“BloodChrist!” Finn bellowed from behind. “Yer makin’ me bawl like a damnbaby. Just git on with it, willye!”
“Finnigan,”Henry said boldly and shot him a look under his authoritativebrow.
Finn clearedhis throat and shifted in his seat. “Uh, apologies, Captain. Uh,Sir.”
A few morewords were spoken by the holy man before us and then Henry returnedhis mother’s ring to my finger where it would stay forever.Shakily, I slipped the one I’d gotten for him over his ring finger.I breathed a sigh of relief that it fit perfectly, and Henry heldit up for himself to admire. He spoke no words but gave me a sideglance that was full of curiosity.
“You may nowkiss your bride,” spoke the priest.
We turned toface one another and before I could even blink, Henry grabbed me inone swift movement, throwing me back into the cradle his armsprovided and took my mouth in his. My hands, no longer trembling,reached up and smoothed the skin of his cheeks, pulling his scruffyface into mine so I could drink him in. I felt his arms shift andslide under me before Henry scooped me up completely and turned toour friends.
“We’remarried! Let us drink!”
Our modestcircle of friends erupted into a loud cheer, clapping and movingabout. Under the blanket of merriment, Henry pressed his foreheadto mine and whispered, “I am yours. I love you, Dianna White.”
“And I you,” Itold him.
ChapterTen
The musicians played loud, beautiful music withfiddles and lutes as I sat around and watched my friends celebratethe events of the day. A couple of hours had passed since wereturned to The Kraken’s Den and Mister Cresley proved himself morethan accommodating. We paid him for a meal and a few drinks to bepassed around to our friends, but the lingering guests had joinedin the dance and he’d been continuously feeding us plate afterplate. Drink after drink. Happy to just be included in the fun.
My poorpregnant feet throbbed, so I sat comfortably at a nearby table,carefully sipping on a small glass of port that I had watered down.Finn, loud and merry, danced around in a drunken stupor, tossinghis free arm over everyone he neared. Telling them how much heloved them. I snickered and tossed a bit of fresh bread in my mouth before turning myattention to Henry.
Lottie hadscooped him up for a dance and he pranced her around like agentleman to the jig that played. The deckhands, my boys, satnearby, drinking weak ale and stomping their feet to the beat ofthe music. Charlie caught my eye and stood before making his wayacross the room to sit by me. He pulled out a piece of paper and alead and scribbled something down.
Happy?
“Yes,” I toldhim and smiled. “Very. More than I could ever imagine.”
He placed ahand over his heart and nodded, telling me he was happy for me,too. Then he scribbled again.
I have apresent.
“For me?” Iasked, and he beamed. “Charlie, you didn’t have to get anything forme. That’s silly.”
But he wavedme off and reached into his trouser pocket to pull out a tiny bagthat closed tight with a drawstring. He placed it in my hand, and Iloosened the strings to dump the contents into my palm. It was awooden bracelet. A beautiful, intricately shaped bangle with tinystars burned along the outer surface. Inside, the words Dianna& Henry carved by hand.
“Oh, Charlie,this is beautiful,” I told him sincerely. “Did you make it?”
He nodded andraised his boyish brow as he motioned to the gift in my hands,reaching for it. I let him have it and he placed it over myfingers, slipping the bracelet down over my hand where it satcomfortably around my wrist.
“Perfect fit,”I said and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
After Charliebounced back to the crowd, Lottie came over and sat down in a huffof sweat and booze.
“Sorry formonopolizing Henry,” she said. “He’s just a much better dancer thanAugustus.”
I laughed.“Gus doesn’t dance.”
“Exactly.” Sheleaned back on her elbows as she stared out to our friends and slugback another mouthful of ale. “I saw Charlie give yousomething.”
I held out mywrist to show off the dainty wooden bracelet. “Isn’t it sweet?”
Lottie took mywrist, turning it over in her hands. “Yes, he’s quite the littleman, isn’t he? That kid adores you.”
I sighed.“We’ve been through a lot. I owe him my life. A debt I could neverrepay.”
“I thinkyou’re doing just fine by taking care of him, giving him a placeaboard your ship,” she replied. “Charlie’s as happy as they come,don’t worry.” She took another big sip and wiped at her mouth. “Ihave something for you, as well.”
“What? God,you guys. You don’t have to–”
“Shush now,it’s your wedding day. It’s customary to be showered in gifts.”
Lottie reachedover to the table next to us where her cloak and satchel hung froma chair and reached inside the bag, pulling out the item sheprocured from the market earlier. The one wrapped in fabric. Shehanded it to me.
“It’s not afancy homemade gift, but I saw it and thought of you.”
Slowly, Iunwound the plain fabric to reveal a book. Leather bound in a warmbrown and tied together with thick strands of suede. I ran myfingers over its surface before cracking open the spine to peekinside to find blank pages.
“The storiesyou told me about Henry’s journal, and then your mothers, I justthought you should have your own. To write down your thoughts,recipes.” She shrugged. “Perhaps even our crazy adventures.”
I shook myhead. “Lottie, this is probably the most thoughtful gift I’ve everbeen given. Thank you.”
“Really?” sheguffawed. “A book?”
“It’s notabout what it is,” I assured her. “It’s what it could be.”
“Well, I’mglad you like it.”
Just then, thefront door of The Kraken’s Den opened and the heavy snowfall thatnow fell in the night came flowing in. We all glanced over, likemeerkats peaking their heads around. Some had no idea the personwho stood before us, while others tried to mask the gasp whichescaped from their mouths. Henry’s face flashed to mine and he tooka few long strides over to where I
