Chapter Five

After being away for a week on business Blake was anxious to see how things went at home. Having picked up Meela’s dresses he carried the bundle wrapped in paper and left it at Meela’s door. Meela couldn’t help but giggle when she opened it to find five new dresses and a beautiful gown, Minnie has gone all out, they were just perfect. Arriving a little after seven and delivering Meela’s dresses Blake went straight to his room to wash up for dinner, the house was empty except for the kitchen staff and a few of the servants. When he arrived at the dinner table later that night, everyone was talking and laughing, Meela smiled big when she saw him in the doorway and walked to meet him at the door hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “We missed you, how was your trip?”

Blake smiled and winked at Maddi as he took his seat “Well Maddi I spoke with your father’s lawyer and all of your finances have been taken care of and your money has been put into a savings account for you in London. I have all of your information and it’s paperwork for you in my study to sign, after dinner, I will give you everything you will need. But there does seem to be some business to do with the Stanford house but it’s nothing you need to worry about right now.”

Maddi nodded “Thank you, Blake, it’s nice to know it’s all been taken care of.” Blake looked around the table at his son’s and Meela and at Maddi “How about here anything of interest happened?”

Meela took a drink of wine and smiled “We went on a picnic and played some games.” Maddi nodded “We did a lot of horseback riding.”

Blake was silent as he looked down at Meela’s hand with concern. “I’ve never noticed that scar on your hand before, how did you get it?”

Meela looked down at her hand smiling at the memory “I’ve had it for a few years.”

Maddi frowned “It looks like it was rather painful I can’t believe I never noticed it before.”

Meela shrugged “I was playing cards in a tavern called Maggie Mays with two of my crew members and three strangers; I think they said they were Sailors but they looked more like Pirates to me. I had won two hands and one of the strangers named Felix was getting pissed off even more so because he was losing to a little girl. I told him if he couldn’t handle losing he shouldn’t play, my men laughed at him so when I won another hand and tried to pick up my winnings he stabbed me pinning my hand to the table.”

Everyone looked at Meela in shock even Blake, “Well what happened?”

Meela smiled as she looked down at her hand “I pulled his knife out of my hand and stabbed him in the shoulder with it then I told him he needed to work on his aim.”

Meela shrugged “I waited until I was down the street and in the alley before I cried it hurt like hell too but there was no way I was going to cry in front of all those men and look weak, Hunter one of the men on my father’s crew got me drunk and stitched it up for me.”

Maddi shook her head “Was that the last time you gambled?”

Meela laughed “Hell no it was just the last time I gambled unarmed, my luck is way too good not to gamble, my father always said I was like his own personal four-leaf clover.”

Blake watched Eli as he watched Meela it was nice to see his eyes light up, which Blake could understand she was just like her mother Honey; she was intoxicating her laugh alone could lure you into a sweet delirium with a strong taste for more. “Meela I must say you are just like your mother Honey you look and sound just like her.”

Blake paused as he shook his head. “I loved that woman, everyone did, but you just couldn’t help yourself.”

Maddi watched Eli and Logan's eyes light up as they listened to their father talk. Meela and Maddi watched them, both couldn’t help but smile. “So tell us about some of the trouble Eli and Logan got into as children.”

Blake laughed “They were good boys’ that is except for sending nannies away by the dozens, they made scaring away their nannies a full-time game, snakes, frogs, even bugs their last nanny ran away in the middle of the night after these two convinced her the house was haunted and that the spirits were coming after her. They moved her stuff around and made noises until she finally freaked out and left. There was also the time Logan burned half the stables down and he and Eli had to move all the horses, I was out of town at the time and when I returned they hid worried I’d kill them both. Well actually now that I think on it they were constantly in trouble.”

Later that night after lying in bed an hour Meela got up and snuck into Eli’s room hoping to find him awake. She had gotten so used to sleeping in his arms she couldn’t sleep without him, but when she reached his room she found it empty and walked to the window, she smiled when she saw a light on in the stables. Trying to reach the stables before Eli left she ran across the courtyard when she reached the stables Eli was already up in his saddle. “Well hello, darling are you having trouble getting to sleep too?”

