Miss Minerva's Pirate Mishap

by Maggie Dallen

  Her father overlooked her outburst as he shook his head and muttered Roger’s name again, as he had a million times before. Her poor father was having a decidedly difficult time coming around to the reality of the situation. Not that she blamed him. Roger had duped them all.

  She rubbed at the pounding in her temples. Another sign of exhaustion, no doubt. Between this overwhelming tiredness and the fact that her mind kept trying to wander back to thoughts of Marcus...

  She felt like a hollow shell of herself as her father muttered on and on about how he’d been tricked by Roger. He seemed to belatedly remember that he was supposed to be lecturing her because he swung around with his finger pointed again. “And that had better be the last you see of this Marcus fellow.”

  “It was,” she said quietly.

  “Because privateer or no, he has no business—” Her father stopped short. “What was that you said?”

  Minerva lifted her head and saw her father staring at her. Her sisters were peering far too closely. This veneer of indifference was wearing thin. Please don’t make me repeat it.

  But her father was waiting for an answer.

  She drew in a deep steadying breath. “He’ll be leaving now that the smuggler was outed.”

  Her father frowned. “He won’t be sticking around to conduct an inquiry or make a report—”

  “No.” She did not know precisely why he could not be discovered in England but, whatever it was, it was certain to have him back on his ship soon enough. She glanced toward the window. Perhaps before she rose tomorrow morning.

  She glanced at the clock. No, this morning. Oh, mercy, she was so tired.

  Abigail, who was perched beside her on the settee, rested a hand on her shoulder. “I am sure you will see him again one day.”

  “But of course she will,” Rebecca said, leaning forward to lay a hand on her knee.

  “He’ll be back,” Sally said quietly from her corner. “He’s got more work to do here. They still haven’t found the pirates’ leader, now have they?”

  Her father looked between Minerva and her sisters with a look of such confusion it might have been amusing if she weren’t so very tired. All right, fine. Perhaps she wasn’t merely tired. Perhaps she was just a little bit heartbroken.

  Or very, very heartbroken.

  It did not change things, so what did it matter? Abigail’s voice was so soft and gentle beside her it made her want to cry. “But, Min, perhaps if—”

  “No.” Minerva cut her off far too harshly, but it was either that or burst into tears. “He is leaving,” she said to all of her sisters. “He will be leaving, and I cannot go with him.”

  She needed to say it aloud. To remind herself of why she was suffering, why she could not cave to selfish temptation.

  Hattie’s high voice interrupted the silence. “But does that mean...” Her legs were tucked under her where she sat by the fire, and she leaned forward with excitement. “Did he ask you to go with him, Min?”

  The rest of her sisters gasped as they waited for her answer. When she nodded, Rebecca clapped her hands together. “I knew it.”

  “You knew nothing,” Sally teased. She turned to Minerva. “What did he say?”

  “What did you say?” Abigail asked.

  Only her father was silent, and he was looking on in horror.

  “I said no,” Minerva said quietly, the words sharp and painful. “As I must.”

  “But...but why?” Rebecca exclaimed.

  “Why?” Now their father spoke, and it made up for his earlier silence by far. “Why? What kind of question is that? Of course Minerva can’t go off with some sailor she hardly knows.”

  “But she loves him.” Hattie’s sweet and innocent voice had them all freezing in place.

  She loves him.

  Minerva felt the room spin around her as her heart cleaved in two. She wished she could deny it.

  “She loves him?” Her father stared at her like he’d never seen her before, waiting for an answer. Her lips parted and shut without a word escaping.

  Oh, how she wished she could deny it.

  He turned to Abigail. “She loves him?”

  Abigail shot her a sidelong wince as she shrugged.

  He turned to her other sisters.

  “I’ve never seen her so happy,” Sally said.

  Rebecca grinned. “I’ve never seen her distracted or—”

  “In love,” Hattie finished with a sigh that would have made Minerva groan at any other time.

  Sweet Hattie had her romantic notions. That was all well and good for a sixteen-year-old girl and her silly fictional heroines. But for her? A grown woman with four sisters to look after?

  She folded her hands together and drew in a deep breath. Love was a luxury she could not afford.

  “Is this true, Minerva?” her father asked. He looked paler and more stricken than she’d ever seen him.

  She could not bring herself to answer in a straightforward manner; instead, she opted to share the only truth that mattered. “I know I am needed here, Father. I would not leave you all.”

  Not like Mother.

  “But—but...” Rebecca’s eyes were wide with horror. “Why not?”

  Sally frowned. “I think what Rebecca means, Min, is that...well...”

  She looked to Abigail who took Minerva’s hand and clasped it tight. “We want you to be happy, Min. And while we appreciate all you have done for us—”

  Hattie stepped in. “We don’t need you anymore.”

  Minerva blinked at her youngest sister who winced. “Sorry. That sounded harsher than intended.” Hattie glanced up at their father. “But tell her it’s true.”

  Minerva looked from one to the other. “I don’t understand. You want me to leave?”

