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He only hesitated because she needed the chance to try, and of course she was trying at a very hectic time of year. He hoped after the holidays things might calm down for everyone. He certainly needed them to as he would begin his first classes after the new year and he didn’t know how he was to teach someone to sail who’d never been on aship.
“You’ve been married how long now, Captain? Almost a year?” Captain Parker asked, nudging Devin and smiling. “That you still look at her like you do.” He shook hishead.
Devin felt a bit of heat crawl up his neck, but just a bit. It was no secret anywhere in all of Portsmouth—he and Mia were quite in love. They could hardly enjoy a stroll down any street without hearing the sighs of young men and women hoping to someday have what they did or seeing the approving nods of the elder couples who’d already been those places he and Mia were heading. Pride might come before the fall, but Devin couldn’t help it when it came toMia.
“I might need to find time to visit… where did you find her again?” Parker askedlaughing.
“Cartagena,” Devinsupplied.
“Ah yes, wonder what passage there costs. As badly as my family is pushing me to wed perhaps I’ll find something half sogood.”
Devin laughed and shaking his head warned, “Yes you say that, but I should warn you the sailing isn’t always smooth. Mia can whip up quite a storm. She has a rather amazing ability to sink ships with nothing but alook.”
“I don’t believe you,” Parkerteased.
“Well don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.” Devin laughed as they both joined the conversation around them. At some point he lost track of Mia in the crowd and though it was hard to do he managed not to rush to find her. That’s when the small group of army officers who’d been invited as a goodwill measure stepped up. As did a number of the socialelite.
Some back and forth was had, and as always, some rival tensions were in place as everyone spoke about the latest private yacht to be hit by the pirates. Devin again tried to emphasize the importance of staying out of those waters with pleasure craft. Until the crown put ships in the water where these attacks were happening, people needed to take betterprecautions.
“They’re too protected in those waters,” Devin said. “The only way to drive them out in the open is to limit their ability to profit. Even merchant ships are hesitant. The East India Company has the only fleet of private, armed ships protectingthem.”
“Yes. Didn’t you say that your father-in-law kept his ships out of the area?” Commander Jonesasked.
“Aye, my wife said, only last week, the merchant ships were staying well north because the pirates are willing to firecannon.”
“And your wife would know this how?” One of the army officers asked, steppingup.
“Major Bennet, you’ve not meet Captain Winthrop.” Admiral Booker said by way of makingintroductions.
“No, but I’ve certainly heard a good deal of you. Good showing there in the Caribbean, sir. Very impressive,” the man said, reaching out to shake Devin’shand.
“Thank you,” Devin managed to put his eyes back on the man’s face as he saw Mia step up behind him. “But of course, it was an effort we all shared in. My crewandmy wife.” Devin watched a wicked smile lift Mia’s lips and thought she looked, at that very moment, like she was about to sink the whole naval fleet. “Let me introduce you to her, Major,” Devin said andnodded.
“No need, Captain,” Mia said, and he knew instantly who her target was. “Major Bennet and I are well acquainted. Isn’t that correct, Major?” Mia said moving so she forced the man who’d turned to greet her to ease back around to face the increasing crowd around them. “Ah, Admiral Booker,” Mia cooed and stepped up to give the man a peck on the cheek. “I’ve not been able to gain a minute of your dear wife’s attention tonight. She’s made this party such asuccess.”
“It was not without your invaluable aid my dear. Not a bit without it,” Booker said, and Devin continued to watch Mia as she put a bit more effort into saying herhellos.
“And Your Grace,” Mia gasped and dipped into a curtsy as the Duke of Pembroke leaned in to kiss her cheek completely unaware it was her papa who’d kidnapped his son and then created the situation that made Devin the man who saved him frompirates.
“Mia,” the nobleman sighed. “How beautiful you aretonight.”
“Flattery, Your Grace,” Mia said as she flipped her fan open then closed. “But I should warn you it’ll not win me to you. I’m more attached to Captain Winthrop than a rudder is to any ship. I sail only with him, I’ll have you know.” Her remark made the entire group laugh. The entire group except for Major Bennet who as Mia turned to face him actuallypaled.
“But you’ve met the major now, have you, Mrs. Winthrop?” Admiral Booker said bringing them back to where itbegan.
“Aye, Admiral,” Mia said stepping to stand slightly in front of Devin. “He’s been down on the docks introducing his soldiers to mycrews.”
“Madam,” Bennet tried to interrupt. Mia wasn’t having it and Devin realized right at that moment not only was this man the cause for Mia’s distress of late, she was about to blow the problem clean out of thewater.
“Seems he has a source telling him my ships carry contraband.” She paused, cleared her throat, and looked directly at Captain Mallory before she again looked towards themajor.
“Contraband,” the Duke of Pembroke scoffed. “Impossible.”
“Aye,” Mia agreed though Devin didn’t doubt her ships were as guilty as any that sailed for carrying goods that hadn’t beentaxed.
“Madam, please.” If anyone missed the man’s plea it was because they weredaft.
“And as impossible as that is,” Mia went on and Devin could almost hear the hiss of the fuse as it burned down to the explosion. “Seems too, his source has informed him, rather incorrectly, that I was the kind of woman to pay him a bribe to end hisharassments.”
