Emitting a growl, Thomas stood and began to pace. He had his reasons for leaving her. Good reasons. He needed the Ruby Cross to buy his ship, to provide for their future. If that wasn’t a noble reason… Ah, hell. Perhaps not in her mind. She’d lived without luxuries for the past several years. What he owned already was most likely more than enough to her.
But he’d been striving his whole life to achieve success, and he nearly had it within his grasp. His own ship! His brothers had lives they could be proud of. Why shouldn’t he have the same?
Catherine had insisted the competition between him and his brothers was all in his own mind. Was she right in her thinking? His brothers had come to his aid when he’d needed them. Truth be told, they’d put their lives at risk in helping him. They’d never done so before. Although he’d never asked anything of them prior to last eve, either. His brothers had always seemed closer to each other than they’d ever been to him. Now that he thought on it, he might have pushed them away. He’d been so desperate for his father’s respect, so in need to prove himself as a worthy son. And for what? Had he ever truly been happy?
For years, he’d been consumed by the desire to make something of himself. From the moment he’d started sailing, he worked hard to climb the ranks in Lamont Shipping. Eventually, he had become his friend James Lamont’s first mate, then a captain in his own right. Never once had he stopped and questioned whether his path was one leading to happiness.
Until now. Beautiful, opinionated, and strong-willed, Catherine aggravated him to no end, challenged him at every turn, and made him feel alive. Happy. Fulfilled. Without her, the Ruby Cross meant nothing, just another step forward on a lonely journey that led nowhere. No matter how successful he became, he’d never be satisfied, never be as content as he was with her.
Dear God, what have I done? Thomas retrieved his coat and satchel, and left the room in a rush. He had to find her. He had to make amends. Downstairs, he found his men in the dining room laughing and eating their fill. “Hugh,” he called out.
Hugh’s attention snapped toward him.
He approached the table. “I’m going back to London.”
“Now?” Hugh asked. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing… Everything.” He rubbed his thumb and finger over his eyes to clear his head. “Nothing concerning you or the cross. It’s just something I have to do. If you men go on without me, you’ll get an extra share of the profits when we sell the Ruby Cross.”
Eyes widened and smiles erupted. Ayes resounded from his men. Obviously, they’d miss him dearly.
Hugh’s questioning look only strengthened. “This isn’t like you, but very well, if you’re sure. We’ll see you in London as soon as we can.”
“Good.” Thomas left as quickly as he’d arrived, eager to get on the road. He’d need a fresh horse, then he’d be off, to Catherine.
…
Catherine sat behind Thomas’s desk, her son asleep in the next room. They’d eaten well from Thomas’s larder. Better than it going to waste. Lord knew how long he’d be gone on his quest for the cross. Even so, she would repay him when she could.
She stroked her thumb over the silver pocket watch in her hand. Thomas had left it behind, insisting he would return for her. A promise she’d heard before, and would never believe. He was an ambitious man. He would always want more, want better. And he could certainly do better than her.
Still the pain in her chest wouldn’t abate. How had she come to love such an arrogant, domineering, excessively protective man? A man who could be tender and playful. Her heart heavy, she set the watch aside. Best not to think of Thomas.
She should be in bed. The sun would soon rise, and with it, another trying day. She had to find work somewhere, anywhere. Her old jobs? Perhaps. And if not, would a gin shop hire her? Maybe Anne could watch Jonas while she worked serving gin. She cringed at the thought. Jonas didn’t belong in St. Giles, a place filled with drunks and whores. She kneaded the heel of her hand into her forehead. What if she sold this gown and paid Thomas back over time? But it wasn’t hers to sell. It wasn’t even his.
The scrape of boots on the floor caught her attention, and her gaze darted toward the open doorway. Her pulse leaped. Thomas stood there, his hair and clothes dripping, smudges of exhaustion beneath his eyes.
She jumped up from the chair. “Thomas. You’ve…you’ve come back.”
“Observant, as always,” he said with a smile. “I’m surprised to find you here.”
Oh, Lord. “Yes, we’ll be leaving come morning. I…” Her cheeks burned. “I had difficulty finding a place to stay for the night.” Not that she’d looked very hard. Therefore, she’d intruded in his home after she’d firmly told him she wouldn’t stay. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept this.” She retrieved the key from the desk and stepped forward, holding it out for him.
He made no move to take it from her. “Keep it. I’m glad you’re here.”
Tears sprang to her eyes, although she had no idea why. Perhaps his kindness was too much. Or perhaps seeing him here, now, when she’d believed she might never lay eyes on him again… The thought gripped her heart and squeezed.
“Besides, you’ve saved me a lot of time and effort,” he added.
“What? How?”
“The entire ride back to London, I wondered how I’d find you again.” He glanced toward the window. “At first light, I’d planned to travel all over the city searching for you.”
Her breath left her. “You did?”
“Indeed.” He took a step closer, and she sidled away, doubt gnawing at her gut.
“You caught Brewer already?” Much quicker than she would have thought. Where would Thomas’s ambitions lead him next?
He frowned, his gaze following her every move. “No, my men are still hunting him.”