Meela shrugged “I have gotten so used to sleeping with you now I can’t sleep alone, where are you headed?”

Eli held out his hand and Meela took it “Do you like stargazing, I know the perfect place.”

Meela smiled as he pulled her up into his lap “Maybe one day I can show you the stars at sea it will be the most stunning sight you will ever see.”

Eli laughed “Maybe the second.”

When they reached the open meadow Eli tied his horse then he and Meela lied in the grass “Do you come here a lot?”

Eli nodded as he folded his hands behind his head “One or two times a month, I’m sort of a night owl I guess, how about you?”

Meela laid back and smiled as she looked up at the night sky “Me too, I guess, Rabbit another father figure in my life used to read the stars to me like a book, a story for each star and constellation he knows them all, but most the time I just read, my father used to buy me books there’s not much to do at night on a ship and I’ve always liked reading fiction.”

Eli was quiet a moment then turned and looked at her with interest “What are your favorite kinds of books?”

Meela shrugged “I like romance with a lot of action like sword fights and stuff, there was no romance for me on a ship filled with men, especially when you’re the Captain's daughter and more than half the crew helped to raise you.”

Eli put his arm around Meela as she cuddled up next to him. “Your mother’s name was Honey, right? What do they call you, Meela?”

Meela laughed “They have always called me Honey Baby, my mother’s name was Honey Rose she died giving birth to me and my father named me Meela after his mother I think and my middle name is Rose like my mothers and when he and my mother bought the ship he named it the Rose.”

Eli stroked her hair as she talked “Honey Baby I like that would you rather I call you that?”

Meela shrugged “You can call me whatever you want either or sounds good on your lips.”

The very next day Meela was in her room reading when Maddi ran in excited “Blake just told us we all have been invited to Lord and Lady Michael’s yearly garden party, it’s a huge event I was invited last year but my father had just died so I wasn’t able to go. Blake said he and the boys attend every year and say it’s always a lot of fun.”

Meela gave a weak smile “When is it?”

Maddi sat on Meela’s bed and frowned “Next week, you don’t seem excited.”

Meela shrugged “I can hardly get myself into a fancy dress let alone dance in one, maybe I can just stay here while you three go.”

Maddi shook her head “No way I’m letting you get out of this and what about Eli? Blake wants us to meet him in his study in an hour.”

Meela chuckled “All right I’ll meet you there I’ll just finish my book first I’m right near the end and I hate to stop when I’m so close to its finish.”

An hour later Meela walked into Blake’s study to find everyone waiting “I didn’t think I was running late.”

Blake laughed “You’re not late; they were all early excited about the party I guess.” Eli stood and gave Meela his chair; Blake sat down at his desk and smiled “Lord Michael’s party is a week from tomorrow.”

Meela didn’t seem all that happy to hear the good news “If you don’t mind I think I’d rather stay behind, I won’t fit in and I have no clue how to dance all fancy-like.”

Eli sat down next to her “You’re worried about fitting in and the only thing I’m worried about is all of those men falling all over themselves trying to dance with you.” Blake shrugged “No worries Meela I can teach you how to dance.”

Later that night still unsure if she even wanted to go Meela met Blake in the dining room, he had moved the table and chairs making room for them to dance. “Let’s start out with the basics then we can go on from there.”

When Logan and Eli peeked in to see how it was going Blake shut the door in their faces and smiled down at Meela “They’ll just have to wait to see you dance along with everybody else.”

After an hour of dancing and when Meela felt more comfortable with the step’s Blake poured them both a glass of wine “Feeling better about going to party yet?”

Meela shrugged and Blake chuckled “Lucky for you Minnie sent all your new gowns home with me, It seems she was right on time.”

Meela finished her wine and stood up, Blake smiled as he watched her open the door and turn “Just trust me Meela we all will have a great time you and Maddi will have every eligible man at the party following you around trying to woo you.”

