Conquered by the Commander (The Conquered Book 2) Read online

  Lily's face lit up. "He married me for the same reason." She chuckled. "But I intend to make the best of it." She caught the commander's eye and raised her hand to blow him a kiss. A wide grin crossed his face before he turned back to speak with the captain. "I love that smile of his," she said happily.

  They watched as the anchor was pulled and the ship began to slowly move away from the harbor. As the dock grew smaller and the ship moved out to sea, Lily turned to Bella. "Well? Are you going to teach me to be a lady or not?"

  Bella's musical laugh carried across the ship. "Come, Lady Lily."

  Chloe, inside the cabin, laughed as Lily attempted a curtsy.

  "Try it again," Arabella said, grinning. "Bend a little more at the knees, this time, and try to be a little more graceful."

  "Patience," Lily groaned. "I haven't done a 'real curtsy' since I was five. Not one I put my heart into, anyway."

  Bella stared at her. "What happened when you were five?" When Lily looked away and set her mouth into a stubborn frown, Bella continued. "You don't have to tell me, Lily—"

  "It's all right." She glanced from Bella to Chloe, her mouth tight with anger. Her voice was clipped. "Listen carefully, because I won't say it again. My father gambled away the family fortune and left us destitute. My mother died because of it, and my father killed himself. And I don't ever wish to speak of it again. Does that answer your question?"

  Arabella gasped, and Chloe stared in disbelief. But when Bella would have put a hand on her arm, Lily moved away and said vehemently, "No! Don't feel sorry for me. I won't have it."

  There was a silence. It was Chloe who spoke next. "You, brave Lily, amaze me."

  Bella lowered her head silently, her eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Lily," she whispered.

  Lily turned to face her. "Stop it, Bella. A lot of what happened after that, I don't remember. The convent took me into their orphanage. I found friends there. I learned to play poker. I was damn good at it, too." When she saw Bella's face, she laughed aloud. "I learned how to play pranks on the Mother Superior. It wasn't all bad."

  Chloe gave her a wide grin. "And don't tell me. You learned to swear?"

  A chuckle escaped. "Some. Mostly, I learned to swear when I worked at the textile mill in Glossyp. Those girls—now, they know how to swear. But Earl—Darby—hates that." She grinned. "Except when it makes him laugh."

  "But you'll have to watch that when you go back to England as a lady." Bella's eyes twinkled. "It won't do."

  Lily let out a giggle. "A damn shame, too. I like swearing. I tried never to let anyone hear me on the trip over, but I know I wasn't completely successful. I didn't want all of you to think I wasn't a lady."

  Chloe's eyes sparkled. "I think we figured it out, Lily."

  Lily shook her head with a sigh. "I'll have to watch it when I get back. Especially when I meet his family. They'll think me reprehensible."

  Chloe and Bella hooted with laughter before trying to settle down and be serious.

  Bella was still grinning. "But back to basics. Try the curtsy again—a little deeper at the knees."

  This time, Lily did it well. Only once did she try to curtsy at the same moment the ship listed portside and lost her balance, pitching forward. She caught herself before landing on the floor, face down. But she was determined, and when the knock came at the door, she answered, opening it just enough to see the commander's face. Throwing the door wide, Lily performed a perfect curtsy.

  His handsome mouth rewarded her, leaning in for a kiss. Then he straightened, glancing at the other two girls. "I've been ordered to bring you ladies down for lunch. Did you not hear the bell?"

  The afternoon was spent working on how Lily should refer to her husband when they reached England. Bella drilled her repeatedly at calling him "Lord Darby", and they discussed the etiquette regarding how to conduct teas—how to pour, how to do introductions, how to remember to include each party in the conversation. Lily's head was spinning when Bella finished.

  She stood up abruptly. "I need some fresh air," she scowled. "Anyone wish to join me?"

  It didn't take long that evening, at supper, for the commander to notice the table was a bit quiet. He spoke quietly in his wife's ear, "Lily? Are you all right?"

  "No." She gave a soft sigh. "My brain is full."

