“You’ve gotquite the neck,” she observed. “Long and dainty. But a frame that’sstrong. And that hair.” She clucked her tongue. “Like darkchocolate.”
“I have tolook…” I suddenly felt self-conscious at the thought of admittingmy goal. “I don’t want to necessarily hide the fact that I’m withchild. I know that’s almost impossible at this point, and it’s notsomething I care to hide, anyway. I just want to look… I hope tofind a dress that will–”
“Be the envyof every woman in the room?” Madam Guthrie finished for me with acocked eyebrow.
I felt mycheeks flush. “No, just one.”
She beckonedLottie with a curl of one long, bony finger over to a stack of large flattop trunks. Iwatched as they removed the top two, leaving just one short andwide box with gaudy brass hardware. Lottie came back and stood nextto me as Madam Guthrie fished a key from a full ring at her sideand unlocked the trunk. The top creaked as it opened, and the womanreached in to pull out a beautiful silk dress. Red as fresh bloodand a black corset to top it off. I hadn’t a clue what I wanteduntil I laid eyes on the dress she held up in her hands. Now it wasas if it were the very thing I’d been searching for.
“This was wornby the Duchess of Devonshire on her birthday and during her firstpregnancy. A few simple alterations to the waistline and the boningis all it requires. It was made for you, dearie.”
I was at aloss for words. “Madam Guthrie…”
“Say no more.”She waved at the air between the three of us. “Go, head back toyour rooms and soak in a bath. Pin those gorgeous locks. I’ll makethe alterations as quickly as I can and have everything sent overto The Kraken’s Den before you leave for the party.”
“We can’tthank you enough,” I told her. “Do let us know how much the cost isand I’ll have payment squared up.” With a mighty tip, I added tomyself. “Are you sure you can have the alterations done within thenext couple of hours?”
She opened thefront door and ushered us out. “A couple of hours? I could have itdone twice over.”
We listened toher raspy cackle as the door closed behind us and Lottie leanedinto me to whisper, “Told you. Witch.”
I playfullypushed at her arm and laughed as we strolled toward a patientlyawaiting Cillian. Witch or not, the old gypsy-like seamstress wasthe answer to my prayers. I gloated inwardly at the thought ofHenry’s face when he would see me in that dress. And, better yet,Roselyn Wallace’s face when she realized I wasn’t to be messedwith. Like Lottie said, she was no competition. Captain Devil EyedBarrett only had eyes for me. He was mine, and mine alone.
And tonight, Iwould make sure of it.
ChapterSix
My head lulled back as I relaxed in the hot bath thatsat in my room. Steam billowed up from the surface and mixed withthe cool air, soaking into my skin. The events of the day playedout in my mind and I went through them over and over like a shortmovie on repeat.
I’d awoke thatsame morning feeling lost. That I might never find Maria and savemy mother. England was a huge country, and she could have beenanywhere. Heck, she could have fled to Ireland and Scotland by now.But, no, she was close by. I just knew it. No matter how much thethought seethed in my veins, I was connected to the psychopath byblood and something deep inside my core told me she was here. That,strangely enough, she was… waiting for me.
I wasn’tscared. Not anymore. I carried with me a heavy fear of finding mysister, and my mother, for months. The only thing keeping me goingwas sheer determination and a will to do what was right. Well, thatand Henry. My constant. My everything. I rubbed a gentle hand overmy growing belly and silently cooed to the baby inside.
Our baby.
I left behinddark thoughts of my sibling and dreamed of the life Henry and Iwould have together when this was all over. A life on land, just ashe promised. I had no idea he felt that way, that he missed his oldlife so much. But Henry William White was a simple boy with a lovefor both the land and sea. The life of piracy was something forcedupon him and he had no choice but to conform and adapt. To embracethe lifestyle. I see that now.
He’d becomeDevil Eyed Barrett out of necessity. It was his way of surviving.My gorgeous pirate king. God, the very thought of his broodingstare, those black eyes boring into my soul. My heart. The blondescruff of his sharp jaw smoothing against my face and the deep,raspy growl I so often fished for as my fingers traced the lines ofHenry’s muscular chest.
I quietlywrithed in the tub, eyes closed, and head thrown back as my handsexplored my new, ever-changingbody. It still called for him, like a siren’s song. My tenderbreasts heaved as I let out a moan and lifted a foot to the edge ofthe tub.
“Now, isn’tthat a glorious sight?” spoke a voice from the doorway.
I let out ayelp and sunk down into the tub, covering my body. I willed my faceto stop flushing crimson as my eyes found him, though. “Jesus,Henry. Some warning would be nice.”
His mouthwidened to the side with a half grin as he turned and closed thedoor behind him. “And miss the sight of you pleasuring yourself?Never.”
His tall framesauntered toward the tub; black eyes locked on mine. They burnedwith a deep desire that I hadn’t realized I craved to see untilthat very moment. His need for me. I watched hungrily as Henryremoved his clothing, piece by piece. The leather trench crumpledto the floor, followed by the heavy clank of a sword and big,leather boots. My heart
