“Hopefully, not too much fun,” Shauna said, with a wary smile. She knew her husband well, and knew that he would keep himself safe, if only to return to her arms. “And we will meet them in Dublin, when we receive word they are docking, isn't that right, Gwendolyn?”
“Yes,” Gwendolyn replied. “I can't wait to see your house as well, Earl Rippon. Is it as big as mine?”
“Lola will have to show you,” Wesley replied. “You are welcome to come and stay whenever you like.”
“I think I'm going to put on a play in it,” Lola teased, and Wesley rolled his eyes.
“Stranger things have happened there, I assure you.”
Harold glanced at the sun, judging the time. His days on land seemed even busier than his days at sea. At sea, he had scheduled watch times, and then he could sleep and eat without worry, for the most part. On land, with his duties split between headquarters and his lordship duties, it seemed that the work never stopped. He enjoyed it, but he needed everything to run on time.
“There they are,” Annabelle said, as she saw Matheson and Corrigan approach. In between them, to the surprise of many, was Doren.
Harold knew this was a risk, but he trusted Aaron's judgment, and he trusted his heart. Still, he found it hard to look Doren in the face, and pretend all was well. He was not ashamed with what he had done, for it had been for the good of the ship. The pain on Doren's face, still evident, did make him realize, though, that he had killed a man, and not just an evil force.
“Mr. Doren,” Harold said, as Doren saluted him. “I was sorry to hear that you decided to retire from the navy.”
“Yes, sir,” Doren was equally surprised to see Harold there. “I...needed a change of pace.”
“I think you shall find it aboard this privateer vessel,” Harold said, formally. “Shall we all go board to greet the captain?”
It hadn't been part of the plan they discussed, but Harold wanted to be on call when Doren found who his Captain would be. He would do anything to protect Aaron and his future, including throwing another soul down the hold if he needed to.
“Who is the captain, sir?” Doren asked. “I was quite surprised when I was approached...”
“Come aboard, Mr. Doren,” Harold repeated. Doren had no choice, following them up the plank.
The inside of the Countess was more majestic than the outside. Aaron had it repainted with gilded gold, and had the floors shined and gleaming. It looked like a rich pirate ship, which was exactly what it was.
Doren noticed as they walked, and Harold saw him glance up at the walls and the floor.
“Were you aware that Earl Rippon is first mate of this ship?” Harold asked, as they passed a cabin inscribed with the rank. They had been careful not to put names or identities anywhere. Hidden away, as part of Wesley's plan to keep them safe, were flags from various nations' privateer stocks. They could be anything they wanted to be, so long as they weren't boarded. The door remained closed, but Harold knew if Doren opened it, he might object. He was prepared to call out if Doren reacted negatively. The others had stayed on deck, listening for his call.
When they came to the captain's cabin, Harold knocked three times before opening the door. Doren took off his hat, ready to greet the captain.
He was not prepared for the blue eyed, blond, smiling figure sitting at the desk.
Doren actually yelped, and stumbled back against Harold, clutching his heart. The color drained from his face, and Harold could only guide him to his knees in shock.
“Sir... I... sir,” Doren babbled. “You're a ghost. I watched them bury you. You're a ghost.”
Harold held his arms out, just in case Doren pitched backwards, looking up at Aaron. How many times had he done this for Aaron's ill health, waiting for him to collapse?
This time, it was Aaron standing, and healthy.
“I am,” Aaron said, softly. “A ship of the damned, a dead Captain, a lost crew. Would that be interesting to you Mr. Doren?”
“How.... why....what?” Doren continued to babble. Aaron approached at Harold’s nod, still moving as if he might frighten a deer.
“I think you know why, sir,” he said, crouching down. “And you would have done the same for people in your life. I was dying, but for the grace of God. It was for the good of the ship, the good of everyone.”
“But sir---” Doren surprised them with broken tears. “He didn't have to die.”
Aaron glanced up at Harold, both their hearts tearing.
