To Save a Fallen Angel (The Fallen Angels series Book 2)

by Julianna Hughes

  A flicker of pain appeared in Joc's eyes a moment before he closed them, and his chin dropped a fraction toward his chest.

  "Fine, little girl," Joc said in French, "Then let it be on your head."

  With those words, the man turned and closed the door to his cabin, leaving Luc and Peggy alone in the wardroom.

  Chapter 21

  Peggy wasn’t sure what she was feeling as she watched Joc quietly close the door to his cabin. Relief that he wasn’t going to interfere with her personal affairs, definitely. A sense of accomplishment at his granting this decision to her; absolutely. The last one seemed even more momentous than his believing she was ready to be the captain of the Coral Sea. Maybe because he had never supported her decision to marry Gustav. And his disapproval of her fiancé had hurt her deeply.

  “I owe you an apology, Captain Peri,” Luc said, pulling her attention away from her papa’s closed door, and what it meant.

  She turned back to him. “Oh?”

  He nodded. “Aye, I do. I was out of line. I shouldn’t have questioned the loyalty of yer crew. Nor yer honor.”

  A fission of guilt wafted through her. She shouldn’t have reacted the way she had either. Not just because the crew’s loyalty was divided but because that wasn’t the reason she had reacted the way she did.

  “No, you shouldn’t have,” she agreed. “But I think I overreacted a little too.”

  He smiled back and the sexual awareness that had swamped her earlier returned. “You’ve been under a lot of pressure lately, Captain.”

  “Peggy,” she reminded him.

  His smile grew and so did the ache at the top of her legs.

  “Peggy,” he repeated. “And what I said just added to yer problems. And that I should not have done.”

  For the first time since the storm, Peggy felt lighter, less stressed. “Oh, I don’t know, Lord Lucien- “

  “Luc,” he cut in.

  She nodded. “Luc. It might have been the best thing you could have done for me.”

  His face lit up, causing the scar to pull his lip up in a sinister way. “Ohhhhh,” he said in a way that sent quivers arrowing down to her mons.

  Peggy raised her chin and contemplated him. “I needed something to help me work off the stress and tension I’ve been feeling lately. And there is nothing better than a good sword fight to get rid of unwanted stress.”

  The twinkle that lit his eyes this time was decidedly sensual and naughty. “Ohhh, I beg to differ with you, my dear. I can think of one thing that is soooo much better at dealin’ with stress than what we were doin’ earlier.”

  “Is that right, Captain Stoughton?” she purred.

  “Most definitely, Captain Peri.”

  Peggy took a step toward him. “And just what would that be?”

  He laughed as his eyes flickered over her face. The corner of his mouth cocked up as he turned and dropped the cutlass on the wardroom table. She followed suit. And then just regarded him silently.

  A sound like a growl rumbled from deep inside of him. He reached over and took her hand in his then led her across the room and back into her cabin. Kicking the door closed, he spun her around and pinned her to the wall. His hand slid up her arm the same way it had earlier with his coulé move. And it elicited the same sensation the cutlass had, a tingling that raced up her arm and then down to the top of her legs.

  Only this time he did not stop and neither did she. Their lips met, both their mouths performing an envelopment move similar to the one their swords had done earlier. Only this time neither one was trying to disarm the other. And then she parried his tongue as it invaded her mouth with the same flick she had given his cutlass.

  Her heart thundered, and her knees turned to melted butter. Peggy felt him slide his leg in between hers, and she rubbed her core against the hardness of his thigh. She moaned and he growled again.

  Breathing hard she pulled back and stared at him. This was not the time for this. And every fiber in her body screamed in protest.

  “We can’t . . . we can’t do this now,” she said.

  His own breathing was labored, and his chest was heaving. “Why?” he asked.

  She wet her lips and watched his eyes track the movement. “Oh my God,” she breathed, then shook her head. “Because I’m needed on deck,” she said and slipped out from under his arms.

  He braced his arms against the wall and took several deep breaths.

