Dare To Love Read online

  Dare To Love

  Title Page

  Prologue

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  DARE TO LOVE

  A Hollinger Series Novel

  TRISHA FUENTES

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2009 Trisha Fuentes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this eBook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this eBook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this Author.

  Prologue

  Atlantic Ocean, 1798

  When Tommy joined his wife in the Great Cabin, he found her frozen at the dressing table staring at her reflection in the mirror. She looked lost, unnerved trying to separate her ivory-laced veil away from her head. Two steps towards her and she focused on him coming near. He stood directly behind her, yearning to touch her, wanting to help her, but he too, felt unease.

  “The ceremony was nice… was it not?” He said, trying to break the tension.

  Gwendolyn laid her hands atop the nightstand. “Yes—yes, it was, I have never been to a wedding atop a ship before.”

  “My ancestors were married on the Junia, my father wanted to continue the tradition.”

  “Yes…I know the stories,” she gave out shaken, “…and immediately afterwards, the women in your family darted to the ledge to vomit.”

  Tommy continued to stare at Gwendolyn in her opalescent satin wedding dress. She looked remarkable, beautiful, like a princess. He turned on his heel and eyed the bed only a few feet away. “We don’t have to this night; it can wait until tomorrow, or the next, whenever you are ready. I am not going to force you.”

  Gwendolyn blinked a few times, on the verge of a panic. “Th—thank you Tommy.”

  Intimidation still choking him, Tommy blurted out what was really on his mind. “May I…may I ask you something?”

  “Yes, of course, what?”

  Tommy sat down on a nearby chair next to her and ran his hands down the front of his stockings. “Since we weren’t allowed to see each other before the ceremony,” he exhaled, “And we haven’t spoken in two weeks since your decision, I just want to know…why me? Out of all my brothers, Jordan especially, he is the titled heir, you picked me to be your husband?”

  Gwendolyn did not bother to look at him and continued to stare at her reflection in the mirror. On any given day, she would have thought she looked like a queen and welcomed the fantasy. Instead, she blinked out of her stupor and became more at ease eyeing her new husband downside up. “Isn’t it obvious? You are my best friend Tommy. We could always talk to one another—tell each other riddles. I have known you since you were born, I could not bring myself to be with Jordan, he is…he is so much older, and strange.”

  Tommy laughed aloud, glad that the frostiness melted with her humor. “Strange? But all ladies fancy him.”

  Gwendolyn finally stood up from her seated position and looked shyly down at the ground. “I am sixteen Tommy, what do I know about pleasing a twenty-five year old man?”

  Tommy stood up also, ran his fingers through his scalp. “I am sixteen as well, and you are asking me to give you an answer?”

  Gwendolyn smiled and felt relieved for some reason, the bizarre tension broken. Gwendolyn raised her eyes to find Tommy’s green staring into her brown. Their eyes lock and hold and Gwendolyn felt her pulse race and pushed his body away. “Do not do that.”

  Tommy sighed, “What now?”

  “Look at me that way. You make my heart thump.”

  Tommy began to grin. “I was not aware of my magic power.”

  Gwendolyn huffed at his response, “Now you are, so make it stop.” She purposely glided over to a smart sitting area full of cherry mahogany. A lavish space which rivaled a mansion ashore, the couple was awarded the Captain’s chamber for the evening. With cushions made of gold embroidered fabric transported from India, the cabin encompassed a red plush settee, marbled table tops, a piano, fur rugs, a generous hearth and a zinc-lined bathtub. The bed was fit for a king…and queen. A rich poster bed, so intimidating in size, Gwendolyn felt anxious all over again knowing what was supposed to take place there. She turned to look at Tommy once more. He looked a little odd and out of place in his fancy black togs and continued to stare at her in an undeniable way. Feeling an unfamiliar blush rushing up her fair neck, Gwendolyn turned and looked away.

  “So what do we do now?” Tommy relayed, ripping through lengthened silence.

  “Unsure,” Gwendolyn voiced, plucking a few roses out of a vase that was secured to a wall.

  Tommy sat down again and began to pull off his leggings and shoes. One by one, each shoe fell to the floor with a loud clunk.

  Startled by the noise, Gwendolyn sharply gazed at him undressing, “I beg your pardon?”

  Tommy was tired now. Worn-out from the argument he had earlier with his father, exhausted from the day’s activities, drained from all the endless questions he had about their obligatory matrimony. “It is customary to take one’s shoes off before entering a bed.”

