She knew now she’d had a young girl’s vision of what awaited her, but she wasn’t the young girl who’d left Ireland all those years ago. She was a woman and it was past time she thought as one. Nothing certain awaited her in Ireland. She couldn’t know where her relatives were or how they’d treat her. Would she able to find a home, work?
Here she was guaranteed both shelter and work. She wouldn’t have to worry about keeping her child warm through a cold and miserable winter.
Claire pushed back from the table. “Shall we go?”
Grace shook off the troubling thoughts. She’d think more on it. After all, she had plenty of time. It wasn’t as though she could board a ship for Ireland today if she wanted to.
“Are we going to the orphanage?”
“That will have to wait until tomorrow, I’m afraid. Cale thought you might like to have a nice gown for the party.”
Grace wasn’t sure if the blush burning her cheeks was embarrassment or pleasure. ’Twas bold of Cale to say such a thing as it implied a certain amount of intimacy. But it showed he cared about her feelings and that touched her deeply. He didn’t want her to feel any less when she met the others. However, she couldn’t simply walk into the dressmakers and buy what she wanted.
“Claire, I have no—”
Her friend took one of Grace’s hands and dropped a small bag of coins into it.
“I’ll not be taking your money,” Grace protested, already reaching for Claire to take it back.
“It’s not mine, it’s yours.”
Understanding dawned. “Cale gave you this.”
“He said it came from the treasure they’d taken off Roche’s ship. He said it was the least the cad owed you.” Claire smiled, her blue-green eyes sparkled. “Truth be told, the word he used wasn’t quite as mild as ‘cad’.”
No, she imagined it hadn’t been. Grace pulled the bag close. He’d known. He’d known she’d have struggled accepting his charity but by saying it was Roche’s money she’d have little trouble taking the coins. Oh, and how she’d relish spending the money knowing it had been taken from that foul man.
“I’ve brought you a shawl.” Claire lifted the garment from the seat next to her. “It’s too hot outside to need one, but I thought you might want one anyhow.”
Knowing how she must look with Cale’s shirt over her worn gown, Grace appreciated Claire’s forethought.
“Thank you. And I promise I’ll hurry to pick something. I don’t want you to miss a moment with your friends.”
“We have time. They don’t usually arrive until mid-afternoon. Besides,” she added, tucking her arm through Grace’s and leading her outside into the bright sunshine, “I truly don’t get the opportunity to do this very often.”
There was a carriage waiting out front and four men were gathered round it, speaking to the man perched in the driver’s seat. Grace had hoped to see Cale and thank him, but he wasn’t among the men waiting outside. They turned as they heard the door to the house close. Grace recognized Nate and three men from the Revenge including—
“Aidan!” Claire let go of Grace’s arm and, skirts in hand, raced down the few steps and flung herself into Aidan’s waiting arms.
As Aidan spun her around, Nate looked on, a warm smile upon his face. His smile never wavered, even when Aidan set Claire down and Nate curved an arm around her shoulders and said, “Get your own wife.”
“I will, when I find one as nice as yours,” he teased.
Grace stepped toward them. “Sure and that shouldn’t be a problem with all your charm.”
Aidan grinned, winked. “Maybe I’m waiting for a nice Irish lass.”
She rolled her eyes. “Aye, that be the charm I was talking of.”
The horses shook their necks, rattling their harness and reminding everyone time was wasting.
“We should be on our way,” Claire said.
“Don’t rush back. The meat is roasting and Aidan suggested we take the boys swimming, wear them down so they have a nice long nap this afternoon.”
“Thank you.” Claire rose on her toes, kissed her husband’s cheek then did the same to Aidan. “And you.”
“Go. With any luck you may even meet up with Samantha and Luke or Blake and Alicia at the docks.”
“They don’t come in where we did?” Grace asked.
“No need. Blake’s a privateer and Luke’s been pardoned. They come in from the main port.” Nate explained. “Besides, it’s easy enough to tuck one sloop in our little estuary, but hiding three ships would be impossible.”
