25. Jonto
Jonto
Thoroughly ashamed of herself for giving into her baser impulses and kissing a woman she knew she had no business kissing, Jonto silently berated herself as they walked back to the skiff.
Thankfully, so far, anyway, their conversation had been light and neither mentioned the inappropriateness of her actions.
These feelings she was developing for Isla were different than any she’d had before.
The thought occurred to her that her infatuation might simply result from the fact that Lady Isla Brighton was forbidden fruit.
They could never be anything more than good friends, especially in a kingdom where homosexual relations weren’t simply frowned upon; they were nothing short of illegal.
The practice carried a term in His Majesty’s prisons, not to mention a hefty fine and ostracism, not only from her peers but also from the merchants and peasant classes.
Jonto wasn’t particularly worried about the consequences for herself since her pirates and Jack—most especially Jack—would storm the castle to free her should the need arise.
No, Isla stood to lose the most should romantic feelings develop between them.
There was no doubt she’d lose her lands and businesses.
Granted, they were probably forfeit already, but even if the Archduchess pulled off some miracle, if the wrong person caught Isla having relations with another woman, she’d lose everything.
There wasn’t any doubt that Jonto would spirit Isla away from the little kingdom should that occur.
She’d never allow this woman to sit for even a day in a dank, dark prison cell.
But Jonto had listened when Isla talked about how important Windsong Hall was to her, about how it grounded her in her familial heritage.
And, while they would most certainly bring Lily and anyone else who cared to join their mistress on a voyage to unknown lands, Jonto doubted any of her friends, with Celie as the possible exception, would join their escape.
Plus, she and Nico would lose their new home base, Kraken’s Rest, a place Jonto had become quite fond of restoring to its former glory.
No, there was no way she could give in to the feelings growing so inconveniently in her soul.
She’d ignore the way Isla’s green eyes mesmerized her and how delicious those plump, rounded lips felt when she’d taken them with her own.
Isla stopped mid-stride and turned to face her. “Don’t you think?”
To her acute embarrassment, Jonto had no clue what Isla had been chatting about as they returned to the others.
“I’m sorry. I was wool-gathering. Please forgive me for not having the slightest idea what you just said.
” She stopped, shrugged, and blinked in sheepish regret, holding her hands to the side by way of apology.
Isla’s brows lowered in consternation. “At what point did you tune out, My Lord?”
Thinking back to the last thing she remembered, Jonto said, “When you were saying you wouldn’t have believed how adorable hundreds of bats could be since you only saw the occasional ones at night when you and your friends sit on your lawn to stargaze.”
“That was quite a while ago. I was saying how very much I’ve come to respect Ilona.
When she first stepped onto the quarterdeck, I didn’t know what to think.
Her clothing is nothing short of, well, were the church-going members of Fachan’s Bay to see her, they would call her tight leggings and low-cut blouse blasphemous. ”
A deep line of worry formed between Isla’s brows before she resumed walking again. “What I was trying to tell you is that under no circumstances should she set foot in Fachan’s Bay or in the kingdom, for that matter, dressed in the clothing she wears on the ship.”
A huff of amusement escaped Jonto’s lips before she could stop it.
Isla stopped again and faced her. “You find my warning humorous, My Lord?”
“Ah, We’re back to ‘My Lord’ instead of Jonto. Why is that, My Lady?”
“Because…well, I suppose because you kissed me, and we both know that was highly improper. I think—” Isla blushed, shook her head, and began walking again.
“You think?” Jonto knew precisely what she was thinking, and she silently cursed herself for letting her desires frighten away this wonderfully complicated woman.
“I think we should keep a certain amount of separation between us. There are reasons for societal strictures and?—”
“And you’re frightened by the feelings you’re beginning to have toward me. And, of course, I’ll honor your wishes, but…I think you enjoyed the kiss?”
The sound of the waterfall’s rushing water had been growing steadily the nearer they came, but they weren’t close enough for the sound to drown out Isla’s response when her shoulders stiffened at his words. “You presume too much, Lord Jontoreaux.”
Jonto grinned at the haughtiness in Isla’s tone.
“Uh oh. Now we’ve regressed to using Lord Jontoreaux.
” She sped up, moved close to Isla’s back, and lowered her voice in case others were within hearing distance.
