“How can I resist such an invitation?” His eyes were on me when he stepped out of the tub. “I know you are worried. Don’t be. I will be back to you before you know it.” He stretched, as if he had muscles he hadn’t used for a while that were aching. Our death sleep would take care of that. Of course, I couldn’t look away.
“We have named the large cannon. Intrepid. What do you think?”
“I think you are the fearless one. A piece of iron has no feelings, only the men making use of it.” I dropped the covers to my waist. “Come to bed.” I cleared my mind of any doubts and smiled. If only I could hide away on his ship and be with him. Staying here and not knowing was the worst kind of torture. That reminded me…
As he climbed into bed, I told him about the passage I’d discovered. He was happy to hear about it, but I knew he wasn’t really giving it his full attention.
“I’ll tell Fergus to post guards on the hill. Valdez can show him where the opening comes out.” Jeremiah’s eyes darkened. “Enough talk of war and pirates and mysterious passageways. I am eager to feel you against me.” He ran his hands then his mouth over me.
My man certainly knew how to love me. He obviously had no worries. I should be the same. Surely, he would defeat the pirates and come home triumphant. Surely.
9
I t was storming the next night when Jeremiah and the laird left us. Florence wept and clung to Angus. I was tempted to cling to Jeremiah, but settled for a lingering kiss.
“Perhaps you should postpone this attack. This weather is horrible.” I smoothed down the front of his coat.
“Actually, this is perfect. The pirates will have no idea we’re coming. The ships we have are quite sound. They can handle this weather.” Jeremiah pulled on his hat. “Before you know it, we will be back with word that the bastards are no more.” He threw open the door and strode out into the night.
Colin wrestled the heavy door shut behind them as the wind and rain blew in. “I don’t envy them the trip across the channel. You want to see what’s ahead of them, look out the tower window. Such waves.”
Flo and I hurried up the steps. Once in the tower, it was clear that the gray sea was rough and would be the devil to navigate. We held onto each other.
“I pray that my Angus will be careful. He told me he gets sick on a boat. He will be miserable, tossing about in that thing.” Flo dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.
“Jeremiah has a strong stomach, but it will be hard to get in the rowboat and board the ship without falling into the sea. Look at the beach!” I pointed to where we could see the soldiers scrambling into boats and fighting the waves to row out to the ships. It was a mess and one small boat turned over, sending the men and their weapons overboard. They were quickly rescued by men in another boat, but it made my stomach fly up to my throat. This did not bode well for the journey to come.
“I am going to the village. There’s a woman there who can see the future.” Lady Anne spoke from behind us. “I need to know if Malcolm will come back to me.” She flushed. “After our night together, I cannot lose him.”
“Oh, was it fantastica ?” Flo ran to her side. “I want to hear everything!”
“Gloriana was right about how to go on. I served him brandy. Then sat next to him on the settle. He was surprised, but then he smiled at me.” Anne smiled dreamily. “He is so handsome, don’t you think?”
“Yes, he is.” I didn’t need to read her mind to see that Anne had managed to have a wonderful night.
“I didn’t look away shyly like I usually do. Or pick up my needlework.” Anne stared at the floor then looked up and squeezed Flo’s hand. “I lifted my chin and stared right into his eyes as bold as can be. He, he kissed me then.” She flushed then giggled like a schoolgirl. “Oh, my, but his kisses are wonderful.”
I sighed, remembering Jeremiah’s first kiss. There was nothing better than the thrill of finding the one you wanted more than anyone else.
“What happened then?” Flo shook Anne’s hand. “Tell us!”
“I was daring. I stood and glanced at the door to my bedchamber.” Anne smiled. “I’d left it open. There was no missing my point.”
“I am proud of you, Anne!” I drew closer. “How did it go?” Hearing about her romance was a good distraction from what was going on at the harbor.
“It was wonderful. He is so kind, so caring… And passionate!” She actually had tears in her eyes.
Flo squealed, yes, squealed then hugged Anne. “I am so happy for you. There is nothing better than a passionate man. Right, Glory?”
