A Pirate’s Wife (30 page)

'I know.' he said, and captured her mouth

seductively.

22

The rest of the voyage was uneventful, if you call

morning sickness between two women uneventful. Rosa-

Lee's morning sickness increased right after they started on

their trip to Portugal and Nora followed a month later. The

men were extremely careful around them. The sea's

continuous movement and the women's conflicting moods

were tiresome, but they could not avoid the smiles of

satisfaction in the private knowledge that they would be

fathers soon, an idea neither had considered possible.

Sometimes just to get out of the cabins the men

would flee to the bridge where they would talk man stuff.

The men laughed at their expense, knowing the time they

had was not always perfect.

Rosa-Lee tried very hard to control herself, but the

whole voyage had her nerves as tight as a drum. She felt

sweaty and gigantic, even though she knew. It was not true

and Roberto assured her he still loved her, all of her. She

was not convinced, and to make matters worse, when she

did not retched it out, she ate as if for an army, the hunger a

permanent resident within her swollen body.

Her clothes were long outgrown. The seams had

been let out until nothing remained. All she was

comfortable in was Roberto's shirts, but that meant she

could not go out, which was frustrating in the stifling cabin.

Not that Roberto complained about less to get rid of when

he wanted to cuddle into her.

Nora had it a bit better but not much. She was not

growing at such a gigantic pace as Rosa-Lee. Her dresses

still fit in a way, giving her more movement on the upper

deck. Her morning sickness lasted longer so that by the

time she had her wits about her, she was famished. But then

seasickness would set in and the doctor filled his days

controlling it. The cook baked special biscuits in the hopes

that it would help. Some days it was fine, other days

nothing stayed down and she cried, which frustrated Pierre

tremendously, just holding her the best he could, with a

handsome smile.

During those times, the two friends would stay on

the bridge, giving their full attention to the ship, the maps

and everything else happening. But the trip was calm, with

no real adventure to take their minds from their wives,

consoling each other, looking miserable themselves. Now

and then, the women would calm down and be the sweet

women they loved and adored, only to chase them out

again in anger.

After four months of rolling seas, steady winds in

the sails and beautiful weather they saw land beautifully

edged on the horizon. They hugged each other in relief and

the men joked with them, seeming unmoved. They watched

the land coming closer with every passing hour.

Again, dread filled Roberto's mind, wondering for

the umpteenth time how he would be received. After that

one time, he never spoke to Rosa-Lee about it again but the

nagging question remained in his head and he clenched his

teeth as he looked at the unfolding land mass before him.

As the busy harbour came into view, he felt his

shoulders tense and his rigid posture as stiff as a plank.

Pierre noticed his friend and former captain's tense

posture and touched him on the shoulder.

'You will be fine Roberto. You are making it too

much of an issue. If what Rosa-Lee is telling us is any

indication of who this man is, he will accept you.'

Dark eyes turned to him and he gave a tense grin.

His lips were stretched and even underneath the tanned skin

Pierre could see his friend was pale.

'Yes, I hear you, my friend.'

'Relax.' Pierre squeezed his shoulder once again.

'There you are, Roberto, love,' Rosa-Lee called out,

the smile on her face radiant but tired, her body

uncomfortably large as she held her back. Roberto turned to

look at her with tender love, softening the tensed features

immediately.

'Were you looking for me, Rosa?' He welcomed her

body into his arms.

'Yes love, I was wondering when we will dock?'

She looked past him to the busy harbour. Large merchant

ships lay in the overcrowded harbour, busy unloading or

loading and they could see people scurrying around in the

distance, too far away to identify.

'Not long now. By nightfall we will be there and I

will send someone to your father's place to come and get

us,' he replied, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her

cheek.

Nora also joined them and together the two couples

watched the harbour coming closer. True to his word, by

the time supper was served they had found a place and

could send one of the men with a note to her father's house,

notifying them of their arrival and requesting a carriage.

Two hours later, the boatswain announced the

arrival of Cisco Almaida and Pierre went outside to meet

the hero.

'Love, you need to relax,' Rosa-Lee said softly,

touching his thigh as he came to his feet, and he nodded,

feeling animated in his actions as he helped his wife from

her chair, her cheeks glowing with excitement to see her

father.

The moment the dining room's door opened and

Cisco Almaida stepped, in Roberto de Ville stepped back,

his eyes fixed on the giant in front of him. For the first time

Roberto really looked at the man, three inches taller than

himself. Cisco roared out to Rosa-Lee, who gave a jubilant

yelp and disappear in the big man's chest.

'Papa,' she said, 'I have missed you,' as bubbles of

laughter burst from her and a beautiful smile adorned her

face, looking up to the man who had raised her as his own.

'I have missed you, my Rosie.' Roberto thought he

was going to break her in two as his strong arms wrapped

around the protruding belly of his pregnant wife. A smile

appeared on Roberto's face. His wife's joy filled him and he

eased up a bit. Feeling tension leave his shoulders, he

unclenched his fists, but the tight jaw remained. The man

still did not notice him.

He was followed by a younger version of himself

and Rosa-Lee yelped out again. 'Manuel, brother!'

'My sister!' He took her away from their father,

kissed her soundly on the mouth, and she giggled. When

they finally let her go and she stepped back, the two men

who caused the dining room to be filled to capacity looked

down at her and stopped at her swollen girth.

