Chapter Ten
Elizabeth uttered a sigh when Brand secured the last rope and the Charlotte bobbed in her slip. “Thank you for a wonderful afternoon.” No matter how much she might have wished otherwise, the day had to come to an end.
“Truly, it was my pleasure.” The captain jumped down onto the wharf. Then he turned and lifted a hand. “Careful now. It’s a bit slippery.”
All around them boats and ships of varying sizes were coming home for the evening. No doubt the fishermen and merchants were hungry for their nightly meals and the chance to relax weary bones after a long day on the water.
When she put her hand into his and he assisted her down, she squealed. For one heart-stopping moment, she was weightless, but then he caught her in his arms and held her close for a second longer than propriety might allow. She felt… different somehow, as if she weren’t the same woman who’d boarded the sloop hours ago. Why though? Something had changed, at least for her. She was now a wild thing after having connected with nature and the sea, feeling the wind in her hair and the sun on her face. There had been laughter exchanged between her and Brand. And his touch, his lips, on her body had certainly ushered greater enjoyment into the outing.
How long had it been since she’d conducted herself with such abandon without fear of the consequences or the judgment from the church?
Then Brand released her and stepped away. Immediately, she missed the warmth of him, the solid manliness of his presence. “Shall I escort you home?”
“I’d like to say yes, but William will no doubt be waiting for me, and…” Her words trailed off, for what else was there to say?
“And he doesn’t care much for me,” Brand continued for her. A wicked smile curved his sensual lips. “That’s all to the good, for I don’t like him either.”
An unladylike snort escaped her. “Hush, you.” She smiled at a few fishermen walking the wharf. Some nodded while others threw her looks of confusion. All of them greeted Brand with friendliness and respect. “Well, I should go, but I’m grateful for the afternoon. I can’t tell you the last time I enjoyed myself or felt so… free.”
“I understand.” Desire darkened the gray depths of his eye while he looked at her. “Until our next meeting.”
She nodded, and in desperation blurted, “When?”
“Day after tomorrow. I have a few supply runs to complete tomorrow that will occupy my time.”
Cold disappointment snaked through her insides. Two days seemed so long, but she nodded. “I can’t wait.”
“Good. Meet me here around noon. I’ll take you sailing again since you seem to have an affinity for the water. Perhaps it’s time you learn to swim.” He stepped closer and gently tugged on a lock of her hair. “The flush of sun on your skin is enormously erotic. I can’t wait to see what you’ll look like completely wet.” The accompanying wink sent her imagination flying into dark, wicked places.
Heat jumped into her cheeks. “You are quite the rogue, Captain.”
“Aye.” He made a shooing motion with his hands. “Go, lest the sinless William come searching for you and calls me out in a duel regarding your virtue.”
She rolled her eyes. “Which remains untouched so there is no need for his fury.” But she fled with the sound of his laughter ringing in her ears.
*
Elizabeth opened thefront door to her house with a fair amount of trepidation. She hadn’t wanted to return home, but here she was, for there was nothing else for her to do.
Her stomach growled as she entered the townhouse and softly closed the door behind her. Knots pulled in her belly. It was almost dinner time. William would be pacing the floor in a temper wondering where she was, for he detested tardiness. Of course, they would go to the tavern as they always did. Would Captain Storme’s cronies still be hanging about their private dining room? Heat fired in her cheeks. Had her appearance there earlier in the day and Brand’s subsequent absence give them a clue as to what had happened aboard the Charlotte? Perhaps more to the point, would he brag about what he’d done to her?
Good heavens. I never assumed his friends might know.
Barely had she passed the parlor when William called her. “Elizabeth, I would like to see you, please.”
A tremor of unease shivered down her spine. As she turned about, she put a hand to her hair. Drat! She’d forgotten to set it to rights, and Brand had the pins and combs. Worry increased, and she hastily finger-combed her hair and used the strands themselves to secure the mass into a low chignon on the back of her neck. It would have to do. Smoothing her hands along the front of her dress—now hopelessly wrinkled—Elizabeth entered the parlor.
“Hello, William. I trust your meeting went well?” Perhaps the best way to proceed was to pretend nothing untoward had happened.
“It did. Thank you.” He sat in a winged-back chair upholstered in the same mauve color as the rest of the room. One ankle rested on a knee. His fingers were steepled beneath his chin. Displeasure filled his eyes. “I believe I told you to remain here while I was out.”
Not this again. “And I believe I told you that I could make my own decisions.” A pleasant drowsiness had swept over her from the sun. How delightful it had been to breathe in the air and feel the warmth on her skin instead of passing those hours hidden away in the house.
“That very well may be true, but those decisions are wrong and have put your immortal soul into danger.” He stared at her with a look akin to disgust. “Where have you been?” He swept his gaze up and down her person. “You’re windblown, sunburned, and stinking of sin.”
Did he mean that literally or figuratively? “I spent some time on the water today. It’s the perfect weather for it.” She’d stick to the truth as much as possible. “Captain Storme was gracious enough to take me out on his sloop. He taught me how to fish.” That was also true, for once they’d finally stirred from the romantic embrace they’d shared after the failed ruination, he’d been ever so helpful and eager to please with promises of teaching her how to swim and sail later. After that, she’d been content to sit in the sun regardless of her complexion and enjoy a couple of hours on the river while he gave her a tour of the harbor.
A knock rained upon the front door, but neither she nor her brother paid it much mind, for the housekeeper, Mrs. Friedmont, would attend to the visitor.