Call of the Sea Page 12

  Ellie gaped at her mother. He trusted me? How could she have been so wrong? What kind of daughter believes the worst about a parent whose done nothing but look after her, given her every opportunity?

  Guilt’s oppressive weight settled on Ellie’s shoulders. Her father’s face, utter disappointment clouding his stormy blue eyes, flashed in her mind. How could I have been so selfish? Such a bloody taffard?

  A warm hand covered hers, jerking her back to full awareness. Daniel’s voice, as if he called from the end of a tunnel, filtered to her ears. “Ellie? Are you all right?”

  She struggled against the abyss of despair threatening to drag her under. With a white-knuckled grip on her resolve, Ellie pushed up from the table. Her eyes refocused and her concentration bored into the front door. The need to be away, to think, crowded her muddled thoughts. You still have a chance, Ellie’s brain screamed at her. Make Jashir pay in blood. Show your father his trust was deserved.

  Ellie forced herself to look at her mother, ignored the concern etching her brow. “I’m not feeling too well. If you’ll excuse me, I think I need some air.”

  Without waiting for her mother to respond, Ellie bolted for the door, twisted the latch, and burst out into the brilliant, sun-swept morning.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Daniel barely had time to register her intent before Ellie bolted from her chair, toppling it backward, and shot from the cottage.

  Mrs. Winters’ sigh drew his gaze away from the open doorway. The widow reached into her apron pocket and withdrew a bunch of keys. She held it out, dangling it between her fingers from the small brass ring. “These are the keys to Michael’s office.” Her eyes bored into Daniel’s. “I trust you know where the safe is?” At Daniel’s nod, she continued. “Good boy. Everything she needs is in the safe. If I know her father at all, he’ll have seen to every possible detail.”

  Daniel took the key, swallowed. “You want me to go after her? I think I’m probably the last person she wants to see.”

  Mrs. Winters smiled, the kind of smile one reserved for a young child right before correcting wayward behavior. “Ellie has never really known what she wants, aside from sailing, that is. Or what’s good for her. Don’t let the prickly attitude fool you. The child is scared to death. Take her to her father’s office. Let all this sink in for her. She needs your strength right now, Daniel. Whether or not she’ll admit it is another matter entirely.”

  Daniel pushed up from the table, bit back his annoyance at not getting the chance to at least finish his meal. He stuffed the key ring into his pocket. “I’d not wager on that, Mrs. Winters. Ellie is the only person I’ve met that is more stubborn than the captain.”

  Pride gleamed in the widow’s eyes. “That’s my girl.”

  When Daniel emerged from the cottage, there was no sign of Ellie. His gaze scanned left, right. Where could she have run off to now? The inlet! He slapped his forehead with the heel of his hand, cursing his own stupidity.

  As he’d expected, Daniel found Ellie sitting atop the cluster of rocks in the center of the beach below the cottage, her robe tucked beneath her bum and arms wrapped around her bare knees. The wind played havoc with her hair, tossing the short red curls about her face, giving her the appearance of a stranded mermaid.

  “I’m really not in the mood to talk right now,” Ellie said without looking at him.

  Daniel set his hands on his hips, his frustration growing. “I know how accustomed you are to getting your way, Ellie, and I hate to have to be the one to disappoint you yet again, but I’m afraid it’s time for you to grow the hell up.”

  Ellie whipped her head about, glared down at him. “What did you just say to me?”

  “You heard me.” Daniel squared his shoulders, refusing to back down. “I said grow up.”

  She growled, climbing down from her lofty perch. “How dare you talk to me like I’m a child? You don’t know the first thing about me or what I’m going through.”

  “I know a hell of a lot more than you think I do. So spare me the hysterics. I’m done listening to how misunderstood you are.” His anger, held in check for too long, boiled over. “And don’t forget, I sailed beside your father for ten years, the last five chasing after you. I know everything there is to know about Elysandra Winters. How much it hurt your father to think he’d driven you away. How worried he was that he’d never find you, and how scared he was to think you might be dead. My entire existence, my life day in and day out, has revolved around Captain Winters’ relationship with his runaway daughter!” The last arrow hit the mark.

