by Lucy Langton
Maria watched as James loosened the cord around his waist and began to tie it onto the small bucket. A memory flashed in her mind of when he’d taken that cord and bound her, but she pushed it aside as she watched him lower the bucket into the water below, pulling it back up once it was full. Then, with the bucket of water now in the room, he lowered the clean cloth into it and motioned for Maria to lie down.
She obeyed, leaning her head back on the pillow, and James came to sit beside her, lowering the cloth to her forehead. The cloth felt cool, causing a soft moan to escape her lips. “That feels wonderful,” she admitted, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation of the cloth cooling her head. After a while, James would dunk the cloth in the sea water again, wringing it out once more before he replaced it to her forehead.
James could feel his ardor rising as he watched the relief the cool cloth gave Maria. Never before had he tended to anyone sick save himself, and he remembered what it was like to catch a fever at sea. He became brave, moving the cloth from her forehead, dipping it in the water again, and then placing it on one cheek, then the other. Moving on, he placed it under her chin and down her neck.
Maria kept her eyes closed as she lifted her chin, allowing James to cool her feverish skin. When James started to undo the button at the top of her shirt, she stilled and focused on her breathing. She wondered if she should stop him, but when she felt the cool cloth on the top of her chest, she threw caution to the wind as she enjoyed the relief it brought her, a deep sigh coming from her lips as her chest rose and fell.
James wondered if he should undo another button to gain more access to her feverish skin, but decided that he needed to remain in control of his ardor as he moved the cloth from the bucket, and this time to her arms, rolling up her sleeves to apply the cool water there. And afterwards, he replaced the cloth to her forehead, letting it rest there as he removed his hand, knowing that if he remained close to her, he’d take full advantage of her weak state.
When Maria felt James move from the bed, she opened her eyes and watched him near the door, his tanned back facing her. She wondered if she’d done something wrong, so she called out to him. “Thank you, James. I feel much better now,” she said, causing him to stop and look over his shoulder at her. He didn’t say anything, didn’t need to say anything, because Maria could see the lust in his eyes as clearly as the rising sun over the watery horizon. He simply gave her a smile and nodded once before he opened the door and closed it behind him as he left.
Maria took deep breaths as she realised that James could have easily given into his lust. She’d no doubt encouraged him, allowing him to unbutton her shirt and apply the cool cloth to her chest. The relief she now felt from her fever was wonderful and she’d enjoyed feeling his hand on her exposed skin. And even so, he’d left her. Maria knew that James must really respect her if he wasn’t going to give into the lust that was clearly in his eyes. It made her think about whether or not James could really care for her as a man would a certain woman in his life.
Chapter 16
The morning came as a relief for Maria as she was able to rise without feeling the heaviness of the fever or the pain of the headache it had caused her. Though what it did leave her with was aches all over her body. Her body was still exhausted, but she took the time to stand and pace the small room, knowing that exercise would be important in keeping her body strong.
Sometimes she’d stand by the porthole, watching men come and go along the front of the ship as repairs continued to be made. The sound of their work filled the air, shouts of commands being let out from time to time. But she’d always listen for the seagulls in hopes that the ship was close to land, close to a place to where she could escape to.
Filled with idle time, Maria thought again and again about her plan to escape once the ship docked at the next port to finish repairs. She’d looked through James’ wardrobe, looking for things to disguise her so she could slip onto shore. She’d even taken time to look through the chest on the floor, finding trinkets that she became more curious about than she was about finding something to aid her in her escape. It had felt like hours that she’d sat tracing her fingers over an ivory elephant, wondering what its story was and how James had acquired it. But after a while, exhaustion would always claim her, calling her back to bed.
The most exciting parts of her days were when James came to bring her food and water. She found herself looking forward to seeing him throughout the day, enjoying their conversation more than the few pieces of nourishment he’d been able to collect for her. The food seemed worse since she’d stopped being assigned to the kitchen, but she knew she wouldn’t last an hour in the humid room until she had her strength back. She also didn’t like the idea of being trapped below deck for any extended amount of time. Maria still slept with the lantern burning above her, not able to rest in darkness anymore.
“You seem to be doing better today,” James commented a week after the ship had rammed into the hidden reef. He found that the most enjoyable parts of his day weren’t falling asleep on deck after a hard day’s work, but the time he spent speaking with Maria, getting to know her more and learning about her life in England. He enjoyed most hearing about the balls she’d attended, the gossip she shared with him and the details of the gentlemen that had repulsed her. In turn, he’d try to liken it to his life, of women he’d come across at gatherings that made him turn his nose in the other direction.
