Weathering Captain Storm by Charles Jane

Author:Charles, Jane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2016-06-16T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

“I’m disappointed in you, Isabella.”

She glanced up to find Orlando leaning against the entry to the library.

“I know. I should be upstairs with Bianca.” She rose from her place on the settee.

“That’s not what I’m referring to.” He entered and closed the door behind him. “Besides, I believe Rosalind wanted some private moments with Bianca now that Aunt Mary has spoken with her.”

A smile pulled at Isabella’s lips. “What might they be discussing that is so private and hushed?”

Orlando’s cheeks colored, and she nearly laughed. She’d thought he was beyond being embarrassed about anything.

She widened her eyes and took on an innocent look. “It’s the talk.” Isabella couldn’t help but grin. “Men, women, babies. That talk.”

“Stuff it,” he ground out and crossed to the sideboard and poured a glass of brandy. “They didn’t follow the drum like you.”

“So that makes me more knowledgeable.” She blinked at him innocently.

“Not as innocent, that is a certainty.”

Isabella gasped. “I’ll have you know that no man has ever taken liberties with my person.” Did Orlando think…? She couldn’t even finish the question.

“Other than a rather engaging kiss I witnessed between you and Captain Storm, no, I don’t believe anything else occurred that I should be concerned about.”

“Then why do you believe I carry more information than my sisters.”

He lifted the carafe of brandy, and lifted a brow as if asking.

“Yes, please.” She didn’t normally drink any spirits when the family was near and could walk in on her at any moment, but this was Orlando, and they’d shared many drinks over the years.

“The soldiers nor the camp followers weren’t always discrete as to what they were about, as you well know. I still remember the first time you came across two lovers.”

Her face heated this time. A woman was on her back beside the stream with her skirts bunched about her waist and a soldier, with his trousers about his ankles, was thrusting between her legs. Orlando had pulled her away before Isabella could do anything.

“But she was moaning. Are you certain he isn’t hurting her?” Isabella repeated the question she’d asked that day and laughed.

“I can assure you that it’s either pleasure or she’s pretending,” Orlando returned with a grin. “But he is certainly not hurting her.”

“I was so innocent about so many things then.”

Orlando sobered. “I think we both were. War does strange things.” His eyes twinkled. “But I never dreamed that I’d need to be the one to explain what happens between a man and a woman to my sister.” He took a drink. “That was probably the most difficult conversation of my life.” He took another drink, shaking his head. “And then you helped me deliver a baby a few months later and exclaimed, ‘I do believe I understand how all of this works now.”

“They weren’t the last couple I stumbled upon during those years.”

“I’m just sorry so much of your innocence was lost. In hindsight, I probably should have made you remain at home.”

Of all her brothers, Isabella was the closest to Orlando.

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