by Marie Hall
“Ah you should stay and have a nice lunch,” the older man said with a kind smile at the same time his wife cried out.
“Oh, dear. What’s happened?” The woman was fast for someone of her age and was standing behind Devin holding Mia against her shoulder. Before Devin could stop her. “Some tragedy?”
“I should hope not,” Booker said with determination even as Devin answered with a resounding, “No.”
It was Mia who sank the discomfort when she sniffed and looking at the three of them said, “Aye, I had to come apologize to my husband. He was right and I wrong.” She sniffed loudly and was again taken into Mrs. Booker’s arms.
“Oh dear.” The woman cooed. “I too always cry when I must apologize. We women should be afforded our mistakes without acknowledgment of them for all we do correctly every day.” Devin heard his commanding officer clear his throat and tried to hide the smile as Mrs. Booker pushed Mia around and into his arms. “I certainly hope you have told her you accept her apology, Captain.”
“Madam, before it was even given she had my complete forgiveness,” Devin assured her and put his arm around his wife briefly. She stiffened.
“Smartly done, Captain,” the admiral said taking his own wife in his arms briefly. “Always forgive them. It makes for smooth sailing… domestically speaking.”
“Aye,” Devin agreed, glad when his secretary entered with the tea tray. His surprise at seeing such a high ranking officer was evident. He quickly set the tray down then rushed out to get two more cups. “But you came here with some purpose, sir, other than to offer such wisdom to a newlywed man.”
“Oh yes,” the couple stepped apart. “I came to tell you that Lady Mallory won’t be attending the Christmas celebrations, in case you were considering not attending in difference to her.”
“I hope this isn’t on our account,” Mia managed. “We would have navigated through.”
“I and the committee suggested, strongly, that she take her leave and return to the family home early,” Mrs. Booker said, far less discreet about why Devin and Mia wouldn’t be subject to their company. “You, Mia, are not the only wife who doesn’t care for the… lady’s company.”
“Mrs. Booker,” the admiral warned with far less effectiveness than Devin still held.
“Oh mind yourself, Admiral Booker. That woman has caused a scandal each of the last three years. No one wishes her to attend again. So of course, it’s not on your account dear,” she said and waited until Mia finished with her pathetic sniffing before saying. “I should also love to be the one to tell you, the committee found your suggestion utterly delightful and will be working to raise donations for the next three weeks to ensure the absolute success of this endeavor.”
“What did you suggest, Mrs. Winthrop?” Devin asked, having heard not a thing about Mia participating in the officer’s wife’s committee. It didn’t seem like something she’d be too involved in when he was asked to send her to the first tea. As far as he’d known, the women mostly met to discuss how to make their next party more successful or how to make their own presence in the college or city more important. He had a moment to wonder if Mia wasn’t working a little more in her pursuit to upstage some of the other ladies.
“She didn’t tell you?” Admiral Booker said with shock on his face.
“It wasn’t of importance as it was just a suggestion,” Mia said. “I didn’t think much on it after I made it.”
“It was a brilliant suggestion Mia, something no one has made in a rather long time,” Mrs. Booker said, and her husband cheered his agreement.
“Well what was it Mia?” Devin asked, looking at her, only to get shrugged at.
“Your wife, when asked what she thought the committee might do this year to better our navy, suggested we take up a charitable fund to help the widows and orphans have a kinder and gentler holiday. She suggested we collect toys, clothing and food, and gifts for the women left without a man to help care for them. And to help the children enjoy the season even if they might yet grieve.”
“Mia, that’s a wonderful idea,” Devin told her, rather curious why she’d not said anything to him.
“And well, even the board agrees,” the admiral told them. “They’re currently having the records searched to help find the names and locations of the widows and their kin. There’s even talk of keeping a perpetual fund to do such acts more often. It was a brilliant idea.”
“I should say it is,” Devin agreed and tried to catch Mia’s eye so she might see how he approved.
