Page 26 of Hired by Pirates

Putting out the lamps, I slipped in beside her, thrilled that she instantly reached for me, clinging to my shoulders as if I were her only comfort.

“I’m so proud of you, my darling angel,” I said, stroking her hair as her breathing became soft and even. She may have heard me, as she smiled.

The rocking of both my arms and the ship lulled her to sleep in less than a minute.

My head was still spinning from the events of the day. Not only had we made it very clear that we fancied each other, and we were certainly courting in our own strange way, we had announced that courtship to two ships of men.

On top of that, my darling girl had likely saved the life, and at least the leg, of one of the most feared pirates in this corner of the world.

How odd that she had no idea that her patient, who had held her hand so tenderly, with so much gratitude, had likely murdered more scurvy dogs than she would save in a lifetime.

I would definitely be keeping that piece of information to myself.

~ Chapter 11 ~ Astor ~

* Breakfast in Bed *

The sun was far too high when I opened my eyes and looked around the Captain’s small bedchamber. He was gone, having left a pillow in his place for me to wrap my arms around.

Smiling to myself, I let my mind wander back to the events of last night. It has been wildly exciting to help someone in their hour of need. I didn’t think that was the sort of excitement that ever faded with time.

That particular injury had been the trickiest one I’d ever dealt with. Although I had assisted with many surgeries, I never had repaired a cut vein myself before. Thank goodness it worked on the first attempt. If Captain Searcy obeyed my instructions, he should heal up just fine.

I hoped that he would be able to keep the wound clean. I couldn’t help noticing that their ship was far older and dirtier, and smelled a bit of rot right by the gangplank. However, if there were further complications, he would at least have the time to get to a larger town with a doctor’s office.

As soon as the men of the Black Stag had seen me take out my tools and get to work, they seemed to respect me, and treat me like a real doctor. It was the second most thrilling moment of my life.

The first of course having been the few moments just before one of the boys had knocked on the door, interrupting my most intimate moment with my Captain.

Stretching out in bed, I reveled in the memory of his hands on me. It felt so deliciously possessive. As if he had been considering pulling off my nightgown and having his way with me.

Or to be more exact, the two of us having our way with each other together.

My normally focused mind became soft and blurry at the thought of it. To experience a man’s touch, and have all of those feelings…it was far more than I was accustomed to.

Back in Toburg, I never expected to find a suitor. What man would be interested in a woman who put her ambition first? Or at least, on the same level as marriage?

Most men wanted to be the highlight of the woman’s life. Or at least, that is what I gleaned from listening to the ladies chat at the market. They made it sound like a marriage was a tug of war, with each party trying to please the other, but also to please themselves.

Quite frankly, it sounded exhausting.

Yet everything with the Captain felt effortless. Perhaps this was because we were on the edges of society, and able to do things our own way. That seemed to be the attitude that held this group of men together. The desire for freedom, and to discover their own best way of doing things.

There was a soft tap at the door. “Come in,” I called out.

There was a pause, and a slight clunking noise, then the door opened to reveal the Captain with a tray. He carried it in, closing the door with his foot.

I sat up completely as he placed the tea, porridge, and biscuits in front of me.

“Thank you so much,” I said, smoothing back the bits of hair that had escaped in the night, and hoping I looked presentable. “I’m sorry that I slept in.”

“Not at all, my sweet girl. You had a very strenuous night.” He sat on the edge of the bed, pushing the tray closer as I took a much-needed sip of tea.

“I’d never seen such a wound before,” he said with a shudder. “I know that you had to go in and fix…inner things. You were sewing for a good long time.”

I giggled around the bite of biscuit in my mouth. “Most physicians call it surgery, not sewing, but yes, I was.”

His bright grin made me feel my smile all the way down to my toes. It was startling how much his expressions touched my heart.

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