Splendor

by Catherine Hart

  “Nay, Devlin.” Her arms rose to twine about his neck, her slender fingers threading through his hair. Her lovely eyes implored him even as her lips formed the words he longed to hear. “I beg a kiss instead.”

  Their lips met and clung, hers soft and pliant beneath his. The taste of them was sweeter than the finest wine, and far more potent. It must have been the same for her, for she sighed softly, and when she did, he sucked her tongue into the hot depths of his mouth, there to tangle with his.

  With little urging, her body arched toward him; nearer still, as he spread his legs to draw her tightly into the cradle of his thighs. The points of her breasts brushed teasingly against his chest, even through the layers of their clothing. One large hand cupped her buttock, while the other roamed the contours of her back. Warm fingers teased the ridges of her spine, from neck to bottom, raising gooseflesh in their wake. They sought the curve of her waist, caressing there, then meandered upward to lightly stroke the side of her breast.

  On a muted whimper, and with an agitated twist of her torso, Eden wordlessly conveyed her wishes—and Devlin gladly complied. His hand glided smoothly between them, capturing her yearning breast at last— cupping it, fondling it, the crest thrusting into his palm in sweet entreaty. An answering ache flamed in his groin, and he instinctively pulled her closer, grinding her pelvis against his aroused manhood. He swallowed her moan, only to echo it in the same breath.

  Somewhere in the house a door slammed. Nate’s voice called out Devlin’s name. Footsteps resounded in the hall. Only then did Devlin come to his senses and realize that the two of them were standing in the downstairs study, where anyone might chance upon them.

  Reluctantly, he set her apart from him, his body objecting to the move. It soothed him little to note that Eden was in similar straits, unable to stand on her own, her arms still reaching out toward him, her lips wet and rosy, her eyes hazy with desire. His hand stroked her mussed hair, a shudder quaking through him. “Oh, my beauty. One of these days, we’ll see this to its proper end. That I promise you.”

  “ ’Twould please me better were you to pledge to apply for pardon,” she replied, a catch in her voice.

  A mocking smile curved his mobile mouth. “Was that what this bit of seduction was all about, then? To lure me into changing my mind? Well, duchess, I assure you, ’twill take more than a mere kiss in the corner to do the trick. At any rate, you are forgetting one imperative fact. In order to apply to the governor, I must be seen. And that I cannot do.”

  “You could if you took me with you,” she argued not yet ready to give up her dreams.

  “Nay. You know I cannot take you aboard the Gai Mer."

  Eden’s mouth pursed into a pout. “What? That dratted superstition again? Surely there is a way around it. You said yourself there are charms and such to counter it”

  “Forget it, Eden,” he advised gruffly. “I won’t chance my ship and the lives of my crew simply to satisfy your whims.”

  “Not even for something as important as amnesty?”

  As he said the words, he knew he was hurting her, yet he could not stem them. “ ’Tis only important to you, lass. Not to me.”

  She flinched as if struck, each syllable rending her heart like the sharp slice of a knife. Then she drew herself up proudly, tears glistening in her eyes. “I shall endeavor to remember that in the future, Captain. But should I forget, I’m sure you will remind me in your usual forthright manner, for it seems the only time you lavish tenderness upon me is when you are attempting to ravish me. Which invariably clouds my better judgment, fool that I am. I shall try to correct that particular fault of mine.”

  “You do that, sweetling,” he challenged with a rakish grin. “And I shall continue to try to charm my way beneath your skirts.” He paused and arched a blond brow at her. “ ’Twill be interesting to see who wins.”

  Chapter 20

  It seemed Devlin had more supporters of his seeking amnesty than just Eden. No sooner had his argument with her concluded, than Nate began on the very same topic.

  “I want that pardon, Devlin, whether ye do or not,” his friend told him. “I’m gettin’ to an age where I’d best be thinkin’ about settlin’ down, if I’m ever gonna do it. And Janie’s the woman I want to do it with, so I guess the time is ripe.”

  “Damn it all, Nate, I need you with me! Besides, half the Gai Mer belongs to you. We can’t just split her in half so that you can sail legitimately, while I continue my raiding.”

