It was not that she didn’t love him. It was a simple matter of preservation. She had a son to look after, one that would need a father’s protection.
Once, it was her father that tore her away. The young lass had then turned her back on him. Yes, he understood it. She’d been too scared and youthful to stand up to her father. However, the resentment of having to spend that cold night waiting for her to appear only to realize too late that she’d gone to be married to another was frustrating.
He’d cried like a babe, refusing to go home despite the bone-crushing cold the night brought. The next day, he’d gone after her and been stopped by the guards who’d been alerted.
When he’d refused to back down, he’d been dragged to the nearby town and the guards had thrown him in prison as punishment. Even then, he revolted and killed a guard.
That guard’s kindness had proven foolish. He’d allowed Dorian to go out for fresh air.
Although Dorian escaped, the act brought a price on his head. Thus, after stowing away on a ship, one in which he’d been beaten and starved, he began the journey to the life of a pirate.
Nothing would ever make things right. Although he’d sent coin and provisions to the dead guard’s family anonymously over the years, his guilt over killing the man remained with him.
He’d lost count of how many men he had felled since then, but it was only the first guard that he mourned. For the others had a chance to defend themselves.
Now, as he peered into the eyes of the woman he loved more than life, he pondered what life with her could be like.
“Ye will be safe and well taken care of, I will see to it. I am confident that Connor will safely escort ye back to Scotland.”
“Scotland?” Her eyes widened. “I hadn’t thought of remaining in Scotland.”
“Aye, ye will. Inverness is on the opposite side of the country from the isles. Ye will like it there. No one will know ye.”
A slow smile curved her lips. However, her eyes remained shadowed. “Thank ye. For that. I will find a way to repay ye.”
He kissed her slowly, tasting her. All the while, his hands slid down her back. “Ye already have.”
When they joined, he refused to close his eyes. Instead, he watched as she took him, lifting and lowering over him, her full breasts moving up and down her chest as she rocked.
Head tossed back, a thick halo of hair flowed down her back when she became lost in making love to him. Dorian took her hips, helping her move faster as his own release neared. Just in watching her, he almost spilled. Ileana was glorious as she continued her ascent from where she’d fall into an abyss where he would join her.
THE SKY WAS clear and full of birds. Gregor pointed to them with glee as Lily carried him across the plank from the small boat.
Ileana held tightly to Dorian’s hand, ignoring the side glances from the men who escorted them. They made their way to the shore and, for the first time, Ileana took in the strange atmosphere. They would only remain there for a few days until passage was secured on the next ship, which she found out was also owned by Dorian.
The small vessel returned to the ship as two others neared. The men would be free to come and go for a few days and Ileana could see the excitement in their faces, for they’d been out to sea far too long and were in need of refreshment and dry land.
Dorian released her hand and she turned to him, puzzled. “Ye will stay at the inn with me, will ye not?”
Although he smiled down at her, a knot formed in her stomach. “Nay. I am returning to the ship with the next vessel. Tis best.”
He kissed her. It was a light, almost chaste kiss. “Take this and be well.” He pushed a small box into her hands. “Connor has the rest.”
“Dorian, no.” Ileana attempted to return it, but he refused to take it.
“Goodbye, Ileana.” He leaned closer to her ear. “Think of me.”
“I will do more than that, Dorian Lyon. I will wait for ye until the day I die.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “For I love ye, Dorian. Return to me, I will wait. This I vow.” Ileana’s gaze bore into his.
Over her shoulder, he watched as Gregor began crying. He held out the carved boat to him. “Da.”
Chapter Nine
“SHOULD WE KILL him?” Short held a dagger to the hapless man’s neck and a droplet of blood dribbled down from it.
They’d captured a ship and had easily taken it over. They’d already transported most of the ship’s cargo to The Mawdelyn, with only a couple of casualties.
Dorian stood on the captured ship’s deck looking about to all the men who’d been disarmed and forced to kneel. “Check the ship for any prisoners or slaves.”
Moments later, about twenty men and women appeared from the lower decks. They were dirty and smelled of rot and defecation. Covering their unaccustomed eyes from the sun, they hovered in groups.
With a nod of his head, the ship’s captain lay on the deck dying. Dorian called out to the crowd. “Who amongst ye is the quartermaster?”
One large, beefy man held up his hand.
Dorian motioned to the newly freed people. “See about a meal for them. Take two of the crew to help ye.”
The men were quickly escorted away. Dorian walked to where the freed prisoners stood watching him with wary gazes. “Wash up. There’s plenty of water in the barrels. My men will see about getting ye clean clothing.” They all looked to each other not understanding until a soft voice spoke, translating to whatever language they spoke.
He stopped in front of the pretty, brown-skinned, young girl. “Do ye understand me?”
“Y-y-yes,” she stuttered.
“Are there any in the crew that have been kind to ye?”
She nodded and he took her arm. “Point them out to me.”
“I’VE NEVER SEEN Short smile so broadly,” Kevin said later as they made their way northeast. “He and Mulligan, in charge of a ship.” His friend chuckled. “They will ruin the slave trade.”
