Buccaneers Series

by Linda Lee Chaikin

  “I’ve this house. I will do just fine.”

  “You’ll get eaten alive if left here. Jasper was only the beginning.”

  “I told you, I’ll sell turtles!”

  “Until the first pirate decides to claim you. Who’s to stop him if I don’t?”

  “I’ve survived before. You owe me nothing. You’ve only made my life more complicated and—and miserable.”

  “I can avow to the same, madam. Nevertheless, I’ve no choice in all this. I can’t leave you here without Karlton unless everyone expects me to marry you. Not after what’s happened.”

  She pulled away. “And just where were you going to take me after this pretended betrothal? Tortuga?” she asked with a trace of bitterness.

  His eyes narrowed under dark lashes. “I was thinking of the American colonies.”

  She looked up, surprised. “Oh—so now it’s Massachusetts to raise piglets like Jamie Bradford. Is that what Lavender asked you to do with me?”

  “I do as I wish. This is my idea. It’s the best I can come up with, considering. And I was thinking of the Carolinas. I’ve thought of buying a plantation. I could set you up there. Zeddie can go with you, and Ty too, if he wishes. I’ve money enough to take care of you and Minette once my own future is settled.”

  She searched his face, moved more than she had expected to be. “You’re serious.”

  “Of course, I’m serious. It’s the least I can do for friendship’s sake,” he said flatly. “But don’t rush to the conclusion that I care beyond friendship. The moment you gave yourself to Jasper was the end of anything between us.”

  Stung, she caught her breath.

  He too seemed to consider the harshness of his words, then in frustration he walked to his hat and jacket and snatched them up impatiently. He looked back at her.

  Pale and shaken, Emerald stood holding the back of the chair.

  “We’ll talk again later,” he said. He walked to the door.

  She went after him and grabbed his arm. She spoke impulsively. “And where are you going now? To her, of course. She wraps you around her finger. You may own me, but she owns you.”

  Her outburst was a foolish mistake. She saw a faint scowl and the flicker in his eyes. She had only worsened matters. The more she accused Lavender, the worse she portrayed herself. The harder she tried, the faster she would drive him toward her cousin.

  I’m sorry, she wanted to say. After all, he had come. He seemed to care enough about her to want to involve himself in her future. Even when he believed the worst, he had been moved by compassion to try to make amends.

  “Oh, Baret, I shouldn’t have said that. You have every right to go to her.” Emerald’s heart burned in her eyes. “But the least thing you can do is speak with Carlotta.”

  “I said I have.” He frowned. “Emerald, why prolong this? I don’t want to hurt you more than I have to.”

  “Did she also lie about me? Who is she?”

  “A cousin,” he said. “She’s one of Felix’s daughters. I once told you he was in sympathy with Spain. Well, now you know one of the reasons why. He was married to a Spanish ambassador’s daughter.”

  Struck to silence, she stared at him.

  “She and I have little in common. But she has no reason to lie to me about you and Jasper.”

  “She is lying, Baret. She was angry and jealous. Go to her again. She’ll tell you. She has to.”

  He put his hat on. “We’ll go through with the betrothal, because I won’t leave you here without protection. You need someone behind you that men like Jasper fear to cross. If it hadn’t been for Felix and Jasper believing I’d be arrested on my return, he wouldn’t have dared to misuse you. That goes for Pitt too. I’ve a score to settle with him.”

  She heard little of what he said for her heart ached with turmoil. “Then you intend to marry Lavender?”

  “Emerald, I don’t want to discuss it with either of you.”

  Did that mean Lavender too had been “discussing it”?

  “Lavender came to see me before my father was killed. She wants you back,” she said quietly. “She made clear she’ll do whatever she must. She, too, lies about me. I suppose that’s why you were with her this morning—because you both intend to inform your cousin Grayford about how the two of you feel when he returns.”

  He threw open the door. “I’ll come back.”

  “I don’t know what you’re so upset about, Baret Buckington. You’ve gotten what you wanted.”

