Promise of a Family Page 17

  “Yes.” No other words formed in her mind as waves of delight rose through her at his tender touch.

  “The children?”

  “Yes.”

  “Miss Oliver?”

  “Yes.”

  “You?”

  “More than the rest of them together,” she breathed.

  A smile teased his expressive mouth. “That is saying a lot. I thought Bertie was going to jump right through the deck.”

  “I know how he feels.”

  “I do, too.” He paused for so long that she thought he might not say anything else, but then he whispered, “Susanna...”

  “Yes?”

  * * *

  Drake faltered again, searching for the right words, then realized he had no idea what he wanted to say. So many things teased him to speak, things that came from the heart. He could not—he would not—let himself become so vulnerable.

  Never...again.

  He stumbled on the pledge he had been able to make so easily—and so proudly—before he guided The Kestrel into Porthlowen Harbor. It should be a warning that while his ship lingered in shallow waters, he was getting in far too deep with Susanna. And the children, as well.

  He continued to look at her face, unable to pull his eyes away from her loveliness. She was not Ruby. Once she made a vow, she kept it. But nothing had changed in his life. He needed to return to the sea, to fulfill the dreams of his soul.

  His soul... Since his arrival in the cove, he had begun to sense its need to reconnect with the faith that once sustained him through so many tough and hungry days. Could he? After all of this time of keeping God distant. He was unsure, and he hated feeling that way.

  “I missed seeing you this week,” he murmured when he realized he could not keep her waiting while he mulled over the changes he had experienced in the past few fortnights.

  “Oh, that reminds me. Papa asked me to invite you to the ball on the night of Raymond and Elisabeth’s wedding.”

  Shock riveted him. She was asking him to a formal assembly at Cothaire? Did she mean as her escort for the evening and dinner partner? For a moment, he imagined holding her as they danced, oblivious to the rest of the guests. Good sense returned immediately.

  “That is very kind of you and Lord Launceston, Susanna, but I cannot attend a ball. The clothes I am wearing now are my very best. They do not meet the strict standards of the ton for such a formal event.”

  She eyed him up and down. “You and Arthur are close to the same size. I am sure he would be willing to loan you what you need.”

  “Me? In a viscount’s clothing?” He chuckled and shook his head. “That would cause great amusement in the low streets where I grew up.”

  Instead of laughing along with him, she put her hand on his forearm and leaned closer. His own laughter vanished as he gazed into the silver eyes that had fascinated him from the first time he had seen her.

  “You are not impoverished any longer, Drake. You are the captain of a fine ship.”

  “A fine, leaky ship.” He smiled ruefully.

  Her expression did not change, and her voice remained earnest. “If you think I am going to lament that you have not succeeded in plugging every last hole on The Kestrel, you are mistaken. While the work goes on, you remain in Porthlowen. And while you are here, I see no reason why you cannot attend my brother’s wedding and the celebration afterward. If the only reason is that you do not have appropriate clothing, I have already told you that is easily rectified.” She drew her hand away. “You are welcome anytime at Cothaire.”

  “I know, but—”

  “Your ship and crew need you.” She stood and went to where a porthole gave her a view of the inner curve of the sea cliffs. With her back to him, she said, “I think I am coming to understand why your voice always softens when you speak of The Kestrel, why you are so protective of her and so eager to see her repaired.”

  “And why is that?”

  She faced him with a gentle smile. “To you, she is a living entity. A friend, a protector, a fellow adventurer.” She hesitated, then whispered, “She is your family.”

  “She and the crew, yes. The best I have ever had. Of course, I had no choice but to choose a life upon the sea.”

  “Why?”

  “My father was a sailor, and he ordered that I be named for the greatest sailor England ever had. Sir Francis Drake.”

  “He could have named you Francis.” She chuckled.

  “I have thought of that, and I am grateful he did not. A boy with a fancy name like that is asking for someone to punch him in the nose.” He stared at the table. “It was the only good thing he ever did for me.”

  “The only good thing?”

  “Other than leaving. From the stories I have heard, I was better off than I would have been if he and my mother had stayed around.”

  Her eyes widened. “Your mother left you, too?”

  “They tell me that she took me to a neighbor and never came back. Maybe she went with my father. I don’t know.”

  “Drake, that is abominable.”

  “Far better than what was done to these six children. At least I was not set adrift upon the sea.”

  Clenching her hands, she said, “Sometimes when I think of that, I get so angry I cannot see straight.”

  “I know. One day the children will appreciate how your family has provided for them. Not every abandoned child is so blessed.”

  “What happened to you, Drake?”

  “The neighbors took me in with their brood, which was large enough that they never seemed to notice one more.”

  “So they became your family?”

  “No. They were never cruel to me, but I was always an outsider. I was never allowed to call them ‘Mother’ and ‘Father.’”

  “Oh, how horrible! You must have been so alone and so lonely, even in such a crowded house.”

