Her troubled gaze lifted to stare across the glittering waters. She believed them to be somewhere in the Lesser Antilles between the Dutch island of Curaçao and heavily reinforced Porto Bello. Porto Bello! Her heart surged with expectation. Had Baret sailed there yet with Henry Morgan?
But no … it was too soon, she thought, her hopes sinking again. Baret would still be held up at Tortuga, preparing for the war with the Dutch. And yet, Curaçao was in this area of the Caribbean, as was English-held Barbados, often called “Little England” because of its staunch loyalty to King Charles in the days of Cromwell.
Ahead, the distant coastline of the Spanish island of Margarita, the “isle of pearls,” stood shrouded in a green aura in the brilliant sunlight. It was a mysterious island, which had been her father’s point of rendezvous with an unknown partner—or so he had said. Who was that partner?
Her heart pounded in her ears. The sleek Black Dragon, once believed by her father to be friendly, had recently sailed from the Tortuga Brotherhood on a pirate expedition of its own. It now hoisted its real colors. Her eyes riveted upon the joli rouge—“pretty red”—an ironic French description of the blood-red banner flown by early privateers, featuring skeletons, cutlasses, or bleeding hearts. The Black Dragon flew a red flag showing a white cutlass and a yellow skull over crossbones. It seemed to grin at her as the banner snapped devilishly in the warm wind.
Panic seized Emerald at the sight of the dread pirate ship bearing down on the Madeleine. She held the rail, dazed, watching flashes of fire and smoke belch from its guns.
Minette had come up beside her and now gripped Emerald’s arm. “I knew we shouldn’t have sailed here,” she groaned. “Whatever made Uncle Karlton do it?”
“Treasure,” murmured Emerald, her gaze fastened on the joli rouge.
“There’s no treasure,” moaned Minette. “Don’t they know that? It was all a tale. Oh, why didn’t we voyage straight to Barbados?”
Emerald stared ahead. Because there were pearls on Margarita, her father had said. But explaining all this to Minette would do no good now. They were trapped, just as hopelessly as a hungry barracuda on a baited hook!
The Black Dragon was presenting her larboard guns and loosing her second broadside. Emerald pulled Minette back. A projectile ripped through the rigging overhead, and they held their ears. Another parted the water, sending white spray across the deck.
“Uncle K-Karlton’s been w-wounded!”
Emerald rushed to the rail again, looking below to see him holding a bloodied hand to his shoulder. “Father!”
He squinted up at the sound of her voice, his rugged face troubled but resolute, then turned and barked an order.
A tall and gaunt man garbed in a faded blue coat with tarnished gold lace managed to climb his way up the steps. As always, Zeddie carried his two big boarding pistols. In his younger years he had been a crack shot, as he always liked to boast, and had fought in the English Civil War, where he had lost an eye. He was sent to Barbados as a political prisoner in the days of Cromwell, and her father, who had known him in England, had found him on Governor Modyford’s sugar plantation and arranged to buy his freedom. Zeddie ever remained a strong ally and was a bodyguard to Emerald.
Now he came tramping onto the high deck, his golden periwig in disarray.
Emerald rushed to meet him, her eyes reflecting a surprising calmness though her voice was breathless. “Will they board?”
A rumble came from his throat. “Aye, m’gal. Them blood-thirsty sharks be comin’, to be sure. Your father bids you and Minette be brave.”
“Brave!” wailed Minette, nervously running her fingers through her waist-length amber hair. “Oh, no-o, Emerald! What’ll we do?” and she began to rush about frantically.
Zeddie’s one good eye gleamed like a rooster’s, while a tattered dark patch covered the other. He drew a calico scarf from his bulging jacket pocket and dabbed his brow. “Sink me sails, but your father is a shrewd fellow. He has a rare plan. Sure now, you’ll see! Why, he’s already sent a message during the night to the viscount.”
Emerald’s breath caught, her eyes searching his. “Baret? How?”
His eye twinkled, and he cocked his head toward Minette, who ceased her nervous flitting and perked up. “And that handsome Captain Erik Farrow too. So happens they both be prowling the waters near Margarita.”
Bewildered, but much too excited over the possibility of help to worry about details, Emerald grabbed Zeddie’s arm. “Margarita is under strict control of the dons. Why would Baret and the Regale be near by?”