I sighed, remembering my own passionate man and the way he’d thrilled me the first time we’d made love. “Yes, you are right, my friend. And now he, Jeremiah and the laird are in this storm in ships that could well founder before they ever make it to the pirates’ stronghold.” I hated to be gloomy when we were celebrating Anne’s happiness, but I couldn’t stop thinking about a battle in a storm.
“Ah, it is true. We have no time to celebrate Lady Anne’s fare l’amore . We must worry about our men.” Flo ran to the window. “It is even worse now than it was when they left.”
“What about this woman who you say sees the future, my lady? Is she a witch?” I shook my head. “I’ve had some dealings with witches. There are good ones and evil ones. I’d like to see the future, but if she wants a piece of my soul for it, I’m not interested.”
Anne cleared her throat. “I have known Helen for years. She has never asked for anything but coin for her predictions. They do come true.” Her eyes filled. “She saw Ralph’s death. I did not want to believe her, but it happened when she said it would.”
“I am sorry, my lady.” Flo patted her shoulder. “Bad witches, pah!” She spit on the floor and crossed herself. “I am with you, Glory. We have no use for them, but if she really did see the future, I want to know it. I have coins. I say we see what she says.”
Anne wiped her eyes and smiled. “She also said one day I would have a child, but not by Ralph. I didn’t believe her but now?” She pulled her own coin out of her bodice. “It is possible, my new friends. I have slept with a lusty man and I have you to thank for it, Glory.”
“Please, my lady. I believe you had something to do with it.” I smiled when she flushed. “He had to want you to follow you into your bedchamber.”
“Yes, you’re right.” Anne fingered that coin, not meeting our eyes. “I couldn’t believe it. Two times, last night, Malcolm made me see stars! That never happened to me before. Surely I could have conceived.” She finally looked up and hurried to the door. “Even if he doesn’t wish to marry me, if I could get with child, I would be the happiest of women.”
I was glad Anne was happy. A lusty man. I liked Captain Burnett but hadn’t realized he had such fire under his rather stern exterior. I also couldn’t forget my man was out in a storm, about to wage war. Perhaps this witch would be able to tell me something to take away my fears.
“If you want to marry your Malcolm, I’m sure we can push him in that direction. Right, Flo?” I followed them out of the tower room.
Florence looked back at me and winked. “Yes, we will manage it. What say you, Lady Anne? Is the handsome captain one you would like to make yours?”
Lady Anne just laughed. “One thing at a time. We will see what the witch says. She is sure to be home in this storm.”
Valdez scolded me as he helped me into my cloak. “This is madness. Colin says the witch is in the village near the beach. That’s a long walk. You will be drenched, Glory. All of you will be.”
“It’s better than just sitting here, waiting for Jeremiah to return. Worrying and wondering.” I braced myself as Colin threw open the door and we all headed out into the driving rain. Thunder boomed and I jumped. Was it a warning? Foolish notion. It was just weather, nothing to do with me.
The path was muddy and we were a mess by the time we got to the small crofter’s cottage near the beach. It was hard to see past the waves, but easy enough to tell
that the three ships had lifted their anchors and were gone. The only men on the sand were two unlucky soldiers standing guard over the rowboats tied up and left behind.
At the hut, Lady Anne took the lead and knocked on the wooden door. It creaked open after a few minutes and a woman of middle years stared at her. She wore a cap over her blond hair and a black gown that was well-made and of fine material. I decided that the business of predicting the future must pay well.
“My lady, you are soaked through. Come in and stand in front of the fire.” She noticed us. “You brought others. All of you, my house is small but you are welcome to squeeze in and dry off as best you can.” She waved us in, stepping back out of the way.
“Mistress Haig, thank you for the welcome.” Lady Anne threw back her hood and wiped rain from her face. She introduced us all, including Valdez, to Helen Haig.
It was crowded in the small room that held a table, two wooden chairs, a chest and a cot. There were a few cooking pots next to the fireplace and herbs hanging from the ceiling. A shelf held jars of potions and things I didn’t try to name. This might be where Anne had gotten her herbs to help conceive. A book was on the table next to a fat candle.
