Carried Home

by Heather Manning

  ****

  Eden’s heart seemed to soar high above, near the stars that glittered in the black sky. In a few hours, they would land in Charles Town. A trace of doubt raced through her body. Would they finally find her brother? Perhaps they were not even following the correct facts. They could be chasing another man. Not her beloved brother. Oh God, please let it be him this time. Please. I need to know he is okay. I need to hug him again.

  Tears welled up in Eden’s eyes and, despite all of her efforts to blink them away, spilled down her cheeks. She quickly batted them away with the palms of her hands. It would not do to have either Reed or Caspian come upon her and see she had been crying. Goodness, she had found herself crying at the drop of a hat in the last few weeks. Perhaps her emotions were running higher than normal because she had recently discovered she may be with child.

  A strong hand rested on her waist, and a familiar scent of wood and spice wafted over her. Caspian leaned down and scrutinized her face. His warm breath fanned over her lips. He frowned. “You’ve been crying, my love.”

  “No, Caspian, it is nothing to worry about.” She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

  He gently nudged her back. “My wife was crying. I think that is something to worry about.” Caspian gently wiped wetness from her face with the pad of his thumb.

  She gave him a weak smile. “Don’t fret, dear. I was just thinking about Adam. You know how I fret about him.”

  He sighed as he cupped her face in his hands. “Sweetheart, we will find him. Your brother will be safe.” He brushed his thumb across her lips.

  “Mama! Papa!” Reed’s tormented voice bounced from the other side of the ship. Eden swung around. The child raced up the companionway and across the deck. He skidded to a stop in front of her and Caspian.

  “What is it, my son?” Caspian crouched down to Reed’s eye level.

  “I had a terrible dream!” He threw himself into his father’s open embrace.

  “Oh, sweetheart, I am sorry.” Eden lowered herself to her knees and rubbed Reed’s back. Tears filled her eyes at the fright in her child’s voice.

  “I…I was so frightened…” Reed hiccupped between breaths.

  “Honey, it’s all right. You’re fine. Everyone is fine.”

  “What happened in your dream, Reed?” Caspian rested his elbow on his knee as he wiped the tears from his son’s face.

  The child’s face crinkled up. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Eden sighed and smoothed sandy curls away from Reed’s face. The poor thing. She hated to see him upset. Pulling his head back to rest on her chest, she spoke into his ear, “Reed, darling, everything is all right. It was simply a dream.” Sparkling blue-violet eyes gazed back up at her. Something tugged at her heart. She loved this boy so much.

  “Now come on, Reed. Let’s get you back to your bed.” Caspian rose and stretched his arm out to his son, offering to help him up.

  “Oh, Papa, please, no!” Reed sniffled. “I am too frightened.”

  Caspian’s eyes met hers. She nodded. “All right, Reed. You may sleep with your mama and me. Just this once.”

  Eden smiled. Her husband had really become good at understanding their son and what he needed. And when the child had a startling nightmare, it was best he was comforted by his parents.

  She squeezed Caspian’s hand as they made their way down the companionway to their cabin. “I love you.”

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I love you too.”

  ****

  Addie awoke that morning with a crick in her neck. But she did not care. No, she was safe on Gage’s ship. She did not have to worry about sewing nonstop or being harassed at a tavern, or if she would even make enough profit to eat. Even if there was nowhere for her to garden on this vessel, for once in the last two years she was safe. Safe. The feeling warmed her heart.

  She found Ivy sitting upright on her cot, still in her nightgown, rocking Emma in her arms. The woman yawned, and then smiled when she noticed Addie. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.”

  “Did you sleep well?” Ivy laid Emma back down on the cot and covered her with a corner of the coverlet.

  “Yes, I did. Thank you for asking.”

  Addie swung her legs out of the hammock and managed to exit the contraption without embarrassing herself. Although she had always slept in the hammocks when she was younger, it had been years since she had done so. It would take her a while to get used to it again.

  Addie stretched her arms over her head. “I’m hungry.”