  His brows arched. “No one else has ever said that.” He quickly looked away. A flush of heat warned his neck must be turning as red as if he were a new crew member who had spent too much time in the sun.

  “If I have pried too much...”

  “No, it feels good to have someone understand.” He shook his head with a grin. “I told Raymond that both you and your sister are able to see the truth others miss, so I should not be astonished. But that all happened long ago. As soon as I could, I lied about my age and signed on the first merchant ship leaving the harbor. I did not care what work I had to do as long as it was not in Plymouth and as long as it was at sea. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to ship out to sea. I was not going to let that chance pass me by.”

  Before she could ask another question, the twins called to her. As he stood, she went to swing the girls out of the sleeping hammocks. They had slept only a few minutes, but were now wide-awake and eager to see more of the ship.

  He could sense that Susanna was just as anxious to leave the solitude belowdecks. As for himself, he would be glad to return to where they would not be able to talk about the past and what he had planned to do in the future.

  A future when the rolling waves of the sea would come between him and Susanna.

  No, he definitely did not want to think of that. Not until he had to.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The boys were just as excited as the twins were, babbling about what they had seen. Drake thanked Benton for taking them and Miss Oliver around the ship, then said, “I have a treat for you.”

  “What? What?” asked Moll as she and Lulu danced around him like eager puppies.

  Drake took the bag his first mate held out to him before telling the youngsters to follow him. Susanna and Miss Oliver grabbed little hands when he headed for the pier.

  He grinned when the children asked him over and over what the trea
t was. When he reached an empty expanse of sand, not far from where he had pulled the children’s jolly boat from the water, he set down the bag. He stooped down and undid the thick string keeping it closed.

  He pulled out a miniature of The Kestrel. Its sails were unfurled, and the wood shone. Balancing it on his palm, he smiled as the children inched forward, their eyes fixed on the ship that was as long as his hand.

  “Pretty,” Bertie said.

  “Boat,” added Lulu. “Pretty boat.”

  He stretched past them and placed it on Susanna’s hand. His fingers grazed hers, and a storm exploded through him. Her silvery eyes sparked. He smiled as she held the little ship with care and examined it.

  “Drake, this is amazing,” she said as Miss Oliver peered over her shoulder. “Who made it?”

  “It rained a lot this past week, and while we were waiting for the holes to seal, several of us started whittling. You see the result.” He chuckled. “A ship really belongs in the water.”

  “Won’t the water ruin it?”

  “It is sealed.” He laughed. “Better than the real one, to own the truth.”

  He put the little ship on the sand. Opening the bag, he drew out four more. He handed one to each child.

  They shouted with excitement and raced to the water’s edge. Before they could put them in the water, Miss Oliver called them back, insisting they take off their shoes and socks. With his help as well as the nurse’s and Susanna’s, they were soon barefoot.

  He showed them the strings connected to the sterns of ships. “A good captain always makes sure his ship is secure so it will not be taken away by the sea.” Over his shoulder, he gave Susanna a grin as he added, “That would be highly embarrassing.”

  Within minutes, the little ships were floating in front of them. Miss Oliver went from one child to the next and tied the end of their ship’s string around each child’s wrist.

  “Shall we do the same for you, Susanna?” he asked when he carried the first boat to where she watched.

  “I don’t think that is necessary.” She smiled as she listened to the delighted children. “Drake, this is wonderful. Such a fine flotilla of ships, and they will not tire of playing with them quickly.”

  “This one is for Gil. I hope you don’t mind sharing.”

  “Some things, like happiness, are meant to be shared.”

  “I agree.” He lightly brushed his knuckles on her cheek and watched her silver eyes light up again.

  Putting the little ship on the bag where it would not be stepped on, he crooked his elbow toward her. “Shall we take a stroll while the children are busy?”

  “I should—”

  “Miss Oliver is watching them as closely as a sheepdog guards the flock.”

  “That is true.” She put her hand on his sleeve.

  He slipped his own over it as he walked with her toward where the cliffs rose straight up from the beach. When they passed where fishermen were working on their nets, she stopped to talk to them. She asked not just about the damage, but about their families, seeming to know the name of everyone in the village and even some of their relatives who lived beyond Porthlowen. Her questions were both kind and aimed at gathering information and opinions, which he guessed she would share with her father. Lord Launceston was fortunate his children had assumed his duties with skill and dedication.

  A frustrated cry rang through the air. He looked back to see Miss Oliver grabbing for the children. They were too close to the water’s edge. Toby was shrieking.

  What was happening? A single glance at the waves gave him his answer. The tide had risen high enough so it could surge around the curve of the sea cliffs and rush into the cove. He ran back and grabbed Toby, trying to pull him back. The little boy yelped in pain when his arm was stretched to its limits.

  Susanna dropped to her knees and looped one arm around each of the twins, keeping them from getting pulled in. “Can you untie the strings from their wrists?”

  He tried, but the knots had tightened. Pulling a knife from under his coat, he slashed through one string after another. The children fell to the ground, then began screaming for their boats that were sailing away on the tide.