The woman could read. I was surprised by that and the way everything seemed clean and neat. This was not what I’d expected in a witch’s house. The smell though… Not evil but not to my liking either. I wanted to bolt but needed answers so I stayed.
“I know why you’ve come. Worried about the men gone to sea, are you?” The witch brought out a bowl from the chest next to the wall and filled it with water from a pitcher.
“Yes, yes we are. Florence, Gloriana and I each have a man we care about on one of the ships bound to fight the pirates. We need to know.” Lady Anne took a shuddering breath. “Will they all return to us? Safely?”
Thunder boomed, shaking the house. The witch looked up at the ceiling, as if listening to the heavens. Flo and I held hands. What did this mean? Was it a witch’s trick?
“I will do what I can. You are asking a lot. What will be my reward?” The witch’s eyes drifted over us. Her gaze landed on Flo’s fancy dress, visible when her wet cloak opened. “I hope you will be generous. This is not a simple task, seeing the future.”
We each dug out a coin and placed it on the table. I could hear Valdez grumbling behind me.
“Very well.” She nodded. “I will do my best.” She sat at the table and pulled out a bag from her waist. She opened it and sprinkled something into the water, waving her hands over the bowl.
To my surprise, the water began to move in a circle, round and round, making a whirlwind. She stared at it, her eyes narrowing until they were almost closed. Her head moved too, up and down, up and down. I couldn’t look away and I knew no one else in the room could either. Suddenly the witch slapped the table.
“There are some in this room who are not like you, Lady Anne. Luckily, they mean you no harm.” Her eyes seemed red in the candlelight. “The one you wait for will return, my lady. Your future looks bright. Hold onto him and don’t let what others want sway you.”
“Oh!” Lady Anne gasped and clasped her hands together. “I can’t believe it.”
The witch stared into the swirling water again. “Two men, others, will not return right away. The storm.” She closed her eyes and swayed. “The great storm will blow them off their course.”
“No!” Flo leaned closer. “You lie. What do you know of our men and their ship? Does it sink? Others. What do you mean?”
The witch looked up, staring at Flo with those red eyes so intently that my friend froze, mouth open. “You know very well what I mean, madame. You are other. You and your companions here. You think I don’t recognize your kind? I have lived long enough to know and despise creatures like you, preying on the weak to make yourself strong.”
I put a hand on Flo’s back, very aware of Anne staring at her. I was shaking. Witches. I didn’t trust them. Was she going to tell Anne we were vampires? What a fine mess that would be. We could erase Anne’s memory later, but…
“You said they wouldn’t return right away, but they will return?” I wanted to know. Whether I could believe this woman was another matter.
The witch stared into the water again, swirling it, swirling it as if searching for the answer. I wanted to scream at her to get on with it. Finally, she slapped the table again.
“Yes! You will see them again. Just wait. There is nothing you can do from here.”
I sagged, leaning against Flo who said something I was sure was an insult in Italian.
“Nothing? I will do something right now, you strega falsa .” Flo moved toward the woman but I grabbed a handful of her cloak and pulled her back.
“Leave it, Flo. She said they would return, didn’t you, Mistress Haig?” Clever words. Too vague for my liking. Maybe I should let Flo at her.
“I did. They will be well. But you must wait.” She held out her hand. “You wish to know more?”
Muttering in Italian, Flo dug out another gold coin and put it in the witch’s palm. “Tell me all of it this time. Do not hold back, strega . Will they be hurt when they return? You did not say how they will be when we see them again.”
“You are very clever, madonna .” The witch smiled. “I do not know.” She stared into the water again. “But then your kind heals, does it not? Patience. He will be back and buy you more trinkets.”
Flo jerked back from the table. “I have heard enough. Pah! This woman is nothing but a greedy fake. I am leaving.” She spit on the floor. “She says she despises us, our kind. We are mistresses, yes? Is it because Glory and I have wealthy protectors, strega ?” She swished her skirt. “We live in a castle, not a hovel, like you do. Jealousy. That is what I hear in this witch’s lies.”
