As Esta was putting the finishing touches to her face and hair, there was a knock at the door. Her maid went to answer it and returned to announce that a page had arrived to escort her down to the rose garden. Esta’s heart picked up pace and her hands trembled as she dabbed more perfume at her wrists and throat—rose of course.
“Thank you, you may have the afternoon off,” she said to her maid and then collected her matching parasol and joined the page for the walk downstairs.
This was her third visit with Reid. She found him in the garden, humming to himself as he lounged on a stone bench in the shade. He jumped up as soon as he saw Esta, his eyes warm as he took in her appearance.
“Esta, you look marvelous. That color is perfect on you.” He kissed both her cheeks lingeringly. A warm glow of pleasure heated her stomach.
“You too look wonderful, Reid,” she said, suddenly shy. What was she doing in this situation? But the answer to that was clear. She had no alternative and all she could do was make the best of it.
He seated her then sat, staring into her eyes. “You don’t know how I’ve looked forward to this afternoon, my dear. You make me feel like a young man again.”
“You’re hardly old, Reid. I would say you are in your prime,” she said. He had only a few grey hairs and, although he was a craftsman, he was very fit.
“Nevertheless, you’ve given me my youth back.”
Esta sensed there was more he would like to say. At that moment, the tea arrived and they sat in awkward silence as two maids set up a table, poured cups of tea and lifted cake and other treats onto plates. Once they were gone, Esta took a sip from her cup. At least it kept her hands busy.
He cleared his throat but she kept her eyes lowered.
“We haven’t known each other long, Esta, but I recognize what a treasure you are and…I am so very lonely. I wondered…I wondered if you would consent to become my wife.”
The cup and saucer in her hand wobbled as she placed it back on the table and turned to him. She could barely breathe, the air in her lungs seemed to have solidified. When she tried to speak, not a thing came out so she cleared her throat and tried again.
“Reid, you are a dear man,” she said, and watched fear sweep across his face. Esta didn’t know herself what she would answer but it seemed Reid thought he would be rejected. What should she say? She thought they might be content together—might even be happier than that. She had no idea where they would live, him being a city-loving man, but surely he could practice his trade from her estate. She shook her head at her thoughts and Reid’s face turned bleak. What must he be thinking?
“I’m sorry, Reid.” She hurried on as he turned away. “I thank you for your proposal and, indeed, would enjoy being your wife.” The words sounded strange, even to her, but Reid gripped her hands in his and brought them to his lips.
“Dear girl,” he said. “Can it be you are consenting to marriage? I hoped beyond hope over these past days. I knew at the ball what I wanted and I so feared another suitor would sweep in and steal you from me.”
She smiled. He sounded a world more insecure than his years. Love had been unkind to this man and it was past time he had joy in his life. “Yes, Reid, I will be your wife.”
He crushed her to him, his body trembling, and when he pulled away his eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I’ll make you happier than you could ever imagine, Esta. Dare I hope that you will agree to give me a child?”
“Of course, Reid,” she said. “Nothing would make me happier.” In her mind’s eye she saw the babe, smiling up at her with green eyes, and her stomach cramped. No! She swallowed down fear. Wrong color. His eyes would be blue like Reid’s or brown like hers, not vivid ocean green like Samael’s.
Esta pushed Samael’s face from her mind and concentrated on her betrothed. He would make her happy and keep her safe. He would help restore the estate to its former glory and his occupation intrigued her and always had. “Where will we live?”
“I have it all planned. I’ll move to your estate. You need to be there and I see no reason why I couldn’t live there. I can make the trip into town and stay over when I need to. There must be somewhere I can set up a workroom?”
Esta smiled. “I can think of any number of places that would be suitable.” Everything was falling into place. Reid was so accommodating and he need never know of her shady dealings in the past. The smuggling would be a secret lost forever. As long as Nikolas Cosara didn’t dig anything up.
“I wish us to be married as soon as possible, dear. Would a month give you time to prepare?”
Esta drew in a deep breath. A month would barely allow her to get used to the idea let alone complete all the tasks necessary but she would have help. It was time to move on with her life, to be happy. She smiled. “One month will be suitable, Reid. I promise it will be a day for us both to remember.”
Reid drew her to him and kissed her on the mouth, a gentle kiss that didn’t move her at all. But perhaps he wished to keep things under control in this very public place. Any number of eyes could be upon them.
He drew back, his hands sliding from her upper arms down to grasp her fingers. “I cannot believe I have such a beautiful fiancée,” he said. “You will never regret this, Esta. Never! Now I must go and make plans for our wedding and for my move. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He rose and hurried inside, leaving Esta seated on the stone bench, not sure what she was feeling.
It was sudden but marriage was what she was here for. She had thought it would take months to find a husband, had believed no one would want her. And now she was on the verge of joining her life with another. She couldn’t even imagine what that would be like. As she sat there, staring across the garden, Merielle appeared in front of her.
“There you are! I couldn’t find you and then someone told me you had met Reid here.” Her friend looked exquisite in a russet satin gown with lace overskirt. Her shoulders were bare and she wore lace gloves in the same color. “Esta?”
