Surrender of a Siren (The Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy #2)

Her heart gave a queer flip. No. It couldn’t be. Surely it was merely oneof life’s cruel coincidences.

“Shall I send up the alarm, Captain? Ready the cannon?”

“No!” Sophia cried.

The captain and officer turned on their heels to face her.

“I … I believe I may know this ship, sir.” She looked to the first mate.

“Might I borrow your spyglass?”

She took it from his hand without waiting for permission, then fitted it to her eye and looked sharp toward the horizon. There it was, the schooner. Through the narrow lens, she stared down the ship’s prow. Scanning the sails, the rigging, the deck. The jib blocked her view, drat it. There, they tacked the sails and the ship pivoted slightly. She could almost make out the figure of a man on the quarterdeck.

Beside her, the first mate shifted his weight. “Beg pardon, miss, but—”

“Levi!” A towering figure came into focus. It had to be Levi, so impossibly large. She directed the spyglass up to the rigging, searching … searching… Quinn. There was no doubt in her mind. The man had hams where his fists should be.

A shot boomed across the waters, and Sophia jumped. “No,” she cried.

“You mustn’t fire! They’re not pirates.” She swiveled to face the first mate.

“That is … they may be pirates, of a sort. But I promise you, they’re no threat to this ship.”

“That was only their signal shot, miss.” The first mate called over to the captain. “Do we wish to speak with them, sir?”

The captain grumbled, “Whether we wish it or not, it appears they’re determined to speak with us. Square the yards and come about, then.”

The whole ship began a slow, creaking pirouette, and Sophia went dizzy with anticipation. Had he truly come for her? She supposed Levi and Quinn could have taken employment with another ship. Perhaps Gray wasn’t even aboard. Despite her best efforts to remain calm, she could not help pinching a blush to her cheeks and smoothing back stray locks of hair. If only there were time to change her gown.

The officers strode toward the bow of the ship now, and Sophia hurried after them. The forecastle was crowded with curious sailors, obstructing her view of the clipper as it drew near.

“Ahoy!” a seaman called out. “The English frigate Polaris, ten days out from Antigua, bound for Portsmouth.”

“Ahoy, yerself!” It was O’Shea’s rough brogue. She’d never heard sweeter music. “This be the clipper Sophia, of no particular country at the moment. Seven days out from Tortola, bound for … well, bound for here. Captain requests permission to board.”

Gray. It had to be Gray.

The officers of the Polaris exchanged wary looks.

“Oh, for Heaven’s sake.” Sophia pushed forward to the ship’s rail and cupped her hands around her mouth, calling, “Permission to board granted!”

A cheer rose up from the other ship’s deck. “It’s her, all right!” a voice called. Stubb’s, Sophia thought.

Oh, but she hardly cared who was on the other deck. She cared only for the strong figure swinging across the watery divide as the two ships came abreast. Turning back toward the center of the ship, she pushed her way through the sweaty throng of sailors, desperate to get to him. Her foot caught on a rope, and she tripped—

But it didn’t matter. Gray was there to catch her.

And he was still wearing those sea-weathered, fire-scarred boots. No doubt for sentimental reasons.

“Steady there,” he murmured, catching her by the elbows. She looked up to meet his beautiful blue-green eyes. “I have you.”

“Oh, Gray.” She launched herself into his arms, clinging to his neck as he laughed and spun her around. “You’re here.”

“I’m here.”

And he was. Every strong, solid, handsome inch of him. Sophia buried her face in his throat, breathing in his scent. Lord, how she’d missed him. She pulled away, bracing her hands on his shoulders to study his face. “I can’t believe you came after me.”

“I can’t believe you actually left.” He lowered her to the deck, and her hands slid to his arms. “I thought you were bluffing with that bit. I’d have never allowed you to go.”

Sophia shook her head. “I didn’t say a word in that courtroom that wasn’t true. I didn’t want to lie to you anymore, Gray. Even if we can’t be together… I just couldn’t leave without telling you the truth.”

“Who says we can’t be together?” His brow furrowed.

“Surely you must understand. I’m ruined, most thoroughly. You’ve worked so hard to regain your family’s place, you have such hopes for your sister. If you marry me, all those plans will be ruined, too. I couldn’t ask it of you.”