“I heard what you did for my family, for my sister,” said the man. “I’ve been told this man, Yardley, has retired to his country estate, where I am certain he shall stay for the foreseeable future. Word has it that families in the area have been well informed of his past reputation. Anyway, Taylor, I am in your debt.”
“I have all I need,” Sebastian replied with a nod of thanks. “Though I do appreciate the offer.”
The future duke took a sip of his drink. “Be that as it may, if you ever need anything, you have but to ask. Do ensure you keep my sister happy and protected.”
With that, he stepped away, melting into the crowd of people, some from London and some from the area about Sebastian’s country estate. Polly had wanted to meet them all, to make them feel welcome, as she noted they would soon be her neighbors as well.
Harrington’s place beside him was soon replaced by Greville, who placed a hand on his shoulder.
“What do you suppose that was about?” Sebastian asked his friend, who was staring after the man. Greville shrugged. “One never knows with such a man,” he said. “But I believe we should feel rather fortunate that we are now part of his family and not opposing him in any way.”
Sebastian nodded with a bit of a laugh, and Greville clinked his glass with his. “And will you continue with the constabulary?”
Sebastian shrugged. “Polly would like me to. I think she rather enjoys the idea of helping with their work. Now that she knows the full story of what happened to Violet, she finds her own role in my particular investigation rather dull.”
Greville shook his head. “Dull is rather preferred when it comes to the safety of one’s wife.”
“Fair enough,” Sebastian said with a nod. “I believe I will take it case by case. If it’s something that would not threaten her safety, so be it. But my priorities have changed.”
Greville nodded in agreement.
“I am rather pleased with the conclusion of this story,” said Greville with a grin. “It is about time you left the past behind you and moved on with your life. I recall you being rather jovial when I found my own wedded bliss. Well, I am happy to now reciprocate. And, I can certainly see that you’ll be kept on your toes.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Sebastian said with a laugh as Polly and Violet began approaching. “Yes, I did show a bit of glee at your own fall into matrimony, didn’t I?”
“You did,” said Greville, and Violet joined them with eyebrows raised.
“Whatever is so humorous?”
“Nothing,” Greville said. “We were merely discussing how happy the two of you have made us.”
Violet rolled her eyes, but Polly only smiled happily at her husband as she took his hands in hers, looking at him as if it were only the two of them in the room, despite the fact that it was filled with multitudes of people.
“Dance with me, Sebastian?” she asked, and he realized he would never be able to say no to the open, eager face that looked up at him. Nor would his life ever be the same. He knew he would continually be challenged by his spitfire of a wife, the woman who had changed everything he had every planned for his future. He looked down at that smiling face, the one that had captivated him ever since he had laid eyes on it.
“Always,” he replied.
THE END
QUEST OF HONOR
SEARCHING HEARTS BOOK 1
A PREVIEW
Go back to the beginning, with Thomas and Eleanor’s story…
Prologue
Marie looked around the table at her five children, her gaze coming to rest on Thomas. Normally she was most concerned about Daniel, her eldest and the next in line to become Duke, but there was something about Thomas tonight that seemed off to her.
Typically the most free-spirited of her children, this evening he wore a serious look, and had taken on the brooding silence that overcame him whenever he felt stifled or frustrated.
The remainder of her children, from Daniel at 24 down to her 16-year-old daughter Polly, were chattering away as they were normally wont to do, no matter how she tried to instil in them the proper etiquette of the dinner hour. Her husband, Lionel, Duke of Ware, sat in his usual place at the head of the table, intent on his food as he listened to the stories of his brood.
“Thomas,” Marie said, and he raised his dark head. “Is everything quite well, darling?”
“Yes, Mother,” he replied mechanically.
“Are you quite sure?”
“Well actually,” he said, looking hesitantly at her and then his father. “I do have somewhat of an announcement.”
Marie raised her eyebrows as the chatter around the table hushed, for Thomas’ siblings could see the nervousness that accompanied his statement.
“I am going to be joining the Navy,” he said, puffing his chest out, trying to look more assured than he felt.
“The Navy!” his mother exclaimed incredulously. “You cannot be serious. Is this some sort of joke?”
“Not at all, Mother,” he responded, his blue eyes taking on an icy resolve. “The Navy is a noble profession. What else am I to do with my life?”
“You are the second son of a Duke! What if the title of Duke should need to pass onto you and you are injured or dead somewhere at sea?”
“I shall not spend my life sitting here waiting for Father and Daniel to die, Mother,” he responded, his voice becoming slightly more heated, although he would never raise it at his mother. “They are both quite healthy and, I’m sure, have long lives to live. I want to see the world! What better way than on the sea?”
“Lionel!” Marie said to her husband with fervour. “Have you nothing to say?”
Lionel finished chewing his potatoes, his expression unwavering.
“Well, son,” he said. “I would say your intentions are admirable. You do know what you are getting yourself into?”
“I do.”
