Saved by My Blackguard (Linked Across Time Book 1) (4 page)

“No.” Her mouth formed a firm flat line. “Quit teasing me.”

He sighed. “Have it your way. Instead I’m going to give you the freedom you seek. My men know to leave you alone or to suffer the consequence. Go roam the ship.”

She was afraid to step out of the cabin. What if she did and he expected something she was not willing to give him? She had to know exactly what she was getting into before she took him for his word.

“And you don’t expect me to pay for this gift later?”

He lifted his hand and did a crisscross motion over his heart. “I promise. This is something I want you to have. If I show you some generosity maybe you won’t see me for the evil man you believe me to be.”

Of course he had an ulterior motive. That didn’t surprise her one iota. She wouldn’t turn down his offer though. Evelyn was desperate to get out of the cabin. The only thing she was surprised about was him caving into her desire.

“How long until we get to this pirates’ den you told me about?”

“Making plans, are you?” He laughed. “Don’t worry I will protect you. The other pirates won’t touch what belongs to me.”

“I am not yours,” she replied. “I belong to no man.”

Maybe this was for the best. Her father had ruled her life. She needed this space to breathe. Captain Jack wasn’t for her, but she could weave her own path.

He saluted her. “I do enjoy these chats. To answer your question we should be there within the hour.”

No wonder he was allowing her on deck. The ship would be docking soon. If they were going to the pirates’ den she’d be reluctant to leave the ship. Pirates were an untrustworthy lot. What Captain Jack had planned for her she did not know. He could be a hard man to read at times. She fidgeted under his stare. “Can I go on deck now?”

“Of course, would you like me to escort you?”

That was the last thing she wanted. She needed some space between them. Over the long week she had started to like him, but that didn’t mean she would give him her innocence. A bit of an epiphany hit her during their conversation. She had more freedom than to stroll on the deck. For the first time in her life she had options, and one of them was to marry for love.

“Can I go by myself?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Enjoy your stroll. If you change your mind you know where to find me.”

She spun on her heels and faced him. Perhaps she should mess with him a little bit. Give a little tit for tat. Evelyn sashayed over to him, lifted her hand and twinkled her fingers up his chest all the way to his lips. She traced them with the tip of her finger. “Jack, darling, please I beg you…” She leaned in close and whispered, “I need something only you can give me.”

“Tell me?” His voice took on a husky tone as he leaned in closer to her.

Evelyn stepped back and grinned. “Space. All I need is what you’ve already granted me, freedom to explore the ship and the same once we dock in Port Royal.”

It had been too easy to suck him in. Perhaps he did desire her in truth. Evelyn wanted more than the pirate had to offer. She wanted love and stability. He gave off a menacing aura. Jack was a pirate—a  fact of life—but she rather liked him. He lived by his own code of ethics and she respected him. He wasn’t the man she needed in her life though.

“You’re a wicked lass messing with a man.” He shook his head. “Where did an innocent learn such a trick?”

She shrugged. “I’m a quick study.”

“I do love your wit and quick thinking.” He chuckled. “I will give you that. Go explore the ship. We’ll continue this discussion later.”

Evelyn nodded and headed out of the cabin. None of the pirates stopped to ask her what she was doing. As she walked across the deck she could see land in the distance. Captain Jack hadn’t lied. They would be sailing into a harbor soon. She went to the railing and tilted her head back, basking in the sun’s warmth. A rumble of thunder echoed through her ears. Her eyes fluttered open and she caught sight of dark clouds heading toward the ship. A bolt of lightning struck the water. The wind began to pick up and waves crashed against the ship’s hull. Where had this sudden storm come from?

“Batten down the hatches,” a call came down from the crow’s nest. “Storm is heading our way.”

“Raise the masts,” Captain Morgan shouted. “We need to try to beat the storm and anchor in Port Royal before it hits.”

Evelyn stared at them all in shock. She was still confused how the storm had managed to sneak up on them. It came out of nowhere. The wind whipped against her as she watched the pirates gear the ship for a different kind of battle. The sea could be more devastating than an angry adversary. The wind was strong and they managed to use it to their advantage as they closed the distance between them and the island. They would make it. Evelyn had to remain patient and not give into her worry.

“You,” an angry voice said from behind her. “This is your fault. I told the captain it was bad luck to bring a woman on board. Maybe if I sacrifice you to Davy Jones’s locker the fate’s will forgive us and let the Siren Song make it to shore.”

“What?” Evelyn turned, baffled, at the sight of Percy. “I didn’t do this.”

Superstitious men couldn’t be reasoned with though. He shoved her hard and she tumbled over board. The waves sucked her under and she swallowed sea water. For the first time in her life she was thankful for her father’s tutelage. It was at his instance she had learned how to swim. She pulled up her billowing skirts and wrapped them as best she could into the ribbon around her waist as she kicked to remain afloat. Then she swam toward shore, letting the waves carry her when she could to save her strength. Thank God, they were close to shore otherwise she wouldn’t stand a chance.

Evelyn got into the shallower water of the beach and floated the waves to shore. She crawled onto the beach spitting out salt water. The storm raged on and grew in strength as she lay on the beach trying to get enough energy to find shelter. If Percy had shoved her off the boat any later she wouldn’t have made it. The waves were getting higher and higher as they headed toward the beach.

