His chest tightened. “For what?” She’d done nothing wrong. As far as he could tell, she was completely innocent. She didn’t deserve to be used by him or her brother. When she didn’t answer, he whispered back, “No, I’m the one who’s sorry.”
Her eyes flickered open, then grew wide as she gazed at his face just a few inches away.
Such a lovely shade of turquoise. Her eyes reminded him of the sea close to a white, sandy shore. Clear and pure. No guile or cruelty hidden in their depths. Could it be she was nothing like the other members of her family? She’d called them monsters. Claimed to want nothing to do with her brother.
His grip on her tightened. By the Light, he wanted her to be exactly as she appeared. A beautiful, clever, sweet, and caring woman. His woman.
His gaze wandered down her body. Her cloak had fallen open, revealing a thin white nightgown that barely concealed sweet feminine lines and curves. His groin reacted. How easy it would be to unravel that blue ribbon at her neckline and expose her breasts. How tempting it would be to slip his hand beneath the hem.
“Put me down.”
He glanced back at her face and noted the alarm in her eyes. Holy shit, he must have been eyeing her like a hungry wolf. “Don’t worry. I would never harm you.”
She regarded him sadly. “Do you expect me to believe the word of a pirate who has kidnapped me?”
At first, he’d wanted her to believe the worst of him, but damn, that was now becoming increasingly hard to bear. There was a part of him that wanted to show her he could be a good and honorable man who was worthy of her. That part was growing, along with the bulge in his breeches.
And he wanted to know what kind of woman his betrothed had become. That had been his fifth reason for not sending her away. Not that he could ever tell her. Hell, he didn’t like to admit it to himself. Her father had killed his father. Hunted down his entire family. He should hate her, but apparently he was a fool who wanted to believe that somehow an evil family had spawned an innocent angel.
He set her on her feet. “Will you be all right now?”
“Yes.” She gathered her cloak around her. “I should go now. Good night.” She hurried toward the staircase that led belowdecks.
He still didn’t know why she kept collapsing. Frustration ground at his nerves. The woman was affecting him mentally, emotionally, and physically. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She glanced back, and he was surprised by the sympathetic look in her eyes.
“Happy birthday, Rupert.” She descended the stairs, leaving him to stare at the open doorway.
How many years had it been since anyone had offered him birthday wishes? Stefan had raised him well, but without any sentimentality. He’d always known Rupert would need to be tough to survive.
Don’t let a few kind words make you soft. She was still the enemy. And she was figuring out too much about him. Damn, if she ever discovered his true identity, he’d have to hold her prisoner indefinitely. He couldn’t risk her passing that information on to her brother. If Gunther knew who he was, all his plans would crumble into dust.
Why can’t I control my own destiny? Her words jabbed at him. How could he even contemplate imprisoning her?
He knew too well the despair of being confined. For seven years he’d been forced to hide in caves and basements. That was why he now slept under the open sky.
By the Light, he hated the memory of living in constant fear of being caught and murdered. He hated the smothering cloud of grief and anxiety that had caused him to wake in the middle of the night unable to breathe. And most of all, he hated the utter sense of helplessness.
Yes, he knew the value of control. It wiped away the bad memories and gave him hope. He craved control. Without it, he would never achieve his goal of revenge.
But dammit, he hadn’t realized Brigitta would feel just as strongly about controlling her own future. And he was stealing that control from her.
Why should he care? She was the enemy. Don’t pretend to care. Her words sliced like a knife.
Dammit to hell. He wasn’t pretending. The way she kept collapsing had him worried. He picked up his hat and climbed the stairs to the quarterdeck. Tomorrow he would find out why she reacted like that whenever they came in contact. Did it mean he could never touch her? Or kiss her?
Holy shit, where had that thought come from? With a groan, he stretched out on his pallet.
He gazed up at the moons and stars, but they didn’t give him the comfort they usually did. And it would be damned hard to sleep with this bulge in his breeches.
Only a fool would lust after the enemy. Then you’re a bloody fool. He could deny wanting her till the stars fell from the sky, but his hard cock indicated otherwise.