  “Well, ye could always consider applyin’ for amnesty, too, ye know, and make things simple. That way, the two o’ us could still sail together, like always—only on shorter jaunts, o’ course. I will want to spend some time with me bride, ye understand.”

  “Bride?” Devlin almost choked on the word.

  Conversely, Nate appeared to puff up with pride. “Aye. The lady has agreed to marry me, as soon as I return with me pardon. Can ye beat that, Dev? Imagine me wed to a real lady. And the grand thing is, I won’t even have to go lookin’ fer a way to make me livin’. I’m gonna keep on overseein’ the runnin’ o’ the warehouse.”

  Devlin gave a gruff laugh. “I’ll wager Eden is thrilled to her toes over that!”

  “Uh ... well, she doesn’t know yet. Janie’s supposed to tell her today,” Nate admitted sheepishly. “I don’t reckon she’ll be real happy over it, but what can she do? It’s her ma’s warehouse, after all.”

  “Well, I wish you good luck then. But don’t expect me to join you.”

  “I truly wish ye would, Dev. We both know, with more and more countries plyin’ the trade lanes, and puttin’ out naval ships to guard the ports, that corsairs are enjoyin’ their final days. Ye can list on yer fingers the number of ports we can sail into now without a mob linin’ up to lynch us.” Nate shook his head. “ ’Tis sad, but true. ’Twas good while it lasted, but now is the time to quit, while we still have our hides.”

  The corner of Devlin’s mouth pulled up in a wry grimace. “I never thought I’d see the day when you’d talk this way, Nate. When you’d so readily trade in your sea legs to become a landlubber.”

  Nate’s smile was a bit remorseful. “Aye, but that’s the way o’ it. And I’m not the only one, ye know. Several o’ the crew are thinkin’ along the same lines, now that they can do it legal, with a real pardon.”

  “What? How many?” Devlin asked, aghast at the thought of losing more of his faithful crew.

  “I don’t know. About half, I reckon. Which brings up another matter. Ye may be the cap’n, but accordin’ to the rules, there has to be a vote b’fore ye go tryin’ to decide the fate o’ the crew.”

  “I know that, Nate,” Devlin concurred. That had always been one of the best parts of being a buccaneer, even before he and Nate had gained control of the Gai Mer. Every member of the crew got not only a share of the booty, but also a vote on every major matter of concern to them and the ship. “They’ll have their say.”

  “And what if most want amnesty?” Nate questioned further. “If the vote goes against ye, will ye quit piratin’?”

  “Nay,” Devlin answered with a frown. “I’ll take those who want to sail with me and search the docks for others to fill the crew. That is, if you agree to sell out your half of the frigate.”

  “And if I want to keep her?” Nate suggested. “What then?”

  “Then you can buy out my share, and I’ll go looking for another ship,” Devlin stated stubbornly. He heaved a heavy sigh, running his fingers through his hair in an agitated gesture. “Blarst it all! Just when I thought things were starting to look up, this has to happen! I not only lose my body, but my best friend deserts me for a rich widow!”

  “Now, Dev, don’t ye be talkin’ about me and Janie like that. What she owns or doesn’t is of no real concern to me. I love her, plain and simple.”

  “I know that, Nate. I’m sorry for the way it sounded. I’m just not real glad you’re not going to be sailing with me.”

  “It saddens me, to
o, after all these years,” Nate admitted. “But, Dev, as to all this happenin’ now—do ye think it could be a sign o’ some sort? Do ye think someone might be tryin’ to tell ye somethin’?”

  Devlin gave a disgusted grunt. “Aye. Probably telling me to look at my friend and beware of getting caught in the same trap. Whispering in my ear that ’tis high time I weighed anchor and set out after Swift.”

  “Mayhap so, but first we have to finish careenin’ the ship, and see how many o’ the crew want to go ta New Providence. And don’t forget, if ye’re outnumbered, those o’ us who want amnesty are gonna vote to take the ship to the Bahamas to get it. ’Tis only fair. And once they give their pledge to the governor, they shouldn’t be seen immediately afterward in league with known brigands who don’t swear to forego the life. All o’ which means they shouldn’t be seen with ye, nor those who side with ye, goin’ or comin’ from New Providence—not if ye don’t apply as well. So, if ye don’t mind, those lads and me’ll be takin’ the ship out ourselves, and ye can stay here an’ make yerself useful lookin’ after the warehouse for me until we get back, if ye would.”