“I think I am starting to feel like my old self again,” Maria agreed, even though she knew that she’d never feel like herself again. As long as she was on this pirate ship, she’d never be able to reclaim anything of her past. The more time she’d spent in his room, the more she longed for home and prayed for an opportunity to escape.
“I’m sure Horus will have duties for you before long,” James mentioned, knowing he couldn’t keep her in his room forever.
“And I’m sure you’re wanting your bed back,” Maria said with a smile, having enjoyed the small luxury while traveling out at sea. “For a pirate, you have a nice room.”
“That is because I’ve worked hard to own these small pleasures,” James said, looking into Maria’s eyes, his thoughts wandering as they so often did when he was near her, with her behind closed doors. He’d refrained from kissing her again, knowing that his control around her was always hard to maintain.
“I do have a small confession to make,” Maria said, her cheeks turning pink as her eyes drifted to the floor.
James couldn’t help but smile at the shy way in which she appeared, reminding him once again just how innocent she really was. “And what is that, kalos?” he asked, lightly touching her chin and tilting her head towards his.
“I looked through your things,” Maria confessed, her eyes filled with worry as she watched James’ face carefully for his reaction, afraid he’d become awfully angry. She wasn’t prepared for him to drop his hand from her face and double over in laughter. It was such a rich sound, his laughter, and it lasted for several moments, causing Maria to giggle as she watched him.
“My dear, I am a pirate upon a ship full of pirates. I don’t keep things of value with my while I’m sailing. There is nothing here but things I need for my travels, and whatever I have collected along the way that I wish to bring home with me again,” James explained once his mirth had subsided and he’d righted himself again. “So, what did you discover then?”
Maria still felt slightly embarrassed as she said, “I found an ivory elephant. I’ve never seen ivory before, though I’ve heard of it many times. So, I did gaze upon it for some time, but made sure to put everything back in the place in which I did find it.”
James nodded his head, thinking of the small trinket he’d collected. “It was a gift from my nephew. It is his way of reminding me that eventually I need to come home and help take care of the family,” James explained, his thoughts then returning to home.
“You have a sister?” Maria asked, surprised that James had never spoken of his
family since the first time while they’d listened to Miguel play the guitar; the night she’d fallen into the sea.
“Not by blood. I live in a small tribe in Tripoli. So, in a matter of speaking, I have many kin. Many brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. Countless nieces and nephews,” James said with a chuckle. “I do love to play with the children. And there is one particular boy, Harold, who I’ve taken a certain liking to. He I call my nephew, and I dote on him so.”
Maria smiled at the thought of James playing with children. Though she’d seen the stern side of James when he was working alongside the other pirates, or when he was talking with Horus or Captain Maidus, she had felt a kinder side to him during their many talks together. It was in this manner that she was able to see that James would be the type of father who would dote on his children.
Maria looked away from him as her cheeks blushed a deep crimson as she thought of James as a father. She’d never considered a man for his ability to interact with children or even discussed with a gentleman before about the prospects of having children or how many the man would want. These were all rather intimate details that one only discussed with their intended, or perhaps not even until they were married.
“What has you so flustered?” James asked, noticing the way her cheeks burned. It made her appear even more attractive, and James couldn’t help but think about how else he’d like to turn her cheeks pink.
“I was simply thinking how odd it would be to see you playing with children because you are a pirate,” Maria said, trying to tell a half-truth so that her words would be a little more believable.
James chuckled as he shrugged his shoulders. “This may have been the life I was born into, but that doesn’t mean I’m a heartless monster,” James said as he considered her. Surely such a thing would not have caused her to feel so embarrassed, but he didn’t want to pressure her into speaking to him. He enjoyed the way she spoke to him freely and how she seemed to be comfortable in his presence, even though the door was shut and they were often alone together.
Maria didn’t respond to that comment because she knew that there was a side to James from where he could show kindness and compassion, even humor. But that didn’t rid her mind of the fact that James was still the man who’d kidnapped her and who hadn’t allowed her a means to escape. She knew, deep down inside, that she could never trust the man – despite what her heart often told her about him.
“Well then, I must be back on deck before I am noticed missing. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring you more, but I’ll be back tonight,” James said, standing from the bed.
“Yes, of course. And thank you, James. I appreciate it nonetheless,” Maria said as she moved back on the bed till her back was touching the hull.
James gave her a small smile before he left the room and pulled the door behind him. Though he loathed leaving her, and to not have been able to bring more food, he knew he needed to keep up appearances if he was going to pacify the other crew members. Many were talking about the fact that soon the ship would be sailing for the next port. With that being the case, James needed to start focusing more on the next mission, and less on the beautiful young lady in his sleeping quarters.
