by Tracy Kay
Damon entered his cabin to find Madeline huddled on the bed crying softly. He took his coat off, laid it across the back of a chair, and walked over to the bed. He sat down beside Madeline and gathered her into his arms. Damon wiped away her tears with his fingertips. “You are freezing, honey. Let me help you get undressed and into bed.” He sat her up and began undressing her, starting with her shoes. He took her feet into his hands and briskly rubbed them to warm them. He proceeded to unbutton her gown and pulled it and her petticoat off her. He unlaced her corset, slipped it off her, and placed it with her gown. As Damon began to remove her chemise, Madeline started struggling, her first reaction that he was in the room. Damon soothed away her struggles by running a hand through her hair and rubbing her back lightly. “Ssh, all right, honey, you can keep your chemise on.”
Damon kissed her brow gently, stood up, and walked to his desk. He poured a drink and returned to her. “Drink this.”
She took the glass and slowly sipped the amber liquid.
“All of it,” he directed.
Madeline gulped the rest of it down and gazed up at him as he took the glass away from her.
Damon laid her on the bed and drew the covers over her. “Try and get some sleep, Madeline. I will be working on my books right over there.” He pointed to his desk. “If you need anything, let me know.”
Madeline nodded tiredly and settled into the bed, relieved that she was no longer alone, even if it was with Damon Spencer. Brandon told her to trust him. He wouldn’t have said that if he didn’t trust Damon. Exhausted, Madeline fell into a restless sleep.
Sometime later, Damon sat back from his work, closed his eyes and stretched. He reached for the bottle of brandy and poured himself a drink. Damon sat watching Madeline toss and turn as he nursed his drink. When she started to whimper in her sleep, he tossed back the drink and stood. He pulled off his boots and shirt, walked to the bed and slipped in beside her. As soon as Damon drew Madeline into his arms, she settled down, and snuggled against him. Damon rubbed her back soothingly. “Aw, honey, you have been through so much,” he whispered, kissing her brow and falling into a light sleep.
Madeline awoke early the next morning, finding herself wrapped around a half-naked man. Staring at the man and trying not to panic, she began to slowly extricate herself from his arms, but he only turned over, pulling her beneath him. As he snuggled his head on her bosom, Madeline stared at him in shock. No man had ever taken such liberties with her not even her brother, Brandon, and they were very close. This man was practically a stranger to her. How dare he hold her so? She felt a surge of anger, but it quickly dissipated as he began to snore softly. She couldn’t help herself. She tried to suppress the nervous giggles, but they bubbled out, waking the man.
Groggy from sleep, Damon looked up at her. “What is so funny?”
“You snore,” Madeline answered honestly with a grin.
Lifting himself up on his elbows to see her face better and pressing himself tight against her, Damon grinned back. “And you make little kitten noises when you sleep.”
Madeline felt his body tight against her, saw his beautiful smile, and a tingle ran straight through her. This man was truly beautiful. When he smiled, he showed off his dimples and his eyes twinkled like amber crystals. His dark brown hair was tumbled from sleep and he smelled of brandy, salt air, and wind. She couldn’t breathe. She thought he was going to kiss her, but she could see him mentally shake himself before he rolled off her and got out of bed.
When Damon turned his back on her, Madeline gasped. Damon had long, faint scars slashing across his back, some deeper than others. “Damon, your back . . . what happened to you?”
“Nothing that matters now, honey. It is from long ago.” Damon smiled, showing his deep dimples, and gave her a wink. The scars had been a part of him for so long that he rarely thought about them.
Madeline watched him as he quickly tugged on his shirt and boots. He was beautiful, she noted, strong, muscular, and gentle, and if he wasn’t bothered by the scars, neither would she be. Like on the night of the Malany’s ball, there was attraction between them, but he didn’t push it on her. She liked that. She felt safe with him, and now, she understood why Brandon had left her with him. He wouldn’t force himself on her, even if he did want her. Madeline smiled and caught his eye as he dressed.
