Read Online The Pirate Takes A Bride by Shana Galen - Free Book Online Page A

bow, and the rear the stern.” He escorted her toward the bow, pointing out various objects of interest. At least he found them interesting. He realized he’d been speaking for some time and she hadn’t made any sort of response, and he peered at her face to catch a glimpse of her expression. It was difficult to see her face when she wore his hat. That was his favorite hat, too, and he had to stop himself from telling her to be careful with it. He didn’t want a gust of wind blowing it overboard.
    After a moment of silence, she tilted her face up to his, and he saw expectation in her expression. “Go on,” she said.
    “I was afraid you might find all of this tedious.”
    She shook her head. “Not at all. I didn’t realize you knew so much about the ships and the sea.”
    “I sailed in His Majesty’s Navy for years before we met.”
    Her honey-blond brows rose. “I never knew.”
    “We did not actually converse a great deal during our former acquaintance,” he said. Her eyes flashed the color of the sea before a storm.
    “A mistake I promise you I will not repeat.”
    “Ashley.” He put a hand on her arm, and she shook it off. He noted one or two of his men turned to glance at them—those who weren’t watching them outright already—and he cleared his throat. Had he really thought now the time to apologize to her? To speak to her of the past? She did not want his apology anyway. He stepped back and spread his hands. “A wise decision.”
    He flicked his gaze to Mr. Chante and noted the grim set of his quartermaster’s jaw. “I do think it time you returned to our cabin,” he said. “I’ll have Mr. Fellowes escort you.”
    Fellowes was beside them in an instant, corroborating Nick’s feeling that all eyes were on them. He would have preferred to wrap Ashley in a sheet and hide her in his wardrobe until they returned to England. He didn’t want his men’s hungry eyes on her. Not that he worried any of his men would touch her. They wouldn’t even speak to her without his consent. She was safer on this pirate ship than in any ballroom in London.
    Except, of course, she would not be blown to splinters in a ballroom in London. He wasn’t going to allow any of them to suffer that fate—at least not today, he thought as he made his way to the poop deck. But every pirate knew his day would come. Fate was a fickle creature indeed. She’d favored him so far, but one of these days the wind or the waves would be against him, and the briny deep would welcome him and the
Robin Hood
to a watery grave. Nick could only hope his luck held until he’d had his revenge on Yussef. He could only hope he might deposit Ashley back on land, find her a little cottage by the sea where she’d be safe from Barbary pirates and the gossips of the
ton
.
    “What’s so funny, Cap’n?” Chante asked.
    Nick realized he must have been smiling at the thought of Ashley happily living a quiet life by the seaside. He’d seen the way she wore his cavalier hat. She was an adventurer at heart, and Nick wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t catch a love of the ocean and sailing on this voyage. And then how would he manage her? Ironic how he had done all in his power to avoid having to be the one responsible for her, and he’d ended up becoming her husband. Fate was definitely turning against him.
    “Captain, third-rate ship-of-the-line!” came the call from the main top. “It’s the
H.M.S. Formidable
!”
    “Damn.” Nick held out his hand and Chante placed the spyglass in it. Nick scanned the horizon, locating the ship. It was closer now, and he could identify it. He sighed.
    “It’s the
Formidable
. That’s McCoun’s ship. I know McCoun and his tactics.” McCoun would want them for a prize once he recognized the
Robin Hood
, if he hadn’t already. Nick flew the British flag, but no one familiar with the
Robin Hood
would be fooled by that. Nick had harassed just enough navy vessels that the navy wanted him out of