by Kitty Margo
“Perhaps I should not have mentioned it. I certainly did not wish to upset you.” Leaning toward her, he whispered close to her ear. “And what is your name, my beauty?”
“Bridget,” she mumbled, remembering her father’s instructions to tell no one onboard the ship her true identity.
“A lovely name for a lovely lady. Something tells me we will become much better acquainted on this cruise, Bridget.”
“Merci, sir.” Lynna bestowed upon him a most enchanting smile and considered it a fortuitous occurrence to have met such a kind gentleman. Perhaps his would be a shoulder to find solace on should any storms arise and the Captain be busy attending to ship’s business.
“It has been a pleasure passing the morning with you, I assure you. However, I fear I must return to my cabin. I can only endure the sun for brief periods, as the heat seems to bring on a simply horrendous headache. I suppose I shall read to ease the boredom.” He eyed her closely as he spoke.
“Oh, how featherbrained of me not to have brought along some books. Gertrude should have had the presence of mind to pack some, as it would certainly have made the journey more tolerable. Although, we packed in such a hurry.”
“Why, I would be happy to share mine with you. I have more than enough to keep me occupied. Several of a romantic persuasion that should be of interest to you, in fact. If you will accompany me to my cabin you may select whichever ones your little heart desires.”
“Merci, sir. You are most kind.”
“Believe me, the pleasure is all mine,” he assured her as he took her elbow and escorted her below deck.
Lynna glanced over her shoulder looking for the Captain, but he was busy talking to one of the deck hands with his back turned to her.
Malcolm’s room was cluttered with clothes carelessly strewn about, and smelled offensively of stale whiskey, not at all like the Captain's immaculate cabin. At once possessed of an unusual sense of dread, of a sudden, she felt trapped, suffocated. Should she turn and leave? Instinctively she felt the urge to run, but at the same time chided herself for being ridiculous. Silly girl! Here this thoughtful gentleman was only attempting to be courteous and she was ready to flee like a frightened child.
Taking a deep, calming breath she turned to inquire about the books when he suddenly grabbed her and clutched her hard against his chest. When she opened her lips to protest he covered her mouth with his own. As she struggled to get her bearings and make some sense of this madness, his lips trailed over her face and neck, toward her bosom. Even though her world was temporarily spinning in the wrong direction, she had the presence of mind to realize that his kisses were not at all like the Captain’s. At once repulsed, she tried to push him away, but he increased his hold, squeezing her breast and murmuring a name that wasn’t even hers. “Stop, please! I do not wish to do this, Mr. Robinson!”
“I fear I cannot stop now, my little French beauty! We desire each other and you do not have to affect any silly modesty with me. You were well aware of what would happen when you entered my cabin. Please do not be tedious and pretend otherwise.”
“Non, sir, I assure you, I did not!”
“Just relax and enjoy it, as I am sure you do with our illustrious Captain.”
“Non, I will not!” She struggled against the iron grip around her waist, fighting with all the strength she could muster, but it wasn’t enough. She cringed at the sound of the rending tear as her bodice was ripped and her breasts were displayed before his lusting gaze.
“My word, but you are a rare beauty!” He sank to the bed, pulling her to stand between his legs as his mouth fastened greedily on her breast and his hands roamed beneath her skirt, sending shivers of revulsion surging through her.
Lynna was dumbfounded as she watched him suckle her breast. She felt none of the pleasurable sensations she had experienced when Joshua's lips had caressed the very same spot, when his tongue had drawn circles around her taut nipple… Oh! Joshua’s lips had been on her breast. Last night had not been a dream! A deep blush stained her cheeks, leading Malcolm to the erroneous conclusion that he was causing her body temperature to rise.
Lynna was mortified by her wanton behavior with Joshua! But at the same time it had been so… beautiful. Nothing at all like what was happening now! She knew from the very essence of her being that this was terribly wrong. When his fingers begin to gouge painfully in the sensitive area between her thighs she cried, “Non!” and shoved him backward with all her might.