“And the Ruby Cross?” Surely he had it with him.
“Still with Brewer. Catherine…”
“Why did you return?” Had a better opportunity reached him? It would have to be mighty impressive to lure him away from the cross.
He approached and placed his hand on her cheek. “I told you. I came back to look for you.”
“For me?” She resisted the urge to nuzzle his palm. This had to be a trick, but she had nothing of value he could want.
His intense stare locked onto hers. “The moment I left here, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. About how you wouldn’t be here when I returned, and what a fool I was for letting you go.”
“Stop.” She tore away from him. These were only fanciful words. He might mean them now, but how long before he couldn’t resist the itch to pursue his next endeavor, his next adventure? “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Catherine, I love you.”
The declaration stopped her short. “It won’t last.”
“Nonsense.” Thomas grasped her arms and turned her to face him. “I know your late husband abandoned you. He let his ambitions blind him to what was truly important.”
“Are you saying you’re not the same? You’re every bit as driven to success as he was.”
“Not anymore. Not now that I’ve found what’s been missing in my life.” He shook his head. “You were right. In all the time I’ve worked to rise to the status of my brothers, I’ve never been content. No achievement has ever satisfied me, because happiness is not about money or position, it’s about people and enjoying life. I need you. You make me happy. Marry me, Catherine.”
Her heart stuttered to a halt before picking up its pace once more. Marry him? He’d lost his mind. “You deserve far better than me. Your family will object to a wedding when they find out where I’ve been living these last six years.”
Thomas leaned down, his face inches from hers. “I don’t care what they think. You may not have wealth, but you’re my match in every way.”
“I was a pirate, who attacked your ship—”
He silenced her with a finger to her lips. “Do you love me?”
�
��Thomas, I do have feelings for you, but—”
“Even if I never get my own ship, I’m sure I can continue to sail with Lamont Shipping. My offer still stands. You and Jonas can sail with me. He’ll learn an occupation that can serve him well.”
A laugh bubbled up from the speed at which he spoke, the earnestness in his voice. Peter had done her wrong, but did that mean she had to live alone for the rest of her days? Her heart held the answer.
“Or if you’d rather, I’ll change my profession. Stay here with you. I’m sure I can find a suitable job somewhere. Maybe—”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips, her heart full to bursting. His arms came around her and drew her nearer, inspiring that familiar tingling in her middle. He kissed her back with tenderness before pulling away. “Catherine, please tell me what you’re thinking.”
A smile spread across her lips. “I’m thinking I love you, and I can’t wait to be your wife.”
He squeezed her tight and lifted her from her feet, then twirled her in a circle, his own grin brighter than the dawning sun.
“Mama?”
Jonas stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes.
Thomas set her down, and she hurried to her son. “Are you well? Did you have a bad dream?”
Dropping his hands to his sides, he shook his head, his hair sticking up at all angles. “I heard noises coming from in here.”
She gestured toward the man walking their way. “Yes, I was talking with Thomas.”
“Hello, Jonas. I don’t think we’ve properly met,” Thomas said. “My name is Thomas Glanville, and I’d like to ask you a question.”
Jonas’s eyes grew curious.
“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sail on a large ship?”
The excitement that lit her son’s face warmed her through and through. She turned her attention to the one who inspired the look, the amazing man whom she’d soon call husband. In the time she’d known him, he’d challenged her to her limits, defended her, and protected her. Now he was giving her a second chance at life. As a pirate, she may have robbed him of the Ruby Cross, but Thomas was the one who’d stolen her heart. And she couldn’t be happier about it.
Epilogue
The church bells ringing, Catherine kept Jonas’s hand in hers as she walked to the small chapel, her palms clammy despite the chilly December air. The pale blue gown Thomas had purchased for her was the best she’d ever owned, its lace and ribbons delicate and pretty, and the fine cloak she wore kept her perfectly warm. She clutched the small bouquet of roses, sweet peas, and rosemary. The garland in her hair of the same flowers and herbs rested heavily on her head.
The sun high in the sky, the few guests they’d invited flocked to the church, nodding as they passed, and her pulse fluttered. Was this a mistake, as her last marriage had been? She looked down at her son. Her last marriage might have been a mistake, but the best thing to ever happen to her had come out of it. Jonas. Her boy.
“Are you sure you have no issue with me getting married? With us sailing away?” she asked him.
Jonas’s brow furrowed. “I like Thomas.”
Of that she had no question. “So do I.”
“Then let’s go.” He tugged her forward, urging her to move faster.
Ah, the reasoning of a child, so forthright and trusting. She did love Thomas with her heart and soul, but was it enough?
They stepped inside the chapel, and her gaze flew to her groom waiting in the front of the church, handsomely dressed in a gray silk suit. He locked eyes with her and smiled. She tingled all over in response, and her breath caught. She detected not a glimmer of doubt in his stare. He stood tall and confident, an alluring sight she couldn’t resist. She dispensed of her cloak and strode down the aisle, all of their guests, what few there were, watching from the pews. With Jonas by her side, she met Thomas and the minister, her remaining doubts fading. Thomas was her love, her life, and her future. Come what may, she would never regret marrying him.