  “You are not sleeping here.”

  “Where am I supposed to sleep tonight, the ocean? Our families are all on the lower decks Gwendolyn. They all think we are in here consummating our union. I cannot sneak off and sleep in the lifeboat outside.”

  Gwendolyn noted Tommy’s tone. “You can rest on that couch over there.”

  Tommy let go a frustrated grunt and began to put his leggings back on. “Never mind—distance sounds rather good to me right now than be in here with you a minute more.”

  Gwendolyn started at the sight of her new husband putting on his footwear to parade himself in front of the family only ten minutes after they arrived down below; it could only mean one thing, disaster. It was unheard of for a groom to leave his bride so soon. Her mother told her that she was supposed to “stay in the room” for the next three weeks. That all meals were being “sent down to them”, that they were on their way to the West Indies on their “honeymoon”. What the heck was she supposed to do alone with Tommy for the next three weeks? She was getting claustrophobic just thinking about it. “You are not leaving me, are you?”

  Tommy sneered at her; a growl so unbecoming of him, Gwendolyn actually took a step backwards in retreat. “Go—stay, which is it Gwendolyn?”

  Gwendolyn grabbed her head in frustration. “Oh, I don’t know.” But before she could change her mind again, Tommy exited. Gwendolyn crossed her arms across her chest and stomped her foot in frustration as she tried to ignore the strange stab of disappointment suddenly surrounding her heart.

 
; Tommy practically ran down the narrow staircase, skipping steps two-by-two. He was just about to turn the corner unseen when he bumped into his father exiting the dining room with a glass of port in one hand. The quick unexpected bump spattered the scarlet liquid onto his father’s flamboyant white evening shirt.

  “Going somewhere?”

  Tommy froze; his father’s stern voice penetrated down to his very core. He was too empowered, too large and way too frightening to figure out. “I’m thirsty; I’m on my way to the galley for some milk.”

  His Grace, Thomas Albert Hollinger, II, 4thDuke of Norwin and Earl of Wilderbrand was not amused. “Tommy, this family has waited too long to have this marriage come to pass,” he proclaimed, taking a sip before carrying on, “With all the boys in this household, along with Lord Drummond’s only son, we’ve waited years for this unification. You know how important it is for this lineage to form an alliance. Our two wharfs in Bristol align one another; our shipping business relies on the very foundation of the Drummond vessels. Gwendolyn’s dowry solidified this family’s future.”

  “For the last time father, I don’t care about the family business.”

  His father jabbed him in the shoulder with the drink still in his hand. “You will obey me son or I will enforce a consequence even you will not be able to tolerate. Either way, Gwendolyn will be compromised and this union will be inevitable.”

  Tommy shuddered at his father’s ominous tone. Would he really do that? “You wouldn’t dare, she is innocent.”

  “Jordan will be happy to oblige,” the Duke said matter-of-factly, “I cannot fathom why the little unsullied picked you for a husband when he has far more to offer her.”

  “I am her best friend,” Tommy said under his breath.

  “Yes,” the Duke chortled, guzzling down the rest of his alcohol. “You two have always been inseparable.”

  The ship suddenly jolted causing the two men to hold the sides of the narrow hallway for balance. Tommy looked at his father with uncertainty. “What was that?”

  “Do not concern yourself; I will go up deck to speak with Captain Porter. Now, go back upstairs this instant and bed your bride.”

  Tommy stood silent and eyed his father turn on his heel to walk down the hallway towards the Captain’s stairs.

  When Tommy arrived back in the room, the lamp had lowered and Gwendolyn had fallen asleep. The moon’s glow had streamed through the bordering beveled glass windows, illuminating her face to angelic proportions. She looked like a doll with her auburn curls cascading across the pillow. Walking backwards, he tiptoed to the sitting room and began to undress.

  How to bed her? He’s never thought about it before; she was his best friend, his comrade when he felt lonely. They shared the same interests, identical humor and equivalent competitiveness, in fact; he’s never felt more comfortable with another person. But this new phobia of exposing himself to rejection was an all out riot of nerves. He was used to taking direction from her. And now he had to be assertive to get her to do what was mandatory? After what his father had declared, there was no chance in hell he would ever allow that to happen. He cared for her too deeply…yes, he did care for her…love her…oh, how could he not? Oh, whom was he kidding—he was head over heels in love with Gwendolyn! And now, he was supposed to…how did his brother describe it? Open her legs and poke her with your stick Tommy…she is going to bleed down there, but give her a hanky, she will be good as new… Wasn’t there more to it? Good God, he had to hurt her on purpose…cause her to bleed? It made him crazy when all she did was skin her knee! He could not believe he had to intentionally afflict her with pain?