“Perhaps I mistook the soft moan when I ran my tongue over your bottom lip as enjoyment and not something else. Were you moaning in pain, then, Lady Brighton?”
The swiftness with which Isla swung around and slapped Jonto shocked them both into silence.
“Captain?” Ilona’s voice came from somewhere between them and the falls, and it wasn’t long before she stepped out of the trees and onto their path.
She looked at Isla, who’d turned away, thoroughly horrified at what she’d done.
Her gaze tracked to Jonto, who was holding her cheek in wide-eyed shock at how quickly their friendly interaction had devolved into her receiving a well-earned correction for her less-than-gentlemanly behavior.
The swordswoman’s brows rose at her Captain’s reddened cheeks—one side decidedly redder than the other.
Needing to preserve the remaining vestige of her dignity, Jonto blew out a breath, knowing she had to employ some misdirection and fast. “Lady Brighton was warning us about how ill-advised it would be for you to walk into Fachan’s Bay dressed in your everyday clothes, and then I—” Feeling the heat rushing up from between her breasts and continuing up into her face, Jonto guessed it more than covered the handprint that surely must be there from the slap Isla had given her.
“Well, then I said something no gentleman should say to a lady.” She stepped in front of Isla and tried to get her to at least look her in the eyes.
Giving up when Isla looked anywhere but directly at her, Jonto sighed and continued anyway.
“For that, I apologize. It’s not that I don’t take your warning seriously.
Don’t forget, Ilona was raised as a lady-in-waiting for a princess.
No members of the ton in any kingdom we’ve visited have ever faulted her for her courtly dress or manners.
I wasn’t belittling your warning, only your assumption that we wouldn’t know how to dress and act among the aristocracy. ”
Appreciation shone from Isla’s gaze when she finally looked into Jonto’s eyes. “I understand, My Lord, and…I apologize for—” Her eyes filled as though she were close to tears.
Ilona saved her by stepping forward and placing a kind hand on Isla’s back. “Well, I, for one, have the greatest respect for a woman who has the strength to correct the King of the Pirates should the occasion arise. Well done, My Lady.”
She said it with such good-natured enthusiasm that first Jonto, and finally Isla, relaxed.
Ilona continued, “Not only that, but I appreciate your concern for my welfare. When we arrive at the next port of call, the captain will want me to accompany you into the city. I look forward to showing you the clever sheaths Babette has devised so I might carry my weapons even when I’m dressed in my riding habit. ”
Ilona tugged Isla up the path. “Now, I came to let you know the skiff’s packed and ready, and we’re ready to return to the ship whenever you are, Captain.
” One brow arched when she looked over her shoulder and gave Jonto a look that said she knew or guessed her captain had taken things a bit too far where the lady was concerned.
The slight uptick of her mouth and the amused glint in her eyes said as much, anyway.
Jonto simply shook her head and followed them back to the skiff.
By the time the last person stepped through the hatch onto the Jest’s main deck, Captain Dubbin had raised the courtesy flag requesting permission to come aboard.
Jonto turned to Nico, who was waiting off to the side.
“Signal permission granted. I’m going to run and change.
I’ll ask our guests to remain in the wardroom so we can introduce them out of the weather. ”
Nico glanced at the sky since it couldn’t be any clearer than its current robin’s egg blue.
Jonto ignored him because she wanted to talk to Jack before introducing the ill-bred, short-tempered pirate captain, especially to the Fitzgeralds.
Turning to Isla, Lily, and Celie, she indicated she wanted them to accompany her to the quarterdeck.
“We’ll be receiving Captain Dubbin soon.
Perhaps you’d care to change before he comes on board?
And once you’ve changed, if you’ll wait in the wardroom, I’ll bring him in and introduce him to you and the Fitzgeralds. ”
Jonto changed and was back on deck by the time Jack stepped through the hatchway.
Before the booted second foot touched the deck, she grabbed her friend’s arm and towed her toward the fo’c’sle and behind some barrels and storage boxes out of sight of the quarterdeck.
She smiled at Jack, whose brows were pulled low in confusion.
“Sorry to drag you over here, but I needed to warn you I have some bluebloods on board who tend to get their nose out of joint quicker than most.”
“Bluebloods? Why th’ fowk would ya be carryin’ that kind of demon’s cursed spawn, eh?”