While Nate helped his wife into the carriage, Grace turned to Aidan and whispered, “Is Cale all right?”
Aidan tucked his tongue into his cheek. Amusement filled his eyes. “He’s…cleaning, you might say.”
“Cleaning?”
“Are you ready, Grace?” Claire asked.
“Aye.” She accepted Nate’s hand into the carriage but the entire way to town she couldn’t quite erase the sight of Aidan chuckling as they rolled away.
*
Grace was upstairs in the same bedroom she’d slept in last night. In the end, with Claire’s enthusiastic encouragement and reassurances they had time to spare, she had bought herself three day dresses, nightclothes, shoes and undergarments. Then there’d been another stop where she’d purchased more personal items, such as a hairbrush and soap. Everything lay spread over the bedcovers and the sheer amount of what she’d spent made her feel sick. That it was Roche’s money eased her conscience a little.
From outside the window came the sound of pounding hooves. Claire’s squeal of delight rang from downstairs. “They’re here!”
Claire’s hurried footsteps were barely heard over the children’s shrieks as they too rushed for the door. Wanting to give them some time alone, but curious to see whom she would meet first, Grace stood to the side of her window, drew the curtain and peered out.
The driver was opening the carriage door when Claire raced outside, followed by her three excited children. Four children sprang from the carriage. The younger two seemed to be similar in age to Claire’s twins but the others, a boy and a girl, were a few years older. Yet it didn’t stop them from running around, screaming and chasing each other. Claire didn’t seem to mind, her attention was on the carriage as she all but danced on the spot.
The woman came out next, an infant in her arms. Five children; it had to be Alicia. It was hard to see her clearly as Claire was there, wrapping her arms carefully around Alicia and the babe. They were still embracing when Alicia’s husband stepped out. Blake was handsome, no question, but it was the expression on his face—the same one Nate had when he looked at his wife—which pulled at Grace.
As did the fact that the moment Alicia was free of Claire’s embrace her hand reached for Blake’s. He wove his fingers through hers even as he leaned forward to kiss Claire’s cheek. Watching them, hearing their excited voices, Grace felt an overwhelming wave of loneliness.
She missed being surrounded by familiar faces, by people who loved her and whom she loved in return. She missed going to sleep at night knowing the people who mattered most to her were nearby, that she’d see their faces come morning. She’d had that. Even in Montserrat she’d had that with her parents and she’d tossed it away as though it hadn’t mattered.
When, really, it was the only thing that did.
Before Grace could get too lost in her melancholy, Claire yelled over her shoulder, “Grace, we have company!”
*
As Cale drew on his shirt and looked around the cabin, he no longer saw his surroundings as simply a place to live. He saw them as the place which had sheltered him, given him a purpose. He’d been drowning in grief until Nate and Blake had found him. By being Steele, he’d been able to go on. Perhaps not as himself, but at least he’d survived.
Now he intended to live.
While there were a few things he needed to do before he could well and truly let the past go, at least the darkness he’d been liv
ing in was gone. His heart felt light and, for once, the future didn’t loom dark and endless before him. He’d done his duty to Vincent. He saw now that he could honor his wife’s memory more by being the man she’d married than by being Steele. He had no intention of leaving her and Caden’s memories behind, but he’d carry them in his heart and cherish them, rather than use them as an excuse to hide.
A smile pulled at his lips as he took the steps up the ladder to the main deck. Everyone was in for a surprise and he couldn’t wait to get started. Tossing the hatch open, he stepped into the sunlight.
“I was about to come get—” Aidan stopped; his eyes went wide.
“What?”
Aidan’s brows furrowed. He tilted his head.
“What?” Cale ran a palm down his freshly shaven cheeks.
“You look…” He shook his head, swallowed. “Nothing. You look different.”
“You knew I would since you came earlier just as I was preparing to shave.”