Flo turned to a wide-eyed Lady Anne. “Do not listen to her. Except to know your lover will come back to you.”
“Yes, that makes me feel better.” Anne frowned at the witch. “I brought my friends to you, Mistress Haig. I do not appreciate your disrespect for them. They are kind and generous.”
“Thank you, Lady Anne. Flo, wait.” I knew healing was one thing, but a delay meant Jeremiah would have to spend his death sleep somewhere he might not be safe. “You are sure they will return safely?” I leaned closer, tossing another coin on the table.
“You really love this man, don’t you?” The witch grabbed my hand. I itched to slap it away. But I needed to know more. She stared into the water again. “Jeremiah. I hear his name in your head. Yes, yes, he will come back to you, drawn to your side as surely as if you were wed. No need to worry. You will still have his protection for a long, long time.” Her smile reminded me of a sneer.
Did she resent the fact that I had such a strong man who loved me? I didn’t care. He was coming back. I had heard enough.
“Let’s go.” I finally jerked my hand from hers. It wasn’t easy. Then I turned and walked to the door. Valdez was there, opening it for me. He stopped me and pulled up my hood.
“Careful, it’s still nasty outside.” He glanced back at the witch. “We should have asked how long this weather will last.”
“You think she knows? I doubt it.” I swept out the door, suddenly desperate to leave this hut that stank of herbs and something sinister. My hand burned where she’d held it and I’d heard something else in her predictions. I didn’t like it.
Lady Anne was glowing, sure her future would be bright. I was happy for her. Luckily, the talk of “others” had not been of interest to her so she had taken Flo’s insistence that Haig had referred to our living with our men while remaining unwed as the only fact that made us different. Unfortunately, the witch knew what we really were and could make use of our secret.
We struggled up the path to the castle, soaked to the skin after walking through such a downpour. We were glad to get inside and dry off. I decided to change clothes, we all did. I climbed the stairs then stopped by Mercy’s room and tapped on her door. She could follow me to my room, take my w
et things, then make sure they were dried properly.
To my surprise, she looked disheveled when she answered the door, as if she’d just climbed out of bed. Yes, it was after midnight, but she knew my schedule and that I might call upon her. Then I noticed she kept looking over her shoulder.
“Are you not alone?” I was almost glad she might have found someone. “I don’t mind, Mercy. Truly.”
Colin stepped from behind the door. “Sorry, mistress. I hope you mean that. I admire Mercy ever so much. I just came to see how she goes on here. We know each other from Dollar. We grew up together.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.” I smiled. “Mercy, when you’ve the time, my wet clothes need to be hung to dry.” I glanced down at my sodden skirt. “No hurry. Carry on.” I laughed at her flush then walked on to my room. Colin and Mercy. He would know by now that she was carrying another man’s child. Would he want to marry her and raise the child? Or was this a dalliance with the assurance that he couldn’t be blamed for her pregnancy?
I remembered that saying: men will be men. Even young Colin had needs, as did Mercy. I might not like it if he decided to use her, but it could be true. I would have to wait and see. I was not Mercy’s mother nor Colin’s. I could not make either of them behave as society might want them to.
After I was in dry clothing, I walked up to the tower room. It was foolish, but I stared out the arrow slit at the sea, hoping to sight a sail. It would be hours before the men could be expected to return.
The witch’s predictions haunted me. Our men were trying to fight in a tremendous storm. In my mind I saw how low the ships had been riding in the rough seas. I could picture the cannon booming then men clambering into the rowboats to board the pirate ships caught off guard in their own bay. Men would fight hand to hand with the pirates once they got on board. Would some go to fight on land?
What about the pirate queen? I tried to remember if they had given her a name. Anne would know. I decided to seek her out and turned to find her then realized she and Flo had joined me in the tower room. Where were my vampire senses? I had been so lost in my imaginings that I had taken no notice of my surroundings.
Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates Page 12