Rescued By the Captain

by Laura A. Barnes

  “You are safe now Ivy, I won’t let anything ever happen to you.”

  “But what about Charles, do you think he is alive?”

  “Yes, Ivy I believe Charles is alive. I think he is in hiding and I know just the place. We will find him, but first we must rid ourselves of this ship that is following us. They must have found out that you are alive and they have come to finish the job they started.”

  “What are in those crates Thorn and what was Charles doing with them?”

  “They are guns for the French, Ivy. The French have set up families along the coast posing as refugees. When the time comes those families that have sought help from the English will turn on them and bring the war to our shores. Margate was a perfect town for them to smuggle their goods into, with all the hidden coves. Charles said that they had found places to store their goods in our private caves. He stumbled across them by chance one day.” Thorn explained.

  “He went to the Home Office and let them know what was occurring in Margate and that he had heard rumors from other neighboring ports of the same activity. Then the Crown wanted Charles to go undercover to discover their plot. They wanted him to pose as someone who worked for a prominent family in the area who was sympathetic to the French and was angry with the English government on their current laws. He was to become a trusted ally, learn where they had distributed all their supplies and which families were involved in the plot. From what I knew from my contacts in the Home Office he had a list of all the families involved and was closing in on where all the storage facilities were for the weapons.

  “I ruined it, didn’t I?”

  “Well you didn’t help matters for Charles any.”

  “What about the terror plot I overheard against Charles at the ball?”

  “There are people in England that want the attack to happen Ivy. They must have found out what Charles was doing and decided to stop him.”

  “Why would any English man or woman want the war to happen on our shores?” Ivy asked.

  “There are many English that are not happy with the government. Also, there are the rest of the lot that are broke. They are being paid money, to turn their backs on what is going on in their own villages. If these attacks would happen, then they could get out of debt and move their own agendas in Parliament.” Thorn explained.

  “Why didn’t you come back to Margate sooner, Thorn? Charles needed you, Margate needed you, and I needed you.”

  “I thought he could handle it and you. Obviously, I was mistaken.”

  Ivy pushed out of Thorn’s arms.

  “I don’t need to be handled.”

  “Oh, that is where you are wrong Ivy dear. But from now on that will be my job and I don’t intend to fail at it.”

  “How is it your job Thorn? I can handle myself.”

  “We will be getting married Ivy. Once this ship lands in Margate and we find Charles. Charles and I will bring down this plot, then you and I will be getting married at Thornhill Manor.”

  “I’m not marrying you Thorn, so clear yourself of that idea this instance.”

  “Oh, but you are darling. You see, you are ruined. Not only by sleeping with me, but by being kidnapped on a shady Captain’s boat. Word would have spread by now all over London about the dire consequences you have gotten yourself into. But since I have come to your rescue and will be bringing you home safely, you and your family will feel so indebted to me for your safety, that your father will insist that we marry. And since I will tell him that I have asked and you have refused, he will answer for you and we will be married.”

  “You have not asked,” Ivy stated through clenched teeth.

  Thorn just smiled at Ivy, that smug smile saying that he doesn’t have to ask.

  Ivy stomped her feet, she walked over to the desk and sat in the chair. She refused to fight with him. If he couldn’t ask her like a proper gentleman and confess his undying love for her, then she would not marry him. She would run away where he couldn’t find her. Ivy would deal with that problem later.

  Thorn watched Ivy pout in his chair. He just kept smiling at her, laughing in the inside. He had here where he wanted her. She would be his for the rest of their lives together. He knows that she wants to be romanced, and he will in time. But now was not the time for that. There would be plenty of time later and romance her he will. She won’t know what to do when he makes every effort to impress and charm her. Now they needed to get out of their current predicament, get back to Margate and straighten out the mess Charles has gotten himself into. He didn’t want to get Ivy’s hopes up, but he had an idea where Charles might be hiding. It was a private cave they had found when they were boys. Ivy knew nothing about it. Of all the times she followed them, this was the one place that she never found them at. Thorn was just praying that Charles was alive.

  There was a knock on the door and screaming coming from the upper deck.

  “Captain, come quick, the ship that was following us has found us and their Captain wishes to come aboard our ship,” Sammy yelled through the door.

  Thorn flew open the door grabbing Sammy by the collar. “I thought I told you to hide us?”

  “We didn’t have time for that Capt’n, their ship sailed like it was being carried on a breeze towards us,” Sammy explained.

  “Is it who I think it is?” Thorn asked.

  “Yeah Captain and he knows who you are.”

  Thorn pulled the rest of his clothes on and laced up this boots. He then went to the wall and pulled his sword down and strapped it to his body. Moving towards the door he threw out instructions as he went.

  “You stay here with her and guard her with your life Sammy. Do not let anybody into this room except for me. No matter what she tries, you are not to let her out of this cabin,” he told Sammy.

  “As for you, you stay put. If I am going to convince him that we do not have you, you are to stay out of the way. Do I make myself clear?” Thorn demanded of Ivy.

  Ivy sat in the chair and did not reply to him. She was not going to make any promises to him. She needed answers on Charles, and this captain was the only one who could help her. She knew nothing would happen to her with Thorn around, he would protect her. As soon as she could she was going to make her way up on deck.

