Lady Overton's Perilous Journey (Honorable Rogue Book 1)

by Vikki Vaught

  A knife-like pain pierced her soul at the thought of leaving Piper behind. She had lost so much already, although, at this point, the safety of her son mattered most. Nothing could stand in her way, not even her beloved horse. She had to get Harry away from his uncle. “Of course, I understand. I shall speak to the groom and make arrangements for her care.”

  “Then, why don’t you follow me, and I’ll get you and your son on the ship. Would you like me to carry him for you? He’s a mite big for a little thing like you to be carrying.”

  Anissa shook her head. “That is not necessary. If you will lead the way, I shall be fine carrying my son, Captain.” There was no way she would trust him with her precious child. After what she had learned tonight, she wanted to keep Harry as close as possible.

  “At least let me take your valise,” the captain offered.

  Anissa rolled her eyes, exasperation taking control. “Oh, all right. Can we please hurry? I’m anxious to be on my way.”

  Captain Hawks raised his brow. “What’s the big hurry? Are you running away from something or possibly someone?”

  “No, not at all,” she told him, infusing her voice with confidence and arrogance as well, for good measure. She needed to sooth the captain’s suspicions. “I’m tired. I have ridden half the night,” she explained, “I want to get my son settled so I can get some much-needed sleep.”

  The captain shrugged his massive shoulders again and gave her a knowing look as if to say, I do not believe you, but I will let it pass for now. “Come on then. It’s well past time for me to return to my ship.”

  Inwardly sagging with relief, tingles spread through her, sending chilled pinpricks of sensation around her shoulders and down her arms. Even though the air around her was hot and humid with all the men crouched over tables and others stumbling against the captain’s wide shoulders as he cleared a path to the door, a chill ran through her. However, she could not give into her emotions right now.

  After she worked out arrangements with the groom for Piper, they made their way to the ship, and Captain Hawks turned her over to his purser.

  The man led her down a set of narrow, steep stairs. Then he opened a door to the smallest space she could have ever imagined. The captain had not been exaggerating. At least the cabin looked clean and orderly.

  Once the door closed behind the purser, she lay Harry down on the bottom berth and covered him with a blanket she found draped over the end of the bunk. The blanket smelled of soap, and at least it was clean. She kissed her son’s forehead and let out a shuddering breath. The fear eased its stranglehold on her throat for the first time since the terrifying incident had occurred.

  At least the captain had been willing to take them onboard. Even if the handsome man was arrogant, irritating, and domineering, he had given in to her plea, and she was grateful for that. So tired her bones ached, she wanted to climb into the bunk above Harry’s and sleep, although she would not feel safe until she watched the ship pull away from the pier and head out to sea. After making sure Harry still slept deeply, she went up to the deck.

  Anissa made her way to the port side of the ship, and gripped the railing as she watched the sailors weigh anchor and cast off the ropes. As the ship pulled away, she thanked the good Lord for their escape. Pulling her cloak tightly around her, she reveled in the feel of the ship’s movement as it continued to pull away from the pier.

  A large carriage bearing the family crest pulled up, sending her heart galloping as fear again gripped her throat. Lord Howard jumped down and hurried into the inn she had left a short time ago. Icy shivers shot down her spine as she watched him come back out of the tavern at a run, heading to the spot where the ship had been moments ago. The ship picked up speed and headed out to sea as she watched Kendall’s uncle tear off his hat and slam it to the ground, then stomp on it as he raised his fist in the air.

  Chapter Two

  Anissa heard a noise behind her. Startled, she turned around. Captain Hawks had to have seen Lord Howard. Anissa clasped her trembling hands together as she stammered, “I w-wanted to watch as we l-left the pier, since it will be my last sight of England for a very long time.”

  Captain Hawks stared at her, black eyes gleaming. “Who’s that man? I thought you told me you weren’t running away. What are you running away from? Tell me, damn it!”

  Anissa turned back to the railing to give herself time to collect her thoughts. She came up with a believable story, she hoped. Even though she hated lying, now was not the time for scruples. To save her son, she would lie, cheat, or even kill, if need be. She did not owe this arrogant captain anything. He was only a means to an end for her.

  Pulling on her confidence as a marchioness, she turned to face him with an expression of disdain on her face. “Not that it is any of your concern, I’m not running away from anything. As I already explained, my uncle is dying, and I need to get to Boston. I desperately need to get away for a while. I lost my husband seven months ago. I am hoping a visit with my uncle and seeing my cousins will help to distract me from my grief. And I can help my family care for him in his time of need.”

  “If you’re not running away, then why did that man look disgusted when he saw my ship leaving?” he sneered.

  Her mind went blank. She needed to come up with something he might believe. “Oh, you mean the man on the pier?”

  The captain interrupted. “Of course I mean that man. It’s obvious someone told him you left with me. He followed you to Plymouth, didn’t he?”

  Anissa looked at him, her knees shaking to such a degree that he would have surely seen them, had her breeches not been covered by her long cloak. She prayed he would not decide to turn the ship around.

