“Why would I not marry him?”
“Never mind.” Tyler took a breath. “Do you love him?”
“I–”
“Irena.” Tristan strode down the hall. Tyler straightened up, fought back the urge to salute. Her father had that effect on him. “We’re ready for you.”
Irena nodded, started after her father. Tyler made a quick bet with himself. If she turned around then he’d wait for her. If she gave him some sort of indication that any of what he’d just said had struck a chord. She didn’t stop. Didn’t look back. Time to go.
~
One by one the captains of every ocean, every pirate family, spoke their vote. All named Captain Irena Wolf, even Captain Clarke. Amid the cheering Irena was led to stand on the table by her father.
She smiled down at the council, then across to Jim, Anya and Malcolm. And the empty gap where Tyler should have been. Her smile faded.
Irena felt a hand on her waist and turned sharply to see her mother beaming at her. “Well done my dear.” Tigerlily whispered.
Irena sighed, stepping down from the table, and hooking her arm through her mothers. Together they left the council chambers. “I didn’t do anything really; it was the Lord’s recommendation and the family name – and an idiot trying to kill me.”
“Irena, why do you think the Lord recommended you in the first place? Your name is as famous as mine and Tristan’s now. Believe me, it had nothing to do with who your parents are. I never liked Merek and he knew it, he wouldn’t have given us any favours.”
“But you worked for him.”
“We came to an agreement.”
“Well you can’t deny that it helped.”
“Of course I can’t. But you know pirate politics much better than I, having grown up learning the laws. You know that any nominee that survives an assassin attempt gains themselves high esteem. You can’t deny that you were the one who beat the assassin.” Tigerlily smiled, knowing she had defeated her daughter of argument. “Now, I have prepared Hunter to take us to Crescent Bay to get you a dress for your ceremony. It will take a little longer than they’d probably like, but they can bloody well wait for you. I know just the woman to give such a task.”
Irena smiled, properly this time. “Mrs Beets.”
“You should meet with your fiancé too – fill him in on recent…developments.”
“Of course.” He’d want to know that she was going to be the Pirate Lord. She wondered how he’d react.
Chapter 20
The seamstress
Such a journey would have been impossible to even contemplate a decade ago, but the construction of the canal had seen to it that travel between the seas around the Pirate Lord’s Island and Crescent Bay was considerably shorter. It was the place the Wolves had chosen to settle, or the patriarchs of the family anyway. For some reason her brothers felt comfortable enough with the Pirate Lord to dwell on the same land he owned. She’d never understood why. Her parents had gained enough wealth by now to afford a manor house and some land up in the jungles above the Bay, with a beautiful view of the sea and their own private stretch of beach. They spent most winters there now. Irena could recall plenty a happy time spent running about the halls as a child, parties and feasts more raucous than any of the events she’d more recently attended with Howard. Pirates loved a good party. There was a huge library to rival those in most cities, and a wine cellar that went on for what seemed like miles, at least when she was smaller. It had been a good few years since she’d gone back. Too wrapped up in her own life to even think about arranging a visit. For when she did come to Crescent Bay these days it tended to be to see Howard. Her parents understood, and now she crossed them more on the open seas than on land.
Her mother shouldered open the door, setting the bell ringing. Even that sound brought back memories. Irena barely had time to look about the room before arms engulfed her with a shriek. She was bombarded with colour and strong floral perfume, gripped tightly before Mrs Beets pulled back and beamed at her. “Let me look at you, let me look at you. My god girl you need to come see me more, you’re just like your damn father!”
Her lips were stained a deep purple, her cheeks rouged into near perfect circles. Her hair was a variety of greens and blues with purple and silver ribbons threaded through it. And as for her outfit, you’d be hard pressed to lose her in a crowd that was for sure. Irena smiled, “I’ll try better next time. I came to see you for that last dress didn’t I?”
Mrs Beets put her hands on her ample hips, “You’re lucky you’ve got connections like me, don’t you forget it.”
“Got a big one for you this time Cynthia.” Lily had made herself comfortable on the edge of the counter, her legs dangling from the side, her dangerous heels catching the light. Mrs Beets’ first name was Cynthia, she’d revealed that to Lily after a fair few shots of gold tequila, but Irena still called her Mrs Beets. It was her professional name, the one she was known to everyone by. Irena suspected she only let Lily get away with it because she thought of her as a daughter, and she was the one who visited her most. Lily lifted an arm, framing Irena, “You’re looking at the next Pirate Lord. The ceremony is in two weeks. She needs an outfit.”
For once Mrs Beets seemed speechless, she stared from Irena to Lily, then burst into a jubilant laugh, punched the air and yelled out, “Michelle get your ass in here, we’ve got work to do!”
~
Irena always found time flew by when she was at Mrs Beets’. Perhaps it was the constant onslaught of gossip, tulle, taffeta and measuring tapes, or the tea spiked with rum. All the colour and noise made her dizzy, but she loved it. It was like being drunk, the good level of drunk before you go too far and throw up. Mrs Beets tutted and hauled yet another role of fabric from her shelves, she held it up to Irena’s skin, checking how it matched her tones, nodded to herself and secured a collection of pins between her lips. Irena held herself as still as possible, still she received a few slaps from the back of Mrs Beets’ hand when she twitched at the wrong time. Mrs Beets sat back on her heels, “You know girl, there’s something different about you today.”