  “I will get them!” he shouted. “Keep the children on the sand.”

  “Drake, no! Just let the ships go. It is too dangerous.”

  He bent, tugging off his boots. He tossed them behind him. “It will only take a minute.”

  “Drake, don’t!”

  He waded in. Maybe if he showed her that the waves did not hurt him, she could set aside her fear of them. The undertow tugged at his legs, and he used it to propel himself forward. Grasping the trailing strings, he wrapped them around his hand. He moved to return to shore, but the current was powerful. Even though the water was not as high as his waist, it tried to drag him away from the beach.

  He fought the current. He thought he was making some headway until he looked up and discovered he was actually farther from the shore. Now he understood why Susanna had warned him to stay out of the water. Gritting his teeth and wishing his feet would stop sliding on the slick rock under the water, he struggled to reach the shore.

  “Grab hold!”

  He raised his head to see a hand under his nose. He slapped his own against it, seizing the man’s arm.

  The man grasped Drake’s and shouted, “Got’m! Back us out.”

  Only when Drake felt himself being pulled against the tide did he realize the man was at the end of a long line of men who clasped each other’s arms to make a human rope. He saw his crew members interspersed among fishermen. Even Raymond Trelawney had joined the line. Two large men anchored the far end of the queue.

  Someone began counting cadence, and they all moved as one. More than once, a man lost his footing and fell. He was always grabbed by the men near him, pulled up and linked into the line again.

  Though Drake had been less than ten feet from shore, it took more than fifteen minutes until he stepped on the sand. Cheers came from all around. He collapsed to solid ground. He nodded his thanks to his rescuers before holding out the little ships to the children. Everyone smiled and clapped as the youngsters rushed forward to collect them.

  Several men clapped him on the shoulder before returning to their interrupted tasks. He heard Susanna thank each one before asking Miss Oliver to take the children back to Cothaire. With a sigh, he lifted his head to see Raymond walk toward the parsonage with Toby.

  Susanna came over to where he sat. She handed him his boots. As he pulled them on, she sat on a nearby boulder.

  “Go ahead,” he said. “Give me a good dressing-down. I deserve it.”

  * * *

  Susanna stretched out a hand and put it on Drake’s shoulder. “Why do you think you deserve a scold? You saved the children’s toys.”

  “And then I needed saving.”

  “We all need saving once in a while.”

  His dark brown eyes pierced her. “What do you need saving from, Susanna?”

  For a moment, she considered giving him a frivolous answer; then she decided on the truth. “Myself.”

  Coming to his feet, he brushed sand off his coat and breeches. She could hear water in his boots as he moved. He tilted her head back so she could not escape his gaze. Not that she wanted to. She could happily spend the rest of her life looking into his eyes, exploring the potent emotions within them.

  “Why do you need to be saved from yourself?” he asked.

  “Because I am a fool.”

  He ran a finger along the ribbon holding her bonnet on her head so the fickle breezes did not snatch it away. When she leaned into his caress, he said, “Susanna, when I think of all the ways I might describe you, fool is never a word that has come to mind.”

  “That is because you don’t really know me.”

/>   “I know you. You care deeply for your family. You hold your responsibilities dear. You did not hesitate to open your heart to six abandoned children.” He smiled. “You don’t like surprises, though I am curious why.”

  “Why are you curious?” she asked before she could halt herself.

  He chuckled. “I cannot imagine not enjoying a surprise now and then. If I knew what was going to happen every single day, I would become bored in no time.”

  “I simply like to be prepared so I am not taken unaware.”

  “Again.”

  When he did not make it a question, she nodded and closed her eyes. The familiar feelings of humiliation threatened to drown her.

  Drake whispered, “Tell me. Please.”

  “Very well.” She opened her eyes. “I will tell you, though I have no doubt you will tell me I was a fool not to see what was coming.” She stepped away, unable to look at him as she explained how she had been betrayed by her two best friends on the very day she should have been celebrating. “I thought I could trust Franklin Chenowith and Norah Yelland.”

  When he wrapped his arms around her, she stepped into his embrace, glad for his sturdy comfort. She paid no attention to the water seeping through her dress from his drenched breeches.

  He murmured into her hair, “Now I understand the reaction in church when the banns were first read for Raymond and Elisabeth.”

  “I worried about what might have happened to Franklin for the next week,” she said against his damp waistcoat. She unfolded her fingers across his chest and heard his heart skip a beat. Just as hers did when she breathed in the fresh scent of him, a mixture of salt and wood and lacquer.

  “You never heard from him?”

  “Not for what seemed like a lifetime. We sent messages to his home but received no answer. Finally, after almost a fortnight, word came that he and Norah had married by special license the very day the banns were first read for us.” She lifted her hands. “Surprise!”

  Drake’s brows rose as he whistled a single long note that wafted across the cove. “And now I understand why you hate surprises.”