Damon flashed his dimples at her in return. “I need to check on my crew, but I will be back in a bit to have breakfast with you if you like.”
“I would like that, thank you.” Madeline smiled again tentatively.
Damon nodded and decided that her smiles were not good for a man’s equilibrium. He had better get out of there before he did something he regretted, like take her back into his arms and ravish her as he had wanted to when she lay beneath him, smiling up at him so innocently. She had no idea the passion she had sparked in him. Damon took a deep, steadying breath before leaving the room. It was going to be a long voyage.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Raven!” Brandon hailed as he and Jeremy boarded the Deliverance. It was a bright, sunny morning full of promise for a better day than the last. A day for beginnings, Brandon thought, as he watched Raven walk towards them.
“Cat!” Raven greeted as he approached them.
Putting his hand on his back, Brandon gently pushed the timid Jeremy towards Raven. “This is Jeremy Parker. I trust you will take care of him.”
“You know I will.” Raven grinned and winked.
Brandon grinned back at him and turned to Jeremy. As he pushed back a lock of stray hair from Jeremy’s tired face, he commanded, “You do as Raven and Conrad tell you. They will keep you safe.”
Jeremy nodded in reply, too intimidated and frightened to speak.
Brandon gave the young man a tight hug and whispered, “It will get easier, Jeremy. Give it time.”
Jeremy held on to Brandon tightly, fighting back the lump in his throat as well as his fear of the future. He had no family left, no one but these people who were willing to take responsibility of him. He didn’t know how to respond to that.
Brandon gave Jeremy a tight squeeze before letting him go and turned back to Raven. “Nicholas agreed to look in on Gretchen.”
“Thank him for me.” Raven looked approvingly at Brandon. “And Brandon, you made the right decision giving Madeline to Damon.”
Brandon nodded in acknowledgement. “Have a safe voyage, Raven.”
“Likewise, Cat.” The two friends grasped hands tightly and grinned before Brandon disembarked. They loved the thrill of a new adventure, even when that adventure took them in different directions. Raven missed having his long-time friends with him on the Deliverance, but he had come to terms with them going their separate ways years ago. Now, he had others to protect.
Putting his arm around Jeremy, Raven gestured towards the sails and deck of the Deliverance. “Welcome to the Deliverance, Jeremy, and your new life. I am Raven, the first mate.”
Again, Jeremy could only nod, too overwhelmed to comment.
Raven gave him a squeeze of encouragement and he propelled Jeremy across the deck towards the captain’s cabin. “Like many others who cross this deck for the first time, Jeremy, you are apprehensive and a bit fearful. I promise you, those feelings will pass and you will come to see this as your home.”
“Will I ever return to England?” Jeremy asked in a soft voice.
“Yes, but first, we need you to be safe and to help you heal.” Raven gazed at him with sympathy and understanding. “Brandon will see to your estates and any bills owed. It will be there for you, and when you are ready, you will take over your responsibilities, or you will decide on something else. That will be your choice. We aren’t going to force you into anything you don’t want to do, Jeremy. We are here to protect you, but there are rules on board the Deliverance which you will be required to follow.”
“I will do my best.” He said nervously and a little relieved someone else was making the hard decisions for
him, at least for now.
“That is all we ask.” Raven opened the captain’s door, leading Jeremy inside. “This is Captain Morgan’s cabin. You will wait here for him, and he will tell you what is expected of you. For the first week or so, he will keep you close at hand. And Jeremy, what the Captain says goes. He is a very patient man, but he does have his limits.” Raven pushed him into a chair in front of a bookcase. “I need to see to the crew. The Captain won’t meet with you until we set sail so relax and get some rest. Help yourself to a book if you like.” Raven indicated the bookshelf overflowing with books before leaving Jeremy to his own devices.
Jeremy looked around him at the opulent cabin. It was large for a ship’s cabin. To the left of the door was a dining table with eight, matching, blue upholstered chairs, which were scattered around the room. A large desk sat in front of the windows to the right of the room. A bookcase with glass doors and two of the chairs were on the right wall next to the door. On the far wall was a large bed with a night stand to its left and a large armoire stood against the left wall. At the foot of the bed sat a chest with a colorful quilt lying on top. All of the furniture but the chairs were bolted down.
