His warm smile melted all the loneliness she had left inside. At one time, a lifetime ago, she’d hated men. She’d sworn they were all despicable and cruel. How naive. James Lamont had proven her wrong, and she would never doubt him again.
Epilogue
Charity stared through the afternoon drizzle at the bustling London docks where workers loaded nearby ships. Standing on deck aboard James’s vessel, she snuggled deeper into her cape, pulling the hood further over her lace cap. Not even the dismal weather could dim the sense of contentment that warmed her inside and out. She peeked at James, who stood beside her, water dripping from his hat brim. His smiling eyes already watched her, and a rush of excitement fluttered through her chest.
As if he knew what his gaze did to her, his lips widened into a blinding smile that brought out that dimple in his cheek she loved so well. “My family was quite enamored with you.”
“After meeting your adoring sisters, I now understand how you know women so well.” James’s sisters, their husbands, his nieces and nephews—all had been welcoming. All except one. “Although your father didn’t seem to care for me all that much.”
“Not true. If anything, he went out of his way to put on a good face for you. He was gruff, yes, although not nearly as ill-tempered as usual.”
Gruff wasn’t the word she would have used. “Your father merely tolerated me because he thought I’d keep you ashore.” Still, she sympathized with the man. When he’d heard of the danger his son had been in, he’d paled to a ghostly white. He may not show his affection to his family, but he seemed to feel it all the same.
James took her gloved hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “He was right. Only you could have convinced me to stay.”
There would have been no justice in that. “Your brother needs you.” She gazed out at the sea stretching endlessly before them and breathed in the fresh, salty air. “Besides, you belong out here.”
Thomas approached, bounding up the stairs and crossing the deck. He nodded to Charity. “Mrs. Lamont.”
“Thomas.” She smiled at the man who’d helped save her, not that he would accept any praise.
“Are we ready?” Thomas asked James, no doubt eager to be under way.
“Does Whip have everything he needs?”
“He does.”
“Then yes, let’s be off. To Madagascar.”
Thomas returned to the deck rail. “Look lively now,” he called out to the crew. “Up anchor.” His orders had an immediate effect as the crewmen prepared to set sail. A group of four turned the capstan below, bending their backs to push the spokes they manned.
The clink of chain drowned out the crashing waves and seagull cries.
James led her away from the commotion. “Will you be happy on this ship for the next several weeks?”
She took in his profile, a sight she planned to enjoy every day for years to come. “Wherever you go, I’ll follow.”
“You’re sure?” He stopped, a playful smile shaping his lips. “This is your last chance to leave. Once we raise anchor, you’re trapped on board, sharing a cabin with me.”
“Sharing a cabin?” she teased. “No one told me I’d have to share.”
“Hmm. An oversight, I assure you. Nevertheless, my quarters are much larger than what I had aboard Neptune’s Mercy. So perhaps we can remain in our separate corners and not bother each other overly much.” He ushered her forward once more with a wink. “Come, let me show you.”
A laugh bubbled up from her throat. “I’ve shared a cabin with you before, sir, and I have my doubts you’re capable of being so close without pestering me.”
“I like to pester you.” They reached the door to his quarters. His golden eyes turned molten, and his arm circled around her. “In fact, I’d like to pester you now.”
“Indeed? With as much as you’ve pestered me of late, we may need a bigger cabin to accommodate a small sailor.”
He hesitated for an instant, then opened the door. “A ship is no place for children. If you find yourself in a family way, we’ll have to—”
Charity stopped him with a finger to his lips. “You once said the same thing of women.” She slipped past the doorway and pulled him inside. “Do I have to convince you of everything?”
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Author’s Note
Believe it or not, this book started out in my head as a Tarzan type story. I envisioned a woman escaping a burning ship and ending up on an island with a man who’d never seen a woman before. I’ve always enjoyed Tarzan movies, and still would like to explore what that relationship would be like, but as I tried to figure out the plot of this book, things got out of hand.
Before I knew it, my Tarzan guy wasn’t really a Tarzan. He was just pretending to fool the natives in order to spy on the pirates who congregated on the other side of the island. I think by now you can see why I abandoned this bizarre story and turned to what was going on with the pirates instead.
I kept the girl on the ship though, and as before, she was fleeing a marriage. The guy, however, changed completely. As I delved deeper into who these characters were, I became intrigued by the thought of a Casanova type hero meeting a woman who distrusts all men. I found this push and pull between them fascinating. And I also got to learn about pirates.
Of course, some pirates were ruthless and cruel, but they had a code of ethics, you might say. They called the laws they followed articles, and every man who signed on the account had to vow to follow them. Many pertained to punishment for hiding loot, desertion, or how to settle disagreements (Walking the plank wasn’t one of them. According to several sources, Hollywood created this idea.).
Surprisingly (at least for me), the captain and quartermaster were elected to their positions (In the case of The Judge, I would assume he used fear to get the votes needed.). In fact, the ship was essentially owned by the crew. In many respects, this life could be far easier to take than that of a Royal Navy man. The Royal Navy during this time was about as ruthless as pirates when it came to filling their ranks. They would trick or kidnap men into becoming crewmen, locking them below decks whenever the ship reached port to make sure they didn’t escape. At least the pirate crew got a share of all plunder out of the deal.
Tempting the Pirate is the first book I’ve written in this time period and it was a joy to write. James and Charity were such a fun couple. I hope you enjoyed reading their story, and who knows, maybe someday I’ll have a Tarzan book you might like, too.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to start out by thanking Jeff, Brenna, and Megan. You inspire me every day with your wit, your laughter, and your love. Also, thank you to Tina Bores Pupp who read this book in its very early stages and offered her invaluable advice. To Ron and Shirley Bores, thank you for your encouragement and support on this writing adventure.
A big thank-you to Gwen Hayes and Erin Molta of Entangled Publishing for giving me the opportunity to share my stories, and helping me in making them the best they can be. And of course, I must thank Barbara Longley and Wyndemere Coffey, my critique partners. Without your help, I don’t know where I’d be. A shout out to the members of the Midwest Fiction Writers, a group of romance writers who are always willing to listen and share, and a thank-you to the Romance Writers of America, an organization who has always helped writers reach for success.
And finally, thank you to my readers. Without you, this would all be a waste of time. If you’re so inclined to chat, you can visit with me on Twitter or on Facebook. I really hope you enjoyed James and Charity’s story. Soon, you can find out what happened to James’s brother David, so stay tuned.
About the Author
A small town girl with a big imagination, Tamara Hughes had no idea what to do with her life. After graduating from college, she moved to a big city, started a family and a job, and still struggled to find the creative outlet she craved. An avid reader of romance, she gave wri
ting a try and became hooked on the power of exploring characters, envisioning adventures, and creating worlds. She enjoys stories with interesting twists and heroines who have the grit to surmount any obstacle, all without losing the ability to laugh. To learn more about Tamara, stop by her website: www.tamarahughes.com.
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