Harlequin Historical September 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: Lord Havelock's ListSaved by the Viking WarriorThe Pirate Hunter

by Annie Burrows

  ‘Enough,’ she told herself, knowing mulling the matter over in her mind would just make her feel worse.

  Instead she tried to clear her head and get the well-advised rest the Captain had recommended.

  * * *

  Mia stirred, stretching her legs out and allowing her eyes to flutter open. She felt a pang of hunger and realised she hadn’t eaten all day. Her lips were dry with thirst, too. She opened her eyes to find the cabin in complete darkness. With no idea what time of evening or night it was she sat up and moved to straighten her dress. Someone would be up on deck keeping watch, she was sure they would point her in the right direction to find some bread and something to drink.

  A noise just outside her cabin made her pause. It sounded like someone was approaching quietly. For a second she had a stab of panic as she wondered whether she’d locked her door, then told herself not to be so silly. No one on the ship wanted to harm her—it didn’t matter if she hadn’t locked the door.

  Nevertheless she waited for a few seconds for whoever it was outside to walk on past. The sound of retreating footsteps never came and Mia began to wonder if she had imagined it all in the first place.

  She was just about to get up from her bed when she saw the handle to her cabin door turning very slowly. She froze, eyes locked on the handle, wondering if it were just a trick of the light. Her answer came when the door clicked open and swung inwards. She nearly screamed, but caught herself.

  Mia peered into the gloom, wondering if it was Will coming to pay her a visit. She felt a thrill of excitement at the thought.

  A silhouette came into the room and quickly closed the door behind them. Mia could tell it wasn’t Will by the way he walked and immediately she felt a chill run down her spine.

  ‘Who is it?’ she asked in a whisper.

  ‘So you are awake.’ The unmistakable condescending voice of Lieutenant Glass froze her to the spot.

  ‘Get out,’ Mia said, raising her voice slightly.

  ‘That’s not very hospitable, my dear.’ He took another step towards the bed.

  Mia realised he was drunk, very drunk if the overpowering, sweet smell of rum could be trusted.

  ‘Get out or I’ll scream.’

  ‘Go ahead. Everyone else is in the mess room eating. No one will hear you.’

  Mia calculated the distance between her cabin and the mess room. He was probably right, but there was no way she was just going to sit here and let him do whatever he had planned.

  She opened her mouth to scream. Before a single sound could come out Lieutenant Glass launched himself across the room and clapped a hand across her mouth.

  ‘Now, now,’ he said, swaying closer to her.

  Mia bit down on the fleshy skin of his hand. Glass howled in pain and momentarily withdrew, giving Mia a few seconds to take in a breath and let out a scream. It only lasted half a second, one at the most, but Mia hoped it would be enough.

  Glass raised a hand and slapped her hard across her cheek.

  ‘Shut up, you stupid whore,’ he said, looking round for something to silence her with.

  He grabbed a washcloth from the stand beside her bed and shoved it into Mia’s mouth. Roughly he pushed all the material inside, making her gag as the damp cloth hit the back of her throat. Instantly he pinned her arms to her side and stopped her struggles.

  ‘Be quiet and this might not end badly for you,’ he instructed.

  Mia had no such intentions. She thrashed her body from side to side, trying to break free from Glass’s grip so she could pull the cloth from her mouth and shout for help.

  ‘Stay still.’

  He climbed on top of her, pinning her hips to the bed whilst still holding her hands by her side.

  ‘I don’t know why you’re struggling, whore,’ he said. ‘I know you like it.’

  Mia felt sick. She was pinned to the bed completely, barely able to move, and the cloth in her mouth meant she couldn’t even shout for help. She needed to do something quickly or Glass would hurt her. Badly.

  He grabbed both of her hands in one of his and held them above her head. Mia realised with panic this meant he had a spare hand to do whatever he pleased with.

  She started bucking wildly, hoping to throw him off balance so he might at least release her hands. Again and again she thrust her hips in all different directions but he was just too strong and too determined.

  Mia thrashed her head from side to side and tried to clench her legs together as Glass used his free hand to push up her skirts.

  ‘You’ve been letting that arrogant bastard Greenacre take you all week. Why don’t we see how you like it when a real man makes you scream?’

  Mia started trying to work the washcloth from her mouth with her tongue. She felt a sob of despair trying to escape. It seemed hopeless. He had her pinned down and at his mercy and no one was going to come to her rescue.

  She eyed up the washbasin on the stand beside her bed. It was made of some sort of ceramic material. If she was able to dislodge it the resulting crash when it hit the floor and shattered might be enough to bring someone to investigate. If only she could pull one hand free, she’d have so much more of a chance, but Glass’s grip was a strong as any iron manacle and she doubted it would weaken any time soon.

  Glass started loosening his breeches and pushed one knee between her thighs. Mia resisted with everything she had, still trying to thrash from side to side. She knew if he got himself positioned between her legs she had no hope.

  ‘Don’t pretend you’re not enjoying this,’ Glass said, ‘I know your sort. Make out you are all sweet and innocent when we all know what lies beneath.’

