Love's Abyss (St. John Series)

Love’s Abyss

Lora Thomas

Copyright © 2015 Lora Perkins

All rights reserved.

ISBN:

ISBN-13: 978-1508769248

Copyright © 2015 Lora Perkins

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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All characters and locations in the work are fictional. Any resemblance to living persons or places is purely coincidental.

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Please be advised that this book was originally published November 2014 under my pen name of A.J. Wells. If you downloaded, Love’s Abyss, before 03/06/2015, please update with the new professionally edited version by Lora Thomas.

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Cover Design: SelfPubBookCovers.com/FrinaArt

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A special thanks to my husband, Michael, for being my rock and my biggest fan. To Julie for her suggestions and input. And to Laurel Heidtman for being my editor. Without any of you my dream would not have came tru
e
.

Prelude

A pair of cold, dark, soulless eyes peered at him. “Your roll,” he said. All patrons in the tavern gazed at the young man at the table. He rubbed his day’s growth of beard.  As he took a slow breath, the aroma of smoke and stale liquor burned his eyes and made them water. He looked over at the surly, scarred face of the man across from him. The young sailor took a slow breath and threw the dice. All eyes at Grimm’s Tavern were on them as they rolled, bounced several times and stopped. All that could be heard in the tavern were the gasps of the crowd watching the old pirate and the young sailor across from him.

A slow, cat-like smile crossed the handsome young sailor’s face. “Well, I’ll be damned. Guess you’ll have to find another way to cross the seas.
The Abyss
is now mine.” There was a devilish twinkle in his blue eyes.

“You’ll pay for this!” shouted the pirate.

“Now, Henry . . . you knew this might happen,” replied the sailor.

“Yeah . . . but with the luck you’ve had in the past, I was hopin’ it was still stuck with ya.” The old pirate spat. His eyes were dark, cold, and full of rage as he eyed the younger man who had just taken his ship.

“Aye, I have had a bad streak of luck lately, but Lady Luck has decided to change her mind and smile upon me,” the sailor stated. “Well, I take my leave now . . . along with my ship.”

The young sailor cautiously stood. The patrons were still watching the pair. Henry stood up quickly and came towards the young sailor. Henry’s height barely reached the shoulders of the younger man.

“You’ll pay for this Alex! You somehow cheated, I know you did!” Henry Ravenclaw shouted.

Alex clenched his fists at his sides, preparing to be jumped by some of Henry’s crew. His eyes scanned the room and noted that the old pirate’s crew were preoccupied with the tavern’s wenches.

His eyes locked with the old pirate’s and darkened. He had a menacing presence to him. Henry stepped back from the look the younger man gave him.

“I’ll keep that threat in, Henry. But heed
my
warning. If you try to stop me from taking what rightfully belongs to me, you’ll be very sorry.” With that being said, he slowly turned from the older man and proceeded out the door.

As he left the tavern, he felt rather smug with himself. His anger cooled as he walked. No one had ever won a game against Henry. Henry always insisted upon using his own die. It was a good thing he did not see the die get switched, thanks to the distraction of the busty young bar maid, Maggie.
I’ll have to remember to pay her more next time I’m in port.

As he rounded the corner of the tavern, he saw a tall, large, muscular figure standing in the shadows. He could see the menacing figure’s shoulder-length black hair blowing in the wind.  Alex was grateful that the man was on his side.

“Where have you been?” growled the man, the displeasure evident in his deep voice. “We’re going to miss the tide.”

“Ah Max, my friend, you’ll have to miss this tide on
The
Armada.
”

“What has happened, Alex?” Max questioned suspiciously as he eyed his friend.

“Well, I don’t plan on sailing on
The
Armada
. I’m sailing on
The Abyss,
” he said with a smile. “And hopefully with you as my first mate.”

“What? Are you crazy? Henry will—oh, wait. You didn’t?!” Max questioned in disbelief.

“I most certainly did,” Alex smugly replied as he watched his friend’s mouth drop open. “I am now the owner, and Captain, of
The Abyss
.”

A deep roar of laughter came out of Max. “Alex, you are either the luckiest or cleverest bastard I’ve ever met.”

“Ah, yes. But aren’t you glad you know me?”

“Aye. I’d rather be your friend than your enemy,” answered Max. “Just for your information, on a pirate ship the first-mate is not second-in-command, the quartermaster is.”

