Free A Pirate's Ransom by Gerri Brousseau Page A

matched my eyes. Excitement jumped in my stomach as I rushed up the passageway and out into the sunshine to find the Captain, but he was not there. After talking to Mister Smith, I learned that during the night we had dropped anchor close to an uncharted island and that Edmund and a few of the men had taken a launch and gone to explore.
    A profound sense of sadness flooded me, and I dragged myself to the galley to get something to eat. Sitting there among the crew, I was told more of the Captain’s plan. Should the island prove to be uninhabited and of no danger, a day ashore would be our reward. Delight jumped in my stomach, and I thought my heart would burst with glee. I could not say how long I had been aboard ship, but the thought of going ashore made me giddy.
    The sweet aroma of rich soil, lush greenery and wild tropical flowers drifted toward me as the launch neared the beach. It was nearly noon by the time all the small boats had reached the shore. When the craft I was in approached the island, Edmund waded out into the water and lifted me into his arms.
    “Fear not, Milady, I shall see you safely and dryly to shore.”
    A giggle bubbled out of me, and I buried my face against his chest. When we reached the shore, he allowed my body to slide down the front of his and he held me there for the briefest of moments. My heart fluttered as I looked up into his clear green eyes, which danced with amusement. Others moved around us, yet they melted from my sight.
    To my amazement, he knelt before me. “Allow me to help you remove your shoes, Milady.” He’s so strong, yet with me he’s so gentle.
    It was then I noticed he was barefooted and his dark trousers were rolled up to the knee. His warm fingers lingered upon my ankles as he removed my slippers and then tossed them upon the beach. The sand beneath my feet reminded me of my island home and a feeling of joy filled my heart.
    Standing, he took my hand in his and said, “Come, Catherine, there is something I wish to show you.”
    Holding onto his hand, I allowed him to lead me up the beach to where some trees and shrubs provided a small area of privacy. Leading me into the shade, he reached under a bush and produced a colorful bouquet of exotic island flowers he had tied with a dark ribbon.
    “Oh, Edmund, they are beautiful.” The fragrance of the wild blooms smelled sweeter than any perfume.
    “Not nearly as beautiful as you, Milady,” he said, drawing me into his embrace.
    The sounds of activity we had left behind us seemed to vanish. I looked up into his deep green eyes and he held me close to him. “I wish to memorize everything about you, Catherine.”
    “Why, when you see me daily?”
    He remained silent, and when I rested my head against his heart, he sighed deeply.
    “Edmund, there is something I wish to tell you.”
    “What is it?” He drew away from me and gazed deeply into my eyes. Concern etched upon his brow.
    “As you know when you took me from the ship that day, I was bound for London to be married to the Duke of Devonshire.”
    Something flashed behind his eyes for a brief moment but was quickly gone. “Yes, I am aware of that.”
    “But what you may not be aware of is that my father arranged the marriage, and it is one I was not anxious to enter into. Having never met his Grace, I was given to understand that he is an elderly gentleman.”
    “Yes, I believe the Duke of Devonshire is quite on in years.”
    “What I want to tell you is ... well ... I prayed something would happen to prevent me from ever reaching England and from being forced into a loveless marriage to an elderly man I had never met.”
    He chuckled, and fearing his rebuke I rushed on.
    “However, I did not wish for pirates. I had seen pirates once when they came to our island.”
    “I am deeply wounded to find I am not the first pirate you have encountered.”
    “Yes, actually you are. I managed to escape those who attacked our island.”
    “How did you accomplish