“Thank you, Honore,” I said as he leaned down to kiss me on both cheeks. “But I am the lucky one, today I married the man I love and got another brother to boot,” I joked which caused everyone to laugh, breaking the somber mood. I kissed both of his cheeks in the traditional French greeting.
“Now it is official, we are one big happy family,” Father’s booming voice echoed in the chapel.
“Darling, we really must be going now,” Jude said, taking my arm to lead me out the door.
“Wait!” My words coming out louder than I had intended as I turned to look back. I rushed to my mother and father to give them one last hug. “I am going to miss you both so much. Please don’t wait too long to come and visit us,” I whispered tearfully to them.
I turned to Sarah and Jonathan standing next to them and hugged them tightly to me. “You better hurry out to see me soon, or I will never forgive you,” my words a mixture of tears and sniffles as I tried to be brave.
“Jude, you might be wise to take matters into your own hands before she has everyone bawling,” Jonathan suggested as Jude came up behind me.
“Ma amour, we really have to leave now or we will miss the tide,” Jude coaxed gently.
I couldn’t say anything more as tears rolled down my cheeks. I turned, taking Jude’s arm as Honore flanked me on the other side and my new in-laws followed behind. I refused to look back knowing that it would only make it harder to leave.
I wasn’t moving down the street or even to the other side of London. I was leaving the country and moving away from the only home I had ever known. With each step I took my resolve became solidified and my courage became stronger. I would have a new home in a different country. So what if I didn’t exactly know the language or their customs. I was a smart girl, and I could learn and adapt. How hard could it be, after all? I would have Jude by my side and Honore would be a familiar face.
I blew my nose in Father’s hanky then wiped my tears. I even managed to smile when Jude offered his hand to help me into the carriage.
“Everything will be fine, my love. I promise,” Jude’s words encouraged me and bolstered my spirits.
“I know, mon amour,” I replied, winning an appreciative smile from my husband.
He climbed into the carriage, shut the door, then rapped on the side, signaling the driver to proceed. Honore and Judes’ parents took the second carriage, as we all headed for the wharf.
We held hands and rode the majority of the way in silence. Blowing my nose again as I looked out the window at the passing scenery, I wanted to remember the foliage of London in the summer.
“Just think, in a little over a week you will be settling into your new home,” Jude commented absently to break the silence. “We could sleep late and have breakfast in bed. And if you don’t feel like getting up, I would be happy to keep you company all day if you wish.”
“And how will you feel about me when I turn into a round melon because I never get out of bed and eat all of my meals as well?” I queried, turning to face him with a wry smile on my face.
“Then I will simply tell you every morning that you are the most delectable melon I have ever seen before I devour you,” he informed me as a lopsided smile formed and his eyebrows raised. Bringing my hand to his lips, he kissed the back then turned it over and placed another kiss in my palm. Seductively, his eyes met mine as he continued to my wrist. “I can do this all day.”
My heart began to beat a little faster as my breath caught in my chest and suddenly thoughts of leaving home and everything I knew didn’t matter any longer because I was looking into the eyes of the only one that truly mattered to me.
“I have another surprise for you,” he said, as if he remembered something important, his face lighting up like a child on Christmas morning.
“I’m sure you have many surprises for me, my love, but all I really want right now is for you to kiss me,” I answered as joy replaced my heavy heart.
By the time our carriage stopped at the wharf I had forgotten any talk of surprises.
“We are here, sir,” the carriage driver called out.
Jude opened the door and stepped down, offering me a hand.
The smell of sea air and activity on the docks always made me feel alive, but I never felt more alive than I did at that moment. The wind had picked up and the noise of gulls fighting over discarded fish parts from a nearby fishing boats was exhilarating. Everything from that day is branded in my mind as if it were today.
I looked over and saw something different and remember thinking how strange it was that a royal carriage should be at the docks at this time of day. Then the thought was gone from my mind.
“What do you think of her?” I heard Jude say to me as I turned toward the port where all the ships were moored.
“What do I think of what, darling?” I asked, completely baffled by his question. Then I noticed the direction of his hand.
Before me stood a magnificent hundred and thirty-foot brigantine, fully rigged. The beauty of her took my breath away.
“Well, what do you think? Do you like her?” Jude eagerly waited for my answer.
“Where did this glorious ship come from, Jude?” I asked in a quiet, almost reverent tone.
“This magnificent beast of a ship belongs to us. If I am to be an exporter of goods I had to have the proper ship to do that with. So I purchased her last month and had the men busy cleaning her up,” Jude announced with just a touch of pride in his voice.
“Well, they did a bang up job because I am just in awe and must see every inch of her,” I was barely able to contain my excitement as we walked closer to take a better look. “I am speechless.” I couldn’t believe that it belonged to us.
Jude walked me from stem to stern on the docks so I could examine each plank of the ship.
The railings were polished until they glistened in the sunlight, and the sails appeared pristine and white. Every rope had been replaced and the lifeboats hanging from the side had recently been painted.
“What did you name her?” I asked in anticipation before we had reached the back of the ship.
