by Tina Donahue
“My first thought was to put a bullet through his heart and one in his head.”
She went gray. “When you left piracy you promised not to spill more blood.”
“Only as long as you, our coming children, Peter, James, and the islanders weren’t attacked. That said, I’m not going to murder Royce. He does have a reason for what he did. I didn’t want to believe him, but there is the note Bishop sent here.”
Her eyes rounded. “Bishop knows where we are?”
“No. The tale’s long and I need to get back to question Royce. You must trust that I’ll see to everyone’s welfare, especially yours.” He backed away.
She followed. “I have no doubt you’ll do your best for us. But I insist on being in there with you and him. We promised to share everything, good and bad. It was in our marriage ceremony.”
“How would you know? The priest spoke Portuguese. You stared at him as you do when the islanders speak French too quickly for you to understand.”
She clenched her jaw. “This is no time to make light of things.”
Tristan couldn’t have disagreed more. He wanted to see her smile. Since spiriting her to this island, she’d faced one crisis after the other, forcing him to fight even harder for her understanding and love. After he’d banished Canela, Tristan had hoped he and Diana would have a new beginning of quiet days and sensuous nights. Not likely now. “Forgive me. Let’s go inside.”
James held his pistol to Royce’s temple.
Despite the threat, Royce jumped to his feet. “Is Simone all right?”
Tristan pulled the chair over, giving it to Diana. “Are you deliberately trying to get shot? Can’t you see James is eager to do so?”
“I don’t care about me. Please tell me what happened to Simone.”
“When she found out what you’d done, she swooned. Ruthless lies and betrayal will do that to a woman.”
“I never lied about how I feel toward her or you people.”
“Yes, we know.” James pressed the muzzle to Royce’s throat. “You had no choice in this matter. This is your mother and sisters’ fault.”
“Wait.” Diana stared at Royce. “You have family?”
Tristan retrieved the crumpled message and handed it to her.
Royce glared at James. “The fault lies with me alone. I don’t care if you kill me, but you will not say anything against my sisters or mother.”
“None of us should or will.” Diana held up the paper. “This is precisely how Bishop ensnares others, finding their vulnerabilities and exploiting them. He’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if that means harming innocents. I believe he prefers when that happens. He’s holding Royce’s family over his head. Royce had no choice in what he did.”
James rolled his eyes. “Feel sorry for him if you must, but we’re the ones who would have paid if Gavra hadn’t given me the sheet he’d practiced his note on. If not for that, when do you think he would have told us what he and Bishop had planned?”
Royce rubbed his forehead. “I never would have if I could have gotten away with it.”
“Finally.” James extended his arm in a grand gesture to Royce, then Diana. “The truth comes out.”
Royce spoke to her. “I explained to James and Tristan that I wanted the chart so I could send Bishop in another direction, away from here. I hoped he’d die in a shipwreck.”
“But Bishop hasn’t, has he?” James aimed his gun at Royce’s groin.
Diana sighed. “Royce is unarmed. Must you point your weapon to either kill him or maim him so badly he wishes he were dead?”
“James.” Tristan gestured to his pistol. “Put it away. We need to discuss this calmly and rationally.”
“What I’ve done is contemptible,” Royce said. “I want to make this right anyway I can if you’ll allow—Simone.”
She leaned against the doorway, face damp, eyes swollen.
James held Royce’s arm, keeping him from going to her.
“Is it true?” She stared at Royce. “Did you write Tristan’s name but told me it was tambavy?”
Shame flashed in his eyes. He nodded.
Simone whimpered. “No. You never lied to me, except now, because of the pistol. It makes you say these things.” Tears dripped from her lashes. “You needed to practice Tristan’s name so you could write things to him. When you looked at what you wrote, you thought it said something else.”
“Simone—”
“Did you write on the paper telling a white man how to come here, or did you put what I needed from the medicine books? You told me that. You read it back to me. It was about a potion, I know. Tell Tristan that.”