  He looked at her, infuriatingly unreadable. “Have I? Pack your trunk. We’re leaving tomorrow for Foxemoore.”

  “No. I won’t go there. I only agreed to cooperate with Earl Nigel’s wishes about the betrothal because he threatened to send my father to the Tower. It no longer matters,” she said reflectively.

  “Nevertheless, I don’t see how we can avoid carrying out the bargain.”

  How tasteless he made it sound, and of course it was.

  “My grandfather fears my presence in Port Royal will come between Lavender and Grayford, and I want this expedition on the Spanish Main. So if he wants a public betrothal, he’ll get one.”

  “To sail with Henry Morgan, you must agree to your grandfather’s rules.”

  “And so I shall.”

  “You think nothing of a public betrothal to me as long as you get this legal expedition.”

  “Perhaps better than anyone else, you know why it’s so important to me. I’m willing to publicly claim you, despite everything that’s gone before. Does that not say anything of honor?”

  “You do so because it affords you the right to sail to Porto Bello.”

  “Better to sail under commission of the king than hang, don’t you think? You’ve no cause to scorn the gesture, madam,” he said dryly. “As the betrothed of the viscount you will have a cloak for your reputation.”

  “Is that all it means to you—a cloak to shield me from what you wrongly think happened?”

  “Not just Jasper. You’ve also forgotten your illustrious cousin Rafael. I see no cause for you to be angry with me about a temporary engagement. The situation will suit both our causes well.”

  She turned her back. “And when your expedition with Morgan is over, and you return with your father, then what?”

  “You know the answer,” he said quietly. “I’ll take you to the Carolinas.”

  “And then you’ll decide you were in love with Lady Thaxton after all.”

  He folded his arms. “I’ve decided I’m not in love with her or anyone else.”

  “Your commitment to your freedom suits you well,” she said coolly.

  “I am bound to you for as long as it is mutually agreeable.”

  “I do not vow so lightly, m’lord Buckington.”

  “Oh?” He walked back to her, took her arm, and turned her around to face him. His dark eyes glinted. “You have already vowed to me on Tortuga, and I to you. Remember? I made a promise to your father, and I intend to keep it.”

  “Until it satisfies your purpose, or Lavender’s, to break it?”

  “Lavender can do nothing I do not agree to. Look, Emerald, I want this expedition with Morgan to Porto Bello, and I intend for nothing to stop me, including your reluctance. You’ve already been unfaithful to me. Do not speak so self-righteously of honor and vows!”

  “I was not unfaithful!”

  “Do we need go through this again?”

  “Very well, Lord Buckington. You shall have your pseudo-engagement to appease the earl, since it suits you. It will also suit my purpose. I will go to Foxemoore, as you ask. But in going, I shall expect to take full advantage of being your betrothed. I’ll pursue the causes on my heart even as you pursue your Spanish dons for revenge.”

  A brow lifted, and his eyes flickered over her face. “You shall have my wholehearted support, madam—especially for your newfound courage to stare down the foxes.”

  “You best hear what I have in mind before you so readily agree.”

  �
�I think I know what you have in mind.”

  “I won’t return as Karlton’s little daughter, prepared to slink away to the bungalow upon the first instance of conflict. I’ll live in the Great House—and Minette will live there with me. I’ll let everyone know I expect to be Lady Buckington. Are you sure you want Lavender to endure my eminent presence?”

  A faint smile touched his mouth. “Return to Foxemoore and do all that is on your heart.”

  “I will,” she said boldly. “But you may end up being sorry you ever decided to go through with our temporary betrothal.”

  “I’ll back you up,” he promised.

  “Mr. Pitt will be fired and sent to the boiling house where he belongs.”

  “As you wish.”

  “And a friend of mine—a slave named Ngozi—will be made overseer.”

  He scanned her. “Why not?”

  “And I shall start Mathias’s singing school. I’ll change the hopeless African chants into Christian music—and teach them to any who will listen.”

  She thought she saw a spark of approval in his eyes. He kept watching her, musing, as though he were uncertain about something and growing troubled.

  “Well, have you changed your mind?” she asked bluntly.

