His gaze dropped from hers as he replaced his pistol in his breast pocket. “Very well. I’ll do as you wish.”
She stared at him suspiciously. “What do you mean, ‘as I wish’?”
“I won’t bring my cannons in here. I’ll sail away without ever letting the pirates know I was here.” His gaze bore into hers. “But only on one condition.”
“Condition?”
“That you leave with me.”
Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. She should have anticipated this. Jordan had always been willing to do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant this sort of wretched blackmail.
“Keep in mind,” he added when he saw her expression, “that my men have orders to attack unless I return to the Defiant by noon. I’m not leaving until you leave with me, even if it means watching the destruction from here on the island.”
A chill shook her. “Jordan, don’t ask this of me. There are some women here who want to leave, and you should take them, to be sure, but as for me—”
“You’re the only one I care about, Sara. I’m not leaving here without you.”
“I don’t want to leave! Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said?”
“Yes. But I don’t think you mean what you say.” His voice turned placating. “Soldiers know of this phenomenon. It happens all the time to men in captivity. While they’re cut off from society, they lose their perspective and begin to understand and trust their captors. After they’re rescued, however, they realize they weren’t in their right minds at the time.”
Not in their right minds, indeed! “Oh, how can I make you see? I am in my right mind. I know what I’m doing!”
“Then prove it to me. Come with me to England, Sara. Leave these scoundrels to their colony.” He planted his hands on his hips. “If after a few weeks, you feel the same way you do now, I’ll bring you back.”
“No, you won’t. I know you, Jordan. Even when you’ve been proven wrong, you don’t acknowledge it. You’ll take me from here and then make excuses about why you can’t bring me back.” She fixed him with a pleading gaze. “If you force me to leave here with you, it’ll destroy me, do you hear? I’ll hate you for it. I promise you that.”
Her words made him flinch, but only for a second. Then his face resumed its implacable expression. “Better you hate me now than live to regret staying here. If you don’t come with me, I promise I’ll take every one of those pirates prisoner and bring them back to England, and the women with them. I have enough men and arms to do it.”
She shuddered at the thought of what havoc his men and arms might wreak on the island. How was she to stop him? How could she make him see that she truly knew what she was doing?
Suddenly, the sound of branches crunching underfoot made them both start. Petey approached them through the trees, tugging Ann along with him.
“There you are,” Jordan growled. “It’s about time. We have to leave.”
Petey glanced at Ann, then squared his shoulders. “We’re stayin’ here, Ann and me. We’re not goin’ back to England with you, guv’nor.”
Jordan clenched his fists. “Have you all gone mad? What did this pirate do, cast a spell over you?”
“I can’t go back to England, milord,” Ann whispered, looking a little in awe of Jordan. “They’ll just send me off to New South Wales again. Or else I’ll have to spend the rest of my days runnin’ from the magistrate. And Petey don’t want to risk it.” She cast her love a shy smile. “He’d druther stay here with me than go off to England without me.”
“Look here, Miss Morris,” Jordan said, “I’m sure I can speak to a few people and ensure that you don’t have to suffer transportation again.”
“It ain’t just that, my lord,” Petey broke in. “It’s…well, this is a right nice place. I was only here a day the last time, but it was long enough to see that it would make a pleasant home. I got nothin’ waitin’ back in England for me. Tommy don’t need me. He’s got his own family. It would take me years of sailin’ to make enough blunt to buy even a little cottage, and I’d be separated from Ann a good bit of the time. But here, if I don’t mind some hard work, I can have everythin’ I want.” He gazed adoringly down at Ann. “Everythin’.”
“And what do you think that pirate captain will do when he discovers you here after we’re gone?” Jordan bit out.
Petey’s eyes went round. “Truly, my lord, I don’t know. But he’s a man of reason. Once I explain as how I had to do my duty by Miss Willis an’ all, he’ll understand.”