“I can’t.” Royce’s voice shook. “I lied to you. I practiced my message to the white man.”
“No.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.”
She covered her mouth and turned away.
Chapter 13
Royce had never been as weary.
During his darkest days in London, he’d maintained hope that he could make things right, even with creditors hounding him for money to pay his father’s debts and his mother and sisters out of reach physically and financially. All he had to do was sell his services and soul to Benedict Bishop.
Past that, he hadn’t considered what his life would be like. Hadn’t really cared.
Simone had been an unknown entity then, a faceless person he’d use to reach his goal. Destroying her trust, or anyone else’s here, wasn’t something he’d pondered. Murdering Bishop, then gaining Diana’s freedom would surely be enough.
What a bloody fool he’d been.
He craned his neck for a better view of the kitchen and the women working there. None appeared in the doorway. They spoke softly, no voice distinct enough to be Simone’s.
Tristan had gathered everyone in the dining area to discuss options and to plan. Charts lay across the table. Peter had joined the group and remained uncharacteristically quiet.
“No, no, no.” Gavra’s voice rose above the other females. “Nettoie le sol. La soupe est partout.” Clean the floor. The soup is everywhere.
She entered the dining area, tea service in hand.
Royce tried to catch her eye. She rounded the table and filled Tristan’s cup. He and James studied the maps. Diana touched her diamonds, her gaze haunted and turned inward. Gavra poured Peter’s tea. He stared at the steaming liquid.
She gave Royce his serving.
“Thank you. How is Simone?”
“You stay away from her.”
“I just want to know how she is.”
“How do you think? You killed her with your lies. You made her the fool, the same as all of us. Make him stay away, James. Tell him he’s hurt her enough.”
Gavra’s mouth quivered. Her eyes shone.
James left his chair. With his arm around her shoulders, he led her into the kitchen.
Tristan faced Royce. “Best you don’t push your luck with James. He’s a fair man, the finest I know, but if you make Gavra cry again, I can’t promise he won’t beat you to a bloody pulp.”
“He can kill me for all I care. I still want to know if Simone’s all right. At least physically. I know what I’ve done to her faith in a world that should be sane, kind, and honest but isn’t. If I could give my life in exchange for her renewed belief in men, me in particular, I would.”
“Don’t be so quick to offer something you may regret.” Tristan regarded the chart.
Royce touched the paper. “There.”
Tristan knocked his hand away. “What?”
“The island I told you and James about in my chamber. Close enough to this one not to raise Bishop’s suspicions. Ideally located to lure him to his end in a shipwreck.”
Diana lowered her teacup. “What about his crew? You’d be sending those men to their deaths along with him.”
Royce shrugged. “No need to fret where they’re concerned. He hires the vil
est people imaginable.”
Peter snorted. “Like you.”
“Yes, exactly. I’m as monstrous as they are. Perhaps worse.” Royce tapped the chart. “I say we draw Bishop here and be done with him forever.”
Tristan shook his head. “No way to ensure everything will turn out as you want. I don’t like having to depend upon the weather or circumstances aligning themselves to solve problems. We’d have no source to tell us what happened to him. He could redouble his efforts to find this isle.”
“It’s our only option unless you intend to sail to Mozambique and kill him yourself.”
“No. Absolutely not.” Diana gripped the table. “I’ll allow no talk like that. Tristan, I forbid you to do anything so dangerous.”
He straightened. “You forbid me?”
“Indeed I do. Our child needs you and so do I. If you can’t see the folly in this, then you had better listen to me, or I’ll sail to Bishop’s hellhole and see to the matter myself. Don’t forget, I pursued and waylaid you in Madagascar, pulling you from sleep with my rapier at your throat. I can do the same with that bloody beast.”
“As I recall, I then escaped and captured you for all time.”
Her face reddened.