  “This isn’t over,” he said.

  “God, I hope not,” she replied. His head turned to her, and he pinned her with his gaze. “But right now I have duties I need to attend to. And with Joc still recovering. . .”

  She left the rest unsaid. But he nodded and finished it for her. “You need to see to the ship.”

  She nodded and then opened the door. After stepping out, she turned and gazed at him. “Relax, Luc. You’ve done enough for now.”

  With that she closed her door and turned to three sailors in the wardroom that were tending to their injured crew mates. “Until further orders, Captain Stoughton is not to leave my cabin. Is that understood?”

  “Aye, aye,” the men said in unison.

  Peggy took a breath and then turned and headed up to the quarterdeck.

  The slow, ponderous shuffling of boots announced the arrival of her papa. Peggy had known that he would come to her. He always had when she was in trouble, hurt, or scared. She suspected he had heard her leave her cabin and waited until he was sure she was on the quarterdeck before he followed her up.

  “You should be in bed, Papa,” she said by way of greeting.

  “No, I should be at zee helm,” he replied, then added when she glanced over at him. “But once I get a bit o’ air, I’ll be goin’ back down.”

  They stood in silence as the wind blew and the sheets whipped above them. A seagull squawked overhead, and Joc looked up and tracked it as it circled around them.

  “You’ve change course,” he said.

  Peggy nodded. “We’re headed to Portugal to make repairs.”

  He nodded but remained quiet. At least about her decision to put in for repairs.

  “I’m not goin’ to try and talk ye out of what yer doin’ with zee Englishmon,” he said.

  “Merci,” she replied.

  “But are ye sure you know what yer doin’ with ‘em?” he asked.

  She stiffened and looked away. “We need him to help free my father.”

  “And is that why yer takin’ the mon to your bed?” he asked.

  The question stung, even though she had thought about doing just that in the beginning. “No, it is not.” She took a breath and looked away. “I considered it, in the beginning,” she confessed. “But that is not why I am interested in him now.”

  Joc turned toward her. “You know Chevalier or this Guerrant will probably try to kill this mon.”

  “Oui,” she acknowledged. She did know it. When they concocted the plan, the death of an unknown Englishman hadn’t mattered to either one of them. Not when compared to the need to revenge her uncle’s murder.

  “Does his death no’ worry you, little one?” Joc asked.

  Moisture gathered in her eyes and she looked away. “I won’t let them kill him,” she said.

  “Ye may no’ be able to prevent it,” Joc said.

  Peggy shook her head and swallowed the lump in her throat. She would have to try because the idea of sacrificing Luc for her revenge was no longer something she wanted to think about.

  “Ye need to be careful,” Joc said.

  “I always am, Papa,” she replied.

  Silence met her. Then when she turned around, the look in his eyes froze her.

  “I am no talkin’ about Chevalier or even Guerrant. Although ye need to be careful with them too. Nor am I talkin’ about yer le père. I am talkin’ about yer Englishmon.”

  She did know, Peggy just hadn’t wanted to think about it until now. “You never liked Gustav,” she said instead.

  He took a breath and e
xhaled. “No, little one, I did not. I never trusted the mon.”

  Her eyes clouded over. “Eddie did,” she said.

  “Oui,” Joc said and the look in his eyes tore at Peggy’s heart. “Your uncle, he always saw things in his own way. But they were not always as they appeared.”

  Her heart constricted. “Like Gustav?”

  “Oui. Yes. Like your Gustav,” Joc confirmed.

  A tear broke free and trickled down her cheek. “I loved him, Papa. And I wanted to marry him.”

  He looked away. “Even though he tricked ye?”

  A shudder ran down her back. “He didn’t trick me. He might not have been completely honest, but he didn’t trick me.” He turned back to her with troubled eyes. “And I believe he loved me.” Peggy added to herself, in his own way.

  “And ye would have left the ship for this mon?”

  Pain stabbed at her breasts. “Yes!” she snapped. “For a chance at a home and family. Yes, I would have married him and left the ship.”