“Well, then, boy, I’d best talk to my friend the Admiral tomorrow. The son of the Duke of Ware must find a reasonable berth and vessel upon which to serve.”
Thomas’ face lit up, and he caught the gaze of his sister Violet, who smiled at him encouragingly. He grinned at her, then turned back to his father.
“Thank you, Father,” he said. “I would appreciate it.”
“This is quite ridiculous,” his mother said, her head swivelling from Thomas to Lionel and back to Thomas once more. “Thomas is 22 years old! He and Daniel should be finding wives, settling down, raising children. Instead, Daniel is out doing Heaven knows what and Thomas will be at sea miles away from Britain! How is it that I have three children of marriageable age, none of which have any interest in actually being married?”
Benjamin and Polly smirked, happy to have the attention off of them and onto their three elder siblings.
“In due time, Mother,” said Violet, somewhat mollifying her. “In due time. In the meantime, let us drink to Thomas and the world that awaits him.”
“To Thomas!” They all joined in, with the exception of Marie, and Thomas grinned, excited about what the future would hold for him.
1
Five years later
Eleanor Adams sat primly on the straight backed chair as her father stomped around, muttering something under his breath. She waited patiently for his judgement to fall, knowing that he would not be able to bring himself to punish her too severely. After all, she was his only child and he had never been able to be too strict with her. In fact, this was the only life Eleanor had ever known. Just her and her father, facing the world and all its tribulations.
“You cannot simply do as you please, Eleanor!” her father spluttered, his face now a beetroot red. “What if we had not seen you?”
Eleanor stifled a sigh of frustration. “Papa, you know me better than that. I simply had to investigate whatever it was down there.” A small smile crept across her face. “And, if I had not, then we would currently not have these three small trunks in our possession.” She indicated the three, still damp,
trunks that sat beside her father’s desk, glancing at them before returning her gaze to her father.
To her very great relief, he sighed and sat down heavily, although he continued to shake his head at her. Eleanor hid her smile. She was triumphant.
“We have not opened them yet, Eleanor,” her father said, a little gruffly. “You could have risked your life for nothing.”
In response, Eleanor tossed her head, aware of the spots of moisture that shook off her long flaxen locks. “I am one of the best swimmers among the crew, Papa, you know that.”
“But still,” he retorted. “You cannot just dive off the ship without alerting someone to what you have found! Had you done so, I could have dropped the anchor and gone to see what was there.”
Eleanor bit her lip, aware that her father was being more than reasonable. Had any one of his crew done what she had, they would have been severely punished. It was only because she was the captain’s daughter that she had done such a thing. Her cheeks warmed. “I was trying to prove myself, Papa,” she explained, more quietly. “As the only woman on board, I have to take extra steps to show my worth.”
His face softened. "Eleanor, you already have my respect and the respect of the crew. For over twenty years you have traveled the seas with us and you have no need to prove yourself. Doing such a thing is both dangerous and shows a lack of regard for me – not only as your father but also as your captain." His lined face grew more serious, as his bushy eyebrows clung together. "You know that I will need to punish you for what you did, Eleanor. As much as it pains me to do this, you are to be confined to your quarters for two days."
“Two days?” Eleanor gasped, staring at her father. “But I will miss the exploration!”
Her father nodded gravely. “I have to show the crew that I am not afraid to punish you, even though you are my daughter.” A hint of a smile pulled up the corner of his lips. “Just be glad it is not the cat o’nine tails, Eleanor.”
Eleanor sagged against the chair, her ladylike position gone in a moment. Reflecting on her father’s decision, she had to admit that it was fair, lenient even. She hated that her impulsive nature had, once again, brought severe consequences. If only she had not dived into the water to see what it was that glistened below! If she had only told her father, then he would have dropped the anchor and sent someone down – although Eleanor doubted that he would have chosen her. Even though she could swim like a fish, her father always kept her in his sights whenever he could.
“I am sorry you will miss the exploration of the Blackmoor Caves,” her father continued, gently. “But Eleanor, you must know that you cannot simply do what you please on this ship.”
“I do know, Papa,” Eleanor replied, dully, ashamed that her the whole ordeal caused her to feel like a child when she would prefer to be treated as the sailor she was. She could only hope the treasure would yield results that would make all forget about the find and focus on the outcome. “I’m sorry.”
Her father placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, getting to his feet. “Like you say, however, we have retrieved three trunks.”
Hope sparked in Eleanor’s chest. “You mean, I can open them?”
He chuckled. “I think so. After all, you were the one who spotted the locks gleaming under the ocean’s waves.”
Eleanor rose, her booted feet clattering across the wooden floor of the cabin as she made her way towards the trunks. She would have to change into dry clothing, but that could wait. “It is only because we are in such shallow waters,” she said, bending down to examine the trunks. “Had the water been any deeper, then I doubt we would have found them.”
“Here.” Her father handed her a large mallet, and, using all her strength, Eleanor hit the lock.
