Free Lucky's Lady (The Caversham Chronicles Book 4) by Sandy Raven Page A

ever done before. And this feeling was significantly more intense than anything her friends Becky and Cady had described. While she was certainly experiencing the racing heart and the sensation of a swarm of butterflies beating in her breast aching for release, it was this sizzling energy coursing through her whenever he was near that felt so deep and primal. She was afraid if she unleashed it surely it would consume her.
    Oh, God. Was this what if felt like to be attracted to someone? Could the captain be attracted to her as well? Did he feel the same as she? She had to admit the thought made her slightly giddy because, if so, convincing him to come to her bed this weekend would be no obstacle.
    Before she made a complete and utter fool of herself in front of him, she excused herself and went down the hall to the privy closet.
    This was a dangerous path. She would never have set her foot upon the first step if it hadn't been for this attraction. The attraction and the insistence from her husband that she do this now, for herself, because she did, in fact, want a child of her own so desperately. Realizing her predicament—the desire for a child before her husband died, and knowing Captain Gualtiero would leave soon—brought a familiar knot welling in her throat and a frustration burdensome enough to buckle her knees.
    She held onto the wash stand in the tiny room. Lifting her eyes to the looking glass hanging on the wall, she watched her eyes fill with tears. She rubbed them away as each one spilled over. Her friends had and were continuing to have children. And she had none.
    Yes, Mary-Michael had initially accepted the idea of a childless marriage at the time she agreed to marry Mr. Watkins. But somewhere in the past three years a spark had caught in her soul, and it had grown until the desire for a baby was nearly all-consuming. Early the previous year, she spoke of this change of heart with Mr. Watkins, who'd immediately said he was too far gone to get the deed done, but that he wasn't against adopting one or more of the many children from the very home from which they'd both matriculated.
    At first she thought it was the answer to her prayers. Three months ago it became the nightmare that still haunted her, when the man who never replied to Father Douglas' letter suddenly appeared at the church with Father's letter in hand. This was just weeks before they finalized the adoption. The man, and his wife, claimed to be the uncle and aunt of the little ones who'd stolen her and Mr. Watkins' heart.
    It had upset both of them, and Sally and Victor as well, though it was Mary-Michael who had yet to fully recover from the loss. She'd sunk into a dark chasm for a while, unwilling to meet with her friends and their children as they had nearly every Sunday since Becky's first babe was born, so all the little ones could play at one of their homes.
    Then, about one month ago, Mr. Watkins had warned her that his health was declining. He told her of a way, if she was interested, in having a child of her own. One that would never be taken from her. One that would bear his name and would inherit his fortune and shipyard.
    Mary-Michael had spent the past month thinking of nothing else. Until the day before, she'd thought it was never going to happen for her. Then she met Captain Gualtiero and now could think of nothing else. This is when she'd begun to think of the possibility of Mr. Watkins' plan, as sinful as it sounded.
    She laughed as she remembered asking God to show her what path was the right one—committing a sin, or being faithful to her husband and their marriage vow. Mary-Michael never thought the answer would come in the form of a British sea captain who was a part owner of a shipping company, a man that drew her to him so magnetically that her steely reserve was helpless to resist.
    Captain Gualtiero—Lucky—looked virile enough to... She closed her eyes. She had to quit thinking such things. Unless she was really going to