  Joc nodded. “And that is what Eddie could not see. He always believed ye would be the next Captain Peri. That it was yer dream. And that yer Gustav, that he would be yer first mate, as I have been Eddie’s all these years.”

  “Gustav didn’t want to be a sailor,” she said.

  He nodded. “I know. He wanted zee ships that would come to ye on the death of yer uncle.”

  Peggy turned and faced him defiantly. “Yes, damn you, Papa. Gustav wanted the ships, and the inheritance you and Uncle Eddie bestowed on me. But he also wanted me and a family.”

  “And he lied to get them,” Joc said.

  “He didn’t lie!” she snapped. “He just didn’t tell me about his grand plans is all.” Not until after she had accepted his proposal, and given him her innocence.

  “And now ye will give yer heart to another that ye have just met,” Joc said.

  Her body turned cold. “You think Luc is like Gustav? Is that why you hate him?”

  He took a breath and exhaled. “I do not hate yer Englishmon.” She snorted and he grimaced. “I do not hate ‘em any longer. I just do not want ye to get hurt, like ye did with Gustav.”

  “But you think Luc is like Gustav. That he is only after my money and our ships?” she repeated.

  He hesitated, then shook his head. “No. I do not think this mon is after yer money or yer ships. I have seen what he feels for ye in his eyes. And it is amour sincère. True love, I think.”

  Peggy was stunned. This particular parent was the more taciturn one. The more serious and less open with his feelings. Something in her experience that was unusual and surprising for a Frenchman.

  “And you would approve of a match with him?” she asked.

  He grimaced. “No.” He quickly held up his hand to forestall her. “But as you yourself have pointed out, it eez not my decision, Peggy. It eez yers.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You wanted to gut him, then feed his body to the fish,” she reminded him.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I have changed my mind,” he replied.

  “But why?” she asked.

  He turned to her, and the look on his face was one of tenderness and love. “Because, ma fille du coeur, it is what is in yer heart.”

  My daughter of the heart was what he always called her when she was hurt or scared, and he wanted to comfort her.

  “What? What is in my heart, Papa?” she asked, because she was no longer sure herself.

  He smiled indulgently at her. “To leave this ship and have a home and a family of yer own. And so it is what I wish for you too.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Then why did you insist that I be the next Captain Peri?”

  A sadness washed over him and he looked away. “Because it was what Eddie wanted for ye. It was his dream that ye be the next Captain Peri.” He looked back at her. “So I think I make his dream come true.” He took a deep breath, then spoke in a softer voice.

  “When he died, I died a little too, I think. And I think to myself, I can give Eddie this one last gift.” Joc took a step toward her and laid his hand over hers. “I forget, for awhile, that ye did not want this honor. And I forced it on ye.”

  A tear ran down her cheek. “I never wanted to be the captain, Papa.”

  “I know. But Eddie, he did not see this,” Joc said. His mouth kicked up on the end. “And you are a good le capitaine, I think.”

  She snorted. “No, Papa, I am not. Nor did I ever want to be. I am a great thief, who can break into any building, any office, any place. I am the best swordsman on this ship. I might even be the best sailor on the Coral Sea.” He snorted, and she glared up at him “But I have never been a leader. Eddie was the brains. He was the one who chose the targets and planned out the missions. I was just the weapon he aimed at those targets.”

  Joc smiled. “Yes. Ye are the best in many things. And I think ye make a good captain.”

  “I haven’t run us aground,” she agreed.

  He laughed. “Yes. This is true. But ye are le capitaine, unless ye want to step down.”

  Peggy thought about it then shook her head. “No. Not until we find my father and get our revenge. It would not do to change captains right now.”

  “Oui,” he agreed. “Then we will go on as before, yes? And ye will marry yer Englishmon when this eez over.”

  She laughed even as her stomach roiled. “Papa, he has not asked me to marry him. And I have not said I wanted to marry him. We are just. . .”

