remained unsaid.
It wasn’t unsaid now, although he still hadn’t mentioned her scar. And how foolish had she been to convince herself that the scarring didn’t matter? She didn’t plan to marry—leave it to Martingale to ruin that plan—and so she need never worry a husband would discover her secret. And then she had been naïve enough to believe that if a man truly loved her, he would love her regardless of her imperfections.
Nick Martingale had disabused her of that fantasy. She’d given herself to him, given him her virginity, and the very next day, he’d discarded her. She should have never believed he truly loved her. What was more, she should have never believed he would not care that she was not perfect.
She would not be that stupid again. She would never let a man see what she really looked like or who she really was.
A tap on the door sent her scrambling to tug her stocking into place and toss her skirts over her offending leg. She needn’t have rushed as no one barged in. When she was suitably covered, she said, “Who is it?”
“Mr. Fellowes, miss—er, my lady.”
“Oh, good. Come in, Mr. Fellowes.”
The man was short with blond hair and sun-darkened skin. He had a round head and a round form, making him stand out somewhat as most sailors were quite lean and hungry-looking—Lord Nicholas aside. He stood in the doorway and doffed his hat. He gazed at her warily, and she did not blame him. She had been less than cooperative the day before. But today she thought sweetness might serve her better. If Nick intended to employ his barbaric manners, she would have to rely on charming his crew in order to achieve her goals.
Today her goals were quite simple: a bath and out of the cabin.
“I am terribly sorry for my rude behavior, Mr. Fellowes,” she said with a dimpled smile she knew few men could resist. Unfortunately, Nick was one of them. “I was not myself and quite distraught at my new…situation. You understand, don’t you?” She fluttered her lashes, and Mr. Fellowes’s eyes widened. He swallowed.
“I understand.”
“Oh, good. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
“Of course, my lady.”
“Thank you. Can you find it in your heart to fetch me warm water so I might bathe?”
He frowned, and she almost sighed. She hadn’t charmed him quite enough to make this request, obviously. Hot water on a ship like this was probably no easy feat. Obviously, Mr. Fellowes was not eager to go to the trouble.
“A very little water will suffice,” she said. “It would be a luxury undreamed of if I could strip off these clothes and soak, naked, in a tub of water.”
His gaze rose to meet hers, his look quite shocked. Even hardened sailors were not immune to a lady speaking of undressing then. She continued, “The feel of clean water on my skin would be simply heavenly, and I can image sitting on deck to allow my hair to dry.” She paused to allow him to picture that for a moment. “But if that’s not possible, I’d adore a small pitcher of warm water so I might clean my face and my…and my other parts.”
His gaze lowered from her face and quickly jerked back up. “I—I’ll see what I can do, my lady.”
“Oh, thank you. And if you could bring me something to eat as well…”
And within the hour she had hot water and a plate with a biscuit as hard as the wood of the ship and gruel so tasteless she had to force herself to eat it. She had read about ships, and she knew this was the best she might expect until they reach their destination.
Isla de las Riquezas
. It sounded beautiful and exotic. What would she find there? What was Nick so eager to see? And how long would it take to reach the place? She was already sick of being stuck in this room.
She crossed to the door to the cabin and flung it open. Mr. Fellowes was standing just outside, and he jumped to attention. She gave him another smile. “I’d like to go on deck.”
“The Cap’n said I could escort you
It wasn’t unsaid now, although he still hadn’t mentioned her scar. And how foolish had she been to convince herself that the scarring didn’t matter? She didn’t plan to marry—leave it to Martingale to ruin that plan—and so she need never worry a husband would discover her secret. And then she had been naïve enough to believe that if a man truly loved her, he would love her regardless of her imperfections.
Nick Martingale had disabused her of that fantasy. She’d given herself to him, given him her virginity, and the very next day, he’d discarded her. She should have never believed he truly loved her. What was more, she should have never believed he would not care that she was not perfect.
She would not be that stupid again. She would never let a man see what she really looked like or who she really was.
A tap on the door sent her scrambling to tug her stocking into place and toss her skirts over her offending leg. She needn’t have rushed as no one barged in. When she was suitably covered, she said, “Who is it?”
“Mr. Fellowes, miss—er, my lady.”
“Oh, good. Come in, Mr. Fellowes.”
The man was short with blond hair and sun-darkened skin. He had a round head and a round form, making him stand out somewhat as most sailors were quite lean and hungry-looking—Lord Nicholas aside. He stood in the doorway and doffed his hat. He gazed at her warily, and she did not blame him. She had been less than cooperative the day before. But today she thought sweetness might serve her better. If Nick intended to employ his barbaric manners, she would have to rely on charming his crew in order to achieve her goals.
Today her goals were quite simple: a bath and out of the cabin.
“I am terribly sorry for my rude behavior, Mr. Fellowes,” she said with a dimpled smile she knew few men could resist. Unfortunately, Nick was one of them. “I was not myself and quite distraught at my new…situation. You understand, don’t you?” She fluttered her lashes, and Mr. Fellowes’s eyes widened. He swallowed.
“I understand.”
“Oh, good. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
“Of course, my lady.”
“Thank you. Can you find it in your heart to fetch me warm water so I might bathe?”
He frowned, and she almost sighed. She hadn’t charmed him quite enough to make this request, obviously. Hot water on a ship like this was probably no easy feat. Obviously, Mr. Fellowes was not eager to go to the trouble.
“A very little water will suffice,” she said. “It would be a luxury undreamed of if I could strip off these clothes and soak, naked, in a tub of water.”
His gaze rose to meet hers, his look quite shocked. Even hardened sailors were not immune to a lady speaking of undressing then. She continued, “The feel of clean water on my skin would be simply heavenly, and I can image sitting on deck to allow my hair to dry.” She paused to allow him to picture that for a moment. “But if that’s not possible, I’d adore a small pitcher of warm water so I might clean my face and my…and my other parts.”
His gaze lowered from her face and quickly jerked back up. “I—I’ll see what I can do, my lady.”
“Oh, thank you. And if you could bring me something to eat as well…”
And within the hour she had hot water and a plate with a biscuit as hard as the wood of the ship and gruel so tasteless she had to force herself to eat it. She had read about ships, and she knew this was the best she might expect until they reach their destination.
Isla de las Riquezas
. It sounded beautiful and exotic. What would she find there? What was Nick so eager to see? And how long would it take to reach the place? She was already sick of being stuck in this room.
She crossed to the door to the cabin and flung it open. Mr. Fellowes was standing just outside, and he jumped to attention. She gave him another smile. “I’d like to go on deck.”
“The Cap’n said I could escort you
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