Embark | h.s

Three

Harry stood with one foot on the wooden plank that bridged the Pearl of the Sea and the dock. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled down at Celia. She held Nerissa in her arms, looking up at Harry as he extended his hand to her. She took it reluctantly and followed him up the plank.

When they both planted their feet firmly on the teetering ship, Nerissa began to wail. Celia started to bounce and sway and coo, attempting to do whatever it would take to soothe her crying baby, while Harry stood, unfazed and taking in the sights of the harbor from the height of the ship. Celia rolled her eyes and continued patting Nerissa's back, watching as she slowly ceased her fit. She smiled when Nerissa closed her eyes and fell asleep in the crook of her arm.

Harry grinned widely, swiveling around to place a large hand on Celia's waist. "You've made me the happiest man in the world," he said. His eyes switched down to Nerissa, watching her as she slept peacefully in Celia's arms. He brought his free hand to Nerissa's head and gently caressed it, smiling at the beauty of his daughter.

"I pray for safety on our journey," Celia whispered, her eyes focusing on Harry's face.

"As do I," he said, looking back up at Celia. "God will be our guide."

Celia avoided his gaze and settled her eyes on Nerissa. "Hopefully that will be enough."

"Come, I will introduce you to the crew," Harry said, pressing his hand on Celia's lower back as he began to walk across the ship. He guided Celia halfway up a staircase so that they could oversee the weather deck. "Avast ye, men!" he shouted, causing a few scruffy looking men to glance over at him. After they realized that he was the captain, they began to gather at his feet. He gave Celia a reassuring nod before returning his eyes to the crew. "Good morning," he began, "I'm glad to see you all again. This is my wife, Celia Styles, to which you will refer as Lady Styles. In her arms is precious cargo, our daughter. Now, line up so I may introduce you one by one to her."

The men did as he commanded, forming a straight, single file line at the base of the staircase. Harry took Celia's hand and led her to the man who was the first in line. His eyes cast a dull gaze to his feet and his sloppy hair covered most of his face.

"The quartermaster, Henry Lucas," Harry said.

"At your service, ma'am," he said, raising his eyes long enough to soak in Celia's features. She gave him a small smile, which he blushed at. He could not have been older than thirty, but not any younger than twenty five. A man of short stature and round physique, it was no surprise when Celia noticed the absence of a ring on his left hand.

"First mate, Daniel Pennington," Harry said after taking a small step forward.

Hooded green eyes flashed up to Celia's, piercing her with their sharp gaze. Daniel kept his lips strained in a straight line, not wavering in the slightest as Celia smiled warmly.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Very good to meet you, sir, although the feeling would not seem to be reciprocated." Nerissa wiggled around, her eyes squinting and lips quivering as a cry formed on her tiny lips. "It would also appear that Nerissa isn't fond of you either. No harm done," she smirked, stepping forward to meet the next man in line.

Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably and followed suit, joining his wife in front of the physician. "Doctor Andrew Tallis."

"Charmed," the blue-eyed, blonde-haired man said. His lips curled into a seductive smile as he took Celia's hand gently and brought it to his plush lips, planting a soft kiss on her cool skin.

Celia, frozen in place, stood with her lips parted as she struggled to gather herself. Her heart raced in her chest and her palms grew sweaty. She finally slid her hand out of his grasp and pressed her lips into a small smile. "I'm sure," she said.

The names and faces of the rest of the crew blurred together after meeting Andrew. He was striking; his cheekbones and thick brows prominent, his blond hair swept into a low ponytail at the base of his neck to accentuate his sharp features. She could almost still feel his icy, sultry gaze on her body. It was a feeling she could not shake, not even as she sat down at the table in the captain's cabin for supper.

With Harry at one end of the table and Celia at the other, they ate in silence. The food was considerably more tolerable than that of the Golden Tide, Celia would make a mental note to send her regards to the cook, but not comparable to the feasts at court.

"It feels like ages ago that we sat on opposite ends of the dining table in my cabin on the Golden Tide," Harry said.

Celia swallowed a bite of potatoes. "We've come so far."

"Escaped the Spanish and Elizabeth..." Harry added. "What's next?"

"Oh, don't say that," Celia sighed. "Why can we not live peacefully? Must we always have a challenge to overcome?"

"Life would be no fun if there were no obstacles."

"You are so... so..." Celia struggled for a word.

"Attractive?" Harry raised a brow.

"Impossible!"

He smirked. "Impossible to resist."

"Unbelievable."

"Unbelievably handsome."

"Would you just—"

"Take you to bed?"

Celia's heart stopped momentarily. "Yes—no, no!" She pressed her fingers to her temples and sighed.

"My dear, I only jest," Harry said, seriousness in his raspy voice. "What's the matter?"

"I want compromise," she said, dropping her hands to her lap. "I followed you on this journey despite my worries and fears. Now, you need to meet me halfway. Promise me that after this six months is up, we can return to England and live a normal, risk-free, happy life."

There was silence.

Harry cast his eyes down briefly as he rolled over the conditions in his mind. After swallowing hard and snapping his eyes back to Celia, he cleared his throat. "Of course. Whatever makes you happy."

Celia grinned. She stood from her chair and walked to the opposite side of the table, standing behind Harry and wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his warm skin softly as her hands travelled down his chest, her lips lightly grazing his ear. "Now you may take me to bed."