“Credit what you will, Captain.’Tis the truth.”
“You pique my curiosity, my lady.”’
A soft whimper escaped Matthew’s lips, but quickly intensified into a wail.
Rising, she took up a pace while humming a tune.After several moments, the babe settled.When she looked back at the captain, he was staring at her with the oddest expression.Not a malevolent look, but one that held…a deep yearning?Did the captain lose a child as well?Perhaps if he grew to care for Matthew, he’d be less inclined to use him in his nefarious plan.
“Would you care to hold him?”she asked against every motherly instinct within her.
At first shock pinched his expression.She took a step toward him, holding Matthew out.
He held up his hand.“Nay!I hate children.”
The shout woke up Matthew, and Gabrielle retreated, heart racing.What kind of man hated innocent children?“They don’t bite.”
“Nay, but they fuss, they toss their accounts where they will, they soil their undergarments, and they whine.A lot.”
She couldn’t help but smile.“I perceive you’ve had some experience with children, Captain.”
“Too much.”He snorted.“Brothers and sisters.”
“You come from a large family?”
He crossed arms over his chest.“Three brothers and two sisters, all younger than me.”
“How lovely.”She glanced down at Matthew.“I’ve always wanted a bevy of wee ones.”
He uttered a curse.“Sounds like a nightmare.”
A deep sorrow penetrated his voice and burned in his eyes.So painful, it almost brought tears to her own.“Why?Family is the only source of real joy.”
“Is it?”He pushed from the desk and went to the sideboard for another drink.“My mother died when I was eight.My father was a tenant farmer, gone from dawn to dusk.Hence, I was left to care for my siblings.I assure you there was little joy to be found in our house.”
Despite Cadan’s hate-filled tone, Gabrielle’s heart grew heavy at the tale.Though her father was an earl and had thus inherited an estate, they gave away much of their wealth to the poor.Still, they never lacked for anything.Indeed, she’d grown up in a loving home with Godly parents who loved each other and with a sister and brother whom she adored.“No joy to be found at all?Was your father a Godly man?”
Taking another sip of rum, he faced her, brows drawn.“Aye, he and my mother both.And me, if you can believe it.”He gave sharp snort.“Until my mother died.”
Anguish churned behind hazel eyes that quickly darkened to brown, and Gabrielle thought it best to change the topic.Besides, what comfort could she offer for she, too, believed God had done her an injustice.
Zada jumped from the stern seat to the captain’s desk and skittered to the edge where Gabrielle stood.“Greetings, little one.”Gripping Matthew tighter in one arm, she petted the iguana, who stretched out his neck for her touch.
Cadan huffed.“’Twas me who rescued him from drowning in a swamp and yet he prefers your company to mine.”A jovial tone penetrated his feigned anger.
She smiled.“I’ve always heard that iguanas are quite smart.”
Instead of barking some insult at her or running for his rum, he returned her smile, his gaze remaining on her far too long.
Zada darted away, creating even more chaos on the desk, and Gabrielle reached to pick up an overturned ink pot—thankfully corked—then lined up a compass and divider on the left side of the desk and moved two scrolls beside each other on the right.
“Cease, woman!”
The captain’s shout startled her, and she halted, glaring at him.
Matthew began to wail.
“Now, look what you have done.”She took up a pace, bouncing the baby in her arms.
The ship leapt over a wave, catching her unaware.She stumbled to her right, tightening her grip on Matthew lest he fall from her embrace.Normally, she’d have no trouble steadying herself, but she was still sore from the birth.She continued to totter and would have fallen to the deck…