“Nay, they will realize how large it is and will soon become immune to it. However, having hired the freed men, they will have a loyal crew.” Dorian stared across the blue water. “It was a good day.”
Kevin studied him for a long moment. “Aye, but ye have yet to forget and those shadows that fog yer mind remain. Dorian, ye are not the same since she left. Ye are still a good captain. However, ye know as well as I do the crew should have all been killed. That we left them in boats could prove a huge mistake.”
“They will survive, yes. And perhaps remember I spared them.”
“Or hate ye for it.”
He didn’t care and that, in itself, was not good. Kevin was right. Reputation was everything in their world.
With the night came dreams of Ileana. And in the mornings was the somber reminder she was gone. It was a cycle that had to stop.
“Head for the closest island, I find myself in need of a woman’s company.”
Kevin grinned broadly as he instructed the men to change the position of the sails and turn the rudder.
THE KEEP WAS majestic. As they arrived by carriage, Ileana peered out the from the carriage window to take it all in. Tall walls surrounded the front. The backdrop of steep, craggy mountains gave the impression it was built upon them. To the right, just past some trees, was the shore of a small loch. A more peaceful and beautiful place she’d not ever seen.
Someone had alerted the household for the gates opened as they arrived and, soon, they were in a small courtyard where people lined up and watched them exit the carriage. Their curious gazes moved from Connor to her, to Lily and finally to Gregor.
Ileana wondered what message Dorian had sent as their welcome was like that of a master and mistress arriving.
A tall, thin man neared and bowed just enough. “Milord and ladies, welcome to Dearmad Baile.” The man gestured to the line of four men and five women. “My name is Seamus. I am the caretaker, along with my wife, Gladys.”
Connor stood before them. “I am Connor Barri
ngton,” he said loud enough for those present to hear. “This is yer new mistress Lady Ileana Fergusson.”
Every eye turned to Ileana who was astonished at the last name Connor gave her. But she managed to mask her surprise. Of course, she could not use her real name as it would be questioned and, perhaps, word could reach Uist.
“My wife, Lady Lily, and the wee one is Gregor Fergusson.”
Fergusson was Dorian’s last name from his mother’s side.
A woman who she assumed was Gladys hurried to her and bobbed her head forward. “Mistress, allow me to present the staff. We are so very delighted to finally have the family come to live here. After so many years we’d began to fret one day word would come that we had to leave because the land was sold.”
The woman introduced the staff and walked inside with her. While trunks of their newly purchased wardrobes were taken up to their chambers, Gladys continued talking, bubbling over with excitement.
“If ye are too tired from travel, we can leave ye seeing the home until tomorrow. Ye can go and rest.” She turned to two boys who stood at a doorway. “Lads, see about taking heated water to the mistress’ chamber. Don’t dally now.” Gladys motioned with both hands and the boys sprinted off.
Before Ileana could reply, Gladys motioned to the great room. “If ye wish to eat here, it has been thoroughly cleaned. I keep it that way to be honest, although tis rarely used. Clean rushes have been strewn as ye can clearly see.”
“Gladys,” Ileana said in a soft voice. “I plan to live here forever. There is no rush to do anything. Ye have maintained a good household and, for that, I will always be grateful. I will go rest. All of us will bathe and adjoin here for last meal. I ask that ye and Seamus join us please.”
Gladys’ eyes bulged and a wide smile spread across her face. “Of course, Mistress.”
They were shown upstairs and a sleepy Gregor was put to bed in a small chamber next to hers. When she entered the room where she’d sleep, her breath left her lungs quickly. The extravagant interior reminded her of another room just as lavish.
Dorian’s cabin.
Before long, she was bathed and dried her hair by the fire. Two young maids cooed over Gregor, delighted to have a young child amongst them. Gregor would be pampered and spoiled it seemed. Hopefully, Connor and Lily would soon have children so that he would not grow up feeling too entitled.
There was so much to learn about her new home. She’d tried to get information from Connor of what would become of her and Gregor if Dorian ever decided to marry and live there. What of Gregor’s future? She had little to give him. The boy would have to grow up and do for himself, she supposed. He’d have to find a way to make a good living.
There were many years to pass before she had to worry about such things and, for it, she was grateful.
“Milady,” a maid standing in the doorway, looked to her. “Last meal has been prepared.”
She was terribly hungry so did not hesitate to leave her child with the nursemaids to rush down the stairs where she was greeted at the bottom by Lily. The woman held her hands out to Ileana. “I am so thankful that we shall remain together.”
“As am I, Lily. We have gone through so much together in the past months. I can assure ye, I would never want to be away from ye.”
The young girl smiled dreamily. “When the captain, er, the laird joins us, everything will be better.”
“He will not come,” Ileana said to the suddenly sullen Lily. “However, I will venture to say that we will be very happy here. Ye will have a family and I will delight in being part of it.”
MUSICIANS FROM THE nearby village were summoned to entertain them as they partook of a wonderful meal. Throughout the feast, Gladys kept a running dialog informing them of the richness of the estate. There were herds of sheep, some cows and plenty of horses. Although up until now the farmers had not been providing but a bit of wheat and other produce, they’d all been notified that from now on they were required to send a larger portion.
