Chapter 10

“Sweetheart, if you wish to postpone the wedding until your sister is found, I understand,” Jeffrey told Penelope as they ate lunch in the formal dining room at Ainsworth Castle. “That will allow more time to contact Patrick.”

Penelope turned her gaze away from Jeffrey when he mentioned Patrick’s name. She still had strong feelings for him, but her love for Jeffrey intensified more each day. He was a wonderful, gentle and caring man, everything she’d ever wanted. Jeffrey treated her like a queen and allowed her the freedom to do as she wished without question.

“I had not thought of Patrick being here,” she said quietly.

“Will that be a problem for you, love?”

She turned her gaze back to her fiancé, smiling softly before she spoke. “No, Jeffrey, it will not be a problem.”

Jeffrey felt a heavy heart when he looked into Penelope’s eyes. He felt she was growing to love him, but she hadn’t yet told him she did. He worried that if she saw Patrick again, she would call off the wedding. “I do not want to make you uncomfortable, Penelope. If you would rather I not contact Patrick --”

Penelope placed a finger to his lips. “I said it would not be a problem, Jeffrey,” she said softly. “I love you and I want you to be happy. If it means having Patrick here to celebrate our wedding, then so be it.”

A huge smile graced Jeffrey’s lips. “Did you just say you loved me?”

“Yes,” she replied. “I love you, Jeffrey Ainsworth.”

He rose to his feet and pulled her into his arms. Passionate kisses confirmed his delight as he twirled her around before he stopped and allowed her feet to touch the floor again. “You have made me the happiest man in the world, Penelope Summerfield,” he beamed then kissed her again.

Jeffrey summoned Niles, “We are finished here Niles, you may clear the table now.”

Hand in hand he led Penelope up the stairs to his bedchamber. “It is too early in the day for this, Jeffrey.” Penelope giggled while Jeffrey began undressing her as soon as they entered his room.

“It is never too early for this,” he said, leading her to the large bed in the middle of the room.

“I said, let her go!” Patrick shouted as the men continued their assault on Kimberly.

Smitty looked over at Patrick. “Find your own woman, Ainsworth. This one’s ours!”

“She is not yours! Unhand her at once!” he shouted.

Patrick grabbed the man who was standing in front of Kimberly by the collar and pulled him away from her. The man stumbled then fell to his knees when Patrick backed away from his oncoming fist. Patrick pulled him back to his feet and pushed him harshly toward the door of the crews’ cabins.

Smitty still held Kimberly tight and he nodded to a third man, who pinned her arm from behind. The man released her arm and lunged at Patrick, also stumbling when Patrick dodged his advance. He rose to his feet and thought twice about taking another swing at Patrick. He turned and retreated to his cabin.

“I will give you one more warning,” Patrick started. “Let. Her. Go.”

Kimberly struggled to pull free of Smitty as he stared down Patrick. He finally opted against taking on the much taller Englishman and released his grip. “This is not over, Ainsworth,” he said as he walked toward the helm to speak with the captain.

Patrick gazed at Kimberly then removed his shirt and wrapped it around her. He took a few steps back, controlling his urge to take her into his arms. “What in bloody hell are you doing here?” he asked, his tone laced with anger.

She buttoned his shirt then pushed down her ripped dress and shift, stepping out of it and kicking it to the side. Kimberly took a few steps toward him and felt her heart sink when he backed away from her.

“Kimberly, what are you --”

“I am here to apologize, Patrick. I did not mean to hurt you,” she said as she pushed her wet hair from her face.

“You already apologized, Kimberly. I told you I cannot be with someone who does not trust me.”

“I trust you with my life, Patrick,” Kimberly said, tears filling her eyes. “I am sorry I did not tell you everything.”

Kimberly took another step forward, relieved when Patrick didn’t step back.

“This is no place for a woman.”

Both were oblivious not only to the rain that pelted them, but to the creaking and snapping sounds of the massive boom that had been repaired earlier. Their eyes locked in a heated gaze as mother nature showed her fury.

