The Gift

by Julie Garwood

  It started out to be a nice, sunny, peaceful day. Matthew was taking Nora for a stroll along the decks. Nora’s arm was linked through Matthew’s, and the two of them took turns whispering to each other and laughing like children. The elderly couple had become extremely close over the past weeks. Sara thought Matthew was just as smitten as Nora appeared to be. He had taken to smiling quite a lot, and Nora seemed to be blushing just as often.

  When Sara set out on her stroll Jimbo walked beside her. She was never allowed to be alone. She believed it was because her staff had turned so belligerent on her. When she made that comment to Jimbo, though, he shook his head.

  “That might be a little part of it,” he said, “but the full truth is that the captain doesn’t want anything else broken, Sara. That’s why you’ve got yourself a guard trailing you day and night.”

  “Oh, the shame of it all,” Sara cried out.

  Jimbo had difficulty holding back his grin. Sara was certainly given to drama. He didn’t want her to think he was laughing at her, though. “Now, now, it isn’t that terrible,” he remarked. “You needn’t sound so forlorn.”

  Sara was quick to rally. Her face heated up, and she let him see her irritation. “So that’s how it’s to be, is it?” she asked. “A few little mishaps and I’m now condemned by my staff as a witch and condemned by my own husband as a defiler of property? Jimbo, must I remind you that nothing out of the ordinary has happened since the fire, and that was over seven days ago. Surely the men will come to their senses in time.”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary?” Jimbo repeated. “You cannot be serious, Sara. Have you forgotten Dutton’s little mishap, then?”

  He would have to bring up that unfortunate incident. Sara gave him a disgruntled look. “He didn’t drown, Jimbo.”

  Jimbo rolled his eyes heavenward. “No, he didn’t drown,” he agreed. “But it was mighty close.”

  “And I did apologize to the man.”

  “Aye, you did,” Jimbo said. “But what about Kently and Taylor?”

  “Which ones are they?” Sara asked, deliberately feigning ignorance.

  “The ones you knocked stupid two days ago when they slipped on the cannon grease you spilled,” he reminded her.

  “You cannot place the blame for that solely on my shoulders.”

  “I can’t?” he asked. He was eager to hear the excuse she would give to explain away those injuries. “You did spill the grease, didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” she admitted. “But I was on my way to fetch a rag to mop up the mess when those men rushed past me. If they hadn’t been in such a hurry to get away from me, they would have stopped, of course, and I could have warned them about the slippery deck. So you see, Jimbo, the blame really belongs on their superstitious shoulders.”

  The shouted warning of a ship in the distance stopped their conversation. Within a blink of the eye the deck was filled with men running to their posts.

  Sara didn’t understand what all the commotion was about. Nathan bellowed her name before Jimbo could give her a proper explanation.

  “Nathan, I didn’t do it,” she cried out when she saw him striding toward her. “Whatever has happened, I swear to you that I had nothing to do with it.”

  That vehement speech gave Nathan pause. He actually smiled at her before grabbing hold of her hand and dragging her toward their cabin.

  “I know you’re not responsible,” he told her, “though the men will probably blame you all the same.”

  “What is it they’re going to blame me for this time?” she asked.

  “We’re about to have some unwanted guests, Sara.”

  “Unwanted?” she whispered.

  They reached their cabin. Nathan pulled her inside but left the door open. It was obvious he wasn’t planning on staying long. “Pirates,” he explained.

  The color immediately left her face.

  “Don’t you dare faint on me,” he ordered, though he was already reaching out to catch her in the event she decided not to obey him.

  She pushed his hands away. “I’m not going to swoon,” she announced. “I’m furious, Nathan, not frightened. Damn if I’ll let my staff think I’ve brought on pirates, too. Make them go away, Nathan. I’m not up to another upset.”

  They were in for quite a battle, Nathan knew, but he wasn’t going to share that information with his wife. In truth, he was worried, for he knew he should have used the faster clipper for their journey. They would never be able to outrun the bastards closing in on them. The Seahawk was too bulky and too weighted down to accomplish that feat.

