qualities in a wife.” Miranda smiled at Leonard as he casually glanced down the length of her. The ogling made her want to shout in protest. “Yes, you please me very much.” Leonard quickly stood and approached Miranda, his eyes focusing on her lips. Miranda quickly glanced at Davy, who already rose from his chair to intervene. Her hands were clenching together, nervous about Leonard’s intentions. Other than the occasional peck on the cheek, he had never kissed her passionately before. In fact, she had never kissed any man before.
“Would you honor me with a kiss, Miranda? I have often thought of your lips upon mine. If you were to be my wife, then I would wish to kiss you often. It would please me greatly to taste your lips, if only just once to see if there is any magic between us.” Leonard reached out his hand for Miranda to take. She accepted his hand reluctantly and stood in front of him, her eyes glancing over at Davy pleadingly. He was now standing behind Leonard waiting for the moment to intercede. As Leonard slowly leaned forward, his lips moving closer to hers, Davy interrupted.
“Forgive the interruption, but I feel it would be better if you were to wait until you were wed to pursue such romantic intentions. I think only of her virtue.” Miranda exhaled the breath she was holding. Leonard exhaled a breath of his own, but it wasn’t with relief.
“Her virtue is safe with me, Davy, rest assured. Maybe there is somewhere else you need to be? When in my care, you can trust that I can protect her.” Davy folded his arms in front of his chest and narrowed his eyes threateningly. His arms were still muscular and though his youth was gone, one would never know it by how good of shape he kept himself in. Davy was a man who took great pride in his appearance and did not want to fall prey to age.
“Forgive me, milord, but Miranda has only one protector, and it’s me.” Lord Hammil stood tall and threatening, and though his whole demeanor spoke of his power, his gangly physique spoke of his lack of strength. He slowly let go of Miranda’s hand.
“I will take this time to inform you that once we are wed, your services will no longer be needed.” Lord Hammil turned abruptly around to face Davy. The men faced each other, determination in their eyes.
“If he stays with me or if he goes, Leonard, the decision will never be up to you. It is up to me, and I say he stays.” Lord Hammil glanced back at Miranda quickly, not taking his eyes away from Davy.
“When I am your husband, I will have the say over you, and he will go. I will not have him towering over me every time I wish to be alone with you.” Miranda’s eyes narrowed as she moved in-between Davy and Lord Hammil.
“He is my protector, designated to me by my father, and he will remain by my side for as long as he wishes to be. Forgive me, but becoming your wife isn’t official as of yet until I speak with my father about the matter. So please, do not try to change what you do not have any control over. Now, if you will excuse us, we have somewhere else we need to be.” Miranda moved toward Davy and pushed him to the door.
“Where is your father? I wish to get my answer from him soon.” Miranda faced Lord Hammil, trying to think up a good lie to tell him.
“He’s currently away on business, but when he arrives home I will make sure that you speak with him. We are all eager to hear what he has to say upon the matter of our engagement.”
“Yes, well, until his return I request that you join me for a ball I am throwing a week from today. I wish for my family and close friends to meet you. Will you attend?” Miranda thought of her future as well as the honor it would give her father if she were to marry such an established gentlemen.
“If that is what you wish of me, then of course I will attend as you request.” Miranda bowed her head slightly to the ground. Lord Hammil moved forward until he stood just inches from her. He then bent down and lightly kissed her upon the cheek, his eyes daring Davy to stop him.
“I will see you in a week’s time then?” She bowed in front of him again and turned for Davy to escort her out the door and into their awaiting carriage. Lord Hammil ran his fingers through his hair as he stared out the window watching the carriage move farther and farther away until it was only a speck on the road.
The week had passed by quickly for Lord Hammil. He was in his office mulling over paperwork when he was summoned to speak with the queen. He often did this when she was handing out or reissuing letters of marque to privateers to help her deal with her enemies, but today was different. When he arrived at the palace, it was not to speak with the queen, but with one of her closest advisors, Lord Havenor. When Lord Hammil stepped into a richly furnished room, Lord Havenor was waiting for him. He was a medium built man who wore a long gray waistcoat with white breeches. His face was solemn, his eyes a dark blue, missing nothing. He wore a long white periwig upon his head, which denoted the importance of his station. He did not appear to be a kind man, but a man who took his job very seriously. He was a man not to mess with.
Surprise filled Lord Hammil’s features, not sure of what the advisor wanted with him. They seldom talked with each other but when they did, the information was always useful. Lord Havenor motioned for Lord Hammil to sit in a chair opposite him. Once Lord Hammil took his seat, the advisor started to speak.
“I am aware that you were supposed to see Her Majesty, but I am here to speak on her behalf. Here are the letters of marque for the following ships and their captains. As always, these men can’t be punished for their crimes if they are captured. The queen looks highly upon these men and their crews to help keep her enemies at bay, as well as to fill her coffers.” Lord Havenor handed papers to Lord Hammil, who perused them quickly.
“I see that she has given Captain Riveri a letter of marque. I thought she said that she was never going to provide him with one?” Lord Havenor rose from his chair and walked slowly around the room.
“Yes, I know she said that at one time or another, but the daring man came to see her and well, let’s say that she was quite satisfied with what he had to say.” Lord Hammil raised his eyebrows, understanding what the advisor had meant. “He has also been doing special favors for our dear queen for the past year, which has convinced her of his loyalty and devotion. The captain is an intelligent man and has been using his talents and ship wisely. Regardless of my opinion of the man—which the queen will not listen to—he will serve her well and has earned his position of freedom—or so I am told.” Lord Havenor took a deep breath before continuing, trying to remove the disdain for Captain Riveri in his tone.
“I feel that Captain Riveri is going to be very useful to our cause, which is why I am appointing him to you. The queen needs you to sail to Port Royal and search for a particular item for her. Riveri knows the man who has this particular trinket. You see, it is a long crystal about the size of my pinkie finger and it has a mate. When these two pieces are united it becomes a key. This key opens a vault that was built by the Spanish many years ago. The vault holds unspeakable fortunes, which would explain our desire to have it. Many have tried to open this vault, but without the key, there are many traps and dangers that surround it. What that means, I have no idea. Your guess would be as good as mine at this point.”
“Who is the man that has the crystal?” asked Lord Hammil, who was listening carefully to every word the advisor was saying.
“Captain Ditarius has the crystal in his possession, but only one of the pieces. We feel that he knows who keeps the other. I have received word that one of his men has been captured by the Governor of Port Royal and is to be hanged. However, the governor has agreed to turn the man over to us until we have no more use for him. Then we will have the honor of killing him ourselves. He knows where the captain is hiding, but will not confess. Even torturing has not loosened his tongue. You will be sailing there in a few days. I am sorry that you will have to leave the day after announcing your engagement at your ball, but duty calls.”