  Ellie’s shoulders slumped and her head dropped. “I’m so sorry, Daniel.” She buried her face in her hands. “I was wrong about everything.”

  Instead of savoring his small victory, regret vibrated through his core. This is getting me nowhere. He fidgeted when her shoulders shook with her quiet sobs.

  Before he could think it through enough to change his mind, Daniel reached for her, his soul aching to absorb her pain, see her eyes light with joy. He lifted her chin with his finger until her tear-filled gaze met his.

  The loneliness reflected in her stormy blue depths stabbed at him. Her sweet breath fanned his cheek, drawing his attention to her parted lips. He leaned closer, eager for more of her scent, dared himself to taste her. Would she resist?

  ***

  As if he read her thoughts, heard her wish for it, Daniel came closer. His mouth crushed hers in a kiss that radiated heat down to her toes and stole the breath from her lungs.

  A whimper bubbled up her throat as Ellie clung to him, knees weak. Her mind screamed at her for giving in, taunted her for her weakness. She concentrated on the delicious sensations his lips produced, driving away the traitorous thoughts. Her fingers explored the hard lines of his chest, slid higher, encircling his neck.

  His hand burned a trail along her hip. Daniel pulled her against him, his molten tongue tracing her tingling lips.

  Eager for more, Ellie opened to him. Her fingers entwined in the hair at the nape of his neck.

  Daniel’s soft groan reached her ears. He trailed hot kisses along her jaw line and down the side of her neck. His words vibrated against her pulse. “I’ve wanted to kiss you forever.” He nipped at her collarbone, sending delicious shudders through her body.

  “Then don’t stop doing it,” she croaked, voice hoarse with desire. Had she known kissing would be anything like this, she’d have tried it sooner.

  In answer to her plea, Daniel’s mouth recaptured hers, scattering her thoughts to the four winds. His arms tightened around her.

  Spurred on by his positive reaction, Ellie nibbled at his lower lip.

  Daniel emitted a strangled cry, tore his mouth from hers, and set her at arms’ length. His chest heaved.

  Ellie’s lips throbbed and her breath came in ragged gasps. The molten lava pumping through her veins cooled enough for her to form a cohesive thought. What was that? She studied Daniel, brow furrowed, while her fingers tested her swollen lips.

  “Don’t look at me like that.” His eyes scanned the empty beach while he sought for something to say. “We have work to do today…yeah, the keys…your mother gave me keys to your father’s office and safe. She said any paperwork you would need is in it.”

  Ellie took a deep breath, tucked away her disappointment, and adjusted her robe. She yanked hard on the belt tie. Heat stained her cheeks. “Right. Well, I should get up to the house and get dressed, then.”

  Before he would have a chance to notice her discomfort, Ellie stepped around him and headed up the beach. She cringed, recalling her brazen behavior, the way she reacted to Daniel.

  It’s going to be a long day.

  ***

  Having had years of practice, Ellie made quick work of dressing, donning her usual boy disguise. As she wrapped her breasts with a long strip of cotton fabric, Ellie strongly considered taking Daniel’s suggestion and revealing her gender. The task of hiding her curves had become tedious and beyond annoying. She r
an fingers through wind-tousled curls and pulled on her wide brim hat. With a quick wave to Mama on her way out, Ellie hurried to meet Daniel.

  He waited for her by the side of the road, hands looped together behind his back and looking far more handsome than he had the right to. He smiled at her approach, sending her stomach into flutters. “That was faster than I expected.”

  Still unable to meet his gaze without heat rushing to her cheeks, Ellie studied the toe of her boot. “Aye.” She searched the ground as if looking for something intelligent to say, but came up empty. “Let’s get a move on.”

  Without waiting for an answer, she headed down the dirt road, keeping her gaze focused on the path ahead and as far from the distracting Daniel as possible.

