Her Gentleman Pirate (High Seas & High Stakes Book 2) by Tamara Gill Page A
Authors: Tamara Gill
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“The doctor is saying it looks like he’s had a heart seizure of some kind. I can see by your face you’re blaming yourself and you should not. Terrible tragedies happen, my dear. No one is to blame.”
“But I fought with him, made his temper rise more than I should.”
“And rightly so. What your father was doing was wrong and you’re a remarkable woman having stood up for me and your life like you did.” His lordship took her hand, patting it kindly. “Do not forget he apologized, Arabella. He knew within himself that what he was doing was wrong. Please do not blame yourself about what has transpired here today. It could’ve happened anywhere and at any time.”
The doctor echoed Lord Montague’s words, but it still didn’t make the passing of her only living parent easier. From this moment on, she was truly alone. Even Stephen was lost to her and his lordship would no doubt go on with his life less a wife just as he should.
What would she do? Where would she go? Once her father’s debts were settled by the sale of their London home, she’d be homeless, friendless even. To cry off a marriage to a peer of the realm was no small thing. From this day forward, she would truly be ruined.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. Sure, she had wished for freedom to choose her own future, to pick her own husband and the sort of life she wanted to lead, but never at the cost of her father’s life.
Never that.
Chapter 10
S tephen strolled across a paddock covered with heather and wildflowers which would, over the next few weeks, give way to a highland winter. And if the chilling wind from the north was any indication, this year may the coldest he’d had to live through in many years.
Sailing and living mostly in foreign places with sandy beaches and a warm sun on his back was a pleasant distant memory that haunted him. Well, it would haunt him until his body acclimatised to Scotland. He’d never known such a cold place and yet he would not wish to be anywhere else in the world.
In the distance rose the small castle he now called home. The brown and gold stone a beacon in the otherwise green landscape. It was all he had now. Having sold his ship to give his men the future they deserved, the funds that were left over were soon eaten up with the repairs he’d had to make to the leaking castle roof.
The home farms should start to make profit again and even though there wasn’t a lot of blunt left from his smuggling days, it was enough to keep him and his mother, who’d he’d moved up here as well, reasonably comfortable for a year or two until the estate was self-sufficient once more.
A distant rumble sounded in the south and he turned to peer at the only road that ran into his property. He frowned having not expected anyone of than the Duke of Dale, who wasn’t due to arrive for some weeks.
A carriage, covered with dust and mud from the unforgiving Scottish highland roads materialized after coming around the last curve in the road. The cattle looked well defined and expensive. Maybe Gabe had come early.
He made his way toward the house by following an old sheep track that wound its way down the hillside. The staff came out to greet the vehicle and to help the occupants to step down.
Stephen’s step faltered when a vision in an emerald green travelling gown alighted and looked about with interest. Instead of her long brown locks falling loose about her shoulders, they were coiled up into a coiffure on top of her head.
He continued walking on, watching her, taking his fill of the one woman he’d longed to see more than the highlands sunrise.
Arabella…
She followed his footman into the house and he lost sight of her. Stephen went around the back of the house, dropped the game birds he’d been able to kill in to the kitchens, and notified cook that he’d have a guest at dinner.
The jovial woman took the news with aplomb and busied herself with renewed vigour having someone other than his mother and
“But I fought with him, made his temper rise more than I should.”
“And rightly so. What your father was doing was wrong and you’re a remarkable woman having stood up for me and your life like you did.” His lordship took her hand, patting it kindly. “Do not forget he apologized, Arabella. He knew within himself that what he was doing was wrong. Please do not blame yourself about what has transpired here today. It could’ve happened anywhere and at any time.”
The doctor echoed Lord Montague’s words, but it still didn’t make the passing of her only living parent easier. From this moment on, she was truly alone. Even Stephen was lost to her and his lordship would no doubt go on with his life less a wife just as he should.
What would she do? Where would she go? Once her father’s debts were settled by the sale of their London home, she’d be homeless, friendless even. To cry off a marriage to a peer of the realm was no small thing. From this day forward, she would truly be ruined.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. Sure, she had wished for freedom to choose her own future, to pick her own husband and the sort of life she wanted to lead, but never at the cost of her father’s life.
Never that.
Chapter 10
S tephen strolled across a paddock covered with heather and wildflowers which would, over the next few weeks, give way to a highland winter. And if the chilling wind from the north was any indication, this year may the coldest he’d had to live through in many years.
Sailing and living mostly in foreign places with sandy beaches and a warm sun on his back was a pleasant distant memory that haunted him. Well, it would haunt him until his body acclimatised to Scotland. He’d never known such a cold place and yet he would not wish to be anywhere else in the world.
In the distance rose the small castle he now called home. The brown and gold stone a beacon in the otherwise green landscape. It was all he had now. Having sold his ship to give his men the future they deserved, the funds that were left over were soon eaten up with the repairs he’d had to make to the leaking castle roof.
The home farms should start to make profit again and even though there wasn’t a lot of blunt left from his smuggling days, it was enough to keep him and his mother, who’d he’d moved up here as well, reasonably comfortable for a year or two until the estate was self-sufficient once more.
A distant rumble sounded in the south and he turned to peer at the only road that ran into his property. He frowned having not expected anyone of than the Duke of Dale, who wasn’t due to arrive for some weeks.
A carriage, covered with dust and mud from the unforgiving Scottish highland roads materialized after coming around the last curve in the road. The cattle looked well defined and expensive. Maybe Gabe had come early.
He made his way toward the house by following an old sheep track that wound its way down the hillside. The staff came out to greet the vehicle and to help the occupants to step down.
Stephen’s step faltered when a vision in an emerald green travelling gown alighted and looked about with interest. Instead of her long brown locks falling loose about her shoulders, they were coiled up into a coiffure on top of her head.
He continued walking on, watching her, taking his fill of the one woman he’d longed to see more than the highlands sunrise.
Arabella…
She followed his footman into the house and he lost sight of her. Stephen went around the back of the house, dropped the game birds he’d been able to kill in to the kitchens, and notified cook that he’d have a guest at dinner.
The jovial woman took the news with aplomb and busied herself with renewed vigour having someone other than his mother and
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