Rebellious Cargo

by Susan Lodge

  Half an hour later Cookson sat back and exchanged a look with Adam. “That is part of the story – but it will lead to many questions around the cover-up with the escort and the sinking of the Rosa Santos. Harrow will certainly have other associates still in positions of power.”

  “What about Ben? What will happen to him?” Jane asked.

  Cookson glanced at Adam. “He should be locked up with Harrow.”

  She stared at Cookson in horror. “No! He tried to save me.”

  “That is true,” Adam confirmed. “But may I suggest I keep him under ship’s arrest for now. Harrow is the only one to incriminate him – after all, the boy is too young to have been involved in the Rosa Santos incident. He has clearly been blackmailed. That is no excuse for his disloyalty but I am sure he is no longer a threat. In fact, he will be able to assist us.”

  Cookson considered them both for a moment. “He will have to face the music eventually, but I agree for now. Don’t lose him, Captain.”

  Adam scowled, and Jane guessed it hurt him to be reminded that she had disappeared from his ship.

  Cookson turned to her. “You look exhausted, my dear. Go and rest. Marston and I have reports and dispatches to prepare. We will see you at dinner tonight.”

  Jane’s heart beat a little faster at the thought of seeing Adam later. She gave him a warm thank you look as she left. He was back with her and she felt safe, relieved that the document was done with. Now she had to deal with a new puzzle – their relationship. Could it work? She hoped so! Although he would surely be called back to his ship soon.

  Up in her room everything had been restored to its rightful place and she heard someone in the adjoining chamber preparing a bath tub. The thought made her sigh with pleasure; perhaps it would help calm her, and she wanted to look good for dinner with Adam. She smiled to herself; it was a long time since she had wanted to attract a man’s attention.

  Her head flew up as a familiar voice floated through the door.

  “What in heavens has happened to this dress? It looks as if it has been slept in and then used to mop the floor.”

  “Celine!” Jane squealed, and launched herself at the woman in the doorway who was grinning from ear to ear.

  ***

  Hours later Celine had dressed Jane and arranged her hair for the evening meal. They had exchanged the details of their individual ordeals of the last week. Jane knew Celine was to some extent holding back on the true depth of the horrible events. No doubt the full facts would unfold later. Celine smiled as Jane readjusted a few locks of hair.

  “My, madam, you are very particular this evening. Are we expecting to catch the eye of someone later?”

  “No, of course not.” Jane studied her reflection before readjusting the locks again. “Well, maybe a certain arrogant captain.”

  “Your saviour.”

  She gave a lazy grin. Hmmm. he certainly was. “I think we might suit each other, after all.”

  “I knew that weeks ago,” Celine replied.

  “Of course you did. You know everything.”

  Celine ignored her jibe and reached for some more hair pins. “So, what next? Let us hope he isn’t ordered away with the tide.”

  “That is a big probability. After all, there is a war on.” Jane’s tone was light but her heart ached at the thought of him returning to sea. “He is a naval captain – he needs to get back to the action. Affairs of the heart are not his priority. And now he has finally completed his orders in delivering me, there is nothing to keep him here.”

  “Nothing except the woman he loves.”

  “Love! That is something else, Celine. He desires me, cares for me, but I have not given him much encouragement.”

  The two women exchanged a glance of understanding as their smiles faded.

  “You need to put it behind you, Jane.”

  “I try. God knows, I try…” She stopped, mindful of the look that filtered across Celine’s features.

  “What is it, Celine?” Fear crept up Jane’s spine as her friend put down the hairbrush and sat on the side of the bed.

  “He knows,” Celine whispered.

  Jane’s insides clenched.

  “I told him, Jane – about why you hated naval ships; about the incident.”

  “The rape!”

  “Yes.”

  Jane’s eyes glistened with anger. “It was not your place to tell anyone.”

  Was that what she read in his eyes earlier – regret, sympathy, distaste? She knew something had changed.

  “Why tell him? Celine, you had no right.”

  Her friend’s eyes pleaded for understanding. “I wanted everything to go well between you. I didn’t want that day – that awful memory – to ruin things. It was after I returned from my near-death experience with Harrow. Maybe I wasn’t quite my usual self. I suppose I needed to set him straight about your nightmares and…he desperately wanted to understand.”

  “Understand what?”

  “He asked why there was always so much fear in your eyes.”

  “Fear.” Jane let out an angry sigh. She had thought to squeeze away the terror into some corner of her brain. What a fool she was to think it would stay there.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Jane watched him covertly over her wine glass. She was not concentrating on the conversation or the meal; rather she was just trying to find a clue to what Adam Marston was thinking. Captain Townsend and Cookson made up the small dinner party which was coming to its conclusion. She would soon have to excuse herself and leave them to their cigars and brandy.

  She had exchanged polite conversation with Adam and his eyes had met hers with warm concern, but something had changed, she was sure of it. If only Celine had kept her mouth shut. She had dared to hope for a happy ending, a man who she could truly love and trust – but now the dream was tarnished. He had saved her life and she owed him her gratitude, but she wanted to give him so much more. But did he still want her?

