They made love passionately, holding one another as they climaxed together and then lay in the circle of each other’s arms. Bridget attempted to remember a more satisfying evening as she drifted off to sleep.
That feeling was still with her when she woke the next morning. Stretching in Matt’s arms, he gave her a sleepy smile. “Today is the day.”
Nervous bubbles rose inside her stomach. “The day I retrieve my dowry or the day I face the water?”
“Both,” he answered. “But I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
She reached for his hand as love made her blood sing in her veins. Rising they dressed and headed out onto the deck. The mast of the Maria was just visible. It would be at least three hours until the water had cleared enough that they could reach the boat.
Bridget spent most of that time pacing. “Don’t wear yourself out,” Matt told her as he made a rough map of the ship based on the sailors’ descriptions.
“I can’t help it.” She twisted her hands together. “Will the boat be empty of water?”
“No,” he answered. “We’ll be borrowing some men’s clothes for ye to wear. You won’t be so weighted down that way.”
“Men’s clothes?” she asked, tipping her head to the side. What an interesting idea. She remembered the weight of her dress and petticoats dragging her under the water as a child. Not feeling that, might make a real difference for her.
He nodded. “They should be on our bed already. Why don’t you change while I finish this?” He pointed to the map and she looked down. The drawing was a near perfect map of the Maria.
“My cabin is here,” she said, pointing to a room off the main eating area. It was tiny, with no porthole, and barely room to walk to reach the bunkbeds attached to the wall. “The trunks are under the bottom bunk.”
He gave a nod. “You’ll be able to show me. The map is for my men. All personal affects will go back to the sailors and passengers. But any valuables are considered ours under sea law.”
She narrowed her eyes. “If I go change, you’re not going to lock me in our room are you?”
He gave her a long look, his mouth falling open. “I might be hard as rock but I’m not deceitful. I’ll told ye were coming.”
She shook her head. “I don’t mean to be mistrustful. My father—“
He waved his hand and then reached for hers. “I understand. We both have issues that will take time to mend.” Then he let go. “Now go change, we leave inside the hour.”
* * *
Matt thought Bridget beautiful in her silk skirts with her hair twisted back. He thought her lovely in a wool dress and hat, staring out at the sea. But in a man’s breeches and shirt, the woman was alluring beyond his wildest imaginings. The fabric molded to her rear in the most tempting way, showing every lovely curve as he helped her into the dinghy.
He needed to concentrate but he wanted to bring her back to his bed. Right now.
They rowed out to the wreck, towing another boat behind them to store recovered goods. Bridget was holding his hand tightly but she didn’t cry out, nor was she clutching at him. She did, however, draw in several deep breaths.
“When we get there, the deck will be wet and slippery. I’ll go down first and then lift you down. There will be dark water but I’ll tell you how deep it i
s before I set you in it.” He squinted his eyes. “Unless the hole in the hull is big enough. Then we can walk right in.”
She gave a stiff nod. “Why did I want to do this again? You’re going to lower me into freezing cold, dark water?”
He smiled. “You’re overcoming your fear.”
She shook her head as she closed her eyes. “Terrible idea.”
He leaned down, wrapping his arm about her. “It’s an excellent idea and I’m very proud to have a wife who wants to grow and be strong.”
She opened her eyes, and looked at him. “Thank you.”
They reached the boat and tied their dingy to the bottom. They were only in about a foot of water and Bridget could clearly see the hole in the hull where they had bashed into a rock.
Two of the sailors made their way through it, while the rest began climbing up onto the deck. “My room was close the hull.” She pointed toward it. “Can we go in through there?”
“We can try,” he answered hoping out of the dinghy and grabbing her around the waist to lower her in the surf.