Sara wasn’t so sure of that, but had no desire to dampen Petey’s enthusiasm. “You see what I mean?” she snapped at Jordan. “Even your servant doesn’t want to leave Atlantis.”
“Atlantis.” Jordan snorted. “What a name for a pirate’s den. The Greeks would turn over in their graves.” He glared at Petey. “Stay here, then. I only hope you live past morning to enjoy it.”
He turned to his stepsister. “But you, my dear, are coming with me. Or I swear I’ll hunt that deuced pirate captain down and sever his charming head from his treacherous body!”
She studied her stepbrother’s face with a sinking heart. He really meant it. If she didn’t get him away from here, he’d kill Gideon or take him prisoner, which would be as good as killing him. Not to mention what Jordan’s men might do to the island and its inhabitants.
“If I go with you, will you swear to leave without harming anyone? And will you swear not to tell a soul about this place?” It wasn’t ideal, but it was the best she could do under the circumstances. Bringing Petey here had been like opening Pandora’s box, and she couldn’t reverse the damage completely.
“I can’t prevent my men from revealing the location of the island,” he growled.
She glared at him. “If the Earl of Blackmore can’t do it, then I don’t know who can.”
“Sara, you try my patience—”
“The men don’t know who lives on this island, miss,” Petey broke in, earning himself one of Jordan’s darkest scowls. “His lordship didn’t tell them what they were about before they reached the Cape Verde islands, because he wanted to keep ‘em from spreadin’ scandal about you later. And he kept quiet afterward to prevent any of ‘em from jumpin’ ship in Santiago out of fear of meetin’ the Pirate Lord. Most sailors is terrified of Cap’n Horn.”
“Good, let’s keep it that way.” A measure of relief swept through her. If Petey was right, perhaps she could at least keep other men from returning here to capture or kill the pirates later. She faced her brother, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not going with you unless you swear to leave the island unscathed and keep your silence about it, especially with your men.”
Jordan cast her a searching glance. “If I do, you’ll return to England? You’ll forget this nonsense?”
“I’ll return to England, but I won’t forget a blessed thing. I fully intend to take you up on your offer to bring me back here once I’ve convinced you that my feelings won’t change.”
“Devil take it, Sara—”
“That’s my bargain, Jordan. Do you accept it?”
He glanced away, staring through the trees to the brilliant sunlit surf. Then he snapped his gaze back to her. “Yes. Anything to have you off this cursed island.”
“I must have your word as a gentleman on it, do you hear? I won’t have you dropping broad hints to your friends in the Navy about where they can find a certain pirate’s den.”
“You’re a deuced stubborn woman, you know that?”
“I learned it from you.”
He sighed, raking his hands through his auburn hair. “That’s probably true. Well, then, I swear by my honor that I won’t reveal the whereabouts of this island. Now can we leave?”
“What about the other women? The ones who don’t wish to stay?”
“I thought everyone was happy in your paradise,” he said sarcastically.
She dropped her gaze. “Some of the women…are not suited to this place. Can�
�t we take them with us?”
“Not unless you want to alert the pirates to our presence. We were lucky to find you alone. All it takes is one woman to give the alarm. Then I’d be taken prisoner and my men would attack.” He lowered his voice. “Of course, if you’d allow me to land my men, we could easily rescue the women—”
Her head snapped up. “Absolutely not.”
“Then let’s go. Let’s leave this cursed place.”
“In a moment.” She turned to Ann. “Tell the women I’ll be back for them. When I return, anyone who wishes to leave may do so.” Removing her locket, she held it a moment, then kissed it and handed it to Ann. “And give this to Gideon. Say I’ll be back for it. Make sure you tell him that, do you understand?”
“Sara,” Jordan broke in, “that belonged to your mother.”
“Exactly.” A lump formed in her throat, but she ignored it. She would get her locket back one day soon. She would! “Gideon knows what it means to me, and he knows I’d never leave it behind. I can think of no other way to reassure him that I’ll return.”
