A Pirate of her Own (20 page)

Morgan had no idea what he was in for that
night. He’d spent most of the day with carpenters, trying to make repairs to his ship. But if the truth were known, all he really wanted was to see Serenity.

He missed her lively, infuriating conversation almost as much as he missed her presence. He couldn’t imagine what she’d found on the island to keep her amused. In truth, he’d half expected to see her on board his ship, trying to take the hammers from the carpenters and make the repairs herself. Or join the boatswains who were repairing the sails.

But that hadn’t happened.

Well, the last thing you need is her poking her head in while you’ve got a ship to repair. You’ve got impressed sailors to free, that’s where your thoughts should be, not on the doings of some virginal miss.

Tightening his cravat, he promised himself to
put her out of his thoughts. She would be going home soon and he’d never again have to worry about his sails, or confront frilly underthings in his cabin.

He was glad of it, too.

Really, he was.

“Morgan!”

He paused at the dock as he heard Jake’s voice. His friend sprinted to catch up to him. “Please give my apologies to Martha. I’ll be late to dinner.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to find positions for Hayes’s crew in town. About half of them are through with the sea. And I’m…” His voice trailed off and Jake looked out at the sea with a wistful gaze.

“What?” Morgan asked, wondering what thought had cost Jake his tongue.

“Well, I was thinking that I’d be heading back on the ship for Charleston.”

Morgan nodded. He would be sad to see Jake go, but he understood. “You’re going back to Lorelei?”

“Don’t start—” Jake snapped, his voice full of warning.

Morgan held his hand up in silent surrender. “I’m not.”

“All right, then,” he said, slapping Morgan on the back. “I’ll see you up at the house later.”

Morgan turned around and headed for the stable where he’d rented a horse. For the first time he actually understood Jake’s impatience. He himself couldn’t wait to see Serenity.

It had been a long, long day and all he wanted to do was share it with her. She’d get a good laugh out of Barney’s bird attacking one of the carpenters when he made the mistake of hammering too close to Barney’s room.

Aye, and the fight Cookie and Kit got into over the last roll.

And he desperately wanted to hear her laughter.

With that thought, he set his heels into the horse’s flanks and took off for Robert’s home.

It seemed forever had passed on a snail’s shoulders before he entered the yard. He paused just outside and wandered into the garden.

Serenity liked flowers. He vividly recalled the way she looked holding the rose.

As carefully as he could, he picked her a rose bouquet. Aye, this would bring a smile to her lips, and maybe a little warmth to her heart.

Holding that hope close, he went back to the front door and entered the house. He swept his hat off his head and handed it to the waiting servant.

The first sound he heard was the laugh he sought. It rang out, reaching deep inside him.

She would be in the drawing room on his left. Heading that way, he halted in the doorway.

Serenity sat on the settee, wearing a breathtaking gown of white satin trimmed in lace. Her bodice had been cut dangerously low, showing off the tops of well-rounded breasts he longed to sample. The entire length of her chestnut hair had been swept up into a beautiful style that exposed the creamy smooth skin of her neck.

His mouth watered.

Her face was bright, and she reached one graceful hand over to pat…

To pat the arm of the
man
by her side!

The smile faded from his lips.

His eyes narrowed.

Who was this interloper who dared intrude on his…

Your what?

Territory?

He balked at the thought. She wasn’t his territory. She wasn’t his anything. He had no right to her, yet watching her laugh with another man made him furious enough to punch the fellow in his arrogant face.

Yes, his face was arrogant. His shoulders too broad. And his pants, they were cut so close that they were obscene! Who did he think he was, wearing breeches cropped like that in mixed company?

Morgan squelched the voice in his head that reminded him the pants fit about the same as his own.

That
was entirely different.

“Morgan,” Martha greeted him with a smile. “Are those for me?”

Well, two could play Serenity’s game. He bristled under Martha’s too-direct gaze and handed her Serenity’s flowers. “Why yes, yes they are.”

Martha took them from his hand and gave them to the waiting servant. “Why don’t you come in and meet Captain Stanley Fairhope.”