  Ivy laughed. Her stormy gray eyes twinkled. “Gage usually sends Adam down to give us some fruit and tea, or some biscuits.”

  Addie cringed. Adam. Wasn’t that the man she had treated poorly yesterday? Well, no matter. He was a man. She should not feel guilty for treating him poorly after so many men had treated her poorly. And yet she did. He seemed kind.

  “Is something wrong, Addie?”

  She blinked. “Oh, no, Ivy. Nothing at all.”

  “Hmm.” Ivy rose and moved to the porthole. Addie joined her. Although it was early in the morning, the town was already bustling at work. The ship gently bobbed up and down against its moorings.

  A knock sounded on the door. “It’s Mr. Douglas, ladies. I’ve come to bring you a meal.”

  “Come in,” Ivy called.

  Addie turned around as the door opened. Mr. Douglas strolled in and set a tray of fruit on a tiny table next to the bed. He picked up the teapot and began to pour one cup. His gaze reached Addie’s. A small smile raised one side of his mouth. “How are you today, milady?”

  Why should he smile? Addie had been rather rude to him the day before. She moved towards the table to stand near him. “I am all right, sir.”

  His eyes met hers and held their gaze. He blinked and then continued pouring tea. His hand shook. She reached out to steady the cup for him, thinking maybe the gentle sway of the ship on the waves was causing him trouble. Hot tea scorched her hand. She yelped and drew back.

  Mr. Douglas immediately set the pot back on the table and lifted her hand. He pulled it up to his mouth and blew on it. “I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry, milady.”

  “You’re so clumsy! What are you doing?” Addie pulled her hand away from his grasp. Immediately, she regretted the harsh tone to her voice. It had been an accident.

  Ivy sped over to them, concern tightening her eyebrows. She seemed to assess the situation and spun back around fumbling with the washbasin.

  “I apologize, Miss Thompson. I was trying to blow on the burn to cool it down. I know burns are terribly painful.”

  She bit her lip as she studied his face. Had it been burned? Is that what had disfigured the left side of his body? Well, she felt like slapping herself in the face if that was how he had been scarred and she was sitting here whining about a splash of hot tea. “What’s done is done, I suppose.”

  Ivy faced them once more and placed a cool, damp cloth on Addie’s hand. Immediately, it soothed the pain of the burn. But it did not soothe the pain coursing through her as she took in the extreme disappointment on Mr. Douglas’s face. After a moment, he backed away. “I apologize again, milady. If there is anything you are ever in need of, pray let me know. I am at your service.” With that, he turned on his heel and sped from the room.

  ****

  What was that about? Ivy frowned as she tended to Addie’s burn. The man had never been clumsy before, and Addie had certainly acted strangely around him. Odd.

  She inspected the platter Adam had left on the table. Croissants, a treat since they were at port! Oh, but those were delicious. Aimee’s mother, a Frenchwoman, had ensured that her cook made the French pastries once in a while. They were truly scrumptious.

  After Addie had treated her burn, she joined Ivy in nibbling at the croissants. She was quite a change from the ravenous young woman Ivy had seen last night. “Addie?”

  The girl’s sea-foam green eyes slowly rose from th
e pastry to Ivy’s face.

  “Do you feel well?”

  “It only hurt for a moment. I am fine.” She flaked off a piece of the pastry.

  “I am going to be completely honest with you. I was not talking about the tea, Addie.”

  She remained silent for so long, Ivy had given up all hope of receiving an answer. Finally, she said, “What happened to him?”

  Ivy brushed the remaining flakes of the croissant off of her fingers and finished off her tea. “What do you mean, ‘what happened to him’?”

  “What happened to Mr. Douglas? Why does he look like that?”

  “You mean the side of his face?”

  Addie gulped. “Yes. What made it look like that?”

  Truly, Ivy did not know. She had never felt right to directly ask the man about it. But she had queried Gage on the matter once. “Gage told me he was burned in an unfortunate accident a few years back. It scorched the whole left side of his body, but mainly affected his face. The rest has mostly healed.”

