The Pirate's Desire by Jennette Green

sealed.
    Tears welled and she stumbled to the bed. It wasn’t fair! None of it. Father’s death, living under Riel’s boot for the next two years… Why did it have to be? Why?
    Lucinda wept softly, in abject misery. Father’s death was bad enough. She could not suffer through Riel’s domineering rule over her life, too. And Ravensbrook. What did he intend to do with Ravensbrook, once the full financial reins fell into his hands?
     
    * * * * *
     
    Riel wondered what he had gotten himself into. He owed Commodore Hastings his life, but becoming a guardian to his daughter seemed like a stiff sentence to pay in return. Lucy was as fiery and strong-willed as they came. Clearly, she did not want him to be her guardian. Worse, the idea of him taking over Ravensbrook’s finances seemed to have pushed her over the edge. She distrusted him completely. But why? Why would she hate him, when she barely knew him?
    He thought through their confrontations; two of which he had resolved by force. A technique which had clearly inflamed her hatred for him. But what else could he do? Allow her to run off with Peter’s letter and burn it?
    Never. His jaw tightened. With his last breath, the Earl of Ravensbrook had begged Riel to watch over Lucy. To protect her. Riel had sworn on his life that he would. Lucy was mistaken if she thought she could run him off.
    He frowned, and analyzed each of their confrontations again. Perhaps he was handling her the wrong way. Instead of telling her the way things would be, perhaps he should suggest the ideas first. Instead of treating her like an unruly new sailor, he could treat her like his first mate. He could listen to her views.
    Lucy was upset about her father’s death. Maybe that, in addition to all the changes in her life that Riel represented, was too much for her to handle right now.
    As Riel gathered the necessary items for the visit to the solicitor, he decided he’d try to be more understanding. If Lucy agreed, they could go about his guardianship as a partnership. Provided, of course, she agreed to behave like an adult.
    He would make Lady Lucinda realize that cooperation would be much more pleasant than war.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Lucinda rode soberly to town in Montclair’s black carriage. Riel glanced at her several times, perhaps wondering why she rode so placidly across from him.
    Probably waiting for her next histrionic fit.
    Lucinda averted her face and silently looked out the window. A sick knot clenched in her stomach as she slowly accepted the fact she could do nothing to change her future. Riel would become lord over her. And how would he treat her, after the way she’d just treated him? It didn’t bear thinking about. He’d proven how dangerous he could be; twice, in as many days.
    He could not become her guardian! Lucinda swallowed, and tried hard to prevent her distress from showing. Riel could not suspect how frightened and hopeless she felt right now. She could not bear it.
    Even worse, what would become of Ravensbrook and her beloved servants? What did he intend to do with her family’s home during the two years he would be in charge?
    How could her father leave her fate and that of Ravensbrook in the hands of this man?
    The carriage drew up in front of the solicitor’s house. If only she could stop this meeting from taking place! But short of ripping the parchment from Riel’s pocket, Lucinda could think of nothing she could do to stop it.
    Her gaze slid to that jacket, wondering if the note still resided in the same pocket.
    “After you.” Riel stood aside, so she could enter the house first. His black gaze held hers, as if he knew what she was thinking. Flushing, Lucinda looked away and followed the butler into the stately mansion.
    “In here.” The servant bowed, and Lucinda entered a lushly appointed office. A Persian rug covered the floor, the chairs were of the finest black leather, and the desk shone. Law books filled the floor-to-ceiling