Shipmate: A Royal Regard Prequel Novella by Mariana Gabrielle

if you harm
me.”
    “Still belong to me until the vows are said,
and I would have you remember to put your family’s interests first
in years to come.” His hand shot out, snake-like, to slam into her
chest, throwing her backward into Jeremy, who grabbed her arms.
    She would have sobbed, but the wind was
knocked from her lungs.
    “Will come a time,” her father continued,
“Holsworthy will get a letter from me, and whatever it says, I’ll
expect you to support my claim. Are we clear on that,
Lady-Bloody-Holsworthy?” His blows to her chest and shoulders were
timed with the rhythm of his tirade.
    She nodded and squeaked, “Yes, Papa.”
    Jeremy leaned in close to her ear and said,
“You can sail ten times the world over to get away, but don’t
forget you are leaving the people you love back here in England. Do
not think I will not stoop to do harm to our lovely cousin should
you not comply, for the Firthleys and I still have a score to
settle.”
    Jasper motioned to John. “Do you not wish to
give your sister something to remember you by?”
    John shrugged, but didn’t come closer.
    “Such a molly you are, boy!” Jasper took a
sharp jab directly atop the first bruise, between her breasts,
knocking her wind away again.
    John stepped between her and Jasper, and
said, “I will give her something to remember me by.” He turned and
gave her a kiss on the cheek and a rough hug, murmuring in her ear,
“I wish you happy, Sissy. You can’t know how much.” He turned back
around, his arm draped over her shoulder.
    “Leave off, you two. Holsworthy’s bought her
on paper, so it is his merchandise you are damaging. Do you think a
sharp cit is going to pay as much for broken stock, when he hasn’t
already delivered the coin? Go to the taproom and drink yourselves
stupid, and I’ll take Sissy back to her room.”
    Inexplicably, the other men complied, with
only one last shove from her father and a last threat from Jeremy:
“You’d better hope Holsworthy’s solicitor pays promptly.”
    Both men were well on their way back to the
inn before John took one step from the clearing, the two youngest
Smithsons silently staring after their elders. When they were
finally out of sight, John stuck out his arm in a courtly gesture.
Bella’s hand inched up to curl around his elbow.
    As was his way, John tried to keep the
conversation light and soothing, though Bella knew the lilt in his
voice was hard-won. “This will be my last chance to offer you
advice, as your elder, wiser brother, and so you must take heed of
all I say.”
    Bella smiled and glanced up at him. “And why
should I wish to leave you with a false idea of your influence?”
She poked him in the side to give the tease to her words, and he
smirked back at her, but his eyes were not at all humorous.
    “You will do well to listen, sweeting. You
are boarding a ship filled with sailors, Sissy, and while I can’t
stop it, I can’t think it wise. Just recall, if you will, what I
taught you in the barn in Evercreech, the night before your first
trip to London. Any man makes improper advances, you plant your
knee in his cods without delay.”
    “John!”
    “Promise me.”
    She sighed, but agreed, “Yes, John. I
promise. I’m sure Lord Holsworthy would wish it.’
    After a few moments of tense silence between
them, she added, ‘I beg you give that same lesson to Angel
Bairstowe, before she finds herself alone in a room with
Jeremy.’
    John gave her a half-grin and waved off her
concern. ‘He loves her, Sissy. He’ll not lay a finger on her. If
Miss Bairstowe marries him, she will be the most pampered wife in
Christendom.”
    “If she marries him, her life will be as
miserable as Mama’s and mine, and I am afraid of what he might do
to secure her hand.”
    “He’s different with her, Sissy.”
    She bit her lip for the space of four steps,
but finally said, “I pray you never learn to be as hard and cold as
Jeremy.” A few steps later, they reached the end