“Good to know. But who said I wanted you as my second-in-command.”

Max shook his head and rolled his eyes at his friend’s joking remark. “What about
The Armada?
How do you plan on getting her back to Governor’s Harbour without you on board? You know that pompous-assed Captain Andrew McClain
won’t leave without the Governor’s son on board?”

The disgust was evident in Max’s voice as he mentioned the captain’s name. He most frequently referred to the man by his last name out of spite. Most of the crew had great admiration for the captain . . . most, not all. Max and Alex were just two of several who knew how McClain really was.

“Ah yes,” Alex replied. “I’ve already come up with an excuse as to why I won’t be on board. I’ll leave a note for good ole McClain and tell him I’ve already left for Governor’s Harbour on another vessel, due to the fact that all this salty sea air was not good for my ‘delicate’ disposition.”

Alex spoke with a sheepish grin. Both he and Max knew that wasn’t true. Ever since he was a little boy, Alex loved the sea. But being the only child of the Governor, he was sheltered, protected, never allowed to explore without being watched . . . or so his parents thought. He’d lost count of how many adventures Max and he had. He was forbidden to even associate with Max due to the fact that Max came from a less than respectable mother, although almost all of the sailors “respected” Max’s mother quite frequently. In order to hide his adventures and escapades with Max, Alex took on the proper aristocratic attitude during the day as Nicholas Sinclair, son of Governor Jonathan Sinclair. But at night, his alter ego, Alex, was on the lookout for adventure.

“I’ll guess you’ll want me to contact some of my old acquaintances for a crew?” Max asked. At Alex’s nod, he continued, “I don’t know how well they’ll take to a twenty-year-old Captain.”

“You’ll convince them, somehow, like you always do.”

“How do you get me into these messes?” Max questioned as he shook his head and headed towards the pier.

“Me?” Alex questioned with a pretense of innocence. “I was a perfect, well-behaved child when I met you. I believe
you
have influenced me and therefore
you
are the one who gets us into these messes.”

Both men looked at each other and laughed. Max swatted his younger companion on the back and said, “Well, let’s get to work before ole’ begrudging Henry decides to double cross you and take back his ship.”

Chapter One

Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera  1792…10 years later.

“I’m so glad you joined us for tea today, Commodore McClain,” the Governor said. “As well as you, too, Lord and Lady St. John.”

“It’s always a pleasure visiting you and your family, Governor Sinclair,” replied the wealthy merchant to his long-time friend and business partner.

Lord Robert St. John, the Earl of Hyntington, was a very distinguished-looking gentleman. He was tall with wavy black hair and black eyes. He had a strong square jawline and a large dimple on his left cheek. He was quite handsome. His wife was to his left. She was a petite woman and she was one of the most stunning women Jonathan had ever seen—besides their daughter, Madison. Elizabeth had her long auburn hair pulled up in a distinguished, lady-like coiffure. She smiled sweetly at the Governor. Her emerald eyes looked at him with kindness. “You flatter us so, Governor,” she said in an angelic voice.

“I’m just so disappointed that your daughter could not join us today. I hope she is feeling better soon,” said the Governor.

“I hope the next time your son is in Governor’s Harbour she can meet him,” commented Lady St. John. “Have a wonderful day and do give your wife my regards,” she replied as she and her husband left along with the Commodore.

“It’s about time that pompous ass left,” Nicholas stated, his jaw clenched, the anger evident in his eyes. He took a slow, deep breath.
Patience. It is not the time for revenge. You’ll have your opportunity sometime, but not today
.

“Nicholas!” the Governor reprimanded. “I taught you better manners than that. How dare you speak of Lord St. John that way. He is my friend and an Early after all.”

“I was speaking of McClain,” Nicholas stated with disgust in his voice.

The Governor glared at his son. Nicholas had grown into quite the handsome man. He had women swooning with just a smile. His shoulder-length wavy blond hair was tucked neatly under the freshly powdered white wig. Nicholas took distaste in the powdered wigs so many of the noblemen wore, but he donned one anyway to help with his “disguise.” His clean-shaven face had a strong, square jawline and a straight Roman nose. His chiseled features were accentuated by his blue eyes, as blue as the sea herself. His height was intimidating at six feet four inches. He towered over almost all of his companions, except that distasteful fellow Max.  His broad shoulders and muscular build were hidden beneath his fawn-colored jacket. He would make any woman a good husband, if only . . .