“Like what?”
The seamstress didn’t answer immediately, riffling through the collection of ribbons Michelle had presented to her, tossing a couple back towards the shelves before one met her approval. She adjusted a pin between her lips. “If I didn’t know better I’d say there was a man.”
Irena rolled her eyes and got a tap with the handle of the scissors for too much moving. “Of course there’s a man, you know I’m engaged.” She was glad her mother had found some other errand to attend to while the fitting was taking place, she wasn’t sure she wanted her listening into this conversation, she’d always been far too interested in Irena’s private life.
Mrs Beets shook her head, “You forget you did actually come to see me after you got engaged. I know what you looked like then, and it wasn’t how you seem now.”
“I’m marrying Howard.”
“No judgement here lovie, you know I’m not one to claim faithfulness,” she had a variety of lovers, who tended to be sailors. Mrs Beets liked to keep her options open, as she put it. The title was purely professional. She lined up another few pins, flicking her scissors over the back of her hand. “But you’re looking a lot like your mother when I first met her. She was a dreamer. One who’d forgotten how to dream.”
Irena fought the urge to hop down from the block they’d put her on and storm off, but the dress was starting to come together, and she didn’t want to undo the hard work that had been put into it so far. Damn vanity. She settled for a glare instead, which looked disconcertingly like a pout when she caught her reflection in the mirror. “I know what I want Mrs Beets.”
The seamstress scratched at her eyeliner, “That’s what concerns me.”
~
Mrs Beets’ words were still running through Irena’s mind the next day in the carriage. It was over an hour’s journey to Howard’s family residence from the
Bay, but she felt she had to see him in person. She’d sent word at least before heading out, he didn’t like surprises. She stared out at the fields rushing by. The land was rich and fertile here, it made Crescent Bay the wealthy place it was. Combined with the healthy trade from pirates it ensured that the high society were drawn to it like bees to nectar. Their very own honeypot. Irena snorted. She’d never much cared for aristocracy, had never seen herself being the sort to even promenade the same floors as his type, let alone be engaged to one. But that had been when she was younger. Times had certainly changed, and she’d realised quickly that your surname, the crest at your shoulder or the contacts you held were a lot more important than reputation. History was how the rich knew who you were. As a pirate her history was muddled, something more of word of mouth than carefully documented to be looked back on by future generations to know that so and so’s great great grandfather owned a mine that secured the first gold in the Central continent or something like that. To know who you were better than, who was your equal, and who was above you. That was hierarchy.
Money, power, status. Howard could give her all of these things. And he was handsome, in a clean unhurried way. But love, well that didn’t come into it. It never had. She’d have her title, her connections and if worst came to worst and he didn’t live up to her expectations she’d find entertainment elsewhere. Plenty of wives had consorts, just as the men had mistresses.
Irena never questioned herself as much as this. Why now then? Why at this moment did she feel like telling the driver to turn around?
She didn’t, and he didn’t, and before long Howard’s property loomed into view. It was an impressive house, handed down through the generations. Another power play to ensure everyone knew how wealthy the family was. The turrets were a recent addition, making the whole place look more like a palace than an estate. The carriage drew up, and Irena wasn’t surprised to see Howard awaiting her. He was a gentleman after all. He lifted a hand to help her down from the carriage, impeded as she was in her fashionable, but impractical dress. She smiled, leaned in to let him brush his lips against her cheek. He wouldn’t do much more than that, not so publicly, but she still found herself heating to his touch as he gripped her arm a little tighter, fingertips roaming across her exposed forearm. It was only a fraction, but she knew from experience that Howard found ways to make moments like this count.
“I must say I wasn’t expecting you to visit, you should have called ahead much sooner, I’ve scarcely had time for your room to be prepared.”
The heat ebbed. Howard knew how to kill a mood. He was picky about things like organisation. “Oh that won’t be necessary Howard, I can’t stay.”
“Why ever not?” His accent got posher when he was annoyed, like a peacock ruffling its feathers. She ignored it. He’d dressed for the occasion, though the scruffiest clothes she’d seen him in – his riding gear – had still looked like something straight from a tailors display window. He dressed, styled and carried himself as if someone was constantly assessing him. She supposed someone always was in these circles. It was all rather exhausting, even to a self-pronounced show-off. But the cut of his suits did show off his frame rather well, so she couldn’t complain. Tyler would look good in a suit like that. She stopped herself, shook her head a little. Enough that Howard noticed, frowned.
Irena paused, cast a pained glance at the staff that had assembled. “Would we be able to have a little more privacy?”