  Bella nodded. "She worked really hard this afternoon.

  Her husband leaned down and whispered, "Perhaps you should rest tomorrow, instead of working. You have several weeks, sweetheart."

  "No, don't you see? I have to learn all this before we land, or I'll—" Her voice became very soft and seemed to disappear, and she got up and ran from the room.

  The commander hurried after her.

  "I'll bring her supper up for her," Bella said softly.

  Lily was already inside the cabin before he got there, curled up in a ball on her side on the bed. She was covering her face with her hands, and her shoulders shook with silent sobs.

  "Shh. Come here, my girl. Tell me what has you so upset." He picked her up and set her in his lap.

  "I can't."

  "Of course, you can. I, of all people, will understand."

  Oh, Earl—Darby—" She burst into tears.

  "Shh. Is it the titles that bother you?"

  She nodded, sniffling. "But that's only one thing. I've called you Earl all this time—not always to your face, but I've thought of you that way. Suddenly, it's not acceptable, and I can't remember what to call you. There are so many choices, and I can't seem to remember what's correct."

  "Okay, let's talk about that. There's a reason you can't call me Earl when we reach home. It would be like walking into the House of Windsor and addressing the queen's daughter as 'Queen.' Would you do that?"

  "No. It—it would seem presumptuous."

  "You are exactly right. My father is the earl and it's his title and his honor. If you called me that, it would seem to be disrespectful to him. Do you see that?"

  "But can't Earl be a name, too?"

  "But it isn't mine."

  "Then what am I to do?"

  He tugged on a curl. "In public? Call me Lord Darby or my lord. In private? You might think no one will hear, but staff are everywhere. You can call me Charlie, or Darby. Gregory doesn't even call me Earl when I'm home."

  "You said your mother calls you Charlie, sometimes. I like that. I like Darby, too."

  "Then, so be it. Does that help?"

  "Yes. Should I start calling you that now?"

  "It might help you, over the course of the trip home, to get used to it. Think you can do it?"

  She nodded. "Yes, Charlie."

  He grinned. "Now, what else is it that bothers you?"

  "Tea—who is served first, how to hold the cup and saucer, how to pour, how to remember to address guests. Oh, dear God, I'll embarrass you! I know it!"

  He held her more closely. "We have a lot of time between now and then. I'll practice with you. By the way, you curtsied beautifully when I came to get you for supper."

  "Did I?"

  "Absolutely. I was proud of you."

  She sighed with relief, and he kissed her forehead. "And I hate to do this to you, but I must leave. I have duties on ship. Do you wish to go back down to supper?"

  "No. But you need to. You didn't eat because of me."

  "I'll grab something and go back to the helm. Lady Smythe said she'd bring something up for you."

  She grinned. "Lady Smythe?"

  "If you'll try to use proper addresses, so will I. Perhaps it'll help you."

  Lily threw her arms around his neck. "When was the last time I told you that I love you?"

  He raised an eyebrow. "Two days ago."

  She frowned. "Really? That long?"

  "A man remembers these things."

  She began kissing his neck. "Oh, Charlie," she whispered. "I do love you."

  "Ah. That's nice to hear. Hold that thought until I'm off duty."

  She giggled. "I will. I promise. Go get somethi
ng to eat."

  With a kiss to the top of her head, he turned toward the door.

  "Charlie?" Her small voice stopped him.

  "Yes, my love?"

  "Perhaps I can do this, after all."

  A wide grin spread across his face. "I know you can."

  Then he was gone.

  "Bloody hell and damnation, I will never be able to pass for a lady, no matter how hard I try!" Lily cursed after spilling tea all over Chloe. Technically, it was only water, and no amount of imagination could inspire anyone to think the big wooden mug she held was an elegant tea cup. She would never get the hang of this nonsense.

  "First and foremost, my lady." Chloe brushed her red hair back across her shoulder. "Discussions of hell and damnation have no part in polite society. You must learn to control your temper." The stowaway turned lady's maid and confidante daintily placed her mug on the table. "Calm yourself. You will not be expected to pour the tea. Servants usually take care of that. But even if you should find yourself called upon to do so, a real teapot is much easier to handle than a wooden pail."

