by Arlem Hawks
“Shall we move to the captain’s cabin so that you may let free all your sensibility out of the public view?” she asked. Workers, sailors, and officers walked the street just beyond the dock, in sight of the Marianne’s quarterdeck.
He chuckled. “Ah, Georgana.” He squeezed her tighter. “I love a good August breeze from the top of the mainmast.” His hand grabbed hers, and he pulled her toward the hatchway.
“Is there any breeze you don’t love from the top of the mainmast?” But she couldn’t help a smile at his exuberance. She’d seen his restlessness the last several months, though she knew he tried to hide it.
Dominic closed the door when they reached the cabin, which was much smaller than her father’s on board the Deborah, but she didn’t think Dominic noticed. He swept his arms out. “Look at this. Our own cabin.”
Georgana nodded thoughtfully, releasing her bonnet from its pins and letting it fall to her side. “We won’t have to squeeze ourselves into a wardroom cabin to be alone anymore.”
“I cannot say I minded that.” He grinned and grabbed her arms, pulling her close. “Think of it—the two of us, in command of our own ship. And whenever we are tired, we may retreat in here for time to ourselves. No worries of officers suspecting what we are up to, no crew members thinking us odd. Just us.”
Georgana pulled the corner of her mouth between her teeth. Yes. Of course. Just the two of them. He rested his chin atop her head, and she sighed into his embrace, trying to banish a flicker of guilt. She wasn’t really keeping a secret from him again. A few weeks more, after they set sail, she would tell him. She hoped his joy would outweigh everything else.
“This is to be the greatest adventure of our lives, my darling,” he whispered, fingering a little curl that had wiggled out of its hairpin. Her hair wasn’t very long yet—just long enough to increase the pleasure of his fingers running through her locks. His mother had helped her find an acceptable way to style it in its current state. Georgana would be sorry to leave her mother-in-law’s cheeriness. The woman remained in good spirits, even with her son whisking his new bride off to sea and leaving her alone again.
“Indeed it will.” She turned her face up to him. The duties of a ship’s captain would call him away very soon. They had best take advantage of this quiet moment.
Dominic grinned. He kissed her forehead. Then her nose. And when he found her eager lips, she could not suppress a little laugh. She had found home—not on the safe shores of England, but on the deck of a lilting ship and in the heart of a navy man. Though the days ahead would bring with them both hardship and happiness, all she and Dominic needed to face this life was each other.
And perhaps someone to teach her what one does with a baby.
Acknowledgments
I am so grateful to the many people who have helped me in my writing journey and in publishing Georgana’s story. First, I am grateful to a Heavenly Father who gave me a passion and has helped me develop it throughout my life.
Thank you to the Shadow Mountain crew, especially Heidi Gordon, Alison Palmer, and Lisa Mangum for all their hard work in making this story the best it could be.
Thanks to my critique partners—Joanna Barker, Heidi Kimball, Megan Walker, and Sally Britton—who have encouraged me from the start of our friendship, and to Deborah Hathaway, whose love for this story has kept me going through the rough times. And thanks to Jennie Goutet for helping with my French.
Thank you to all who betaread this story for me—Deborah, Jo, Meg, Heidi, Jill Warner, Alayna Townsend, Collette Campbell, Melissa Crandall, Caroline Huball, and Susan Perry; and my sisters-in-law—Kathryn, Corie, Arielle, and Kalle—who have been some of my biggest fans.
Thank you to my family—especially Mom, Dad, Mama, and Papa—for your inspiration, teaching, and unwavering support.
Lastly, a huge thank you to my husband and three children, who let me write for long days and late nights to chase my lifelong goal. Thank you for sharing this dream.
About the Author
ARLEM HAWKS began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications, with an emphasis in print journalism, and she lives in Arizona with her husband and three children.
Contents
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Landmarks
Cover