Read Online Carried Home by Heather Manning - Free Book Online

if we stopped and sailed straight back now. ”
    Captain Thompson rubbed his face with his hands. “I’ll go see what the crew thinks about the issue. I do not wish to put anyone in unnecessary danger.”
    ****
    Ivy rubbed her sleep-crusted eyes and gazed down at the sleeping baby nestled in her arms. It was not so uncommon to awaken with a child cradled in her arms, due to the many times she had comforted William after a nightmare. But this little tyke was new.
    Ivy smiled slightly as she studied Emma, who was snuggled in her embrace, still fast asleep. Dark copper eyelashes fluttered with each exhale. She made sweet, child-like noises that made Ivy miss William all the more. Ivy pressed a kiss on the baby’s forehead. What was she going to do with this little one? Of course, she could keep her, and would be happy to, but that would not be good for either of their reputations. She had no idea what would become of them when she got home, but there was no way she would allow the child to be abandoned.
    A knock sounded on the door, startling Ivy. She glanced at the porthole, where no light streamed through. The skies were black. Who would knock on her door at this time of night? She yawned, then sat up, making certain not to jostle Emma.
    â€œWho is it?” she called softly.
    â€œCaptain Thompson, miss. I’d like to talk to you immediately, if you are decent.” The man’s booming voice woke Emma. She whimpered until Ivy scooped her up into her arms.
    â€œHold on just a moment, Captain, if you please.” Ivy yanked the coverlet off the bed and wrapped it around her body to cover her nightdress. She had not thought to pack a dressing gown in the satchel she had taken from England in search of Eden, and she had purchased nothing since.
    She rushed to open the door. Why on earth would the captain be visiting her at this time of night?
    Captain Thompson entered and closed the door behind him. He sat in the wooden chair next to her sleeping cot. The man studied her from head to toe and sucked in a breath. “I didn’t know you were not awake yet, Lady Shaw. Please forgive me for disturbing you.”
    â€œWhy, Captain, I only rise in the morning. It’s the middle of the night!” Ivy bounced Emma in her arms.
    Captain Thompson frowned. “It is the middle of the morning, miss.”
    Ivy glanced back at the porthole.
    He frowned for a moment. “Ah, the sky is dark because of a storm. That is why I came to speak with you.”
    Ivy’s face flooded with heat. She never overslept. A second look at the window told her the sky was indeed smothered by a mass of dark, angry clouds. A shiver iced down her back. “Why do you want to speak to me of a storm, Captain?”
    â€œWell, milady, I wished to inform you we are approaching a hurricane.”
    Ivy gulped. She had heard of hurricanes at sea, terrible storms that swept sailors away, never to be seen again.
    â€œWhat about the hurricane?” Shouldn’t he be talking to his crew about the storm, not her? She knew nothing of sailing.
    â€œWell, milady, the crew and I understand how violent storms like this can become. My men want to turn back for the port to wait out the storm. That would mean waiting a couple of days, perhaps even a week, delaying our trip.” His lips quirked upward in a sad, halfhearted smile.
    Ivy’s stomach sank. The voyage was already going to be delayed by their stop in the Carolinas to visit Captain Thompson’s sister. She didn’t know how long she could wait before she had William safe in her arms again. They could not be delayed.
    Emma’s head sank down on Ivy’s shoulder, asleep again. Ivy laid her on the bed, bunching blankets around her little body to keep her in place as she slept.
    Ivy turned back to Captain Thompson, fury replacing the fear that was churning inside of her belly. There was no way she would let another day go by with her sailing away