How inadequate that would be in the wake of his mother’s betrayal. Her leaving here so secretively would destroy him. He might never forgive her, and the possibility of that made her want to weep.
She faced Petey, intending to have him tell Gideon that she’d left under protest. Then she paused. No, if Gideon knew she’d been forced from here, nothing would stop him from following her to England. She couldn’t have that. He must believe she’d left of her own free will.
“Tell Gideon that I’ll return, no matter what, but don’t say a word to him of my bargain with Jordan, do you hear? He’ll follow me to England and get himself hanged, and anyone who goes with him. Swear you won’t tell him the truth of why I left. Both of you, swear it.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Petey nodded. Then Ann followed suit.
Sara’s heart ached at the sight. By making them swear this, she was ensuring that Gideon would suffer great pain. But she’d rather he suffered some pain than be taken prisoner the minute he entered English waters. In England, his fate would be short, cruel, and final. She couldn’t even bear to think of it.
“Come on, Sara,” Jordan said impatiently. “My men have orders to attack if I don’t return to the Defiant by noon.”
“All right.” She hugged Ann, then Petey. “I will be back,” she told both of them tearfully. “It may take months, but I’ll return to Atlantis as soon as I can.”
As she walked off with Jordan, he cast her an angry glance. “You act as if you’re going off to your execution instead of returning to the arms of your family and your rightful home.”
“The arms of my family? I used to think of you as family, Jordan.” She stared stonily ahead, scarcely noticing where they walked. “But now? Now I regard you as my jailer. And I’m afraid I will regard you that way until the day you bring me back here.”
For once, her brother had the wisdom not to retort.
Chapter 23
If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?
—MARY ASTELL, POET AND FEMINIST
PREFACE TO SOME REFLECTIONS UPON MARRIAGE
By the time the men who’d gone hunting reached the beach in the early evening, they were in high spirits. They were weighted down with several pig car-casses and had even bagged a few partridges. Amid much boasting and joking, they swaggered toward the communal bonfire and called for ale.
Gideon, however, had no interest in ale. He wanted Sara. He could hardly wait to tell her of the waterfall they’d stumbled upon at the edge of a grove of orange trees. Already he was making plans to return with her in the morning. They could bathe in the falls, then feed each other oranges, a fitting prelude to an afternoon of lovemaking in the solitude of the forest.
Shifting his small canvas bag from one hand to the other, he thought of the gifts he’d brought her—an odd piece of sparkling rock, several oranges, a piece of scrimshaw. He was especially proud of the scrimshaw. It was a perfect miniature of the beach at Atlantis, a bit of carved ivory no bigger than his thumb. He’d traded his best hunting knife to one of his men for that scrim-shaw. If she didn’t think it was the sweetest thing she’d ever seen, he’d be surprised.
But where was she? He’d thought for sure she’d be here waiting. He glanced up at the cottage and saw a light burning in the window. She must already have retired to their house. If that were the case, then the sooner he could get to her, the better. Catching sight of Louisa standing silently by the fire, he motioned to the men who were carrying the pigs on poles to come forward. With wide grins, they set the dead animals before her like lords bestowing jewels on a queen.
“We eat well tonight, Louisa.” Gideon threw the other, larger canvas bag he’d been carrying at her feet. “Roast the partridges first. We’ll eat them while we’re waiting on the pork. And don’t let that husband of yours spoil it by cooking it badly, do you hear? You’ve got a good hand with pork. Let’s see what you can do with it.”
“Aye,” Silas said good-naturedly at Gideon’s side. The man had drunk more than he should have, and was now well enough into his cups that he apparently didn’t much care if his cooking was maligned. “The lass surely has a talent for cookin’ pork, don’t she?” He cast her a lascivious look. “And that ain’t the only thing she’s got a talent for, either. Take my word for it, lads.”
