Silence invaded the cabin, save for the creak of timbers and splash of the sea.
Cadan marched to his desk and poured another drink, quickly gulping it down.
Clasping her hands together, she took a step toward him, her heart crumbling.“We are vastly different, Cadan.I want marriage and children and to live a Godly life.And you have made it plain you want none of those things.”
His shoulders tensed, and he finally turned to face her, his face a mask of pain and anger.“Quite right, Lady Fox.You are dismissed.I’m sure you are tired.”He gestured toward the door with his glass.
Panic soured in her throat.“You still intend to rescue Matthew?”
His intense gaze pierced her harder than any sword.“You have my word.”
Nodding, she left, closed the door, and began walking away.The pain in her heart dragged down each step, prompting her to run back into his arms and declare her love.Spinning about, she was about to do just that…
When the loud crash of glass shattering against the bulkhead rang through the hall.She hesitated, unsure whether he’d hurt himself or his temper had taken over.Opting for the latter, she sped away.
Chapter 34
Pain throbbed, luring Cadan from his sleep.Pound!Pound!Pound!Blow after blow struck his head.Who was hitting him?Swatting the air around him, he felt naught, naught but air.The rush of water against the hull reminded him where he was, but the agony in his heart begged him to slip back into unconsciousness.He rubbed his eyes.The pounding continued.Struggling to rise, he swept his feet over the side of his bed and sat, instantly regretting it.The cabin spun around him as queasiness crept up his throat.
Morning sun speared the stern windows and set ablaze pieces of glass shattered over the deck.Lady Fox had betrayed him, tricked him, declared her love and then had withdrawn it like a vast treasure once given but then snatched away.And like all noble women, she’d merely played with his affections to get what she wanted.Just like Elyna.
Even worse, Cadan was the biggest fool of all for falling for it yet again.
How she must be mocking him, laughing at how easily she’d caught him in her web of seductive deceit and lies.Just like Elyna.Memories of his wife standing half-dressed in their bedchamber filled his mind.He’d just caught her with Allard, his blade at the villain’s throat.And all Elyna could say was how sorry she was, that she never loved Cadan, that she loved Damien Allard.
He raked back his hair and drew a deep breath as Zada skittered over and stared up at him with an incriminating eye.“What now, my lizard friend?Are you to betray me as well?Leave me and run off with the lady?”
“Talking to a lizard now, are we?”Pell’s voice startled Cadan, and he glanced up to see his quartermaster enter the cabin.
“Door was ajar,” Pell said when Cadan cast him a punitive glare.“You look like you’ve been to Davy Jones’ Locker….and back.”
Cadan slanted his lips and with difficulty rose to his feet.The ship bucked over a wave and he stumbled slightly, placing a hand on the bulkhead to steady himself.Empty bottles of rum lay scattered on his desk, and a wave of unusual guilt crashed over him.Aye, after Gabrielle had left, he’d drank far too much.’Twas the only way to dull the pain stampeding his heart, gouging out new gaping wounds and opening up old ones as it went.But now, Lady Fox’s words taunted him.He must remain sober, alert, and at his best if he stood any chance of getting Matthew back.
What was he thinking?’Twas far more important to get his revenge on Allard and retrieve Dempster’s treasure!Then why was Matthew’s safety the first thing that had come into his mind?Why, when the lad’s mother had lied to him, betrayed him?
Pell’s gaze took in the shattered glass covering the deck, and he crossed arms over his chest.“The lady did something to displease you, Captain?”
Cadan gave a sordid huff.“You could say that.”
“Seemed you two were getting along well when I left.Perhaps too well for you to be left alone with her.”
Cadan stared at his friend.“Things are not always what they seem with women like her.”
Zada leapt onto the stern window seat, settling in a stream of warm sunlight.
“Women like her?”
“Noble, educated, coddled, spoiled.”
“She is not Elyna.”
“She is exactly like her.”Cadan snapped a fiery gaze at his friend.
Pell moved to the stern, glancing out over the turquoise sea, sparkling in the sun.“One thing I have recently learned is that God orchestrates the events of our lives, the people we meet, the situations we encounter, all for our good, if we allow it.If we submit to Him and not fall into the pit of our own emotions and flesh.”He breathed out a heavy sigh and looked at Cadan.“Gabrielle is the best thing that has come your way in a long time, Cadan.That much I know.Seek Him and His will, and you won’t be disappointed.”
Chuckling, Cadan leaned on his desk.“What’s this?Returned to preaching, have you?”
Pell smiled and fingered his cross.“You could say that.Been talking to God again and found I rather missed Him.”
