Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(67)
“You have a small church in Pentati? How soon would I be able to marry?”
Costa spluttered. “Married…Ah, to Lady Hestia. You think that should protect her from Fredrick Cary?”
“If she is married her dowry and inheritance are mine. There would be no reason to kill her.”
Costa took another drink and then said, “But it makes her Murad’s target.”
His glass stopped halfway to his mouth and his body started to shake. The look of pity on Costa’s face made his blood run cold. Fool. Stupid bloody fool. If Murad learned he had a wife, and it was Hestia, the woman who got away, she would be his first target.
“I have to get married tomorrow morning and Hestia has to leave for Corfu Town with Jacob immediately.”
“And you’ll still set sail to meet Murad?” At his question Alex turned to Costa and stared him down. “Of course you will. I had hoped the woman had changed your mind about revenge.”
“If Tulay had been your wife, would you let him live?”
Costa sat silent for several seconds, his knee jiggling. “But the relationship you had with Tulay was not what I share with my wife,” he said quietly. “I don’t think what you and Tulay had could be called a traditional marriage in any sense.”
His jaw tightened as memories, blurred and distorted, filled his mind. “We made a pact, Tulay and I. We used each other to survive.”
“Exactly. You survived, and she would not want you to do anything to reverse that.”
“The point is moot now. Once Murad hears of my marriage he’ll come for her. Lady Hestia escaped Murad’s clutches by my hand and Murad will want his revenge. The only way to ensure she escapes is to go to meet him while they sail safely home.”
Costa jumped to his feet. “My God, you’re sending them home on the Angelica. You can’t mean to sail after Murad in one of my ships.” He began pacing. “Is this why you asked to speak to me in private? Jacob will not stand for this ridiculous plan.”
Alex slowly rose to his feet until he towered over Costa. “My plans are not open to discussion. All I wish you to do is arrange for a wedding to occur as soon as possible—tomorrow would be best. The marriage will be recognized in England if the correct papers are issued. When I was convalescing here, a Catholic priest came to read me my last rites. I believe your village has a Catholic priest. Will he marry us if we are not baptized Catholic?”
“No. But you are in luck. There is a visiting English clergyman staying in the village. His sister is married to one of the majors stationed in Corfu Town. They are here on a vacation. Apparently they had been told about the beauty and tranquillity of our bay. I’m sure the priest will allow the use of the church and this clergyman could hold the ceremony.”
That was a coincidence. Alex’s fists slowly uncurled and he took a step back from Costa. “Thank you. Perhaps we could visit him now and get it all sorted.” And he finished his drink.
—
Hestia lay in a warm tub, her eyes closed as one of Costa’s daughters washed her hair. She listened to the girl’s excited chatter, barely able to understand her thick accent. It sounded as if Paloma was a little infatuated with Alex. What girl wouldn’t be?
It felt fabulous to be on land for a change, even though the floor still pitched and rolled beneath her feet.
She hoped Alex would come to her tonight, but she knew it was unlikely. They were in Costa’s house with his children and they were not married.
Perhaps instead she would find David after her bath and have the dreaded conversation. Her father always said it was better to face distasteful tasks head on.
Half an hour later, freshly bathed and dressed like a woman for a change, she decided to take a stroll in the olive grove before dinner to try and get rid of the feel of the ship still rolling under her feet. The humid starry night called to her spirit, and she took deep breaths. Her feet moved of their own accord and couldn’t help but twirl in the first dress she’d worn in weeks. With arms stretched above her head she skipped along the rows of olive trees humming to herself. When she got to the end of the third row she saw a little bench seat that had a view out over the ocean. The seat was the perfect place to sit and contemplate.
“You should dance more often, it’s such an uplifting sight.”
The unexpected voice made her jump. As she stepped out of the trees she saw David standing to her right. Thank goodness he couldn’t see the shade her face must have gone.
He looked very handsome that night. He was freshly bathed, and his wet hair gleamed. If her heart did not belong to Alex she perhaps could have fallen for the caring surgeon.
She took a deep breath and walked forward to meet him. “The beauty of this place makes me feel like dancing.” She pointed to the bench. “Shall we?”
He waited until she was seated before taking the spot beside her, and for a few seconds they sat in silence. Hestia plucked at the lace edging of her dress.
“Costa has quite the little paradise here, doesn’t he?” she finally said.
“It is a secret haven all right. I’ve sailed these waters a lot over the years, especially during the war, and I did not know it was here until Costa sent for me when he’d first rescued Alex.”
She knew she shouldn’t ask; if she wanted to know more she should ask Alex, but he was hiding darkness and needed help to bring his pain into the light.