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As soon as she touched his hand, the wind picked up the sails and they headed out to sea.
Serenity couldn’t help going to the netting for one last look atTriton’s Revenge.
Jake moved to stand behind her. “You know you’ve got a hard time ahead of you. What are you going to tell people about your absence?”
She sighed. “The truth.”
He looked stunned.
“What choice do I have?” she asked. “I’m a terrible liar.”
“Surely you can come up with something better. Tell people you eloped and your husband was killed, or he ran off after the nuptials.”
It was a thought. But she couldn’t do that. “No, Jake. My family deserves the truth.”
“The truth hurts. Don’t you want to spare them the pain?”
She thought about her father and his reaction to Chatty after she’d been caught alone with Stephen. He’d been cold, distant. Unforgiving.
“Tell you what,” Jake said. “Why don’t I pretend to be your husband. I’ll pick a fight with your father and then leave without ever coming back.”
She laughed at the image. “I appreciate the offer, but somehow the truth always comes out. I’ve lived my life dedicated to reporting the truth to people. I don’t think I could live with myself if I lied to them. No, I promised myself I would have no regrets about what I did, and I shan’t.”
He nodded in understanding. “If you ever need a friend, you just send word to me and I’ll be there for you. I’ll make sure no one harms you.”
“Why, Black Jack Rhys,” she said with a teasing note in her voice. “You’d best be careful or I might begin to think you’re actually a nice man and not a living scourge.”
His smile was wide. “Ouch, lass, you’ve finally discovered my deepest-held secret. Now I shall most definitely have to kill you for it.”
She laughed. “Never fear, it’s yet another secret I shall take to the grave.”
One of the boatswains came forward. “Miss James?”
She looked past Jake’s shoulder to where the boatswain stood. “Yes?”
“The captain bade me show you to your room.”
Serenity nodded, excused herself from Jake, and followed the boatswain below deck to a modest-sized cabin. It was clean and tidy, with a small bunk made into the wall the same way Morgan’s had been.
“The captain will be by shortly to check on you.”
“Thank you,” she said.
He took his leave.
Alone, she sat on the bunk, and for the first time allowed the pain to wash over her. Morgan was finally gone. He would never be back.
Never.
Her heart breaking, she reached into her pocket, pulled out the crumpled note of poetry he’d written her on board his ship, and she began to cry.
