Page 85 of A Foreign Crown
“He said he sent news of my arrival.”
“It is because of his letter that I am out in the open water searching
for you.”
She sucked in her breath, remembering how little she knew of their current situation. “What happened?”
“Your ship was being attacked by a known privateer, hired by the French. When we at last approached close enough to be of use, they’d already fired guns and begun to board the ship.”
She sucked in her breath.
“I saw the ship traveling away. Do we just let it go?”
He grinned. “Todaywedo. But I’ll alert our navy. It won’t be able to travel freely in these waters for long.”
“I am intrigued with this side of you.” Aribella smiled. “You’re happy out here, protecting the waters. I see now what you were hoping for the whole time we were in the royal courts.”
“Yes, I feel so much better about two things in my life.” He stepped closer. “I have help for my navy and full reign to protect these waters.” Then he grinned as he looked into her face.
“And?”
“And you are here by my side once again.”
She smiled up into his eyes.
“Even though, in coming home, I had everything I have worked for, I thought only of you. Every hour.” He toyed with a stray curl near her ear.
“And I you.” She stepped nearer, happier than she’d been in a long time. “Will your parents be pleased to see me? It is a bit bold to cross the ocean with a former admiral in a merchant ship.”
“My family has already expressed their great admiration for yours. Once they hear your dear father has passed away, there is much they will want to do to honor him.”
She felt a bit better. His encouraging words eased her worry but did not erase it. Honoring her because of her father was one thing, which she appreciated. What she really desired, to be welcomed as a member of his family when the other choice for Layton would have been a princess, was quite another thing. But she didn’t dare speak those particular worries.
A knock at the door made them step apart. Layton called, “Enter.”
A tall man with warm eyes nodded to her and then bowed to them both. “Your Highness,” he said to Layton. “We are coming upon a couple of ships flying the French flag.”
Layton stood taller. “Lead the way. If it’s just Pierre, then we can intimidate him into leaving us alone.” As he exited, he turned back to Aribella. “I hope you will be comfortable here with some repast that will be brought. But if you find a need to repose before I return, ask anyone, and they will show you your quarters.”
“Thank you.”
Their gazes held until Aribella didn’t think she could smile any larger. Then he closed the door.
She fell into the nearest chair, full of both the most exquisite happiness and an anxious hope that the sudden goodness in her life would not be shattered almost as soon as it had begun.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Layton navigated and negotiated andintimidated his way back toward home with Aribella’s merchant ships close behind.
When they were at last about to enter his bay, he returned to find her. She was no longer in his quarters, but he was happy to see evidence that she’d had some food and drink. He knocked at the door next to his, typically used for the first lady of the ship. She answered right away. She’d changed into another dress. She was even more beautiful than he’d seen her last. He reached out a hand. “Come. I want to show you something.”
Her smile filled him with happiness, and he led her up the last set of stairs and forward to the front railing on the top deck of the ship.
She rested her hands on the railing, chin up. Her attention seemed to be everywhere, from the brilliant expanse of water at their front to the land at their side. As they came into the more sheltered water of his bay, he joyed in her excitement as she leaned forward to get the first sights of everything. The ship traveled around the forested rocky rise of the mountains that surrounded his country, and as they entered the bay, he stepped up behind her, putting his arms around her. When Brittiny Castle came into view, she gasped. “Beautiful.”
“That is my home.”
She turned to him, mouth open, then turned back. “Brittiny Castle is the most wonderfully situated castle I’ve ever seen.” She leaned back against him. “I’m so happy to think of you there.”