“With a woman like this at your side, Captain, you will make rank assuredly and be very successful as you do,” Admiral Booker said as he began ushering his wife towards the door. “Don’t let her slip the line, Captain.”
“No sir, good day,” Devin said falling back in his chair. Glancing up, he saw the praise did little to cheer his wife. “Mia?”
“I should go, Captain,” she said stepping away.
“Mia,” Devin called catching her arm and pulling her back. “What’s this upset?” She couldn’t have wanted that damn necklace. And if Lady Mallory wasn’t attending the holiday event, this Friday’s engagement would be the last time Mia or he would have to set eyes on her for several months.
“I should go, I shouldn’t have come. I’m interrupting.”
“No, you’re not,” Devin said trying for a lighter, cheerier tone. “I’m almost done here. Have a cup of tea and we’ll leave together.” He poured her a cup and held it out before she could protest. She took it and he didn’t miss the rattle of the cup on the saucer. Why did her hands shake? “Mia?”
She turned her back and carried the cup with her to the window. Devin resumed his seat and quickly finished what little he could think to do with Mia standing there so despondent. Stacking the papers on his desk, he lifted his overcoat from the chair and moved to where his wife stood staring out the window. Dark clouds were rolling in. Out across the ocean he could see the heavy bands of rain pouring down.
“We’d best be on our way or we’ll get caught in that,” he said taking the cup of untouched tea and setting it aside. “As near to lunch as it is I’m glad we don’t need to find a cab.” He took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm but within four steps she’d pulled it back.
“I walked, Captain,” she whispered and stiffened when he put his hand at the small of her back.
“You walked? From home or from the docks?” It was several miles but not an unthinkable feat.
“Home.” she said then sniffed. They stepped from the building into a light drizzle.
“Well, we can’t walk home in this.” He lifted his coat and set it around her shoulders then waved for a cab.
“I don’t want to ride,” Mia almost whined even as Devin pulled open the door and took her elbow to help her in.
“It’s raining, Mia. Step lively now.” He practically forced her inside then climbed in after her. The coach was in motion before Mia managed to find a way to sit so her ass wasn’t on the seat. She was curled on her side facing away from him. But the first bump would have found her on the floor if Devin was a bit less quick. “Mia, it’s not safe to sit like that. The road gets worse from here.” Without a word she shifted and dropped to the floor on her knees, setting her forehead on the seat. “Mia,” Devin yelled and grabbed for her. She shrugged him off, so his next attempt was more determined.
“No, Captain,” she cried trying to twist away as he pulled her into his lap. She yowled when her ass made contact with his thighs.
“Mia, avast and come about now,” he ordered sharply then forced her to roll to her side against him. Sobbing and kicking her feet she resisted his attempt to cradle her body against his until she couldn’t any longer, then went limp. She screamed out a second time when he put his arm around the underside of her ass to hold her better. He quickly dropped it to her knees and lifted her higher on his shoulder. “Shh, Mia,” he cooed, rocking the best he could with the uneven sway of the carriage. “Mia, what is a
ll this?” Mia took several gulping breaths but then resumed sobbing. “Haul in your sheets,” he said against her temple, but she continued to cry the full ride home. Even the now pouring rain couldn’t drown her out and when the coach stopped, he barely moved to sit her up and she was off his lap, out the door and in the house before he even gathered his coat.
“Ooo, Mia not happy,” Mr. Hong hissed at Devin as he came in and closed the door Mia left wide open.
“Your astute observations never cease to amaze me, Mr. Hong,” Devin grumped as the man took his coat. Shrugging out of his uniform jacket, he handed that to the man as well. “And where did the unhappy Mrs. Winthrop disappear to?”
“Bedroom,” Mr. Hong told him then turned and walked away.
“Bedroom,” Devin sighed and started for the stairs. “Perfect.”
Chapter 8
Mia pressed her face into the bed and tried to stop the tears. Every time, every single time she fell into this trap. She wasn’t good at this. She’d never be good at this and she hated how it felt to fail so completely. After last time, she thought she’d do better if it happened again, but she hadn’t, she didn’t have enough practice.