“No,” Aaron said at last. “But it's what happened, in the moment. Now, there are hundreds of people alive because of it. You know that, don't you?”
“Yes,” Doren admitted, sadly. “And....if he had to die for hundreds to live, no matter what the circumstances....he would have understood that.”
“Yes, I believe he would have,” Aaron said, softly. “We will not be privateers, Mr. Doren, for I am dead, and many others are running. The men on this ship will not have their names remembered. But they will do well by the world, and live in the legacy that men like Captain Willcock lay down. Is that enough for you?”
For a long moment, Doren said nothing. Harold was worried he would run, he would bolt, and that would be the end of this hopeful scenario.
To his surprise, though, Mr. Doren smiled.
“Aye, Aye, Captain,” he said, and Aaron smiled, held out his hand.
“Captain Halloway.”
“Captain Halloway, a pleasure to make you acquaintance,” Doren said, and they shook hands.
Harold helped Doren up, carefully, as he listened to the sounds on deck.
“Sounds like you are fully loaded, Captain,” Harold said. “Would you like me to get the non-sailors off?”
“That would be wonderful,” Aaron said. “Although not before we discuss one more fact. Mr. Doren, would you like to claim your cabin and meet your colleagues?”
“My cabin, sir?” Doren asked, in surprise
“Indeed,” Aaron replied. “Your Cabin, as head gunner.”
“I---thank you, sir,” Doren bowed his head. “I am honored.”
“Good,” Aaron smiled. “Second hallway, there's a row of them. Welcome aboard, Mr. Doren.”
“Thank you, sir,” Doren replied and headed off. Harold watched him go, raising an eyebrow.
“Wouldn't have expected that reaction,” he said. “I thought his heart was going to fail.”
“My ship's doctors are the best,” Aaron replied. “It will be alright.”
“Yes,” Harold shifted his glance back to his best friend. “It has to be.”
They stood in silence for a moment, words failing both of them. It had been twenty years since they were apart for more than a week. Now, their worlds would be radically different.
“Are you well?” Harold asked, and Aaron smiled.
“Better than I ever have been,” he replied. “Who would have thought I would be Captaining a ship, at long last? Although if I'm honest with you, Wesley will do most of the work. I plan to live for the moment, for laughter, for amusement.”
“As you always have,” Harold smiled, trying not to tear up. “And I will take care of your family, Aaron. Although I can never repay you....”
“You are repaying me,” Aaron smiled. “For every moment you love Annabelle, for every moment you take care of my house, my daughter, you are repaying me. That is what I ask of you.”
Harold was at a loss for words. All he could think to do was stick his hand out, his jaw quivering.
“God speed, Captain Halloway,” he said.
“Until we meet again, Captain Harper,” Aaron shook his hand, with strength. “Until we meet again.”
EPILOGUE
HOPE
HOPE
“The Lord and Lady Bamber to see you, M’lady!” cried the footman as Lola came around the corner in Rippon Manor. She winced at his announcement. “Followed by Lady Bamber, and the Honorable Gwendolyn Bamber.”
“I know,” she replied, raising an eyebrow, even
as she opened her arms. “I've only been expecting them for ages. Hello!”
She gave Annabelle a long hug, overjoyed to see her. Lola didn't mind staying at Rippon Manor by herself, but this time had been a particularly long wait. She had received word the Countess was planning to dock at the port here for weeks to undergo painting and repairs. She barely had time to write to Bamber Manor, and she was grateful they had come.
“We had to stop a few times on the road,” Annabelle said, smugly. “Traveling with child is difficult.”
“Gwendolyn,” Lola said in surprise “Were you being...wait---” she turned back to Annabelle. Annabelle stretched a wide grin, and Lola shrieked. “Oh my goodness, congratulations! Annabelle, Harold, that is wonderful!”
“We couldn't wait to tell you!” Gwendolyn smiled. “We had to take a ship and a carriage and I wish you were there, because keeping that secret for that amount of time is hard.”
“This is so wonderful,” Lola said. “When are you due?”
