I rolled myeyes at my friend’s attempt to cheer me up. “No, she’s not. Farfrom it. She’s like some kind of goddess. I’ve never seen a morebeautiful woman.” I glanced down at my enormous stomach and felt myfeet swelling in the tight leather boots I wore. “How can I competewith that?”
Lottie whippeda grape and it flicked off my forehead.
“Ow! What wasthat for?”
“Will you justlisten to yourself?” she said and stood to come meet me. “She maybe a beautiful goddess, but you’re a glorious queen. You andyou alone carry Henry’s heart as well as his child insideyour body. You travelled threehundred years to save him from death. You stuck by him when hismind turned to darkness and helped him see the light. His entireworld lies with you, Dianna.”
Her wordsbrought tears to my eyes as she placed reassuring hands on myshoulders and grinned triumphantly.
“What youshould be asking yourself is how can she compete withthat.”
***
After we gotcleaned up, Lottie and I descended the stairs to the bustlingtavern below. The scent of delicious food floated through the airas hungry guests waited about. Some sat at the bar near the rear ofthe building, others stood and sat around the common areas. Baskingin the warmth of the fireplace, relaxing in the cozy chairs. Ispotted Charlie, Seamus, and John gathered around a large roundtable, mugs of ale on their hands.
I gave Charliea mock motherly eyebrow as I approached. “Don’t drink too much,now, boys.”
Charlie putdown the wooden mug and wiped his mouth. Seamus replied. “No,Ma’am, uh, Captain. Just wetting our lips while we wait forsupper.”
“I’m justkidding,” I replied and tousled the dirty blonde hair atopCharlie’s head as I took a seat next to him and across from theother two.
Lottie leanedagainst the table. “What have you boys been up to? Haven’t seenmuch of you around.”
John, theolder one, replied dutifully. “Been keepin’ an eye on The Queen,Ma’am. And finishin’ up the last few repairs Gus gave us todo.”
“Excellent,”she told them proudly and shifted to face the table better. “We’llneed you to stick close to the tavern tonight. Dianna and I will beattending a party with Gus, Finn, and Henry. We’ll need eyes on ourbelongings while we’re away.”
The threenodded, eager to please. Charlie’s slender hand gently touched my arm, catching my attention.
“Yes?” Isaid.
He twisted inhis chair and pulled a small notebook from his trouser pocket andlaid it on the table.
“Awe, come on,mate,” said Seamus. “You don’t need that anymore. We understand yajust fine.”
Charlie’scheeks flushed red as he regarded me from the side. Why did he seemso self-conscious all of a sudden?I didn’t comment, for fear of embarrassing him further. I onlywaited patiently with an encouraging smile. Charlie tightened thecollar of his loose shirt around his neck and cleared histhroat.
“M-my mother,”he spoke with a still strained voice, cheeks reddening further.
It took amoment, but I remembered what he asked me while The Queen was stillat sea.
“Oh, ofcourse, Charlie. I promised to take you to your mother, and I will.I swear. Things have just been a little… chaotic since we camehere.” I leaned in and whispered,trying to make him feel privileged to information, even though oursmall party could hear. “We’ve got a trail on Maria.”
I thought he’dsmile or seem relieved, but the young man’s face paled and Iwatched as his hand mindlessly gripped the collar of his shirt eventighter. He flipped open the notebook and licked a worn-down leadbefore writing one word.
Soon?
My heart gaveone hard beat as I realized the anxiety he clearly harbored aboutMaria. Hiding the massive scar across his neck, refusing to use hisvoice. He must have deeply missed his mother and ached to go seeher, especially now that we were so close.
“You know, Iwon’t make you stay if you wish to go, Charlie.” I pat the back ofhis hand gingerly. “If you’d like to go home, you can.”
He didn’tanswer, only hung his head after pocketing the notebook andlead.
“With all duerespect, Captain,” John spoke from across the table. “I believeCharlie here really wanted to bring you with him. I think,” hepaused and eyed Charlie, as if asking permission to continue, “hewants his mum to meet the woman who saved his life.”
My eyes welledwith tears and I looked to my young friend. His sorrowfulexpression confirmed John’s words. I was suddenly regretting howmuch I’d ignored him since docking in Southampton and was gratefulfor the friendship he’d obviously formed with John and Seamus.Apparently, he even felt comfortable enough to speak around them.But why would he still feel self-conscious about speaking in front of me?
“Charlie,” Isaid just barely above a whisper, for that was all I could managewithout crying in front of everyone in The Kraken’s Den. “You arethe one who saved me. That night in the woods. I owe you mylife. Helping to heal your wound was the least I could do repay thesacrifice you made for me.”
Shakily, hesmiled proudly.
“Nevertheless,” I continued. “I’d be honored to meet your motherand tell her how amazing her boy is.” I leaned back in the chairand glanced at Lottie who gave me a shrug. I heaved a sigh. “Justgive me a few days, okay?”
Charlienodded, but had a hopeful look on his face.
“If I make itthrough this party tonight and learn more about Maria’swhereabouts, then I promise to take you home.”
Just then, theinnkeeper came to our table withthree massive plates of food. “Hello, boys,” he greeted happily.“Sorry for the long wait, I’m afraid it’s just me and the cook heretonight.”
Seamusimmediately began to dig into thepile of cooked vegetables and meat covered in gravy. John looked upat the innkeeper respectfully. “Nowait a’tall, Mister Cresley.”
Cresley. I hadn’t even asked the innkeeper his name. How horribly negligent ofme. I’d been so preoccupied with finding Maria that I forgotteneverything else.
“Ladies, can Iget you anything?” the kind man asked Lottie and I.
I stood andthen pushed in my chair. “No, thank you,” I told him as Lottie cameto my side. “I was