Tristan smiled. “Ah, so you remember too. I made fast work of turning things in my favor and will do the same with Bishop.”
“As he’s a man, he’s immune to your charm.”
“You’re not.”
“Indeed.” She screwed up her mouth. “That’s my downfall. Whenever you’re around, I can’t think clearly. With him, I shan’t have that problem.”
“How right you are, because I forbid you to even consider such a thing.” He held up his hand. “Before you rail at me, I have no intention of leaving the island. I’ll kill Bishop on the beach. Or, if he’s able to steal closer, in the forest.”
Royce leaned in. “What? You want him to come here?”
“What better way to know that he’s dead?”
“No.” Diana pressed into her chair, shoulders to her ears. “That would be madness to have him discover this isle.”
Tristan patted her arm. “It’s the only way, my love. I don’t want to spend the rest of our days worrying that he’ll arrive for a surprise attack. We both know he’s not going to give up. I’ve taken too many of his ships. You escaped his grasp. He’s used to winning. His pride demands it. That’s his fatal flaw and we can use it to settle this.”
“What of his crew? You intend to murder them after you’re finished with him?”
“Why not?” Peter lowered his cup. “Won’t bother me. I’ll help.”
“You will not.” Diana turned to Royce. “Talk some sense into them.”
“Gladly. I’ll kill Bishop. He’s mine. No one else’s.”
“What?” Diana stood. “Are you as mad as they are?”
“He doesn’t deserve to live after what he’d threatened to do to my mother and sisters. Some people must die to spare others who are more deserving. The blood will be on my hands. Not Tristan’s or Peter’s.”
“What about the crew?” Peter glanced around the table. “Who gets to do them in?”
Diana sank to her chair. “We’re now contemplating deliberate murder for men we’ve never met.”
“Of course.” Peter smiled as one would when explaining a universal truth to a slow child. “Happens in war all the time. You’ve studied history. You already know that.”
“Indeed I do. But those are battles fought by forces loyal to their countries. Those on both sides are aware of the situation. It’s not an ambush on unsuspecting mariners. The men aren’t even pirates. No matter what Royce said about them being vile, I’d wager some went to sea for the same reason Tristan did. To eat and survive. How can we kill them so casually?”
“We can’t let them leave.” Tristan took her hand. “They’ll know where we are. They’d tell others. We’d never see an end to this.”
“They could always join you here,” Royce said. “At least those who are as Diana described, impoverished and wanting to make a decent life for themselves. I can’t imagine them finding this isle less pleasant than being at sea.”
“Whether they stay would be up to the islanders.” Tristan pushed his saucer aside. “It’s their land, not ours. Whatever they decide, we have to respect their wishes. Right now, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. You need to pen a message to Bishop that will bring him here without arousing suspicion. The moment the weather improves, the note must go out.”
“What about our countrymen?” Diana gripped her cup. “Bishop has connections in government. What if he uses the information Royce sends him to pull the fleet into this? Warships and hundreds of men may show up, prepared to attack.”
Tristan held her chin. “For us? The Royal Navy has better things to do than run down a former pirate who thwarted a corrupt merchant. However, to be certain, let’s ask Royce. He’s a peer.”
“He is?” Diana looked at him skeptically. “You are?”
“I am. But a disgraced one, thanks to my father’s crimes. The last I heard, Russia and Sweden has the navy occupied in events at those locations. Doubtful they’d pull together a crew to help Bishop on what they’d consider a minor excursion. He would also risk you telling the authorities everything you know about him once they arrived. Like a cockroach, he prefers to hide and operate unseen.”
“Does that mean we’re doing this?” She moaned. “An ambush, murder, possibly a slaughter?”
“I understand your concern, but as Tristan said, this is the only sure way to break Bishop’s hold.” Royce pulled the map over. “Are the coordinates Peter offered this morning correct?”
Peter crossed his arms. “Of course they are.”
“I’m afraid not.” Tristan pointed to an island. “This is where we are.”