As Ileana listened, she wondered if the people of the land who’d become accustomed to life without a laird would resent their presence.
Connor held up a hand. “As the laird’s representative, I will send a summons to the villagers to come and attend a festival so that they can meet us. I will also insist the heads of each family remain to learn what is expected of them.”
Ileana focused on Seamus to see his reaction. The man smiled broadly. “Tis been too long since our laird has come. It will be refreshing to know we are, once again, with leadership.”
“Aye,” Connor said. “I will begin recruiting guardsmen as well. Send out word.”
The meal was delicious and Ileana ate more than she should as it had been so long since she’d eaten fresh vegetables and meat. By the time the musicians played a fourth song, she could barely remain awake.
THE HOME WAS beautiful and well kept. There were no tapestries upon the walls, but she would see to it so that soon there would be coverings as well as more women’s touches about. On the tables in the great room there was a need for lanterns and candelabra.
Although she had enough coin to live out the rest of her life based on what was in the small box Dorian had given her, she worried about spending too much.
When she mentioned it to Connor, he reassured her. “Ye can ask for whatever ye wish. Dorian has seen to it that the keep is self-maintaining and most expenses will be covered without issue.”
Chapter Ten
“FIRE!” DORIAN SWUNG down from the quarterdeck to land firmly on the main deck. “Again!”
A ship known to be carrying a shipment of gold, fired in return. The swells of the waves on this stormy day did little to help them close the distance between the ships. They had little time and would have to maneuver closer and yet maintain enough of a distance not to ram into its side.
It was obvious that the ship carried precious cargo as it was escorted. If luck was with them, the same storm would keep the other ship away and make it hard for them to see where this one had gone.
Otherwise, soon, their escort would catch up and Dorian’s crew would be unable to get the treasure.
The well-armed Spanish man-of-war was several hours behind, having lagged due to an unexpected storm.
And although Dorian did not believe in luck, today fate was good to them, as they’d happened to spot the Spanish ship in the horizon.
Upon seeing it, Dorian had turned his ship around and caught up with the British ship that was now without protection.
“Fire!” he screamed once again. Cannons fired, cannonballs hitting the side of the British ship. Dorian smiled in grim satisfaction when a white flag was lifted.
“Take only what ye can carry,” he called out as the pirates threw ropes to the other ship and began swinging across.
On the deck of the British ship, several men fought valiantly against the pirates to protect their vessel. But they were injured or frightened and not as good at sword fighting as Dorian’s men. Pirates were ruthless, not particularly prone to manners when in battle.
Soon, the other ship’s crew was either dead or the few who remained kneeled in surrender.
“She’s coming,” Kevin said peering through a spyglass. “We must go.”
They’d barely brought enough gold across.
Dorian hesitated. The Spanish man-of-war would demolish them. “How much time?”
“They may catch up to us regardless,” a grim Kevin replied.
Finally, he gave the order to leave and Kevin growled in frustration. “We waited too long.”
A loud boom sounded as the man-of-war neared and Dorian jumped down to assist his crew. Men scrambled in every direction to man the cannons.
Dorian knew their only chance was to outrun the Spanish ship. Otherwise, today could be the day his reign of the seas ended.
DAYS LATER, HE and several of the crew who had survived remained in an overcrowded boat. Days without water to drink and the choppy sea meant they spent hou
rs sleeping and barely able to form a coherent thought. As the sun set for the fourth time, Dorian leaned over the side of the boat and splashed water on his face.
He would have rather died on The Mawdelyn than to survive and watch his men die a slow, horrible death. However, he’d been dragged from the water by crewmen and pulled onto the boat.
“Captain,” a man croaked. “I see fire…lights.”
Another hallucination, perhaps. Dorian pushed the man’s hand down. “There is nothing.”
He turned toward where the man had motioned and, indeed, the flicker of what looked to be light glinted in the distance.
By some miracle, they would live.
DORIAN HAD BEEN to Nassau many times through the years. The island was barbaric and beautiful.
Nassau offered men like him a place to land and spend days with the only care being the other pirates in the village. For the most part, they left each other alone as they all needed such a safe place, a harbor. On Nassau, a parlay between men was an unspoken understanding.
The lively music of fiddles spilled out to the stone walkway as Dorian made his way back from the docks where he’d inquired about any survivors having washed up before he and his crew made it.
So far, he’d yet to find either Reginald or Kevin. Thankfully, Cane and his wife had arrived earlier in a boat with several of the crew and a pig. He found it comical that the pig seemed the least weary of them all.
It had been another night and he’d yet to find more than the few survivors. So far, there were only ten out of the forty-eight crewmen accounted for.
He alone carried the fault for having made the decision to attack the merchant ship. Taking a chance at not being caught by the most heavily-armed Spanish ship at sea had been stupid and presumptuous.
The crew had paid the price and, for that, he’d not forgive himself.
A man he recognized as Ernest Baker rushed to him. “Captain, come at once, there are two injured men that have just been taken to the healer. The washed ashore with another two who fared better.”
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