Aidan didn’t seem to be able to stop staring. “It’s more than the difference.” He leaned forward, his gaze searching Cale’s face.
“What were you coming down to tell me?”
“Oh.” Aidan blew out a breath. “I was coming to tell you most of the crew has gone and I was going ashore.”
“Then your timing was perfect. I was about to go myself.”
“You’re going ashore?”
“Yes.”
“You haven’t forgotten that by now Luke, Samantha, Alicia, and Blake are there. Not to mention Alicia’s five children added to Claire’s three.”
“No, I haven’t forgotten.”
“And you still intend to go?”
Cale chuckled at Aidan’s confusion. “I do.”
“And the ship?”
“Thomas and Richard have agreed to stay behind. Didn’t take much convincing, considering last time one of Blake’s sons threw up in Richard’s lap and one of Nate’s twins wiped his runny nose on Thomas’ shirt.”
“I remember. Richard almost threw up right alongside Christopher.”
“I told them I’d send someone down with food and rum and they were content to stay.”
“It’s usually you—” Aidan shook his head. “Now I understand. It’s Grace. She’s the reason you shaved. She’s why you are suddenly so willing to join the celebration.”
Cale couldn’t help but laugh at the boy. “I think your bloody parrot figured it out before you did. You’ll have to do better than that if you intend to sail as Steele.”
Aidan’s jaw fell. “You’re giving up Steele? And the Revenge?”
Despite the boy’s shock, Cale saw the excitement and wonder come over Aidan’s face as he gazed hungrily about the ship. He slapped a hand on his first mate’s shoulder. “Soon, but say nothing. I have things that need finishing. Now close your mouth and swallow before you drool all over the deck.”
Chuckling, Cale headed for the ladder. He’d swung a leg over the gunwale when Aidan regained his senses enough to call out, “I told you so.”
Cale looked over his shoulder. “Told me what?”
Aidan strolled closer, a cocky grin on his face. “That the captains of the Revenge all seem to fall in love before they make port.”
“Then you’d better be careful, boy, as you’re next.”
*
Roche didn’t believe in luck. He believed a man created his own destiny. And so he hadn’t considered himself fortunate as he’d sat in the trees, last night, watching the stately house. That he could sit there, unnoticed, was due to his own brilliance. Because he’d been wise enough to seek who’d made the fire on the beach, he’d gained a valuable asset in Isaac. From then on, he’d sailed in and out of Steele’s line of sight, enough to ensure the man was going where Isaac claimed, but not enough to be a threat.
Once darkness had set in, Roche had his ship’s lights doused. After that, it was a simple matter of coasting silently toward shore.
Granted, Steele didn’t suffer fools either and he’d extinguished most of his own lamps, but his crew had carried lanterns ashore and it had been easy to keep them within view. Roche had steered his ship a safe distance away and weighed anchor. Then, with Isaac and a handful of his most trusted men, they’d taken the longboat ashore. Without the use of lanterns, and needing to move slowly in order to keep their presence a secret, their progress had been slow.
Unfortunately, it also meant by the time he’d reached shore, Steele’s men were mostly done unloading his treasure. Fortunately, he knew where it was. Though he hadn’t seen Grace, he knew she was nearby as he’d caught sight of Steele often enough.
He’d counted twenty men, including the man Isaac pointed out as Steele. He assumed there was a few more with the ship they’d tucked into the estuary. A clever hiding spot, one he’d have to remember in the future. At any rate, even assuming Steele had thirty men, it was nothing compared to Roche’s fifty. Besides, he’d thought as he’d slunk back to his ship, he’d not only have them outnumbered, he’d have the element of surprise on his side.
Now sitting in the main harbor, the heat of the day shimmering on the gentle sea, Roche sat back, rested his booted feet on the table in his cabin. He loved hiding in plain sight. Since they weren’t going ashore and nobody could tie this newly-acquired vessel to him, he would take the day to perfect his strategy. Then, with the cover of darkness, he’d sail back to the little estuary.