“Patience is a virtue, my love.” He laughed, giving me his half smile. Letting go of his hand, I quickened my pace because the suspense was too much for me.
“Tempest?” I stood on the docks puzzled with the unspoken question forming in my head.
“I chose the Tempest because no matter how bad the storm gets I will always find my way back to you,” Jude spoke the words lovingly as he placed one arm around my shoulder and his other hand on my stomach, where our unborn child rested. I stood staring into the depths of his crystal blue eyes and my heart fell in love with him all over again that day. “Shall we explore the rest of your magnificent ship, my Angel?”
“Oh yes, please,” I answered, unable to contain my excitement. I headed up the gangplank when suddenly a feeling of being watched stopped me in my tracks. Turning to look at the carriage with the royal insignia on the side still sitting in the same spot, I noticed a curtain had been opened, allowing it’s occupant full view of the docks, but more specifically our ship.
The female occupying the carriage stayed in the shadow of the coach obscuring her face from view, but I knew with every fiber of my being that it was Juliette Maureau Walters, the Marquise of Bourbon. To this day, I still don’t know how or why I knew it was her, but I could feel it in my bones.
The feeling of menacing foreboding crawled up my back, causing an involuntary shiver as the hairs at the back of my neck stood on end. I could sense myself slipping away into a dark place.
“Are you cold? Angelina, are you all right?” Jude touched my arm and like an anchor, his touch pulled me back to reality. His words of concern snapped me out of my trance.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” I asked, stalling a moment to collect my thoughts and regain my composure.
“I asked if you were cold. I saw you shiver.” His warm hand on my arm felt comforting.
“I just f
elt a chill. But I will be fine,” I lied, not sure how I would explain an intangible feeling. Removing his morning coat, Jude draped it about my shoulders, then wrapped an arm protectively around me as we continued up the gangplank.
“Did you happen to notice the black carriage sitting over there?” I asked, glancing back over my shoulder only to find the space once occupied by the black coach now stood empty. I shivered once again.
“I hope you’re not coming down with something,” he said, pulling me tighter against his side.
Turning to look into his face, I smiled. “I will be fine once we leave port. How soon until we weigh anchor?” I asked as if one could outrun destiny with distance.
“As soon as we board, everyone else is already safely aboard, including your beast Dante,” Jude answered, with a sardonic tone for my beloved horse.
“You will come to love my beast someday,” I mocked, unable to hide my delight.
“So you keep insisting,” Jude teased while trying to maintain a serious look, but a smile crept across his lips instead.
“Welcome aboard, Captain, Duchess,” Honore greeted us, the first to use my new title. He gave a sweeping bow with his hat in one hand and a half-eaten apple in the other as he attempted to mock us and our high borne status.
“Thank you, my good man, I am starving.” Jude snatched the apple from Honore’s hand and began to eat it.
“Hey! Now see here, you’re not a very good Governor, taking food from your peasants,” Honore teased.
“You can have it back once I am done with it, if you like.” Jude took another large bite from the apple then offered it to me. I relished taking a large bite from the apple just to play my part in the joke.
“I can’t believe how much better stolen fruit tastes,” I teased.
“There you go, my good man, I believe the Missus and I are finished with this.” Placing the eaten apple back in Honore’s hand, we continued on our way across the deck greeting Jude’s parents, Philippe and Genevieve Deveraux who would be making the trip back to France with us.
“Papa, Mama, I hope you found your accommodations satisfactory.” Jude kissed his parents on their cheeks then hugged them.
“Your ship, she is so grand, my son.” Philippe hugged Jude, thumping him heartily on the back in greeting.
“The men have been working hard to get her in shape and ready for the voyage home. I think some of them desire to return home even more than you, Father.”
“I, for one, will be happy planting my feet back on French soil. I miss my home,” his mother cried as she turned toward me. “Oh, my dear, you look a bit peaked. Are you feeling all right?” Genevieve said, bringing her hand to my face.
“I think it is a combination of too much excitement and not enough food. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I had a bite of Honore’s apple,” I explained, leaning over to kiss her on the cheeks.
“Well then, we had better rectify that immediately,” Philippe said, taking me by the arm he led me to the captain’s quarters where a wedding feast had been laid out on the table.
Anna and Maggie had prepared the room, laying out the food cook had prepared that morning. The table was set with roasted squab, fresh green beans in butter and garlic, baked pears, cheeses, soft rolls dripping in butter and of course, two kinds of wines. It was a feast fit for a king, and I was starving.
I heard Honore call to the men to weigh anchor and unfurl the main sail. Shortly after, I felt the motion of the ship as it began to move away from the docks, bringing me great relief.
Philippe pulled out a chair, seating me at the head of the table as Jude entered the room and, pulling out a chair, he sat at the other end of the table.
“Honore will be here momentarily to join us for lunch. He is just giving the crew orders and launching us on our way,” Jude informed us as he sat down.
I nibbled on a piece of cheese for a few minutes until Honore entered the quarters, taking an empty seat in the middle of the table.