But how could she, it was only these people. It was only the females of England and France. Even most of the American girls weren’t like this though a few were and Mia managed to avoid them. Here though, like in school, she couldn’t escape. She faced them every day and every day they put bigger holes in her hull until the water rushed in faster than she could pump it out and all she felt she could do not to sink was become like them.
Papa so disapproved he’d taken one of her ships and sold it away from her. Now Devin… Devin thought her so bad, spiteful, a braggart, wasteful even, he’d not bothered to stay and forgive her like he usually did. Maybe he couldn’t take a ship from her, but he could take everything else. He could take himself, leave her adrift. He’d actually have abandoned her to face that woman alone at the ball.
And what was it all for now anyway? The vile eel wasn’t even coming. She’d done it for no reason. And with that realization the sobs started again. How could she be so stupid as to do it again?
“All right Mia, enough,” Devin said, his voice stern. It only made her cry more. “Enough Mia, you’ll make yourself sick.”
She didn’t hear him step up to the bed over the sound of the pouring rain outside the window, didn’t know he was that close until he lifted her foot and slipped off her shoe. She heard each when they hit the floor. Holding her breath, she waited to see what he’d do next. She didn’t wait long, and that breath came out with a panicked cry as he flipped the hem of her dress up over her back.
“No, Captain. No stop. Please,” she begged trying to roll to her side and push down her skirts at the same time. She already knew she couldn’t roll over, even on the soft bed her ass hurt too much.
“Mia, be still,” he said rolling her to her stomach and shoving her skirts high. She reached back to protect her stern only to hear him chuckle and feel the tug on her garters. “You will be out this last pair of stockings Mia if you don’t hold still.”
His warm fingers slipped inside the top of the stocking on her right leg and carefully eased it down before doing the same with the left. He gave her toes a squeeze and chuckled again.
“Your feet are cold,” he said, and his hands took hold of her waist. There was nothing solid to grab but she held on to the covers as he pulled her back off the foot of the bed. “Stand up now. Stop being a jellyfish.”
A jellyfish? Did he really think her one? Damn it! She had a spine like the mainmast. Pulling her shoulders back, she straightened. There. If he wanted to fire cannons at her again he’d have a target. His fingers brushed the back of her neck as he undid the first button. She wasn’t sure but she thought he was doing it on purpose, the way his knuckles trailed along the exposed skin as he worked his way down the row. And when he pushed the dress off her shoulders and down her arms she felt them there too. Then his lips lit on her shoulder for only a moment, but it was enough to send a ripple through her.
“Step out,” he said, holding the dress at her knees until she did. With a sniff she set her focus on listening for him, heard him step on the squeaky floorboard to the left of her dressing table. She heard something drag along the floor, and knew it was her chair. “I’ll set this here, you can put it on when it’s dry.” Again the board creaked and the soft clang of metal said he’d undone his buckle. The room was filled then with the soft silence of Devin removing his shirt and she thought perhaps his pants judging by what she could hear of his movements. And when he stepped up behind her and pulled her back against his chest she knew she was right.
He wasn’t quite naked, bare-chested and -legged, but he still wore drawers. “Want this off? I know you hate them,” he asked but didn’t wait to pull the ties on her corset loose and work her free of it. He tossed it aside then set his hands on her outer thigh, one on each side and slid up, taking the shift with him.
Mia bit down but the whimper escaped. “Shh,” he breathed right in her ear, the sound and the feel making her shiver. The back of the garment rose past her ass and she held her breath as he held it against the small of her back with one hand while the other pulled the ties on her drawers for the second time today. “Shh, Mia. Everything is all right,” he said and until then she’d not noticed how she shook or that her breaths were coming in short gasps.
How was it possible to be so afraid of what might come next and still have such a heat pulsing through her body? The drawers slipped down, hooked on her knees, then fell to her feet. Devin stepped to the side and Mia crossed her arms over her chest to brace for whatever happened.