“In the summer,” Annabelle said. “And I'm sure it's a boy.”
“I'm sure that it is,” Lola said. “Please, get settled into the rooms. When you are ready, we will go to the port. It could be any hour now.”
“I fear he's painted the ship an outrageous color,” Harold said, with a smile. “That would be just like him.”
“Wesley talked with him, likely, to find the best color,” Lola replied. “I'm sure it will be fine.”
She could barely contain her excitement as she waited for them to be ready. She readied the carriages, and paced the hallway until, finally, they could set off.
Everyone was excited to reach the harbor. However, when they saw the sails on the horizon, their eyes widened.
“I've forgotten how big of a ship it is,” Harold said, as it sailed the final journey towards the port. He cast his eyes upwards to the deck, and raised an eyebrow. “Annabelle, look.”
She looked upwards, squinting, and then laughed.
The entire crew was on the deck, saluting in perfect formation. However, there were no uniforms, and they looked more like pirates than when they set off.
In the middle, hanging onto the riggings, and waving, was Aaron, their captain. He was alive, he was happy, and he was waving.
“You'll never see that on a navy ship,” Harold replied.
“There's Wesley,” Lola pointed out, just to Aaron's left. Wesley's powerful voice sailed on the wind, giving orders as the ship docked. The anchor went down, and a drum roll from the former marines started.
The plank hit the dock, and then they were there. Aaron and Wesley, Matheson and Corrigan at their backs.
“Make way,” Matheson cried. “For Captain Halloway!”
Harold saluted, and Aaron did the same, just before he rushed down the plank. Gwendolyn ran into his arms, and he swung her around.
Harold put his arm around Annabelle, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Harold,” Aaron said, at last, putting Gwendolyn down and taking Shauna's hand as he drew close.
“Aaron,” Harold smiled, reaching out to shake his hand. “Welcome home.”
THANK YOU
for reading my book and
I hope you have enjoyed this story as well.
“The Lord’s Secret” is a standalone novel with at least 250 pages.
If you have enjoyed reading this book (Saving The Lord’s Title) so far, I believe you will be interested in checking out “The Lord’s Secret”.
A Centuries Old Title… A Forbidden Love… A Dangerous Game…
When a fatal accident throws the British Navy re-enactment exercises into suspicion, Lord Aaron Bamber is left to face a difficult decision. Throw aside his title to protect the woman he loves, or risk losing her and their daughter in the process.
1812, Near London, England...
A Centuries Old Title….
Docked for a full year due to poor health, Lord Aaron Bamber was thrilled to return to port. In light of the British Navy preparing to recruit in the face of the Napoleonic threats, It was small wonder that Aaron received an assignment to staged re-enactment exercises for land and sea alongside his shipmates. But nothing could have prepared him to once again set eyes on Shauna’s beautiful face.
A Forbidden Love…
Fully prepared to assist in the staged re-enactment in any way she can, Shauna didn’t expect that would mean reuniting with Aaron Bamber. It was no secret that a proposal would force him to abandon his title. Something she would never ask him. But that didn’t mean she was motivated to disclose her most closely guarded secret… A little girl with a striking resemblance to the Bamber name.
A Dangerous Game…
But when a fatal accident throws everything into suspicion, Aaron comes eye to eye with one of the most difficult decisions he had ever faced. With everything at stake and nothing to lose, Aaron and Shauna find themselves forced to survive an attack that history will never forget, or risk losing their daughter in the process…
Can Lord Bamber throw aside his title and risk his life for Shauna and his child?
Or will they all perish, forgotten and unloved by history?
I have enclosed a preview of “The Lord’s Secret”.
Check it out below…
It is coming and will be at $0.99 (around 250 pages) for a limited time.
CLICK HERE TO GET IT
CHAPTER ONE
THE ATTACK
“LAND, HO!”
Wesley jumped at the call, because he hadn't expected to hear it so soon, nor so loudly. He turned to the man beside him, raising an eyebrow.