“Oh,” she said, shaking herself out of her reverie. “Hello.”
“You seem not yourself,” Merielle said. “Where is Reid?”
“Gone,” she said. “He had things to attend to.”
“Such as?”
“A wedding feast…ours.”
Merielle squealed, the sound slicing through Esta’s ears. As she tried to recover from the noise, Merielle drew her to her feet and danced her round and round the small patch of grass in front of the bench.
“Congratulations!” She drew Esta back to the seat. “Tell me all about it.”
“There’s not much to tell. I met Reid here and he asked me to become his wife. We will live on my estate and it will be perfect. Just as I had always hoped.”
Merielle’s eye danced. “You will adore being married. Nikolas excites me so much I dread being apart from him. Since we met, he has been all I’ve thought of. Love is a treasure beyond price.”
Esta thought of her recent moments with Reid. She was excited to be getting married but Reid himself hadn’t excited her. Maybe more time spent together would solve that problem? Or perhaps Reid was waiting for true solitude before he made her heart dance and her body sing? Either way, this union was something to celebrate.
“I can’t wait and I have you to thank for helping me,” Esta said. “I wondered if I could ask another favor though.” She didn’t like asking for help but in this case, she needed Merielle if she was going to be married inside a month.
“Of course I will be happy to be your matron of honor, Esta.” Merielle wrapped her in another hug.
“Oh, yes.” She would need a matron of honor and with Katrine away, Merielle was the only other woman suitable. “Thank you.”
“And I will help you with the ceremony and the marriage feast. We must decide where it is all to take place. Also, I will speak to Reid about the food and drink and you and I must decide on our dresses. Oh, there is so much to plan. When is it?”
“In a month.”
&nbs
p; Merielle’s hand flew to her mouth. “Quick, we must go and see your aunt about gowns.” She pulled Esta off the bench and hustled her into the castle.
Chapter 16
Sam dodged a sword to the head and rammed the butt of his weapon into his opponent’s temple. As the bearded man slumped to the deck, Sam stood over him gasping. Man, I need to work on my fitness! What was the deal with all this resistance? He surveyed the deck, relieved to see the Lenweri had subdued most of the crew. They had tied them up and herded them into a huddle in the middle of the deck.
He grabbed a length of line and bound the man he had fought with and dragged him over to the others. “Where’s your captain?” Sam asked.
“That’s ‘im you just clobbered, scum,” one of the crew said, spitting at Sam’s feet.
“I don’t want any more trouble,” Sam said. “We’ll take what we came for and leave you to get on with your day.” The sun was cresting the horizon and it was past time for them to be gone.
“You’ll regret this, pirate,” the same man said. “The captain has connections up high in Wildecoast. He’ll have the admiral after you for this.”
Sam held his tongue and walked away. Usually the ships he targeted had crews that capitulated easily but this captain had obviously given the order to fight. He didn’t like hurting people and his strategy of night time boardings and his strange Lenweri crew were usually enough to minimize any resistance. But not this time. Several of this ship’s crew were dead or badly injured and that might bring him to Nikolas Cosara’s notice.
The hold revealed rich bolts of cloth, expensive wines and a small chest full of gold coins, amongst other larger items such as tapestries. Sam set about organizing the removal of anything they could easily carry from the hold into several waiting boats. The ordeal had left him deflated when he usually seethed with excitement. There was naught better than surveying the hold of a boarded ship, wondering what treasures might lie there.
He returned to the Silver Lady with the first of the treasure load, only half concentrating on the task at hand. His mind was on the reason for his melancholy. Was it the threat of attention from the admiral, or the reminder that his half-brother had rejected him? Or perhaps he was becoming jaded with this life. The thought of settling down somewhere, anywhere, had been with him lately, his dreams filled with a wife and children when he had never contemplated that before. Often the woman in his dreams looked very much like Esta.
But he had destroyed the friendship they shared, if you could even call it that. He cared for her more than he should, far more than was healthy. So many times he’d found himself regretting that he had not taken her that night at her estate. His body yearned for her and he imagined how magical it could have been. But despite what they had shared and the connection he had with her, Sam knew in his heart that she was destined for a life that had little to do with his.
Except he worried for her. What would she do now her boat sat at the bottom of the ocean? A shiver ran through him as he imagined the loss of his own Silver Lady. It didn’t bear thinking of. Perhaps he should have given her Storm Chaser instead of adding it to his list of assets. He’d been selfish. The least he could have done was offered Esta the other ship.
Sam paced up and down his deck as the Lenweri brought the rest of the haul aboard and raised the rowboats. He was filled with a restless energy that had naught to do with the recent fight. Nande approached, the early morning light revealing his catlike irises.
“All are aboard, Captain,” he said. Instead of asking for orders, he studied Sam. “You are uneasy.”
Sam shook his head. “It’s nothing, Nande.” He stared at the elf, thinking it would be nice to have a friend he could share things with. “Can I ask you something?”
Nande frowned. “Of course.”
“Do you think I should have given Storm Chaser to Lady Moonlight?”
“Why would you do that, Captain?” Nande looked as puzzled as an elf ever looked.