~*~
Maria sat up from where she’d been laying on the bed, daydreaming of James, when she heard footsteps approaching the door. With night having set in, she’d assumed it was James, but when the door opened to reveal Captain Maidus, her heart started to thump in her chest as the man came into the room and quickly closed the door behind him.
“Good evening, Miss Maria,” Captain Maidus said with a bow. She dipped her head as she sat with her back against the hull, afraid as to why the Captain had come to address her instead of summoning her to his quarters. “I wanted to personally come to see if you are comfortable enough. How are you feeling?”
Maria raised her chin, trying to put on her best appearance of strength despite the weakness she felt in her body from almost drowning. “My fever has broken, and I regain my strength each day. I’m quite comfortable and feel safe here,” Maria replied, hoping this would be a short visit.
But Captain Maidus simply smiled and nodded his head, his eyes gazing around the small room before they settled on her again, his dark blue eyes causing her chest to tighten in fear. Though the Captain was rather handsome, there was something about his eyes that made Maria worry. She knew this man had power if he had been able to attack an English port and get away successfully.
“And what of my fine ship, Miss Maria? How do you like the ship and living the pirate’s life?” he asked then, stepping forward, making Maria wish she could take another step back. But her back was to the hull and she had nowhere to go.
“It’s all very fine enough,” Maria said in short, not wanting to insult the Captain and bring his anger upon her. She couldn’t honestly say she enjoyed being on the ship or that she liked the idea of being a pirate. Every day she still thought of a way to escape and never considered giving up and becoming a real pirate.
“Well, my dear,” Captain Maidus said as he closed the distance between them, coming to stand by the bed as he leaned over her. “Let me remind you that you are not really a member of my crew. Surely you couldn’t believe that a woman could be a pirate. No, this was only a temporary means to keep you out of harm’s way. You see, there are many on board who’d like to harm you, have their way with you, because it’s been so very long since any of us have been home.”
Maria’s heart was pounding in her chest as his dark blue eyes stared at her, his words causing fear to course through her body. She prayed for escape, knowing there was nowhere she could run. There would be no one who could save her now.
“It is only I who keep such men from harming you, Miss Maria. I keep their hands off of you and allow you to remain in comfort while repairs are being made on my fine ship. Therefore, you should be thanking me and showing me a bit of reciprocity for this great favor I’ve extended to you,” Captain Maidus said, his hands coming on either side of her body as he leaned over the bed.
“There are other men aboard who would protect me, as they would protect any crew member. Therefore, I owe nothing to anyone,” Maria spoke, causing the Captain to pause in his pursuits of claiming her lips with his. He considered her words as he straightened himself, looking down at her with much curiosity. He thought for a moment, and then wondered how close she and James may have become this past week while she’d been sleeping in his quarters. But Horus had reassured him that James slept on deck every night.
“Let me impart on you some facts to clear that little mind of yours,” the Captain said, a sneer crossing his lips. “James is a pirate and will always be a pirate. He knows how valuable you are. A young lady with fair skin and golden hair will fetch a high price at the slave markets, which is a very common practice in Tripoli. Every pirate knows that the most fortune to be made is in kidnapping beautiful ladies and selling them at market. The only reason James keeps you in his room is to ensure that you stay healthy, beautiful, and pure.”
Maria simply glared at the Captain, her piercing green eyes burrowing into his. She dared not look away or appear affected by his words. She couldn’t allow him to muddle her mind with words or cause her any more fear than she’d already experienced. She simply knew that she couldn’t possibly trust a single thing the Captain said to her.
“You should know, Miss Maria, that it was James’ idea to sell you at the slave markets once we return home. But since I didn’t want you to be treated like a slave or be overcome by lusty men, like Jenkins, I made them think that you were a member of the crew now to save your purity,” Captain Maidus said as he approached her again. “You see, I once lived amongst the aristocrats of your society.”
Maria was shocked by this news, eyeing the Captain warily. “I can hardly see you amongst the Ton,” Maria said, though she had seen in him a level of refinement when compared to the others aboard. He had certainly been able to bow properly and address her in kind.
“That is one thing I learned quickly about living amongst the Ton in London. You could always trust what they said. You could trust that a particular little bit of gossip was true, that certain elite gentlemen were actually poor, having succumbed to gaming halls and gentlemen’s clubs, and that new debutantes had experience between the sheets,” Captain Maidus said, pausing for a moment to laugh at her. “But you can never believe what a pirate tells you, no matter how convincing their words might be.”
Captain Maidus sat on the edge of the bed as Maria regarded the man, trying to imagine him at balls or dinner parties, shocking young ladies with his words and charming them into doing unthinkable things. It was probably him that stole gentlemen’s money and robbed young ladies of their purity.