Meela laughed “I’m more interested in dancing with Eli but I’m sure he will have his own following of women around him.”

Blake nodded “Well it is a good way for all of you to meet other single women and men.”

After looking through the new gowns Blake had brought home from Minnie’s dress shop Meela started to feel a lot better about going to the party. The gown she decided to wear was gorgeous and the loveliest thing she had ever worn. It was sapphire in color with a tightly fitted bodice and a full skirt, Maddi wore a burgundy gown with gold ribbon laced down the back and a golden ribbon-lined chemise that peeked above its square neckline. Blake and his son’s all wore their black suits with white buttoned-down shirts and black cravats. About to leave for the party the men stood at the bottom of the stairs as they waited for Maddi and Meela to descend.

The first sight of them at the top of the stairs left all three of them speechless. Blake watched his son’s expressions with a smile before opening the door for the ladies. “You two look radiant, my son’s and I will have a hard time keeping all the men at bay.”

Eli and Logan took Meela and Maddi’s hand and escorted them to the coach. When they reached Lord and Lady Michael’s it was already dark and the driveway to the house was lined with torches. Blake watched Meela from across the coach. “Are you nervous Meela?”

Meela laughed “More like scared shit less, the last party I attended was at sea with a hundred drunk men.”

Maddi seemed to be at ease “Just stay with me Meela and you’ll be just fine, I’ll introduce you around if you like.”

Blake smiled as the coach came to a stop “I wouldn’t worry Meela you and Maddi will have everyman at the party fighting for your attention.” Both Eli and Logan shook their heads “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Logan laughed “I was just thinking that same thing.”

Blake shook his head and laughed “How will these girls ever find husbands if we keep them hidden away in the country?”

Eli stepped down first and took Meela’s hand helping her out of the coach “This is going to be a long night.”

After greeting Lord and Lady Michael’s Maddi introduced Meela around while Blake, Logan, and Eli were surrounded by eligible women of every age, each one fawning after them while Logan and Eli watch Maddi and Meela from afar as a line of men formed in front of them. When the music started Logan and Eli pushed through the crowd around them, then the crowd around the ladies.

“Meela honey would you care to dance?”

Meela smiled big as she took Eli’s hand and followed him out on the dance floor “I’ve never had so many men vying for my company.”

Eli looked back at the crowd that had gathered around her “Well if you would rather dance with them I can leave you to it.”

Meela laughed getting the attention of the room “I’d rather stay with you, to tell you the truth I can’t stand to see you with all of those women fawning all over you.”

Eli laughed her confession bringing a smile to his face “I feel exactly the same way the closer the men get to you the more pissed off I get.”

Seeing Meela and Eli dancing Blake walked up and cut in whispering to his son “How will Meela ever find a husband with you always in the way?”

Eli bowed to Meela then whispered back to his father “She doesn’t need to come to London to find a husband damn it.”

Blake grinned his deep and sexy laugh causing everyone in the room to look at them “Damn it Eli you have a line of women waiting to dance with you don’t you think it’s rather rude not to at least dance with a few of them.”

Meela winked at Eli as he reluctantly walked back to his admirers and asked one of them to dance. Meela looked up at Blake as he led her to the dance floor, the sight of Eli dancing with some brunette with her breasts pressed up against him made Meela roll her eyes. Blake watched her and laughed. “I swear Meela you’re as bad as him.”

Meela realized she was staring and laughed “Is it me or does it look like her tits are going to pop out of her dress at any moment now?”

Blake shook his head then bowed as the music ended “Meela darling can you do me a favor and at least try and dance with some of the men that are admiring you.”

Meela smiled as she bowed back “Yes Blake I will do my best.”

Turning around she headed back to the crowd of men that waited for her. When Blake couldn’t find either Logan or Maddi he tried the garden and found them holding hands as they strolled up and down the path.

“Logan you’re as bad as your brother, Maddi is here to meet new people that includes men, not to hide out here so you can keep her all to yourself.”

Logan sighed as he ran his hands through his hair. “Yes, Sir it’s just.” Blake gave his son a stern look “Just what Logan?”

