20. Jonto #3
No one except Nico and Captain Jack Dubbin knew her secret.
She was well aware that the only reason her true identity remained locked behind walls of artifice and deception was because of that one simple fact.
How many times had she seen a beautiful woman, been propositioned for that matter, and she’d had to refuse the offer of sexual favors or, as the more sophisticated women would say, a night of intimacy between two consenting adults?
Isla knelt beside Ouen, encouraging him with a dip of her chin to show her what else he’d carved.
Jonto’s heart skipped a beat when the lady glanced over the man’s broad shoulders and looked directly at her.
The green of Isla’s eyes sparkled in the flickering lamplight, looking for all the world like emerald pools, deep and captivating.
For the first time, Isla didn’t avert her gaze.
They stared into one another’s eyes for what felt like an eternity, and Jonto held her breath, afraid that the others might detect the tremor in her exhalation.
The moment was broken when Ouen closed the lid, revealing a Kraken holding a four-masted sailing ship in its eight tentacles.
Everyone gasped anew, marveling at the detail of the sails and the ship’s rigging.
The words Morgan’s Jest were carved into the ship’s side, and the masthead was identical to that which rode proudly on the actual ship’s prow.
Priscilla moved Robert out of the way so she could examine the artistry up close.
She traced each sail, running her fingers along the ropes and circling the pulleys with a manicured fingernail.
“Captain, this man could earn a fortune carving for the wealthier nobility.” She addressed Ouen directly.
“Can you do a fresco of horses? Say a stallion and his herd of mares? Do you think you could differentiate between the specific breeds? Say thoroughbred versus a Percheron or a Morgan? Of course, you could. Why, if?—”
Ouen jumped up from his squat and backed into the bulkhead, sliding along the rough boards to escape her words.
Jonto quickly went to reassure him. “No, Ouen. She doesn’t understand, and I won’t ever let anything happen to you. Do you trust me?”
Ouen’s terror-stricken eyes jerked back and forth between his captain and Priscilla. Eventually, they settled on Jonto, who held her gaze steady, knowing that was what would calm her man. She repeated, “Do you trust me?” Ouen finally nodded, and Jonto clapped him on the shoulder. “Good man.”
Clearly confused, Priscilla straightened and looked to Jonto for an explanation.
With a sigh, Jonto didn’t try to hide his disgust. “Several years ago, I discovered Ouen by sheer luck when we put in for supplies in another kingdom. I was a guest in an earl’s castle—I’ll not reveal the man’s name—and stumbled downstairs when my host was out for the evening.
I was looking for the wine cellar, of all things, and found Ouen chained to the wall.
The chain ran from a heavy ring embedded in the stone down to a cuff on his ankle.
It was long enough for him to reach a table where he’d been forced to carve masterpieces, which the earl then sold to support his gambling habit.
Needless to say, Ouen will never work for a nobleman again. ”
Priscilla, who’d been sheltered from the more despicable aspects of life, covered her mouth with her hand. “No one would be that cruel.”
Jonto thought that Priscilla’s beautiful face may turn heads whenever she entered a room but did nothing to hide any of her thoughts or emotions—pity and compassion being the ones currently shining brightly in those dove-grey eyes.
The lady started toward Ouen with her hand out, and before he could panic, Jonto stopped her.
“I’m afraid they can, and he was. Now, if we could continue the tour, we’re nearly done.”
Celie, who worked closely with Judge Riordan and was well-acquainted with the more despicable vagaries of mankind, spoke up. “I hope you reported him to the authorities?”
“No.”
This time, it was an appalled Isla who recoiled at the response, “No?”
“Let me just say that a sudden, unexpected fire started in the basement, and Nico and I were able to get all of the servants out of the mansion before it burned to the ground. As far as the earl ever knew, the man he held secretly chained in the basement burned to death in the fire.”
As they walked down the center of the hold, the Jest’s lowest deck, Isla slipped her hand into Jonto’s and pulled him back several paces so the others wouldn’t overhear.
Her soft hand felt cool, reminding Jonto of pleasant dreams where she and Isla walked the cliffs hand in hand, enjoying the afternoon sun.
As for herself, in direct contrast to Isla’s cool palm, she ran hot, both in life and in bed, often awakening with all the covers thrown off due to the heat of her sleep.
Removing her hand, Isla leaned close and spoke so as not to be overheard by the others.
Once again, merely catching the faintest trace of the lady’s perfume did odd things to Jonto’s stomach.
She leaned close, wondering what secrets Isla wished to impart.
“You’re a paradoxical enigma, Lord Jonto, and while I can hardly condone arson as a punishment, you quite often surprise me.
You are your own black and white. You’re both yin and yang, and I quite admire you for it.
It’s clearly apparent your crew idolizes you, and well they should.
” Growing suddenly shy, Isla stopped talking and hurried to catch up to the rest.
Stunned, Jonto stopped where she was. Her mind staggered and tripped over the words that had been spoken, perhaps not with an emotion rising to the level of affection, but could she dare hope, the unspoken offer of friendship?
Her reaction was unprecedented. Jonto’s mind rarely faltered.
In battles, every movement and cannon blast came sharply into focus.
On dance floors, she could hold a kingdom’s most stunning beauty in her arms and never miss a step.
But one kind word from the woman who’d shunned her in the inn the first day they’d met, and she couldn’t breathe, let alone think clearly enough to walk on a rolling deck.
It was that realization that brought her out of her stupor.
The ship was rolling. In a calm sea, the lowest deck ran smooth and quiet.
She sped up and passed the others. “Everyone, please follow me up to the lower gun deck, where Sandy will escort you to your rooms.” She ran up the stairs to the orlop deck and saw her gunner talking to a friend. “Sandy.”
When Sandy turned, Jonto pointed to the five guests.
“Escort them to their quarters. Then, run find Ilona. She’ll remain in the cabin with Lady Brighton, and you’re to stay with Mistress Smythson and Lily.
Settle them and then help settle the Fitzgeralds in their cabin.
” Instead of awaiting a reply, Jonto hurried up the next ladder.
She paused at the top and bent so she could see Sandy below. “And find extra buckets.”
“Aye, Captain.” The gunner calmly walked to the suddenly nervous passengers. “Ain’t nothin’ t’ worry ‘bout. Came up fast, but we’re in fer a squall, an’ th’ captain likes t’ be up with our helmsman. If ye’ll follow me at th’ quickstep, like, we’ll get ya all settled in nice and cozy.”
Like a nervous gaggle of ducks, Isla and the others moved close together and followed the spry gunner up the gangways.