  “He is an unwanted suitor. He has been hounding me ever since my husband died. He is one of the reasons I decided to go to America.” Then taking the offensive, she stated, “Besides, it is none of your business why I want to leave, now, is it?”

  “It is my damned business if you’re running from something. I don’t need anything turning up later. You know he’ll find out where you’re going, don’t you? My ship is well known, and someone will tell him you’re bound for Baltimore. You don’t have any family in Boston, do you? You don’t know anyone in America. How in hell will you take care of yourself, and your son, for God’s sake?”

  By this time, the ship had traveled farther out to sea, and Anissa could barely see the shore. She turned back to face the captain. “I do not want to discuss this further. All you need to know is there will be no repercussions for you.”

  “Hell, I shouldn’t have agreed.” Captain Hawks grabbed her by the arms and gave her a slight shake. “I shouldn’t have let those big blue eyes of yours get to me. You’re going to be trouble, trouble I don’t need.”

  Anissa pulled away from him. “Do not touch me! I am not your concern. As soon as we land in Baltimore, you will never see me again. Now, I’m quite tired. I shall retire to my cabin. I need to rest before my son wakes up.” Clutching her cloak tightly around her, she marched to the companionway leading down to her cabin and hurried out of sight.

  When she entered her cabin, Harry still slept. She opened up her valise and pulled out her night rail. Jerking her clothes off, she threw the gown over her head and pulled it down. After scrambling up on her bunk, she twisted and turned, trying to get comfortable. Even though she was beyond exhausted, she could not fall asleep.

  The nerve of that man!

  He actually laid his hands on me.

  How dare he!

  She would have to give the captain a wide berth for the rest of the journey. She had much more important things to worry over than some arrogant male.

  Well, she had not killed Lord Howard. At least she did not have that hanging over her head. She hoped he would not come after them. Even though he could figure out they were going to Baltimore, that did not mean he would follow them. Fury coursed through her veins as she thought of what that evil man had planned for Harry and for her. Than
k the good Lord they had gotten away, and that it should be at least a couple of months before she would have to look over her shoulder for him. After all, the journey alone would take at least six weeks, and surely Lord Howard would have to set his affairs in order before he came after them.

  How foolish of her to think he would not follow them. As long as Harry lived, Lord Howard could not become the marquess, and he had coveted the title his entire life. She would have to make sure he did not find them until her brother turned up to protect them.

  Cortland had gone missing during a mission this past winter in France, before England had signed the Treaty of Amiens. Anissa refused to believe he had died. Once she landed and they settled somewhere, she would write him at his last known address and let him know how to find her and Harry. Finally, her eyes grew heavy and she slipped into a troubled sleep.

  * * * *

  Alex made his way to the bridge, castigating himself for giving in to those startling blue eyes of hers. Damn it all to hell! That woman was going to drive him insane. That was the last thing he needed right now, what with his desire to get this ship back to Baltimore as soon as possible.

  Why in God’s name did I let her talk me into taking her on my ship?

  I rarely take on passengers, even if I do have the space.

  This high society bitch won’t be able to take care of herself.

  He did not believe her story at all. It was highly unlikely she was that scared of an unwanted admirer, and there was no question she was scared out of her mind. Something else had her frightened, and he needed to figure it out. He doubted she knew anybody in America, let alone had family there. Well, as she said, once they docked in Baltimore his responsibility would end.

  After checking on his first mate, Alex went down to his cabin. As soon as he entered, he went to the sideboard, poured himself a large glass of whiskey, and drank it down in three gulps, enjoying the burn all the way down. He flung himself into his captain’s chair and dropped his head back. Women were too much trouble. The whole time he had been in London, they had chased him everywhere he went.

  Alex knew all about aristocratic women, after spending the last month evading them, and he did not want anything to do with them—well, except to bed them, of course. In fact, that was all he wanted from any woman. It might seem cold and calculating, but he had a right to feel that way.

  His late wife had made sure he never wanted to fall in love again. He had been so young, only two and twenty, when he had asked Pamela to marry him six years ago. At eighteen, her beauty and innocence had captivated him, or so he had thought, yet on their wedding night, he found out she had not been innocent after all.

  Not only was she no virgin, she’d been pregnant with his brother’s child. Of course, when John had disappeared, Pamela had turned to him. He should have known something had happened when she came after him once his brother left. John was the handsome and more charming brother. Alex was a big, rugged-looking man, so women did not normally find him attractive, and even though the so-called ladies in London had chased after him, his money attracted them, not his good looks.

  Alex had a block of ice encased around his heart. He would never let another woman thaw it out, no matter how beautiful; certainly not this woman. After Pamela’s betrayal, he refused to let any woman lead him around by his cock. An astute man, Alex would bet his last gold coin that Mrs. Carlson had blue blood running in her veins. He could always sniff one out a mile away. No, he would not let her get close to him. This woman was probably as faithless as his bitch of a wife had been.

  The only thing good to come out of his marriage was his sweet little daughter. Melanie might not be his, but he had loved her from the moment of her birth. He did not know what he would do without his mother. She had cared for Melanie ever since Pamela died in a carriage accident last year.