This was a bad storm and she might still die if she didn’t get off the beach. Evelyn tried to push herself to her feet, but it was futile. The swim to shore had drained her. Her skirts had come lose and were falling again around her ankles. They were soaked through and heavy. Think Evelyn, think. What could she do? Where could she go?

“There you are. Why didn’t you stop?”

She looked up into the blue eyes of a man she’d never seen before. He had an odd accent, that she couldn’t place and his clothes were equally peculiar. His pants had been sheared up to his thighs, and he wore a white unbuttoned shirt over another undershirt. She should be scandalized, but she was too tired to bother. “What?” she asked baffled.

He winced and held his head between his hands. The man appeared to be in excruciating pain as he rubbed his temples. “I called for you. You kept running.” He lowered his hands and looked around him. It was his turn to appear confused. “How did I end up on the beach again? Where is the hotel? How far did I wander on my hike?”

“Are you lost?”

That was all she needed, a man who didn’t know where he was. What good would he do? They needed shelter from the storm that was growing in intensity with each passing minute.

“I might be, but I think we have more pressing problems.”

She glared at him and said, “Thanks for stating the obvious.”

He laughed. “I think I like you. Come, I will help you up. I know where there is a cave we can take shelter from the storm.”

She lifted her arm and placed her hand in his. Maybe she wouldn’t die this day after all. Someone was looking out for her. The man wrapped his arm around her waist and supported her as they rushed into the lush jungle toward the cave.

“I’m Paul, by the way.”

“Just Paul?”

He grinned. She sucked in a breath. She’d thought Captain Jack handsome, but this man beat him in every way. His dark hair and light blue eyes stole her attention. It was the first time she truly looked at him and his striking exterior. Before that moment, survival was her foremost concern. What was it with handsome men falling into her life? Was this some kind of test and she had no idea what she needed to do to pass?

“Paul Dewitt,” he replied. “I am on vacation. I live in New York. From your accent I assume you’re English. What should I call you?”

They hadn’t been formally introduced so she shouldn’t technically be speaking to him at all. But she could forgive him that slight considering their dire circumstances. “I’m Lady Evelyn Beckett.”

“One of those aristocrats?” He shrugged. “I thought they were a dying breed.”

Evelyn frowned. She didn’t have a clue what he was referring to. “I wouldn’t know. Can we find this cave now? I need to rest.”

He nodded and pushed forward. The wind whipped around them growing in strength. Each movement was a struggle as they fought their way against the wind force. Soon the cave’s opening was in front of them, and not a moment too soon. They entered and he helped her sit down.

“Relax, Lady Evelyn,” he said in the darkness. “I think we’re going to be here a while, waiting out this storm.”

She was very much afraid he was right. But at least she was safe and alive. With a sigh, she laid down and let her exhaustion take over. Her eyes closed on their own accord and all thoughts left her mind as she gave into her need to sleep.

SAVED BY MY BLACKGUARD

CHAPTER FOUR

Paul scrubbed his
hands over his face. It had grown dark as the storm raged outside the cave. He couldn’t see anything around him. If he only he had some kind of light so he could look at his watch—he was dying to know how long they’d already been stuck inside the cavern. Lady Evelyn hadn’t said a word in what felt like hours. He could hear her uneven breathing, and her breath hitched every so often when her body shivered from the cold. If they didn’t find any warmth soon she might get hypothermia. The cold was starting to bother him too. He rubbed his hands together trying to warm them, and then gave up. They were practically numb so he shoved them inside his short’s pocket. His fingers hit an object he’d forgotten about—a matchbook from the hotel he’d snatched earlier in the day. How had its existence slipped from his mind? Those little babies might save them both. Only one problem stood in his way. Something to use to build a fire with… He moved toward the front of the cave and what little light entered it. There was some brush and sticks at the mouth. He gathered up what he could, along with some small stones to make a fire pit. It wouldn’t last long, but it was a start. It would give him some light to work by too. Maybe he could find some larger pieces of dry wood if his luck held out.

His fingers shook as he lit one of the matches to light the brush and small sticks he located. The brush lit quickly and the sticks weren’t far behind. Warmth started to fill the cavern. Not enough to erase the chill, but still nice after the constant cold the wind brought into the cavern.

Paul stared down at the fire, satisfied it would stay burning he went to gather more small sticks to throw on the fire as it died down. Paul made several trips and had a stockpile of sticks near the fire to use as needed. He looked over at Evelyn. Her dress was still soaking wet and she continued to shiver. It left him with little choice. The dress had to be removed or she’d never get warm.

He began the long process of unlacing her gown. Why was she wearing the infernal thing to begin with? It had to be uncomfortable. Women and their fashion choices always baffled him. The desire to wear an old-fashioned gown didn’t make any kind of sense to him. There were garments that were more comfortable and could still be feminine. She didn’t need to wear something so archaic to feel like a woman. Maybe there had been some kind of period reenactment drama or party going on. He didn’t explore much of the island and hadn’t looked past the beach and his hotel room since he arrived.