  “Jane, do you agree?” She blinked, dragging herself back from her thoughts and desperately trying to recall the question Cookson had obviously asked.

  Cookson cocked his head to one side as she turned her attention to him.

  “I was saying, you will be required to sail back to England as soon as possible. The document about the Rosa Santos has only you to verify it. The authorities will require your assistance until this unholy mess is sorted. I intend to dispatch you on Captain Townsend’s ship. He already has orders to sail to England and he will make sure you are well protected. Once in England, I will give you papers that will make sure my brother, Lord Alysworth, will take you under his wing and provide you with a comfortable home – until it is safe for you to enter society again.”

  Her eyes widened. Captain Townsend, not Adam. And so soon? As for entering society again – what an appalling thought!

  She looked Adam’s way and watched him as he slowly twirled his glass studying the contents. A muscle twitched in his cheek and his lips were compressed into a tight line. He looked like a simmering volcano.

  Captain Townsend shifted uneasily in his seat before he addressed Cookson. “I will take great care of her, sir.” He turned to Adam. “You can both count on that.”

  Adam raised dangerous eyes to Cookson. “But mine is the faster vessel – surely she would benefit from a swift journey.”

  “But mine is heavier gunned,” his friend replied, giving him an apologetic smile.

  “But she is familiar with the Serena and already has comfortable quarters assigned.”

  “The accommodation on my ship is more spacious for a lady’s needs.”

  Jane looked from one to another astounded. Were they going to fight over who had the best ship. Damn it! That was the least of her concerns. She needed time to think about these events. She rose from the table and the men followed in unison. “I think, gentlemen, I will retire to the drawing room to consider my future and leave you to your cigars and discussions on who has the biggest ship.” She p
aused. “But I would like the opportunity to speak with you, Captain Marston, before you leave this evening.”

  “Of course.” Adam set determined eyes on hers. “You can count on it.”

  Cookson turned to Captain Townsend. “Perhaps you could escort Mrs. Charlesworth. I need to talk to Marston in private.”

  ***

  Adam challenged Cookson as soon as Jane and Townsend had left the room.

  “My orders, sir, were to deliver and protect Mrs. Charlesworth, and she still needs my protection.”

  “Hear me out, Marston.” Cookson held up a staying hand before refiling his glass and settling back in his chair. “Firstly, your orders were to deliver her safely to my care – that has been completed. I now have the responsibility of her future. Her father would have wanted me to see her settled and safely back in England where she belongs. Not on the high seas trying to keep a flagging shipping business afloat. When I think of all that she has been through… Well, I should have helped sooner, tried harder to find her. But now I have a second chance and I mean to keep her under my protection. I owe her father that much.”

  Adam’s temper flared, but he bit back his comments; he was curious, if reluctant, to know where this conversation was leading.

  Cookson continued. “You have yet to have your orders confirmed but they are likely to instruct that you rejoin your convoy, whereas Captain Townsend is to return to England imminently. Jane has to go back as soon as possible. She is the only one who can make the connection between the document and the Rosa Santos treasure. Those funds, when recovered, will be sorely needed to purchase ships and arms for the fighting to come.

  “I know you have feelings for her, and she may well return them – but what I don’t know is whether they contain any substance. You live a precarious existence as a ship’s captain and you have also chosen to estrange yourself from your family. You’re a loose cannon of society. One thing Jane needs in her life at the moment is stability, and I intend to give her that. Once installed back in England in my brother’s household, she will have time to consider her future. When it is safe to do so, he will make sure she is introduced to the right people and given every opportunity to secure a suitable husband.”

  Adam was lost for words. Cookson was one hurdle in his pursuit of Jane Charlesworth that he had not anticipated.

  Cookson continued. “In the meantime she will be safe on Townsend’s ship; he has an excellent band of marines on board. If and when you are recalled to England, if your feelings are still sincere towards the lady, you may call on her.”

  “Call on her?” Adam spluttered finally, then shifted uncomfortably under the older man’s gaze as he remembered the warmth of her body against his own. He cleared his throat. “Sir, I think you underestimate the lady’s independent streak. You have yet to discover that Jane Charlesworth makes her own decisions.”

  Cookson’s lips pursed. “Maybe so, but she has no husband to help her through the difficulties that might face her back in England.”

  No husband! Something in the way Cookson delivered the words made him feel guilty, angry, and frustrated as hell! All he could do was follow orders and hope she would remain safe under the protection of bloody Lord Alysworth. He needed to see her. Now.

  “I best say my farewells to Jane. I take it you have no objection?”

  Cookson nodded. “Of course. That will be acceptable but do not keep her long – she has an early start tomorrow.”

  Cookson flashed a satisfied grin at the captain’s back as he left, and proceeded to sit back and enjoy his cigar. His latest plan was progressing nicely. Now all he needed was a certain admiral to arrive in port as expected. Jane Charlesworth deserved to be happy and he owed it to her father to help make it happen.

  ***

  Jane sat in the drawing room waiting for Adam’s visit. Celine was installed opposite her, and a marine guard by the door. Jane had to suppress a sigh. Cookson’s attempts to protect her were rather tiresome. Had he forgotten she was a widow not a dewy-eyed innocent? Well, perhaps not such an innocent as far as Captain Marston was concerned. But that didn’t stop her heartbeat reaching a fast staccato as she heard the door open.