  On a good day, the trek to Newquay was long. The trip with Daniel that morning was pure torture. Neither spoke a word, the silence between them stretching into an impenetrable chasm. Each time Ellie considered breeching it, her thoughts fled, palms got sweaty, and her ears burned. She’d already made enough of a fool of herself on the beach; she saw no reason to add to the humiliation.

  “Did you want to head to your father’s office or the ship?”

  Ellie jumped at the sound his voice.

  Settle down. She pasted on a calm expression. “The office, I think. Now that The Call is yours, I need to figure out how I’m going to get to Gibraltar.”

  Daniel swung around to block her path, jaw set. “Why on God’s green earth wouldn’t we take The Siren’s Call? I told you I was in this with you. What part of that statement requires clarification?” He put his hands on his hips. “Or maybe I was speaking Gaelic and you didn’t understand what I said.” Daniel shook his head, tossing his glorious brown mane like an angry lion. “I swear sometimes you make as much sense as a broken compass.”

  Ellie blinked. “What?” I don’t make sense?

  “Forget it.” He stepped out of her way, huffed. “The office it is.” Daniel started back down the road.

  Her nails bit into her palms as Ellie willed them to remain at her sides, not reach for him, make him explain himself. She gnawed her lip. How do I keep managing to say the wrong things?

  She used the rest of the trip to her father’s office trying to figure out the answer to her question. To her thinking, she’d only accepted facts. The Siren’s Call didn’t belong to her. She hadn’t put up a fuss or pitched a fit, just accepted it because it was what Papa wanted. How can that upset him?

  Ellie had to hurry to keep up with Daniel’s long strides. By the time they reached the office, she was winded and hot.

  Daniel plucked the keys from his pocket and stuffed one into the door lock. A twist and click later, they were inside.

  Papa’s desk resembled the one on his ship. Papers were strewn in a seemingly random assortment across the entire surface. A half empty bottle of brown liquid sat atop a haphazardly stacked pile of books, and scrolls and maps poked out here and there in every conceivable direction.

  “Here.” Daniel handed her the key ring. “The little brass one fits the safe.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you before. I only mea–”

  Daniel held up a hand, halting her words. “You don’t need to explain. You don’t know me. I can’t expect you to take me at my word. Nor can I explain what your father meant to me.” He pointed out the dirty front window. “What that ship out there means to me. It was a home when I had none, and your father…” He cleared his throat. “But you don’t know any of that, so why would you believe a word I say? Why wouldn’t you expect me to take the ship and run?”

  Ellie furrowed her brow. Why, indeed? She knew the answer as soon as she posed the question. Papa trusted him. And if she really planned to go after Jashir, she needed to trust him, too. “The Call is yours now, Daniel, for better or worse. If you’re of a mind to go after Papa’s killer, I’d be honored if you let me sail with you.”

  Daniel considered her proposition a whole lot longer than she liked, his expression pensive. Had she pegged him wrong? Would he offer some excuse about females being bad luck? She felt ten years old again, begging to be allowed to sail, to be welcomed as an equal in the closed off world of men. She prickled at the memory.

  Daniel tilted his head. “That was hard for you, wasn’t it?”

  She squirmed under his intense scrutiny. Am I that obvious? Ellie turned away, hoping to hide whatever thoughts Daniel might be able to read in her expression, and crossed to the safe. She stuck the key in the lock. “Does that mean yes or no?”

  “You aren’t supposed to answer a question with a question. It’s rude, you know?” Daniel flopped into an empty chair and swung a leg over the arm, the picture of relaxation. “And yes, as I told you already, you’re welcome to come with me to Gibraltar.”

  “Good. I really didn’t relish the idea of sailing after a murderous pirate on an unarmed fishing vessel.” Ellie twisted the key and heard a satisfying click. She pulled the latch and swung open the heavy door.

  Daniel chuckled. “I don’t imagine you’d get too far. Fishing nets aren’t exactly intimidating. The Siren’s Call and her new captain are at your service, Miss Winters.”

  Ellie turned her attention to the safe. The interior was stuffed to capacity with all manner of paperwork and receipts, as well as a few leather-bound books she assumed were accounting ledgers.