“Thank you, I can still hear a little bit out of this ear, so perhaps you could do it again?”
“With all due respect, sir,” the young sailor said, squinting forward. “I didn't expect it so soon.”
“Neither did I,” Wesley admitted. “But it's there right in front of you, man, so no sense denying the truth.”
Wesley was the lead Midshipman aboard the HMS Stallion. If the promotions went by intelligence alone, he would be an admiral by now. He was considered one of the smartest officers in the Navy, and climbing fast. His life in the Navy had saved his life, so he was fully dedicated to his job. It wasn't so long ago that Wesley was a shy and quiet midshipman; holding in what he felt what was the greatest secret in the world. He had run from Ireland, abandoning his title as Earl of Rippon after his father beat his mother, and after pirates destroyed his home. It was the Navy that had given him a new place in the world, the Navy who had given him his best friends, and introduced him to his fiancée, Lola. Lola was one of the most famous actresses in Britain, and he couldn't wait to dock for the winter and see her again.
“Wesley,” Harold Harper, the 1st lieutenant aboard the HMS Stallion, came to stand by his colleague’s side, also squinting at the land. “It's surprising we would be seeing the horizon this early. I thought that it would be at least another half hour. Your calculations are never off.”
“First time for anything.” Normally, it would have bothered Wesley that he had been wrong. He was almost never incorrect. Nevertheless, everyone was in a good mood. They were docking for the winter, months on half pay, but also with almost no work. For those who had a place to stay in the outskirts of London, where they were docking, it was as vacation. For Harold, Wesley and a few of their friends, they were staying at Bamber Manor, with Aaron Bamber, who was their closest friend. Aaron had been on medical leave for the past few months, seizures nearly claiming his life. His sister was engaged to Harold, and Lola was Aaron's long time friend, so he was an important part of all their lives. “Wait a minute...” He leaned forward as they got closer. The horizon had looked odd for a moment, but as they sailed closer, he realized why. “That's not land.”
“Sir?” Harold pulled out his spyglass, looking upon the horizon. He put down his glass right away. “By God---”
“How many, sir?” Wesley asked, tensing. He knew what Harold saw on the horizon, and it filled his
soul with dread. They were supposed to be sailing into an empty port. In the winter, it was very rare that you saw another ship coming into port. They came in, and then were taken to dry dock rather quickly. The fact that he could see many sails on the horizon, especially some of them so far out from the dock, terrified him.
“5? 6?” Harold replied.
“Can you see their flags?” Wesley always liked to know what the enemy was.
“Some of them are cleared for action,” Harold answered, and Wesley was already moving. He didn't need to know who they were. An English ship would never take down their flag, and they certainly wouldn't be cleared for action in a port.
“Clear for action,” he cried and bolted down the stairs. This was not the homecoming that he’d imagined. “CLEAR for action!”
“Sir?” Matheson, the bosun of the ship, and one of the oldest sailors, cocked his head in confusion. “Aren't we docking?”
It only took one look from Wesley for Matheson to turn around and yell at the rest of the crew, who had been relaxing.
“BATTLE STATIONS!” he hollered, and the men began to thump down the stairs.
They had been at war forever, it seemed. Wesley had been born at the end of the 18th century and he couldn't remember a time when the Navy wasn't sailing toward some war. Every man was used to shooting, to firing, to being a soldier. However, they normally weren't used to it when they were at port.
“Matheson, why are we---” Corrigan, Matthew's best friend, and the most burly, simple, yet kindest sailor, questioned him.
“Don't ask questions, you sod,” Matheson cried, wanting to throw something at him. Despite the fact that Corrigan was asking questions, he was still loading the cannons, which was helpful, at least. Wesley was in charge of strategy and tactics, and at the moment, he was trying to figure out how he could take down 6 ships when he was just one ship, and how to do it without damaging the port or the civilians that worked there.
Saving The Lord’s Title (The Regency Renegades - Beauty and Titles) (A Regency Romance Story) Page 17