“It may be he has a mind for the treasure his father stored.”
“You mean it’s on Margarita?”
“That much I don’t know, m’gal, but ‘tis my guess it is or he wouldn’t be here. Farrow neither.”
She wondered, growing more uneasy at the thought of piracy. Baret Buckington “Foxworth” was already in serious trouble with the High Admiralty for venturing into Maracaibo. If he also entered Margarita…
“Could a longboat get past the Black Dragon to reach the Regale?”
“Your father be as shrewd as Captain Lex Thorpe, when he’s under the cannon. Nae fear otherwise, m’gal!” And he cleared his raspy throat. “Nevertheless, ye both best take to your prayers —just… er… in case.”
Emerald wondered if she could fully believe him, or if he were only saying this to give them hope. How could Baret be near by? She didn’t think that possible, but she restrained herself from asking questions.
Minette’s smile vanished like summer dew. “Are you sure, Zeddie? It’s a long way in a longboat to shore—and sharks and Spaniards are everywhere. You can be sure they’ve heard the battle and seen it, too, through a telescope.”
“She’s right, Zeddie.”
He fingered his baldric.
Minette’s eyes widened. “Vapors, no one can save us now but God!”
Emerald was quick. “Then we have reason for cheer. If God is for us, who can be against us?”
“Oh, Emerald—are you sure He’s for us?”
The wail almost brought a rueful smile to Emerald’s lips. She took Minette’s arm, propelling her back into the cabin. She went straight to the desk and removed the Authorized Version of the Bible that had belonged to their Great-uncle Mathias. She placed it carefully in her cousin’s shaking hands, hoping to strengthen her wavering faith.
“Here, you hold to this and pray while Zeddie and I make plans of what to do when they board. And it may be that Zeddie’s telling the truth after all. Baret and Erik may be nigh at hand. If the Spaniards can see the smoke from the cannon and hear the battle, maybe they will too.”
“If they’re really near,” Minette whispered. “Zeddie could be trying to give us a false hope—like a bloated frog facing his enemies.”
Zeddie now followed them inside and closed the door. “Stab me, lassies, if’n Sir Karlton knew the Black Dragon was in these waters, he would not’ve come here. He’d have sailed on to Barbados as planned. It was that rascally-mouthed pirate cousin of yours who lied to him.”
Surprised, Emerald faced him for explanation. “You mean Rafael Levasseur?”
“There ain’t many as dark-hearted as he.”
Cautious, she watched him. “What business did Rafael have with my father?”
Zeddie scowled uneasily, as though wondering if he should say anything. “Treasure business. They’re both seeking what was hidden from the Spanish galleon, along with Captain Foxworth and that too-quiet Sir Erik Farrow. And I say he’s a rogue to be watching.”
Minette frowned. “Captain Farrow is a perfect gentleman.”
“I’ll not argue now—we need him.”
“Yes, yes, what about the Prince Philip?” asked Emerald impatiently. “What has it to do with my father?”
He cleared his throat. “More’n we realized, is my guess. Just how much, only Captain Foxworth and Levasseur knows. Levasseur was to meet your father in these parts and go to Margarita.
”
“After the duel on Tortuga with Captain Foxworth, why would Rafael be friendly with my father? He blames Papa for that duel just as much as he does Baret.”
“Treasure makes strange fellows sign pirate articles, m’gal. An’ it may be Levasseur thinks he can get you back from the viscount. Anyway, it ain’t a friendly agreement between him and your father, I’m thinkin’. Now that the Black Dragon showed up suddenlike, your father is agreein’ with me about Levasseur’s treachery.”
Emerald paced. “Treachery doesn’t surprise me. How could my father have trusted him!”
“He didn’t, and so he’s wisely sent the longboat to alert Captain Foxworth of his plans. But the presence of the Black Dragon complicates things, to be sure.” He frowned and shook his head. “Her captain be worse than Levasseur.”
Emerald drew in a breath to steady her nerves, realizing she knew very little of all that was going on. But she lifted her head bravely. “Does my father know Lex Thorpe?”
Zeddie scowled. “Aye, he knows the captain of the Black Dragon, all right. A cur, that one.”
