Chapter 30
Constance awoke as dawn lightened the cabin windows. She’d always been an early riser, and she felt surprisingly rested considering that she’d had only a few hours of sleep. Rory was still sleeping soundly, The Spook lying along her side. Rory had always been more of an owl, reading and writing well into the night. The tension lines had smoothed out on her face, and she looked younger and more relaxed.
Constance imagined they’d both have nightmares about the previous night’s horrors for years to come, but already the bloody violence seemed distant. Not quite real. For that, she was grateful.
Feeling restless, she slipped from the bed. She wanted to go down into the hold and visit with the animals that were returning home to Algiers.
Well, why not? She considered her costume, which was several layers of Turkish robes in shades of blue. She couldn’t retrieve any of her own clothing from the cabin she’d shared with Rory because Suzanne was there. But the Turkish robes covered her far more thoroughly than most European gowns so she shouldn’t shock anyone too much.
Amazingly, she still had the head scarf Jason had given her since she’d been allowed to keep it when being prepared for Gürkan. She tied it around her waist like a sash and left the cabin. She liked the ship’s quiet at this hour. Soon, the cook would be busy in the galley preparing breakfast and the ship’s bells would be ringing for the change of watch, but for now the ship was hers.
The Zephyr was sailing smoothly west. Home. They must go to Algiers first to deliver Malek, his family, and his men, but in a few weeks they’d be back in England. Though there would be major changes in her life, at least she’d be in a country where she spoke the language and understood the customs.
She smelled the familiar scents of the menagerie as she descended the companionway to the hold. The miniature hippos were sleeping, the tips of their noses above water for breathing. She greeted the small horses and donkeys and ostriches. Even the lion just blinked at her sleepily.
Inevitably, she ended up at the enclosure that held the pygmy goats. They tumbled over each other to reach her, giving happy little bleats. With a contented sigh, she settled down in the straw with her back to the wall and cuddled the small warm bodies. “Blackie, I’m going to make you the hero of a series of children’s books.”
Oblivious to the honor, he tried to chew her sash. As she gently tugged it from his mouth, a familiar voice said laughingly, “Is this a girl-and-goat party only, or may I join you?”
“Jason!” She half turned in the straw, smiling at him as he entered the enclosure and latched it behind him. When she’d seen him briefly on her return to the ship, he’d been wearing a hat, but now he was bareheaded and bandaged. “How is your head? I was terrified when Gürkan’s men attacked you. I . . . I was afraid you were dead.”
“Americans have hard heads,” he said reassuringly as he slid down next to her and looped his arm around her shoulders. “I bled all over the place and was out for a while, but there was no real harm. How are you feeling? You endured much worse than I did.”
She shuddered. “I’m doing my best to convince myself that Gürkan and his harem never happened. It’s hard to believe that it all took place in less than a day.”
“Credit goes to the captain for putting together a rescue so quickly. I wouldn’t have believed it possible. I wanted to go with him on the raid, but he flat-out ordered me to stay on the ship to take her away if necessary.” His arm tightened around her. “Do you want to tell me about what happened to you, or would you rather not?”
She realized that she did want to tell him, so she burrowed under his arm and briefly outlined what had happened from the time they were kidnapped until their safe return.
He gave a soft whistle when she was finished. “Thank God you all worked together so effectively!”
“Credit for that goes to Rory. She had the courage to strike back, and she inspired Damla and me to do so as well.” Constance drew a deep breath. “Now I’m trying to get used to the idea that I have a future.”
“I hope you’ll spend it with me.” He kissed her forehead. “Marry me, Constance?”
Her heart leaped, then returned nervously to its usual place. “Are you sure that’s what you want? We talked about it, but that was just daydreaming about a future that didn’t seem possible.”
“It wasn’t daydreaming for me,” he said seriously, his gaze catching hers. “I was praying every night that you and Lady Aurora would be on this return journey. This may be too soon to ask you after all that has happened, but the offer is open until you’re ready to give me an answer.”
She bit her lip as tears stung her eyes. The time they’d spent together on the outward journey had seemed magical. Not quite real. But the solid warmth of his arm, the deep honesty in his eyes, was very true. She must be no less honest. “Are you sure, Jason?” she asked uncertainly. “Don’t make a huge mistake because of what we did and said before Constantinople. You don’t owe me anything.”
Voice soft, he said, “I’m not making a mistake. I think you’ll be happy if you marry me. I know I’ll be happy.”
She sighed. “You’re a lovely romantic, Jason. But don’t forget that I’m illegitimate, a foreigner to your country, and I have no fortune. I’ll bring you nothing but myself.”
“Coming to America would be a huge change for you,” he agreed. “But you don’t need a dowry. My family has a fine business and one day I’ll be running the Landers shipyard. They’ll adore you, and my mother will be glad not to have to deal with a rival mother-in-law. As for being illegitimate . . .” He shrugged. “It’s a new land, and a new start for you, and a new name. Your English past won’t matter, only your future as Mrs. Jason Landers. If you’ll have me.”