Philippe cleared his throat loudly, trying to get everyone’s attention. “I would like to acknowledge this momentous occasion with a toast to the bride and groom,” Philippe began, as he stood next to me with a glass of wine in his hand. “I wish to start by telling you that my son, Jude, has been a great source of pride and joy in my life since the day he was born,” directing his attention to his son at the other end of the table seated next to his mother, Genevieve. “All one has to do is simply look at the man he has become to understand where my pride lays, and for that I am eternally grateful to my beautiful wife who has been by my side for twenty-nine years. But, son, I will be the first to tell you that I could not be prouder of you than I am today when you took this extraordinary young woman to wife.” Then Philippe turned to me and raised his glass slightly. “She is intelligent, strong, and dare I say, most comely. May you bear many strapping sons and a daughter that is as beautiful as her mother. My wish is that the two of you live many happy years, celebrating your love for one another. Raise your glasses with me to welcome, Lady Angelina, the Duchess of Bayonne to our family,” he finished, then raising his glass higher. “Cheers.” This was followed by cheers all around.
I raised my glass to him as tears filled my eyes. I sipped from my glass and wiped a tear that fell with my other hand. Then I stole a look at my new husband as he beamed with pride at the other end of the table from his father’s words.
The late lunch was served and I, for one, ate my fill until I was sure the stays of my corset would burst.
After lunch, Anna helped me from my wedding dress and into a simple green velvet day dress with a heather gray collar.
Joining Jude on deck, I found him at the helm of the ship.
“Why are you smiling like that, woman? Don’t you know that steering a ship is serious business?” Jude scolded with a half smile on his face.
“I was just smiling because I am so terribly happy today,” I replied, unable to stop myself from grinning.
“Would you like to give it a try?” he asked, holding a hand out to me.
“What if I crash the ship?”
“What exactly do you think you might crash the ship into out here in the middle of the ocean?” He laughed then pulled my hand, placing me between the helm and his solid form. “You grip it like so, making sure you keep enough tension to keep the wheel from spinning.”
“Spinning?” I gasped, looking at him over my shoulder which only elicited another outburst of hearty laughter from him.
“You will be fine. I’m here, and I promise not to let go of you or the helm,” Jude reassured me as he stepped closer than necessary, then leaned down to nuzzle my neck.
Honore cleared his throat loudly causing Jude to slowly straighten up to his full height. “How is it going, Captain, Mrs. Captain? I see you are giving lessons on the very complicated techniques of steering a ship, though I have never quite seen it done that way before.” His mocking tone only encouraged Jude further.
“By any chance, have you ever done it this way?” Jude placed his knee between the rungs then spinning me around in his arms and bending me back he cradled me in the crook of his arm planting a passionate kiss on my mouth, taking my breath away in the process.
“No, but I could show you my way if you will just allow me a moment,” Honore countered with a chuckle as he moved in to take me from Jude’s arms.
“For that demonstration old man, you will have to provide your own Mrs. Captain,” Jude informed him as he brought me into an upright position.
“Certainly you can understand that I had to ask.”
“I would not respect you if you hadn’t,” Jude teased back.
“I came to relieve you. Don’t you have a honeymoon to start? Honore asked as he placed his hand on the helm to steady it.
“I don’t know. Let me ask the missus,” Jude said, turning to me as he continued his foolishness. “Mrs. Captain of this beautiful ship, are we on our honeymoon?”
“Allow me to check.” Raisi
ng my left hand up with its new gold band, I pretended to examine it. “Well, will you look at that, a brand new gold band has been placed upon my hand this very day.” I looked up at Jude and Honore giving them both a puzzled and perplexed look. “I do believe that we are,” I said in a bewildered tone.
“There you go then, irrefutable evidence that I am married to this enchanting creature and that we are indeed on our honeymoon. So if you will excuse us, we have a bit of business to take care of.” And with that, Jude patted Honore on the back several times, then turned to me, sweeping me up into his arms. “Wish me luck,” he called over his shoulder.
“Best of luck to you,” Honore called out.
My face turned red with embarrassment. “Jude Deveraux, you put me down this instant,” I growled under my breath while pushing against his chest.
“You might want to stop struggling or we might take a tumble down the steps.”
I looked up just as we came to the steps leading to the main deck of the ship and noticed that no one was working. The entire crew had lined up down the steps and on the deck to witness my humiliation, forcing us to go through the middle of them.
“Jude, I am warning you,” I said through gritted teeth while giving him a severe look.
“It is traditional. Would you break the men’s hearts by denying them the privilege of wishing us well and seeing us off to bed on this, our wedding night?” Jude purred, with his most rakish yet charming half-smile, stopping at the top of the steps. “Now turn to them and give them a great big smile.”
Gritting my teeth and trying to ignore the burning in my cheeks I plastered a smile on my face, then turning to the men I gave an enthusiastic wave and blew them kisses.
The entire ship broke out in loud cheering and clapping as we began walking the gauntlet of men.
Jude leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Here we go and I would suggest that you hang on tight, it can get rough.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I buried my head in his collar.
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