Grace laughed and poured two more. “Fair? Oh, Callaghan, ya slay me. Ya got stones twice yer own weight. Yer the bravest man on this ship, and that’s sayin’ somethin’.” She pushed the glass back to Quinn and raised her own. “Ta brave loyalty that deserves ta be rewarded.”
Quinn tapped her glass and downed another shot. It burned less this time, as whiskey was wont to do.
Grace poured a third shot. “Ya keep yer wits about ya, Callaghan. I’ll hand it ta ya. The men who were imprisoned on the Judith with ya say yer worth yer weight in gold. Can’t say I disagree. That they love ya tells me I made the right decision in keepin’ yer secret.” Grace tossed her third shot back and waited for Quinn to do the same. “A secret I intend on keepin’ as long as yer on this ship.”
“Thank you, sir. If there were any other way––”
“There isn’t. Ya just keep doin’ what yer doin’ Callaghan. Ta be honest, it’s nice havin’ another thinkin’ person on board. These scalliwags can drive me batty with their simple ways.” Grace shot another shot. “But one thing ya don’t seem ta do verra well is have a good time.” The captain poured a fourth round and pushed both shots to Quinn. “For this night, yer gonna let yer hair down and have a randy good time.”
Quinn stared at the two shot glasses. “I... uh... ”
“It’s not a request,” Grace said deeply before opening the door. Standing at the door was Becca. “This beautiful little lass has agreed ta watch over ya while ya loosen up a little. Ya do know how ta do that, dontcha?”
“Becca?” Quinn rose unsteadily to her feet, the whiskey already taking effect.
“Uh-uh. Drink those first,” the captain commanded. “Nothin’ wrong with loosenin’ up, lad. Ya earned it.”
Quinn took the fourth and burped after the fifth. “What are ya doin’ here?”
“I asked One Eye ta fetch her. She is here a’ her own free will and has sworn ta take good care a’ ya. The ship Drake purchased is long gone, so we might as well let the crew enjoy what they were doin’ before that rat bastard took ’em.”
Becca smiled softly as Quinn inched toward her. “Captain O’Malley just wants ya ta enjoy yerself this evenin’, Callaghan. I would love nothin’ more than ta be that enjoyment.”
Grace laughed heartily once more. “Perfect! Then ya take Callaghan—and this,” Grace handed a bunch of coins to Becca and finished with, “and see ta it Callaghan has a roarin’ good time he can boast about!”
Quinn now stood unsteadily between the two women. “But––”
Becca gently took Quinn’s hand and pulled her from the captain’s quarters. “Ya will be safe with me,” she whispered. “But ya better come before Captain O’Malley changes her mind.”
Quinn searched Grace’s face for a clue. Why on earth had she pushed a woman toward another woman?
“Go on, Callaghan. We’ll be preparin’ the ship ta travel ta the continent just as we planned. We are goin’ ta find yer friend, the ship, and Drake... preferably not in that order. Now off with ya. I have work ta do.”
When Quinn and Becca left the ship and walked straight past the tavern, Quinn balked. “Where are we going?”
“Yer captain told me ta take ya someplace quiet, someplace off the beaten track.”
“Really? That is not like her.”
Becca smiled, her arm threaded through Quinn’s. “Grace O’Malley isn’t known fer her kindness, Callaghan, so ya must be verra special. Even more special than I thought.”
Quinn stopped walking. “Becca––the other day––”
“The other day I thought silly thoughts about ya and Lady Fiona. I realize I was actin’ a jealous fool. Why wouldn’t a man like ya fall in love with her? She is beautiful, gracious, and kind.”
“I wouldn’t go that––”
“But seeing as she announced her engagement this mornin’, I realized I was bein’ such a silly woman. Please forgive me.”
Quinn shook her head and tried to calm her quickened heartbeat and rapid breathing.
Engaged?
It would serve no purpose to hurt Becca’s feelings again by showing her disappointment in the news of the engagement, so Quinn just stuffed it deep down inside her. Why hadn’t Fiona said anything last night? “There is nothing ta forgive. I will make sure I comport myself with a tad more dignity than I have shown.”
