Chapter 12

Annie woke in the bed, her stomach pressed to the warm mattress. She lifted her head as she realized Boyd's chest was no longer her pillow. Pushing up, she looked about the tiny room, the man who'd proposed nowhere in sight.

Her breath hitched as she got up, pushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Part of her wished to dash from the room, find Boyd.

Deep down, she had this fear that he'd gone. She'd opened herself to him last night and now…

But that was silly. They were on a boat. Where could he have gone?

Then again, she'd gotten used to waking in his arms. It was a place of security for her, of trust.

She repinned her hair, washing up before she dressed and left the room, in search of Boyd.

She found him standing on the deck, Fulton on one side, Lord Bancroft on the other.

Lifting her skirts, she finished climbing up the ladder to the deck.

She stopped when her top half was out, her legs still below on the ladder. How did she gracefully get herself on the deck?

But Boyd saw her. "Annie." In a moment he was next to her, reaching down to pull her into up and out. "Ye're up."

"I'm up," she answered, not sure how to ask her question or if she even should. But her heart wished to know why he'd gone this morning.

"Ye barely stirred when I left." He winked then, slipping an arm about her waist. "I'm glad ye got some more sleep."

"How did you do last night?"

"Good." He brushed a kiss along her temple. "And even better, I spoke with Fulton. As the ship's captain, he could marry us right here on the deck before lunch if we wished."

"Marry us!" she gasped, all her reservations forgotten. "Today?"

She reached for his biceps, holding onto him as she tried to process what he was saying. She knew he'd proposed last night, but in her heart of hearts, she had wondered if when the danger and her usefulness had passed, he might not just leave her.

"If that's all right with ye lass." He pulled her closer, whispering into her hair. "When we get to Scotland, we'll call ye Ann Lockton or some such thing. They're likely hunting me after Dover, so it won't give ye much protection but..."

"It sounds perfect," she breathed just taking in his moment. She'd be Boyd's for as long as he'd have her.

"All right, then." He kissed her hard on the mouth. "Sophie's going to help ye ready yerself. We'll have the ceremony in an hour. The wedding breakfast is going to be fish stew, I think." He gave her a shy smile. "It's the best I could do."

"It sounds wonderful, Boyd," she said meaning every word. She'd marry him with nothing but a crust of bread if it meant being his.

With a nod, he walked her to the captain's quarters, knocking on the door. Sophie answered, pulling her inside. "Don't worry about a thing," she sang. "We'll take care of everything."

An hour later, Annie found herself trussed up in another of Sophie's gowns. This one was a fine wool in light grey. But it highlighted her dark hair and green eyes and fitted to her body as though it had been made for her.

Sophie had twisted her hair into an elaborate coif, a halo of hair crowning her head, and soft tendrils falling about her face to soften her features.

She'd never seen herself like this and she stared at her reflection, amazed by the woman who looked back at her. "I can't believe I'm getting married today." She shook her head. "And to such a wonderful man…"

Emotion tightened her throat, as Sophie's hand came to her shoulder.

"I see it in his eyes, he feels the same," Sophie whispered. "I am so happy for you both."

Annie's chin dipped. Was that really true? She wanted to believe it. She really did. But life had taught her not to trust such feelings.

It was time to push those worries away. She was getting married.

Rising from the stool, she gave Sophie a hug. "Thank you. For everything."

Sophie hugged her back. "When all this is done, you must come to Italy to visit. It's beautiful there, you will love it."

That sounded so wonderful, and she hugged Sophie again. "And you must come to Scotland. I can't tell you it's beautiful because I've never been, but I hear lovely things."

Sophie laughed. "But of course." And then she took Annie's hand. "Now. Let's go see your groom. I must coach my husband on the proper way to conduct a ceremony. You can never trust men with these things."

Annie let out a nervous giggle as the butterflies danced in her stomach. Sophie laughed back as pulled her out the door.

Today, she'd marry Boyd. If she pushed her worries aside, this was a dream come true.

* * *

Boyd said the words that made Annie his forever. "From this day forward until death do us part."

It was the biggest promise he'd ever given and yet, the easiest. Annie belonged at his side, and he'd used every part of himself to keep her safe. Protected.

Some decisions were muddied, difficult but this one had been crystal clear. Deep in his soul, he knew, he'd never allow anyone to hurt her. Protecting her was his most important job and his decisions from here on out would be with that in mind.

His entire future was suddenly simple. No more gaming hells, no more London. It was time for the sort of quiet life that would help Annie recover from her past and be secure in her future.

He pulled her close, kissing her lips as a chorus of cheers rose up from the sailors behind them.

Fulton had acted as minister, James standing next to Boyd and Sophie on Annie's other side.

He wished his family could be here, but in terms of friends, these were some of the best. Just because he was leaving London, didn't mean he was leaving them. These were the men who could be counted on to be brothers in arms through thick and thin. There was no greater bond than that.

He'd been there for all of them the past few years and he was so grateful for their help now.

He lifted his mouth from Annie's holding her face in his hands. "We did it, lass."

She smiled back, soft, and shy. "We did."

"Really," Fulton nudged Boyd in the side with his elbow. "If you think about it…I did it."

"Stop." Sophie swatted at his arm. "You are incorrigible."

"Yes, but you love it." He pulled his wife close, stealing a kiss of his own.

Sophie brought her hands to rest on her husband's shoulders. "Now, we need only see James matched."

James shook his head. "Oh no you don't."

"Why not?" Sophie cried. "You are handsome. Brave."

"Don't make me jealous, wife." Fulton growled, pulling her closer.

But James didn't look amused. "If I've proven one thing in my life, it's that women shouldn't depend on me. Which is good news for you, Fulton. I'll be running your fleet for years to come." He ran a hand over the back of his neck, staring out at the open water. "My wife shall be the sea."

Boyd winced, holding Annie tighter. Whatever sins James had committed, Boyd knew he was a man that another could trust with his life but that was a lesson James would have to learn on his own.

He'd speak to Angus, however. While Boyd did not have the sort of relationship where he might offer James personal advice, Angus did.

But for right now, the person he needed to concentrate on was his new wife.

Pulling Annie down the hatch, everyone squeezed into the common room. The hammocks had been taken down and a makeshift table set up from storage crates.

He grimaced, knowing this couldn't be her idea of a perfect wedding, but Annie only laughed to see it, a man's version of a wedding breakfast. Then, she squeezed the hand of each of the sailors, thanking them for their efforts.

Her kindness was one of the things he loved about her. She made everyone around her feel seen and appreciated.

They all sat down to eat.

"The accommodations aren't much," Fulton said, popping a cork from a bottle of wine. "But the wine will be excellent."

"We had a very good year," Sophie told Annie.

"The next will be even better when we commit ourselves to the vineyard year round."

"Will you miss your adventures?" she asked as her gaze slid to Boyd, her eyes holding a question he didn't quite understand.

"I've had more than enough adventure." Fulton reached for his wife's hand. "And besides, marriage, children, a vineyard. They are great adventures too. All of them."

Boyd agreed. He was ready for a quiet life with his new bride. After he'd finished chasing away her villains.

That was job number one and he'd see it done very soon.