Fighting back the nausea that boiled in her throat, she watched with dread as Malcolm's head crashed into the bedpost. “Oh, forgive me!” she sobbed, fearing momentarily that she might have killed the contemptible man, but she cringed in horror as he came toward her with rage glistening in his murderous eyes.
“You like it rough, do you, bitch?” he snarled, grabbing her roughly as he squeezed both her hands behind her back and sunk his teeth into the tender skin of her breast.
As pain shot through her breast as if it had been touched with the fire from a branding iron, she let loose a bloodcurdling scream that echoed through every corner of the ship just before slipping into a dark, painless void.
Hours later, Lynna sobbed uncontrollably as she lay cradled in the safety of Joshua’s warm embrace. “Joshua, he was so beastly! Why did he wish to harm me? For the life of me, I do not understand his reprehensible behavior. He seemed so considerate at first when he volunteered to share his books with me. But he was not the same gentleman at all when we were alone in his cabin. He was like a man… possessed. What could I have done to make him loathe me so?”
“Share his books with you? Is that how he lured you into his cabin?” Was the sultry siren that had totally captivated him the night before such a naiveté? “Simply by offering you books to read?” Joshua gently dried the tears that hovered on her sooty lashes.
“Oui. In my haste, I forgot to bring some and Gertrude failed to pack any.”
For sure, Malcolm must have imagined he had stumbled upon a miracle in the guise of a simpleton. “He will never hurt you again, my sweet. That is one promise I shall take to my grave. And he did not loathe you.” Joshua faulted himself for permitting this to happen to her. He should have never let her out of his sight. He had made a promise to her father and failed to keep it, therefore he was entirely to blame and accepted full accountability. Why had he allowed her to roam the ship at will, when he knew any man who laid eyes on her would desire her at first glance? Yet, in his own defense, he had no way of knowing there was a molester onboard his ship. Malcolm had made several crossings on the Windjammer and partaken of numerous meals in the Captain’s cabin. Never once had Joshua considered the dandy to be a threat. But he had made a dreadful error in judgment and Lynna had paid the price.
“I cannot understand why the odious man would wish to cause me so much pain and distress if he did not hate me?”
How could he explain this? “Because, my pet, some men have a strong, almost overwhelming physical craving for women, and some men, like the cretin who assaulted you, will go to any lengths to possess them, even committing the heinous crime of rape.”
“Rape?”
“When a man forces himself on a woman entirely against her will.”
“By forcing himself on her,” she stopped and blushed profusely. “You mean doing… what we did… last night… making love? Even though she does not wish for it to happen?”
“Yes, except that in such a situation as you describe, it would not be termed making love, Lynna. It would be a case of forced sex, or rape.”
Her luscious lips pursed in confusion as she appeared to ponder his words. “But we had… sex, since in order for it to be described as making love, the man would have to love the woman. Would that be an accurate assessment?”
“Yes…I mean no! Lynna, sometimes love has nothing whatsoever to do with it.” Joshua had the sinking suspicion that this conversation could not turn out well. “As I said, sometimes it is merely a physical release for a ma
n… and a woman.”
“So, in essence, what you are telling me is that a man does not have to love a woman in order to make love to her?”
“Yes, I suppose,” he answered ruefully, while fervently wishing they were discussing any topic besides the current one.
Lynna tilted her head in concentration. “Then do you love me? Or did you simply need a physical release? And was it wrong, what we did?”
Scrubbing both hands across his face, Joshua knew he could not bring himself to lie to her, so he surreptitiously avoided the question entirely. She had suffered so much pain already, why cause her additional distress by admitting the truth, which was that no, he did not love her? Nor that yes, they had only had sex, albeit spectacular sex, and if but a hint of their encounter behind closed doors were ever brought to the light of day, she would be labeled a woman of dubious virtue by polite society.
As Lynna turned to remove herself from his lap in order to think more clearly, she clutched her breast and winced in pain.
“What is it, Lynna?”
“It is nothing. I am but a little sore from the ordeal.”