Patrick broke eye contact with Kimberly briefly to watch as the boom swayed back and forth in the strong winds. He secured the rope that had broken loose then turned back toward Kimberly.

“I cannot intervene if the captain chooses to punish you for being a stowaway,” he told her.

“I do not expect you to, Patrick. I came aboard of my own free will and I will accept whatever consequences are due.”

He moved away from her, still fighting the urge to hold her. The shirt he gave her was soaked, exposing her luscious curves to his wandering eyes. Kimberly saw him observe her body and felt her heart beat faster. She took another step toward him, sighing heavily when he backed away again.

“You were not entirely honest with me either,” she stated.

“What do you mean?”

“You promised me that whatever I told you, it would not change how you feel. You promised you would not leave me.”

Patrick turned his gaze away from her and looked out over the water. He knew she was right; he had no argument for that. “This is not about me,” he replied, turning back to her again.

“If you can tell me you do not love me, I will walk away now and when we reach England you will never hear from me again,” she said.

“I cannot tell you that,” Patrick said quietly.

Kimberly closed the gap between them and reached for his hand before he could step away. She pulled him closer; her arms graced his neck and she found his lips with hers. Her tongue teased the corners of his mouth and a smile curved her lips when he opened his mouth to allow her access

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, a tilt of his head changed the direction of their kiss. Kimberly moaned into his mouth as Patrick slid one hand up her side, under the shirt and found a breast. He teased the nipple with his fingers and felt her arch closer into him.

Then just as suddenly as the kiss started, he pushed her away. “I will not let you seduce me again,” he choked out then turned and walked toward the door that led to the crews’ cabins.

“Patrick Ainsworth, you are the most stubborn, infuriating man I have ever --”

Kimberly’s words turned to a scream when the boom broke loose from its temporary binding. Patrick couldn’t turn around and run fast enough as the heavy wooden pole rammed against her, sweeping her over the side of the ship, into the dark water below.

He ran to the side and looked over just as her head immersed into the water. “Kimberly!” he cried as he saw her resurface briefly, arms flailing as she gasped for air.

“Patrick!” she gurgled, each time she surfaced the rough waters.

Without hesitation, Patrick shouted, “man overboard” then jumped over the side, landing just a few inches from where he’d seen Kimberly last.

He submerged into the dark water, resurfaced for a gasp of air then immersed himself again. When he resurfaced a second time, Patrick saw her several feet away. Her head surfaced briefly and her arms flailed before she disappeared beneath the water again.

Patrick swam toward her, struggling against the rough current. As he neared she resurfaced again, only this time she was buoyant, no longer moving. He reached out and grabbed her, holding her close as he swam back toward the ship. Smitty was standing at the side and Patrick shouted for him to throw down a rope and life preserver to hoist Kimberly out of the water.

The rescue equipment landed just inches from him and Patrick grabbed the preserver then tied the rope around Kimberly’s waist. He held her close and signaled he was ready. While Patrick secured Kimberly and himself to the life preserver, Smitty hollered for the crew to assist him.

Once Kimberley was safe onboard, Patrick fell to his knees beside her and felt for a pulse. He felt a faint beat, but she wasn’t breathing. He plugged her nose and lowered his head to administer mouth-to-mouth. Patrick breathed into her mouth, raised his head and waited a few seconds, then repeated the process.

“You cannot die on me,” he whispered. “Please, Kimberly.”

After several minutes, Kimberly coughed and extracted water from her lungs.

Patrick held her close; thankful she was alive. He picked her up and cradled her to his chest then turned and made his way toward the crews’ cabins with half the crew now standing by watching the events unfold. He heard the captain speaking behind him.

“She is still a stowaway, Ainsworth,” the captain said.

“And I shall take full responsibility for her, Captain,” Patrick said then turned and made his way to his cabin. He glanced down at Kimberly who looked up at him with half open eyes.

“Patrick,” Kimberly breathed a shallow breath, then closed her eyes.

As Patrick entered his room, he held Kimberly close while her feet touched the floor. He removed the wet shirt from her body then pulled back the covers on the bed and laid her down gently. He kissed her cheek as he pulled the covers up over her naked, shivering body.