“Well hell, dad did you see all those peacocks fawning all over her.” Blake looked amused “What did you expect Logan look at her.”

Logan looked toward the party then gave a fake smile “Fine, but if I see even one of those men putting his grubby hands on her more than just dancing I’ll break every finger that touches her.”

Blake laughed “Logan be a gentleman and go dance with a few of those young ladies that have been following you around.”

Logan smiled at Maddi then returned to the party asking the first woman he saw to dance. Blake watched as his son reluctantly rejoined the party. “So are you enjoying yourself, Maddi?”

Maddi shrugged as she took his arm “Yes, but Logan’s right I already know half of the men here and most of them are sleazeballs, but I wouldn’t worry, I think I can pick through them and find a few decent ones to dance with.”

The second Maddi returned to the party she had a crowd of young men surrounding her and decided to dance with Matthew a pleasant and good-looking man she had danced with in the past, it only took her a minute to remember his roaming hands. It wasn’t Logan who noticed Matthew getting a little frisky with Maddi and her constantly having to move his hands back to their rightful place; it was Eli who danced close by with a curly-haired blonde that stared up at him with stars in her eyes. Moving in closer he could hear as Matthew tried to sweet talk Maddi into taking a stroll in the garden.

“It’s such a beautiful night and it’s getting rather hot in here wouldn’t you agree.”

Maddi tried to be polite “Sorry but I’ve already visited the garden and I’m not at all hot.”

Finding his brother Eli slyly danced in close and whispered in his ear “If I were you, brother, I’d make my way to the other side of the dance floor.”

Eli politely acknowledged his brothers dance partner before dancing away. Blake watched Maddi as she tried to keep her distance from Matthew and his roaming hands so when he noticed Logan moving in closer and the look on his face when he watched Maddi politely moving Matthews hands back to their proper place, he knew trouble was coming so he excused himself from his own admirers and moved into place to handle the scene sure to come.

The woman in Logan’s arms was oblivious to it all as Logan watched Matthew as he pulled Maddi in close and looked down her dress with a cocky smirk plastered on his face. When the music stopped Logan bowed to his dance partner then quickly approached Matthew that is after he had nearly slobbered all over Maddi’s hand. Logan plastered on a fake smile and approached him. “Good evening, I don’t think we have met.”

Matthew held out his hand and Logan took it “My name is Matthew Gaines and you are one of Blake Mansfield sons if I heard correctly.”

Logan tried to act pleasant as he introduced himself “Why don’t we get some air and get better acquainted.”

Matthew smiled as he followed Logan out onto the balcony the second they were alone and out of view of the other partygoers Logan grabbed Matthew by his suit and threw him against the wall scary the shit out of him.

“If I ever catch you rubbing your grubby hands on Miss Stanford again I’ll kill you and that includes looking down the front of her dress like a pathetic sleaze.”

Shocked and flustered by Logan’s attack Matthew tried to adjust his clothing and hair “I had no idea she was spoken for.”

Logan was still enraged “Well now you do, now get the hell out of my sight before you really piss me off.”

After listening to their conversation Blake waited until Matthew had walked away before approaching his son. “Feel better son? I guess I should just be happy you held onto your senses long enough to find a private place before you scared the living shit out of him.”

Logan hadn’t realized his father had witnessed the entire confrontation “Sorry dad I guess I just lost it.” Logan paused “Did you see him though, did you see how he looked down her dress?”

Blake gave his son a sympathetic smile “Yes son I noticed.”

Logan adjusted his clothing “Ready to go back in?”

Blake smiled “Yes but I do have a few things I’d like to discuss with you later.”

Logan expected as much after the way he had acted, when they returned Maddi was waiting “Is everything all right?”

Blake smiled down at her then kissed her cheek “For now it is, come on let’s get something strong to drink.”

Maddi smiled as she took his arm “Brandy sounds nice.”

“Blake laughed “A few months back you were having your first pint of ale and now you have a taste for brandy.”