“Dearly beloved friends, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of his congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony…”
As the minister spoke, she admired the man beside her. How fortunate she was to have met him. Any other man would have grown to hate her for her acts of piracy. Not Thomas. He’d not only forgiven her, but saved her son, and promised her a future filled with love and adventure.
“Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.”
Silence followed the minister’s request, as she knew it would. Thomas’s brothers hadn’t objected to the union. Neither had his mother or father. Indeed, his father’s only reply had been to congratulate Thomas on being the first of the brothers to find a wife.
The ceremony continued, and soon their vows were said and Thomas slipped a gold band on her finger, his voice soft yet steadfast as he declared, “With this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.” The manner in which he said those words, as if he spoke to her alone, bound her to him more than a simple vow ever could. Their fingers entwined, she gazed into his warm green eyes, truly happy.
“…I pronounce that they be man and wife together. In the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
A cheer arose, but she barely noticed their audience as Thomas bent his head and settled his lips on hers. Their first kiss as man and wife. She could scarce believe her good fortune.
Within minutes, all those who attended the ceremony left the church, the bells pealing loudly again. Thomas offered his arm. “Mrs. Glanville,” he said with a wide grin.
“Thank you, Mr. Glanville.” She took his arm, and she, Thomas, and Jonas followed the crowd, stopping for her cloak along the way. Once outside, the cheering began anew and grains of wheat were flung in her direction. Wheat for fertility. Ah, yes, she’d forgotten that part.
Jonas wandered away to inspect a stone that had worked its way loose in the street. She kept him in her sight as Thomas’s brothers approached.
Charles nodded. “Congratulations to you both.”
“Yes, congratulations,” Stephen agreed.
“Thank you,” she and Thomas responded at exactly the same time, eliciting smiles from both brothers.
“And thank you again for all your help dealing with Brewer,” she added. Now caught and in Newgate, Brewer wouldn’t be hurting anyone else for a long time to come.
“Our pleasure.” Charles grinned and slapped Thomas on the back. “I can see why you like such an adventurous life. The danger and excitement. The altercation in the park was bloody exhilarating.”
Stephen looked heavenward. “It wouldn’t have been so exhilarating if you’d been shot or sliced through. You’d best stick with politics.”
Charles didn’t give Stephen more than a passing glance. “How soon do you set sail?” he asked Thomas.
Thomas squeezed her hand. “Later this week.” Although the Ruby Cross had been retrieved from Brewer and a buyer found, Thomas’s ship would take some time to obtain. And yet, he hadn’t shown any disappointment at the delay. Instead, he had spoken with Gordon Lamont about a new commission, for both himself and his crew. Luckily, Mr. Lamont had heartily agreed, and they would soon be sailing on a newly acquired merchantman.
The guests formed a procession of sorts toward the location of the wedding breakfast. “We’d best follow along or we’ll get nothing to eat,” she suggested.
Jonas, being his usual self, had a gathering of Thomas’s crew around him as he displayed his abilities. He stood on his head, performed his own style of dance, and elicited chuckles with his silly jokes. How he enjoyed the attention.
Thomas followed where her attention lay. “He’ll certainly enliven the ship.”
That he would. And from the kind looks and playful comments from the men, they’d have plenty of help looking after h
im. Jonas had gone from no father at all to a whole ship full of men eager to care for him, including her captain.
She and Thomas approached the group.
“Time to eat,” Thomas called out, and the crew hooted and nodded their approval. He bent low before Jonas as the men walked away. “I have something for you,” he said.
“What?” Jonas’s eyes widened. Her poor boy had never received much in the way of gifts.
“A wedding present.” Thomas held out the pocket watch his father had given him. “For you.”
Jonas’s broad grin revealed the gap where he’d just lost one of his teeth. “Thank you, sir.”
“My pleasure. Now let’s find some food.” Thomas took Jonas’s hand and offered her the other. “Come along, wife.”
Tenderness washed over her, and she could barely draw a breath as she grasped hold of his hand. Today was the beginning of a new life she’d never dreamed she’d have. A life full of joy with her son, and with Thomas as her husband, the love of her life.
Author’s Note
When I was thinking about the stories I wanted in the Love on the High Seas series, I couldn’t resist inventing a female pirate character. Back in the day, a handful of women did dare to enter the profession. Some were wives of pirates. Others were drawn to the occupation, just like the men, for the chance at riches. Anne Bonny and Mary Read were well-known pirates in the Caribbean in the eighteenth century.
These women dressed as men in an effort to be treated like men by their brethren. In fact, Mary Read was successful in making her crew actually believe she was a man named Mark Read, at least for a time. Interestingly, she ended up on Anne Bonny’s ship, and the two sailed together for a while.
These female pirates inspired the development of my character Catherine Fry, a fearless woman who had the strength to stand up to any man who stood in the way of her goals.
Thomas Glanville, on the other hand, is a character from Tempting the Pirate, the first book in the Love on the High Seas series. In that initial book, he was first mate of the hero, James Lamont. But I liked him so much, I decided he needed his own chance at love.
His Pirate Seductress (Love on the High Seas Book 3) Page 16