Her Gentleman Pirate (High Seas & High Stakes Book 2) (9 page)

Tears welled in her father’s eyes and Arabella’s heart twisted. “Would you see me in a poor house? After all the years I raised you, loved you only as a father can and you would turn your back on me when I needed you most. Please, Arabella, don’t do this to me. Please marry his lordship. I beg of you.”

Pounding started to thump across her brow. She rubbed her temples to try and alleviate the pain. She couldn’t betray her father. Yes, he’d made mistakes, but he’d been the best parent anyone could ask for. She could not allow his future to be uncertain and unpleasant. She nodded, family duty outweighing that of her heart’s desire. “I will do as you ask. Go back to the ship and I’ll join you shortly.”

He nodded, wiping his eyes before waddling off.

Stephen joined her and the worry she could read in his eyes tore at her heart. Tore at her own for that matter. “Our time has been wonderful and I thank you for it, but you know I cannot stay. I must go.” Arabella tried to keep her voice strong, determined, but even she could hear the wavering tempo of devastation in it.

He stared at her in shocked silence for a moment. “Why can you not? I may not be able to give you a position, title or extreme wealth, but you have my heart. Is that not enough?”

Arabella bit her lip. Had he just told her he loved her? Tears welled in her eyes and her knees threatened to give way. He loved her. “I’ve already broken too many vows. One major one being with you, enjoying you in the way only a wife should enjoy a husband. I cannot break my understanding with Lord Montague as well. The banns have been called. All of London is expecting me to become his wife. My father—”

“Is no longer with funds as I said once before, but now has decided to use this against you to make you marry a man you do not love.” Stephen shook her a little. “You cannot do this, Arabella. Not to yourself. You deserve better than this.” Desperation tinged his tone and his eyes beseeched her to see sense.

“He’s my father.” Tears spilled over knowing she was leaving the man she loved. A man who loved her. She sniffed. “I cannot break my promise.”

Stephen rubbed his jaw, shaking his head. “Stop and think for a moment. Why would a wealthy man marry a poor woman when he does not have to? He does not love you, so why the need to marry? Perhaps on your journey back to the capitol you should ask your father to explain this phenomenon.” Sarcasm laced his tone and Arabella frowned. What was he getting at?

“What are you trying to say? That my father is in some way blackmailing Lord Montague? His lordship is above reproach. There is nothing my father could use against him.” Arabella started toward the other ship. How could Stephen think so lowly of her only family? It was beyond insulting. But then, he was a pirate after all. A man used to using any underhanded tactic in getting his own way.

“So a life of luxury and leisure is more important than honor? Am I correct in assuming that? I cannot say I’m not disappointed in you, my dear. I didn’t think you were materialistic. I suppose I’m not such a good judge of character.” Stephen did not follow her, and yet his words hit her like a whip.

Turning to face him she started at the anger she read in his gaze. “I hardly think you’re a beacon on which others should strive for regarding good character and judgment.” Disdain laced her tone. “You kidnapped me. Seduced me if you wish to throw stones at my head.” Arabella hated that she was saying such things that were not the truth. The day she gave herself to Stephen, she did so willingly. “I never asked for this. I never asked to be taken away from the only life I knew. To be thrust on to the high seas with a pirate and his raggedy crew. And here you stand, upset and angry at me when I must refuse your charms, no matter how tempting, because I made a promise to someone else, long before I met you. You are being unfair,” her voice broke and she fought to breathe.

“I’m being unfair?” He yelled, the men on the ship making themselves scarce. “I love you and you’re choosing to walk away from that for the sake of your father’s comfort, because let me assure you,
Miss Hester
, there will never be any love in your marriage. You will be used as a cover for Lord Montague’s real desires and little else. I mourn the life you will lead. It will not be the one you’ve always wished for.”

Arabella threw her belongings onto Lord Montague’s ship. Her hands shook and she fisted them at her sides to shop the trembling. How she wanted to run to him, to say yes to all that he offered and let her father, her betrothed sort out their own mess. “Goodbye and good luck Captain Blackmore. I wish you well.”

He bestowed a sweeping bow. “I don’t need any luck, Miss Hester. You keep it. I feel you’ll need it a lot more than I.”

Arabella’s father laughed. “You can try and run but the authorities will catch up with you to seek my revenge. Perhaps I may visit you in Newgate.”

“There will be no authorities or further discussion involving them in relation to the captain.” She turned and met her father’s startled eye. “Push the subject and I will not marry Lord Montague under any circumstance. Do you understand, Father?”

He nodded, helped her board the other ship and pulled her toward the stairs to go below deck. At the threshold, Arabella turned to see a quick exchange between Lord Montague and Stephen. Her stomach rolled with nerves at having to leave the man she loved. Of course she’d always known the time would come when she would go, but it didn’t make that time any easier when it arrived.