She swallowed hard, and spoke of an even deeper impediment. “It would be so hard to leave Rory. She’s done so much for me. I don’t know who I’d be without her. She . . . she’s the only person who has ever loved me.”
“That may have been true once, but no longer,” he said intensely. “I love you, Constance Hollings. I love your sweetness and intelligence and laughter.” He grinned. “And I love your beautiful, luscious body, but maybe it’s ungentlemanly to mention that.”
Hope began bubbling through her. But now was the time to ask the difficult questions. “You can say that as often as you want, Mr. Landers! But how can you not be in love with Rory? She’s so beautiful and witty and brave.”
“Love is mysterious,” he said thoughtfully. “She’s a splendid, attractive, and admirable woman, but it’s you I saw and thought, ‘So she’s the one I’ve been looking for.’ And you’re the one I have trouble keeping my hands off. In fact . . .” The arm around her shoulders began inching lower and now his hand cupped her breast.
She laughed and clasped her hand over his, moving it over her heart. “I like that you can’t keep your hands off me!”
He leaned into a kiss, and the two of them subsided into the straw together. The kiss was long and thorough and lasted until Jason lifted his head and said, “There are two goats standing on my back and one of them is tugging at the bandage.”
Chuckling, she pushed herself upright again. He sat up also, displacing the goats.
Constance scratched behind Blackie’s ears. “I’m so glad the menagerie is returning safely home. I was afraid my goats would end up as stew if Gürkan had them.”
“Not much meat on them,” Jason pointed out. “They’re much better as pets.”
“Do you think Malek might give these four to me? Rory said he had other miniature goats, and I’ve become so fond of these fellows.”
Jason grinned and brushed hay from her hair. “I think that, today, Malek Reis is so happy that he’ll grant any requests made of him.”
Constance thought of something else she might ask Malek, but the idea vanished when Jason kissed her again. The whole world vanished. Even the goats.
* * *
Despite his fatigue and faith in his crew, Gabriel spent the rest of the night on deck, guiding his ship to safety. Since they were heading west, the rising sun was behind them when morning came, the rays creating a golden highway toward home.
He was about to retire and was thinking about where he could find a bed when he saw Malek and his family coming up the companionway from the captain’s quarters. He’d seen Damla’s face during the escape from the harem and knew her for a dark-eyed beauty, but this morning her lower face was demurely covered by her head scarf, as was that of her small daughter.
Both children were looking around with interest. Guessing that Gabriel wanted to speak with Malek, she gave him a respectful nod, then took the hands of her children and led them forward.
Malek looked like a different man from the driven, angry one who had forced the Zephyr and all her passengers on their grim voyage east. Face relaxed, he approached Gabriel and offered his hand. “I owe you many apologies, Hawkins. You have reason to hate me, but I have no regrets because you succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.”
Wryly amused, Gabriel shook the other man’s hand. “It’s been an interesting several months. Now the bill has come due.”
Malek fell into step beside him as they began strolling along the port railing. “Your ladies are free, and also the crew of their ship. How much did Siçan’s help cost?”
“Ten thousand pounds. A bargain, I thought. The remaining money should be returned to Lady Aurora’s mother.”
“That is only fair,” Malek agreed.
“Are you through with the corsair trade?”
“Yes, I’d not been a corsair for years until Damla was captured.” He smiled. “She certainly would not approve if I became a pirate again. From now on, I’m merely a merchant who is known for dealing honestly with his customers.”
“Who will inherit Gürkan’s fortune and household?”
“His nephew Mustafa. He is an agha in the Ottoman army, a just and honorable man. I don’t envy him having to untangle the chaos Gürkan left behind.”
“Will Mustafa attempt to take revenge on you and your family?”
Malek laughed. “He is more likely to send me golden gifts as a thank you. There will be no consequences.” His voice turned wistful. “I only wish that I’d been the man to kill Gürkan.”
“The women were up to the task.” Gabriel covered his mouth for a yawn. “But for now, I’m going off duty. It’s been a long day and a half.”
“Sleep well, Hawkins. You’ve earned your rest.” Malek glanced around the deck to locate his family, then headed purposefully toward them when he saw they were in the bow enjoying the wind and sea spray.
Gabriel should probably find a hammock below decks, but he couldn’t resist going down to his cabin for a quiet look at his sleeping heroines. When he opened the door, he saw that Constance was gone and Rory was sleeping alone, her bright gold hair cascading around her shoulders and half over her face.
Since Constance wasn’t there, he gave in to temptation and quietly removed his coat and boots. Then he lay down beside Rory, not wanting to wake her. He laid a gentle arm across her waist. Peace . . .