It broke easily, evidently having been underwater for some time. With bated breath, Eleanor pushed the top of the trunk back. A wide grin spread across her face as she took in the bounty.
“There is some gold here,” she cried, pulling out a gold coin and handing it to her father. “Not much, but enough.”
Chuckling, her father picked up the mallet and broke the other two locks, finding more gold and some silver in the other two trunks. He crowed with delight as he grasped great handfuls of coins, letting them trickle back down into the trunk. Despite her impending punishment, Eleanor could not help but smile too, delighted that they would have more than enough to pay the crew for the next quarter.
"Everyone shall have a bonus!" her father declared, getting to his feet and throwing open the door to his cabin. "Morgan!"
The first mate came stumbling in, as though he’d been waiting for the captain to call his name. “Aye, Captain Adams?”
Eleanor grinned as her father slapped Morgan on the back, before gesturing towards the treasure.
“Here,” he said. “Sort this out. Crew’s pay and a bonus for everyone. Leave the remaining treasure in the first trunk.”
Morgan returned Eleanor’s smile, and got to the task at once, jubilant over some of the wonders he was finding. It would take him an age to sort out the treasure into piles of equal worth, but Eleanor knew it was a job the first mate thoroughly enjoyed.
Wiping down her breeches, Eleanor got to her feet and smiled at her father, wondering if he might forget her punishment.
Unfortunately, he had not.
“Right, Eleanor, to your cabin. Your meals will be sent down.”
A sigh left her lips as she trudged past him, sniffing inelegantly. Behind her, she heard her father chuckle.
“Two days will be over before you know it, my dear,” he said, following her out. “And if we find anything at the caves, you may join in the salvaging.”
That was a slight relief, making her shoulders rise from their slumped position. “Thank you, Papa,” she mumbled, as the fresh air hit her lungs. Taking in another few breaths, Eleanor took in the smell of the sea, the wind whipping at her hair….before she realized that the entire crew was watching her.
Taking a breath, she lifted her chin. “I should not have dived off the boat without alerting someone to what I had found,” she said, loudly. “I did you all wrong by acting so impulsively and showed disrespect to our captain. I will not do such a thing again.” She caught the look of sympathy in some of the crew’s eyes, although they appeared to be relieved that she was receiving some kind of punishment. Without another word, Eleanor turned on her heel and walked down the short staircase to her cabin below.
Being the only woman meant she had one of only two tiny cabins below deck – Morgan, the first mate, held the other. Pulling open the door, she looked glumly into her gloomy room, hating that she would be stuck inside for two days.
“Thank you for your apology, Eleanor,” her father said, holding the door as she walked inside. “The crew respects you, as they do me. They will hold you in greater esteem because you have confessed your wrongs.”
Eleanor tried to smile, sitting down heavily on the wooden bed. “Thank you, Papa. I believe the treasure I found for them may also have increased their sense of ‘esteem’ in me.”
He grinned at her. “You’re a pirate’s daughter, Eleanor. Some might think that means we have no standards, no way of keeping control, but you know how precarious the sea – and the crew – can be. They are loyal to me, and I want them to be loyal to you too. One day, this boat might be yours.” With a quick smile, he closed the door and left her to her thoughts.
Eleanor stared at the door, her father’s words echoing around her mind. One day, she might have control of the ship? Be the captain? Could such a thing truly happen?
Eleanor knew that in the Navy, there would be no thought of having a female captain, but they were far removed from the Navy! Pirates did things differently and, if her father thought the crew would respect her as captain, then she would gladly step into the role, though she hoped it would be some time before her father gave it up and retired from the seas.
To be a pirate captain! The thought made her smile, despite her current si
tuation. To roam the seas with her crew, searching for bounty and, in their case, helping those less fortunate. She could not think of a better life.
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The Duke She Wished For
Happily Ever After Book 1
A PREVIEW
1
Tabitha heard the opening creak of the front door of the shop float through past the heavy curtains that separated her workshop from the sales floor. She tensed over the silk ribbon she was attempting to fashion into a flower shape and waited for the sound of her stepmother, Lady Ellora, to greet whomever had just walked into the Blackmore Milliner shop.
She paused, waiting a little bit longer before pushing out a frustrated breath and standing. These velvet ribbon flowers she had learned to fashion were part of the reason Blackmore hats sat atop some of the finest female heads in polite society—she had a knack for creating new ways to adorn the same old bonnet or beaver hat styles so that a woman of a certain class stood out among her peers.
This ability was both a blessing and a curse, it turned out. Her creativity meant Tabitha brought customers through the front door, to the shop she and her father had built after her mother died when she was seven years old. It had brought Tabitha and her father, the baronet Elias Blackmore, closer together in their time of immeasurable grief and the shop had flourished.
The relationship between father and daughter was so strong, that when he approached her when she was 12 to tell her he wanted to marry a baroness from the north country who had a daughter about her own age, Tabitha had been happy for her father and excited to have a sister. She had welcomed her new family with an open heart and open arms.
Hope of Romance Page 19