Her father of course wished for his daughter’s happiness, no matter the circumstances or cost to the family. He’d brought her up to think this way, but it would seem when the time came for such choices, men were want to change their minds.

Stephen did not look her way again, and she bit back the tears that threatened. This would be the last time she’d ever see him. In her mind ’s eye, she captured an image of him, every curve, every nuance of his being before he shouted out commands to set sail before disappearing below decks. Out of sight and out of her life. Forever.

A
rabella looked
down at her simple blue morning gown and wiped away tears that refused to stop. The past four weeks without Stephen, without waking up next to him, talking to him, laughing with him had been the worst of her life.

She’d made a mistake and now it was too late to change her mind.

“The carriage is here, Arabella. We must leave,” her father said, cold and autocratic as it had been from the moment they stepped foot in London. Not that she cared any longer. One could not care when one no longer had a heart that beat.

She stood and followed her father downstairs and toward the front door. Their two newly hired footmen bowed as she went past and she cringed at the extravagant lifestyle her father had started to live since her betrothal to Lord Montague was secured.

Stephen had been right all along. Her father had a problem handling money, and if his expenditures over the past few weeks were any indication it wouldn’t take him very long to go through what blunt Lord Montague had as well.

She could almost feel sorry for her future husband…should he ever bother to visit her, that was. Not once since she’d been thrust into a carriage on the docks had he come to see her. Yes, missives were sent, notifying her of what he expected her to wear on their wedding day. The rules she should follow once his bride. The most glaringly obvious one being she was not to ask for consummation of the marriage until he was ready. Not that she wanted to sleep with the prig in any case. Even the thought of kissing the man after their wedding sent revulsion to her core.

And yet she wondered at his lordships decree that he would not sleep with her. What gentleman wasn’t ready to claim his wife? None of it made any sense and Stephen’s cryptic words flittered through her mind. What was it that she wasn’t seeing.

She climbed into the carriage and settled back into the leather squabs as her father fussed with his cravat. “Not long now, my dear. I’m so pleased I’ll be able to call you Lady Montague. It has a certain ring about it, don’t you think?”

A terrible one perhaps…
“Yes, Father, it’s most exciting.” Her voice dripped with boredom, something she had an inkling her life was going to be from now on. So different to what her life with Stephen might have been. Where was he right at this moment? Was he happy, sad, a thousand miles away on a distant ocean…?

The ride to St James was quick and before long Arabella made her way toward the large double wooden doors. Music started to play as she entered, her hand nestled softly over her father’s. It would be a perfect day, a perfect wedding should she be marrying the man she loved.

But she was not. What a fool she’d been to think putting someone else’s wants and desires above her own heart. Lord Montague didn’t care for her and never would and she was being sold to the highest bidder, and all to keep her father accustomed to a lifestyle he could no longer afford.

Lord Montague looked stunning in his cream satin knee-breeches, perfectly cut blue coat and buckled shoes. He didn’t bother to turn and watch her walk toward him. Instead his back was severely straight, rigid to the point of looking painful.

Her father gave her over to his lordship and returned to the pew. Arabella nodded to the priest for him to begin. She wouldn’t look at Lord Montague. How could she? They were not a good match and nor did she desire him to be her husband. A role she loathed to think on and did not want. If she were truthful with herself, probably never wanted. Back in Malta when he had asked for her hand, she’d been so overjoyed a lord had asked to marry her, she had forgotten to ask herself if she cared that he did. Her father was certainly pleased, which made her also, but thinking back Arabella realized she didn’t care at all for his lordship. Nor ever would.

They started to take their vows, repeating what the priest said to them. Compelled to look at his lordship, she was surprised to see the ashen and fear in Lord Montague’s eyes as if he too was having second thoughts. Hope bloomed in her heart. Maybe there was a chance for all to see sense before it was too late.

She squeezed his hand. “Are you well, my lord?”

His attention wavered from her to her father’s, the fear in his eyes increasing. “Of course, my dear. Just nervous, I believe.”

The priest coughed and she glared at the man of the cloth who rolled his eyes.

Arabella shook her head. “No, it’s not just nerves. You do not want to marry me any more than I wish to marry you.” She turned to her father, done with all the secrets, and pretending all of this was acceptable. “What is going on here that I don’t know about?”

“What do you mean? Proceed this instant. You’re embarrassing the family.”

She scoffed. “How can I embarrass anyone? There isn’t anybody here to see.” She turned back to his lordship. “Do you want to marry me, Frederick? And I want the truth.”

His shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. “I do not.” He took her hand. “There is something your father knows about me that he’s blackmailing me with,” he said, whispering the words so her father would not hear. “My lifestyle has never involved plans of marriage, but when one isn’t careful enough, one can find oneself before a priest marrying a woman, no matter how lovely, that is not who he loves.”