  “Give me your promise that you’ll be careful,” Sara demanded.

  He ignored that command. “Matthew took Nora below,” he said. “Stay here until he comes for you.”

  After giving her that order he turned and strode out the doorway. Sara ran after him. He was forced to stop when she threw her arms around his waist. It was either that or drag her up the steps with him. Nathan turned around then, peeling her hands away as he moved. “For God’s sake, woman, now isn’t the time to demand a good-bye kiss,” he roared.

  She was about to tell him, no, that certainly wasn’t the reason she’d stopped him, but he waylaid her intent by giving her a quick kiss.

  When he pulled away she smiled at him. “Nathan, now isn’t the time to be . . . romantic,” she said. “You have a fight on your hands. Do see to it.”

  “Then why did you stop me?” he demanded to know.

  “I wanted you to promise me you’d be careful.”

  “You’re deliberately trying to make me crazy, aren’t you, Sara? It’s all a plot to make me lose my mind, isn’t it?”

  She didn’t answer that ridiculous question. “Promise me, Nathan. I won’t let go of your shirt until you do. I love you, and I’ll worry unless you give me your word.”

  “Fine,” he countered. “I’ll be careful. Happy now?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  She turned and hurried back into her cabin to prepare herself for the coming battle. She rushed over to the desk drawers, intending to find as many weapons as possible. If the pirates were actually successful in breaching the ship, Sara was determined to help her husband any way that she could.

  She found two loaded pistols in the bottom drawer and one wickedly sharp dagger in the center slot. Sara tucked the knife into the sleeve of her gown and put the pistols in a blue reticule. She wrapped the strings of the purse around her wrist just as Matthew came charging into the cabin. A loud booming sound echoed in the distance. “Was that one of our cannons or one of theirs?” Sara asked, her voice shivering with her worry.

  Matthew shook his head. “It was one of theirs,” he answered. “They missed their mark. They aren’t close enough to do any damage yet. That’s the reason we aren’t firing our own cannons, Sara. Come with me now. I’ve got Nora safely tucked away below the water level. You can wait it out there with her.”

  Sara didn’t argue, knowing full well that Nathan was behind the order, but she felt very cowardly. It didn’t seem honorable to her to hide.

  It was pitch black in the hull. Matthew went down the rickety steps first. He lifted her over the first rung, explaining that the wood was filled with rot and would be replaced just as soon as he had time for the chore.

  When they reached the bottom and turned a sharp corner the soft glow of a single candle led the way to where Nora patiently waited.

  Sara’s aunt was settled on top of a wooden box. Her bright red shawl was draped around her shoulders. The older woman didn’t look at all afraid. “We’re about to have an adventure,” she called out to her niece. “Matthew, dear, do be careful.”

  Matthew nodded. “It would be an adventure all right, if we didn’t have such precious cargo on board,” he announced.

  “What precious cargo?” Sara asked.

  “I believe he’s referring to you and me, dear,” Nora explained.

  “Aye,” Matthew agreed. He started back up the squeaky steps. “Now we�
�ve got to defend instead of offend,” he added. “It’s going to be a first for the crew.”

  Sara didn’t know what he was talking about. It was apparent that Nora did understand, though. Her smile said as much. “What do you suppose Matthew meant by that remark, Aunt?” she asked.

  Nora briefly considered telling Sara, then just as quickly discarded the notion. She decided that her niece was too innocent to understand. Sara still saw everything as good or evil. In her idealistic mind there weren’t any shades of gray. In time she would come to understand that life wasn’t that simple. Then she would be able to accept the fact that Nathan had led a rather colorful life. Nora hoped she would be there when Sara was told she was married to Pagan. She smiled just thinking about her niece’s reaction to that news.

  “I believe the crew would fight more vigorously if they didn’t have to keep us safe,” Nora said.

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” Sara argued.

  Nora agreed but changed the topic instead of saying so. “Is this where the munitions are kept?”

  “I believe it is,” Sara answered. “Do you suppose those kegs are filled with powder?”