  She reached in and withdrew an armful of mangled papers. Holding them pinned against her chest, Ellie carried her burden to the cluttered desk and dropped it on top of the heap. She released a sigh. “This is going to take all day to sort through. I wish Papa had been better at bookkeeping.”

  “You don’t need my help with this, do you? I need to see to the ship repairs and order supplies if we have any hope of getting underway before the cold weather hits.”

  “Nah, I’ll be fine here on my own.” Ellie settled into her father’s chair, the massive pile dwarfing her. She had to strain to see Daniel over the giant stack. “Thank you, Daniel, for everything. I know I’m not the easiest to get along with, and I want you to know I appreciate your sticking by me in all this.”

  Daniel stopped in the doorway, tossed a grin over his shoulder. “Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t seen what a demanding captain I can be.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Daniel closed the office door and released the tension in his shoulders. He hated deceiving Ellie, but he had a laundry list of duties to see to before he’d have time to indulge his curse by returning to seal form for a moon cycle. The first and most unpleasant of which was his meeting with General McTavish. He wasn’t looking forward to the general’s reaction to his report.

  A shudder of revulsion ran through him. McTavish had a sweating problem, hadn’t seen a tub of water or a bar of soap in years, and spat when he yelled. Daniel expected there’d be yelling. It’s going to be a long day.

  He made his way toward The Bristol Inn, where the general and his entourage kept rooms. The streets teemed with life, vendors barking their wares at passersby while wagons rattled to and fro carrying all manner of stock and supplies.

  Daniel deftly dodged a portly man with a keg balanced on his shoulder, only to nearly collide with a prim looking woman stalking in the other direction, a screeching, grubby-faced imp in tow. I hate the city.

  Anxious to be free of the pressing crowd, Daniel picked up the pace. His mind raced as he decided what to tell his superior and what he needed to keep to himself. Not a game one wanted to play with someone close to the king, but it couldn’t be helped. If the general knew anything about Ellie’s plans for Jashir, he would order Daniel to intervene. He’d never disobeyed a direct order, and he’d prefer not to have to start the practice this early in his career.

  Daniel let out a relieved sigh when the hanging sign of The Bristol Inn finally came into view. He sidestepped a young man and ducked into the inn.

  “Can I help ye?” An absurdly tall man with a scruffy moustache stood behind the lobby’s front desk. He looked down his specta
cles at Daniel.

  “I have an appointment with General McTavish.”

  The innkeeper arched a furry black eyebrow. He took a long, slow survey of Daniel. “What business do you have with the general?”

  Daniel placed his palms on the counter, leveled a dangerous glare at the insipid man. “That’s between the general and me, don’t you think?” He waited for the innkeeper’s wide-eyed nod before continuing. “Just tell him O’Roarke’s here to see him.”

  The man behind the counter pointed a skinny shaking arm toward the dining room. “He’s in there havin’ breakfast.”

  Lips twitching with mirth, Daniel nodded to the frightened proprietor. “Thanks.” He headed into the dining room.

  “Where in the living hell have you been, boy?” General McTavish waved at Daniel from a table at the back of the room. He ignored the shocked gasps of the three women at the only other occupied table. “We expected you and Winters over a month ago.” He looked past Daniel. “Where’s the captain?”

  Daniel reached the general’s table and sat down across from him. “Dead, sir.”

  General McTavish’s round face puckered as if he’d eaten a sour grape.

  “We were attacked outside of Gibraltar and the captain was shot and killed during the fight.” He concentrated on keeping his muscles relaxed, holding eye contact.

  “Attacked by whom?” The general took a swig of coffee and slammed the cup down, sloshing it onto the table.

  Daniel took a deep breath and folded his hands on the table. Tread carefully. “The ship was taken by corsairs, sir.”

  General McTavish rubbed his chin with fat fingers. “Then how is it you’re sitting here now, young Daniel? How is it you managed to escape?”

  “I didn’t escape. I was locked in the brig with the rest of the crew. If the bastards hadn’t sailed right into the path of an ally ship, we’d probably all be standing on a slave block by now.”