Rescued by the Viscount's Ring by Carol Arens

Author:Carol Arens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-11-08T19:23:43+00:00

* * *

The night dragged by. Once or twice steps tapped on the deck, but passed on by. Later someone paced back and forth in front of the door, cooing to a fussy infant.

As soon as it was dawn, she was going to have severe words for the Captain. It was hard to believe that on this huge ship there was no one to call on but Rees.

Important decisions regarding the future were so close to being made.

It touched her more than he would ever understand that he had left the decision of what was to become of them to her.

Funny how the fact that he had given her a choice made her want to choose him.

If she walked away from this marriage, she had no idea what would come next.

In the event Grandfather took her back, he would probably marry her off to another peer of his choosing.

The room seemed to close around her.

She snugged the shawl about her shoulders and went outside.

The wee hours were clear and still. She was hit anew by the glorious display of stars blinking from horizon to horizon.

Someone else was on deck. A woman sat in a chair, hugging an infant to her breast. The child was asleep.

‘Good morning,’ Madeline said softly. At least she thought it was morning, perhaps about two o’clock. ‘Is your baby ailing?’

‘She’s only teething. I hope we didn’t bother you. But I can’t stay in my cabin or she’ll wake her brothers.’

‘You didn’t disturb me.’

If she had to be sleepless, it was rather nice to have company, misery loving company and all that nonsense.

Of course, she could not count this as misery since her companion seemed a pleasant sort.

‘Would you care for tea? I have some water already warm. My cabin is just behind us.’

‘It is a bone chiller tonight and the offer is tempting, but I’ll need to get back and check on my boys soon.’

‘We’re lucky the wind isn’t blowing, at least.’

Even without the wind, Madeline did not think the baby would be warm enough under her mother’s thin coat. She took off her shawl and tucked it gently about the tiny figure.

She could go back inside and get a blanket for herself, but instead she sat down in the chair beside the woman.

There was something magical about making a new friend in the silent splendour of the wee hours.

‘I’m Madeline Macooish—Dalton now.’

‘I’m grateful for your company, Madeline. My name is Lena Brown.’ She pulled the shawl higher over her baby’s head, covering her daughter’s blonde curls. ‘Aren’t you the lady who nearly died in the lifeboat and then married the man who rescued you?’

She nodded. ‘I fear my fate must be rather well known.’

‘And envied.’

‘I can’t imagine why anyone would.’

Lena chuckled under her breath. ‘Your husband is quite the hero for one thing, coming to your rescue the way he did. And then offering marriage to honour your virtue?’

‘He didn’t offer marriage. He insisted upon it.’

‘So that makes him honourable as well as handsome enough to capture the heart of any woman.

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