Page 108 of The Pirate and the Pagan
He knew he should not have upset her in her condition. “Cat, it’s on one of his merchantmen for the East India Company.”
“What! You’d be sailing halfway around the world! I’ll kill him!”
“Cat, please don’t upset yourself like this.”
She felt a painful stitch in her side and her hand pressed her abdomen until it passed. “Where is he?” she demanded.
“I’m not telling you. Forget all about it,” he said dismissively.
“He’s at the bloody Pool of London readying the ship, isn’t he?” she guessed.
“Mrs. Bishop,” called Spider, going through into the kitchen. “My sister will be off to the London docks if you don’t forcibly prevent her.”
“That she won’t, your lordship, not now you’ve tipped me the wink. Be off, you young scoundrel, it seems you’ve done enough damage for one night.”
Summer put up an argument with Mrs. Bishop, but she lost and found herself packed off to bed early. Even Lil sided with the servant and refused to entertain any scheme which involved Summer’s going out of the house that night. Up in her chamber Summer knelt before her old trunk and pulled out the black velvet disguise she had worn as a highwayman. She was determined to leave by the window and forbid Ruark Helford to lure her brother to sea. She looked at the tight black breeches in dismay and sat back on her heels, defeated. She knew she could not climb through a window out onto a roof and dash off on a mad scheme simply to rail at Ruark Helford, but come hell or high water, she would go first thing in the morning.
The weather was blustery and cold, so she wore her favorite gray cloak with the soft fox fur around the hood and a large matching muff to keep her hands from freezing. She made her face up carefully and chose the ruby earrings, then at the last moment donned ruby shoes and stockings which were sure to catch the eye and draw attention away from her rounded midsection. Lil ordered the carriage for her and wanted to accompany her, but Summer said she would have quite enough interference from Mrs. Bishop, thank you very much. When Summer told the driver to take her to the London docks, Bish opened her mouth to protest and Summer said crisply, “Not one word or I shall give you back to Lord Helford.”
Mrs. Bishop pressed her lips together in undisguised disapproval and sniffed loudly every few minutes. Summer put up with it all the way down the Strand, then finally she said, “Stop it! You can bully me all you want to tomorrow, but today I’m going to have my say!” Mrs. Bishop decided to let her have her own way. Besides, Summer would need all her energy for the shouting match with Ruark, whom Bish had never yet seen lose a battle.
All the ships looked alike to Mrs. Bishop, but Summer’s keen eye spotted the Pagan Goddess immediately and she rapped sharply for the driver to stop. He jumped down and assisted her to alight and hid a smile as she turned to Mrs. Bishop and said, “Keep your bum on that cushion, even if I’m gone an hour. I don’t need you to interfere for me.” When she walked up the gangplank as if she owned the ship, he turned to Mrs. Bishop and said, “She’s one beautiful, headstrong woman. I feel sorry for the poor bastard.”
Poor Mrs. Bishop was pulled between two loyalties. She had grown obsessive about the baby Summer was carrying and felt maternal to both mother and child, but she felt undying loyalty to Lord Helford and considered him the master.
Ruark was belowdecks, but when he heard the distinctive tapping of high heels on his polished deck, he raised his head to see who had dared. The foul word died on his lips as he saw his lovely Summer sweep down the stairs. She raised her skirts prettily and he was allowed a generous glimpse of alluring red stockings and slippers. She froze him with a glance and suddenly he knew exactly why she was here.
“I want you to tell Spencer you have changed your mind about letting him sail.”
“Summer, be sensible. It will make a man of him.”
“I didn’t save him from the plague only to have you send him halfway across the world to die,” she said, her eyes blazing with anger.
“It wasn’t the plague, it was the measles.”
“That is irrelevant, you monster. Taking your revenge on me in this manner is wicked. He’s a defenseless boy who will suffer nothing aboard one of your vessels but hardship.”
“Come into the cabin and sit down, love.”
“I will stand,” she said, drawing herself up to her full height. “My God, someone must stand up to you.”
As she clutched the soft fur muff to her breasts he thought he’d never seen her looking lovelier. He felt so protective toward her he wanted to cradle her in his arms and lift her against his heart. He crushed down the soft feelings and said, “If he’s left to whore and gamble his way around London every night, he’ll turn into his father. He needs discipline, responsibility, a purpose in life.”
“We managed well enough before you came into our lives!” she hissed.
“Did you?” he said bluntly. “He saw the inside of a prison twice before he was fifteen. The only thing he’ll accomplish in London is sowing a crop of bastards and getting a dose of the clap.”
“There’s no need to use filthy language to me, sir,” she said primly, forgetting she had the vocabulary of a sailor. “You will tell him he cannot go!” She turned to go.
“It’s too late for that,” he said quietly. “The Golden Goddess left on the morning tide for Madagascar. He’ll get a share of the priceless cargo she’ll bring. He could return with wealth. But rich or poor, he’ll return a man.”
She staggered slightly and he moved toward her protectively.
“Don’t touch me! Don’t you dare to touch me!” she cried. “I’ll make you pay for this,” she swore.
Her driver assisted her into the coach and Mrs. Bishop opened her mouth to ask how she had fared. “Not one word or I am undone,” she said, choking back her tears. “Cheapside,” she told the driver.
By the time she sat across the desk from Solomon Storm her tears had dried and her resolve hardened. “You gave me excellent advice the other day, Solomon. I would be a fool to ignore it. I should like you to inform Lord Helford that he can pay for the house in Friday Street and I’ll also be submitting the bills for the furnishings. Let’s see, what else will I need? Of course I’ll need a carriage and horses and their stabling. Perhaps I’ll have need of your son’s services, too, Solomon, for after my child is born I don’t wish Lord Helford to have any visiting privileges whatsoever.”