This was the first time Jeremy had been to sea, and he was excited, but worried and nervous as well. He had heard about Conrad Morgan and Raven, but he didn’t know them. Although Brandon had assured him that he could trust them, he still had his doubts. Part of him wished he had stayed home, but without Joselyn, Aunt Beatrice, and Zachery, he didn’t have much of a home left. Jeremy quickly wiped away the stray tear from his cheek. He was not going to cry. Crying was foolish, for the weak, and a waste of time. It would not change his situation.
Taking a deep breath, Jeremy walked to the bookshelf and read the many titles. He wasn’t in the mood for reading or thinking for that matter. He was tired, very tired. Jeremy brushed away another tear, keeping his resolve not to cry. He was not going to cry. Clearing his throat, Jeremy picked up a volume of Alexander Pope’s poetry, sat in the chair Raven had pushed him into earlier, and began reading “The Rape of the Lock”, a critical observation of a lady in the eighteenth century.
Jeremy jumped when he heard the door close more than an hour later. Closing the book he had been trying to read with little success, he watched a tall, burly man with thick muscles, blond hair, and steely gray eyes enter the room. Jeremy felt a jolt of fear run through him as the Captain silently watched him. He was big, intimidating, and commanding. The man’s mere presence demanded respect and attention.
Captain Conrad Morgan grunted in disgust before walking towards the trembling boy. “I am not going to eat you, son, relax.” Conrad stopped in front of Jeremy, forcing him to look up at him. “Stand up, pup, and let me take a look at you.”
Jeremy quickly did as he was told, the book in his lap falling to the floor with a thud. Jeremy’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Conrad slowly walked around him, coming to a stop in front of him, and studied him, taking in the tired, grief-stricken, brown eyes, unkempt, brown hair and thin frame. “You are exhausted,” Conrad observed. “Son, sit down before you collapse.”
Again, Jeremy did as he was told.
“Quiet one, aren’t you.” Conrad sighed at the fear coming off Jeremy before introducing himself. “I am Conrad Morgan, the captain of this vessel.”
Jeremy stood again and extended his hand in greeting. “Jeremy Parker, sir. It is nice to meet you.”
Conrad took his hand and lightly shoved him back into the chair, taking note of the dark circles under Jeremy’s eyes as well as the strain of keeping unshed tears at bay. The boy was grieving, exhausted and frightened. Conrad recognized that he was going to have to be gentle with this boy, but not too gentle. “Well, at least you have manners. That will be one less thing I have to teach you,” he said as he took the chair opposite Jeremy. “I hear you lost your family, son”
“Yes, sir.” Jeremy nodded slightly, trying to hide his fear.
“Conrad or Captain will do, son. While in my cabin, there is no need for formality.”
Jeremy nodded in response to Conrad’s request.
“Did Raven tell you what to expect?”
Jeremy answered nervously. “He said you would tell me what I should expect and I would stay close to you for a week.”
Conrad gave him a half smile. “Always leaves me the hard part, he does.” Conrad leaned back in his chair and studied Jeremy for a moment. “You will share my cabin until I feel you are ready to be on your own. I know it seems a little odd, but I require all my new, young crew members to do the same. You are no exception. It is mostly for your protection and to acclimate yourself to the Deliverance and to my way of doing things. In a couple of weeks, I will hand you over to Raven’s care, but regardless whose care you are under, you will follow my orders and Raven’s.” Conrad looked meaningfully at Jeremy to emphasize his point. “If you have questions or a problem, you come to me or Raven. Don’t ask someone else. Other crew members may try to take advantage of you, and neither Raven nor I want that; consequently, if you are unsure of an order someone gives you or a way someone is treating you, you come to me or Raven. Understand?”
Jeremy nodded.