He’d been too long without a woman, that was all. She wasn’t any different from any other woman. Liar.
He ripped the mask off his face. Go ahead, you idiot. Lust after her till your balls turn blue. But don’t ever trust her.
* * *
Brigitta woke the next day when Jeffrey brought in their midday meal. She’d slept late since she hadn’t been able to use the narrow bed till Sister Fallyn had finally woken at dawn. Brigitta hadn’t minded, though, for she’d been far too agitated to relax.
Her mind had replayed her conversation with Rupert over and over. And she’d carefully examined her visions. Somehow, Rupert had survived an ambush and a battle. Had someone wanted him dead? Or perhaps they’d wanted his family members dead, and that was why she felt such overwhelming grief connected to his memories. Could the visions explain why he was hiding his identity and living as a pirate?
She still wasn’t sure what to think of him. He made her nervous and excited, confused and angry, and even sympathetic when she recalled the horror and grief he’d endured. And she still wanted to know more about him. Nay, she was driven to know more. The man aroused her curiosity more than anyone she’d ever met.
“Good morning, lad.” Sister Fallyn greeted Jeffrey and helped him set the tray on the table.
Brigitta sat up, drawing the blanket up to her chin.
Jeffrey grinned at her. “You slept late. We’re on our way to Danport.”
“To get supplies?” Sister Fallyn picked up the small loaf off the tray and frowned at it. “I hope ye’ll get some fresh bread.”
“Aye.” Jeffrey nodded. “The captain will make sure of it.”
Brigitta slipped on her cloak and approached the table. “Didn’t ye say Danport was yer hometown? Are ye going to visit yer relatives?”
Jeffrey made a face. “Only my uncle lives there, and I sure don’t want to see him.”
Brigitta poured herself a cup of water. “Why not?”
“’Cause he’s a mean old drunk,” Jeffrey muttered.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Brigitta motioned to one of the chairs. “Would you like to join us?”
He glanced back at the door, then took a seat. “I guess I could stay here a little while.”
“Of course.” Brigitta sat next to him and passed him a slice of cheese.
Sister Fallyn handed him a piece of buttered bread. “Ye poor lad. Have ye lost yer parents?”
Jeffrey nodded as he ate. “About five years ago.”
“Ye must have been so young,” Brigitta murmured.
He paused with his mouth full and gave them a sheepish look. “I don’t really remember them very well. Is that bad?”
“Nay.” Sister Fallyn poured him a cup of water. “’Tis to be expected, lad.”
“So how did ye end up on a pirate ship?” Brigitta asked.
Jeffrey drank some water. “Rupert and the captain saved me.”
Brigitta’s curiosity flared. “How?”
“Well, after my parents died, my uncle took me in, but he made me clean chimneys all day, then he spent the money I earned on whiskey. And if I complained, he hit me.”
Brigitta winced. “That’s awful.”
“Ye poor child.” Sister Fallyn regarded him sadly. “Did ye ru
n away?”
“No.” Jeffrey shook his head. “I didn’t have anywhere to go. But one day, after I’d earned a few coins, I went to the market to buy myself some food. And that’s when I saw Rupert and Captain Landers. They were buying supplies. But then my uncle saw me eating an apple, and he started beating on me. And guess what? The captain yelled at him to stop, and when he didn’t, Rupert pushed him away!”
“With the wind?” Brigitta asked.
“No, with his hands. Then my uncle said he was my guardian and could treat me however he wanted. And Rupert offered him five gold coins for me!”
Brigitta sat back. “He bought you?”
Sister Fallyn shuddered. “I should have known. These pirates are nothing more than slavers.”
“No!” Jeffrey looked appalled. “After my uncle took the gold and ran off, Rupert told me I was free to go. And the captain asked if I had family elsewhere who could take me. But I don’t have anyone else, so they said I could live here. I like it here.” His nose wrinkled. “Except when they make me read boring books and write essays.”
“They’re educating you?” Sister Fallyn asked with an incredulous look and Jeffrey nodded.