  Devlin threw up his hands in defeat. “Damn me! Is there anything else?”

  “Not that I can think of, off the top o’ me head.” Nate grinned and slapped in the direction of Devlin’s unseen shoulder. “Brace up, Dev. ’Tisn’t the end o’ the world. And if it gets too rough, ye can always change yer mind and throw in with us.”

  “Not bloody likely,” Devlin grumbled.

  Nate shrugged. “Have it yer way, ye stubborn scoundrel. Meanwhile, what say we amble down to the tavern and hoist a few for old times’ sake, while I still have some say in me own life? B’fore long, I’ll have a wife to monitor me comin’s and goin’s, and ain’t that gonna take some gettin’ used to!”

  Jane attempted to reason with Devlin. Nate tried. As much as it went against her grain, Eden relented and began hounding him once more. And still Devlin stood fast. Nothing they could say would sway him. Nor did the fact that nearly two-thirds of his crew were deserting him make any difference. He simply announced, grim-faced, that he’d put the word out for new men to take their places. To Eden’s mind, the man made a jackass appear agreeable.

  Reluctant to give up trying to persuade him, but getting nowhere individually, the three quickly joined forces against him. Together, and secretly, they met to discuss possible strategies. Finally they hit on a workable plan, though all agreed to employ it only as a last resort. If by the time the work on the Gai Mer was finished Devlin still had not agreed, they would simply abduct him and take him by force to New Providence. How they were going to get him to utter the requisite vow they had not yet worked out, but Eden swore she’d get him to agree if she had to stand Devlin before the governor with a gun to his ribs.

  Meanwhile, also surreptitiously, the trio set about conjuring ways to counter the evil of having Eden aboard ship, for she would have to go along on the voyage. In this, Nate proved particularly knowledgeable, most likely because he, too, had a sailor’s superstitious nature.

  “Now, here’s what we have to do,” he told the two women. “First, we have to find a priest.”

  Eden grimaced. They’d hit their first snag before they’d gotten a good start. “Does it have to be a priest, or would Reverend Johnston do?” she asked hopefully. Though there had to be at least one Catholic in Charles Town, any who laid claim to that faith took care to conceal it, since to the colonists of the region the term Roman Catholic was, although unjustly, equated with the Spanish—and thus aligned with their enemies. Being Catholic was not something to shout aloud about these days, at least not in the Charles Town area.

  “Nope,” Nate said. “We got to have a priest.”

  “But we don’t have one anywhere around Charles Town,” Eden protested. “What do we do now?”

  Jane tapped her daughter on the shoulder and gave a sly wink. “You just leave that part to me,” she advised them. “I happen to know a few people—who know a few people. And unless I miss my guess, there’s a priest lurking in a woodpile somewhere around here.”

  “Well, you sniff him out real quick, Janie, my love,” Nate suggested, “ ’cause we’re sure gonna need him, along with some o’ that holy water o’ his and a few hearty blessin’s.”

  He went on to list some of the other items they would need. “Eden, can ye get yer hands on a horseshoe, and maybe a fresh caul or two?”

  “A caul?” Eden echoed. “What is it?”

  Jane took up the answer. “A caul is the birth sac of a newborn animal, and we might have a time finding one this far into the summer. Most young calves and kids are born in the spring. Still, there must be at least one creature in the area about to give birth. We’ll just have to make inquiries.”

  “I’ll take care o’ gettin’ more codfish stones,” Nate went on, “though most o’ the crew already have ’em. They put ’em in little sacks and hang ’em around their necks to protect ’em from drownin’. Ye see, ’tis reasoned that if these stones, which come from the ear of the codfish, can keep the fish afloat, ’twill do the same fer any person who wears ’em. There’s bound to be a ship dockin’ soon from up Plymouth way, carryin’ a load o’ codfish.”

  “Then get a couple of stones for me, too,” Eden decided, “because I can’t swim a stroke!”

