Page 23 of His Pirate Wife

“Your wife, when asked what she thought the committee might do this year to better our navy, suggested we take up a charitable fund to help the widows and orphans have a kinder and gentler holiday. She suggested we collect toys, clothing and food, and gifts for the women left without a man to help care for them. And to help the children enjoy the season even if they might yetgrieve.”

“Mia, that’s a wonderful idea,” Devin told her, rather curious why she’d not said anything tohim.

“And well, even the board agrees,” the admiral told them. “They’re currently having the records searched to help find the names and locations of the widows and their kin. There’s even talk of keeping a perpetual fund to do such acts more often. It was a brilliantidea.”

“I should say it is,” Devin agreed and tried to catch Mia’s eye so she might see how heapproved.

“With a woman like this at your side, Captain, you will make rank assuredly and be very successful as you do,” Admiral Booker said as he began ushering his wife towards the door. “Don’t let her slip the line,Captain.”

“No sir, good day,” Devin said falling back in his chair. Glancing up, he saw the praise did little to cheer his wife. “Mia?”

“I should go, Captain,” she said steppingaway.

“Mia,” Devin called catching her arm and pulling her back. “What’s this upset?” She couldn’t have wanted that damn necklace. And if Lady Mallory wasn’t attending the holiday event, this Friday’s engagement would be the last time Mia or he would have to set eyes on her for severalmonths.

“I should go, I shouldn’t have come. I’minterrupting.”

“No, you’re not,” Devin said trying for a lighter, cheerier tone. “I’m almost done here. Have a cup of tea and we’ll leave together.” He poured her a cup and held it out before she could protest. She took it and he didn’t miss the rattle of the cup on the saucer. Why did her hands shake? “Mia?”

She turned her back and carried the cup with her to the window. Devin resumed his seat and quickly finished what little he could think to do with Mia standing there so despondent. Stacking the papers on his desk, he lifted his overcoat from the chair and moved to where his wife stood staring out the window. Dark clouds were rolling in. Out across the ocean he could see the heavy bands of rain pouringdown.

“We’d best be on our way or we’ll get caught in that,” he said taking the cup of untouched tea and setting it aside. “As near to lunch as it is I’m glad we don’t need to find a cab.” He took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm but within four steps she’d pulled itback.

“I walked, Captain,” she whispered and stiffened when he put his hand at the small of herback.

“You walked? From home or from the docks?” It was several miles but not an unthinkablefeat.

“Home.” she said then sniffed. They stepped from the building into a lightdrizzle.

“Well, we can’t walk home in this.” He lifted his coat and set it around her shoulders then waved for acab.

“I don’t want to ride,” Mia almost whined even as Devin pulled open the door and took her elbow to help herin.

“It’s raining, Mia. Step lively now.” He practically forced her inside then climbed in after her. The coach was in motion before Mia managed to find a way to sit so her ass wasn’t on the seat. She was curled on her side facing away from him. But the first bump would have found her on the floor if Devin was a bit less quick. “Mia, it’s not safe to sit like that. The road gets worse from here.” Without a word she shifted and dropped to the floor on her knees, setting her forehead on the seat. “Mia,” Devin yelled and grabbed for her. She shrugged him off, so his next attempt was moredetermined.

“No, Captain,” she cried trying to twist away as he pulled her into his lap. She yowled when her ass made contact with histhighs.

“Mia, avast and come about now,” he ordered sharply then forced her to roll to her side against him. Sobbing and kicking her feet she resisted his attempt to cradle her body against his until she couldn’t any longer, then went limp. She screamed out a second time when he put his arm around the underside of her ass to hold her better. He quickly dropped it to her knees and lifted her higher on his shoulder. “Shh, Mia,” he cooed, rocking the best he could with the uneven sway of the carriage. “Mia, what is all this?” Mia took several gulping breaths but then resumed sobbing. “Haul in your sheets,” he said against her temple, but she continued to cry the full ride home. Even the now pouring rain couldn’t drown her out and when the coach stopped, he barely moved to sit her up and she was off his lap, out the door and in the house before he even gathered hiscoat.

“Ooo, Mia not happy,” Mr. Hong hissed at Devin as he came in and closed the door Mia left wideopen.

“Your astute observations never cease to amaze me, Mr. Hong,” Devin grumped as the man took his coat. Shrugging out of his uniform jacket, he handed that to the man as well. “And where did the unhappy Mrs. Winthrop disappearto?”

“Bedroom,” Mr. Hong told him then turned and walkedaway.

“Bedroom,” Devin sighed and started for the stairs. “Perfect.”

Chapter 8

Mia pressedher face into the bed and tried to stop the tears. Every time, every single time she fell into this trap. She wasn’t good at this. She’d never be good at this and she hated how it felt to fail so completely. After last time, she thought she’d do better if it happened again, but she hadn’t, she didn’t have enoughpractice.

But how could she, it was only these people. It was only the females of England and France. Even most of the American girls weren’t like this though a few were and Mia managed to avoid them. Here though, like in school, she couldn’t escape. She faced them every day and every day they put bigger holes in her hull until the water rushed in faster than she could pump it out and all she felt she could do not to sink was become likethem.

Papa so disapproved he’d taken one of her ships and sold it away from her. Now Devin… Devin thought her so bad, spiteful, a braggart, wasteful even, he’d not bothered to stay and forgive her like he usually did. Maybe he couldn’t take a ship from her, but he could take everything else. He could take himself, leave her adrift. He’d actually have abandoned her to face that woman alone at theball.

And what was it all for now anyway? The vile eel wasn’t even coming. She’d done it for no reason. And with that realization the sobs started again. How could she be so stupid as to do itagain?

“All right Mia, enough,” Devin said, his voice stern. It only made her cry more. “Enough Mia, you’ll make yourselfsick.”

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