Page 121 of The Moonstone Pirate
He laughed, giving the reins a flick to urge his horse into a trot. “Because you look adorable in it, and I couldn’t resist.”
She shrugged it off, but laughed along with him. “You are the wickedest pirate who ever sailed the high seas.”
“But I amyourpirate andyourhusband-to-be.” He leaned over and gave her a light peck on the cheek. “Ready to spend a lifetime with me, Butterfly?”
She nodded, unable to imagine anything nicer.
Nor could she imagine spending her life anywhere but here in Moonstone Landing. She had felt it from the very first time coming here as a little girl. The red stone cliffs, the rocks and caves, the golden sand beaches and gentle cove waters that shimmered in sunlight.
They rode past a meadow of red poppies that swept down to the sea.
The people in the charming village had become like family to her, everyone from Thaddius—and the entire host of Angels—to Mrs. Halsey and her daughter who ran the tea shop. Mr.Priam, the land agent. Mr. Matchett, the chatty head groom. Miss Harrow, the jeweler. The seamstress. The fishwives.
She smiled at Draco, thinking of how wonderful their lives would be as they settled in at Woodley Lodge with his family and entertained those of hers who already resided in Moonstone Landing.
When were her parents arriving?
Would they be amenable to holding her and Draco’s wedding in this place where her heart resided? She had to write to Ella straight away, for how could she marry without her sister by her side?
“Imogen, your eyes are turning misty.” Draco placed his hand over hers. “Is everything all right, love?”
She nodded. “Perfect.”
Because everything was perfect with Draco by her side and Parrot drooling on her lap.
What else could any girl want?
Chapter Nineteen
Moonstone Landing
Late August 1831
Draco was usedto sailing on rough seas where the wind was wild and the waves were even wilder, their swells capable of swallowing up an entire ship. But the journey from Portsmouth to Moonstone Landing now that theAthenahad been repaired was quite an easy one. They sailed on calm seas and had warm summer winds to greet them and guide their way home.
They arrived several hours ahead of schedule.
It was barely past daybreak, not even six o’clock in the morning, when the vessel sailed into the Woodley Lodge cove. The mist had burned off the water as soon as the sun came up, its bright sparkle intense and golden as it glistened over the cool waves.
James Archer, his friend and soon-to-be captain of theAthena, stood beside him on the deck, both of them resting their arms on the railing as the ship dropped anchor. “Those are the caves I was telling you about, James.” Draco pointed to the spot where Driscoll had been killed and McTavish made his unscheduled visit all those weeks ago.
It was just a memory now, for the Home Office agents had swept in the same day Eldridge arrived to claim his stolen horse. They rounded up all the parties, save for McTavish and his crew,since Draco had convinced the authorities McTavish was helping him all along. It wasn’t a lie. McTavish had reached out to him by sabotaging the old drop-off location and putting Draco’s caves forward as a replacement.
He had no idea where McTavish was now or whether he had dropped those guns into the ocean. He doubted the Irishman was that much of a saint. He’d probably sold them somewhere else.
His friend eyed the hollowed openings carved out by tides and time. “I suppose they’ll do for storage in a pinch.”
Draco nodded. “Yes, but only in a pinch. No more smuggling or privateer raiding for us, James. I’m going to acquire an empty building by the harbor and turn it into a proper warehouse. For the most part, your routes will be short ones—picking up silks from Venice, and wine, lace, and perfumes from France. Let’s see how it goes, and then perhaps we’ll expand to importing tea from India and vanilla beans from Madagascar.”
“It’s your ship, Draco. Whatever you think is best. So, will I get to meet your new countess, the lovely Lady Imogen, today?”
“Yes, she is eager to meet you. She’s asked me a hundred questions about you.”
“So, did you lie and tell her only good things about me?” James teased. “I’m sure she is more eager to see you. I will never understand why you left her after only one week of marriage to retrieve your ship.”
“She understood it was necessary. I would have brought her to Portsmouth with me, but her parents were here only for a short while, and she wanted to spend every spare moment with them. Her mother is in frail health, has been for several years now. Imogen is a sentimental thing and feels everything deeply. I could not take her away from them.”
“Still, you are her new husband. Will she be resentful that you left?”