  "You must come with me to Lord Darby's house, Chloe. Bella will understand if you explain you need to stay with me instead of going off with her and Gregory. Please, I cannot hope to do this without your help."

  Arabella had left the two women to have a mock tea party while she went back to her cabin to rest. Lily felt a bit wretched trying to steal her best friend's lady's maid, but she was growing more desperate each day they sailed closer to England.

  "Oh, Lily, Arabella saved my proverbial hide when she agreed for me to be her lady's maid. I couldn't leave her now. But I promise, we'll have you ready to act the part of 'Lady Lily' by the time we get you back to England." She reached out and rested her hand on Lily's shoulder before continuing. "You can and will do this and anything else you set your mind to, Lillianna. You are a survivor. No matter what life throws your way, you land on your feet faster than Cooper the cat."

  As if hearing his name, the tomcat stirred from his resting place on Chloe's bed. Copper, the female feline they inherited when they took over the pirate ship did not bother to move. She was growing round and lazy of late, and everyone expected she would have a litter of kittens in the not too distant future.

  Lily gave a humorless laugh at her friend's praises. "Survivor? Me? Surely, you jest. I am nothing like you, Chloe. You took your own destiny into your hands when you became a stowaway aboard the Charlotte. I won't fit into either world I try to occupy. High society will look down on me because of my family's fall from grace, but the working class will shun me because they think me 'Miss High and Mighty'."

  "I, better than most, understand your struggle." Chloe appeared to struggle with saying more. "My papa was a wonderful man with influential friends in France. He fell in love with a beautiful noire woman and married her without so much as a whisper of sanction from his peers. I went to school in Paris. When I grew up, I didn't even realize I was different from other children."

  Momentarily forgetting her own troubles, Lily rushed to comfort her. "Oh, Chloe. I suppose I assumed you were born into slavery. What happened then?"

  "Papa's work moved us to England several years before the French Revolution began. It was not until my mama passed away that reality hit me. My papa remarried, and my new mother found it embarrassing to have me about. Once she started having her own children, my presence became too much to bear. Then Papa died, and she arranged for me to disappear." She sat up and straightened her shoulders. "Like you, Lily, I prefer not to speak of what happened, only that the Lord put me in a place where I found new parents to watch out for me. Benny and Sarah took me as their own, but they weren't free. When they suggested we attempt to escape and start anew in America, I jumped at the chance."

  "That's why you understand the ways of being a lady." Lily took Chloe's hands in her own. "Most women do not know how to read, but you do. I should have suspected the truth." She stared into Chloe's eyes. "But it's no use; don't you see? It's like Charlie—Lord Darby—said. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to refer to him as Charlie unless I'm alone with him. I'm so sorry, Chloe. I've been so worried about titles and appearances, I didn't even think to wonder at your background, even when we became dear friends. How can I hope to learn the ways of things when faced with total strangers who will, no doubt, hate me on sight?"

  "God has a purpose for all things, my friend. Sometimes, it is hard to reason through the whys and hows, but we have to trust it will come to light, eventually. He has a plan for you, Lily. I expect it is something huge. Until it's revealed to you, you need to put faith in yourself and follow that path."

  With Chloe's words of encouragement and lots of practice, Lillianna managed to pull off the mock tea with Copper acting as her mother-in-law and Cooper as the earl. Best of all, she did not spill any liquid for the rest of the morning.

  Later, at the noon meal, Darby listened as Arabella lamented the loss of all her personal belongings aboard the Charlotte. "I shall miss my piano the most," she confided to those at the table.

  Lily reached across the table to give her friend's hand a squeeze and then tried to find out more. "Do most ladies play music?"

  Darby watched his little bride's face as she asked and frowned. He could tell she now had a new fear. It was yet another way she would worry about failing to fit in. He leaned over to try to comfort her. "You can take lessons, my love, if you like. I'll make arrangements when we get home to England."