  “They must be,” Nora said. “We must watch the candle flame. If a fire started down here—well, I needn’t tell you what could happen. Don’t let me forget to blow out the flame when Matthew comes to fetch us.”

  The ship suddenly felt as though it had just let out a giant belch. It shook from aft to stern. “Do you think they hit us with that shot?” Sara asked.

  “It certainly felt as though they did,” Nora answered.

  “Nathan had better finish this quickly. My nerves cannot take such an upset. Nora, you and Matthew have become very close, haven’t you?”

  “What a time you’ve chosen to ask me that,” Nora said with a little chuckle.

  “I just wanted to take our minds off the worry at hand,” Sara replied.

  “Yes, that might be a good idea. And you’re right, Matthew and I have become quite close. He’s such a gentle, understanding man. I’d quite forgotten how comforting it is to be able to confide my thoughts and worries in someone who cares about me.”

  “I care about you, Aunt.”

  “Yes, dear, I know you do, but it isn’t at all the same. You’ll understand what I’m saying when you and Nathan become a little closer.”

  “I fear that day will never come,” Sara returned. “Does Matthew confide in you as well?” she asked.

  “Oh, yes, often.”

  “Has he talked about Nathan much?”

  “Several times,” Nora admitted. “Some things were given in confidence, of course, and so I cannot speak about—”

  “Of course you can,” Sara interrupted. “I’m your niece, after all, and anything you would tell me wouldn’t go any further. You do trust me, don’t you, Nora?”

  Sara kept up her prodding for another ten minutes or so before Nora finally relented. “Matthew told me all about Nathan’s father. Did you ever meet the Earl of Wakersfield?”

  Sara shook her head. “It’s said that he died when Nathan was just a boy, Nora. I couldn’t have been more than a babe. I did hear that he was knighted, though.”

  “Yes, he was knighted. It was all a sham, though. Matthew told me that the earl actually betrayed his country while he was in service. Yes, that’s true, Sara,” she added when her niece let out a gasp. “It’s a horrifying story, child. Nathan’s father was in cahoots with two other infidels, and the three thought they could overturn the government. They called themselves the Tribunal, and as Matthew related the sequence of events to me, they almost pulled off their treacherous scheme. Nathan’s father had second thoughts, though. His conscience got him killed before the truth was let out.”

  Sara was horrified by what she’d just learned. “Poor Nathan,” she whispered. “The shame must have been unbearable.”

  “No, not at all,” Nora returned. “You see, no one knows the full truth. It’s still believed that the earl was killed in a carriage accident. There hasn’t been any scandal. I warn you that if your family got wind of this, they’d use the information to get the prince to overturn your marriage contract.”

  “Oh, it’s too late for that,” Sara returned.

  “You’re being naive if you believe that it’s too late, Sara. The circumstances were so unusual, what with the king not feeling at all well.”

  “He was daft,” Sara whispered.

  “And you were only four years old,” her aunt whispered back.

  “Still, we are living as man and wife now. I don’t believe the prince regent would dare overturn—”

  “He can dare whatever he wants to dare,” Nora argued.

  “Your worry doesn’t signify,” Sara interjected. “I’m not going to tell anyone about Nathan’s father, so my parents aren’t ever going to find out. I won’t even let Nathan know that I know, all right? He’ll have to confide in me first.”

  Nora was appeased. “Do you know I also found out how Nathan’s back was injured?”

  “I believe someone took a whip to him,” Sara returned.

  “No, it wasn’t a whip,” Nora countered. “His back was scarred by fire, not a whip. You only have to look to realize that, child.”

  Sara felt sick to her stomach. “Oh, God, was it deliberate? Did someone burn him on purpose?”

  “I believe so, but I can’t be certain. I do know a woman was involved. Her name was Ariah. Nathan met her when he was visiting a foreign port in the east.”

  “How did Nathan meet this woman?”

  “I wasn’t given the details,” Nora admitted. “I do know that this Ariah has rather loose morals. She dallied with Nathan.”

  Sara let out a little gasp. “Do you mean to say that Nathan was intimate with this harlot?”