  This would be his last voyage. No longer would he leave his child. Alex had worked hard to build his own shipping company. At last, he had a partner who would sail the ships while he stayed home and ran the office. Closing his eyes, he could see Melanie running to him with her blonde curls streaming behind her and her cornflower blue eyes twinkling up at him as she threw herself into his arms, every time he returned home.

  Melanie was the only female he wanted in his life. No, the last thing he needed was some woman upsetting his life. Albeit, this woman was beautiful with all those gorgeous golden curls and she was a widow. Just thinking of her womanly curves had him hard as stone. He had always been attracted to petite women with plenty of curves. Maybe he could get her in his bed for the duration of this voyage, and then when they landed, he could end their liaison and walk away, still a free man.

  Ah, yes. An excellent thought.

  Tomorrow, he would begin his seduction. He had some ground to make up. He never should have manhandled her as he had. That was so out of character for him. While he could never trust another woman, his mother had taught him better than that. No matter how furious he had been with Pamela, he had never laid a hand on her.

  This ruminating would not accomplish anything. He needed to go relieve his first mate. He had a long day ahead of him. Spending last night drinking and giving in to the allure of a pretty barmaid might not have been the smartest way to start a long voyage. Turning around, Alex left his cabin and made his way to the bridge.

  Once he relieved Lawson, Alex let his tight muscles relax. Calm rolled over him. Nothing felt better with the wind at his back and the sun on his face. The sun rose over the horizon turning the sky to shades of pink and purple. It already looked like a glorious day. He pushed thoughts of that aggravating woman out of his mind and enjoyed the freedom he found, steering his own ship on the high seas.

  Though he would miss this when he turned the Renegade over to his partner, he had made the best decision for himself and for Melanie. He had already missed the first five years of her life. It was time for him to be a full-time father to his sweet little Melanie, the daughter of his heart—if not of his loins.

  * * * *

  Anissa woke up to the sight of Harry standing on a chair, looking out the porthole. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she sat up and hit her head. “Ouch. Harry, be careful. I do not want you to fall. Get down here immediately, young man.”

  “Mama, I won’t fall. Where are we?” Harry asked. “There’s water all around us. Are we in the middle of the ocean? Where are we going?”

  After she climbed down from the bunk, she walked over and hugged Harry to her breast. “Darling, we are on a ship, and we are going to America to start a new life. That sounds exciting, does it not?”

  Harry wriggled out of her embrace. Standing in front of her, he clapped his hands. “Oh, yes, Mama. Can we go up on the deck? I want to see all the sailors.”

  “We need to dress first and find some breakfast. I’m sure you must be famished. I know I am. Turn around, so I can dress, then you can put your clothes on.” Harry gave her a bright smile, then immediately climbed back up on the chair and looked out of the porthole at the sea.

  Giving up on a losing battle, she shrugged. Her son probably would not fall. She turned back and opened her valise, then pulled out one of her gowns and shook it out, trying to relieve some of the wrinkles. It did not matter how she looked. There was no one she needed to impress. She certainly did not want that rude captain looking at her with admiration in his eyes. She would have liked some water to wash her face and hands with, but it could wait. Once she had donned her dress, she turned back to Harry and handed him his clothes. Now that her son had turned six, he no longer liked anyone to assist him. He had complained about the nursemaid helping him, telling her he was too big.

  “Harry, I must have your full attention. I need to explain something to you. In America, people do not use titles. We are going to use my mother’s maiden name, Carlson, instead. Can you remember?”

  Harry looked confused, then grinned, a mischievous look skidding across his gamin face. “Ooh, what fun. You want me to pretend I�
��m Harry Carlson. It’s like make believe. All right.”

  Anissa’s breath came out in a whoosh. Harry saw it as a game. Now, if he could remember to play along. Someone knocked and she called out, “Who is it?”

  “It’s Martin,” a young voice answered, “I’m supposed t’ show ya t’ th’ galley. Th’ cap’n sent me, ma’am.”

  Opening the door, Anissa looked out and found a young lad around twelve years old standing there. “Thank you, Martin. That would be lovely.”

  They followed the young man down the corridor, and entered the galley. After getting her son seated, she sat and pulled a pot of porridge to her. Ladling some into a bowl, she placed it in front of Harry, and he began to shovel the food in. “Where are your manners, child? I know you are hungry, but slow down and eat like a gentleman.”

  Anissa filled a bowl for herself and took a bite. She did not normally care for porridge, yet she was pleasantly surprised when she tasted it. Cinnamon and nutmeg, along with plenty of brown sugar and butter, gave it a wonderful flavor, and now she understood why Harry ate with such gusto.

  Glancing toward the door, Anissa saw the cabin boy standing there watching. “Martin, have you had your breakfast? There is plenty of porridge left. We cannot possibly eat it all.”

  “Oh, I’m fine, ma’am. I ate hours ago,” the young boy replied. “Well, I needs t’ get back t’ me duties. If ya wants some fresh air, follow this corridor back t’ th’ companionway. I’ll see ya later, ma’am.”

  After Martin took his leave, a rotund man entered with an apron tied around his waist. “I’m Elton, th’ cook. Is there anythin’ else I can get for ya, ma’am?”