Joshua was not so easily convinced. Turning the chair to face the light, he removed her hands from her torn bodice. His entire body went rigid as he stared at the deep red marks on the porcelain skin of her breast. Around the teeth prints a livid purple bruise was already beginning to form. “The bastard! He will pay!” Joshua roared. “On this you have my solemn promise. I will see him keelhauled for this!” He eased Lynna gently to the bed and stormed toward the door. He had left Malcolm little more than a bloody heap earlier, after Sam had finally succeeded in dragging him off the vermin. But seeing Lynna’s mangled breast, his fury began anew.
“Non, Joshua! Please! Do not leave me! I cannot be alone now. What if the despicable man should return?”
Joshua's anger slowly subsided as he noted the intense fear in her eyes. Lying down beside her, he lightly stroked the ugly, swollen marks. “I will not leave you, my sweet. You need not be afraid. Rest now.” He pulled the covers over her ravaged body and drew her into his arms. “Go to sleep, Lynna, you will be safe with me.”
Lynna had never felt safer, even at the Chateau with armed guards posted at every entrance. And she did sleep, through the night and most of the following day, waking only once to hear Sam whisper to Joshua that he had slipped a generous dose of laudanum into her evening libation.
She awoke to the bright light of the midday sun pouring through the open windows to find several books scattered across the foot of the bed. Opening one, she saw Property of Malcolm Robinson scrawled on the inside cover and shuddered, not wishing to touch anything that belonged to the horrid reprobate. Then she saw a note protruding from one of the books that read: Something to help pass your day. Joshua.
That evening during dinner, feeling as refreshed as if she had slept for a fortnight, Lynna ventured to ask about Malcolm.
“He is chained in the bowels of the ship. I paid Malcolm another visitation upon arising this morning, however the man was still…sleeping. I left the guard with instructions to alert me the second he awakens. Rest assured that he will do you no more harm.”
Lynna felt a great burden lifted from her shoulders at his words. “You cannot imagine how relieved I am to hear that. Merci, Joshua.”
“Do you feel up to going on deck tomorrow? The sun and fresh air will do you good.”
“Oui, I would enjoy that. However I was content today, passing the time in the cabin with the books. Thank you, Joshua for the kindness.”
At midmorning the following day, Lynna again stood at the railing, enjoying the kiss of the warm ocean breeze on her face. Water splashed against the hull of the ship, spraying her with tiny droplets. Pelicans dipped in the ocean, scouting for their morning meal, and seagulls cawed and swooped around her head. Deck hands were busy hoisting sails and scouring decks as the tempting smell of fish frying drifted from the ship’s galley. It felt wonderful to leave the stuffy confines of the cabin. She held the rail and leaned back as her glorious mane ruffled in the gentle morning breeze.
“What a lovely day it is with blue skies, calm sea, and cool breezes,” a woman beside her said, as Lynna breathed deeply of the salty sea air.
“Oui, it is a glorious day.”
“I fear I shall miss the sea when I return home, for I am certain this will be my last voyage. Oh, but where are my manners? Good morning, my name is Natalie Johnson,” said a heavyset lady with a ponderous stomach and hair of the brightest orange Lynna had ever beheld. “And your name is…”
“Bridget,” she answered cheerily, already becoming accustomed to the fictitious name.
Natalie Johnson glanced around as if to assure that no one was eavesdropping and whispered, “Tell me, Bridget. Did you hear that God awful piercing scream the other day?”
“Oui, I am afraid that was me. Unfortunately, I was…assaulted by one of the passengers.” Lynna still trembled remembering the appalling incident and had no desire whatsoever to rehash it now.
“How truly dreadful for you!” Natalie shrieked. “But how on earth did he get inside your cabin? Surely your door was latched?”
“I accompanied him to his cabin,” Lynna offered unwittingly.
“You did?” Natalie gasped, seeming to take umbrage at her words.
“Oui, he volunteered to loan me some of his books, but he suddenly turned violent and proceeded to attack me.”
