Page 31 of Mardon

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“Wanton desires? Hrmph. I am not wanton. And I could be a nun if I wanted to,” Emmaline talked to herself as she exited Mardon’s cabin, madder than hell. How could the cur have said these things about her? Especially when they weren’t true? She stopped in her tracks when she remembered the way she’d felt in Mardon’s arms and while kissing him. Damn, he was right. Who was she trying to fool? She never wanted to become a nun, and maybe it truly was because she liked the touch of a man too much. Nay, she told herself. It wasn’t that. She just wanted to be treated like a lady. No man, especially not Jean Philippe, had ever treated her like anything but a whore. “Mardon,” she whispered, once again wanting to feel the pleasures of the man.

“What did ye say, Sister Emmaline?” asked Ramble, stepping in front of her. She hadn’t even seen him there.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” She reached up and secured her wimple in the wind. “I was only talking to myself.”

“I thought I heard ye say Mardon. If ye’re lookin’ for the captain, he’s up there.” He looked up to the main mast and pointed.

Emmaline followed the path of his finger to see Mardon and Aaron making their way down to the deck. Mardon was way behind Aaron and going very slowly. Aaron jumped down to the deck and started to gather the crew around him.

“Why is Mardon going so slow?” she asked.

“I guess he’s . . . I mean he’s probably . . . I don’t know. He’s takin’ his time to enjoy the view?”

“He looks uncomfortable up there,” said Emmaline. “Not at all at ease the way Aaron swings from the lines like a monkey.”

“He’s not scared of heights, if that’s what ye’re thinkin’.” Ramble shifted his weight back and forth. “He had a spill from the riggin’ as a boy and it brings him bad memories that he’d rather forget.”

“Really? What happened to him?” she asked.

“It was on his father’s fishin’ ship. He broke his arm and leg at the same time and his father called him worthless.”

“Oh, that’s horrible.”

“Mardon doesn’t like anyone to know about this. I heard it from Aaron, but I’m supposed to keep it a secret.”

“And I’m sure you have,” said Emmaline, laughing inwardly, sure that Ramble had told everyone on the entire ship.

The boy took off to join the rest of the crew.

“We’ll be keeping to our original plan and heading to Canterbury Cathedral,” Aaron announced, getting disappointed remarks from the crew.

“We haven’t had a good plunder in a while now,” complained Goldtooth.

“I agree. Plus, we’re still short on supplies,” added Peg Leg Pate.

“Why did ye change yer mind?” asked Coop.

Aaron looked up to the lines, but still, Mardon was making his way to the deck, moving very carefully. Emmaline chuckled inwardly, thinking she could probably climb the lines faster and easier than him. He truly must be haunted by the incident from his youth.

“We’ve got a nun on board and it’s not safe,” said Aaron. “Something could happen to her if we board the French ship. We don’t want the death of a nun staining our souls.”

“I don’t care about my soul,” shouted Goldtooth.

“I’ll kill the wench myself and take my chances. Just let us raid that ship,” shouted a man.

“It’s probably filled with riches,” called out another of the crew.

“No one is touching the nun!” Mardon finally made it down, jumping to the deck. “That’s an order. Now stop questioning your quartermaster’s decision and get back to your positions. We’ve got a treasure to find before Nereus and, this time, we’re going to beat him to it.”

“Aye, Cap’n,” the men repeated one after another. Disheartened, they went back to their posts.

“So, that’s really a French ship out there?” Emmaline asked Mardon, looking out to sea.

“Don’t get your hopes up. We’re not boarding it,” he grunted.

“I’m surprised. After all, we both know how much you like to plunder.” She flashed him a sarcastic smile.