Destiny of the Heart (Viking Destiny) (24 page)

Kristen and Derrick found an easy rhythm with each
other after their first day together. He hadn't mentioned
marriage again, but was still determined to make her see
reason. Kristen, on the other hand, thought he said it out of
duty and was quite relieved that he had not brought it up
again. As part of their daily ritual, Derrick began taking her for
strolls around the deck so that she wasn't always confined. He
didn't make good on his threat to get an entirely new crew at
the last port, but he was still anxious to keep her away from
his men all the same. Kristen looked forward to their daily
strolls as she found the fresh air and the smell of the sea
comforting. She certainly had come a long way since her first
attempt at sailing.

Derrick told her they would be stopping by an island
called Orkney. She had never heard of it, but he said that a
friend lived there, and he wanted to say hello. She didn't mind.
She wanted to prolong their trip as much as possible since
she was enjoying his company. She figured when they arrived
in Morocco, which was Derrick's final destination, she would
book passage to America from there. She hadn't told Derrick
of her plans, but she reasoned it was better if he and Mel
knew nothing of her whereabouts.

When they arrived in Orkney, Kristen was nervous. She
was given use of several dresses that were found on board
and decided to wear the prettiest among them. It was a dark
green dress made of velvet, and the front bell of the skirt split
open to reveal a lighter shade of green that was done in silk.
The sides of the split had emeralds encrusted from the top of
the split to the bottom. The sleeves came to the middle of her
arm and then there was a band of dark green ribbon that
separated the velvet from the lower half of the arm, which was
in the lighter green silk. She very much liked the dress, and
tried desperately not to think of whom it belonged to.

The cabin boy had also managed to find some feminine
toiletries, and she sat down to do her hair. With the warmer
climate, she decided it would be best to keep it off her neck,
so she piled it high on her head, leaving it loose to allow some
curls to fall gently around her face and soften the look.
Kristen didn't know why, but she felt the need to take extra
care of her appearance that day. When she was satisfied, she
left the cabin and joined Derrick on the deck hoping that he
would like the way she looked. The moment he laid eyes on
her, he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Where the hell d'you think you are going in that?” He
demanded harshly.
Surprised, Kristen lifted her brow. “Don't you like it?”
“Yes, I do. But, it's a little formal, don't you think?
Unless, of course, you think to entice my friend to help you
escape me. I'll have you know that he isn't easily swayed.
Your plan wouldn't work.” He s
aid matter-of-factly.
“Well, I never! Of all the pig-headed...no...I'm not going
to do this with you right now.” With that, she turned and
headed back toward the cabin. Derrick caught up with her and
grabbed her arm.
“Tell me why you are wearing that particular dress. It's
for an evening of going out and enticing men, Kristen.” He
growled.
“My reasons are my own.”
“Tell me!”
“Because I wanted to look nice for you! Does that make
you happy, you jackass!” She yanked her arm away from him
and slammed the cabin door in his face.
When he recovered, he frowned and followed Kristen
inside the cabin, shutting the door behind him. Kristen glared
at him.
“Kristen “
“I thought I should make a good impression on your
friend so he wouldn't think too ill of me. Haven't you
considered what other people will think when they see us
together, unaccompanied?” She sniffed, dangerously close to
tears.
Derrick was taken aback. For all her strength, she was
still concerned with what society would think of her. And, truth
be told, he hadn't thought about it. But, on such a remote
island she had nothing to fear. He was more worried about his
brother thinking he could stake a claim. Derrick would hate to
kill him, truly he would.
“I've offered you a solution to that problem, but you
don't see fit to take it. I don't know what else to do.” He said
softly.
She glanced at him but didn't respond. Derrick reached
out and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her tenderly.
“You're a vision, by the by. Didn't get to mention that
before.”
She smiled brightly. His heart stopped. “Thank you! Do
you think your friend will approve?” She asked nervously.
"Aye, Tristan will approve. He is my brother, you see.”
“I thought you said he was a pirate?” She asked
confused. “Do you mean brother as in you were a pirate
yourself? I've heard of the brotherhood. My mother used to tell
me stories about how my real father...well, anyway, I've heard
of it.”