Emerald’s knees weakened. She went to the open port and turned her gaze seaward. “They’re coming!” Emerald stared at the great black hull moving toward them, the sun slanting across its billowing canvas. The Black Dragon shortened its sails and crept steadily forward to overtake its prey, like a cat stalking a young bird unable to wing its way to safety.
Zeddie came to stand beside her. “Thorpe’ll be holdin’ his fire now, wanting to board. He wants no more damage to the ship.”
Emerald’s throat turned dry. From where she stood, she could see the odious pirates on the Dragon’s bowsprit.
“They’re readying the gaskets of her spritsail,” murmured Zeddie. “An’ them men in the fore-chains are holding their grapnels ready.” He checked his pistols.
Fear wrapped about her heart, but she managed to retain her dignity. Please God, help Baret to get here in time. If not, there’s no one to rescue us.
The cabin door burst open. Emerald whirled, and Minette jumped to her feet from her prayers, leaving the Bible open on the bunk.
Zeddie stepped forward, hand on a pistol.
She was surprised to see her father enter.
Though a privateer, Sir Karlton Harwick could display, when he wished to, as much dignity as an earl. In this situation he was a master at calm. Beneath silvery-blue eyes, his robust face was besmirched with a mixture of sweat and gun smoke. He towered a good six feet, had broad shoulders, and showed a weaving of gray in his auburn hair and in the short beard that curled upward. His brows were straight and slashed across a sea-roughened face.
Emerald ran to him, her alarmed gaze searching his.
He managed a grim smile and took firm hold of her arm.
“So much for the pearls I wanted to send you to London wearing.”
Her eyes moistened. “Oh, Papa, as if I wanted them. The viscount would hardly be impressed.” Her tone was mildly scolding but soft with pride in him nevertheless, for love covered weakness. She held him tightly, her cheek against his arm.
“Aye, lass.” He patted her shoulder and sighed, as though agreeing. “But it’s not too late yet.”
The tone of his voice brought her head up, and she scanned his expression. His eyes glittered like silvery stone.
“That pirate scum of the sea wants my Madeleine. He’s going to board, and there’s no stopping the pack of sea rats now. Still, we’ve hope. Flynn got away last night. If the Almighty aids us, he’ll contact Baret, who’s known to be prowling the area.” He turned his head. “Zeddie, get my dueling weapons!”
Zeddie rushed to oblige him, and Emerald’s heart contracted with alarm.
Her father peered down at her gravely, taking hold of her shoulders with both strong hands and giving her a mild shake for emphasis. “You’ve always been a steady girl and no flighty thing, so I’ll tell you the truth. There’s no chance of escaping them now—they’ll take us. But if my plan works, we’ll get out of this the richer for it. Now, it’s important to go along with whatever I say to Captain Thorpe. That goes for you too, Minette.”
“Yes, of course, Papa.” Emerald clamped her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering.
“We’ve a few minutes,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Tis my fault it’s come to this, daughter. No doubt I’ll live to regret my folly and greed in coming here, but I had good and ample reason for doing so. It wasn’t for pearls alone, but the treasure of the Prince Philip is near at hand. And Baret and Farrow are clued in.”
She thought again of the treasure ship from Cartagena that Baret’s father, Captain Royce Buckington, had been accused of pirating several years earlier. If that treasure was located in these parts, how did her father know?
“You mean the treasure is real—it’s near here?” she whispered.
“Aye, it’s real enough, and it’s the reason Thorpe is prowling these waters too. He was warned by Levasseur that I was coming here. There’s no hope now but to bait Thorpe and stall for time.” He must have seen her trepidation, for he looked sheepish. “I’m sorry, lass, it’s the only way now. I must work with Thorpe to see you safely delivered to the viscount.”
His gravity convinced her.
Her mind turned to the curious decision he had made several days ago. The Madeleine should have sailed to Barbados. Instead they turned toward the Gulf of Venezuela, coming close to Maracaibo, where Emerald had once sailed with Baret, searching for his father. It had taken her several days to realize they were in Spanish waters. She questioned her father about the change.