There was a twinkle in Martha’s eyes, and if Morgan didn’t know better, he’d suspect her of some sort of foul play. But that was ridiculous. Martha, unlike Kristen or Serenity, was level-headed and trustworthy.

The so-called captain and Serenity rose to their feet, and Morgan didn’t miss the fact that the man’s hand lingered on her elbow.

Nor the fact that the imbecile’s gaze kept drifting to her cleavage.

He inclined his head to Captain Fathead. “Captain Fairley,” he said, his voice deep and strong as he battled the urge to rip the man’s eyes out.

At least the fellow had the God-given sense to remove his hand from Serenity’s elbow.

“My name is Fair
hope
,” he said, flashing a pair of those dimple things that were appealing in a woman, but looked ridiculous on any man.

This man was definitely a fop. Only a fop would have dimples.

Kristen offered Morgan a drink. After he declined, she returned it to the servant’s tray, then moved to stand beside Serenity.

“I’ve heard so many things about you, Captain Drake,” Fairhope said. “Allow me to shake the hand of the man who defeated Wayward Hayes.”

So, the interloper thought he could pander to him. No chance, that.

Reluctantly Morgan extended his hand. “I heard from a couple of sailors you had a run-in with pirates on your way here.”

A light of humor sparkled in Captain Fathead’s eyes. “Why yes, as a matter of fact I did. Devilish beasts, those pirates. Why, some good captain should obliterate each and every one of those repellent—”

“Captain Fairhope…”Kristen began, interrupting the man’s idiotic tirade and looking meaningfully at Morgan, “has graciously agreed to escort Serenity home personally to her family’s door.”

Now he truly hated the man.

Graciously offered, indeed. He had little doubt about what motivated the man to make such an offer.

Well, no one was going to lay a hand on his Serenity.

Not without a fight.

“How nice of you, Fairley,” Morgan ground out. “But I have already made that offer.”

“Yes, and I told you no,” Serenity said.

She linked arms with Stanhope, or whatever his name was. “I’d hate to be a burden to anyone, but the good captain here has made such a compelling case that—”

“She’ll attempt to take over your crew,” Morgan blurted out like an imbecile.

The man gave a milksop smile to Serenity. “Fine then, she’s already taken over my heart.”

Serenity blushed.

Had her cheeks always been that rosy?

Her smile so stunning?

“Why, Stanley,” Serenity cooed, “you say the most scandalous things.”

Morgan saw red. How dare she speak to that man like that.

He wanted blood. Captain Fathead’s blood.

Stanhope Fairley looked offended.

Good. Let her shred him the same way she shredded Morgan. That would teach him not to trespass on a man’s woman.

“Miss James,” he said in a breathless voice, “I assure you, I’m most committed to you. Would you have me declare my feelings for the benefit of all?”

Serenity stepped back with a frown. “Excuse me?”

Fairhope looked positively moonstruck. “I mean what I say, Miss James.” He took her by both hands and knelt upon one knee before her. “I wish for you to marry me.”

Her eyes widened and her mouth flexed.

Morgan waited, knowing his little vexation wouldn’t disappoint him.

Aye, she would send the interloper packing with a few choice insults. His little vixen wouldn’t tolerate such ridiculous stupidity.

“Captain, I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, you’ve never been at a loss for words before,” Morgan snapped before he could stop himself.

Serenity turned to face him with eyes of fire. “Fine then. Captain Stanley Fairhope, I accept your offer.”

“You what!” Morgan roared.

The fop stood, holding her hand like some treasured object against his chest. He stroked her wrist. “Miss James, you’ve made me the happiest man in the world. I knew the moment I saw you that you were the only woman for me.”

“He’s a fop!” Morgan snapped. “You can’t marry a fop. Why, you’re more of a man than he is.”

The room fell as silent as a crypt.

It was only then that Morgan realized what he’d said.

Serenity’s face turned the color of a bright cherry an instant before she let him have her wrath fully. “Just who do you think you are, Morgan Drake? How dare you say such a thing to me! You don’t own me, you don’t even want me. All you’ve done is cry out what a burden I am to you, and now that I’ve found someone who can make me happy, you dare stand there and make insults. You’re vile, Captain. Loathsome. But then, I suppose I’ll forgive you your rudeness, since you’re only being yourself.”