  “No, of course not!” Abigail was the loudest, but they all protested vehemently until Abigail added, “We just want you to be happy.”

  “We would never forgive ourselves if you gave up true love just because you felt you had to take care of us,” Rebecca added.

  Silence filled the small room as emotions tore Minerva’s chest in two.

  It was her father who broke it this time. “Girls, I’d like a word with your sister.”

  As one, her sisters rose and filed out of the room. When it was just the two of them, her father turned to her with more emotion than she could ever recall seeing in his wrinkled old features. “My dear, now is the time for honesty and...” He cleared his throat. “And an apology.”

  Her brows shot up. “I am sorry, Father—”

  “No, I meant—” He stopped to chuckle. “Min, darling, I meant that I owe you an apology.”

  She frowned, certain now that she’d heard wrong.

  He sat beside her with a sigh that was uncharacteristic. “Minerva, there is something I need to say to you. It’s about your mother.”

  She tensed. Part of her wanted to plead with him to stop. Any other time, perhaps, she could handle a conversation about the woman who’d abandoned them for her life of adventure. Now, she could barely handle keeping her eyes open, and these tears that choked her weren’t going away anytime soon. “Father, we do not need to do this now,” she started.

  “I beg to differ.” The rueful amusement in his voice had her glancing over. He was staring at the door through which her sisters had left. “Your little militia will never give me a moment’s peace if they think I let you sacrifice your happiness for theirs.”

  She chuckled. “They are hardly my little militia anymore, now are they?” She sighed and it was bittersweet. “They no longer follow me single-file on our outings to town—”

  “And I’d like to see you try to make Rebecca or Hattie eat their porridge like good little girls.” His laughter made her smile despite the ache in her heart.

  This was her family, and she loved them with all her heart. Surely staying here was no sacrifice.

  Her heart begged to differ.

  “They might have grown, but they are still your milit
ia,” her father said, his tone still warm with memories and love. “They are all intelligent and strong-minded.” He turned to face her. “And all thanks to you.”

  She smiled. “You give me too much credit.”

  “Not at all. When your mother...left...” He stumbled over the words but recovered before she could interrupt and tell him he did not have to continue. “When she was gone, you stepped in and filled her role admirably. It was much to ask of a young girl who was little more than a child herself, but you took on responsibilities that would have rattled most grown men, and you did it with no complaints.”

  Her heart warmed at the praise, but this rare display of affection and appreciation was doing little for her battle with tears. His smile turned sad when he turned to face her. “You remind me so much of her.”

  Minerva stiffened.

  “You look just like your mother, and there is so much of her in you.”

  Minerva winced. Normally she was prepared for such comparisons, but after the events of this evening, she felt as though she’d been struck with an open palm clear across the face. She held her breath, waiting for the pain to ease, but her father noticed.

  “Oh no, my dear,” he said as he took her hand. “I did not mean that as a—” He cut himself off with a shake of his head. “Your mother had many fine qualities. And Min...there was more to her leaving than you know. More to your mother than I’ve told you.”

  She turned to him with a questioning look, but he glanced away, lost in thought. “Your mother had your courage. And it’s true that you got that call of the sea from her.” He glanced over with a knowing smile. “Don’t think I don’t see the difference in you when you come back from your walks.” His smile faded. “Don’t think I didn’t see the way you came alive tonight, even amidst your fear and the chaos.” He reached out and touched your cheek. “You fairly glowed with excitement at the thrill of it all, and I cannot blame you.” He gave a short laugh. “Truth be told, I suppose you got that inclination from both of us, so I know it well.”

  “But Mother left,” she said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. “She chose that world over us.”

  “No, child.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as a tear trailed down her cheek. “That was not the full story. She did choose wrongly, but she loved you. In her own way, your mother always thought she was doing what was best for you girls.”

  She stared at him in shock and anger. “By leaving?”

  He gave a grunt of affirmation as he held her tight. “One day you will know the whole story, but for now it is enough for you to know that you do not need to fear becoming her. You are your own woman, and as much as you’ve inherited her passion for the sea and a life of adventure, you have her capacity for love as well. And I am proud to say that you have my sense of loyalty and devotion, and you should never doubt that.”

  She sniffled as his words filled some crevice inside of her that she’d thought would never mend.

  “I am loyal,” she said. “And I never want to be so selfish as to leave my sisters—”

  “I know that. We all know that.” His brows drew together in consternation as he leaned toward her, his grip on her shoulders so tight she thought he might crush her. “No one doubts that, Min, which is why your sisters were so forthright tonight. They know without a doubt that you would put them first. Always.”

  She nodded, slightly reassured but more emotional than ever. “I told him no.”

  He eyed her with scrutiny. “Because you did not wish to go with him or because you felt it would be selfish?”

  She didn’t answer. But that seemed to be answer enough. His sigh was loud and heavy. “Minerva, no one wants to see you leave less than me. But like your sisters, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I thought you were sacrificing your happiness for mine.”

  She stared at him, something in her chest shifting and leaving her breathless with...what? Hope? Fear?

  Both?