“She lost her ship and I know how that feels. I worry for her.” His voice dropped at the last.
“Worry?” Nande appeared positively alarmed. “You never worry.”
Sam sighed. “I do now. Answer my question if you will.”
“On this I cannot advise. You owe the lady nothing as far as elven law dictates but human niceties are tricky especially where women are concerned. I mean no disrespect.”
“Then tell me what you perceive about the ship we just plundered. Will it bring trouble?”
“Men died.”
Sam ground his teeth. “Will it bring trouble?”
Nande shrugged. “I would advise lying low for a time or we could move our activities further up or down the coast.”
“I wonder if I have the stomach for this life any more, Nande.”
Nande placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder. “This time will pass and you will again feel the freedom of the ocean and the lure of treasure. If you would confide in me, perhaps I could advise you better. Come, we sail for home. The crew needs a rest.”
As Nande walked away, Sam stared after him. For an elf, that had been a long speech. Somehow his second-in-command had discerned the troubles in Sam’s recent life even if he didn’t know the specifics. How would his life look if he gave up the ocean? Could he walk away from the freedom he’d always loved? If Nikolas caught him, he’d be forced to, perhaps even be thrown in prison for the rest of his days.
Sam took a breath and forced his thoughts to the present. They had goods to sell. He would sail down the coast to Shawmere, the southernmost port in Thorius. By the time he had offloaded his cargo, it might be safe to return to the sea.
Esta rose from her bed on the Cosara estate and stretched her arms above her head. The two weeks since her betrothal had flown by in a haze of decisions, dress fittings and snatched moments with Reid. Now she was having a much needed break before returning to Wildecoast to complete the preparations. She smiled at the sheep in the rich late summer pastures, realizing how much she had missed the rural life. Lucky for her, her husband-to-be intended to move to her estate after the wedding.
They had decided to marry on the Aranati estate, making the whole process easier for her mother to attend. Paurella was making a new gown for Lady Aranati senior, who, when Esta had visited her last week, said she was overjoyed that her daughter was finally to marry. Reid had made funds available to prepare the estate for the event so a team of painters, carpenters and gardeners would labor night and day for the next two weeks so that her home was presentable.
Reid had accommodated her every wish, asked her opinion in all decisions and given her a magnificent ruby and diamond engagement ring. It sparkled in the early morning sun, reminding Esta of her new life which was about to start. She was so fortunate to have family, property and a man to love and take care of her. Her life had been completely turned around and now she might finally live like a normal person.
Why then did she have a nagging dread within? Over the last two weeks, she had ruthlessly pushed all doubts aside, determined to have everything that life had promised but never delivered. She had no reason to fear the future. Except that she didn’t love Reid. Perhaps she could grow to love him and already she cared very deeply for the gentle goldsmith, but he didn’t move her. And whenever she had that thought, her mind flew to Sam and his unruly ways, his sudden smiles, his passion and zest for life.
Esta had had passion once, before life weighed her down. Her time with Sam had made her see there was more to life than duty, that true passion might be possible. If only she could truly be free to love and be loved by her one true soul mate. What if it were possible? Was she deluding herself that a love match would lead to greater happiness than would a marriage of convenience? Her mother had loved her father desperately and his loss had left her a shell of a woman. It was sad. Perhaps Reid was a safer option than a passionate, fiery romance that would leave her desolate when it ended?
And where was Katrine? Esta had sent letters everywhere sh
e could think of and had heard nothing. At this rate, she would miss the happy event, though she would be furious that Merielle had appointed herself matron of honor.
Ahh! Her life was still much too complicated.
Esta opened her wardrobe and surveyed the gowns Merielle had hung there. A few were her own but many more belonged to the admiral’s wife. They were, happily, similar in size and height and even their coloring wasn’t much different. She pulled out a pale green gown with white lace sleeves and a gold band at the waist. She did love beautiful gowns and this one was simple but elegant. The effect when she surveyed herself in the mirror took her breath away. Esta could almost believe she was beautiful.
She brushed her hair until it shone and fixed it in an elegant twist. Gold slippers completed the outfit and Esta left her chambers for the breakfast room. Today she and Merielle would finalize the guest list and send out the invitations, though most guests knew of the event already. Her hostess was already in attendance when Esta entered the room.
“Good morning, Esta,” she said. “Oh! That gown is divine on you. I insist you keep it. I have so many and Nikolas is always commissioning new ones. I can’t possibly wear them all.”
“Really? I must admit I do love it.”
“Then keep it,” Merielle said. “Now that is settled, we will get to this list.” She bent her head over a sheet of parchment and Esta smiled. This woman had come to be a good friend over the last three weeks. Esta loved her dearly despite their differences, or perhaps because of them. Merielle had a sense of fun and joy in life that Esta envied. She was happier, more carefree when in her company.
Esta poured herself a cup of tea and sat down to hot rolls with honey. Over more cups of tea, they soon had the list completed.
“It seems so many,” Esta said, her stomach tight with the thought of all the guests she would have to welcome and cater for.
The Lady and the Pirate Page 12
