Miss Minerva's Pirate Mishap by Maggie Dallen (to read list .TXT) 📗

look just like your mother, and there is so much of her in you.”

Minerva winced. Normally she was prepared for such comparisons, but after the events of this evening, she felt as though she’d been struck with an open palm clear across the face. She held her breath, waiting for the pain to ease, but her father noticed.

“Oh no, my dear,” he said as he took her hand. “I did not mean that as a—” He cut himself off with a shake of his head. “Your mother had many fine qualities. And Min...there was more to her leaving than you know. More to your mother than I’ve told you.”

She turned to him with a questioning look, but he glanced away, lost in thought. “Your mother had your courage. And it’s true that you got that call of the sea from her.” He glanced over with a knowing smile. “Don’t think I don’t see the difference in you when you come back from your walks.” His smile faded. “Don’t think I didn’t see the way you came alive tonight, even amidst your fear and the chaos.” He reached out and touched your cheek. “You fairly glowed with excitement at the thrill of it all, and I cannot blame you.” He gave a short laugh. “Truth be told, I suppose you got that inclination from both of us, so I know it well.”

“But Mother left,” she said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. “She chose that world over us.”

“No, child.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as a tear trailed down her cheek. “That was not the full story. She did choose wrongly, but she loved you. In her own way, your mother always thought she was doing what was best for you girls.”

She stared at him in shock and anger. “By leaving?”

He gave a grunt of affirmation as he held her tight. “One day you will know the whole story, but for now it is enough for you to know that you do not need to fear becoming her. You are your own woman, and as much as you’ve inherited her passion for the sea and a life of adventure, you have her capacity for love as well. And I am proud to say that you have my sense of loyalty and devotion, and you should never doubt that.”

She sniffled as his words filled some crevice inside of her that she’d thought would never mend.

“I am loyal,” she said. “And I never want to be so selfish as to leave my sisters—”

“I know that. We all know that.” His brows drew together in consternation as he leaned toward her, his grip on her shoulders so tight she thought he might crush her. “No one doubts that, Min, which is why your sisters were so forthright tonight. They know without a doubt that you would put them first. Always.”

She nodded, slightly reassured but more emotional than ever. “I told him no.”

He eyed her with scrutiny. “Because you did not wish to go with him or because you felt it would be selfish?”

She didn’t answer. But that seemed to be answer enough. His sigh was loud and heavy. “Minerva, no one wants to see you leave less than me. But like your sisters, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I thought you were sacrificing your happiness for mine.”

She stared at him, something in her chest shifting and leaving her breathless with...what? Hope? Fear?

Both?

“Are you saying...” She stopped to swallow. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that perhaps I judged the man too quickly upon first meeting him.” Her father’s words were a grudging grumble. “I got a true measure of his character when he gave an accounting of what happened in the cave.” He shifted beside her and the next words seemed to be pulled out of him reluctantly. “I suspect his intentions are quite honorable.”

Minerva stared at her father in shock. “Would you truly approve of me going off with him? A privateer?”

Her father gave a harrumph which was comforting in its familiarity. “Not unless he did it the proper way, mind you. I need to get to know this gentleman, obviously.”

He shot her a sidelong glare that did nothing to quell her rising sensation of...hope?

Yes, definitely hope.

“Oh, Father.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Do you mean it?”

He mumbled something grudging but it was not a no.

“But what about the girls?” she started.

A pert voice came from the hallway. “The ‘girls’ are young ladies now, I’ll have you know.” Rebecca poked her head in with an unapologetic grin.

Hattie saddled in behind her, followed by Sally who wore an impish expression, and then lastly Abigail, who gave her a rueful shrug. “You try keeping them away at a time like this.”

Minerva laughed as Abigail joined her on the settee and curled up beside her in a cuddle as though they were still children.

“We would miss you terribly though,” Abigail added.

“But Rebecca is right,” Sally said. “We’re not children anymore, and while we’ll always love you, we do not need you to guide us.”

“Not even me,” Hattie said with a knowing smile.

Minerva laughed. “Hattie, you are so good and sweet, just like Abigail. I don’t worry about you at all.” She narrowed her eyes teasingly at Rebecca who threw her head back with a laugh.

Sally wrapped an arm around Rebecca’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she does not flirt too much with the wrong sorts.”

“So, then.” Abigail nudged her with an elbow. “What are you waiting for?”

Minerva turned from one sister to the next. “You’d truly be all right—”

“Go!” they shouted back at her.

She turned to her father. “And you would be fine if—”

“Just make sure your gentleman comes to see me himself. I’m not agreeing to anything unless he can convince me that he’s on the up and up. Not to mention, he needs to prove that he can afford to keep you. I have a lot of questions for your fellow.”

He was still