Lynna's Rogue by Kitty Margo Read Free Book Online Page B

clutched her breast and winced in pain.
                  “What is it, Lynna?”
                  “It is nothing. I am but a little sore from the ordeal.”              
                  Joshua was not so easily convinced. Turning the chair to face the light , he removed her hands from her torn bodice. His entire body went rigid as he stared at the deep red marks on the porcelain skin of her breast. Around the teeth prints a livid purple bruise was already beginning to form. “The bastard! He will pay!” Joshua roared. “On this you have my solemn promise. I will see him keelhauled for this!” He eased Lynna gently to the bed and stormed toward the door. He had left Malcolm little more than a bloody heap earlier, after Sam had finally s ucceeded in dragging him off the vermin. But seeing Lynna’s mangled breast , his fury began anew.
                  “ Non , Joshua! Please! Do not leave me! I cannot be a lone now. What if the despicable man should return?”
                  Joshua's anger slowly subsided as he noted the intense fear in her eyes. L ying down beside her , he lightly stroked the ugly , swollen marks. “I will not leave you, my sweet. You need not be afraid. Rest now.” He pulled the covers over her ravaged body and drew her into his arms. “Go to sleep, Lynna, you will be safe with me.”
     
                  Lynna had never felt safer, even at the Chateau with armed guards posted at every entrance. And she did sleep, through the night and most of the following day , waking only once to hear Sam whisper to Joshua that he had slipped a generous dose of laudanum into her evening libation.
                  She awoke to the bright light of the midday sun pouring through the open windows to find several books scattered across the foot of the bed. Opening one , she saw Property of Malcolm Robinson scrawled on the inside cover and shuddered , not wishing to touch anything that belonged to the horrid reprobate. Then she saw a note protruding from one of the books that read: S omething to help pass your day. Joshua.
     
                  That evening during dinner , feeling as refreshed as if she had slept for a fortnight, Lynna ventured to ask about Malcolm.
                  “He is chained in the bowels of the ship. I paid Malcolm another visitation upon arising this morning, however the man was still…sleeping. I left the guard with instructions to alert me the second he awakens. Rest assured that he will do you no more harm.”
                  Lynna felt a great burden lifted from her shoulders at his words. “You cannot imagine how relieved I am to hear that. Merci , Joshua.”
                  “Do you feel up to going on deck tomorrow? The sun and fresh air will do you good.”
                  “ Oui , I would enjoy that. However I was content today, passing the time in the cabin with the books. Thank you, Joshua for the kindness .”
     
                  At midmorning the following day , Lyn n a again stood at the railing , enjoying the kiss of the warm ocean breeze on her face. Water splashed against the hull of the ship , spraying her with tiny droplets. Pelicans dipped in the ocean , scouting for their morning meal , and seagulls cawed and swooped around her head. Deck hands were busy hoisting sails and scouring decks as the tempting smell of fish frying drifted from the ship’s galley. It felt wonderful to leave the stuffy confines of the cabin. She held the rail and leaned back as her glorious mane ruffled in the gentle morning breeze.
                  “What a lovely day it is with blue skies, calm sea, and cool breezes,” a woman beside her said, as Ly nna breathed deeply of the salty sea air.
                  “ Oui , it is a glorious day.”
                  “I fear I shall miss the sea when I