Conrad sighed at Jeremy’s fear and rubbed the back of his neck. “Son, don’t be frightened of me. I am here to help you, not hurt you. You have been through a lot the past few weeks, hell, your whole life according to Brandon. Jeremy, all we require of you is respect, obedience, and doing your part as a member of this crew. When you are ready, Raven will teach you everything you need to know about running this ship, and he will find duties that suit you. He will also teach you how to defend yourself and others. Raven will deal with any disobedience on your part. Don’t worry, we don’t believe in using whips on young boys like yourself. Raven feels they are inhumane, and I tend to agree with him, but Raven has his own unique style of discipline as I am sure you will soon learn,” Conrad explained, watching Jeremy’s reaction.
Jeremy smiled. His own brother had disciplined him at times, which consisted of simple chores or spending time in his room. He could handle Raven, he was sure.
“Don’t look so smug, pup. Raven’s discipline is something you will never forget, so take it seriously.” Conrad warned and Jeremy lost his smile and regained his fear. Annoyed with himself for causing Jeremy’s returning fear, Conrad tried a different tactic. “There is no need to fear us, son. We are only a group of people who help one another, but with rules. Think of us as a large family.”
“Like a government, a democracy?” Jeremy questioned, wanting to know exactly what he was getting himself into. He had discovered some things about their unusual group, and even had some of it confirmed by Brandon, but he was beginning to think that living on the streets would have been preferable than living on this ship, not that he would have had to do that. He inherited quite a large estate when Zachery had died. Granted, it was floundering, but Jeremy was sure he could have managed; however, Brandon hadn’t given him a chance to consider his other options. Before he knew what was happening, he found himself on this ship, being told to obey a man who headed an organization he wasn’t too sure about. What in heavens did he get himself into? Jeremy felt a shiver of panic go through him.
“And he is educated too,” Conrad declared to the air and winked at Jeremy. “Not quite, pup. The Deliverance is not a democracy. I make the laws and any major decisions. I send out the troops, and have the right to veto anything I damn well please. Raven, he is my right hand and he is the judge, jury and executioner. He also makes laws and major decisions and has the right to veto any damn thing he pleases. Raven and I are the head of this little government as you put it. Brandon, Damon, Cassandra, Maxine, and Chameleon are the Deliverance’s council so to speak. They make some decisions but bring any major problems or new ideas to Raven or myself. They do very little without our approval or assistance. The other people involved in the Deliverance are like soldiers, some with higher rank than others, if you want to
see it that way.”
Confused, Jeremy asked, “But I thought Brandon and the others had their own ships, all a part of Ravenleigh Shipping?”
“They do, Jeremy. The Deliverance is more than this ship.” Conrad waved his hand gesturing towards the ship. “We are a society of people around the world who help others in trouble, like yourself. Ravenleigh Shipping, and our other businesses, is how we make money in order to help people who need it, and it is also a very good cover. Secrecy is the utmost importance to us, Jeremy. People’s lives are at risk.”
“You deliver people from bad situations,” Jeremy stated in amazement. “And you have people all over the world working for you?”
“Yes,” he grinned. “We deliver people from . . . difficulties.” Conrad was impressed with Jeremy’s quick intelligence. “Some people give us information, using their businesses as a station of sorts, and others take on a more active role, taking people into their homes, finding work for those who need it, spying on others when it is necessary, or being informants, letting us know about those who may need help.”
“And you and Raven are the core of this . . . society?”
“That is correct.”
“How did you come up with the name Deliverance?” Jeremy wanted to know. This was all quickly becoming fascinating to him and perhaps he wouldn’t mind being part of it after all.
Conrad was pleased with Jeremy’s interest and curiosity. It was a good sign that he will recover from his grief and move on with his life. Conrad knew that not everyone could recover from the type of tragedy Jeremy had endured. “When Raven and I received this ship about sixteen years ago, we named her Deliverance because we wanted to achieve good things with her, and over time, Raven and I began rescuing people who needed help, particularly children. Eventually, it became larger than this ship, and with Cassandra’s idea to expand our field of assistance, we became world-wide.”