  What were she and Luc? Lovers? Not yet. But if she went down to the cabin tonight, they would probably become lovers. And would that be enough? Or did she want more from him? She didn’t know. And wouldn’t until she gathered the courage to go down to her cabin.

  Chapter 22

  Luc opened the door to follow Peggy, but was met by two of the sailors standing guard outside the cabin. He would have pushed past them, but Edgar stepped between the men and shook his head.

  "What's this about?" Luc asked.

  Edgar nodded toward the cabin, and Luc backed up and allowed him to enter. Once the old man closed the door, Luc repeated his question.

  "Portugal, Cap. Captain Peri has ordered the Coral Sea to the nearest port. We be headin’ for one of the smaller towns along the Portuguese coast so we can make repairs to the mainmast."

  Luc no longer needed to ask why he was once again being confined. Wellington had wrestled Portugal from the French in 1811. Since then the British Navy had enjoyed unencumbered access to all major Portuguese ports. The chances of their bumping into a British war ship was therefore very high. And neither Peggy nor her first mate would want him informing the British Navy that the Coral Sea was back under pirate control. He just wished she had told him herself before locking him in her cabin. But considering the way he had responded to his last confinement, he guessed he really didn’t blame her.

  "And just where is your captain, Mr. Morton?" Luc asked.

  Edgar grinned back at Luc. The corner of the sailor's eyes crinkled with suppressed merriment. "So it's like that again, is it?"

  Luc felt a twinge of guilt at taking out his plight on the one man who had never wavered in his friendliness toward him. It wasn't Edgar's fault that Luc was once again being restricted in a claustrophobic cabin. Nor was it his fault that Luc had an issue with enclosed spaces in the first place.

  Blowing out his pent-up breath, he acknowledged the truth of the matter. His shoulders relaxed along with his attitude. Neither Peggy nor her first mate could take the chance on his talking to the British Navy. And since it wouldn't do Luc's mission any good either, he shouldn't begrudge the forced confinement this time.

  He had endured it before. He would do so again. Unfortunately, he wouldn't have his burning resentment and anger to distract him from the walls that would invariably close in on him.

  “And will the captain be joinin’ me, Mr. Morton?”

  The man shook his head. “I won’t be knowin’ that, milord. Presently, the captain’s on th
e quarterdeck. So for now, yer to have the run of the captain’s cabin all to ye self.” He chortled as he opened the door.

  Edgar closed the door in Luc’s face. But not before Luc once again saw the two seamen stationed outside. He started to get upset at the audacity of being made a prisoner once again, then realized Peggy probably had a good reason. However, the precaution wasn’t necessary since he had no intention of causing a problem.

  Taking a calming breath, he looked around his cell. If he had to be locked up while the others made repairs to the ship, then the captain’s cabin was definitely better than the brig he had spent the first day in. And it was a much better prison than the six-foot by four-foot room that was his cabin.

  Glancing around he decided he might as well explore a bit while he waited for Peggy to come down and talk to him. He knew she eventually would.

  By rote, he began a slow circle around the cabin, stopping at a table in the middle of the room. As most things on board a ship, it probably served a number of purposes. This one was more than likely used to plot the ship’s course, hold meetings with the ship’s officers, and as the dining table.

  Luc glanced at the large bunk on one side of the cabin and decided to investigate the desk on the other side of the room. It was an elegantly made dark mahogany desk. A desk that would not be out of place in the home of a peer. In fact, he recalled one of similar build in his brother’s office. There were no papers on top and nothing unsecured. Not surprising on a ship.

  After finishing his exploration of the desk, he turned toward the three tall windows at the back of the cabin. Luc suddenly remembered Edgar telling him about the hidden cannons. His eyes fell on a long line of white cabinets just under the windows.

  He walked over to roll of cabinets and then started running his fingers over each of the doors. They were all locked. Or not real, as he suspected. Finally, in the center of the cabinets he found a seam and a partially hidden latch. Within seconds he unlocked it and pulled the panels apart to reveal a space behind the cabinets and two large cannons on either side.