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“You knew they were coming to see her. That’s why you’ve come to port,” Devin reasoned. It had to be something so important to bring the man here where his perhaps less than honorable actions in his pursuits to keep his daughter safe and happy might come underscrutiny.
“I thought they might when Mia kept her name,” he said and gave Devin a hard look but then smiled. “I selected well when I picked you, another man would never haveallowed—”
“I happen to have great respect for my wife,” Devin announced. “She did ask me, and I told her to do as she felt. The company is hers, yours. I don’t want or need to take that from her. It’s not why I find her the perfectwife.”
“Aye, as I’ve been told,” the commodore said, and Devin wondered how a man at sea ‘heard’ somuch.
“But you didn’t come here for thatspecifically?”
“No, I have something else I’m seeing to. Molly’s kin,” Dekker told him. Devin saw the man tighten then relax. “The old man is dying. His wife, she won’t be farbehind.”
“Mia’s grandparents,” Devin said, wondering how those people must feel, wondering if they knew what fate found the child they threw away. Certainly before he had a chance to speak with his family he didn’t have a bit of sympathy for them. Now, he knew better than to judge without hearing the other side. He hadn’t known his father was putting his faith in the sea to keep Devin out of the mines. Devin only learned that night he and his father spoke, he’d tried to put Ronald in the navy too, but hadn’t found a ship to take him and after two tries couldn’t keep putting his mother through the goodbyes. “You don’t want her to knowthem.”
“They don’t deserve to knowher,” hesnapped.
“Is that to protect Mia or yourself?” Devin asked, and the man looked away. “She’ll always be your daughter, they can’t change that. But doesn’t she have the right to hear from them why they did what they did? To hear their side ofthings?”
“Their side? Their side is that they couldn’t love their own child through her mistakes. Mistakes she didn’t make completely on her own. What good to hear the reason you were nearly murdered when it doesn’t change the fact you were nearly murdered? No. They cast out Molly knowing she was with child. They don’t get to reel Miain.”
“Is that your decision to make?” Devin asked, not sure if he wanted to challenge the man or if he wanted to trust this man knew what was best forMia.
“It is,” he snapped at Devin, his hands fisting at his sides. “I’ve never done wrong by her. Don’t mutiny against me on thematter.”
“The aunt already got that close. You think they won’t keep trying? They know where she is.” Devin turned and looked up at the balcony that led to his bedroom. “You might not be able to keep her from them. Don’t you think it better to be the one controlling theencounter.”
“Mia’s in your care, you keep them from her,” Dekker said, and Devin turned around when he saw the man looking past him. Smithe stood in thedoorway.
“I may not be here. There’s talk of sending me to sea after that bunch…” He wouldn’t say pirates to this man who was one. “They’re becoming bolder and more dangerous it seems and thanks to your daughter, I’m somehow the only one who can meet the challenge,” Devin finished, shaking his head still not believing the admirals wouldn’t listen when he said it was simply chance and timing that gave him the ability to takethem.
Dekker, though, took in his words with a wide grin and grabbing his shoulder as he passed he told Devin, “You don’t worry about those bitches, they’re not long on the seas and ole Davey has a place set out for them already.” He made his way back to the house then called back. “You see to Mia, it’s the only reason I choseyou.”
And as thankful as he was to be chosen, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and his skin prickled. Something bad was about to come to port and heartache was sure to be in itswake.
Chapter 16
“Ifeel like such a jellyfish,”Mia said lifting her cup and sipping thetea.
“I don’t know what that means,” Alicelaughed.
“Neither do I,” Philip chimed in. “But there’s nothing untoward about a faint. And yours was one of the best I’veseen.”
“Your Grace,” Lady Johanna Lovelace, Duchess of Marshal gasped then slapped her husband’s thigh. “I don’t think that’s very complimentary.” Everyone laughed at the man’s sheepishgrin.
“Well if I’m going to do something I should hope I do it the best,” Mia said, sipping her tea to cover the smile. Loud happy squeals from the front of the house turned everyone to the window. Beyond the glass of the estate house dozens of children were at play. The duke’s own son, little Thomas, and several of the children of servants. With kites and toy ships and guns at hand plus the three men Mia was forced to bring along, Mr. Hong, Grim and now Mr. Daylon, exciting games were being had. Grim passed by the window carrying a small girl on his shoulders as she did her best to control her kite. Mia heard Lady Johanna gasp withconcern.
“Grim won’t hurt them, Jo-Jo,” Alice said reaching out to pat the woman’sknee.
“No, of course. It’s just he’s so big. And… well his name.” The woman spoke a bit dramatically as she set her hand against herthroat.
Mia laughed. “It’s not really hisname.”
“What is his name?” Philipasked.
“We don’t know.” Then at their looks, “When Papa found him he was chained to a wall in the house of the man who owned him. Seems the man had bought Grim, who was too talkative. The man poured boiling water down his throat. Grim couldn’t speak after that. Papa bought him away and put him to work on the ship. But he couldn’t tell us his name because he didn’t know how to read or write so he drew a picture. A figure of a person, a big head with eyes, and a,” she arched her finger in the air, “a sad mouth. Mr. Smithe asked him why such a ‘grim’ picture and the name stuck. He could tell us now he does read and write and understands a number of languages, but hewon’t.”
“Perhaps as a reminder,” Philip said, again looking back out the window in time to see Grim lift Thomas into hisarms.
“Your father… papa,” Lady Johanna corrected herself having heard why the difference was so distinct. “He sounds like quite the man. Saving children, rescuing cast away women from the sea. I should say you might write a fine story about himsomeday.”
