Read Online When Fate Dictates by Elizabeth Marshall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Marshall
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face, dropping to linger over
the swell of my breasts. “Christ, but you are beautiful Corran,” he
groaned, shaking his head in despair and running his fingers along
the line of my jaw. “I am sorry lass, but I just can’t do it to
you,” he said, suddenly turning from me, he picked up his hat and
moved toward the door. Standing in front of it, he stared back at
me, his hand hovering over the handle. “I am not made of steel, but
by God around you I wish I were.” He turned the handle and opened
the door.
“Please don’t go Simon,” I begged, my eyes
filling with tears of rejection. “What have I done?” I whispered
softly.
“I won’t be long, go to bed,” he said
abruptly, and with that he was gone.
I sat at the table looking into the embers of
the fire, watching their gentle glow. I brushed my fingers over my
lips, remembering the feel of his mouth on mine as we had
kissed.
******
CHAPTER 8
There was no mention of our kiss or
explanation of his sudden departure the next morning when I
followed him to the docks. The docks were a bustle of noise and
activity. Ships with their tall empty masts swayed patiently on the
water. The smell of rotting seaweed and fish hung heavily in the
damp morning air. Simon pointed toward a large vessel with three
masts, bobbing teasingly in the water, some way from the dock. “Can
you see out there? That’s our ship.”
Squinting against the early sun, I nodded as
the great vessel came into view. It was a magnificent, sleek ship
with high sides and an even higher stern.
“It looks very big.”
“It is a very big ship, and it’s owned by
some very wealthy people.”
“What is so special about the cargo?” I
asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
“It’s gold and jewels, stolen from the great
wealth of Europe.”
My mouth dropped open in shocked surprise as
I stood staring at him. “Simon, what about pirates?”
“What about them?”
“Well, if we have a cargo that is as valuable
as you say it is, surely we will be a target for pirates?”
“I can’t say that they won’t be a problem to
us, but that ship has seventy-odd guns. Thirty or so are mounted on
each side of the ship and countless swing guns are mounted along
the rail, along with archers on fighting platforms to prevent
anyone wanting to board us. I should think we will have a better
chance than most.”
Regardless of how impressive it all sounded,
a knot of terror tightened in my stomach. “How many people will be
on the ship?” I asked, hoping that I had not betrayed my
terror.
“I expect around two hundred and fifty men.
Why do you ask?”
“I was just thinking that it is a long time
to spend with strangers,” I replied.
“I won’t lie to you, Corran; cabins are not
part of the structure of the ship. The walls are designed so that
they can be taken down, in case you need to run the guns for
battle, or to fit in more merchandise. Even the captain’s cabin can
be taken apart if needs be. It won’t be fancy.”
We stood in silence, watching the smaller
boats in dock, each of us with our own thoughts, expectations and
fears. Eventually, Simon took my arm and we made to leave the
docks, pushing our way through the crowds of beggars, cripples,
sailors and merchants and headed back toward the city.
“We should get you some clothes to travel
in,” he said as we cleared the mass of bodies around the docks.
“That is very kind, but we don’t have the
money to spend,” I argued.
“Oh Corran, trust me will you,” he said
laughing, “right now that is one thing we have plenty of.”
I raised my eyebrows in question. “We have?”
He smiled down at me, a look of contented triumph in his eyes.
“Tell me then, where have we got all this money from?” I asked.
His smile broadened and he took my hand,
giving it a gentle squeeze. “Well apart from the money we acquired
from the military riders and a few coins for the horse, I made a
fair sum gambling in the tavern a
the swell of my breasts. “Christ, but you are beautiful Corran,” he
groaned, shaking his head in despair and running his fingers along
the line of my jaw. “I am sorry lass, but I just can’t do it to
you,” he said, suddenly turning from me, he picked up his hat and
moved toward the door. Standing in front of it, he stared back at
me, his hand hovering over the handle. “I am not made of steel, but
by God around you I wish I were.” He turned the handle and opened
the door.
“Please don’t go Simon,” I begged, my eyes
filling with tears of rejection. “What have I done?” I whispered
softly.
“I won’t be long, go to bed,” he said
abruptly, and with that he was gone.
I sat at the table looking into the embers of
the fire, watching their gentle glow. I brushed my fingers over my
lips, remembering the feel of his mouth on mine as we had
kissed.
******
CHAPTER 8
There was no mention of our kiss or
explanation of his sudden departure the next morning when I
followed him to the docks. The docks were a bustle of noise and
activity. Ships with their tall empty masts swayed patiently on the
water. The smell of rotting seaweed and fish hung heavily in the
damp morning air. Simon pointed toward a large vessel with three
masts, bobbing teasingly in the water, some way from the dock. “Can
you see out there? That’s our ship.”
Squinting against the early sun, I nodded as
the great vessel came into view. It was a magnificent, sleek ship
with high sides and an even higher stern.
“It looks very big.”
“It is a very big ship, and it’s owned by
some very wealthy people.”
“What is so special about the cargo?” I
asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
“It’s gold and jewels, stolen from the great
wealth of Europe.”
My mouth dropped open in shocked surprise as
I stood staring at him. “Simon, what about pirates?”
“What about them?”
“Well, if we have a cargo that is as valuable
as you say it is, surely we will be a target for pirates?”
“I can’t say that they won’t be a problem to
us, but that ship has seventy-odd guns. Thirty or so are mounted on
each side of the ship and countless swing guns are mounted along
the rail, along with archers on fighting platforms to prevent
anyone wanting to board us. I should think we will have a better
chance than most.”
Regardless of how impressive it all sounded,
a knot of terror tightened in my stomach. “How many people will be
on the ship?” I asked, hoping that I had not betrayed my
terror.
“I expect around two hundred and fifty men.
Why do you ask?”
“I was just thinking that it is a long time
to spend with strangers,” I replied.
“I won’t lie to you, Corran; cabins are not
part of the structure of the ship. The walls are designed so that
they can be taken down, in case you need to run the guns for
battle, or to fit in more merchandise. Even the captain’s cabin can
be taken apart if needs be. It won’t be fancy.”
We stood in silence, watching the smaller
boats in dock, each of us with our own thoughts, expectations and
fears. Eventually, Simon took my arm and we made to leave the
docks, pushing our way through the crowds of beggars, cripples,
sailors and merchants and headed back toward the city.
“We should get you some clothes to travel
in,” he said as we cleared the mass of bodies around the docks.
“That is very kind, but we don’t have the
money to spend,” I argued.
“Oh Corran, trust me will you,” he said
laughing, “right now that is one thing we have plenty of.”
I raised my eyebrows in question. “We have?”
He smiled down at me, a look of contented triumph in his eyes.
“Tell me then, where have we got all this money from?” I asked.
His smile broadened and he took my hand,
giving it a gentle squeeze. “Well apart from the money we acquired
from the military riders and a few coins for the horse, I made a
fair sum gambling in the tavern a
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