A Treasure Worth Keeping by Marie Patrick

Author:Marie Patrick [Patrick, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-08-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Caralyn placed the valise on the bed in the well-appointed room Fi had shown her. Downstairs, she heard the laughter of the crew, Fi’s sweet voice, and Donal’s baritone rumble as they renewed their acquaintance with the Adventurer’s crew. Here, in her room, blissful silence reigned.

She took a moment to study her surroundings. Paintings hung on the knotted pine walls, again repeating the sailing ships downstairs. She stepped closer to one in particular, recognizing the Adventurer, captured forever in oil, then looked for the artist’s signature. In the corner, on the right side toward the bottom, she found it: Fiona Finnegan.

A woman of many talents, it seemed.

The huge four-poster bed, draped in netting, looked inviting and much bigger than the bed she currently shared with Temperance in the captain’s cabin. A colorful patchwork quilt covered the bed and pillows, plump and soft, rested against the carved headboard.

Oh, to sleep in a real bed without Temperance’s constant kicking and snoring.

Delighted by the idea, she pulled her brush from her valise then crossed the room to the mirror in the corner. A smile parted her lips as she studied her reflection and pulled the brush through her hair. The woman in the mirror returned her grin.

Who is that woman? And why does she look so happy?

Caralyn knew the answer immediately. Despite the fact she was to be married to a man she didn’t know and she had yet to find Izzy’s Fortune, though she had no doubt she would, this had, indeed, been a grand adventure. Temperance Beasley had turned from paid companion to close friend and found love with Stitch; Caralyn had been reunited with Socrates, whom she had always adored; and most importantly, she’d met Tristan.

A finer man she couldn’t imagine. Not only handsome and charming, he had integrity and honor. His word was his promise and he needed nothing more than to simply state his intention. Every man on the crew had complete and utter trust in him, as did she. He captained with compassion and kindness, much as her father had done aboard the Lady Elizabeth, earning the deep respect due him. This adventure wouldn’t be half as exciting, half as fun, if she hadn’t been with Tristan and the crew.

A knock interrupted her thoughts. “Yes?”

The door opened and the object of her musings stood in front of her, his arms laden with folded bath towels, the grin she’d come to love parting his lips. Caralyn inhaled and held her breath. Could it be possible he’d grown more handsome in the space of a few moments?

“Fi asked me to bring these to you.” He glanced around the room then spotted a small table beside a hipbath and headed toward it. Caralyn exhaled in a rush as she watched him. He moved with easy grace and a sure-footed confidence that thrilled her beyond reason.

He turned after depositing the towels on the table and his gaze fell on the bed then rose to meet hers. She saw desire in his eyes—hot, raw, and utterly stark.

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