  Nora reached out and patted Sara’s hand. “Nathan was just sowing his oats, dear, before he settled down. There’s no need to get yourself all worked up.”

  “Do you think he loved her?”

  “No, of course he didn’t love her. He was already pledged to you, Sara. Nathan strikes me as being terribly sensible. He wouldn’t have allowed himself to fall in love with the woman. And I’ll wager you my inheritance that when Ariah was finished with him he most likely hated her. Matthew told me that the woman used Nathan to manipulate her other lover. Yes, it’s true,” she added in a rush when Sara looked disbelieving. “According to Matthew, Ariah was a master at her game. For that reason I do believe Nathan was tortured by her command. Thank the Lord, he was able to escape. It was during a small revolution, you see, and those sympathetic to the anarchists aided him when they released the other prisoners. Then Jimbo and Matthew took over Nathan’s care.”

  “Nathan has certainly had a time of it, hasn’t he?” Sara whispered. Her voice shook with emotion. “He must have been very young when that horrid woman betrayed him. I believe he loved her, too, Nora.”

  “I believe he didn’t,” Nora countered.

  Sara let out a weary sigh. “It would be nice if it was just a dalliance,” she said. “And if they did share the same bed, well, he wasn’t really being unfaithful to me, because we hadn’t started our married life together. You know, it’s all beginning to make sense to me now.”

  “What is beginning to make sense?”

  “I hadn’t confided this to you before, but I have noticed that Nathan seems to be very concerned with protecting his feelings. Now I think I understand why. He doesn’t trust women. I cannot fault him. If your fingers are burned once, you won’t put your hand near the fire again, will you?”

  “It was a long time ago,” Nora replied. “Nathan is a grown man now, Sara, and surely he has sorted all this out in his mind.”

  Sara shook her head. “How else can you explain his attitude? Nathan doesn’t like it at all when I tell him I love him. He stiffens up on me and goes all cold. And he’s never once told me he cares for me. He just might still hate all women—except me, of course.”

  Nora smiled. “Excep
t you?”

  “I believe he does love me, Nora. He’s just having difficulty knowing that he does.”

  “Give him time, dear. Men take so much longer to figure things out. It’s because they’re such stubborn beasts, you see.”

  Sara was in wholehearted agreement with that remark. “If I ever chance to meet this Ariah woman, I’ll—”

  “You’ve a good chance of meeting up with her,” Nora interjected. “She has been living in London for the past year or so. Matthew says she’s looking for yet another sponsor.”

  “Does Nathan know she’s in England?”

  “I would imagine so,” Nora countered.

  The noise became too loud for the two of them to continue the discussion. While Nora fretted about the battle Sara worried over the information her aunt had just shared with her.

  Another twenty or thirty minutes passed. Then a chilling silence filled the ship. “If I could just see what’s happening, I wouldn’t be so worried,” Nora whispered.

  Sara thought that was a fine idea. “I’ll just sneak up to the cabin level and see if everything is ail right.”

  Nora was vehemently against that suggestion. The hatch opened in the middle of their argument and the two women fell silent. They both began to pray that it was Matthew coming down to collect them. Yet when no one called down to them they drew the terrifying conclusion that the enemy had indeed taken over the ship. Sara motioned to Nora to squeeze herself into the corner behind a large crate, then turned and blew out the candle. She worked her way over to the side of the steps to wait for her chance to fell the villains.

  God, she was scared. That didn’t stop her, though. Her first consideration was Nathan. If the enemy really was on board, was her husband dead or alive? She pictured him lying in a pool of blood, then forced herself to block the horrid thought. She wouldn’t be any help to her husband if she let her imagination get the better of her.

  A bit of light shone down when the hatch was fully opened. It was no thicker than a straight pin, but still enough for Sara to see two men wearing brightly colored scarves on their heads coming down the stairs.

  The first pirate missed the weak rung in the steps. The second one didn’t. He let out a low blasphemy when he fell through the narrow opening. The man ended up wedged between the slats. His feet dangled below him, and his arms were pinned to his sides.