“Mostly the captain. He has a ton of books. He taught Rupert when he was growing up.” Jeffrey’s small chest swelled with pride. “And now he’s teaching me.”
“Are ye saying Captain Landers raised Rupert?” Brigitta asked.
Jeffrey scratched his head. “Well, I think he did.” He shrugged. “Rupert says if I study real hard, I could be a captain someday.”
“Is that what ye want?” Sister Fallyn asked.
“Of course! I want to be like Captain Landers.” Jeffrey lowered his voice. “I can’t be like Rupert. He has magical powers.”
Brigitta nodded. “I noticed.”
Jeffrey beamed. “No one can beat Rupert!”
Brigitta suspected that was true, but Sister Fallyn scoffed. “All pirates come to a bad end. ’Tis only fitting, given their evil ways.”
Jeffrey frowned at her. “They’re not evil.”
Sister Fallyn snorted. “They’re teaching you to be a pirate.”
“They’re not bad,” Jeffrey grumbled. “They only steal from Gunther because he’s a stinking—” He gave Brigitta an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“’Tis all right.” Brigitta thought back to what Rupert had said. The only person I rob is your brother, Gunther. Why did Rupert hate the Tourinian king? Was it somehow connected to the visions she’d seen?
A whistle sounded overhead, and Jeffrey jumped up from his seat.
“I should go.” He dashed for the door.
“What’s wrong?” Sister Fallyn stood. “Are we going into battle again?”
Jeffrey grinned. “No, they’re dropping the anchor. We’ve arrived in Danport.”
As quickly as she could, Brigitta washed up and dressed in the privy one deck below. Sister Fallyn insisted on keeping guard outside the door, since she claimed the mere sight of Brigitta in that thin nightgown would make a man want to ravish her.
Brigitta didn’t want to admit that Rupert had already seen her in the nightgown. And if the look on his face had been any indication, he’d certainly had some impure thoughts. Her cheeks still burned whenever she recalled that hungry look in his eyes.
But he hadn’t harmed her. He’d rescued Jeffrey. And Sister Ellen. He’d protected the village of Danport.
Could it be true? Her instincts said yes.
Rupert was a man of honor.
Perhaps she could convince him to help her. And perhaps, the Telling Stones had not been playing with her after all. For it seemed very possible that he was her tall and handsome stranger.
After she was dressed, Brigitta accompanied Sister Fallyn up on deck to see what was happening. Dinghies were being launched from all ten of Rupert’s ships, presumably to fetch food and supplies from the small town. She spotted Rupert’s hat with the false plaits and Captain Landers’s fancy hat. They were on a dinghy drawing close to the pier of Danport.
Along the shore, the villagers had gathered, and they waved and cheered as Rupert approached.
“They must know they were rescued from the bad pirates,” Sister Fallyn observed.
Brigitta nodded. It seemed that Rupert was indeed a hero. But he didn’t trust them enough to remove his hat. With a spurt of satisfaction, she wondered if she was the only one outside of his crew who knew his secret.
She glanced at him. There was only one other rower aboard his dinghy, for Rupert was also rowing. No wonder he’s acquired such strong muscles. And he didn’t consider himself above manual labor.
Her tall and handsome stranger. She smiled to herself. Apparently, her overly dramatic stories could actually happen, for she’d found a young and dashing hero.
Captain Landers threw a rope up to a worker on the pier. As the worker tied off the dinghy close to a ladder, a swarm of young women rushed onto the pier. They squealed so loud, Brigitta could hear them from the ship.
“Rupert!” They crowded around the ladder, pushing and shoving so much, Brigitta half expected one of them to fall into the sea.
Her mouth fell open when a few of them lifted their skirts halfway up their calves. Others leaned over to welcome him, and their breasts nearly fell out of their low necklines.
Sister Fallyn huffed. “Such wanton behavior!”
Brigitta winced. Apparently being a hero came with a few perks. More than a few. There had to be at least twenty women competing for his attention.
Sister Fallyn sighed. “Well, I suppose we should consider this a blessing. If the captain and Rupert sate their beastly desires in the village, then they will be less likely to ravish us.”