Quinn had a million questions about the engagement, but knew she could not risk asking them, so she turned all of her attention to the person who truly wanted her and was still free to love her. “So are we staying in a nice place?”
Becca smiled and nodded. “Actually, ’tis a cottage on the outskirts a’ town. I guess it was owned by a clan member, and Grace has us set up fer the evenin’. Doesn’t that sound heavenly?”
“Verra much so.”
Becca stopped. “Ya sound hesitant.”
Quinn inhaled deeply, knowing what she would have to do and already feeling guilty for it. “Not at all. I look forward ta spending time with ya, getting ta know ya, learning more about who ya are.”
“I would really love that.”
“Is that purse fer mead, whiskey, or wine?” Quinn asked, already setting her next play in motion.
“What’s yer pleasure?”
“This day, I would rather ya buy what ya enjoy.”
That purchase was whiskey.
So, as they made their way to the cottage, Quinn made the plans in her head, knowing full well she would hate herself in the morning for it—but she had no other choice. If she needed answers about Fiona and her engagement, there was only one place to get them.
***
Riding hard, Quinn tried to ignore the guilt chasing after her and the alcohol threatening to toss her off the horse.
After getting Becca so drunk that she passed out, Quinn had grabbed a horse and taken off for Fiona’s castle. It was tricky riding. She was half drunk when she saddled up, but she rode as hard as she could anyway, knowing that the grains of sand were quickly descending. As much as she loved spending time with Becca, she couldn’t stop thinking about Fiona, and the thought of her being with someone else drove her crazy.
Once there, she leapt off, handed the reins to a stable boy, and headed for the courtyard, never breaking stride. By now, she was completely sober.
“Another step and yer dead,” a guard growled from the darkness.
Quinn held her arms up. “I need ta see Lady Fiona.”
“It’s well past visitin’ time, boy. Run along ta yer mama now.”
Quinn just barely suppressed an irritated sigh. How many times was this going to happen? She did not move.
“Did ya hear what I said?” The guard started sliding his sword from its sheath when a big, thick-fingered hand shot out from nowhere, grabbing his wrist.
“What the––”
The hand squeezed the wrist so hard, the guard dropped to his knee.
“Tavish?” the guard grunted, surprised. “What in the blazes?”
Tavish followed his hand out of the shadows. “The lad gets a pass ta see her ladyship. Now and enna time he comes this way. Understood?”
“A pass? From ya?”
Tavish stepped closer, his beady eyes even smaller as he growled. “Aye, from me. Ya got enna questions, take it up with the lady. She willna be happy if ya turn me boyo away.”
The guard blinked a moment before barely nodding. “Fine. But ya both stay here. I mean it, Tavish. Ya two come up, I’ll run ya through.”
“Not on yer best day, lad. Be off, Jamison. Don’t keep us waitin’ long.”
When Jamison was gone, Quinn turned to Tavish. “What in the bloody hell are you doing? How did you get here? Have you been following me?”
“Not important, laddie. I have me job, and I do it well. Enough said.”
“But how––”
Tavish waved her off. “Ya want ta see the lady? Ya see the lady. It’s as simple as that.”
Quinn stared at him as the guard returned. “She will s
ee ya in the dinin’ hall.”
“Why the dining hall?”
The guard cast a frustrated glance to Tavish. “She says ya might be hungry. There will probably already be food fer ya.” Then he muttered something under his breath about stray curs.
As if on cue, Quinn’s belly growled.
Tavish nudged her. “G’won. I’ll be right out here if ennathin’ goes wrong.”
Quinn took two steps before turning. “What could go wrong?”
Tavish raised a caterpillar-sized eyebrow. “Yer visitin’ a woman in the late afternoon who is betrothed ta another. The better question is what could not go wrong?”