  Adam entered, his face looking as if it had been etched in granite. Her spirits dropped and she knew she would be leaving for England with Captain Townsend. She watched him as he exchanged words with the marine who, after a nervous sweep of the room, moved and positioned himself outside the door.

  Then he dealt with her chaperone, which was no challenge at all. Celine almost fell over her own feet in her haste to move to the terrace doors at the far end of the room.

  Jane had intended the meeting to say goodbye properly and thank him for all he had done for her. Their departure to different destinations could not be helped; it was no one’s fault. He had his duty and she had hers. If they both survived the months to come, maybe they would find each other again. She tried to remain calm but she really wanted to hit someone or something just to dispel that knot of frustration inside her.

  Adam prowled across the room towards her, and then turned and exchanged another unspoken message with Celine. Her friend swiftly opened the terrace doors, stepped out, and closed them behind her.

  Appearing satisfied, Adam stepped close, his eyes bright and dangerous. All her virtuous noble thoughts dissolved as he pulled her into his arms.

  When he finally released her lips, some minutes later, she rested her cheek against his chest, trying to form a sensible string of words. But failed.

  He shifted her gently so he could see her face. His eyes studied her as if he was mentally noting every detail. “I wanted to say goodbye properly.”

  After a few seconds she finally managed a reply.

  “Well, that kiss was quite delicious, but not at all proper.”

  “Umm…quite delicious,” he agreed before his face turned serious. “As you already know, when you get back to England, you will be under the protection of Lord Alysworth. The man, I am told, has a very comfortable residence in Mayfair.”

  Oh, Lord Alysworth’s house guest. That sounded exceedingly tedious. She would have to be stiff-backed and sweet-mouthed all the time. Her brief time in society before her father died had been a disaster, although she had matured somewhat since the sea shanty incident. But somehow she could not see herself sitting with the society matrons discussing the latest indiscretion. Or who gave the cut direct to whom, or what the current opinion was on the latest fashion plates. She was about to wrinkle her nose and share her displeasure when she stopped herself. She didn’t want Adam to feel responsible. It was all done with her best intentions and safety; she shouldn’t complain.

  She managed a smile. “So there is no need to worry about me. Just go and win the war and keep yourself safe.”

  He tightened his hold around her and bent his head closer until she could feel his lips tickling her ear.

  “No need to worry, hmm? I know you – and I do have some sympathy for Lord Alysworth. Luckily his hair is already white. But I want you to promise me something, and I want you to take this. It will enable you some independence if you need it.”

  She took the paper and glanced at it. “But I have funds, Adam.” She wanted him, not a bank draft. She tried to hand back the note but he pressed her fist around it until she retracted.

  “I have not finished. I also want you to promise not to marry for convenience. You will have offers, that’s for sure, and Lord Alysworth and Cookson will do their best to find a good match. But please do not be pressed into a marriage without… I mean not until…”

  He was struggling now and Jane fought to keep the unshed tears at bay.

  He took a deep breath. “Not until you have considered my offer. We may well be heading different ways, but when we are able I want us to be wed.”

  What! Jane was stunned.

  “Adam, you need to think this through. By the time we are both back in England – well, it could be a very long time and you might have just changed your mi
nd.”

  He frowned down at her. “That’s not the answer I was looking for.” He bent and kissed her softly on the lips. “If only we had the rest of the night, I would take that uncertainty from your eyes. You are like a bloom snatched and crushed before you have had a chance to flower. Think ahead not in the past.”

  She knew to what he was referring. Her head swam with shameful images but she had to be strong. “You don’t owe me anything, Adam, and I know you know about… Well, I am damaged goods.”

  His whole body went rigid in her arms as his anger surged. “I would have liked the satisfaction of tearing Pennington limb from limb. Let us hope he is in hell now.”

  Her heart stopped. “He is dead?”

  Adam nodded. “I made some enquiries amongst the ships in port. He was stabbed in a London alley and robbed six months ago. I hope he bled slowly. He was lucky to die before I could catch up with him.”

  Dead! She had considered, prayed even, that he would die in battle. But a back alley was a worthy end for him. She shuddered and then relaxed in Adam’s embrace. After a few moments a long, easy breath escaped her lips like a black cloud dispersing.

  His hand caressed her cheek. “Do not allow that animal who violated you to ruin the rest of your life. You are beautiful. I thought that the first day you appeared on my ship. Beautiful, bold, and bad-tempered. And I always knew you would be trouble. But I never met anyone that I want to take care of as I do you. I want to spend the rest of my days with you.”

  Heat coursed through her body at the sweet proclamation. She rolled her eyes at him, struggling to keep hold of reality. “How on earth would we live together? We are always arguing.”

  He rubbed his chin, considering the question. “Well, it will take a lot of practice on your part to learn to do as I tell you, but you can start right now.” Giving her his best commanding stare, which she had got quite used to over the past month, he continued. “When you get to London you must stay in Alysworth’s protection at least until the Rosa Santos cargo has been reclaimed.”