Page 13 of A Captain For Clarissa
“Allow me to assist you, my lady.” Rafael extended a calloused hand, offering support as she stepped onto the gangplank. Clarissa, ever fearless, looked at his offered hand, then up into his eyes, and flashed him a mischievous grin.
“Thank you, Captain, but I think I can manage,” she said, deftly stepping onto the plank without assistance. Rafael admired her independence, though he couldn’t suppress a worried frown as she navigated the precarious crossing.
“Enrique!” Rafael called out to one of his crew members. “Secure us a carriage, if you please.”
“Sim, capitão!” the sailor replied, hurrying off to fulfil the request.
As they waited, Clarissa idly glanced at the ship in the neighbouring berth, preparing to cast off as the last passengers boarded. A tall figure caught her attention, and she squinted; she knew that form!
“Uncle Alex!” she cried out. Startled, Alex spun around, his face a picture of disbelief and relief as he caught sight of his niece standing on the dockside.
“Clarissa!” He rushed toward her, his arms opened wide for an embrace.
Clarissa’s heart swelled with happiness as she took in the familiar sight of her beloved uncle, his face etched with shock and joy at seeing her safe and sound.
“Clarissa, my dear!” Alex cried out, his voice thick with emotion. He swept her up into his arms, holding her close as if to reassure himself that she was truly there and not just an apparition borne out of his deepest hopes.
“Uncle Alex,” Clarissa murmured, tears pricking the corners of her eyes as she clung to him. “I am so glad to see you.”
“Wherever have you been?” He leaned back, grasping her shoulders, looking her up and down. “I cannot tell you howpanicked Marianne was when we received my mother’s letter that you were missing from Athens!”
Clarissa winced, too well able to imagine how distressed her aunt would have been.
“I was about to board a ship to Greece,” Alex gestured to the ship, sighed as the captain came towards him. “One moment, Clarry. I need to get my luggage brought off.” He spoke quickly to the captain in rapid, fluent Italian, before turning back to her. For the first time, he looked past her to Rafael, standing patiently waiting, and his eyebrows went up.
“Clarissa Creighton.Tellme you didn’t run off from Greece with a man!“ Fury darkened his face as he stared at Rafael.
“No!” Clarissa caught at his arm as Alex took a step forward, expression threatening. “Uncle Alex, that’s not what happened.” She glanced around; several people were watching them with apparent interest. “We need to talk somewhere private.”
“Back aboard the Santa Dorotéia,” Rafael invited quietly. “Captain Rafael de Silva, at your service,” he made Alex a polite bow.
“Oh, I’m so sorry… this is my uncle Alex… the Marquis of Glenkellie.” She saw the surprise on Rafael’s face, realised she hadn’t told him just how highly ranked Alex was. “Uncle, you can trust Captain de Silva. I promise. He’s the hero in this story.”
“Is he, indeed?” Alex said dryly, but he allowed Rafael to lead him and Clarissa back aboard the Santa Dorotéia and to the captain’s cabin.
“All right.” Alex folded his arms, looking from Rafael to Clarissa. “Tell me the real story.”
Clarissa hesitated now, realising that Alex was likely to be extremely angry on her behalf once she explained. Rafael spoke up, filling the silence.
“My lord, this ship is part of an anti-corsair patrol through the southern Mediterranean. Three days ago, we intercepted a known corsair running along the North African coast, flying the Algerian flag. On boarding, I found Lady Clarissa imprisoned.”
“On acorsairship?“ Alex unfolded his arms, his eyes blazing. “How…?”
“They took me in the middle of the night,” Clarissa said quickly. “I woke up and they were in my hotel room. They put a bag over my head and carried me off before I could even scream.”
Alex put a hand over his mouth in horror and sank to sit on the single chair at the table, looking as though his legs would not hold him up. “Did… were you…” he didn’t seem to be able to ask the question.
“They wanted me in good condition, so no, nobody touched me,” Clarissa said quietly. “The corsair captain said I was to be sold in Algiers.”
Rafael said something very fast in Italian. Clarissa didn’t catch every word, but she was fairly sure of the gist.Virgins fetch a higher price.
Alex looked as though he might be about to be ill, but instead he rose to his feet and extended his hand to Rafael. “Captain de Silva, words cannot express my gratitude for your heroism in rescuing and protecting Clarissa.”
“Your thanks are welcome, sir, but there is no need for such effusive praise,” Rafael responded, his tone modest. “It was no more than my duty.”
“Perhaps,” Alex conceded, his expression sobering as he considered the dangers Clarissa had faced. “But it was you who braved those perils, and for that, I shall be forever grateful.”
Rafael shifted uncomfortably, unused to such commendation. “My duty is to protect those in need on the high seas. Lady Clarissa’s safety was paramount, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been of service.”