“I’m glad their daughter wasn’t here. I don’t think I could bear that long-legged, bratty child.”

“It’s been ten years since you’ve seen her! She has grown up. She is the mirror image of her mother. She is to marry the Commodore, you know,” the Governor stated proudly.

“Pity, I wouldn’t wish that sentence on my worst enemy. Besides, I don’t fancy red-heads.”

“Ah, yes, you favor the unscrupulous ways of those wretched tavern wenches you prefer to socialize with,” Jonathan declared as he looked forlornly at his son. “Anyway, the Commodore is a good man. He has a good,
honest
career as a sailor in His Majesties Royal Navy . . . unlike you.”

“Ah and there it is. I was wondering when you would start that again,” Nicholas acknowledged as he walked to the floor-length window in the room. He gazed out watching the carriage the St. Johns arrived in disappear over the small knoll.

“Son, I’m concerned for your safety. If you get caught, I cannot protect you!” His father’s concern was adamant. “For years I have worried that the Navy would capture or kill you. I can only use the ruse of you running my shipping business at Nassau for so long.”

“Well, it’s not a ruse, I do run your business . . . just not down port.” Alex could see the worry in his father’s eyes. “Father, I appreciate you covering for me, but it’s not necessary. I’m responsible for my own actions. I will take whatever consequences may come my way and deny that you know of it.”

“But you’re a pirate!” shouted Jonathan. He closed his eyes as he remembered the day he found out.

“Ah, I’m not a pirate. I am a . . . protector of your vessels and business, so to speak. I only plunder those that are your competitors,” Nicholas defended. “And besides, Alexander Xavier is the pirate. Nicholas is the Governor’s son.”

Jonathan turned towards his son as fire sparked from his gray eyes.

“I never asked you to be the ‘protector’ of any of my ships from my competitors! You took that task on yourself,” he scolded his son, all the while pointing his long index finger at Nicholas. “Besides, it’s not only my business but Robert’s as well. If you recall, he is my business partner. It was his idea to go into the shipping business in the first place. He came up with the name Emerald Shipping. No matter how many times I begged of you to leave their ships alone, you refused and still do. I just hope Helen never finds out what you’re doing or have been up to. If she did, she would have both our hides.”

Nicholas looked at his father and saw the worry in Jonathan’s gray eyes. His father was a distinguished-looking gentleman. One could not judge his age as being fifty-nine just by looking at him. There was very little resemblance of Nicholas in him, except for his height. Nicholas watched as Jonathan ran his fingers through his graying brown hair.

“I hope Mother will never know,” Nicholas stated with a bit of sadness in his voice.

“Hopefully so, Son.” Helen was such a fragile little thing. How she survived Nicholas’s childbirth was remarkable. She had a dainty figure and was far from being short. That’s why she and Jonathan seemed like the perfect pair. Their heights went together perfectly.

The Governor turned towards a tall thin oak cabinet and opened it slowly. His son’s career path worried him more than he let on. He reached into the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of brandy along with two glasses. He poured some of the amber liquid into each glass, turned and handed one to his only child.

Nicholas took the glass and downed the beverage with one swallow. He looked at the glass. “Well, it’s definitely not rum.” He looked at his father and smiled. There was sadness in his eyes. Rubbing his face he turned to look out the window again.

“What’s on your mind, Son?”

“It’s time for me to leave. My ship has been docked up north for too long. Max and the crew will be wondering where I’m at.” He turned towards his father. “I wish Mother was here. I would love to have seen her. I hope she tends to Aunt Penelope well. I know she doesn’t like to play nursemaid so hopefully Aunt Penelope will get over her ailment soon.”

“Helen will be so disappointed that she didn’t get to see you. Are you sure you can’t stay longer?”

“No,” Nicholas answered as he slowly shook his head, “Two weeks at port is as long as I risk staying. The break was good for my crew, but I dare not risk staying longer. Please give Mother the bonnet I brought for her birthday.” Nicholas turned towards his father, gave a short quick bow and stated, “Goodbye, Father.”

He turned and headed out the door.

