Prize of My Heart

“You can have a seat and tell me something about your captain, Warrick. What sort of man would you say he is?”


The boy looked stricken. He seemed to consider whether it was his place to answer such a personal question, but at length he lifted his chin with confidence. “Captain Talvis gave us a chance, William and I. Employment, food, and shelter when we’d nowhere to turn. My parents sent us off on our own, we being the eldest except for my brother James, who is quite sickly. We were too many at home, miss. Eleven of us and our parents were too poor to care for us all. Men were needed to sign on with the privateers, but no captain would have us because we’d no experience on the sea. None until Captain Talvis. He’s a fair and generous captain. He made certain we were treated fairly.” Warrick squared his thin shoulders. “It has been an honor to serve him.”

Lorena felt humbled by his confession. “Thank you for sharing your story with me, Warrick. I believe I would like that hot cup of tea.”

As he left to fetch the water, she pulled her silver thimble from the pocket of her gown. Lorena did believe she was falling in love with Brogan Talvis. Love, yes. For how else to explain this intensity of feeling that overtook her whenever she stepped into his presence?

Other than his exploits as a privateer, she knew little of his life before he’d arrived in Duxboro. And yet the more she learned, the more it confirmed the good treasure of his heart.

Unfortunately, more than treasure was buried in that heart.

Something painful and dark. And she knew, with secrets, there could be no chance for their love.





15


The Yankee Heart bowled along on a smart breeze under a heavy press of sail. Lorena stood at her bow, bracing the rails as she leaned into the sea. From several paces behind, Brogan watched as, unawares, she raised her face to the spray like some life-sized figurehead.

The wind blew fresh, snapping at the slightly raised hemline of her narrow, gauzy gown. Her flat sandals tied with leather straps, and the skirt’s edging of white embroidered lace flirted in the breeze with her trim, delicately boned ankles. The sight entranced him, and it was here his gaze lingered.

The ocean rolled with a sound that echoed strong in his ears like the flap of the sails high above. Crew members moved busily about, and he knew Lorena had not heard his approach. As Brogan stepped up behind her, he placed his hands gently on her shoulders and cautioned in her ear, “Don’t be startled.”

She swallowed a sharp intake of breath and turned, only to smile when she saw it was him.

Brogan dropped his hands as she whirled about to face him, swatting back the ginger-brown tendrils that blew across her eyes.

“I’ve been searching for you,” he explained.

With a knowing smile she shouted above the noise and commotion. “I’ve been in the galley, visiting with Mr. Mott. Together we baked a lovely shortcake to be served with dinner. I could not pass up the opportunity,” she tittered. “I do enjoy baking, as you well know. There’s peace in the distraction of my busy hands, and I find the task silences my mind. I’ve muddled through many a dilemma in the kitchen. I assumed you wouldn’t mind, since Drew was with you. . . .” She glanced behind him, her eyes narrowing with concern. “Where is Drew?”

He wondered why any dilemma should trouble her now when she’d been taken off the Lady Julia and saved from George Louder. Had she discovered something about his past? Did she suspect his relationship to Drew?

He cast the thought aside to ease her mind about the boy. “Drew is with Warrick below. If you’d like, I’ll have the pair of them take you on that ship’s tour I promised earlier. But first, I’m glad we have a moment, Lorena, because I have something to ask of you, and Drew might be disappointed if he knew I had plans for us tonight that do not include him.”

“Oh. Plans? For us, you say. You mean for you and me?”

“Exactly.”

She grinned like a child ready to receive a surprise, intrigued yet not entirely convinced it was going to be something she’d enjoy. Then, as she peered more deeply into his eyes, Brogan decided, nay. Not a child, but a woman.

“What sort of plans?” she asked.

His heart rate quickened, and he clasped his hands behind his back to better brace himself. “Will you walk with me after supper, Lorena, once you’ve put Drew to bed, so that we might spend some time alone together?”

He seemed to have stunned her silent. Smiling, Brogan reached up to tame the loose spirals of hair whipping about her face. He’d removed his jacket earlier, and now the full sleeves of white shirt billowed in the wind.

“The skies predict a fine starry night,” he coaxed, drawing a breath. “Are you game for standing a trick at the wheel?”

“I beg your pardon?”

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