  “Oh.” Addie’s face darkened in upset.

  Realization hit Ivy. “Oh, Addie, don’t worry about that!”

  “I was…fussing because he accidentally spilled some warm tea on my hand, and here he was horribly disfigured by a fire. I feel awful.”

  Ivy laid her hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, it is all right. I’m sure he didn’t even think of it. He rarely seems to care about his face. Adam is a kind man. He wouldn’t let something like that bother him, especially from someone like you. He knows you weren’t acting maliciously.”

  “I was cruel to him last night, too, Ivy. I do not understand what is wrong with me. I am being so rude when I really am so grateful to finally be safe once again.”

  Ivy pulled the girl into her arms. “Darling, you have been through a lot during these past few months…or however long since your marriage. It is understandable you are a little jumpy and that would affect how you act around people. Don’t worry. It’ll pass soon, and I am certain you will go back to feeling like yourself quickly.”

  Addie pulled away slightly. “Really?”

  A smile stretched itself across Ivy’s lips. “Really. Now enjoy your meal.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  After determining some details for when they would depart with his quartermaster and how to promptly remove Rogers—a deep annoyance—from his crew, Gage sprang down the companionway steps, eager to see his sister and Ivy. He rapped on the door with his knuckles and Ivy almost immediately opened it. Her orange hair was mussed, and the collar of her dress was not lying correctly. Gage immediately realized the source of her dishevelment when he noted Emma propped against her hip, tugging yet another lock of hair out of the woman’s coiffure.

  Gage chuckled as Ivy blew a curl out of her face and grinned at the tot. “I like her hair better down too, Emma. Smart thinking.” He winked.

  Ivy’s face immediately reddened. “Really, Gage, you mustn’t say such things.” But he could tell she was pleased by his compliment.

  “What do you say to a nice stroll about the town, ladies?” Gage stepped inside so he could see his sister, who was lounging on the cot.

  “Oh, that sounds lovely! But I fear it is time for this little one’s nap.” Ivy pressed a kiss to the top of Emma’s head.

  Oh, how could Gage have forgotten?

  Addie rose and stepped over to him. “I’ll stay with Emma. You two go ahead and enjoy your stroll. I would appreciate to get better acquainted with my ‘niece.’” She reached to take Emma from Ivy’s arms.

  Ivy bounced Emma, who leaned against her shoulder and yawned. “Are you sure, sweetheart? It might do you good to get some fresh air.”

  “I am certain. I don’t feel a burning need to ever see that town again, anyway.”

  Gage frowned. “I will miss you, Addie.”

  “I will be all right, brother.”

  He sighed. “I suppose. You aren’t a little girl anymore. We will not take long, either, so we can come back to see you.”

  Ivy handed Emma over to Addie and then met Gage. He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

  Gage gloried in the feel of Ivy’s hand on his arm, and he relished the split-second moments when her curves brushed against his side as they walked through the town. He truly could get used to this. When they strolled side by side, arm in arm, through the center of the town, it made him really feel like they were together. And the bystanders on the street who probably assumed they were married? Gage didn’t mind them one bit. In fact, he cherished the idea. He needed to find out where her thoughts were on the idea. Because, heaven help him, he could not wait to have some sort of promise from the delightful woman.

  Gage had stopped in with the local silversmith early in the morning, who had promised to find a beautiful ring for the lady by evening. If it didn’t fit her properly, then the silversmith had agreed to adjust it free of charge. Unfortunately, Gage did not have one in his own possession already. His father had never given his mother a ring, and she had been forced to sell her grandmother’s long ago to provide for herself. So Gage had to purchase a new one. And if he were to propose to Ivy, he would not do so without a ring. She deserved one. She was a special lady and she deserved the best.

  Ivy’s steps slowed as they moved outside the edge of town, near a beautiful beach. They were the sole visitors.

  “Do you want to walk on the sand, my dear?”

  Pink flushed her cheeks. “Oh, yes I would.”

  He smiled and took her hand. “Why don’t you take your shoes and stockings off? I personally know it is irksome to get sand in your shoes.”