“Well, I honestly never…” Natalie spluttered indignantly, turning her back on Lynna to converse with the sea gulls. “The girl could not be that naive! No unmarried young lady of decent breeding would even consider entering a gentleman's cabin without a chaperone. Why it is simply beyond the realm of decency! The little hussy probably got exactly what she was asking for. What is to become of this younger generation? No morals! No morals at all!”
“Excuse me?”
“What…oh nothing. I was but clearing my throat.”
Lynna had never before heard anyone use practically the entire alphabet while clearing their throat, but hoping to put an end to this unsettling discourse she volunteered, “Fortunately, Joshua heard my screams and came to my rescue.”
“Joshua?” Natalie's eyebrows shot up.
“Oui, Captain Jordan. He requested that I call him Joshua.”
“Oh, did he now?” Natalie smirked. “And how long have you been acquainted with our Captain?”
“Only a few days. He is escorting me to visit relatives in America.”
“How nice of him, I’m sure. As for myself, I am returning to America. Virginia, actually, after a rather upsetting first visit to France.”
“I am sorry you did not enjoy your stay in my country,” Lynna replied, feeling personally responsible for the woman's distress.
“Oh, it was not the country. It was my ill-bred niece.”
“I see,” Lynna said, although she honestly did not. Ill-bred?
“Perhaps I shouldn’t repeat this,” Natalie continued with her scuttlebutt. “Although I am sure you would never repeat it to a living soul.”
“Not if you do not wish me to.”
“Definitely not. It would be positively scandalous.”
“Scandalous?”
“Yes, the whole sordid affair is rather onerous for me to even discuss. But you see, one of my unmarried nieces got herself in….well…in the family way back in the states. Horribly ashamed, as they should be, her parents asked me to accompany her on a voyage to France to live with her grandparents until the child is delivered and can be placed in an orphans’ asylum. Unfortunately, my niece did not wish to leave her lover, one of the lower dregs of society, I can assure you, and cried incessantly the entire trip until I was concerned for my sanity.”
The woman paused for a breath and continued, “Quite frankly, I was glad to be rid of her. And if my friends back home ever found out that I, Natalie Johnson, had a niece who would behave so immorally, why the shame would be outside the constraints of tolerat
ion. I can only pray they never learn the disgusting, shameful truth. Anyway, as you well know, that is precisely what happens when a young lady allows a man to take indecent liberties with her.”
“Indecent liberties?”
“Yes,” Natalie bristled before continuing with her diatribe. “Indecent liberties, Bridget. Lewd and lascivious behavior! When an unmarried woman allows a man into her bed and they have marital relations. It is to be expected. And even the most uneducated imbecile realizes that it only requires one such episode to create a baby in a woman’s womb.”
She sighed dramatically and laid a limp hand across her forehead. “It has been so humiliating for the entire family. And her poor father! He was always so proud of her, and now this? A disgrace! That is what it is, a disgrace! Any man who would seduce an innocent young girl does not give a fig about her to begin with!”
“By relations, you mean having sex?”
Natalie Johnson’s cheeks grew a bright vivid red and she looked quite faint as she again turned her back on Lynna to consult with the sea gulls. “Do you hear how she carelessly tosses about a word that I have only uttered once, and that in the privacy of my own boudoir? Shameless, positively shameless!’
She faced Lynna again and whispered haughtily after appearing to have successfully calmed her abused senses, “Yes, that!”
Feeling terribly lightheaded and wishing the sea would open up and swallow her, Lynna excused herself and hurried to her cabin. She was unable to endure another word of the woman's vitriolic tirade against her poor niece and other young ladies of… questionable virtue… such as herself.
Joshua watched Lynna’s every movement as she raced across the deck until her slim figure could no longer be viewed. Why was she in such a hurry? She had been chatting with the tongue-wagging Natalie Johnson. Who would not flee at the first opportunity? But even the sight of her fully clothed had caused his blood to race in his veins. How he wanted her, yearned to feel her velvety softness beneath him, caress every silken inch of her lovely body all over again. Therein lay the problem.
