Captain Thompson turned to her side, and wrapped his arms around Emma. Ivy’s face heated. She had almost forgotten she was holding the sweet child. Emma raised her arms, catching the man around the neck. She giggled sleepily. The captain chuckled, lifted the girl from Ivy’s lap, and rocked her as he moved her over to his bed in the corner.
The three men guffawed.
“The cap’n’s a blasted nursemaid!” said one.
Captain Thompson’s jaw clenched, and his grip visibly tightened on Emma.
Ivy bit back a gasp. Surely he would not let one of his men talk to him that way.
****
A groan escaped Gage’s throat. Surely he should not let his men talk about him so blatantly, especially in front of Lady Shaw. Why, what would the woman think of him?
Gage laid Emma down on his bed and bunched up the coverlet around her to prevent her from rolling off the side if she tossed around. Then he faced the man who had taunted him. Rogers. The same man who had pitched a fit when he found out a woman and child would be joining him on his voyage. Gage should have known better than to invite him to dinner in his cabin, but he had hoped the meal would create some more respect. It seemed to be having the opposite effect.
“Rogers, I suggest you learn to shut your mouth before it gets you in places you don’t want to be. Taking care of an orphaned child is nothing to mock. Maybe you should learn things like that before you go about belittling your captain.”
“No, sir, there’s nothing wrong with bein’ a nursemaid…Especially since we know you’re barely a man.” Some of the other men in the room chuckled.
Gage stiffened. He didn’t bother a glance at Lady Shaw, for surely she was ashamed of him by now. “What do you mean by that, Rogers?”
“I should think ya know what I mean, cap’n! What kind of man finds a pretty morsel like this lady right here and keeps her in her own cabin? Now, it’s bad luck to have a woman on board, and that’s proven by the hurricane we endured, but how could a man not have a little fun with someone as pretty as her around? Why, I should take her for meself, and show her what a real man is. Besides, I bet it wouldn’t be too hard to do. What kind of lady would travel alone on a ship full of pirates?”
Gage’s blood boiled. Not out of pride at the insult to his manhood, but at the insinuations Rogers was making about Lady Shaw. One glance at Ivy told Gage she was positively mortified. He fisted his hands. “You will take that back immediately, Rogers, or regret you ever said it. I expect you to apologize to the lady.”
Rogers reached across the table and laid a hand on Ivy’s arm. A hand that wandered, brushing against the lady’s throat and upper chest. Ivy’s eyes widened in horror and fear. Fury bubbled up inside Gage. A growl met his ears, and Gage realized it was his. He flicked the weasel’s arm away, and rested his hands on Ivy’s shoulders, squeezing them to offer some comfort.
Rogers continued. “Why should I apologize for somethin’ that’s true? Lady Shaw, would ya like to come join me this evenin’ t’ show ya what you’ve been missing out on?”
Ivy inhaled a sharp breath and trembled under Gage’s hands.
“Rogers, I must insist you leave my cabin. You are not welcome here if you intend to treat a respectable lady in such a manner.” Gage brought himself up to his full height and glared down at Rogers. The man was a few inches shorter than him, but met his eyes with a similar glare. This sailor was too ornery for Gage to want on his crew. He regretted ever signing him on.
“That’s all right by me. I don’t enjoy taking my dinners with two women and a little girl-child anyways.”
The man all but ran from the room.
Gage groaned inwardly. He had wanted the respect of his crew, like Caspian had, but things were not turning out in his favor.
He glanced at Ivy. Her face was a deep red and her eyes watery.
“Lady Shaw—”
“Don’t listen to Rogers, milady.” Adam stepped up and moved closer to Gage and the woman.
Her bottom lip trembled. She abruptly rose and dashed to the door. “I-I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I’m afraid I have lost my appetite. If you will please e-excuse me.”
Before they had any chance to respond, she rushed out the door.