“Looks painful, Mia mine,” he said a little louder than she was ready for. That combined with the feather light sweep of his hand down the right cheek and up the left made her flinch. But she was more prepared for the next touch.
Just his fingers, and just a little firmer than the last, and Mia shifted, moved her feet a bit apart. Down and up the same side, then down and up the other. Then across the underside below the curve, where ass became thigh. Then a little lower and at center his fingers brushed her sex. Mia closed her eyes and held on to the feeling that rose like the tide in her now.
“My poor little pirate. So battered and bruised. Lost with no compass.” Devin’s lips again briefly touched her shoulder then his hand brushed around her waist as he moved off to the side of the bed. She watched him flip back the covers and take a seat. “Come here,” he said holding out his hand to her.
She looked out the window hoping to find distraction but only saw the rain was letting up. She wanted to resist. It was no less than the call of the sirens, and she couldn’t have resisted even if he’d had the brush in his hand again. But when she stepped up to his right knee he pulled her around to stand in front of him, facing him. Forcing her knees apart so his could get between. Then he pulled her down, but she couldn’t sit.
“Steady forward, Mia,” he said holding her above him as he lay back then easing her down so she lay on him. When he shifted and put his feet on the bed Mia’s body came with. He pulled the covers over both of them, tucked her under his chin and rubbed her back as tears rolled down her cheek and pooled on his chest. “Tell me now, love.”
The sobs weren’t so harsh this time, but they took a long while to stop and Devin held her through them. “I hate her,” Mia finally managed as she sucked in air and gulped down any more sobs.
“This is not news, Mia,” Devin said softly and it seemed without judgment.
“No, I hate her. And I can’t stop, and I don’t know what to do. And then I did this and it’s almost as bad as before and now…” She pulled the edge of the bedding up and wiped her face.
“Bad as before? What happened before, Mia?”
“Angelette Barons,” Mia said and shuddered. “She wouldn’t stop. She just kept buying all the dolls and the silk linens and the feather pillows with embroidery and she hired in two extra
maids and a cook. She brought in a cook just for herself. With dishes and silver. And she only let certain people be with her. My best friend wanted to be with her. She made the house mothers favor her too,” Mia paused and took a deep breath. As bad as the school year was to that point what followed was much worse. “So when I got the report from my ship I took it and went to every shop she’d been at and bought everything she had. I used up almost two-thirds of the income.” She heard Devin’s sharp intake of air. “But I shared. With the other girls, the ones Angelette wouldn’t share with. I shared. Only Papa didn’t care about that. He said it was wrong and wasteful. He took my ship and sold it away from me. I should have four ships now, but I only have three. And it’s because I couldn’t stop hating her. I still hate her, and I hate Mallory too and I… I…”
“All right, Mia. Stop. Hush,” Devin said and with each word he was a bit more demanding. “Stop, haul in your sheets, drop anchor. Everything will be fine.”
“It won’t,’ Mia wailed. “It won’t because I hate her and I’m bad.”
“You’re not bad, now stop,” Devin said rolling to his side and letting Mia slip off, so he could hold her better. “You’re not bad.”
“I’m spiteful, a braggart. You said and Papa said.” She pressed her face into his shoulder.
“I didn’t say you were, I asked you if you were,” Devin reasoned. “You said no, you sent the necklace back as proof you’re neither of those things.”
“I must be those things. I do this every time. I can’t come about. I just sail right into the rocks. Every time.”
“Well this is the last time, Mia, because you’re not captain anymore,” Devin reminded her. “And you didn’t hit the rocks this time. We turned her in time. Aye?” Devin pulled back and lifting her chin, looked her in the eye. “And now we know these waters and we’ll chart a different course sooner.”
Could they? Mia searched his face for some assurance that with him as captain the next time she felt the pull of the current she’d not get caught in it. He smiled at her, lifting his hand to her cheek and wiping away a tear with his thumb before bending his head and setting his lips over hers.
