Read Online Her Gentleman Pirate (High Seas & High Stakes Book 2) by Tamara Gill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tamara Gill
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under his ribs. He rubbed his chest, his like for her much more than he’d ever thought possible.
“She’s a gentleman’s daughter. You’ll ruin her, if you haven’t already. You are better than this, Stephen. I know you have peerage in your family. You need to act the gentleman, now man, before it’s too late.” The duke rubbed his jaw, his face all hard angles and serious.
The disappointment in his friend’s tone ripped him in two. Was he better than this? His family had lost everything before he was even born. He’d never been given the opportunity to know what it was like to be lord and master of all he surveyed. To care for people as only a member of the upper ten-thousand should. So was he really better than a smuggling pirate who idled his life away on the sea? “You’ve always held me in too higher regard, Gabe. And let’s not forget the woman you married was an innocent on her way back to England when you seduced her, in front of us all. How is what I’m doing any different?”
“I married Eloise, that’s how it’s different.” The duke’s face softened, but for only a moment. “It also doesn’t hurt that I’m the Duke of Dale. You must take Miss Hester back to London and find another way to gain payment from her father.”
Stephen cringed at the thought. He didn’t want to return her. And what the hell did that mean if he did not? Did he feel more for Arabella than he was admitting to himself? They certainly worked well together in bed, but in everyday life was another matter entirely. All Stephen knew was he was not ready for her to leave him. Not yet at least. “I will not. She stays with me until payment is made in full. I have nothing left to lose. But I’ll be damned if I’ll let my men suffer the same fate.”
“You can still lose your life. Think man, not even I could save you from the noose should you be caught. And I haven’t told you everything I’ve heard. There is more you need to know.”
Stephen sat forward, frowning. “What don’t I know?”
“Lord Montague has sailed after you and is headed here. Been tipped off somehow as to your location I would think. From what I could find out, he’s crossed paths with Sir Hester who is now accompanying him. By tomorrow afternoon your captive’s betrothed will be here to collect his bride-to-be.” He paused, shaking his head. “This is absurd behaviour. You know better than this.” The duke gestured with his hands and looked ready to throttle him at his continued silence. “What possessed you?”
Stephen crossed his arms over his chest. “I will not be threatened by a fellow who likes to be buggered every night in the hells of London. A lifetime with me would be sweeter than a day with him. Why, he’d never even see her. Not the real, Arabella. He would only ever view her as a woman who took his freedom away. A woman who’ll never be a man; the sex he desires most.” He could not give Arabella over to such a fate. To sail away knowing he would never see her again and that he’d left her to life a life she would never enjoy.
A muscle worked at the duke’s temple. “Whether the rumours are true or not, she’s promised to him. Should he come here, you’d be best to hand her over and make your way to Scotland where the law will not find you too quickly or better yet, will forget your indiscretion. You know what Lord Montague is like. He’s a prick with a lot of connections. Forget the blunt you’re owed. Your life is worth more than a couple thousand pounds.”
Stephen swallowed. Gabe was right in many respects. He should never have kidnapped Arabella in the first place. He pinched his nose. What the hell had gotten into him? But it still didn’t change the fact he couldn’t regret the decision he made. He would never regret his time with Arabella. They were the best times of his pitiful life so far. “I won’t let her go.”
“Even if Lord Montague is willing to settle the debt? What will your excuse be
“She’s a gentleman’s daughter. You’ll ruin her, if you haven’t already. You are better than this, Stephen. I know you have peerage in your family. You need to act the gentleman, now man, before it’s too late.” The duke rubbed his jaw, his face all hard angles and serious.
The disappointment in his friend’s tone ripped him in two. Was he better than this? His family had lost everything before he was even born. He’d never been given the opportunity to know what it was like to be lord and master of all he surveyed. To care for people as only a member of the upper ten-thousand should. So was he really better than a smuggling pirate who idled his life away on the sea? “You’ve always held me in too higher regard, Gabe. And let’s not forget the woman you married was an innocent on her way back to England when you seduced her, in front of us all. How is what I’m doing any different?”
“I married Eloise, that’s how it’s different.” The duke’s face softened, but for only a moment. “It also doesn’t hurt that I’m the Duke of Dale. You must take Miss Hester back to London and find another way to gain payment from her father.”
Stephen cringed at the thought. He didn’t want to return her. And what the hell did that mean if he did not? Did he feel more for Arabella than he was admitting to himself? They certainly worked well together in bed, but in everyday life was another matter entirely. All Stephen knew was he was not ready for her to leave him. Not yet at least. “I will not. She stays with me until payment is made in full. I have nothing left to lose. But I’ll be damned if I’ll let my men suffer the same fate.”
“You can still lose your life. Think man, not even I could save you from the noose should you be caught. And I haven’t told you everything I’ve heard. There is more you need to know.”
Stephen sat forward, frowning. “What don’t I know?”
“Lord Montague has sailed after you and is headed here. Been tipped off somehow as to your location I would think. From what I could find out, he’s crossed paths with Sir Hester who is now accompanying him. By tomorrow afternoon your captive’s betrothed will be here to collect his bride-to-be.” He paused, shaking his head. “This is absurd behaviour. You know better than this.” The duke gestured with his hands and looked ready to throttle him at his continued silence. “What possessed you?”
Stephen crossed his arms over his chest. “I will not be threatened by a fellow who likes to be buggered every night in the hells of London. A lifetime with me would be sweeter than a day with him. Why, he’d never even see her. Not the real, Arabella. He would only ever view her as a woman who took his freedom away. A woman who’ll never be a man; the sex he desires most.” He could not give Arabella over to such a fate. To sail away knowing he would never see her again and that he’d left her to life a life she would never enjoy.
A muscle worked at the duke’s temple. “Whether the rumours are true or not, she’s promised to him. Should he come here, you’d be best to hand her over and make your way to Scotland where the law will not find you too quickly or better yet, will forget your indiscretion. You know what Lord Montague is like. He’s a prick with a lot of connections. Forget the blunt you’re owed. Your life is worth more than a couple thousand pounds.”
Stephen swallowed. Gabe was right in many respects. He should never have kidnapped Arabella in the first place. He pinched his nose. What the hell had gotten into him? But it still didn’t change the fact he couldn’t regret the decision he made. He would never regret his time with Arabella. They were the best times of his pitiful life so far. “I won’t let her go.”
“Even if Lord Montague is willing to settle the debt? What will your excuse be
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