Meela walked up and downed Maddi’s glass of brandy while Blake poured her a new one. Meela laughed up at Blake “Hell Blake this isn’t all that different from a ship of horny men, except of course for all the painted up ninnies and all the fancy pants peacocks that call themselves men.”

Blake laughed at Meela’s straight forwardness, then he and Maddi laughed as Meela got pulled back out on the dance floor for another dance. Blake smiled as he watched her leave “Well I guess I don’t have to ask who introduced you to brandy now do I?”

Seeing Meela free between dances Maddi walked up and took her arm “Do you care to join me to go and powder our noses?”

Meela laughed “Why the hell would I want to powder my nose? And with what?”

Maddi laughed “It means to go to the toilet.” Meela laughed “Well then, in that case, lead the way Maddi.”

When they walked into the powder room, it was packed with women some checking their make up while others gossiped. Maddi sat down and Meela followed “So what do you think so far?” Meela shrugged “It’s a madhouse in here.”

Maddi laughed then frowned and turned when she heard her and Meela’s names being spoken from behind the privacy screen. “Well I just can’t believe the Mansfield sons are falling all over themselves over those women, did you see them?”

The other lady laughed “Madison Stanford seems to have recovered from her father suicide just fine.”

The other woman giggled “I’d recover to if I was living with Blake and his son’s, why mourn when you get to look at the Mansfield’s up close and personal.”

Meela listened in getting more and more angry, ready to go over to them Maddi stopped her, the ladies didn’t stop there. “And what’s so appealing about that Irish dwarf, you know I heard she was raised by Pirates, bet you every one of them got a piece of her, hell their Pirates aren’t they.”

The other woman gave an irritating laugh “Do you think all three Mansfield’s are having their way with her and Madison or just the Mansfield son’s, why else would they keep a Pirate whore and a woman whose father would rather shoot himself in the head then stay with her another minute.”

Both ladies laughed and Meela and Maddi walked up and ripped down the privacy screen shocking everyone around them, Maddi was appalled and Meela was beyond pissed off.

“Pirate whore!” “Pirate fucking whore.”

A shocked intake of breath by the women behind them didn’t faze Meela or Maddi a bit. The ladies tried to stand up and leave but Meela pushed them both back causing them to fall on the ground their gowns lifting up exposing their undergarments. Pulling out the dagger that she kept on her at all times Meela glared down at them. “Do you care to find out how us Pirates deal with trash like you?”

Meela stepped forward only to be stopped by Maddi as she stood over them glaring down at them her eyes’ filled with malice. In a voice loud enough for everyone around them to hear Maddi hit them where it would hurt the worst.

“So Amy and Belinda are you both still single, is there no one that wants you, or maybe all the men can sense that you two are more than just friend. Everyone knows it, maybe that’s the reason you have no one on your dance cards, men tend to be attracted to women who actually desire men.”

A hush went over the watching crowd that had gathered. Meela laughed “Oh I see you two are lovers.”

Both ladies screamed out in embarrassment as they tried to get their footing. Maddi smiled sweetly “It makes no sense why you two would be gossiping about us, we being women that actually want and desire men while you two sneak around to busy fucking each other to even give a man a second look.”

The crowd snickered at the flustered women, Meela stepped forward still holding her dagger. “Come on Maddi can’t I just cut them a little, I mean who will miss them.”

Maddi laughed as she checked her make up in the mirror “I’m sure Eli and Logan are worried by our absence and being their whores and all we wouldn’t want to keep them waiting now would we.”

Maddi turned and walked out, Meela glared at the two women humiliated and scared shit less “Next time I see you I won’t be so forgiving, and your right I am a Pirate and have no qualms about ripping you both apart slowly and trust me very painfully.”

Meela smiled big as she followed Maddi out the door.

When Blake found them, he knew something had happened especially when he noticed all of the woman rushing to the restroom in haste.

When Maddi and Meela reached him they both wore smiles of contentment. “I don’t want to hear about it right now, but we can talk about it later.”

Meela laughed “And what a story you’ll hear.”