Read Online Her Gentleman Pirate (High Seas & High Stakes Book 2) by Tamara Gill - Free Book Online
Authors: Tamara Gill
Ads: Link
beyond.
Small vessels dotted the shallow coastal water and Arabella stepped over toward the fire to warm herself. Stephen sank with a sigh into a settee and shut his eyes. The storm that had been on the horizon earlier in the day was starting to show its presence as the wind picked up and rain started to spatter against the windowpane.
“You said you have other business here. Are you meeting someone else?”
Stephen ran a hand through his hair making it stand on end. He cocked one eye open. “I am. Yes. He should be here after dinner, which should be served soon.” He gestured to the seat beside him. “Come. Sit with me.”
Arabella sat, not liking how he seemed a little ill at ease. “Is something troubling you?”
He pulled out a missive and passed it to her. It was from Lord Montague. She started for a moment before tearing the missive open.
C aptain ,
I ’m shocked that you would steal away the woman who is to become my wife in only a few weeks’ time. I should imagine if you’re reading this missive you should also be looking over your shoulder as I’m going to have my revenge on you.
I f one hair is misplaced on Miss Hester’s head I shall have great enjoyment hurting you in any torturous way possible. It is well advised that the moment you make land in England you hand over my betrothed immediately if I’m not there to make you do so. Not that by doing so will alter the course of your future. You will hang for this crime, you dirty pirate scum.
T hat is one promise I will make and hold true.
L ord Montague .
A rabella screwed up the letter and threw it into the fire. Fear spiked through her at being ripped away from the one man she’d ever cared for. To be placed with peer who held her in little regard other than monetary value.
Stephen didn’t say anything, just watched her as she fiddled with her skirts. “I suppose we should discuss what you’re planning to do with me and when you’re going to be rid of me as well.”
“And if I don’t want to be rid of you. What then?” He turned a met her gaze fully, his eyes as bleak as her own emotions. “Will you leave me anyway, Arabella?”
She stood, needing space. “You know I cannot stay. They will kill you if they ever caught you. The banns have been called, here and in Malta. Everyone knows I’m to marry Lord Montague. You seek revenge on my father, you’re using me for leverage to gain payment. That fact is not something to be passed over and ignored.”
“I know that.” He stood, towering over her and her body yearned to lean into him, wrap her arms about his neck and kiss them both senseless. To kiss their problems into oblivion. “Perhaps knowing what your father owes me for will make things clearer for you.”
“Please. Enlighten me.” She crossed her arms over her chest needing any defence she could gather just in case what Stephen told her was devastating. Just one look at Stephen pulled her into a world that wasn’t where she belonged. He was impossible to ignore.
“I’m a smuggler by trade, have been since the man you’re about to meet after dinner gifted me his ship. Your father sought me out and asked me to smuggle into England a large shipment of silk to be sold in the markets of London. I should imagine most of the upper ten-thousand are wearing what your father shipped illegally into this country using my men and my ship. The payment due was to be the last monetary amount needed to give them and their families a comfortable life. Better than anything they’ve ever dreamed of. Your father has stolen this from them and I’m not going to allow that to happen.”
Arabella sat back down. “I don’t understand. Father has money so why he’s refused to pay what was due, illegal or otherwise doesn’t make sense. How much is the debt?”
A muscle worked in Stephen’s jaw and trepidation settled like a rock in her gut. “Two thousand pounds.”
“But he has that.” Doesn’t he? Of late they had been
Small vessels dotted the shallow coastal water and Arabella stepped over toward the fire to warm herself. Stephen sank with a sigh into a settee and shut his eyes. The storm that had been on the horizon earlier in the day was starting to show its presence as the wind picked up and rain started to spatter against the windowpane.
“You said you have other business here. Are you meeting someone else?”
Stephen ran a hand through his hair making it stand on end. He cocked one eye open. “I am. Yes. He should be here after dinner, which should be served soon.” He gestured to the seat beside him. “Come. Sit with me.”
Arabella sat, not liking how he seemed a little ill at ease. “Is something troubling you?”
He pulled out a missive and passed it to her. It was from Lord Montague. She started for a moment before tearing the missive open.
C aptain ,
I ’m shocked that you would steal away the woman who is to become my wife in only a few weeks’ time. I should imagine if you’re reading this missive you should also be looking over your shoulder as I’m going to have my revenge on you.
I f one hair is misplaced on Miss Hester’s head I shall have great enjoyment hurting you in any torturous way possible. It is well advised that the moment you make land in England you hand over my betrothed immediately if I’m not there to make you do so. Not that by doing so will alter the course of your future. You will hang for this crime, you dirty pirate scum.
T hat is one promise I will make and hold true.
L ord Montague .
A rabella screwed up the letter and threw it into the fire. Fear spiked through her at being ripped away from the one man she’d ever cared for. To be placed with peer who held her in little regard other than monetary value.
Stephen didn’t say anything, just watched her as she fiddled with her skirts. “I suppose we should discuss what you’re planning to do with me and when you’re going to be rid of me as well.”
“And if I don’t want to be rid of you. What then?” He turned a met her gaze fully, his eyes as bleak as her own emotions. “Will you leave me anyway, Arabella?”
She stood, needing space. “You know I cannot stay. They will kill you if they ever caught you. The banns have been called, here and in Malta. Everyone knows I’m to marry Lord Montague. You seek revenge on my father, you’re using me for leverage to gain payment. That fact is not something to be passed over and ignored.”
“I know that.” He stood, towering over her and her body yearned to lean into him, wrap her arms about his neck and kiss them both senseless. To kiss their problems into oblivion. “Perhaps knowing what your father owes me for will make things clearer for you.”
“Please. Enlighten me.” She crossed her arms over her chest needing any defence she could gather just in case what Stephen told her was devastating. Just one look at Stephen pulled her into a world that wasn’t where she belonged. He was impossible to ignore.
“I’m a smuggler by trade, have been since the man you’re about to meet after dinner gifted me his ship. Your father sought me out and asked me to smuggle into England a large shipment of silk to be sold in the markets of London. I should imagine most of the upper ten-thousand are wearing what your father shipped illegally into this country using my men and my ship. The payment due was to be the last monetary amount needed to give them and their families a comfortable life. Better than anything they’ve ever dreamed of. Your father has stolen this from them and I’m not going to allow that to happen.”
Arabella sat back down. “I don’t understand. Father has money so why he’s refused to pay what was due, illegal or otherwise doesn’t make sense. How much is the debt?”
A muscle worked in Stephen’s jaw and trepidation settled like a rock in her gut. “Two thousand pounds.”
“But he has that.” Doesn’t he? Of late they had been
Similar Books