As Jonathan watched his son walk towards the door he stopped Nicholas with a “Wait, Son.” He crossed the room to his son in several long quick strides. He stopped before the towering man before him. The Governor wrapped his arms around his son’s wide muscular body and gave him a hug. Nicholas looked down at his father strangely. His father hadn’t given him a hug since he was a small child. Jonathan looked up at his son. “If I hadn’t done that, your mother would have my hide.”

They smiled at each other knowing that she didn’t have a vicious bone in her body.

“Tell Mother I love her and will return soon to see her,” Nicholas said. He turned and walked quickly out the door before his father could see the emotions running across his face.

Nicholas loved the life he was leading presently. But he also longed for a normal life, children and a wife. The thought of a wife brought images of Maggie to his thoughts. He quickly shook his head to clear her image from his mind. He would love to have a life where he didn’t have to worry about the Navy finding out who he really was, other pirates, hurricanes, and the like. He was also concerned for his family. If he were to ever get caught, it would be devastating not only to his mother, but to his father’s title as well. His parents had grown quite accustomed to the lavish lifestyle the title of Governor brings with it . . . influence, money, luxury.

He mounted his horse and looked at the house he grew up in as a boy one more time. It was a fine two-story whitewashed mansion. There was a large fireplace in the back, and a stately wraparound porch on both levels. It had floor-length windows on both levels that allowed the breeze to enter to cool the house.  He remembered the grand balls that were held there when he was a child. He would sneak down the stairs and peer into the ballroom. Max and he had snuck into the parties several times. He smiled and remembered the time Max tried to woo the post Captain’s daughter on a bet. She was immune to Max’s charm and actually sent him running. Nicholas gave a small chuckle at the memory.

Nicholas gave a wave towards the window where his father was watching and headed north to Hatchet Bay. His crew would be wondering where he was. They would be ready to set sail just as soon as he was aboard.

He rode for about an hour before reaching the small inlet where
The Abyss
was anchored. He could see her sails tethered protectively against the masts as well as the crew hustling about on the ship. He looked towards the edge of the water and spotted Max waiting with a longboat.

Maxwell was a rather intimidating fellow. Granted they were the same size, about six-foot-four, but there was a dark, eerie presence about Max, some would call it a dangerous presence, like you were in the company of the devil himself. Maybe it was his long black hair and beard he sometimes sported, or it could be his black eyes, as black as the deepest abyss of the sea, or it could be the rock-hard muscles that covered his body. Whatever it was, Alex was glad Max was his friend . . . no, his best friend. He trusted Max with his life, to protect him at all costs, and vice versa. For nearly twenty-five years they had been friends and for ten of those years they had been partners. The crew called him Captain and Max was his Quartermaster, but they had an equal share in
The Abyss
. It was understood that if anything happened to Alex,
The Abyss
would belong to Max, no questions asked. As he looked at his lifelong friend, he couldn’t help but notice the remarkable resemblance he had to that wealthy merchant, Lord St. John. As the thought entered his mind he shook his head. 
I’ve been too long on land.

There was a long slow whistle. “You clean up good, Alex, my boy,” stated Max, grinning cheekily at his friend. “I’m glad you’re back. The crew is getting restless.”             

Nicholas returned Max’s grin. “You know how my father is, and if my mother had been there, I might not ever have returned,” joked Nicholas. “And, besides, it looks like you have got all cleaned up, too. Did Kris give you a hard time about the beard?”

“Yeah,” Max answered as he rubbed his clean-shaven face. “I had direct orders. If I didn’t shave the beard, I couldn’t kiss the cook anymore,” replied Max with a wolfish grin.

“I’m sure she appreciated it.”

Max handed Nicholas the change of clothes he had brought to shore form
The Abyss
. Nicholas looked down at the clothing handed to him. It was time to change from Nicholas, the Governor’s son, to Alex, the pirate. He quickly changed in the brush. Max untied the horse, gave it a hard smack and turned towards the boat.

Once aboard
The Abyss,
Alex came to life. He took a deep breath and smelled the salty sea air. He turned his face towards the warm spring breeze. “Max, it’s time to go. Give the orders.”

“Ya heard the capt’n, ya scurvy bastards! Weigh anchor!” shouted the quartermaster. “Where to, Capt’n?”

“Port Royal. I have a need for some enjoyable female company and a good fight.”