  “No…not about the betrothal. Or the expedition. I just can’t see why a woman willing to risk so much for the slaves would trade away her honor for satins and jewels—cheap ones at that.”

  Her heart throbbed. “I haven’t,” she said in a whisper. “I’ve not compromised. I was only there two days!”

  He came alert. “Carlotta said weeks.”

  “Impossible! Ask the turnkey at Brideswell. And if she is prone to lie about the length of time, why not about Jasper?”

  He looked at her for a long moment. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but he did not appear content with things as they were.

  “I’ll leave one of my crew on guard for the night. I’ll be in touch.”

  He shut the door behind him. She heard him leave, then sank into her father’s chair.

  If she did as he wished and allowed him to bring her to the Carolinas—but he was doing so only because he felt responsibility for her safety, not because he was in love with her.

  Emptiness stalked her spirits. Again the words from Proverbs walked through her soul. “Who can find a virtuous woman…her price is far above rubies.” Remembering the jewels that Baret had paid to Jamie and Levasseur for her brought tears to her eyes. He no longer thought she was worth them. He was helping her out of honor.

  Perhaps an hour passed. Emerald still sat in her father’s chair. Then there were footsteps outside the door—unsteady footsteps that rekindled memories of the night Mr. Pitt had come. Cold fear broke out. She told herself there was no chance of that happening again. It must be the crewman that Baret promised to send. She now thanked God for Baret’s concern.

  She opened the door and stepped out onto the landing, and a cry of joy broke from her lips.

  “Aye, m’gal, ‘tis me. You’re not seeing a ghost.”

  “Zeddie!” she cried as he came to her, tears in his eyes. “Oh, thank God you’re alive and well. I thought they’d killed you too.”

  He held her awkwardly, patting her head. “So the napes must’ve thought, and so did I, for a week. Ol’ Hannibal found me wandering about dazed and took me aboard the Madeleine.”

  “Who is Hannibal?”

  “A freebooter, an’ a friend of your father. I told him what happened, and he searched for you but was told you’d gone to Tortuga with Levasseur.”

  “Rafael! As if I’d go with him.”

  “So I thought, but there were supposed to be witnesses enough. Lyin’ ones, so I see now. But I thought you might’ve went with the rascal in hopes of finding Captain Foxworth. Then I heard you was in Brideswell. But the turnkey said you was with that Jasper at Spanish Town. Then when I got there, they said you wasn’t and that he was sick in bed. I stayed at an inn in the storm, then came here.”

  They went inside, and she told him all that had happened.

  He shook his head gravely. “These has been dark and evil days, m’gal, an’ it looks like for you at least they ain’t over yet. The loss of Sir Karlton ain’t a light thing.”

  She walked to a chair and sat down. “Zeddie, I still can’t believe he’s actually gone.”

  “Nor me, m’gal.”

  “We both shall miss him dreadfully.”

  There was a knock on the door. He scowled, but Emerald stood to reassure him. “It’s all right, Zeddie. That should be the crewman Baret sent to guard us tonight.”

  Nevertheless, he opened the door cautiously.

  But a moment later a young and capable buccaneer politely identified himself as Tom, then took up his position outside the door for the night.

  Alone in the crow’s nest later that night, Emerald tossed restlessly in her father’s bed, unable to sleep. The precious letter confirming her innocence in the matter of Mr. Pitt lay safely in the desk drawer. Baret, she thought with a pang, I can never tell you I love you now. It would only make you feel more obligated toward me.

  She looked out toward the moon, shining brightly in the dark sky. A word from the Psalms came to mind: And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.

  She would do that.

  22

  CALLED TO KING’S HOUSE

  Zeddie hadn’t driven the buggy very far down Fishers Row when he had to slow the horse and pull over to the side.

  “Drums? Again?” Emerald stared ahead. “Another of the governor’s announcements?”

  The booming grew louder, combined with shouts of the governor’s criers sounding through the streets.

  “They’re calling for the freebooters to gather for an announcement. I heard about it at Tortuga. Modyford and the council is offering commissions to fight the Dutch.”

