Page 36 of The Captain’s Valentine (The “Other” Trents #3)

Perdita tipped her head back to feel the warmth of sun on her face and the gentle breezes of the ocean. She truly was in paradise. She would also be here longer than she had anticipated and why she needed to finally write to her family. She had left London five months ago and this would be the first that they had heard from her since she left that night.

* * *

My Dearest Siblings, Uncle Osborn and Aunt Mary,

I know that I did not share with you where I was going when I disappeared but I also assumed that you would come to the conclusion that I sailed away on the ship owned by Captain Harrison Trent. No doubt you see me ruined for taking such a scandalous voyage but let me assure you that Captain Trent sailed directly to Edinburgh so that we could be wed. Had I not agreed to marry him, he would have put me from his ship in London.

We then sailed to Barbados where I enjoyed a reunion with Isabella and Bianca, and I also made them promise not to write you. Not that I wanted everything to be a secret, but feared who might gain access to such a letter and I did not want the Duchess of Clare to know where I was, though I do hope that she kept her promise and did not reveal the secrets as she had threatened to do. If not, I am truly sorry for that.

It was wonderful to spend time with Isabella and Bianca and it will not be the last time I visit Barbados. It is the most beautiful place on earth.

They were as shocked as everyone else to learn the secrets our uncle, Demetrius, Orlando and Benedick kept from the rest of the family and assured me that it changed nothing and they still considered me a sister, no different than if I had been born of the same mother.

I needed for them to tell me this.

I was foolish to leave my family. I may have been born to another mother and father, but you are my family and always will be and it was wrong of me not to let you know where I was or where I was going before now. I also thought that I would be home before Christmas but that will not come to be. In fact, I doubt that this letter will reach you before Christmas but hopefully it finds you soon.

The journey has been fascinating and an adventure. After leaving London, we arrived in Edinburgh on June 17, 1817, and Harrison and I were married almost immediately. We then sailed for Barbados and arrived there on August 18th.

There was a delay in loading the ship so I was able to visit with my sisters and enjoy Barbados for nearly three weeks before Harrison and I sailed to Jamaica. I will be honest, it was difficult to leave Jamaica. I do not have the words to describe the beauty and was thankful that we were delayed in our departure.

At the time I was thankful, but unfortunately, that delay also had us sailing directly into a hurricane and on October 5th we were nearly capsized and forced to make port in St. Croix where we have been since so that repairs can be done to Harrison’s ship. Luckily no one was injured and no lives lost but another ship out of Maine in the United States did capsize and only some of the crew was rescued.

We have now been in St. Croix for a month, and I find this island as delightful as Jamaica and Barbados, but I am also eager to return home. We just do not know when that will be. We had hoped to return to London by Christmas, but even if we were able to leave today, it is likely we would not arrive in time and that is why I am sending this letter as an explanation of where I have been, and who I am with, and to assure you that I am happier than I ever thought possible.

It has been the grandest adventure and I promise to tell you more when I return home.

With Love,

Perdita

* * *

Harrison settled into the sand beside Perdita and picked up the already written and sealed missive to Her Grace.

“What did you tell her?”

“Simply the adventure that we have been on and that I am married, and that I hope that we can begin anew when we return because I want to know my family, my mother and siblings, and that I want our child to know their grandmother.”

Harrison grinned then smoothed a hand over her belly just beginning to round with child.

“She will simply have to wait until late spring or early summer,”

he announced.

“Why?”

Perdita demanded in surprise. “I thought you hoped to leave by the beginning of December.”

“I did until I considered how dangerous such a voyage could be in your current state.”

“Because I am expecting a child? Have women not sailed in this condition before?”

“I am certain that they have, but the ship’s doctor treats injuries and illnesses. He has no experience delivering a babe. What if something happened to you or the child?”

“How long will it take to get home?”

“We may not arrive until the end of January, depending on the weather.”

“This babe is not due to arrive until the beginning of April. All will be well.”

“I am not so certain.”

He grimaced.

Perdita took his hand and turned more fully toward Harrison. “I am ready to go home. I miss my family and to be honest, I want to be with them when this child arrives.”

He stared into her eyes then brought a hand to cradle her cheek. “I want to be home as well.”

Harrison then leaned in to kiss her, his sweet kiss lingered on her lips and her heart melted, as it always did.

“Then I shall take you home, but I will also find a doctor to accompany us.”

Perdita pulled back and chuckled. “It truly is not necessary.”

“Ah, but it is.”

He drew close and kissed her again. “I shall not let anything happen to you, ever! I aged a dozen years when we were caught in the hurricane and you were below in the cabin. I cursed myself for bringing you on this voyage and vowed that if we survived that I would protect you with my life, which I intend to do.”

She had been terrified as well, not that she would remind him of that now. In fact, she had never admitted it to him because he’d been afraid enough for both of them.

“Very well, but where are you going to find a doctor?”

“Hopefully there is one who wants to return to England. If not, I will hire him to sail with us then pay for his passage so that he can return to St. Croix.”

“I believe I would prefer a midwife to a doctor,”

Perdita admitted. She’d been present when Lady Sinclair had treated women and children at Westbrook House. She was just as proficient as Dr. Sinclair and a woman would be more comfortable.

“I will hire both.”

“That truly is not necessary,”

Perdita laughed.

“It is if I say so, wife. Now, come along.”

He stood and brushed the sand from his trousers then held out his hand to help Perdita to her feet.

“Where are we going?”

“To find a doctor and midwife and post your letters.”

“Then what.”

“Dinner then bed. You need your rest.”

“Yet, I find that when we retire so early that rest does not happen immediately.”

“Nor will it tonight,”

he said as he slapped her bottom. “Come along wife, I have need of you in my arms and in my bed.”