  He shoved his knees so hard against her thighs Mia thought she might pass out with the pain. She would certainly be bruised tomorrow. That was if she survived until tomorrow.

  ‘You don’t deserve to live,’ Glass spat at her. ‘You should be swinging from the gallows with crows pecking at your eyes.’

  Mia didn’t know where all his hatred for her came from, but she realised he wanted to hurt her so badly she would wish she was dead.

  Now firmly in position in between her legs, Glass reached to push his trousers down a few inches further. As he did so Mia felt his balance teeter slightly and grabbed her opportunity. She rolled to one side, engaging every muscle in her body in her attempts to dislodge him. Glass rocked with her and to Mia’s dismay he didn’t fall off, but she did feel his hand loosen its grip on her wrists above her head. She wrenched her arms free and felt a bubble of elation as she ripped the cloth from her mouth and let out an ear-splitting scream.

  At the same time her other hand lashed out, knocking the ceramic washbasin to the floor where it landed with a loud crash.

  Glass froze for an instant, anger and surprise mingling in his face. Then he slapped her again, this time with such a force Mia felt her teeth slam together and her brain rattle inside her skull. She jerked backwards and felt the even harder blow of her head hitting the wooden bed frame. Everything spun as she frantically tried to keep her grip on the conscious world, knowing if she accepted the welcoming darkness Glass would win.

  Valiantly she tried every trick she knew of to ward off unconsciousness, biting her tongue to try to make herself feel something, but the seconds stretched out before her and the darkness marched on.

  Mia’s last thought before she fell into oblivion was a hope Will wouldn’t have to see her like this.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Will froze. His heart nearly jumped from his chest and it felt as though his whole world had imploded.

  The scream had only lasted a second or two, but it was enough. It was a woman’s scream, and on a ship full of men it could only mean one thing: Mia was in trouble.

  He jumped into action, hurtling across the deck and down the narrow stairs
to the passageway below. The silence that followed the scream and the crash was more worrying to his ears than further sound of a struggle would be. He dreaded what he was going to find when he reached Mia’s cabin and the thought she might be hurt made his blood freeze in his veins.

  Will thrust open the door to her tiny cabin and saw red. Lieutenant Glass was sat astride a prostrate Mia. He had one hand raised and the other was clutching her two wrists like a manacle.

  Without thinking Will launched himself into the room and let out a primal roar of anger. Glass looked around with wide eyes as if stunned to see Will hurtling towards him.

  ‘Get off of her,’ Will shouted, ramming his shoulder into Glass. He grabbed the Lieutenant by the material of his jacket just below his shoulders and lifted him in the air. Unceremoniously he flung Glass across the room and bent over Mia.

  He felt his heart shattered into pieces. She was lying motionless, her skirts gathered just above her knees, bruises already starting to develop around her wrists.

  ‘Mia,’ he pleaded, gently stroking her hair. ‘Open your eyes, Mia, please.’

  Will heard a commotion in the corridor behind him but didn’t turn around. His whole attention was focused on the woman lying on the bed in front of him.

  ‘Please wake up.’

  He studied her, not knowing what to do for the best, his eyes roaming over her face and dishevelled body. Will leaned in closer, holding his cheek just inches from her mouth and waited, praying he would feel the warmth of her breath against his skin.

  He almost shouted with happiness when her exhalation came and with it he noticed the steady rise and fall of her chest.

  ‘What happened?’ the Captain asked, pushing his way into the room.

  ‘That animal attacked Mia,’ Will said, still not taking his eyes off her face.

  ‘Is she breathing?’

  Will nodded. He took her hand and ran a finger over the smooth skin, willing her to wake up. Her fingers were warm, another positive sign her heart was still pumping the vital blood around her body, but none of this was enough to reassure Will she was truly okay.

  He turned to the Captain, aware of the crowd gathered outside the cabin.

  ‘Take him to the brig,’ he commanded, pointing at Glass. ‘I’ll deal with him later.’

  The Captain hesitated, clearly not wanting to throw a Naval Officer in the inhospitable cells of the brig.

  ‘He attacked Miss Del Torres, attempted to rape her and has knocked her unconscious.’

  The Captain gave a quick nod and motioned for two of the crewmen to step forward.

  ‘Touch me and your career’s over,’ Glass warned. He had regained some of his composure and looked ready to fight for his freedom.

  Captain Little shook his head in disgust. ‘Even the Navy won’t protect a man who attacks women.’

  ‘This will be the end of all of you,’ Glass shouted, slurring his words slightly. ‘Who will believe you over a respected Officer of the Navy?’

  Will had heard enough. He stood, crossed the tiny cabin in two steps, hauled Glass on to his feet, and swung his fist back. As his clenched hand struck Glass’s jaw Will felt the force reverberate through his body.

  The Lieutenant sagged in front of him. Will’s instinct was to reach out and lower the man to the floor, but he forced his arms to remain by his side and let the man hit the wooden deck with full force.

  ‘Take him to the brig,’ Will said again as he turned back to Mia.

  Somewhere behind him he heard Captain Little shoo away the rest of the curious crew. He sat on the edge of the bed and took Mia’s wrist in his hand. He felt for the pulse just below the bones of her hand and felt the reassuring steady thump.

