wouldn’t stand in the way.
Liam strolled over to stand next to her. “I will say one thing about you and weddings—never a dull moment.”
He laughed and walked away.
Blasted man did have a point. Although, their first wedding was uneventful…
“Don’t listen to my brother,” Lily interrupted. “This was the best wedding ever. Think of the stories you can tell you children. Noah’s an honorary Marsden, you know. So he should have a tale like the rest of us.”
“What do you mean?” Rubina asked.
Noah laughed. “The bedtime story your parents told you two?”
“Yes.” Lily nodded excitedly. “I know, yours can start with: once upon a time, a woman objected to a wedding…”
Rubina and Noah laughed. It wasn’t how they actually began, but it did tell how they found each other again. Perhaps this was a tradition she could get behind.
The following is an unedited excerpt from A Discarded Pearl. The final book in this series, A Marsden Romance Book 5.
CHAPTER ONE
Heat filled her cheeks as she rushed across the dock toward the ship she’d secured passage on. Pearla Montgomery wanted as much distance between her and England as she could possibly get. Had anyone ever experienced such monumental embarrassment?
“No. That honor only goes to me,” she muttered under her breath.
She had been so close to marrying Noah St. John, the Duke of Huntly. She fell in love with him the moment she saw him. The hurt spilling out of his chocolate brown eyes... All she wanted to do was wrap him up in her arms and ease the hurt away. Noah didn’t or more accurate couldn’t love her. She knew that, but she hoped in time he would at least come to care for her.
Unfortunately his not so dead wife crashed their wedding.
“Just my luck.” Pearla sighed and marched toward the ship.
“Can I help you missy?”
She glared. “I am Miss Pearla Montgomery. I have passage on this ship.”
“Do you now?” His eyes leered across her bosom. “Why don’t you wait here while I go and find the Captain.”
It took everything she had to not visibly shake under his lewd gaze. This was just a means to an end. It just wouldn’t do to stay in England and watch Noah be blissfully happy with his wife. No one expected her to stay and witness their reunion. Her best friend, Gemma Marsden supported her decision. Pearla was happy for Noah. Truly she was…
“Miss Montgomery?”
Pearla’s gaze shot upward and landed on a tall man with a scruffy beard.
“Yes.”
“My bosun tells me you’ve secured passage aboard my ship.”
She played with her lip between her teeth. There better not be some mistake. She had to be on this ship. “Yes I spoke to someone named Paul about an hour ago.”
He narrowed his eyes and studied her. He nodded. “I am Captain Blythe. I do recall Paul saying we would have a couple passengers. Please follow me.”
Couple of passengers? She didn’t bring a ladies maid. The idea of having anyone with her… As far as she was concerned she didn’t have a reputation to salvage. Why put up with someone that would only get in her way. Still she couldn’t help wondering who was also expected to board the ship. She hoped the captain didn’t expect them to share a cabin. Pearla wanted to be alone and having a cabin mate would only get in her way.
The captain led her below deck to a small room with one narrow bunk. She breathed a sigh of relief. With only one bunk surely that meant she would be alone as she wished.
“Do you have trunks that needed to be brought aboard the ship?”
The captain’s words snapped her out of her own mind. “Yes. They are in my carriage. Do you have someone that can retrieve them? If not I can have the footmen bring them aboard.”
He nodded. “
I will have my men secure them below deck.”
Pearla set her valise and reticule on the bunk. The only things she expected to have on the long journey were inside her traveling bags. The rest she’d worry over later. She didn’t even have any idea where this particular ship was heading. It had the only thing she required when looking for passage—it left immediately.
“Captain,” the burly man from earlier interrupted, “Our other passenger has arrived.”
The captain turned toward him and said, “Perfect. Then we can set sail as soon as the anchor is hoisted.”
The man stared lewdly at Pearla. She gulped back unease that pooled at the bottom of her stomach. Perhaps she should lock her door. The way the man looked at her…
“Are you wishing me to keep you company?”
Pearla shook her head and stumbled back into the room. “No. I’m good really. Perhaps you should help the captain with the new passenger.”
“Leave the young lady alone Percy,” the captain ordered. “She’s right I do need your help with our new guest. Besides the boss gave express instructions to make sure we keep Miss Montgomery safe on her journey.”
His smile made her feel even more uneasy. Paul must be his boss. He did seem overly concerned for her welfare. Maybe she had lucked out in that regard. She certainly hoped so because she didn’t like how Percy was ogling her. He smacked his lips as if anticipating his favorite sweet treat would touch his tongue. It wasn’t something she particularly liked seeing. He was a combination of scary and disgusting. Did he believe in bathing at all? A part of her had wanted to cover her nose and mouth in his presence. It took every ounce of etiquette instilled in her to refrain from doing so. His offending odor could leave her cabin and she bet it would still linger.
“Too bad. We could have had some fun you and me.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Let me know if you be changing your mind.”
“While I appreciate you um…” She paused, considered her words, “offer. I must decline.”
“We will leave you to make yourself comfortable.” The captain turned to leave. “Please stay in your cabin for now. You will be in the way as we set sail. I will let you know when it’s safe to come on deck.”
Pearla nodded. She didn’t have a problem with the request—order—she was more than happy to wallow in self pity in her cabin. It would give her time to properly grieve what she lost. The man of her dreams… How does a woman get over that?
The captain closed the door with a click. A key turned in the lock. Pearla could hear it click as it locked her inside. What the hell? She said she would stay in the cabin. Why would the captain lock her inside? She walked over to the door and yanked at the door knob, hoping she’d been wrong. Unfortunately she wasn’t. The damned man had made it impossible for her to leave her cabin.