  “Promise me Ivy, I don’t have times for games.”

  Ivy refused to answer.

  Thorn pulled Ivy out of the chair and kissed her roughly. Pulling her tightly into his arms he urged her lips apart with his tongue. His tongue stroked inside her mouth, dominating her senses. Pulling away quickly, he tipped her face up for her eyes to meet his.

  “Stay,” he commanded as he made his way out of the room and up to the deck.

  Chapter 10

  Thorn made his way up to the top deck to see that another ship had drew up alongside his ship. The crew of both ships stood armed; ready to fight for their captains. As he made his way over to the edge of the ship, his fingers tightened their hold on the grip of his sword; ready to draw at any moment.

  The other Captain yelled over for permission to board his ship. Thorn agreed for the him to come aboard. He told his men to stand down but to be prepared for anything.

  Thorn watched as the Captain ran across the plank between the two ships. For an older man, the Captain still moved with ease. His age was beginning to show though from when Thorn first had the misfortune to meet him. He battled him in war and wits many times over the last few years. But the Captain’s hard living was beginning to take a toll on him. Thorn had seen for himself how the Captain enjoyed his food and wine, his belly showing proof too. Still he moved with a swiftness to keep one on guard.

  The Captain came aboard and walked over to Thorn extending his hand forward in a friendly manner. Thorn just stood in silence, not offering his hand in return. This was no friendly meeting they were going to have.

  “Greetings Captain Thornhill, what a surprise to see you in this area of open sea. This isn’t your usual course to cruise upon,” the Captain la
ughed to himself.

  “I’m on my way home for a brief visit. Is that all right with you Captain Shears?” Thorn asked.

  “Of course, the sea is open to anybody who dares to travel it.”

  “Well I dare.”

  “You are from that seaside village with all the coves, what is the name of that charming town? It seems to have slipped my mind.”

  “Margate as you are well aware,” Thorn answered.

  The Captain laughed, “Oh yes, such a charming village full of charming maidens. One in particular caught my eye there recently.”

  Thorn tightened his hold on the sword. His fingers digging into the hilt, wanting to fight the Captain. He knew that Shears was baiting him about Ivy, but he wasn’t going to succumb to it. If he was going to get anything out of this meeting, he needed to keep his temper under control. He let the Captain continue to talk, knowing that he would slip up on any clue for him to help save Charles. When he thought of all that Ivy endured in his capture, he wanted to slice right through him.

  “You might know her, long blond hair, eyes the color of England’s grass, a body that makes a man want to love for hours on end.”

  “You are describing half the women of England, Shears,” Thorn said through clenched teeth.

  “Ah, but not one that also shares the name of your ship Captain Thornhill. Are you on your way to visit her?”

  “Where I am going and who I am seeing is of no concern of yours. Would you like to tell me why you bordered my ship and why you have been following me for the last few days?”

  “I seem to have lost some baggage during that fierce storm a week ago. Perhaps you saw it floating around and rescued it.”

  “What kind of baggage?” Thorn asked.

  “The kind of the stowaway variety.”

  “How do you lose a stowaway Shears?”

  “Well in a bit of anger, I might have dropped it out to sea in a lifeboat. I thought it was dead, but was informed after the storm that it was very much still alive. Well I just felt so awful that I left a stowaway in that horrible storm with no protection, that I just had to go back and rescue it. But when we found the lifeboat; it was empty.”

  “Why go to all that trouble for a stowaway?” Thorn asked.

  “Well I think any man would go to the trouble for this kind of stowaway. Did you happen to come across any lifeboats on your way back home Captain?” inquired Shears.

  “No, I can’t say that we have.”

  “Not that you would tell me if you had, but I thought I would at least try.”

  “What business are you doing in Margate? That’s not your usual route.” Thorn questioned Shears.

  “Oh, I have expanded my route to many ports along your English borders. My goods are in high demand,” Shears bragged.

  “You are to stay out of Margate and never return. I will not have your kind soiling the area.”

  “Yes, well that is not for you to decide. It is not against the law to sell my wares.”

  “Yes, actually it is.”

  “But Captain, the good people of Margate and surrounding villages like my goods.”

  “Your goods are illegal and I will put a stop to you.”

  The Captain laughed, “Like your good friend Mallory and his very lovely sister Lady Ivy tried to do?”

  “Do not speak her name.”

  “Ah a beauty like no other, she was the one I was describing to you. The goddess with the long blond hair that you just want to run your hands through…”

  Thorn advanced on the Captain, wrapping his hands around his throat. His fingers tightened around Shears’s neck cutting off the air from entering his lungs to breathe. He watched as the Captain’s face turned red and felt his hands clawing at his to stop. His men not wanting the other Captain’s crew to jump their ship managed to pull Thorn off the Captain.

  Captain Shears grabbed his throat rubbing the life back into it. As he struggled to get his breath back he pulled out his sword and advanced on Thorn. Thorn saw him coming and pulled out his sword clashing it against the Captains. They deflected each other’s blows with accurate precision. They fought the length of the deck with the skill of warriors.