“We’re off the coast of the Main near Margarita,” he had explained. “Don’t be overly alarmed. Friendly ships belonging to the Brethren of the Coast are in the coves and inlets nearby. Any attack by the guarda costa will bring me all the help I may need. Yet I expect no trouble. I’ve already been in touch with the Spanish governor. He’s assured me he’s prepared for a friendly meeting.”
“With a Spanish governor? Can you trust him?”
“He’s interested in trade,” was all he had said. “I’ve been here before. More important, so has the viscount.”
Her interest was piqued at learning of Baret’s visit, but her father would give no more information despite her probing.
And there had been little time, for word was brought him that a friendly buccaneering ship of a fellow Brother from Tortuga had been sighted. Soon, however, that “friendly rendezvous” with a fellow buccaneer had turned into the surprising and terrible roar of two brass culverins and the news from the bosun that the ship was the Black Dragon.
Now the black vessel was inching closer, and she could read the regret in her father’s eyes over his decision to bring her with him to these waters.
“I should have taken you to Barbados first. It was a mistake to risk coming here without Baret and the Regale.” He walked briskly to the port opening and looked out. “I should have told Baret at Tortuga,” he muttered to himself.
Emerald took hold of his arm. “Told him what? About the treasure?”
Whatever it was, Karlton had no intention of discussing the matter now, and he turned toward Zeddie. “You’re to keep your pistols in your baldric when they enter the cabin. Do nothing. If anything happens to me, insist that the viscount’s expecting Emerald. Is that clear?”
“I have me story down well enough.” Zeddie handed him his weapons.
Sir Karlton strapped them on while Emerald tried to keep from trembling and Minette hovered in the back of the cabin. Then he turned to Emerald. “If the worst comes to me, Thorpe may be baited enough by greed to spare you. He will, if my plan works.”
“What plan?” she whispered. “Is there anything I should know, Papa?”
“Aye, make certain you keep Viscount Baret Buckington a bulwark between you and Thorpe. At the moment, daughter, Baret’s your only shield.”
“The Lord is our protector,” she reminded her father, holding to him.
He nodded g
ravely. “Aye. Now wait here, you and Minette both, and say nothing. You will need to play this hour by hour. I’ll need to go on deck.”
He left the cabin, and she and Minette stood together, waiting, while Zeddie took his place, facing the door.
Her father was a buccaneer and could handle himself with pirates such as Lex Thorpe, she soothed herself. He knew the West Indies and the mind-set of the other freebooters.
It was reported that Tortuga buccaneers did not attack or plunder other buccaneers. But Thorpe was no buccaneer. He was a pirate, the vilest of the vile, with few, if any, scruples. Still, circumstances were never so dark that the sovereign God could not come to their aid.
And yet… what was this greed that her father had just confessed to as having been the provocation for their dreadful dilemma? Had he been pursuing some cause in this area of the Caribbean that could not be defended? And if so, was this end to be their chastening?
Emerald felt the gloom of the fading daylight pass over her soul as the Black Dragon came astern on their larboard quarter, overshadowing the Madeleine, as if Jonah’s sea monster prepared to swallow them whole.
Minette’s amber eyes widened with horror. “They’re boarding now.” She clutched Emerald’s arm. “Hear the drums?”
The throb of pirate drums caused Emerald’s skin to crawl. Then frantic shouting filled the air, followed by the crack of muskets. The deck beneath her feet shook with the sound of breaking timbers, the ring of the grapnels landing and hooking into timber, the scuffle of many feet climbing over the ship’s side and landing with a thud equal to the drumbeat. Pistol shots exploded.
A herd of feet rumbled across the deck. Captain Lex Thorpe and his crew were aboard. Shouts merged with more gunfire, the clang of cutlasses, and the brutal sounds of hand-to-hand fighting enveloped the ship.
Minette drew back against the cabin bulkhead, watching the door.
Emerald winced at the yells. She visualized men struck with the blade and then flung overboard into the shark-infested water. Her ears caught the dreaded sound of the fighting coming ever nearer.
Zeddie stationed himself in front of her and Minette. “Be brave, m’gals. The crewmen serving your father are hearty buccaneers themselves. Be sure Thorpe won’t be wasting his crew o’ cut-throats unless he has to. He’ll want to bargain with your father.”
Buccaneers Series Page 46