Read Online Till Dawn Tames the Night by Meagan McKinney - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Meagan McKinney
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the child. About the Star of Aran ."
She frowned. The Star of Aran ? He was obviously referring to her nursery rhyme, but why he had called it that, she was not at all sure.
"That was just a rhyme my father taught me when I was a child," she said. "In fact, it's the only thing I remember about him. Why did you refer to the Star of Aran ? Is there such a thing? Have you heard of it before?"
He studied her face. "It's of no account. I thought that might be the name of the rhyme."
"You have an astounding memory then, sir, to have surmised all of that after hearing the rhyme only once."
"I remember a lot of things, Miss Dayne."
There was a long silence as if they both were at a loss as to how to continue. The man was an ever increasing enigma to her, and she truly doubted she would ever understand him, most certainly not before she reached Jamaica.
She began to turn away.
"One more thing."
"Yes?" She looked up at him. For the briefest of seconds she thought he was going to touch her cheek, but if he was, he sufficiently quelled the notion.
"That child, Hester. She's a browbeaten little waif and doesn't smile often. It was kind of you to tell her that rhyme."
"It was nothing," she answered self-consciously. "I like children. I like to see them smile."
His stare grew more intense. "If that's the case, then I would think a young woman like yourself would be spending her time starting a family rather than sailing across the Atlantic with a ship full of strangers."
Startled, she met his gaze. Her desire for a family went back as far as she could remember. Even as a child, her favorite time of the year had been Christmas because that was when the orphans went caroling at the town houses in Berkeley Square. And though Aurora, the youngest back then, shivered from the cold and the snow, she had never wanted Mrs. Bluefield to return them to White-chapel. Instead she had wanted to stay singing in front of those open doors, to remain peeking in at the cozy family life, long after the master of the household had lifted up one of his children to put a penny in the cup for the Home.
But her longing for a family was a subject she had rarely broached with anyone, let alone this very male stranger. She hadn't even told John Phipps, for she knew instinctively that her dream would have never worked with him. And when she was truthful with herself, she knew that was why she was on the Seabravery now. Though a part of her was certainly running away, a part of her seemed also to be running to something. Or someone. If he existed at all.
She gazed reproachfully at the ship's owner. The man was abrupt and inquisitive to the point of rudeness. The fact that she never knew what he would say next rattled her considerably. With a great deal of effort, she tried to put on an indifferent facade.
"I've always considered my young charges to be my family, sir. I've not seen the need for anything more."
"I see."
His eyes met hers. There was the trace of a smirk on his lips. It was as if he had seen right through to her vulnerability and, if it were possible, had even followed the path of her thoughts. Unwittingly she blushed.
"Until tonight then, Miss Dayne," he said, mercifully excusing her.
"Yes," she choked, appalled that on just her second meeting with this ungodly pirate, he had somehow found her Achilles heel.
Chapter Five
An angel from heaven came tumbling down
And asked the way to Aran .
"I've come to find my long lost Star
Can you help me with my errand?"
Vashon studied the rhyme again and again. Painstakingly he had written it in his ship's log. His lips moved as he read it silently now for the hundredth time. A knock on the door made him close the log in frustration. With great impatient strides he crossed the cabin and flung open the door.
"You called for me?" Isaac stepped into Vashon's cabin.
"He gave her a nursery rhyme! A damned nursery rhyme, and it is so much gibberish!" Vashon handed him the log.
Isaac read the
She frowned. The Star of Aran ? He was obviously referring to her nursery rhyme, but why he had called it that, she was not at all sure.
"That was just a rhyme my father taught me when I was a child," she said. "In fact, it's the only thing I remember about him. Why did you refer to the Star of Aran ? Is there such a thing? Have you heard of it before?"
He studied her face. "It's of no account. I thought that might be the name of the rhyme."
"You have an astounding memory then, sir, to have surmised all of that after hearing the rhyme only once."
"I remember a lot of things, Miss Dayne."
There was a long silence as if they both were at a loss as to how to continue. The man was an ever increasing enigma to her, and she truly doubted she would ever understand him, most certainly not before she reached Jamaica.
She began to turn away.
"One more thing."
"Yes?" She looked up at him. For the briefest of seconds she thought he was going to touch her cheek, but if he was, he sufficiently quelled the notion.
"That child, Hester. She's a browbeaten little waif and doesn't smile often. It was kind of you to tell her that rhyme."
"It was nothing," she answered self-consciously. "I like children. I like to see them smile."
His stare grew more intense. "If that's the case, then I would think a young woman like yourself would be spending her time starting a family rather than sailing across the Atlantic with a ship full of strangers."
Startled, she met his gaze. Her desire for a family went back as far as she could remember. Even as a child, her favorite time of the year had been Christmas because that was when the orphans went caroling at the town houses in Berkeley Square. And though Aurora, the youngest back then, shivered from the cold and the snow, she had never wanted Mrs. Bluefield to return them to White-chapel. Instead she had wanted to stay singing in front of those open doors, to remain peeking in at the cozy family life, long after the master of the household had lifted up one of his children to put a penny in the cup for the Home.
But her longing for a family was a subject she had rarely broached with anyone, let alone this very male stranger. She hadn't even told John Phipps, for she knew instinctively that her dream would have never worked with him. And when she was truthful with herself, she knew that was why she was on the Seabravery now. Though a part of her was certainly running away, a part of her seemed also to be running to something. Or someone. If he existed at all.
She gazed reproachfully at the ship's owner. The man was abrupt and inquisitive to the point of rudeness. The fact that she never knew what he would say next rattled her considerably. With a great deal of effort, she tried to put on an indifferent facade.
"I've always considered my young charges to be my family, sir. I've not seen the need for anything more."
"I see."
His eyes met hers. There was the trace of a smirk on his lips. It was as if he had seen right through to her vulnerability and, if it were possible, had even followed the path of her thoughts. Unwittingly she blushed.
"Until tonight then, Miss Dayne," he said, mercifully excusing her.
"Yes," she choked, appalled that on just her second meeting with this ungodly pirate, he had somehow found her Achilles heel.
Chapter Five
An angel from heaven came tumbling down
And asked the way to Aran .
"I've come to find my long lost Star
Can you help me with my errand?"
Vashon studied the rhyme again and again. Painstakingly he had written it in his ship's log. His lips moved as he read it silently now for the hundredth time. A knock on the door made him close the log in frustration. With great impatient strides he crossed the cabin and flung open the door.
"You called for me?" Isaac stepped into Vashon's cabin.
"He gave her a nursery rhyme! A damned nursery rhyme, and it is so much gibberish!" Vashon handed him the log.
Isaac read the
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