  She hesitated and glanced around, but found they were completely alone. Surely it would be fine to just take her shoes off. Her skirt would cover them mostly anyway. She bent down to untie her boots. Gage crouched at her feet and stayed her hands. “I’ll help.” The woman had tiny feet. Tiny, adorable feet. The second his hand touched the laces, heat radiated through him. He was so close to her. She smelled good. Like citrus. Gage made quick work of loosening the laces and sliding the shoe off. Ivy wiggled her toes in her stockings.

  Gage glanced up at her. Her face was red, but she gave no indication she was uncomfortable with his hands on her. He was tempted to also remove her stockings, but he felt that would be too personal. So, he moved on and removed her other boot.

  “Thank you for helping me,” she breathed.

  He rose and met her gaze with his. Intensity passed between them. “It was my pleasure.”

  Her gray-blue eyes widened. Her lips parted. He needed to kiss her. It had been far too long since he had done so.

  Gage slowly lowered his mouth to hers, giving her plenty of a chance to turn away, to reject his advance. But she didn’t.

  ****

  Ivy felt her toes curl up in their stockings as Gage kissed her. Her eyes drifted shut. He cupped her face in his hand, and he drew her close with his other. A moan escaped her throat as his lips moved to her cheek, to the pulse at her neck. His mouth moved back to her cheek, and then to her lips. Oh, it was heaven to kiss this man. Pure heaven.

  His hand at her waist roamed across her back, gently caressing. She reached up and entangled her fingers in his chocolate brown hair. It felt soft, and smelled of pleasant spices. After a moment, his hand moved from her cheek down around her waist.

  Ivy wanted to get closer to him. Needed to. She wound her arms around his neck and pulled his body against hers more tightly. Her hands moved to his shoulders and worked their way to his chest. He pulled away. Confusion swept some of the heat away from her. She opened her eyes. Gage stood with his hands on her waist, his chest working double time to catch his breath. She stood on her tiptoes, intending to kiss him again, but he moved his hands to her shoulders with a chuckle and kept her down. “Believe me, milady, I would love to continue kissing you, but it is not proper.” He nodded to a gathering of townspeople standing a few yards away, gawking at them. He shook his head at them and they scram
bled away.

  “Oh.” Her face heated. “Let’s get to the beach.” She tugged her stockings off, placed them on a rock next to her boots, and surged forward, her feet meeting the rocky sand.

  He sped to catch up to her and kept a hand at her elbow, steadying her as she marched across the sand to the ocean. Finally, she stopped to enjoy the view. Behind them, tufts of tall grass grew abundantly, only parting to offer a small path from the town to the beach. To their left, a set of rocks jutted out from the ocean. Waves rushed around it, their white froth slapping the base of the forms. Mud swirled around in little eddies. Soon, they were covered completely but for their skinny tips. Gage slipped an arm around Ivy’s waist. “The tide must have just come in. Too bad. I was hoping to catch it before it came in to show you the tide pools.”

  “Tide pools?” She leaned her head against his shoulder.

  “Yes. When the tide goes out, some water rests in holes in the ground. Little sea creatures live in them, and I was going to see if I could find some to show you.”

  “Oh, that sounds delightful.”

  “We will have to come back another time, when the tide is out.”

  “Yes.” She squinted against the bright, mid-morning sun. Although she enjoyed resting on solid ground once again, she hoped they would not spend an unreasonable amount of time in Charles Town. She missed her brother terribly.

  “Would you like to sit down?” He gestured to the rocky beach. “I think it would be nice to just watch the waves. Or…or would that soil your dress? That wasn’t very thoughtful of me—”

  He was babbling. It was quite endearing. “I will sit.”

  Gage flashed a relieved grin. He shrugged out of his waistcoat and set it on the ground as a sort of blanket to protect her gown from the sand. How sweet. After he ensured she had settled comfortably, he sank down beside her, propping himself by stretching an arm out next to her. He cradled her hand in his as they stared out at the ocean.