Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(31)

They had halted by a very large cannon. Before she could respond, David said, “There is a crawl space behind the mouth of the cannon. See the wood boxing in the end of the cannon? You are small enough to fit in the gap of the cannon’s casing. No one would think to search for you there.”

She looked at the row of cannons on this deck and at the type of sailors on board the ship. “You are expecting trouble. Are we being followed?”

“Alex is always careful when sailing in these waters.” He indicated with his arm to move on.

She tried to make light of his somber caution. “So he should be. I know how dangerous the pirates in these waters can be.” She’d been taken because she slipped away from her father’s men to swim in what she had thought was a deserted cove. When the pirates attacked, her screams brought the men who were supposed to protect her running, but the ruthless pirates left none of the men guarding her alive. They had muffled her screams and no one noticed them carrying her off.

David squeezed her hand. “There is no need to be brave in front of me. Your capture by Murad must have been terrifying.”

She swallowed the ever-rising fear. “I’m more prepared this time. I won’t do anything foolish.”

He simply smiled and began to tell her about the size of the hold and the freshwater tanks. They would take on more fresh water in Mallorca.

How could she bring the conversation subtly back to Alex? “I know Jacob used to tease Alex that he brought more water on board than rum.”

“It must have been a strange voyage for you with him last time. Alex said you rebounded well and made the trip home quite an adventure.”

Hestia colored beneath his knowing gaze. “I enjoyed the voyage. My father was not happy that he’d had to rely on Alex to rescue me. It’s strange. On the one hand he treats Alex like the son he never had, but then he seemed offended at the friendship I had built with Alex.”

David’s smile faded. His face closed as if he were miles away. Hestia held her breath. Would he tell her? She’d almost given up hope when his quiet words stopped her.

“I’ve sailed with Alex for many years. I’ll be the first to admit he has a dark side, but don’t you listen to any man who tries to sully his character. He has made mistakes, I admit it, but he’s learned from them. Picked himself back up. He’s a good man. He’d never hurt you. Don’t ever believe otherwise.”

Hestia touched his arm once more, trying to relieve his distress. “He’s the finest man I know. Nobody would ever be able to convince me differently.”

The loyal friend smiled down at her. “I hope you can convince him of that fact. He needs someone like you to show him his true self. He needs someone. He thinks he doesn’t. He thinks he’s beyond redemption. You’ll let him know how wrong he is.”

She took a step back. “What does he seek redemption from?”

David’s features closed down. He ignored her question and muttered, “Don’t let him scare you off. He’ll try, you know. Just look out for him. You’ll eventually break down his defenses. He’ll see what’s right under his nose.”

With that last puzzling comment, she noted they were right back at the hatchway to her cabin. Once inside, Hestia lay on her bunk and tried to fathom the enigma that was Alex.

David wanted her to break down his defenses. How could she when she didn’t understand what he was defending himself against?

What drove a man like Alex? Years ago he’d ended up a captive of Murad because he’d agreed to lead his men in the 1807 war against the Ottoman Empire. Why had the eldest son of a duke gone to war?

A light flashed in her head. How could she love the man when she didn’t really know him? She knew a part of him, the part he shared with a young girl of sixteen, who’d been traumatized by Murad.

How stupid of her. She’d misunderstood his kindness and attentiveness. In her youth she’d mistaken it for interest. She thought he reciprocated the feelings he stirred within her. But now she saw quite clearly that he’d been indulging her.

She slapped her hand to her forehead. Stupid. No wonder he’d tried to avoid her; he was embarrassed by her assumption of feelings. Her face was aflame with heat.

She’d been waiting all this time for Alex to act on his feelings and propose, when he didn’t view their relationship in that way.

A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye. She was in love with a man whom she didn’t really know and who did not view her in the same light.

What was she to do? Grow up, that’s what.

She rolled over and sat up on the edge of her bed. Hestia took a deep breath and made a vow. She would not follow Alex around like a lost puppy anymore. She would treat him with respect, and as a friend. An acquaintance. Perhaps if she did not chase him so much he might notice her and begin to see her differently.

She didn’t want to disrupt Alex’s plans to find her father. Her family.

A deep longing gripped her—family.

As an only child she had always longed for siblings. She vividly pictured what a life with Alex would be like. Alex had two brothers and two sisters whom he adored. His father was dead, but she got the feeling they had been estranged. From the family stories he told her, it appeared that he indulged and tolerated his mother. From his tales of childhood she knew the siblings were close, and Hestia felt as if she knew them already. She liked his sisters, especially Therese, who was the same age as her.