Derrick was surprised. For the briefest, unguarded
moment, she was going to open up to him. She had a secret
too, and he couldn't have been more happy.
“I tell you what. I'll tell you my secret if you tell me
yours.” He smiled.
“You don't want to know my story, Derrick. It would only
bore you.”
“Try me.” He insisted.
“Oh, very well. My mother had her fall from grace with a
man who promised to marry her, but couldn't settle down to
save his soul. He loved her, but there was always some
excuse. My mother never told me so directly, but I suspect he
may have been a pirate. I don't even know his name.” She
looked at him nervously to see if she could find the revulsion
she knew would be there. After all, he had been courting her
thinking she was a legitimate lady. His face was blank.
“Go on.” He said.
She sighed. “Well, you met my stepfather. My mother
was forced to find someone to marry her quickly so that I
wouldn't be ruined. Ashby was in debt with gambling, so she
paid his debts in exchange for keeping quiet about my
parentage. That is why I was in a hurry to marry. Ashby was
trying to force himself on me for my mother's money.”
Derrick frowned and pulled her closer to him, hugging
her tight. She shivered at the rage she felt coming from him.
She knew it was on her behalf, and that touched her heart, but
if she weren't careful, she would soon fall for this man.
“It's a bloody shame the man is dead. I would have
loved to kill him myself." He said sincerely.
Kristen smiled. "Well, that part of my life is over. I can
move on."
"That part?"
Kristen thought Derrick was too perceptive for his own
good. She wasn't about to tell him that someone wanted her
dead, and she was running away. He would want to get
involved, and she couldn't have that. As much as she kept
telling herself that Derrick would break her heart, and that was
the reason she wasn't marrying him, the truth was that she
was falling for him, and she couldn't bear it if he were hurt
because of her.
"I just mean that I'm not obligated to marry in such a
hurry anymore."
"But you still want to get married, right?" He asked
carefully.
"Eventually." She hedged.
Kristen smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist,
burying her head in his chest. He hadn't said that he still
wanted to marry her, which she knew would be the case once
he knew the truth. But, as he wrapped his arms around her,
she decided, for now, it was enough that he wanted her.
Derrick rested his chin on her head. His heart was
heavy, but she had given him reason to hope. “We're almost
there.”
“Oh no, you don't! You said you would tell me your
secret. What did you mean that Tristan is your brother?”
“Exactly that, little one. He is my brother as we share
the same parents. Yes, he is a pirate, but that came about for
reasons that weren't really his doing. Scott kicked him out of
the family some time ago.”
“Whatever for?” She asked, horrified.
“Well, for causing one too many scandals.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Derrick grinned. “We all thought it rather ridiculous
ourselves, but Scott is the duke of Hollingsworth and takes his
responsibilities rather seriously. He is always calling us to task
for any misgivings he hears of because he says that we hold
such prestige and our family should act with more discretion,
blah blah blah.”
“That was still no reason to oust a member of the
family. What sort of scandals was he creating?”
“All kinds. Purposely getting himself caught with a
cheating wife so that he could lay her reputation to ruins,
starting a fight in the middle of a ball just because he was
bored, there was that time at the races that he hit some chap
for running his mouth off about our Charlie. Things like that.”
“What did the fellow say about Charlie?” She asked.
Derrick stiffened and pulled away from her. He wasn't
sure he was ready for her reaction to that part of his family
secret.
“We should go upstairs. We will be approaching the
island “
“Derrick, you are hedging.”
“I do not hedge, m'dear.” He said stiffly.
“What is the big deal? What did the chap say?”
Derrick took a deep breath. “He said something about
Charlie's preferences.”
Kristen lifted a brow. She had heard the rumor of
Charlie having a predilection for men, had even told the Lady
Cecilia to mind her own business, but since the family hadn't
denounced him, she assumed it wasn't true and someone was
just trying to start something that wasn't there.
“So let me get this straight. Scott denounced Tristan for
starting a fight, but Charlie likes men, and everyone knows
about it, but he is allowed to stay in the family?” She asked.
Derrick nodded, holding his breath. He expected her to
recoil in disgust or hate.
“Well, no offense, but it seems to me Scott is a bloody
idiot.” She said.
