Swept to Sea by Heather Manning Read Free Book Online

do believe in God; I just know he doesn’t care a whit for me. Believe me. God stopped answering my prayers many years ago." He sighed, pressing his large hands together. "And how did you come to be sleeping in my hold? Why did you not come to me and beg or barter some sort of passage?"
    "I-I had no way of knowing where you were or what type of man you happened to be. How would I have any way of knowing what sort of payment you would expect? I thought it would be one that would tarnish my reputation, for sure. So, I decided to sleep down in the hold behind the crates. It seemed the safest, if smelliest, place aboard the ship where I would not be seen." She scrunched up her nose, remembering the horrible stench of the hold.
    He cocked a dark eyebrow. "And that is your excuse, milady? What on earth was this lifetime worse than death — for a lady of wealth, nonetheless — that you attempted to escape, even hide in a filthy, dark hold to be rid of? I am sure it was never that bad of a life in your little manor in England, or wherever it is. Port Royal is a dangerous city, especially for a young woman who happens to be all on her own, without the benefit of an escort, without money." Caspian countered.
    "How dare you suggest such a thing? You know nothing about me or my life. Such audacity is preposterous, sir.” She tugged a lock of her umber hair with her finger.
    The captain huffed. Eden rolled her eyes at his childish behavior. Why, this man’s little son had been behaving in a more grown-up fashion.

Chapter Four
    Caspian was not accustomed to being denied by a simple girl. Lady Trenton had all but kicked him out of his own cabin — aboard his own ship. Blast, the woman was beginning to grate on his nerves. He was the captain of this ship, and no matter how pretty she was, she had no authority here.
    He sulked, staring at the inky sea. By the smoky look of it, the dark night sky held a storm that would reach them soon.
    His mind twisted back to the woman again, against his will. When Lady Trenton had twirled her hair about her finger, the neck of the low-cut gown he had given her shifted and the movement revealed another bruise. This one was in the shape of a meaty fist and on her neck. Someone had hurt her, and it had happened recently. Quite recently. Caspian longed to ask her about it, to know who had done this to her, but he thought better of it. She apparently was not fond of telling him anything personal. Besides, he had just met her. In all reality, he had no right to know her personal business.
    Gage appeared beside him, the typical grin plastered on his face. "Any news on the woman, Captain? Who exactly is she?"
    "Aye, she relinquished some information. It certainly was hard enough to get it out of her. Her name is Lady Eden Trenton. She boarded my ship in an attempt to escape what she claims is ‘a fate far worse than death.’"
    "Egad, what could a well-off lady like her be running away from that is worse than death?" Gage asked, frowning.
    "She refuses to tell me. All I know is she is absolutely terrified of returning to London," Caspian replied, gripping the aft rail of his ship. The sturdiness of the wood grounded him from the oddities that had occurred in the past few hours.
    "Well, of course. I suppose she simply got into an argument with her papa over buying a dress or some frilly ribbons and ran away over it." Gage leaned forward and rested his forearms on the rail.
    "Nay, I believe she isn't so frivolous a woman. I think this is something more significant than a ribbon or a dress. Lady Trenton seems terrified of me. She recoiled from my touch. What I’m thinking is she was hurt by someone in London and is running away from that person," Caspian reasoned, speaking slowly as he thought.
    "Aye, the poor girl. I saw how she fainted in the hold when you were simply teasing her. But she is quite a beauty, isn't she, Captain?" Gage's face lit up with a grin.
    "Yes, my man, and you will stay well away from