Free Pirate's Bride (Liberty's Ladies) by Lynette Vinet Page B

escorted them aboard and introduced them to Captain Montgomery. The captain seemed courteous but nervous as his eyes darted past them to a door at the starboard end of the ship.
    “I have strict rules aboard my ship,” Montgomery explained harshly, almost as if he expected one of them to already disobey. “All meals are to be taken in the cabin. Your ladyship, I’ve prepared my cabin for you and your maid. Sir Jeremy, you’re to bunk with me and the first mate in his cabin. No one ventures out of the cabins except at midday and late evening.”
    “Why?” Bethlyn interrupted. “We’re not ill-mannered children.” For a moment she seemed to catch Captain Montgomery off guard with her pointed statement.
    She couldn’t fail to miss the heated gaze the man threw in Dempster’s direction, but when he spoke to her, his voice was laced with respect. “Well, my lady, I must think of your safety. You’re quite a beautiful young woman, as is your maid. I wouldn’t wish my men to be blinded by such beauty and remiss in their duties.” He shot her an ingratiating smile. “And Sir Jeremy, I’m certain, is much too refined to be in the company of unruly sailors.”
    “Very wise decision, Captain. Now would you please show us to our accommodations. Her ladyship would like to unpack.” Jeremy took Bethlyn’s elbow and steered her towards a doorway off of the deck before she had ample time to comment further.
     Taking leave of Harold Dempster, they followed after Captain Montgomery, and when the man stopped to speak to his first mate, Bethlyn whispered to Jeremy, “They’re trying to keep something from us.”
    Jeremy nodded sharply. “Better not to know, I think, Bethlyn. You might be better off for your ignorance.”
    “Posh! I’m going to discover the secret on Nightingale . I swear I will.”
    Jeremy was afraid she’d say something like that.
    ~ ~ ~
     
    A sliver of a moon shone through the porthole and bathed Bethlyn’s hair and face with silver fingers. The night felt warm, and she’d opened the window earlier, hoping to catch a breeze. Still, she was unable to sleep and quite restless as the Nightingale rode the crest of the waves. Finally she sat up on the bunk and plumped the pillow to lean against the wall and watched moon-kissed clouds skitter across the sky.
    It was then she heard the high flutey laughter which drifted from somewhere on the deck above her. She barely gave the sound a thought until she remembered that she and Mavis were the only two females on the ship, and Mavis was sleeping quietly on a cot not two feet from her.
    Were there other women on the ship? Could some of the men have brought their wives though Briston Shipping forbade such a policy?
    The voices became clearer, the female ones interlaced with male laughter, then they melted away into the night.
    “Mavis,” Bethlyn whispered and gently shook Mavis, who instantly came awake. “Did you hear women’s voices?”
    Mavis’s sleepy-eyed gaze settled on Bethlyn. “Yes, but I thought I was dreaming. I didn’t know there were other women on board ship.”
    “Neither did I,” Bethlyn admitted. Minutes later Mavis was sound asleep again, but Bethlyn was wide-awake. She contemplated the situation minutes longer and finally she made up her mind.
    Rising from the bunk as not to disturb Mavis, she reached in the dark for a gray calico gown, the only thing available to her at the moment. She hadn’t packed more than a few gowns and the necessities she’d need for the voyage, not certain she’d be welcomed by Ian Briston. If the man did want her as his wife, she could send for her other clothes and personal effects later. For now, ordinary traveling gowns would have to do, and she was glad that the dark-colored gown would blend in with the shadows of the passageways.
    She pulled the gown over her chemise-clad figure, then quietly made her way to the door. Easing it open a bit, she involuntarily grimaced at the squeaking noise it made