  Sammy shut the door quietly and busied himself straightening the Captain’s room. His cheeks were turning bright red, too embarrassed to look at Lady Ivy after witnessing her and the Captain’s passionate exchange. What he didn’t know was that Ivy herself was just as embarrassed.

  Ivy didn’t have time to be uncomfortable for too long. She had to find a way to get Sammy to let her leave the cabin. Needing to get herself up on deck, she wanted to hear what was going on. Ivy was also afraid for Thorn. Having heard rumors of how the other Captain harmed innocent people, she wanted to make sure that Thorn was safe. She couldn’t let anything happen to him; she needed his help too much.

  Ivy had to think of a plan to get herself up on deck. There had to be a way to send Sammy out of the cabin to get her something. She was never one to use her charms to get her way, but now was the time to put them to use. Over the years, she witnessed the way other girls would get anyone from a footman to a gentleman to do their bidding. It wasn’t as if Ivy didn’t know how, she didn’t like to deceive anyone that way. But now was not the time to be polite, it was a time for desperate measures.

  “Sammy, I haven’t had anything to eat since breakfast. Can you bring me something from cook while we wait for Thorn?” Ivy asked in a sweet innocent girl voice.

  “Ah, lass you know I’m not supposed to leave you for anything. You will just have to wait for the Capt’n to get back.”

  “I will lock the door when you leave and only open it for you. Also, I was wondering if you knew where my dress was. I would like to get dressed in it.” Ivy continued to use her charms on Sammy, hoping that he would bend and help her out.

  “Well miss, the captain had to cut you out of the dress, being as how it was soaked to your skin,” Sammy turned red as he explained to Ivy about her missing clothes.

  Ivy was running out of ideas and needed to get up to the deck quickly. She also knew she was running out of time. Sammy was just following orders to proficiently. Since he wouldn’t leave the cabin, Ivy needed to find a way to distract him, so that she could sneak out. She must join Thorn on deck to find out any news on Charles.

  Ivy saw the tea set sitting on the table and decided that she found a mess for Sammy to clean. She walked over to the table and swiped her arm out, knocking the tea set to the ground. Watching as it shattered into many pieces, scattering across the cabin floor. She gripped the edge of the table with her hands closing her eyes.

  “Oh my, I feel so lightheaded. I am so sorry for the clutter Sammy.” Ivy began to weep.

  Sammy rushed over and steered her away from the broken glass, leading her over to the bed.

  “Now, now lass it’s all okay, just an accident.” He patted her on the arm trying to comfort her.

  “You just sit right down here and let old Sammy clean up this mess. Are you okay lass?”

  “I felt a little dizzy. I will be fine if I rest here.” Ivy felt horrible for lying to Sammy. He was a gentle, sweet old man who had looked after her while she had been on the ship. She didn’t want to deceive him, but there was no other way.

  “Not surprised miss, with what you have been through.”

  Sammy walked back over to the mess and began to clean up the broken glass. Ivy slid off the bed and made her way to the door. She looked over her shoulder to see if Sammy noticed that she had moved from the bed. He was busy talking as he picked up all the tiny pieces, not noticing anything. Ivy slid the door open making her way out into the passage way. She started to run to the stairs when she heard Sammy calling out her name and running after her. Running up the stairs to the top deck, she kept moving towards the shouts and the sound of swords clashing together. She picked up her pace, her heart beating quickly in fear for Thorn.

  She ran right into the middle of Thorn and Captain Shears fighting. Coming to a halt a
s a sword slashed past her ear. That froze Ivy, fear making her shake, but unable to move. Thorn acted quickly and pulled her behind him, as he pointed the tip of his sword against Shear’s heart.

  Captain Shears only laughed, “Ah it seems you have found my lost piece of baggage after all.”

  Shears looked over Thorn’s shoulder and leered at Ivy’s state of dress. While Ivy had run up on deck, Thorn’s shirt had ridden up her legs, showing off a good portion of her thighs. Swiftly looking down her body, Ivy noticed that she had not buttoned the shirt all the way. Quickly pulling the shirt down, she buttoned the shirt all the way up to her throat.

  Thorn nodded his head at his men to take Shears. As his men disarmed Shears and pulled him away, Thorn turned around to check on Ivy. He saw her shaking from fear of being in the middle of a sword fight and from seeing the man who had captured her. He was angry with her for coming above, but admired her courage. He wrapped her in his arms to calm her.

  He lowered his head to her ear and whispered, “I thought I told you to say below in my cabin. Do you not ever listen?”

  “I had to come up Thorn; I need to find out if Charles is alive.”

  “I told you I would handle it Ivy.”

  “By killing him?” Ivy asked

  “I wasn’t killing him.”

  “Are we having a little lover’s spat?” Shears shouted from the other side of the ship.

  “I am going to get rid of him. I need you to keep quiet. I will handle this.”

  “I am going to be kind today and let you live. Get off my ship Shears and stay away from Margate in the future.” Thorn shouted.

  “I have some unfinished business in Margate. When I have it all cleared up I will leave and not a moment before,” the Captain threatened.