  "It will be too late, then. I have to be an accomplished lady before we meet your parents." He chuckled, but she only became more insistent. "I need them now, Darby."

  He lowered his voice, but the others at the table still heard it. "As we don't have access to a piano, you'll have to be patient. A word of advice, little one. Demanding new brides often find themselves sleeping on their stomachs."

  Lily glanced around the table, fearing others had heard.

  Bella and Chloe were buried in their food, but the captain had a quirk upward on one side of his mouth, as if he was attempting to hide a smile on his face when he spoke. "I may be able to help solve Arabella's problem and Lady Darby's, as well." Staring at Arabella, he took her hand and lifted it to his lips. "It pains me to think of you losing so many things when the ship was destroyed. I know I'll never be able to replace all of which was lost, but I did manage to secure one thing for you. I was going to save it as a surprise wedding gift when we arrived in England, but now seems like a more opportune moment. Below deck, I have a crate containing a baby grand piano."

  Arabella beamed with approval, but when Lily declared Arabella would now be able to give her lessons, she paled. "My Lord, hauling a piano from storage will cause too much bother. And we would never be able to keep it tuned."

  Next to Darby, Lily eagerly spoke up, "Nonsense. Darby will see to it, won't you, my lord?" She started to rise, but he reached down and immediately set her back down on her bottom with a thud.

  "I believe that decision is not ours to make," he said firmly. "We'll leave that to the captain and Arabella."

  Lily opened her mouth to speak, but when he raised a brow at her, she closed it again.

  Bella spoke again. "Pianos need to be tuned, and the entire process is so intricate, I doubt I could manage it alone." Bella locked eyes with Chloe's suddenly.

  "Never fear, my dear," Gregory announced, seemingly proud of himself. "My sisters took lessons when they were younger. I believe I can tune the piano well enough to facilitate lessons for your friend."

  It was later that afternoon that Darby approached the captain, standing on the top deck. He stood there a moment, listening to the pounding on the piano. It was easy enough to tell who the player was. Arabella's touch was light as she showed Lily the scales and the octaves, demonstrating the fingering. Lily's was just the opposite.

  "Where's Chloe?" Darby asked, staring at the captain.

  "Retired to her cabin for the afternoon."

  "She's the only smart one amo
ng us. And you, my friend, owe me. And everyone else on the Arabella."

  The captain's face was rueful. "Tell me about it. I'll never open my mouth again. Arabella tried to tell me, but I refused to listen."

  Darby grinned. "I remember when your sisters were taking lessons and slaughtering out the same silly tune, hour after hour."

  "So do I. It's one of the deciding factors in my sailing on my first voyage. How I could have forgotten it, I'll never know."

  Darby threw back his head and laughed. "Already, I've heard crewmen trying to bribe Mercer and Benny to take shifts on the crow's nest. They aren't having it."

  Gregory cocked his head. "She's your wife, you know."

  It was Darby's turn to look rueful. "I know. And I'll make her stop and take a break pretty soon. It's not fair to the crew. I don't want them threatening mutiny."

  He spoke just as Arabella climbed the ladder to the top deck, rolling her eyes.

  Gregory threw him a sidewise glance. "It can't be as bad as we expect."

  But Gregory was quite wrong about that fact. The piano stayed below deck, but it was still worse than they feared. Every minute she was allowed at the piano, Lady Darby practiced the same tune, always off tempo. There was no escaping the sound. Darby forbade her to practice during the hours the men were to sleep and only allowed it certain hours during the day, but she was determined.

  After the third day, it was Chloe who came to the rescue.

  "As much as we all are enjoying your developing talent, Lily, I would be remiss if I did not point out another skill which we should address prior to reaching England."

  "Does it involve music?" Darby demanded as they discussed the matter at dinner. Several sailors were murmuring words like mutiny and tossing the piano overboard in the background.

  "Well, yes," Chloe said, but rushed on before she could be shut down. "I fear Lady Darby will have to give up her playing, though."