Realization struck her like a blow. How could she not have seen it? She nodded, understanding dawning on her over what Stephen was trying to warn her of all those weeks ago. “I will not marry you, my lord. Not today or ever.” She smiled, hugging his lordship for the first time since their betrothal. “Whatever my father has threatened you with you must forget. I will not allow you to be a part of his deviant money-making schemes.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, child!” Her father scrambled toward them and clasped her arm. She bit back a whimper as his hold increased with every word. “I will ruin him and you should you not do as you’re told. We’ll be finished should you refuse to marry this man. Do you know what that means?”

Arabella wrenched her arm free, seeing her father clearly for the first time. A swindler, a pirate far worse than Stephen ever could be. “Of course I do, but I also know it’s time you held yourself accountable for the way you live your life. Lord Montague should not be your bank just because you assume to know something of his life.”

Her father’s face mottled in anger, his skin turning as red as a lobster. “I forbid you to leave this church unmarried. I’m your father, the head of our household. You will do as you’re told.” His words thundered through the church and out the corner of her eye Arabella noted the priest jumped.

“I will not.” Arabella stood nose to nose with him and refused to give in to her churning stomach. She’d never stood up for herself in such a way in her life. And although liberating, it was also terrifying. She supposed all her weeks with Stephen had given her the strength of mind to call out a wrong when she saw one. Not to sit idly by and allow bad things to happen, but to change them, make situations better if possible. “You cannot make me do something I disagree with. Not to mention threatening Lord Montague as well. How could you act so low? You’re behaving in a way I’m unfamiliar with. Where is the loving, caring father that I know?”

“Finished, that’s where,” he shouted before his eyes widened in shock.

Arabella clasped her father’s arm as he swayed. His knees buckled under his weight and she screamed for Lord Montague’s help as her father crumbled to the cold, tiled floor.

Commotion erupted behind her, the priest yelling for the altar boys to run for help. Arabella patted his cheek, trying to rouse him in any way she could. “Father? Wake up. Are you all right? Please talk to me.”

He moaned but reached out to take her hand. “My chest. Pain,” he mumbled, closing his eyes again.

Lord Montague placed his coat beneath her father’s head. Arabella didn’t know what to do or how to help him. She called out for water, but her parent just pushed it away when she went to help him drink.

“Please, Father. What can I do? What’s happening?” She sniffed, the thought that he was dying before her eyes more than she could bear. He couldn’t leave her after such a fight. For all his trouble making, his wayward lifestyle, he was her papa. She loved him. “What can we do?”

He shook his head, clasping his chest. “I’m sorry Arabella.”

She kissed his cheek and hugged him. “I’m sorry too. I love you. Please don’t leave me.” Arabella sobbed as the last beat of her father’s heart thumped beneath her ear, before silence reigned. She lay there, the thought that she’d lost the last member of her family and in such a way, under such terrible circumstances beyond comprehension.

Lord Montague pulled her away and gave comfort as best he could. “It’ll be all right, Arabella. I’ll ensure you will be fully taken care of.”

She sobbed against his chest. Even after all her father had put this man through he’d still ensure her well-being. Perhaps her opinion of his lordship was wrong. “No. You don’t have to. This is not your responsibility. You’ve been too kind after everything I’ve put you through. How will I ever thank you?”

He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. “No thanks are needed.” A group of men, one carrying a bag and Arabella assumed to be a doctor, ran into the church. She sat on a pew knowing there wasn’t anything they could do for her father.

Guilt over their fight, one of the last moments she had with the man who raised her tore at her soul. How could she be so heartless?

“I will not let you think this is your fault.” Lord Montague sat beside her. “The doctor is saying it looks like he’s had a heart seizure of some kind. I can see by your face you’re blaming yourself and you should not. Terrible tragedies happen, my dear. No one is to blame.”

“But I fought with him, made his temper rise more than I should.”

“And rightly so. What your father was doing was wrong and you’re a remarkable woman having stood up for me and your life like you did.” His lordship took her hand, patting it kindly. “Do not forget he apologized, Arabella. He knew within himself that what he was doing was wrong. Please do not blame yourself about what has transpired here today. It could’ve happened anywhere and at any time.”

The doctor echoed Lord Montague’s words, but it still didn’t make the passing of her only living parent easier. From this moment on, she was truly alone. Even Stephen was lost to her and his lordship would no doubt go on with his life less a wife just as he should.

What would she do? Where would she go? Once her father’s debts were settled by the sale of their London home, she’d be homeless, friendless even. To cry off a marriage to a peer of the realm was no small thing. From this day forward, she would truly be ruined.

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Sure, she had wished for freedom to choose her own future, to pick her own husband and the sort of life she wanted to lead, but never at the cost of her father’s life.

Never that.