“You will be fine, love,” he said soothingly. “Just rest now.”

“Make love to me, Patrick,” she breathed, then turned on her side and drifted off to sleep.

He walked to the small dressing table, opened the drawer and took out the engagement ring he’d given her. Patrick glanced down at the ring then back at her. He sighed heavily then placed the ring in the pocket of his trousers.

“I would love nothing more,” he said as he turned, he put on a dry shirt then left his cabin.

“What do you recommend her punishment be, Ainsworth?” the captain asked as he sat at his desk in his cabin.

“I do not recommend any punishments, Captain.”

“She is a stowaway, she must be punished.”

“Why Captain?” Patrick asked. “Why must she be punished?”

Captain Richard Franklin had only been a captain for a short while. He was first mate on the ship that he now commanded, taking over as captain when the previous commander passed on just a year prior.

His form was intimidating for most men under his command. He stood an impressive six foot five with dark brown hair that stopped just at his collar, a well-trimmed mustache, goatee and his gray eyes held a mystery even Patrick couldn’t figure out.

He rose to his feet and paced the floor. He really hadn’t encountered any stowaways in his years of being a sailor and although he did not let on to his crew, he wasn’t really sure what to do about Kimberly.

“It is the unwritten rule of the sea,” he started. “A stowaway must be punished.”

“Unwritten rule?”

“Yes. Everyone knows that stowaways are unwelcome.”

“But she harmed no one.”

“John tells me she is your fiancée. Is this true?”

“No, she is not my fiancée. She is just a woman who hired me to do some work for her around her house.”

“Then why did she board my ship? Why did John tell me she is probably here because of you?”

Patrick sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair. How long am I going to deny this? he wondered to himself. “She was my fiancée, but for only a few hours,” Patrick admitted.

“A few hours? That is an odd courtship,” Captain Franklin said with confusion.

“We had a misunderstanding. I called it off.”

The captain turned to face Patrick. “What do you suggest I do, Ainsworth?” he repeated.

“Nothing,” Patrick replied.

“My men expect justice --”

“Your men tried to rape her, Captain! If I had not intervened, there is no telling how far they would have gone.”

“I was not aware of that!” Captain Franklin said. “Who was responsible?”

“I will not tell you that. They have been dealt with. Kimberly is safe and that is all that matters. I wish for her to be released unharmed when we reach port.”

The captain sighed heavily. He couldn’t argue with the fact that Patrick was right. Kimberly had caused no harm to get aboard and caused no harm during her stay on Britain’s Beauty. Considering the treatment she’d already received from some of the crew, he felt there was no choice but to release her once they reached England.

“Very well. But until that time, she is your responsibility, Ainsworth. Keep her out of trouble.”

“Aye, Captain,” Patrick said then rose to his feet and exited the captain’s cabin.

Patrick made his way back to his cabin, wondering exactly how he’d keep his distance from Kimberly while keeping her safe. He entered his room quietly and stood beside the bed, gazing down at her sleeping form.

The blanket had slipped down, exposing her to his gaze. She was lying on her back, one arm across her abdomen and the other at her side. Her damp hair draped across the pillow and her lips were parted slightly. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes upon

His cock was standing at full attention and Patrick wanted nothing more than to slip into the bed and make love to her until neither of them could think clearly. Instead, he removed his shirt and peeled off his damp trousers then pulled the small chair up beside the bed.

Patrick grabbed the extra afghan from the foot of his bed and covered himself with it. Once he situated himself, he gave one more glance at Kimberly’s peaceful state and the contours still hidden beneath the blanket then drifted off to sleep.

Penelope stretched out beside Jeffrey, her head resting on his shoulder. She sighed contently then turned her head to look at him. “Jeffrey?” she asked.

“Yes, love?”

“Someone kept me from my bath today,” she said. “Would you assist me in making up for lost time?”

A faint smile graced Jeffrey’s lips as he swung his feet over the edge of the bed then pulled on his trousers. Penelope frowned at the absence of his warmth beside her, but her smile returned when she saw him pull back the curtain on the far wall, revealing a massive claw foot tub.