A Smuggler's Heart by Danielle Thorne

Author:Danielle Thorne [Thorne, Danielle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Clean and Wholesome romance
Publisher: Danielle Thorne
Published: 2020-02-28T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

After a few days of allowing his guest to pout with the sewing in his cabin in the heat of the afternoon, and promenading with her on deck in the evenings, Nathan felt relieved when land was sighted. They had drifted past the British's Virgin islands, later hailed a friendly Spanish merchant ship with no trouble, and made it safely to within reach of the southern leeward islands. He would sail about Martinique, land in a cove near St. William known as la Chaîne Solide, and deliver his rice, honey, and lumber to his buyer. A full load back with sugar and molasses would finish the tour.

Almost satisfied and near-comfortable with their safety, he left the con with a rumbling stomach and his chest burning over the mild indignation he felt for Miss Fryer—or Miss Christine—as he had taken upon himself to think of her. She'd refused to join him for dinner after each invitation since they'd left the inlet, and she was no longer ill. He rapped on her partition.

"Yes?"

Nathan took that as permission to enter and pushed open the door. Christine sat near the small porthole on a short stool. She was hunched over a pile of cloth, and he saw it was a pair of his buckskin breeches. Split aside at the knee, he'd tossed them aside for future repair, and she'd picked it up from the mending pile and set to work fixing the seam. She looked up and a lock of her shining hair fell across her forehead.

"Yes?" she repeated.

He stopped short, surprised at the blow to his chest the image gave him. She looked like a sprite who'd stowed away in his cabin.

"I, uh, Miss Christine," he said with a nod. "Mr. Walker appreciates you replacing the button on his cuff."

She sat up and arched her back like it pained her. "I'm only following orders," she said with impertinence then broke into a grin. "Really, I don't mind it, and I appreciate him loaning me his copy of Common Sense although it is a bit dry and tiresome reading for me."

Nathan walked in and stood across from her. "Paine has written a new one, you know. Rights of Man."

"Yes, I know. Papa has it." She slanted her head. He forgot she was so quick and intelligent, an admirable quality that made her more handsome.

"Let me assure you," she teased, "I have no intention of encouraging an uprising on your decks."

"Let's hope not," he chuckled. "Forgive me. I thank you for your help with the mending, but I must apologize for not inviting you to dine this night."

She raised a brow in ridicule. "I have not accepted any of your invitations to dine. The last thing you need, I suspect, is a lady at your table with the wardroom when you already have to deal with me amidship."

He couldn't disagree with her, but he did enjoy her company, and the wardroom could well control their tongues for a time with a woman in their midst.

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