He smiled, raised the bottle to his lips and drank to his upcoming victory. Tonight, he’d have his revenge on Steele. He wouldn’t make the mistake Steele had made when he’d taken his ship. He wouldn’t leave any survivors behind. He’d do whatever was necessary and by God he’d have what was his.
The treasure as well as Grace.
Chapter Eighteen
Grace stepped into the yard and was immediately swept into the festive mood and excitement. It was as though the air was charged with energy and, by breathing it in, she felt lighter and happier. Claire held out her hand and smiled as Grace walked toward her. They weren’t family, but Grace nevertheless felt welcome. It helped that the others looked at her with open curiosity rather than annoyance at having a stranger join the celebration.
The moment Grace reached the group Claire made the introductions. “Grace, this is Blake and Alicia. This little darling,” she said, running her fingers across the plump cheek of the baby, “is Violet.” Then she gestured to the older two. “This is Daniel and Helen, and the younger ones are Elizabeth and Christopher.”
“Can we go now?”
“Please? We’ll be careful.”
It was Blake and Alicia’s two eldest begging, but Grace didn’t miss the pleading look the others gave their parents. She smiled wistfully as she remembered her and Colin using near the exact same words when they’d wanted to go swimming in the river when they were younger. Grace had let Colin do most of the talking, knowing her strongest weapon was the imploring look Colin had taught her to use. Especially when she used it on her da.
Apparently, Blake and Alicia’s daughter had been taught a similar ruse as Elizabeth was using her brown eyes on her father as she peered up at him from under her brows.
“Elizabeth…” Blake warned though Grace could already see he was relenting.
“We’ll mind the little ones,” his oldest boy said.
Finally, after a conferring glance to his wife and Claire, he nodded. “We’re trusting you, Daniel, to look after them.”
The lad’s shoulders straightened with pride. “I’ll take good care of them.”
Blake ruffled Daniel’s hair. “I know you will. Now don’t be too long.”
“We won’t,” he said, already scooping Will in his arms. Then, along with the other children, he raced toward the trees.
“Nate and Blake constructed a small fort. They like to play pirates.” Claire explained.
“Pirates,” Grace chuckled. “Of course.”
“Oh, I forgot to mention,” Claire said to Blake and Alicia, “
it was Cale who brought Grace here.”
Alicia looked to Claire, mouthed the word ‘Cale?’ but it was Blake who asked, “You came with Steele?”
Grace found Blake’s stunned expression humorous. Still, if they knew the same Cale she’d known upon being rescued from Roche, it was no wonder they were surprised he’d taken her in. And it was apparent they weren’t used to addressing him by his real name either.
“I did. And ’tis sure I am I wouldn’t be alive today if ’twasn’t for him.”
“Which makes us all thankful,” Claire added. They may have only met yesterday, but it was clear by Claire’s actions and words she considered Grace a friend.
“Are Sam and Luke here yet?” Alicia asked, looking over Grace’s shoulder to the house behind her.
“Not yet.”
“Oh.” Alicia’s shoulder slumped.
Blake set his hand on his wife’s shoulders. “They’ll be here soon. You know Samantha is as anxious to see you as you are to see her.”
“Samantha is her sister.” Claire reminded Grace though she hadn’t forgotten.
“And we don’t get to see each other near often enough,” Alicia added, turning her attention from the house to the road.
“They’ll get here when they get here, Sunshine.”
“I know.” Alicia conceded but her gaze kept darting to the curving road.
“Why don’t we wait inside?” Claire suggested. “It’s cooler in the house and Mrs. Wingate made some sweet tea. We can visit and I can get my hands on that baby.”
“I think I’ll see what Nate is up to. Where is he?” Blake asked.
His brown eyes swept the yard. A slow grin spread across his face when Nate came around the back of the house. Blake strode away, meeting his friend halfway. They embraced with a series of smacking back slaps and both were smiling when they returned to the women.
Her Pirate to Love: A Sam Steele Romance Page 21