Gage glanced between the door that was still swinging open and the members of his crew who remained in his cabin. He needed to find her quickly. It would not do to have her running about outside while Rogers had just gone in that direction. “Adam, please keep an eye on Emma and enjoy your dinner with everyone. I’m afraid I lost my appetite as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
Gage bounded out the door and almost ran over Ivy in his search for her. She sat, hunched up, in the companionway, her head pressed against her knees. A sob escaped her throat. Her shoulders shook.
“Ivy…” Gage sank down to the floorboards beside her and placed an arm around her shoulders.
She jumped. “Sorry, I…I did not realize you were there, Captain.”
Gage moved away from her. “I didn’t intend to frighten you, Ivy.” He stood and offered her his hand. “Come with me. Let’s go back to your cabin, my dear.”
Her face pinked, and she frowned, but she did get up and let him lead her to the cabin. Once she was inside, he closed the door behind her and felt his heart sink at the tears streaming down her cheeks.
He had caused her these tears. It was his fault. And he felt terrible.
She wobbled on her feet.
Gage surged forward to steady her in his arms. She leaned towards him, her head pressed against his chest as he propped his forehead against her soft copper hair. He told himself he held her only to comfort her, but he knew that was not so. No, there was no way he could resist the chance to hold this precious woman.
“Shush, Ivy, it’s all right. Don’t listen to a word the imbecile says. You are a true lady if I ever saw one.”
She exhaled a shuddering breath before sobbing again. Gage rubbed her back in slow, circular motions. Finally, she made a light hiccup noise and pulled away. He allowed her to move, but did not release his hold on her. It was too soon to stop touching her.
“I-I’m sorry for my…outburst, Captain. I’m not sure what came over me. I’m so sorry that man said such terrible things about you. I know they’re not true. You’re a gentleman. I admire you.” She frantically wiped the tears from her cheeks, her stormy gray eyes still liquefied.
Gage pulled her back against his chest, warmed by her sweet words. “There is no need to apologize, darling. Nothing Rogers said or did was your fault. It is I who should apologize for allowing him to make those rude insinuations, and to touch you like he did.” Gage glanced down and realized with the way he was holding her, he was touching just as much or more of her as Rogers had. He pulled away, disgusted with himself. While he intended to comfort her, he may be upsetting her further with such closeness after she was accosted by the vile man. “Forgive me. I should not touch you so. It is not my place.” Gage averted his eyes, feeling heat brightening his face.
Her pretty face shone pink. “I do not mind you touching me, Captain.”
Gage could not resist a grin. He repositioned his arms around her. “Will you please call me Gage?”
“Yes, Gage…I do not mind you touching me at all.” She leaned her forehead against his chest sweetly. “And I don’t mind you calling me Ivy, either.”
“Now, darling Ivy, please do tell me you will forget everything that imbecile said.”
“I can try to, Gage, but I worry about what he will do if he finds me alone.”
“I have control of him and all the other men on this ship. Do not worry.” Gage smoothed some hair out of her face. “I’ll let you get settled here now, and leave you alone.”
“What about Emma?” Ivy rose in a rush. “How could I have left her up there all alone like that? Oh, how awful of me.” She patted her hair back in its place and moved back to the entrance of the cabin.
“You don’t need to fret about Emma. Mr. Douglas
is watching her right now, and I can keep her with me for the rest of the evening. It’s about time I took care of her for once instead of forcing you to.” Gage stood and tugged his brown waistcoat back into place.
Ivy wrung her hands. “No, she will be missing me. I don’t want her to be all alone, even if it isn’t for a very long time. I know she is quite young, but I think she sometimes has nightmares…either from the time spent with her mother, or from being abandoned. She might not do well with someone new.”
“Don’t worry about her, Lady Shaw. We will do just fine.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned backwards, studying her.
Ivy bit her lip. “Well, maybe I would get lonely without Emma here with me. I’ve gotten used to having her cheerful little face around. It would be…strange in this cabin without her, even for only a night. Please just bring her back, or send Adam with her. If I cannot take care of William while I am out here in the middle of the sea, then I would at least feel useful taking care of Emma.”
