Chapter 31

"I F M ISS C ARLA TELLS ME ONE MORE TIME TO GET NAKED, she's going to find out just how cold that ocean is out there," Margery said in a huff when she entered the captain's cabin for dinner that night.

Margery was the last to arrive. Richard, Ohr, and Bixley just stared at her incredulously. Gabrielle drew in her breath so fast she choked on it, and she started coughing. Drew, sitting on the floor in his corner of the room, leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, but there was a definite smirk on his lips.

Then Richard started laughing and Bixley said with a leering grin, "That ain't a half-bad idea, wench."

The Irishman probably wasn't joking. He and Margery shared an easy relationship that included sexual innuendo, a private drink now and then, and, Gabrielle suspected, more intimacy than that on occasion.

But Margery wasn't going to be distracted with ribald banter and demanded, "Where did Miss Carla pick that up, I'd like to know? She said it a half dozen times today when I was in and out of Gabby's room."

Margery was glaring at the three pirates, one of whom she'd suspected was the guilty party. But Gabrielle saw no reason not to put the blame where it belonged.

She pointed toward Drew across the room and said, "You don't need to look any farther than over there for your culprit. He's been trying to get me in his bed since he met me." She grinned to let them know she found that amusing, even added, "It's too bad he doesn't have one now."

Drew actually blushed. She found that interesting, but it was probably no more than that three unpredictable men were staring at him now, all humor gone. It was Margery he ought to be worried about, though, and she even went over and kicked the foot he had stretched out on the floor.

"You'll be keeping such notions to yourself, Yank, if you know what's good for you. Our Gabby isn't for the likes of you."

Drew pulled his bare foot back to rub it and replied, "Who is she for, then?"

Gabrielle went very still. She was about to interrupt, but Margery was too quick with her rejoinder. "For the husband she'll be having soon, which won't be you, now, will it?"

Margery returned to the table. Drew mumbled something, but no one caught it and he was ignored after that.

Bixley started reminiscing about how long he'd been with Nathan. "Ohr vouched for me, but from that very first meeting, Nathan treated me like an old friend. He's like that. Sees the good in everyone. I love that man like a father."

"You just love treasure hunting," Ohr scoffed.

"Well, there's that, too." Bixley grinned and teased his friend. "Tell me you don't. Go on, I dare you."

"I just like sailing with Nathan," Ohr said. "You aren't the only one who loves him like a father."

"That's right, you never did finish searching for your real father, did you? When that's what brought you to this part of the world."

Ohr stared across the room. Gabrielle thought for a moment that he might be looking at Drew, but his gaze seemed focused on something far more distant. He said quietly, "I found him, or rather, found out he's dead."

"Oh, Ohr!" Gabrielle cried, and moved around the table to hug him. "I'm so sorry."

He patted her back. "Don't be. It's not as if I ever knew the man. And he had another family. I may make myself known to them someday—or I might not. I have my own family now," he ended, and gave Gabrielle a fond smile as she returned to her chair.

He meant her and Nathan, and Nathan's crew. Richard confirmed that when he threw a napkin at Ohr and said, "I already claimed this family as mine."

And Bixley pushed Richard out of his chair with the rejoinder, "Too bad, mate. We were with Nathan before you showed up."

"Now, now," Margery intervened. "Nathan's got a heart big enough to include all of you."

Gabrielle suddenly felt tears welling in her eyes. They'd spent so many nights bantering like this, with Nathan quick to join in the fun. But he wasn't here now, he was in some dark, dank dungeon and…

"Don't cry, Gabby," Drew suddenly said. "Your father will be back with you before long."

Everyone turned to Drew, surprised by his remark, which had sounded quite tender. The man immediately clammed up, probably annoyed with himself for speaking at all. And the rest of them repeated the sentiment until they had her laughing again.

After dinner when she left the cabin, Richard followed her out. They stopped to lean against the railing. A bright moon was peeking out through a light bank of clouds. It washed the deck in soft light and reflected beautifully on the water. She usually loved nights like this at sea, when the moon kept the dark at bay. Such a peaceful setting, but hard to appreciate it with so much turmoil inside her.

Without looking at Richard, she addressed some of that turmoil. He was her closest friend, and he'd already guessed the attraction she felt for Drew, so she told him a bit more than she was going to tell the others.

"I was actually considering marriage to him. Can you believe it? And I even knew he was a confirmed bachelor, but I was fool enough to think I could change his mind and get him to propose. But all he was interested in was a brief sojourn in my bed."

"I will assume, out of loyalty, that he got nowhere near your bed?"

She snorted by way of answer. "I don't even think he was serious about it."

"But do you think that's why he wanted to ruin your chances for a good match?"

"Trying to come up with that answer just makes me see red. I have no idea why he did it."

"Some men are like that, chérie, especially if they take it personally, their failure to seduce the woman." Richard peered at her closely. "You wanted him to try harder?" Her blush wasn't obvious in the moonlight, but Richard had just been teasing and continued to speculate. "He's a very handsome fellow. He may be used to conquests without much effort."

"I don't doubt he is," she agreed. "But that certainly wouldn't justify—"

"No, you misunderstand," he cut in. "Emotions don't need to be justified when they take over. It can be as simple as he couldn't have you, so he made sure no one else would either. But I know you, Gabby. You're not just going to shrug this off, are you?"

"No. Believe me, before this voyage is over, he'll regret what he did, I promise you. I'm going to make him want me so much, he'll be devastated when I wave good-bye."