In moments, after the boat thudded against theSummonsand the rope ladder was tossed, Alexander Merrick Hyde, Viscount Hyde, leapt over the bulwarks and landed on the deck with a mighty thump.
His piercing blue eyes locked onto Blake as he drew his cutlass and charged toward him. “I should have you arrested for piracy and kidnapping!”
Curses and growls flooded the deck, but thankfully Blake’s pirates offered no resistance.
He swallowed. The tip of the man’s blade was but an inch from his throat. “A fit punishment, my lord.”
“Papa, stop it at once!” Emeline said from behind her father, where a quick glance revealed the frustration and anger on her face. Not fear, however. Perhaps the man did not intend to arrest Blake, after all.
Alexander Hyde pressed the cutlass closer. “What is your defense?”
“None. I am guilty as charged.” Blake stood his ground, returning the man’s forceful gaze with one of his own. “But you should know, my lord,” he added, “I have made my peace with God and repented of my evil ways.”
A woman sashayed forward who surely must be Emeline’s mother. Sunlight glinted off golden curls cascading down her back and lit her eyes with the same purity and goodness that filled Emeline’s. Only a few lines at the edges of her eyes gave away her age. Oddly, she cast Blake a smile before turning toward her husband with a frustrated sigh. “Do leave him be, dear. He seems quite penitent.”
Ignoring her, Viscount Hyde kept his eyes on Blake. “You believe yourself to be worthy of my daughter, Emeline?”
“Nay, I do not. I doubt any man would be, my lord.” Blake shifted his gaze to Emeline. “But if you allow it, I vow to protect and love her all her days like no one ever could.”
This appeared to satisfy Viscount Hyde, for he sheathed his blade and took a step back. “Good.”
The entire ship seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Tugging from the grasp of a man who must be her brother, Emeline dashed toward Blake, casting a look of reprimand at her father. “You didn’t have to scare him so, Papa.”
One brow lifted as Viscount Hyde nodded toward Blake. “I doubt this man is so easily frightened.”
Blake slipped his hand into Emeline’s. “I thank you, my lord, for believing me.”
“You? Nay. My daughter, aye.”
Bandit dashed across the deck and leapt into Emeline’s arms, grinning and leaning his cheek against hers.
Emeline’s mother laughed. “Who might this be?”
“This is Bandit. He’s the real hero aboard this ship.” Smiling, Emeline winked at Blake.
He scratched beneath Bandit’s chin. “Indeed. I quite agree.”
“I cannot wait to hear that story.” Emeline’s brother approached, the perfect image of his father with his black hair and penetrating eyes—now honed in on Blake. “So you’re the man who stole my sister away?”
“Caleb, my brother,” Emeline announced.
Blake glanced at Emeline. “If you’ll have the truth of it, I believe ’twas the other way around.” He winked at her, then faced her father again. “I made an attempt to return her to you safely, my lord. Did you receive my post?”
A gust of wind tossed a strand of Alex’s black hair across his cheek, and he snapped it away, frowning. “I did. And after we received Emeline’s missive yesterday, we were preparing to set sail when”—he smiled lovingly at his daughter—“by God’s good fortune she appeared on our doorstep.” He took a step closer to Blake. “But the next time you leave my daughter alone and undefended in a dangerous port, you’ll wish you had never been born. Do you take me?”
“Quite well, my lord.” Blake met the man’s sharp gaze, hoping to convey his sincerity.
“Papa, cease now,” Emeline said. “He’s a changed man.”
One of Alex’s dark brows arched. “We shall see.”
Emeline’s mother glanced over Blake’s crew, most of whom stood about with shocked looks on their faces. Others with admiration. No doubt the Pirate Earl’s reputation had stunned them into silence. An unusual occurrence. Even Sam stood at a distance, eyeing the proceedings with interest. “Now where is this female master gunner you told me about?”
Emeline gestured for Charlie to approach, and the woman did so, albeit with suspicion in her gaze.
“Emeline has explained your situation, Charlotte,” Emeline’s mother said. “My husband and I would like to offer you employment either at our estate or, if you prefer, one of our many ships. We would move your…”—she leaned in close to whisper—“family here to Kingston so you could be close.”