The men nudged each other, exchanging winks and chuckles, then casting Louisa sidelong glances to witness her reaction. Usually a comment of that kind would have elicited a deep blush from her, followed by a sharp retort. Since her acid tongue was a source of amusement for the men, they always delighted in seeing how she’d take their ribaldry.
“That’s enough of that, Silas,” she said quietly.
The men looked at her, waiting for more of a reaction. When they got none, Silas said, “Is that all you’ve got to say then, lass?” He hung on Gideon’s shoulder for support. “What d’ye think, lads? Have I tamed the little woman at last?”
“Silas, please hold your tongue,” Louisa begged.
Something in the urgency of her voice, in the uncharacteristic lack of sharpness, caught Gideon’s attention. When Silas started to mumble something else, Gideon ordered him to be silent. Then he faced Louisa. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Her anxious gaze flitted to the men behind him. “Perhaps we should speak more privately—”
“There’s no need for that.” A sudden chill shook him as a thousand fears sprang into his mind. And foremost was the one he could scarcely bear to voice. “Is it Sara? Has something happened to her?”
Louisa stared down at the sand. “Nothing’s happened to her. That is…well…”
“Where is she?” He glanced back at the cottage, his heart leaping into his throat. If something had happened to her…he started off toward the cottage, but a familiar voice behind him stopped him.
“She’s gone, Cap’n.”
Slowly he turned to find Peter Hargraves standing in the jagged circle of light cast by the fire.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Gideon growled as Peter’s words sank in. “And what do you mean, ‘She’s gone’? Gone where?”
Ann Morris moved up beside Petey, tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow as he twisted his hat round and round in his hands. “Well, Cap’n, you see…that is, I…”
“She’s gone off to England with her brother,” Queenie said as she flounced into view. “And Petey’s the one that brought the bloke here to fetch her.” A look of smug satisfaction crossed her dissipated face. “It’s like I told you before, guv’nor. You wasted yer time settin’ yer sights on that tight-arsed bluestocking.”
“Queenie, hold your tongue,” Louisa snapped as Gideon went pale.
Fixing Petey with a furious gaze, Gideon growled, “What is she talking about?”
Louisa stepped in, her face sympathetic. “Apparently, Petey was workin’ for Miss Willis’s brother, the Earl of Blackmore. It
was Petey who brought the earl and his men back here this morning aboard his ship, the Defiant. After they got Miss Willis, they set sail for England.”
Gideon’s blood froze in his veins. Sara was gone? The earl had taken her? It must have been by force, for Sara would never have left him otherwise. Not after the things they’d said to each other, the way they’d made love and planned for the future and—
He groaned, remembering the conversation they’d had about her brother and how much she missed him. She’d said she wouldn’t leave Atlantis. But she’d also said she wanted to return to England for a visit.
Clenching his fists, he thought back over everything she’d said, her concern for what might happen if her brother came. She’d been expecting Hargraves then, hadn’t she? If Hargraves had been in the earl’s employ, then Sara must have known all along that her brother would be coming to get her. While she’d been making love to him, she’d been counting the days until her rescuers arrived.
No, he couldn’t believe it. Not his Sara.
“Did she know from the first that you were working for her brother?” he asked Hargraves, clinging to the tiny sliver of hope that she might not have been aware of why Hargraves was aboard the Chastity.
Hargraves looked bewildered by the question. “Aye, captain.”
Betrayal sliced through him, cutting deeper even than his mother’s betrayal. He’d been right from the beginning. English noblewomen didn’t willingly consort with the likes of him. But they certainly did whatever they could to survive until they could be rescued, even if it meant letting a randy pirate captain make love to them.
The events of the last month and a half hit him with startling clarity. “That’s why she agreed to marry you, isn’t it?” He glanced out to sea, struggling to keep his composure in front of his men, although he felt as if a cat o’ nine tails was shredding his heart into tiny pieces. “The two of you planned on keeping her safe from me until she was rescued. But when I gave you your chance to leave, you seized it. And she stayed behind to soften me up, to lull me into complacency while she plotted her escape.”
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