'Rosie, are you in the family way?' Cisco asked, and

then he looked up to see Roberto right behind her. His light

blue eyes filled with suspicion and surprise.

'Papa, I must introduce you to my husband.' She

turned around and pulled Roberto closer. Both men's faces

turned menacing, especially Manuel's, whose face distorted

into an ugly grimace. He stepped in front of her.

'Step aside, sister,' he hissed.

'Manuel, you don't understand!'

'What is this pirate doing here?' he demanded.

'He is my husband, Manuel. Papa...?' She turned

back to her father with huge eyes, looking for support.

'Manuel, wait, let's hear what is going on.' Cisco

stopped his son.

'Papa, I love Roberto.'

'But child, he kidnapped you.'

'Yes, Papa, but he saved my life, mine and Pedro's.

Let me explain.' Her father looked down at her, his face

grim and he touched her shoulder.

'I think we need to go home. Mama is waiting for

us. Then you can explain this.' He turned his gaze back to

Roberto.

'Papa, meet Roberto de Ville.' She introduced

Roberto. Cisco stretched out a paw and Roberto took it,

feeling the strength as her father gipped his hand. He

almost flinched under the pain but kept his face blank.

'Roberto,' Cisco said, 'we will talk about this at

home.'

Roberto nodded. 'Yes, Señor.' and bowed politely.

†††

The reunion between mother and daughter was

heart-warming. Qonchita burst into tears when she saw the

state of her daughter. But her face lit as she touched Rosa-

Lee's belly with the greatest tenderness and awe. When

they introduced her to Roberto, she looked at him, then at

her daughter, and saw the love they shared. Without any

thought, she pulled him into an embrace and kissed both his

cheeks. He could not help but feel elevated by her. He

accepted her as a mother into his own life and returned her

kindness, much to the dismay of Manuel.

They had a hard time in controlling the young man,

who just wanted to floor him at every possible opportunity.

Cisco held him in and out of respect for his father, he

walked away. He came back later and joined them again.

In the meantime, they read the letter from Pedro,

who explained in detail what had happened and the plan

they implemented to bring the Falcon down. Slowly Cisco

came around, the wary look turning into one of interest.

Deep into the night, five people sat in the study of

the Almaida castle as they listened to the unfolding story

from Rosa-Lee, who sat next to Roberto, holding his hand.

When they had arrived, he had said he had wanted

to explain, but she insisted on doing the talking. Because he

knew she knew her family better, he allowed her to

proceed.

†††

Pierre and Nora were shown to their suite of rooms

and they were already sleeping in the comfortable four-

poster bed by the time the others sat down together. Winter

was already setting in and they were close to each other in

the oversized bed, cuddling. Nora's nausea had finally

subsided and she was feeling like a whole person, to the

great joy of her husband. They decided to stay at the

Almaida castle until after the birth of their baby before they

continued on their journey to his house in France.

He had already sent a letter to his mother and sister,

informing them of his marriage and the pregnancy and

wrote that they would join them before the next winter. He

explained that Nora was extremely ill on the voyage and he

did not want to cause her or the unborn child any more

distress.

†††

When Rosa-Lee finally stopped talking, she smiled

up to Roberto, tired but happy, and he smiled, returning his

gaze to the Almaida family.

'Señor and Señora, I know we have not met under

the best of circumstances but I really do love your

daughter, my Rosa. I have already handed my resignation

in, and I plan to become the farmer I always wanted to be.

With her at my side, my future is filled with promise.'

Emotions washed over his face and both the parents could

see that this man was genuine in his feelings toward their

only daughter.

'I never thought I could have this, a wife and baby

to call my own. I vow to look after her and treat her with

the utmost love and devotion. She will lead the life she is

used to, lacking nothing. My pirate days provided well for

me over the years.' She squeezed his hand in support. 'I

love Rosa-Lee. There is no other woman for me.' Rosa-Lee

wiped away a tear, yawning behind her hand.

'I appreciate your honesty, Roberto.' Cisco finally

addressed him.

'What you have done for my children put me in

your debt and I can see that you really care for Rosa-Lee

and love her. I could not have chosen better than you. I

understand why you had to come and drag her out of my

house like a thief in the night.' Roberto flinched under the

piercing gaze

'You are a good man, Señor,' Roberto said.

'No, son, just a man who has walked the path and

understands much more.'

'Thank you, Papa,' Rosa-Lee added and yawned

again.

'I want to get my wife in bed, if you don't mind.'

'Yes, of course, Roberto, she is tired after the long

journey. I will have the physician here tomorrow to look at

both ladies. In the meantime, son, you are welcome in my

family. Cisco raised himself to his full height. His wife

followed him. He clasped Roberto's hand in a fatherly

gesture.

'Thanks, Señor.'

'Papa' will be fine, son.'

Roberto swallowed at the lump in his throat.
Papa
.

When was the last time he had used that word? His eyes

misted over and the man stepped forward and gave him a

bear hug.

†††

Later that evening, with the smouldering fire in the

hearth creating shadows against the walls and thick

curtains, Roberto watched his wife's sleeping form. He

brushed away the dark locks covering her beautiful face.

The shadows underneath her eyes showed that she had not

yet recovered from the journey, but her breathing was slow

and at peace. He had one hand on the stretched belly and

one hand under her face, the pouty lips warm and inviting.

He could not help but smile, tenderly touching the soft skin