Page 15 of Devil of the High Seas
“Josephine.”
Once again, that knife slashed through him. He needed to lash out at something to take his mind away from the agony, and his brother was the only one there to take his pain.
“That woman is too wild for you, brother. Even Charity was more tame than she. You will only make her miserable, and she you.” Josephine was not a woman who could be gentled. That much he knew, in just the short time he’d spent with her.
As if understanding Gavin’s intentions, a frown tugged at Griffin’s lips. “I’m well aware of Josephine’s spirit. Her parents chose me because they hope I will settle her down. Sometimes a gentle hand will soothe even the wildest creature.”
Gavin had a sudden flash of memory, of him and Griffin taming horses together. Griffin’s gentle touch almost always won the wild horses over, but there had been one stallion that couldn’t be tamed with gentleness. So Gavin had mounted up and let the horse loose on the land, and they rode together, wild and free, until the horse learned to trust him. That stallion had never been tamed, but Gavin had always been able to ride him. Not all creatures could be tamed, nor should they be. It would be a cruel thing to break the spirit of a woman like Josephine.
Gavin set aside his torn shirt. “When is the wedding?”
“Soon.”
Soon.Gavin’s jaw clenched.
“Don’t worry. I shall be long gone before you take your new bride.”
Griffin didn’t argue, but he did square his shoulders. “What the devil happened, Gavin? Do not hide the truth. ’Tis only me here—you can tell me.”
Gavin didn’t want to tell him, but somehow the words tumbled free of his lips as he told his brother of Beauchamp’s mutiny and his flight from his beloved ship.
“I will meet up with my shipmate soon and be gone once we find a vessel.”
“Byfind a vessel, you mean...?”
“’Tis better if you don’t know,” Gavin replied. He had no money to buy a ship, assuming he could even find one for sale, but stealing a ship, that was something he could manage.
“Don’t be a fool, Gavin. The Royal Navy has vessels patrolling off the coast, and there are two docked in the nearest port. I hosted an admiral last week for dinner, along with several of his captains. They are hunting forpirates.” He let the word hang in the air, heavy with meaning, as he met Gavin’s eyes.
“You’re warning is heeded, but I can’t stay here.” Gavin curled his hands into fists where they rested on his thighs as he weighed the danger of the navy prowling around the coastline.
“Where will you go?” Griffin asked.
“I’ll go after my ship. I owe Beauchamp the taste of my steel. He’ll be headed for the West Indies again. After that, well, I have a life elsewhere.” He smiled a little as he thought of the tiny island off the coast of the Bahamas that he called home. The Isle of Song. It was the only place he felt was truly his anymore.
“I would give anything to have you stay... if things were different,” Griffin whispered.
“Things are what they are... and I could not stay even if they were,” Gavin replied just as quietly.
The two of them sat in long silence until Gavin dared to speak about their past again.
“Did Father ever forgive me for leaving?”
Griffin traced the edges of the handle of the oil lamp. “Of course he did. He loved you, and he understood that you couldn’t stay.”
Gavin’s throat tightened. He had a terrible sense that he was running out of time, like the sand in the hourglass of his life was pouring far too quickly.
“I’m sorry, brother.” He’d done it. He’d finally said the words that had driven him here in the storm.
“As am I,” Griffin replied and then stood. “I’ll be back with clothes and food. You’ll need more lamps to see properly until you leave. It’s too bloody dark in here.”
With one last look of bittersweet ache at his twin, Griffin left Gavin alone in the secret chamber. As he sat in silence, Gavin swore he could hear the pouring sand of that invisible hourglass growing louder and louder. What was he supposed to do before the sand ran out?
* * *
Josephine reluctantly returnedto the dining room after Griffin effectively dismissed her from the secret passage. She hadn’t really eaten much during breakfast, and now some of the guests were seated for an early lunch.
“Cheer up, Josie.” Her twin, Adrian, set down a plate of food next to her at the table and joined her. “You look thoroughly put out, darling sister.” His gray eyes twinkled with mischief, and his good mood almost managed to make her smile.
