Her Favoured Captain Read Online Free Page B

said, cutting him
mid-sentence, “and he expects either payment in property, land, or in my
brother’s case, I as payment because we have no ready monies and the
estate is mortgaged beyond means of honoured payment.”
       “Are you aware of what kind of debts he
settles payment upon?”
       “It would seem any outstanding debt is of
interest to Moorby. That is why my brother has insisted I marry the man, for
Moorby has promised to secure payment of all Ned’s debts. In agreeing to my
brother’s demands, which I have done, Ned and the Penhavean family name is now
saved from a terrible shame and the house secured from ruin.”
       “You are sorely misinformed, Emerald.” He
caught her chin, forced her face upward, his expression dark and brooding, his
eyes searching hers but for what? “Moorby settles gambling debts. He believes
once a man a gambler lured by excitement and danger of win or lose, habitual
gambler is the next step. Ned always enjoyed carding, and is still known to
squander more time in gambling dens than most seamen frequent favoured doxy
houses. Moorby will have encouraged him, no doubt with you in mind as payment
in kind I suspect.”
       Oh God, how could Ned do this to her? “Then
my body is exchange for a gambling debt?”
       “It would appear, so.” He kissed her nose,
a big grin creasing his face. “I could of course, kidnap you, and steal you
away on my ship.”
       Torn between truth and Ned’s lies, she
doubted not her buccaneer to be telling the absolute truth. “As much as I would
love to be kidnapped by you, no matter the cause of Ned’s debt, I cannot stand
by and see him sent to prison nor transported to one of the colonies, but I
have no means other than betrothal to Moorby to secure Penhavean for Ned’s
heirs.”
       “Emerald, do you trust me? Trust me enough
to believe in what I am about to propose?”
       If she could remain in his arms forever,
his eyes looking into hers, she wished the answer could be yes, though well
aware such could never happen. “I trust you, and perhaps foolish in doing so.”
       “Listen, and listen good.” His lips touched
hers, tender light, but momentary. “Whatever happens in the next three weeks,
do every thing within your power to delay official announcement of your
betrothal to Moorby.” His lips came to hers, a kiss potent in deliverance,
breath knocked out of her. Yet, in letting slip her lips from his, he was
nonetheless in full sail. “Trust me, I can help in this matter, but I need
three weeks grace, at least three weeks.”
        “How, how can you, a buccaneer, see me safe from Moorby’s intentions,
and what of Ned?”
       “I have connections in high places, and Ned
too will benefit.”
       “If this is so, then I will be forever in
your debt.”
       He chuckled. “That you will, my lady, and I
perchance able to secure payment in kind.”
       She blushed, for the flush to her cheeks
was nothing less than hot-tide of desire, though her tone cutting to allay true
feelings. “Then you would be no better than Moorby.”
       He laughed, a hearty laugh. “I had in mind,
meat, good wholesome beef fresh from pasture.”
       “Oh, I quite thought   . . .”
       A kiss to silence her was enacted upon so
swift and intoxicating than the last it afforded twice the thrill. She fought
his every attempt to persuade her lips to part and succumb to plunder of
tongue. His eyes warned of mischief, his whispered voice teasing the senses.
“You think me a rogue, I may as well act the part.” She had not expected him to
roll over and crush her beneath him, nor kiss with such passion it compelled
her to surrender, and fully give as much as take. With skin of neck left
lusting his tongue, flesh of upper breast tingling with desire beneath his
lips, she delighted in his touch.
       “Am I not to be stopped,” he enquired, a
fleeting kiss to cleft of breasts, “nor chastised by your sharp tongue?”