Brigitta groaned inwardly, eyeing the women. It was only last night when Rupert had gazed upon her with a hungry look. No wonder he’d been able to restrain himself. He’d known there would be a handful of willing women in this village. Good goddesses, he might have women in every port!
Anger sizzled through her, then she stiffened with a sudden realization. Goddesses help her. She was jealous.
And that could only mean she was attracted to him. A sorcerer pirate with a hoard of treasured secrets. And she’d only met him the day before.
With a heavy heart, she watched him climb the ladder, then stroll down the pier, surrounded by fawning women. She’d been a fool to think she could be special to him.
Her destiny could not be linked to him after all.
Chapter Ten
“The mayor wishes to thank you,” a pretty redhead announced as she blocked Rupert’s progress down the pier.
The minute he slowed down, two women latched on to his arms and even more surrounded him. He watched in dismay as Stefan and Tucker kept going, leaving him to deal with the women alone.
The redhead grazed her fingertips down his chest. “I’d like to thank you, too.”
It was interesting, Rupert thought, that three women had their hands on him, but none of them appeared ready to faint. So why did Brigitta react so badly whenever she touched him? And why was he not reacting? All these women were vying for his attention, but he felt nothing but slight annoyance that they were in the way.
And how many times had these women pestered him over the years? But none of them had ever figured out that his plaited hair was fake. They fawned over him, because they considered him a hero with magical powers, but they never really saw him. Not like Brigitta had.
The blonde to his right leaned close enough to press the side of her breasts against his arm. “I want to thank you, too. You wouldn’t believe how grateful I am.”
“Not half as grateful as I,” the brunette on his left boasted.
“No one is more grateful than me,” the redhead announced. “I think it’s amazing how you blew those nasty pirates ashore.”
The blonde giggled. “You can blow my skirt up anytime you like.”
He winced inwardly. Somehow, these women always made him feel like the prize at a county
fair.
“If you have a few minutes, I think you would really enjoy how grateful I can be,” the brunette said.
“Minutes?” The redhead scoffed. “I could be grateful for hours!”
The blonde released his arm to glare at the other women. “I could be grateful all night long!”
The argument escalated, and soon all the women were yelling at one another. Rupert slipped through the crowd and hurried to catch up with his companions.
“Rupert!” the women wailed.
Damn. He’d almost completed his escape. He glanced back and gave them an apologetic smile. “Perhaps another day.”
The redhead huffed. “That’s what you said last time.”
He ran to join Stefan and Tucker at the entrance of the pier. “Dammit, don’t leave me alone like that.”
Stefan snorted. “Are the ladies too scary for you?”
He arched a brow. “Is a bloody nose too scary for you?”
When Tucker snickered, Stefan shot the junior officer a wry look. “Make yourself useful.” He shoved a small bag of gold and a list into Tucker’s arms. “Do the shopping.”
“Aye, Captain.” Tucker saluted, then strode toward the market square.
The mayor approached them with a beaming smile. “We owe you thanks once again.”
Stefan shook his hand. “We were glad to help.”
“I beached the pirates a few miles south of here,” Rupert explained, “but I was worried that the survivors might come here and cause trouble.”
“Some of them did,” the mayor admitted. “But a troop of Eberoni soldiers captured them.”
Rupert stiffened. For a fleeting moment, his old fear gripped him.
“Don’t worry,” the mayor quickly added. “The soldiers are gone. They left at dawn to take the prisoners to Ebton. You’re perfectly safe now.”
Rupert nodded. “Thank you.” Most people assumed he was worried about being captured because he was a pirate. They didn’t realize that his true identity was even more dangerous.
He’d been a few months short of the age of seven when he’d been forced to live with the possibility of being caught and killed. Fortunately, now that he had learned how to harness the wind, he was much better equipped to protect himself and his companions. Even so, the only time he truly felt safe was when he was at sea or on his secret island. And the only people he trusted completely were Stefan and his cousin Ansel. They were the only ones who knew his true identity.
So I Married a Sorcerer Page 12