Slightly south of the location Peter had stated. “We should compose the message together. Make certain it’s precisely what you want and to assure you that I’m not keeping anymore secrets.”
“I’d already planned on that. Peter, fetch what we need.”
Diana pushed to her feet slowly.
Tristan looked up. “Are you all right?”
“Tired. I’m going to rest for a bit.”
“I hate to ask…” Royce measured his words. “Will you check on Simone? See if she’s feeling well or at least better? When you have a chance, will you tell me what you know? I never wanted to hurt her. I hoped to avoid that with my newest plan.”
Diana gestured helplessly. “I can’t. It’s not that I don’t want to, but my French is too poor. I wouldn’t be able to translate what she said accurately or convey my thoughts to her.”
He’d forgotten she wasn’t fluent. “Tristan, can you take a moment to speak with Simone?”
“I’d rather not. I’m not good at handling problems with women.”
Diana touched his shoulder. “You do splendidly with me. However, if it makes you feel more competent, we could do this together. I’ll tell you what to say and you could translate.”
“No. At least for now. We need to write the message first. It has to be perfect and ready when the sky clears.”
She brushed back his hair. “Do what you must. After I rest, we’ll have a word with her. Won’t we?”
“Yes, of course.”
Once Diana’s footfalls had faded, Tristan gave Royce a hard look. “Consider this a warning—don’t ask Diana to act as an intermediary between you and Simone. As far as Simone goes, stay away from her. Never say her name or let her enter your thoughts.”
“You don’t think I’ve tried? I love her, as you do Diana. How many warned you not to pursue her, but did you listen? I think not.”
Tristan chuckled. “You’re correct. I was a besotted fool as you are, and still am. However, I wed Diana and made a home here with her. I don’t see you doing the same with Simone.”
“My current situation is too unsettled.”
<
br /> “Exactly. Once you resolve matters, you can then make your plans. That is, if you’re still interested in doing so. In the interim, as long as you don’t bother Simone, I promise to keep Gavra from stabbing you and James from putting a bullet in your head.”
“Why would you want to do that?” James took his seat. “I’d rather like to shoot him.”
“Be my guest.” Royce threw out his arms. “There, I’m the perfect target.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
Royce relaxed. “How’s Gavra?”
“Calmer, thanks to my tender care. Don’t speak to her again. She doesn’t like you.”
“Did she say anything about Simone?”
Tristan held his head. “Is there no end to this?”
Royce spoke first. “Convince me Simone’s all right and I promise never to ask again, until I grow worried, which will probably be always. So no, it won’t end.”
James bumped Tristan’s arm. “He reminds me of when you were having problems with Diana. Worried you weren’t good enough for her. Remember?”
“I do now. Thank you for bringing it up and in front of an audience.”
“It’s just him.”
“My name is Royce.”
“Here’s everything you need.” Peter put the paper, ink, and quills on the table. “Can I stay to help write it?”
“No.” Tristan took a sheet and quill. “Do your studies. We’ll show you the note we decide on when we’re finished.”
James lit additional lamps. The lengthening day and dismal weather made it seem more like night than late afternoon.
“First, we need to determine what the note should contain.” Tristan dipped his tip into the ink. “Bishop must come here on our schedule, not his, so we have surprise on our side. Next, we need his immediate response and date he plans to set sail. He must believe Royce requires the information to get us into a vulnerable position. Let him think the more forewarning Royce has, the easier it will be for Bishop to best us.”
“I agree.” Royce took his quill. “To get him here as quickly as possible, I should tell him that you and the pirates I manufactured have discussed going after a new prize. You heard of a ship passing this area and plan to take her. If Bishop doesn’t arrive at the time he says, he will have missed the opportunity to capture you and Peter. We can also tell him Diana is on the journey, serving in the crew. She did say she intercepted you in Madagascar. I’d like to hear that story someday.”