Enraged to the point of murder, Morgan looked at Fairhead. “See!” he said in triumph. “Generally speaking, she’s always generally speaking.”

He should have taken warning the moment he saw her eyes narrow, but he didn’t.

Instead, he blurted out, “Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with
that
?”

Her shriek of outrage could have splintered glass. As it was, it made an indelible impact on his eardrums.

“If I
were
a man, I’d call you out,” she snapped before gathering her skirts and storming from the room.

And it was only then that Morgan realized he’d seen tears starting in her eyes.

Tears,
he thought, momentarily stunned. From Serenity? Surely he was wrong.

“You are a pig, Morgan Drake,” Kristen said, rounding the settee to stand before him. She looked at him as if he were the vilest creature alive. “I’m ashamed to have ever called you brother.”

Before Morgan could respond, Robert and Jake entered the room.

Robert paused an instant and stared at Fathead. “Stanley? Why on earth are you wearing that getup?”

Color stained the man’s cheeks.

Suddenly everything became clear. Serenity’s dress and acquiescence. Fathead’s declaration of love.

Kristen’s manipulative personality.

The look in Martha’s eyes…

“You mean he’s not a captain?” Morgan asked.

“No,” Robert answered. “He’s the local smith.”

“Kristen!” Morgan bellowed, moving toward her.

With a squeak, she ran from the room.

“Congratulations, Captain Drake,” Fairhead said with a snide grin. “You’ve managed to clear the room.”

Morgan turned on the menace who had ruined his night. “At least I wasn’t a dupe for a knottypated scheme.”

“No,” Fairhead said, picking an imaginary piece of lint off his cuff. He looked up at Morgan, his glare hostile. “You were a royal jackass. Between the two, I think I’d much rather play the dupe.”

Serenity maliciously pulled the pearl-tipped pins from her hair, taking comfort in the pain as she walked through the garden with no destination in mind. She just needed to get away. Be alone for a while until she could assuage the wounds of her heart.

“This was so stupid,” she snapped, wiping angrily at the tears on her cheeks. “You knew he didn’t care for you. You should have never listened to Kristen.”

Hurt beyond her heart’s tolerance, Serenity reached into the pocket of her dress trying to find a kerchief.

Of course one wasn’t there.

“Oh, bother anyway,” she sobbed, wiping her face with her hand.

“Here.”

She froze at the sound of Morgan’s deep timbre. He stepped out of the shadows with a crisp linen kerchief dangling from his right hand.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice harsh. “Haven’t you insulted me enough?”

Taking the extended cloth, she dabbed her eyes.

Morgan cleared his throat and looked away as if embarrassed. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“Well then, if you do this much damage unintentionally, I hope to goodness you never set out for harm.”

He reached for her. “Serenity…”

“Go away!”

Morgan took a step back and stopped. He couldn’t leave her like this. She looked so frail in the moonlight with her white satin dress and her hair hanging about her shoulders in delicate curls. She’d laced her dress up tightly and worn a corset that lifted her breasts high. She wasn’t as endowed as the women who typically drew his notice, yet he found her figure breathtaking.

Delectable.

Had she done all this just for him?

In one way, he was flattered. In another way, he wanted to strangle her for putting him through the whole charade.

In one night she had turned him completely inside out. Had made Morgan Drake, pirate captain and man who knew the world and how to tame it, a babbling, bumbling jackass.

And for what?

Because she’d dared touch another man?

He flinched. That was ridiculous. What did he care if she touched someone else?

What did he care if she
did
run off with Fathead?

But the truth was, he did care.

He couldn’t deny it. The truth stood before him, just like the stone wall of the garden.

It was then he realized he loved her.

He felt as though he’d been struck.

Nay, he argued, he couldn’t possibly. She pushed him to the brink of murder. He couldn’t love a woman who delighted in tormenting him.

And yet he did.

He loved the challenge of her. Matching wits against a woman who could hold her own.