Howard nodded, hooking Irena’s arm through his own and leading her up the staircase to the house. He chose the blue drawing room, calling for refreshments as they passed a trio of butlers. Irena waited politely as teacups and saucers were assembled, along with tiny macaroons and beautiful tarts which she knew were mouth-wateringly tasty. As the last of the staff filed out, Howard leaned back in his armchair, resting his arms along the back of the upholstery. The sun through the window caught at the blonde in his hair, shadows contouring his features. She couldn’t help her pulse hammering as he grinned at her. “Privacy, as requested.”
He’d even managed somehow to keep the old bat away. Irena put down the porcelain cup she had been sipping from. She had to tell him. “I have been chosen as the next Pirate Lord.” Howard said nothing, so she continued, “It is a post I intend to accept.”
“But my dear, I thought we agreed that once we were married you would stop all of this nonsense. I should think becoming a monarch or lord or whatever it is impedes you of this.” There it was again, posh peacock getting his feathers in a twist.
Irena sat a little straighter, “This nonsense as you call it is my livelihood, it’s who I am.”
“Who you were perhaps, when you become my wife you become a noble woman.” He leaned forward once more, shadows creeping lower over his face. His eyes glinted. “You won’t be a pirate anymore.”
“I don’t recall such an agreement being made.”
Howard smiled, “By accepting my proposal you accepted it. I’m offering you a considerably higher place in society than your current rung, so you’ve got to look and act the part. There are certain expectations for you to live up to – throw parties, manage the house, and god willing bear my children.” he took her hand, but she pulled it away from him and stood.
“Is that all?” she snorted to herself, “That’s all I am to you – a pretty thing to wear on your wrist, a vessel to carry your offspring? And what if I were to leave you?”
“Are you honestly considering throwing away the opportunity I am giving you? You think I don’t know that’s how you see this? You’re a methodical person like me, you know what you will gain you just as I know what having you will gain me. You are young and beautiful and clever, they’ll all want you but they won’t get you. You’ll be mine.”
“If I want them I’ll have them.”
She should have been paying more attention. The look in his eye had changed. The slap reverberated around the room. Irena gasped, her cheek stinging. He’d not hit her before. “I’m sorry but you brought that upon yourself. Questioning me like that. I am your fiancé Irena, you will do what I say. You will not become the Pirate Lord. We will marry and you will obey me. That is the end of it.” He let his smile creep back, “Now let’s pretend that conversation didn’t happen and we’ll go back to how it all was before.”
Irena nodded in a daze, face still smarting, and allowed Howard to take her hand.
Chapter 21
Without ceremony
Tyler slipped through the shadows, his chin tucked into his collar. He’d always been rather good at slipping past unnoticed. What kind of thief would he be if he couldn’t become invisible when such measures were required? Not far now, and the ship would be out of his sights. He shouldn’t keep looking back, it was making it so much harder to do this. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, running his fingers over the familiar weight of the picks sewn into the seams. He’d made sure to be prepared. The main pack was in his jacket pocket, a pick stowed along his gum as usual, one at each heel. He’d swiped a knife and a pistol and a good deal of food from the stores, plus he still had a good amount of coin from his earnings. Enough to pay someone off to get him back to town. Then he just had to figure out the lay of the land. That would cost a few more coppers, but there were always hungry kids willing to earn a bit of spare change in exchange for telling a few secrets. He strode along the dock, careful to not look like he was in a hurry.
“Where you off to?”
Tyler froze, “Negrita?”
She leaned forward, the dim light catching on the shine of her black hair. She was sat atop a barrel amongst a collection of cargo awaiting loading. He’d not even made it out of the dock and he’d already been caught. “Highly suspicious, you sneaking off at this time of night. You know she’s not back yet don’t you. Besides, I thought you two were past all that, since you found out she’s engaged.”
“I wasn’t going to see her.”
“Then where are you going?”
Tyler worrie
d out the pros and cons of telling her the truth or lying, and went for the truth. She’d get it out of him either way. “I’m leaving.”
One of her eyebrows curled, but Tyler couldn’t figure out the meaning behind it. “Oh really?”
He sighed under his breath, and carried on walking with determination. “Don’t try to stop me.”
He heard the patter of her feet, didn’t bother to look up as her shadow joined his. “Why would I? You’re a pirate, there’s nothing binding you to this ship. You come and go as you please, there are no contracts.”
“You won’t tell anyone?” Tyler drew to a halt again, if only so he could look her in the eye. They looked almost like Irena’s in this light.
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
Despite his situation, he considered for a moment. “Asking.”
Negrita folded her arms, “I didn’t tell Anya who you were really in love with did I.”
“Which was cruel considering you’re supposed to be her friend.”
“She didn’t ask. It wasn’t mine to tell. That’s the deal, if they ask me where you are I won’t lie.”
“Fair.”
“What are you gonna do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll find something to occupy myself with I’m sure.”
“Got money?”
Tyler shrugged, hoisting the strap of the duffel he’d swiped. “Some.”
Negrita slipped her hand into a pocket and withdrew a pouch. “Here.”
“I can’t.”
“Just take it. It will ease my conscience to know that you’ll at least have enough to keep a roof over your head for a few weeks.”
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