Quinn closed her eyes a moment before nodding and then following the guard into the expansive dining hall where Lady Fiona sat, hands clasped upon the table, waiting. When she saw Quinn, her eyes lit up.
“Callaghan.”
Quinn’s heart quickened. “I had to come.”
Rising, Fiona came around the table to greet her. “Thank you for coming so quickly. I was in dire need to get this information to your captain.” Fiona shot a look to the guard, who slowly backed out of the room, leaving them completely alone.
Quinn felt some of her energy wane. “I came as soon as I heard.”
Fiona nodded. “Come. Sit. Please. I owe you an explanation.”
Sitting at the table to Fiona’s right, Quinn kept her gaze locked on the pouch and letter sitting in front of Fiona.
Taking the letter, Fiona waxed and sealed it shut. “Please take this to Grace O’Malley and tell her we thank her with all our might. She has done much to keep us coast dwellers free from those wretched English pirates. She has enabled my father to continue his business. We wish to thank her for all she has done for us.”
Quinn took the letter, her eyebrows knitted together. “But you were the ones who saved her.”
Fiona lowered her voice. “Hardly. We did what we could to assist the great one of Connacht, but this... this is much different.”
Quinn placed the letter inside her jacket, her eyes never leaving Fiona’s.
“And this.” Fiona slid the pouch on over.
“Oh, I don’t know––”
“Please.”
“But... ” Quinn lowered her voice. “You had no idea I was coming.”
Fiona smiled softly. “I could only hope, so I prepared an excuse to see you ahead of time. I made it look like I had summoned you. I apologize if––”
“Why?”
Fiona glanced away.
“You are engaged. Why? Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
Fiona paused and looked back at Quinn, tears in her eyes. “It is a long and complicated tale that is quite boring and speaks to a state of womanhood you could not possibly understand. I did not tell you last night because it was not important, and I needed you to do what you were going to do with a clear head.”
“Then it’s true. You will wed another.”
“Yes. I must. What I did last night, I did for you.”
Quinn slowly reached for Fiona’s hand, relieved when she did not pull away. “You helped save our crew. The captain––”
“Has already sent her appreciation. That woman is nothing if not generous, but my father believes it is we who owe her for her years of making our coastal waterways safe. Please. Take the letter and the gold to her with our gratitude.”
Quinn stared down at her hands. Knowing that this was the right thing for Fiona to do, given her social status, did not make it go down any easier. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Fiona laid her hand on Quinn’s. “No, you saved those men, because you are as incredible as she is. I do not believe you know that, and were I a woman who could give herself to you, I would spend the rest of my life making sure you knew that. Always.”
They looked into each other’s eyes for a long time before Fiona slowly leaned forward and kissed Quinn’s lips. “I am so happy you came... as I knew you would,” she breathed. “I look out at the sea so often and think of you all the time. I wonder if you are well, if you are happy... if... ”
“If I think of you? Nearly every moment. More than I should, given my station... and now, given your betrothal... ”
Fiona sighed. “Yes. There’s that. And your station. Would that you had the wealth and means––”
“And title?”
Fiona cast her eyes down. “I wish things were different, but they are not. Perhaps the pirate world is different, but here on land, there are certain... expectations a woman of my standing must endure. Marrying well is one such expectation.”
“Is this marriage what you wish? I mean... do you love him?”
This made Fiona chuckle. “You are such a man, seeing the world through a man’s eyes. Women in my position have less to say about our lives than serving wenches do.”
Quinn bristled at the reference to Becca’s caste, but chose not to ask if she meant her. She knew exactly what Fiona meant. She’d lived in that gilded cage long enough to know how stifling it could be. “That must be terribly difficult.”
“To not decide one’s fate? To not have control over one’s life? It is. It is so often heartbreaking for women of means. To promote Father’s estate, to marry without love, to have so few choices... no, it is not easy, nor is it kind. It is hard, and it is inevitable.”
“Is there anything you can wish for? Anything that would make your life easier?”
“I wish for few things now, my rapscallion pirate, but one prayer I say often is for you to remain safe. I do worry so. The seas seem so angry at times––so calm and peaceful at others. It is like a woman who can never make up her mind.”