  ‘I’ll take her to my cabin,’ Will said, ‘she’ll be more comfortable there.’

  ‘I’ll send someone to fetch some water for her.’ The Captain paused and looked her up and down, ‘And maybe something to dress her wounds with.’

  Will nodded in agreement, then scooped Mia up in his arms. Even as a dead weight she wasn’t that heavy, but he found it difficult to manoeuvre in the confines of the cabin. Being careful not to knock her head or legs on the door, he sidled out into the corridor. Slowly he walked towards his own cabin, kicked open the door with his foot and laid her gently down on his bed.

  All through the trip she didn’t stir at all and Will felt his heart pounding in his chest as he once again checked she was still breathing. When he had reassured himself she was still alive he started to check her over. He found the cause of her current state of unconsciousness almost immediately. A large lump was forming on the back of her head. He supposed she’d either jerked her head back into the wooden headboard behind the bed trying to get away from Glass or he’d propelled her into it.

  Will felt the rage building again and he knew if Mia didn’t wake up he would be hanged for murder. He would not allow her death to go unavenged.

  The thought of Mia dying hurt him more than he ever could have imagined. He didn’t want to envisage a world without her in it; she made everything so much better.

  His macabre thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

  ‘Come in.’

  The door opened and Ed Redding entered the room. He carried a jug of water in one hand and a wooden box in the other. He set the water down on the desk and the wooden box beside it.

  ‘How is she?’ he asked, studying Mia’s peaceful face.

  ‘No change, still unconscious. She must have hit her head.’

  ‘I never liked the Lieutenant, but I wouldn’t have ever imagined...’ Redding let the sentence trail off.

  Will realised he was equally as shocked. He knew Lieutenant Glass had felt contempt towards Mia and pure dislike towards himself, but he wouldn’t have pinned him as a man who forced himself on unwilling women.

  ‘Just shows you never know who to trust,’ the First Mate said. ‘I’ve brought you our medical box. There’s not much in it, I’m afraid, but you might find something useful.’

  Will doubted there would be anything in it that would help Mia in her current state. On a ship full of hardened sailors they were unlikely to find smelling salts. He suspected time would be the only thing to heal Mia. He just hoped her recovery would happen sooner rather than later.

  ‘Thanks,’ he said.

  ‘Just shout if you need anything,’ Redding said, ‘or if you want someone to come and sit with her.’

  Will nodded in gratitude, but knew he wouldn’t be leaving Mia’s side until she woke up, however long that might be.

  Redding left the room and Will diverted his attention back to Mia. He wondered if she was comfortable enough. He had placed her down in the middle of the bed with a single pillow under her head. Maybe two would be better. Or maybe none at all.

  He decided to leave her where she was. Then his eyes fell on the jug of water Redding had left. Were you meant to give water to someone who was unconscious? He wasn’t sure, but looking at Mia’s lips he thought they could be a little dry.

  Will stood up, glad of having something to do. He grabbed a glass off the little table beside his bed and into it poured a small amount of water. Next he perched on the bed beside her head and contemplated how best to go about giving her the drink. Gently he slipped one arm behind her neck and lifted it off the pillow ever so slightly. With her head in a more upright position he held the glass of water to her lips and trickled a little into her mouth. Or at least he was aiming for her mouth. He doubted a single drop of the water made it past her lips. Instead it dribbled down her chin straight into her cleavage.

  Cursing, he put down the glass and looked around for something to dry her with. The last thing she needed was to wake up with wet clothes. Finally he settled on a corner of the sheet and delicately dabbed at the skin of her chest, soaking up the droplet
s of water that had fallen between her breasts.

  When she was dry he contemplated giving the water a second try and decided against it. She’d probably choke and end up with pneumonia.

  He looked around the room, trying to think of something else to do to speed her recovery. He hated this waiting, especially hated feeling so impotent, knowing that he could do nothing to make her better.

  Will was normally a man of action. He saw someone in distress and he helped them out. Now, when it was the woman he loved lying unconscious beside him, he wanted to be a man of action again and knew he would do anything to help her.

  His brain froze as he realised what he’d just thought. The woman he loved. That’s how he’d thought of Mia. Did he love her? His subconscious obviously believed so.

  He told himself he couldn’t possibly love Mia Del Torres; they could never have any kind of a future together. To love her would be to invite a whole world of pain into his life. Surely leaving the woman you loved on the other side of the world was worse than never loving at all.

  Why leave her? his rebellious brain asked. Will reprimanded himself immediately. He couldn’t take her with him—the idea was preposterous. He was an English Lord. He was expected to marry an heiress and sire a brood of pure-bred children.

  But he didn’t want to marry an English heiress, he realised. In fact, he didn’t want to contemplate a life without Mia.

  Even with this revelation he knew it would still be impossible. They weren’t just from opposite ends of the earth geographically, their whole lives were different. He could never expect Mia to leave everything she’d ever known behind for a cold and distant shore. And he’d been so sure he would remain a bachelor for ever, the lone man prowling his estate or searching for lost people.