  Between them, they managed to gather everything they needed. The priest, who until now had been doing an excellent job of keeping his profession a secret from all but his handful of parishioners, had no problem with Nate’s request not to wear his black robes. Though Devlin himself and a few of his mates often wore black, it seemed that any ship’s visitor or passenger who wore this “color of death,” particularly a priest or a widow, brought bad fortune aboard.

  On the day chosen to conduct the blessing of the ship, Jane was designated to keep Devlin busy at home, lest he witness the ceremony and begin to ask questions no one wanted to answer. The crew had been sworn to silence, upon Nate’s threat to have the priest exclude them from his blessing should they whisper so much as a word about these proceedings to their captain.

  “I’ll try,” Jane promised, “but do be as quick about it as possible. ’Tis hard to keep an eye on a man I cannot see, and he could be off and gone long before I know it.”

  Her plan was to put Devlin to work repairing an old bed frame in the attic, while she kept Dora occupied in the kitchen. Nate would not be missed, as he usually spent a good portion of his day at the warehouse. Eden’s absence would be explained as a shopping expedition.

  “Be sure to stop in town and purchase some small item before coming home,” Jane reminded her. “We don’t want Devlin to become suspicious.”

  All went well, considering the speed and secrecy in which they had to conduct the service. First, the priest invoked a blessing on several small items: the caul, the cloth amulets containing the codfish stones, three silver coins, a horseshoe, and the wine which would be used to bless the ship. Then he performed purification rites for the frigate itself and the crew. At Nate’s suggestion, he invoked a special sanctification on Eden, since she was the primary reason for all of these preventative measures.

  “I feel like a fool,” Eden complained, as she knelt to submit to the ritual.

  “Better that than a Jonah,” Nate told her. “Now, shut yer trap and let’s get on with it.”

  She kept her comments to herself after that. Anything that would get her aboard the Gai Mer without causing a riot among the crew, and enable them to get Devlin to New Providence for his pardon, was well worth a few minutes of looking silly.

  As soon as his part was done, the priest left. Eden stayed and watched in fascination as the caul, holding three precious codfish stones, was tacked to the main-mast below the horseshoe, which was hung upside down to catch and hold good luck. It took several stout men in the bowels of the ship to lift the three masts, one at a time, just far enough to slip a single silver coin beneath each. Her own little sack of codfish stones
she tucked into her pocket for safekeeping.

  “Now don’t ye go forgettin’ this when we sail,” Nate admonished as he handed the sack to her, “or all our good work might go for naught.”

  It was done. The Gai Mer and her crew were as ready, and as protected against evil, as ever they would be. The ship was nearly fit to be put back into the water. With luck, they would all be on their way to the Bahamas, Devlin included, within a few short days.

  The following evening, in celebration of Jane and Nate’s engagement, the four friends went out to supper together at a local inn. It was an uncommon treat for the women, as they rarely dined out except when invited to someone else’s house. Eden could count on one hand the number of times she’d eaten her evening meal in a public establishment.

  In honor of this event, Eden took great pains with her toilet, arranging her hair several different ways before she was satisfied with the result, and changing her gown at least four times. She finally decided upon a creation of lustrous silk damask in a shade resembling polished bronze, with stomacher and flounced underskirt of lemon satin, and soft kid slippers and gloves to match. The outfit, fashionable but still sedate, was the most colorful in her wardrobe, a lack she had yet to rectify. She tied a yellow ribbon about her throat, and in lieu of a bonnet, all of which Devlin seemed to dislike immensely, she wore a lace-trimmed pinner, held in place with the tortoiseshell combs he had given her.

  Then Eden did something which was, for her, outrageously daring. Dampening her handkerchief with her favorite perfume, she dabbed the scent liberally into her hair, behind her ears, and on the insides of her elbows and wrists. From her mother’s dressing table, she borrowed a small pot of rouge. Foregoing face powder, she applied the scarlet coloring sparingly over her lips and cheekbones. A pinch of lamp soot darkened the tips of her lashes, lengthening them and heightening the unusual hue of her eyes. As a crowning touch, she affixed a small golden beauty patch in the shape of a butterfly to her right cheek.