Quinn fought hard to keep the tears at bay. So far, she had seen not one man shed a single tear since she’d been on the ship. Crying now, as much as she wanted to, would make her appear weak and feminine. “I imagined you watching... looking. I wondered––”
“Wondered?”
“Hoped, actually.”
A slight smile toyed on Fiona’s lips. “You need not hope any longer, my gallant and brave pirate. I gaze out at the sea every day and think of you. I wonder what you are doing, whether you are safe, if you are dry and your belly full. I speculate... ” she paused. “I wonder a great deal, actually.”
Quinn laid her hand on top of Fiona’s. “Just so you can better envision it, more often than not, I am standing on the deck of the Malendroke looking in your direction, wondering what you are doing, if you are well. I remember the taste of your lips on mine, the softness of your touch. I paint your beautiful face over and over again in my mind’s eye. I never expected to come back and find you betrothed.”
“It is the wisest decision I could make under the circumstances.”
“The circumstances? What circumstances are those?”
The silence hung in the air like the laundry. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Finally, Fiona leaned forward, inhaled deeply and breathed the words. “That I am in love with pirate whose name I cherish, whose heart I shall never stop loving, whose body I shall yearn for until the day I die... but mostly, and sadly, for whom social convention says is beneath my station.” She kept her eyes on Quinn’s. “And we both know how that story ends.”
Quinn’s heart raced. “Do we?”
Fiona nodded. “I wish we didn’t, but we both know better. There is no place for this to go that does not destroy my family’s name.”
Unspoken words hung in the air like bubbles, popping silently.
Fiona inhaled, and the moment was gone. “Where are you off to next?”
Quinn shrugged, trying to contain her emotions. “The captain has an itch called Francis Drake that she wishes to scratch. She has also agreed to help me find my childhood friend.”
“The one who was abducted?”
“Aye.”
“I have a slight confession. I made it my business to find out more about you. I must say, of your current position there is little information, but that is still more than I c
an discern about your past. No one seems to know anything about where your family is from or what your father does. The trail has run cold.”
Quinn gazed into Fiona’s beautiful face, torn between telling her the useless truth or allowing the façade to slowly die like burning embers. In the end, the truth seemed of little importance anyway. If loving a pirate was beneath her, how much would loving another woman destroy her family’s name? “Is it important now? You have clearly already made your choice. There is nothing left to know.”
Fiona blew out a breath. “Touché. I suppose it is not. I did not need to investigate to know you are a wonderful person who is kind and considerate. You are loyal to a fault and willing to risk your life to save those men.”
“I’m a pirate.”
Fiona sighed. “Unlike any I have ever met.”
“Do you meet many?”
“You would be surprised. As I said, my father and Grace’s father were friends, then business partners. Her father shipped my father’s goods in exchange for safe harbor. I’ve known many more pirates than you would imagine. It’s how I know that you are nothing at all like them.”
“Because I have a heart?”
“Because you revealed your heart, and though I cannot be the recipient of your affections, I can hold mine to my chest and know that, in another place and time, we might have been able to create something beautiful.”
Quinn laid her hand on Fiona’s cheek. “As long as you know all you need to do is send for me, and I’ll come as soon as I can.”
Fiona turned her head and kissed Quinn’s palm. “I am quite sure you would. Of that, I have no doubt.”
They sat like that for a long tender moment, and Quinn wished it could go on and on. But she knew she had to go. Swallowing down the deep ache in her chest, Quinn slowly rose. “If I do not leave now, I am afraid one of us will do something we might regret.”
Fiona smiled sadly. “I do not believe I would regret it at all. Until later, then.”
Quinn nodded. “Until much later.”
Fiona also rose. “One last thing. That serving girl? The one who is passionately in love with you?”
Quinn held her breath. Was there nothing this woman hadn’t sought out about her?
The Pirate's Booty (The Plundered Chronicles Book 1) Page 20