On Stranger Prides_A Pride and Prejudice Novel by Amy Cecil

Author:Amy Cecil [Cecil, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: US Home Exteriors
Published: 2018-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Elizabeth

What is happening? I asked myself after Captain Sterling left Thomas and me. I had been so worried for his safety! I had been worried for all of us, but my concern for him was second only to Thomas. Seeing him alive and well a minute ago had caused a flush in my heart that I had never felt before. Is it gratitude? Could it be some form of relief? Or, dare I say it, could it be love? I shook my head and admonished myself. Of course it is not love. I could never love a pirate!

But after reflecting on the past several hours, our walks on the deck, breakfast and dinners in his personal dining area, and his complete adoration of Thomas, I found myself wondering if it really mattered that he was a pirate. Of course it matters! You are a duchess with a young duke to raise!

I had to stop these thoughts and get Thomas into bed. “Thomas, sweetheart, you need to wake up so I can get up off the floor. I need to get you into bed.”

Sleepily, Thomas rubbed his eyes and said, “Mama, is the storm over?”

“Yes, my love, it is over,” I replied.

“Are we safe?” he asked.

I chuckled. “Yes, sweetheart, we are just fine. You and I are standing here talking, so we are all perfectly safe.”

“And Max?”

I smiled. He was quite fond of Max; the two of them had developed quite a relationship over the last several weeks. I replied, “Max is fine, too. He was just here to check on you.”

“Can I go see him?”

“No, my love, it is still night time. You must go back to sleep,” I replied.

“But Mama …” he pleaded.

“No, Thomas. But I promise that you will be able to see Max first thing in the morning.”

He reluctantly proceeded to get into his hammock. I covered him and waited for him to fall asleep. I began to sing to him to help him along.

Mellow the moonlight to shine is beginning

Close by the window young Eileen is spinning

Bent o'er the fire her blind grandmother sitting

Is crooning and moaning and drowsily knitting.

Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring

Swings the wheel, spins the wheel while the foot's stirring

Spritely and lightly and merrily ringing

Trills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing …

The Spinning Wheel was one of Thomas’ favorites and I hoped it would soothe him so he could return to his much-needed sleep. I continued to sing.

… Slower and slower and slower the wheel rings

Lower and lower and lower the reel rings

E're the reel and the wheel stopped their ringing and moving

Through the grove the young lovers by moonlight are roving.2

Once Thomas was asleep, I proceeded to the deck. I was sure that things were a mess and there was no reason for me to stay below when I could be of some help.

When I arrived, I could not believe my eyes. Max had said that the ship had suffered some damage, but it looked like Napoleon had attacked the ship and blown it to pieces.

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