  “Are you saying...” She stopped to swallow. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that perhaps I judged the man too quickly upon first meeting him.” Her father’s words were a grudging grumble. “I got a true measure of his character when he gave an accounting of what happened in the cave.” He shifted beside her and the next words seemed to be pulled out of him reluctantly. “I suspect his intentions are quite honorable.”

  Minerva stared at her father in shock. “Would you truly approve of me going off with him? A privateer?”

  Her father gave a harrumph which was comforting in its familiarity. “Not unless he did it the proper way, mind you. I need to get to know this gentleman, obviously.”

  He shot her a sidelong glare that did nothing to quell her rising sensation of...hope?

  Yes, definitely hope.

  “Oh, Father.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Do you mean it?”

  He mumbled something grudging but it was not a no.

  “But what about the girls?” she started.

  A pert voice came from the hallway. “The ‘girls’ are young ladies now, I’ll have you know.” Rebecca poked her head in with an unapologetic grin.

  Hattie saddled in behind her, followed by Sally who wore an impish expression, and then lastly Abigail, who gave her a rueful shrug. “You try keeping them away at a time like this.”

  Minerva laughed as Abigail joined her on the settee and curled up beside her in a cuddle as though they were still children.

  “We would miss you terribly though,” Abigail added.

  “But Rebecca is right,” Sally said. “We’re not children anymore, and while we’ll always love you, we do not need you to guide us.”

  “Not even me,” Hattie said with a knowing smile.

  Minerva laughed. “Hattie, you are so good and sweet, just like Abigail. I don’t worry about you at all.” She narrowed her eyes teasingly at Rebecca who threw her head back with a laugh.

  Sally wrapped an arm around Rebecca’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she does not flirt too much with the wrong sorts.”

  “So, then.” Abigail nudged her with an elbow. “What are you waiting for?”

  Minerva turned from one sister to the next. “You’d truly be all right—”

  “Go!” they shouted back at her.

  She turned to her father. “And you would be fine if—”

  “Just make sure your gentleman comes to see me himself. I’m not agreeing to anything unless he can convince me that he’s on the up and up. Not to mention, he needs to prove that he can afford to keep you. I have a lot of questions for your fellow.”

  He was still talking as Sally came over and pulled her up off the settee. “I’m sure Min and her man will be happy to talk to you, Father.” She gave Minerva a wink. “Just as soon as she tells him the good news.”

  Chapter 15

  Would he be there? The night air whipped around her, louder and more fervent the closer she grew to the cliff’s edge.

  He had likely left already.

  She told herself that over and over to keep her hopes from getting too out of hand.

  Too late.

  Her heart raced ahead of her as if it could reach him faster if it left her body behind.

  Nice try. Her heart would have to be patient as she stood on the cliff’s edge and scanned the horizon. Her father wasn’t far behind and she could hear his grumbles even through the wind.

  She wasn’t certain what she was looking for—it wasn’t as though his ship would be anchored at their docks. His ship was...well, she knew not where. Nor did she know where his crew was.

  It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. All that truly mattered was finding Marcus and telling him...oh, everything.

  Joy flared up inside her in bursts too intense to contain. Were she truly alone, she would have tipped her head back and whooped with glee.

  But not yet.

  Not until she was certain he had not left. For if he had...

  She shook of
f the deluge of fears. Where would he go? How would she find him? Would she lose her only chance at love?

  Silly thoughts. Made even sillier still when she spotted it.

  Spotted him.

  A fire flickered in the cave’s mouth.

  Her cave.

  His cave.

  She grinned as she stopped short and took in the beautiful sight. Their cave.

  “Min, not so close to the edge,” her father groused.

  “He’s here, Father,” she said, whirling around to face him. “He’s still here.”

  “Of course he is. Only a fool would leave if he truly cares about you.”

  Minerva bit her lip. Her father had no idea that his being here put his life in jeopardy, and it was not her secret to tell. She started to turn back, her feet already edging toward the trail.

  “Wait a moment, girl. I cannot let you go down there to be with a strange man. Alone,” he huffed. “What’s more, there’s a dangerous smuggler on the loose and—”

  “And he’ll hardly be coming back to the scene of his crime tonight, will he?” she asked. She looked imploringly toward the cave. “Please, Father. I won’t take long, and I shall scream if I run into Roger, but just...” She clasped her hands together. “Please let me talk to him. I must tell him not to go. Not yet.”

  Her father sighed but he waved her on with muttered remarks about young ladies with more heart than sense.

  She grinned as she ran away. It was true. When it came to Marcus, there was little reason involved. But for once, that was just fine by her. There was no reasoning with her heart, and absolutely no logic in the way he made her feel. As if she were a queen. As if she were perfect just the way she was. As if...

  She laughed as she climbed down the trail as swiftly as she could without risking her neck.

  As if she were the love of his life.

  She finally let out the whoop of joy she’d be holding in when she reached the sandy shores and raced to the cave. She’d barely made it there when he stepped out, saw her, and swept her up into his arms.

  He held her so tightly it knocked the air from her lungs, but she held him even tighter.