Page 9 of A Countess Captured for the Captain
“It will be my delight, your Ladyship,” he said, and gave her a flourishing bow.
“And so now I am to be at your side on board this ship for the duration of this voyage,” she said, now looking around properly at the cabin, and wondering where her own quarters might be found.
“You could always go back into your crate,” he said, and despite herself she laughed.
“No, you may show where I am to sleep,” she said, and nodding his head, he offered her his arm.
* * *
Indeed, it was Nox’s own cabin he gave up for Samantha, for there was nowhere else on board that would offer suitable accommodation. The men slept below decks on hammocks strung up in the bowels of the ship – hardly the place for the daughter of a Duke – and Strap point blankly refused to offer his own cabin to Samantha, turning in as soon as he had issued the order for the ship to set sail.
There was much muttering among the men, for usually they weighed anchor at night, and with only a little breeze in the air there was little hope in hoisting the sails. But Nox was insistent, caught up, it seemed, in his plans to return to London.
But it was the discovery of a woman on board that roused the astonishment of the men, who whispered among themselves how this strange occurrence had taken place. Samantha remained quiet, still doubting Nox’s motives, though he seemed to believe he would extract a small fortune from her father for her safe return. That he seemed far from intent upon harming her, made her wonder what would happen if her father refused, but she was relieved at least to be returning home, albeit under duress.
“Now, Men, you will extend the Lady every courtesy while she is on board. We are not used to women of her class among us,” Nox said, addressing the men on the deck, the moonlight shimmering across the waters, as the sails were hoisted.
“A pity she is not a harlot, Captain, we could have had our fun with her,” one of them said, and Nox drew his sword and thrust the point to the man’s chest.
“I will have no such talk, you dastardly dog, she is our guest, and you shall have all the harlots you wish for in the port of London. She is to fetch us a pretty price in ransom, and you will all benefit from that when she is safely returned home. But her father will not pay if she is damaged goods,” he said, pointing his sword at the rest of the men, who muttered and nodded.
Nox now turned to Samantha, who felt decidedly unwelcome among the men, some of whom eyed her angrily.
“Pay no attention to them. Come now, get some rest, you have had a long day cramped up in that crate,” he said, pointing her back toward the cabin.
Inside, he pulled back the covers for her, rolling out a fresh blanket, and pointing to a carafe of wine on the table.
“I am to sleep here?” she asked, and he nodded.
“Yes, drink and eat, too, you must be hungry,” he said, lighting another oil lamp on a table at the side of the bed.
“But where will you sleep?” she asked, and he smiled.
“On the deck, beneath the stars, unless you are inviting me to share my bed with you,” he asked, and she raised her eyebrows at him.
“I shall lock the door from the inside, I do not trust you after you chased me,” she said, though she could not help but smile at him, grateful that he had treated her well, for the alternative did not bear thinking of.
“It was only a little fun. Can a man not enjoy himself a little? Particularly when he has spent so long in the wilderness without the company of a pretty woman,” he said, tilting his head to one side, his eyes tracing the length of her body.
She felt a shiver run through her, sitting back upon the bed, and pulling the blanket around her. It had grown cold in the cabin, and she yawned, realizing just how tired she was after her ordeal in the crate.
“Goodnight, Captain Nox,” she said, and he smiled at her.
“Goodnight, Lady Samantha,” he replied, bowing to her with the same exaggerated flourish he had offered before, taking up a lamp and stepping out of the cabin.
As soon as the door had closed, Samantha leaped to her feet, pulling the bolt across the door, and searching around for a weapon with which to defend herself, should the worst come in the night. She had seen the way the men had looked at her, and while Nox had behaved with dignity, if a little mischievously, she knew she was at his mercy. Pirates, she knew, were wicked men, ruthless in their cruelty, and the sooner she was returned to London, the better.
“I must be brave,” she told herself, finding an ornately hilted dagger upon the table beneath a chart of the surrounding seas.
With the weapon stowed next to her, Samantha settled down to sleep, imagining the look on her father’s face when he discovered what had happened. Regina and the arguments over marriage seemed far away now, the ship rocking her gently back and forth, as her thoughts turned to dreams. How strange this all was, but what an adventure, too, and Samantha could not wait for the ton to discover the scandal she was now living.
Chapter Six
“Wake up in there, wake up!” a frustrated voice called out.
Samantha opened her eyes, wondering where she was, and she sat up suddenly, bumping her head on the low bunk and letting out a cry. The ship was being tossed back and forth, rain and waves lashing against the cabin window, and even as she sat up there came a crash, as bits of furniture flew across the cabin.
“Who is there? What is happening?” she called out, terrified lest the entire ship be torn in two.