That uneasy feeling turned into angry knots pounding through her whole body. Her breathing became frantic. There was very little light in the cabin. The small porthole only allowed a tiny stream of sunlight into the room. Was she to suffer in the dark? She scanned the room to see if perhaps there was a lantern she could light. Nothing.
She stormed back to the door and pounded on it with her fists. “Let me out. Let me out now. I can’t breathe.”
No one came to her rescue. She was truly stuck. What had she gotten herself into?
Pearla crumpled against the wall underneath the porthole. Letting the sun bathe her in what little light the hole allowed. Her let her face fall into the palm of her hands as tears fell from her eyes. In everything that happened she hadn’t allowed herself the time to cry. She’d lost so much this day and apparently she was about to lose much more before the day was done. It served her right for acting so foolhardy.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
The door creaked open and Pearla shot to her feet. Finally someone was coming to let her out. They had heard her. Thank God.
A body was shoved inside. Whoever it was crumpled to the ground with a loud thud. Just as fast as the door opened it was closed again. She hopped over the unconscious figure and pounded on the door.
“You can’t leave them in here with me. Come back,” she shouted. “There isn’t room enough for one person let alone two.”
They ignored her once again. Bloody rotten bastards the lot of them. She would get even with them for being so inconsiderate. Her fists clenched tight against her side as heat once again filled her cheeks. It might take time but they would regret treating her like common baggage.
A small groan filled the silence. Perhaps she should check on her roommate. Who knows what they did to the poor soul. Pearla knelt down beside them. She rolled him over onto his back. Sunlight spilled across his face and she sucked in a breath. He had an angry knot swelling across his forehead, but everything else about him was perfect. He had inky black hair that curled around his shoulder. His face was almost too pretty to be considered handsome. She brushed back his hair to get a better look at his injuries. He moaned with her ministrations. His eyes flew open and she once again got the breath knocked out of her. His eyes were so beautiful. They were a silver gray that sparkled in the sunlight.
“Who are you?”
“I should be asking you the same. Why would Captain Blythe toss you in a cabin with me and lock the door?” Pearla shook her head. “What did you do to anger him?”
More importantly what had she done to deserve such ill treatment?
“I had the audacity to disagree with his boss’s treatment of my sister.” His eyes narrowed. “What did you do to anger him?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “That is the money question isn’t it.”
“What is your name?” he asked.
She shook her head. “You first.”
He chuckled and then winced with pain. His hand flew to his forehead. “Fair enough. But have pity on me. I have one bloody hell of a headache.”
A smile twitched on her face. “I reserve the right to make life as difficult as possible sir. I do not know you.”
“I think I like you.” A cocky smile filled his face. “I am Damian Leone or Conte Leone if you prefer formality.” He lifted his hand and traced his fingers across her cheek. “If I get a choice I’d have you call me Damian.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Just Damian?”
“Yes. I have a feeling you and I are going to be spending a lot of time together.”
Pearla frowned. “I hope not.”
“Does my company displease you that much?”
No, how was she to explain it had nothing to do with him. This whole mess was not his fault at all. He was quite charming and beautiful to behold. She would have been entranced with him under other circumstances…
“It has nothing to do with you. I have to get out of this cabin.”
“I hate to tell you,” he paused and sat up, “but we are not getting out of this room for some time. The ship is already sailing out of the harbor.”
Pearla cursed and stood up. She headed over to the porthole and looked outside. The blasted man was right. They were already well on their way out of the harbor. How long had she been in the cabin before they tossed him inside with her? It didn’t matter. They were stuck together. She’d just have to make the best of it.
“Come cara and tell me how you found yourself in the company of such disreputable ruffians as those in the employ of Paolo, the Duca d’Sordillo.”
“Who?” Pearla sat down on the bunk and huffed out a breath. “I’m not familiar with that name.”
“No?” Damian frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would they stick you with me? Tell me your story maybe I can figure it out once I have all the information. Why are you on this ship?”
“It’s kind of a long story.”
How to explain her failed wedding to a stranger… It wasn’t something Pearla looked forward to. She didn’t even want to think about it let alone put voice to it.
“I have nothing but time cara.” He waved his hand toward the porthole. “I think it’s accurate to assum
e we will be confined to each other’s company for the foreseeable future.”
“Quit saying that,” she demanded.
“What?” he asked, confused.
“I am not your darling.”
“Ah” His lips tilted into one of his half cocky smiles. “You have yet to tell me your name. What else am I to call you?”
Why did he have to have a valid point? More importantly why did she still refuse to tell him her name? Maybe it was the fantasy of it. There was a certain romanticism to it all. Instead of telling him her name she told him her story. This was exactly what she needed upon further reflection. A stranger was much easier to talk to then friends. Gemma had meant well but she could see the pity mixed with concern in her eyes.
“Today was supposed to be my wedding day,” she began. When she finished a loud whistle filled the room and then he cursed more colorfully than she had.
“Bloody hell you’re Miss Pearla Montgomery.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “It all makes sense now.”
“Well I’m glad you understand what is going on.” She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at him. “I sure don’t. I’m as confused as ever.”
Like how the hell did he know who she was? She hadn’t mentioned names. All she told him was her fiancé’s presumed dead wife interrupted her wedding. The desire to leave England had made her jump on the first ship available. Had rumors spread that fast already?
His next words made her heart almost stop.
“Rubina is my sister.”
She had the worst luck of anyone alive. Only she would have the misfortune of being stuck in a room with the brother of the woman who’d ruined her life. Someone out there truly hated her…
CHAPTER TWO
“Ignoring me isn’t going to solve all of your problems.” Damian stared at Pearla. The sun was low in the sky illuminating her golden blonde hair. He could see why Noah had been attracted to the beauty. “We are going to be stuck with each other for a while so we might as well get to know each other.”