  Remembering Baret’s refusal to involve himself in a war against his mother’s people, she wondered how many other buccaneers would oblige the governor.

  The crier clambered on top of stacked rum barrels. “Hear ye! Hear ye! His Royal Majesty’s Governor Thomas Modyford is granting marques to any and all private ships to attack the enemy in the Caribbean waters to strengthen, preserve, enrich, and advance the safety of the English-held territory of Jamaica for His Majesty King Charles!”

  “Gutter scrapings,” mumbled Zeddie. “It’s Spain who remains the enemy of England and all the king’s colonies in the Indies.”

  So that was the reason for the meeting at King’s House, thought Emerald. Then why had she been called to this extravaganza? While the freebooters met with the governor’s officials and received their commissions, the planters, Port Royal merchants, and members of their families were to be entertained by the governor. Nervously, Emerald touched her gloved hand to her meticulous hairdo, wondering that she even had the nerve to show herself.

  If she hadn’t, Baret would have come for her and insisted. Still, it seemed an odd thing to her to answer the governor’s questions in the library, while the officials and their wives and daughters waltzed about the green. What if everyone knew she’d been at the hacienda when Sir Jasper was shot by Captain Buckington? Another scandal involving her!

  If the governor’s criers expected the freebooters to show excitement over the issuing of commissions, they must have been disappointed. The dozen remaining privateer captains congregating on the wharf lounged about, bored and sullen.

  A pirate shouted, “Who among us cares about attacking Hollanders and Frenchies?”

  “The governor is meeting with the chief captains of the Brotherhood tonight! And Henry Morgan is the first to sign!”

  “What’s the pay?”

  “Governor Modyford will see loans given to resupply your ships. All booty taken from England’s enemies on the Dutchheld islands of St. Eustatius and Curaço is in your hand!”

  The privateers exchanged
glances, but it was clear even to Emerald that enthusiasm was low. The Dutch colonies were not deemed to be as rich as the Spanish galleons.

  “We’ll wait and see what Morgan has to say.”

  When the crowd dispersed, Zeddie, wearing a scowl, drove the buggy toward King’s House.

  “The governor knows Jamaica is dependent on the buccaneers for safety. He also knows there’s no love for attackin’ the Dutch or French, and so I’m wonderin’ what he has up his sleeve to bait ’em. A few meager cups and bales of cloth taken from the Dutch colonists won’t whet their appetites. It’s vengeance on the Spaniards they want, and doubloons aplenty. You saw there was no excitement for his marques, not when the French governor is wantin’ to keep the Brethren on Tortuga—an’ offering commissions against Spain to do it.”

  “Surely there won’t be fighting with the Dutch so quickly,” said Emerald, trying to hold back her concern.

  “I wouldn’t count on it, m’gal. I heard a strange tale about Barbados while I was on Tortuga. Seemed the Dutch admiral came calling. That’s why the governor is a mite worried. If the Dutch from New Amsterdam decides to send a man-o’-war to Jamaica, it won’t take ’em long. And the French too has warships at Martinique. An’ now you know why Modyford is sharing his Madeira with Morgan.”

  In Emerald’s mind she could see no reason for concern for the island. Her father had often said that Port Royal harbor was the best natural seaport in the Western Hemisphere and that it was defendable. She told Zeddie so.

  He straightened his periwig. “Aye, the harbor is capable of holdin’ all the ships of Christendom is my guess, but the king’s ships ain’t anchored here, as ye see. Commodore Mings was already called to England when the war looked nigh—so Jamaica is left with only the buccaneers. An’ what of the king’s ships is left in the Caribbean will sail the waters of the Hudson Bay now that war is announced for sure.”

  She must have shown her concern, for Zeddie hastened to add, “To be sure now, ye’ve no cause to worry. Any Dutch or French ship poking about Jamaica will find the buccaneers more’n enough to turn ’em all to flames if it comes to it.”

  “If Governor Modyford can promise them booty,” said Emerald, not at all certain he could. “And what of the king’s navy?”