Gage blinked. “Oh, well, you should have said that sooner, milady. If I had known that, I would have brought her back here right away. Just give me a moment, and I will be right back.”
Chapter Twelve
The salt-laden breeze slapped Gage in the face as he trudged up the companionway on his way to his cabin. He reached a hand up to shove the hair that the wind had whipped into his face out of his eyes. Somewhere in the distance, an exotic bird squawked. He grinned. If there was a bird like that within hearing distance, then they were nearing the inlet to the island on which he would careen the ship. Even though Lady Shaw was unhappy about the decision, they desperately needed the reprieve and repairs this stop would provide after the violent hurricane they had just endured.
He raised a hand against his forehead to shield his eyes from the glaring sun. How amazing it was that the sun could shine so brightly and cheerfully after the black storm they had endured just hours before. Gage squinted at the horizon. Was that the green of a mountain he saw in the far distance?
After a moment, he shrugged and entered his cabin.
All of his men had dined and left except for Adam, who held Emma in one arm while he stacked dishes with his other. He bounced Emma on his hip. The tot giggled.
Gage grinned at the child’s enthusiasm. He reached to take Emma from Adam, but the girl leaned back against Adam’s shoulder. “Want Uncle Adam.” She stuck her thumb in her mouth and closed her eyes.
Gage cocked his head. “Where’d she learn to call you that? I’ve barely heard her speak a word since we found her.” The man was awkward with the little one, but she seemed to appreciate him well enough.
Adam cast him a sheepish look. “I’ve been talking to her while you were down with Lady Shaw. She actually knows a couple words—” he struggled to balance the squirming child in his arms “—don’t you, Emmie?”
Emma chattered and wiggled her fingers at Gage.
“And why is she calling you Uncle Adam?”
“I don’t know. It just seemed right.” He bounced the girl in his arms once more and then set her down on the chair beside him. She crawled up the side of the chair and tugged on Adam’s ear. His face scrunched up in pain as he gently pried her hand away from his head.
Gage shook his head and chuckled. Ivy probably would not be happy the man had gotten Emma to call him by such a fond name. Gage had no idea what was going to become of Emma once they reached England again, but he doubted she would live the rest of her life on this ship with Gage and his men. A privateer ship was no place at all for a little girl-child to grow up. Gage frowned. What would become of Emma when they reached England? When they had taken her in, all Gage had truly thought about was the girl’s immediate future. Surely Ivy could not take her in with her. It would be highly improper, and foolish people would probably assume that, with her sudden, long departure, the child was truly hers. They even shared the same hair color.
And if they discovered the true origins of the baby, they would shun both the baby and everyone involved with her. Lady Shaw’s reputation would be in shreds. She would have no prospects for a respectable marriage, and she would have no hope of a future. What would become of them after that?
Gage shoved the thought aside. He had no time to worry about that now.
“I need to take Emma back to Lady Shaw. She misses her, or I would keep the baby here for the evening.”
Adam smiled sadly. “It’s time to go back to Lady Shaw, sweetheart. You miss her?” He looked quite awkward with the little tyke, but she seemed happy with him.
Emma nodded groggily. Her eyelids drooped with sleepiness.
“You can go with Mr. Gage and he will take you to her, all right, sweetheart?”
“Otay, Uncle Adam.” The child stretched her arms out to Gage. “Papa!”
Gage’s face flushed to what he was certain was a deep red. He bit back a grin.
Adam chuckled. “If I’m her uncle and you’re her papa, does that make us brothers, or brothers-in-law, Captain?” His eyes twinkled in amusement.
Gage bumped him with his elbow. “Shush. She is a baby. She doesn’t know any better.”
Adam sent him a lazy salute as Gage scooped Emma up in his arms and went on his way.
However, on his walk down to the cabin, Gage could not help but wonder if Emma called Lady Shaw “Mama.”
He bounced the child in his arms. “You having fun on our voyage, sweetie?”