  Completely nude, Tommy rushed to the bed and silently entered under the covers without waking his bride. He stared at her sleeping for a moment then traced the edge of her chin with his finger. God, she was…wonderful, he thought, and leaned over to smell her hair. The enchanting aroma drenched him in a fluttering craving.

  She was not asleep, only pretending. Gwendolyn could not wait for him to arrive back to the room, she was even eager. What took him so bloody long? Tommy even slipped under the bed sheet, which was something she never counted on. She thought he would follow her order of sleeping on the couch, but he doesn’t? She felt him smelling her hair, caressing her cheek, but why? She could not take the silence any longer and opened up her eyes—his unusual heat was practically burning a hole through her thin nightgown!

  Realizing he was completely nude, she immediately rolled away from him. “Tommy, what are you doing?”

  Tommy reinforced himself and challenged her stern voice, “We are going to consummate our marriage.”

  “B—but, you said I could have more time.”

  Tommy noted Gwendolyn’s fright. “I know what I said but I’ve changed my mind—” he broke off suddenly feeling sick with the vision of his brother touching Gwendolyn. “You’re mine now, and as your husband, you have to do what I say…”

  The next morning, Gwendolyn and Tommy were woken up abruptly by a thump of books falling from the bookshelves in the sitting room; the Junia was being tossed about. Gwendolyn grabbed at Tommy and squeezed his arm. “Did we hit rough waters?”

  Tommy sat up and watched the room tip…then topple the opposite way. “Unsure, but I’m going up deck to find out.”

  Gwendolyn yanked at his arm again, “Don’t you dare leave me alone—I’m going with you!”

  Both of them jump when pounding fists and the jingling of the doorknob echoed throughout the room.

  “Children! Children!”

  Tommy quickly pulled up his breeches and ran to the door. Swinging it open, he was faced with the captain’s panicky first mate. “Ralph, what is it?”

  “Master Tommy, stay in your room something is amiss!”

  “Is it a storm, Ralph?”

  “Yes,” he yelled, running down the hallway, “Stay in your room! I shall return…I shall return—”

  The ship tilted sideways and caused Tommy to lose his bearings to a bolted down bench. Looking up from the floor, he pinpointed Gwendolyn who was already out of bed, searching for her shoes.

  “The sea was calm last evening.”

  “We must have sailed right into a monsoon,” he joked, trying to lighten up her panic. He then gulped at the sight of her shoving her arms through her coat. “Planning on taking a stroll?”

  “My mother—my brother, I want to be with them.”

  “Ralph said to stay put.”

  “Are you going to stay here, or are you going to follow me?”

  Tommy doesn’t even think about it. “Button up your coat then; I don’t want my brothers ogling you.”

  Moments later, loud rumbling sounds of wind being hurled through the planks greeted them at the hatchway. Gwendolyn grabbed hold of Tommy’s arm in hesitation. “Do not open the door Tommy, the wind sounds funny.”

  “I want to see what is happening out there, I don’t see my brother’s, my mother, yours, where did everyone go?”

  “I will stay behind you.”

  Tommy head out first and swung the door open. Covering their faces with their hands, the strong airstreams of rain hit them like pebbles pitched to the skin. To their shock, all around them was nothing but thick, grey fog; the air was equally icy and unnatural, the sea had taken over and swallowed the ship with every dunk and turn.

  Tommy gazed up at the sails. Carrying only her topsails and a small jib in the violent windstorm, the topsails were low enough for easy reefing, but still high enough to catch the wind. It was purposely done, Tommy thought, knowing that the Junia could hold her course through the fierce storm without overtaxing the masts and rigging. He could not believe no one was on deck; she was completely bare of every officer and ship hand. Captain Porter was nowhere in sight and the helm spun freely round and round.

  “Stay here, go back to the room!” Tommy shouted to Gwendolyn, pushing her back through the door.

  “I’m not going back without you—I’m scared! Where is everyone?”
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