Derrick said nothing. He only looked at her.
“Derrick, what's the matter? You look quite pale.”
“Yes, I suppose Scott is a bit on the idiotic side. Do you
propose we kick Charlie out, then?” He asked defensively, his
chest constricting in pain at the expected rejection.
“Certainly not. He can't help who he likes no more than
anyone else can. But, neither do I think Tristan should have
been ousted over a trifle like that.”
The relief that washed over Derrick made his head
swim, and for a moment he thought he would collapse. She
wasn't repulsed by Charlie, in fact, she accepted him and
wouldn't scorn him. She must have noticed his change
because she frowned.
“Forgive me, m'dear, but there haven't been many
women involved with my family that have been able to accept
Charlie as it is a stigma that will follow them should it come
out. We've all been hurt in some way over it.”
“Well, those women aren't worth a moment's thought,
then.” She said simply and laid her hand on his cheek
Derrick turned his head and kissed the inside of her
hand. "Come, we should be upon the port now." He smiled
warmly and led her out of the cabin.
Kristen followed, still a little bemused why any woman
would turn one of the Shane men away just because of
Charlie. It didn't make sense to her, but she certainly
understood why Derrick had previously been so opposed to
marriage. It made her heart ache to know that she could
change Derrick's mind about marriage if not for her situation.
Regardless of how she felt about Derrick, she wouldn't put his
life in danger. She wouldn't put his family through the pain of
losing him.
***
Back in England, Mel wasn't faring quite as well as her
friend. Alice had tied her up and hung her upside down, and
Mel was in that position for almost two day before Alice took
her down. When Mel did come down, she didn't feel so good.
All of her blood had gone to her head, and to have it rush back
to her outer limbs had them tingling like thousands of needles
were poking her. Also, Mel felt extremely light-headed. Since
Alice hadn't bothered to feed Mel or giver her water, she was
dreadfully worried about the baby.
After nearly two days of hanging, Alice took Mel down
and tied her to a chair. She would have left her longer, but
Alice didn't have much time. She needed to find Kristen before
Adrian came for her, so she hoped that two days upside down
was enough to make Mel talk. But, when Alice got a look at
Mel, she wondered if Mel had a medical condition because
she didn't look so good.
"Are you alright?" Alice asked, frowning.
"No, I'm not alright, you bloody twit. I'm pregnant, and
you had me hanging upside down for two days."
Alice flushed. She hadn't known that Mel was pregnant.
Alice was many things, but she wouldn't murder an innocent
child. She cut the ropes binding Mel's wrists so she could
restore circulation to the area. Alice also gave her a crust of
bread and some water, which Mel took readily enough.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were pregnant."
Mel glared at Alice over the crust of her bread but didn't
say anything. Alice cleared her throat and pressed on.
"I don't want to kill you, given your condition, but I need
to know where your friend is."
Mel looked up and narrowed her eyes. "You're the one
who kidnapped her, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Who are you?"
"No one of importance. I don't have time for your
questions, Lady Atchkinson. Either you tell me where I can
find Kristen, or you will lose that child."
Mel gasped. "You're a monster!" She spat angrily, tears
sparkling in her eyes.
Alice felt every bit the monster, but there was nothing
for it. She would not go back to Adrian. "You're welcome to
believe whatever you like, but that doesn't change the fact that
the choice is yours. Your friend, or the life of your child."
To drive her point home, Alice pulled a wicked looking
knife from a satchel that sat on a table near the women. She
walked behind Mel and wrapped her free arm around Mel's
upper body as she laid the knife across Mel's stomach. Mel
inhaled sharply, and she felt miserable for the choice she was
making.
"She's gone with Derrick to Morocco." Mel cried.
Alice ground her teeth and tossed the knife to the side,
standing up and kicking the small table that held the satchel.
All kinds of wicked looking instruments tumbled out of the bag
as it hit the ground. Mel inhaled sharply at the sight of them,
and recoiled in fear as she looked at Alice.
Mel had no idea who this woman was, or what she
wanted with Kristen, but it couldn't be good. She just hoped
that Kristen would be able to forgive her when this was all
done.
Chapter 27