She babbled nonsense back at him, smiling like he had just bought her the world.
Gage leaned his forehead against hers. She smelled good. Fresh. Unpolluted by the cold outside world.
They arrived at Lady Shaw’s cabin. He knocked on the door, and the woman opened it almost before his fingers even made contact with the wood.
“I heard you coming. You took longer than I thought you would, so I was just about to come up and check on you. But I see she’s all right. Thank you for bringing her to me.” Lady Shaw tried to grab the baby from his arms, but he held her back.
“Can I come in, or are you refusing to let me in your cabin now? I didn’t know I had done anything to make you cross with me.” Emma made a fussy noise so Gage shifted her in his arms and patted her on the head. He was positive her copper curls had grown longer since the day they had found her on the streets of Port Royal.
“Oh, I am sorry, Captain. I did not mean to be rude to you. I suppose you are welcome anywhere on this ship. After all, it is yours, isn’t it?” Ivy stepped backwards into her cabin and rested on the edge of the cot that took up half of her space.
Gage entered the cabin and lowered himself into the tiny wooden chair adjacent to the bed. He patted the baby on the back and studied Ivy. Her hair was mussed, almost halfway out of the neat up-do she had confined it to before she had joined him for dinner. The deep-blue dress she wore hung wrinkled on her frame, but somehow she looked beautiful in it. Its lace trim withered limply. Now that he thought about it, he had only seen her wearing two different gowns. She probably had not packed more than that to go on her voyage to find her friend. Her stormy eyes stared at Emma with such a mournful attitude that Gage had to pry his gaze back to the floor.
The poor woman missed her brother terribly. And it was mostly his fault she was not well on her way to being with him again. He inhaled. “I’m sorry, Ivy.”
“What? Oh no, it’s all right. I was just worried Emma wasn’t safe, but I see she is now. Thank you for bringing her.” Ivy straightened her back and shoved some loose strands of hair behind her ears.
“No, milady, I meant to apologize for not getting you to your brother as quickly as you had hoped. I feel terrible to be keeping you from him.”
****
Ivy remained silent as she stared at the peculiar captain. The man’s wavy brown hair curled into his face, tickling his eyebrows. His large frame dwarfed the tiny chair he sat upon. Eyes the color of sweetened coffee peered back at her. For once, the ever-present grin was absent from his face. He held an express
ion of complete sincerity, which made Ivy bite her lip.
In all her life, it had been rare for someone to be so honestly concerned about how she felt. And this man, this barbaric pirate, cared more about her happiness than anyone back home in London. The thought warmed her heart to the core. “Th-thank you, sir.”
“I hope to make our visit to the inlet and then the Carolinas as brief as I can. I want you to be happy.” Captain Thompson leaned forward and encircled her hand in his.
Ivy’s breath caught in her throat. She blinked. What was wrong with her, responding to the touch of a common man like this? What on earth would her mother and father think of her? Why, they expected her to marry a wealthy man, a lord, and here she was obsessing over the touch of a common pirate.
She needed to do something about this. No matter how chivalrous he was, she could not get herself attached to this man. In fact, she had every reason to distance herself from him as much as possible. Ivy prayed that would be easy to do over the next two weeks.
****
Adam Douglas stood beside Lady Shaw on the main deck of the Siren’s Call, staring at the bay in front of them. Lush green plants infested the majority of the inlet, after the line of pure white sand stopped. Mountains towered in the distance. In only fifteen minutes or so, the Siren’s Call would be careened on that shore. The land was certainly a welcome sight after the hurricane the crew had endured.
“How long do you think it will take us once we reach the island?” Lady Shaw took a step forward and shielded her eyes against the sun.
“Oh, I cannot be certain. All I know is Captain Thompson will push the men as hard as they can go so we can be finished more quickly. I have never attended a careening before.”
Lady Shaw’s face tightened, drawing together the lines of freckles on her forehead and nose.
Carried Home Page 9
