by Regina Darcy
“And how did you find this out, Miss Madison? It sounds more like a tall tale that he constructed for your benefit, than a real venture.”
“He said something about his late brother, who was in the Navy, passing him a clue.”
“I had the good fortune of meeting his older brother. Killed him, too. He was of sturdier stock. I can envision him amassing a fortune over the years and concealing it somewhere.”
“Very good, then. This evening, allow me to interrogate Captain Preston. I am sure I can get the secret of the treasure out of him.”
The Blue Devil smiled at her and raised her glass. “I like your mind-set, Miss Madison. By all means, go ahead. But first, we will have some fun with him.”
SEVEN
After dinner, the pirate king proposed, in that low, frightening voice of his, that Lucy accompany him for some after-supper entertainment.
Lucy had dreaded the tone of his voice, and she had been right to. Aboard The Delight, after-supper entertainment seemingly amounted to watching Captain Preston get keelhauled for about half an hour.
Lucy kept her expression purposefully blank, watching the half-unconscious man get thrown into the sea and hoisted back up, again and again. She could feel the Blue Devil staring at her, waiting for her reaction.
“Does this bother you, my dear?” he asked her at one point. He brushed a strand of her hair from her face. His touch nearly made her shiver.
Conscious of his stare, she managed a slight smile. “No, no. Not at all.” On the inside, of course, she wanted to scream.
“Consider this my wedding present to you, Miss Madison,” the Blue Devil said, leering at her. “Since he treated you ill, I will treat him ill. His suffering will last for days.”
At this, the sailors hoisted up their former captain and tossed his dripping form onto the deck. Captain Preston lay there in a puddle of seawater, looking half-dead.
“It seems fitting,” Lucy said, trying to hold back tears. She knew in her heart that she had to save Captain Preston from this cruel fate, no matter what the risk.
***
After the keelhauling, the Blue Devil ordered Captain Preston taken over to the Golden Griffin and tied to its mast. In the morning, he declared to the cheering pirates, they would burn down the trapped ship.
Sometime afterwards, as the sun sank below the horizon, Lucy badgered one of the sailors until he took her over to the largely uninhabited Golden Griffin.
She then walked straight over to the mast, where the captain was secured. The ginger-haired pirate was standing guard over the prisoner.
“What are you doing over here?” he snapped at Lucy.
“May I please have a word with Captain Preston?” she asked, folding her arms.
“No one is to speak to the prisoner.”
“Fine. I shall just have to tell the Blue Devil himself that you denied my request.”
The pirate caught her roughly by the arm and smiled at her. “There is certainly no need for that, Miss. What I meant to say is, no one is to speak to the prisoner without a good reason. But I am sure you have your reasons, seeing that he treated you so poorly on this voyage. Go right ahead.”
Lucy strode straight up to Captain Preston. “Hello, again.”
“Hello. So…Was the Blue Devil truly your fiancé?” he asked, looking both bemused and incredulous.
“I am afraid so. It also appears that he was your employer.”
“Yes. Why did you not tell me it was him?”
“I had no idea he was a pirate. And I thought that if I said his name aloud, someone on the crew might try to return me to him,” Lucy replied, wringing her hands.
“I understand. And that would explain why you hid in a barrel to get away from him.”
“All I knew was that he had likely killed his previous two wives. I had no inkling that he might be a pirate, or I would have certainly mentioned it.”
“I do not blame you. I have never heard of a merchant who pirates his own ships. This must allow him to accrue enormous wealth.” He looked into her eyes. “So, you were only pretending when you went off with him?”
“Yes,” she whispered and blushed. “I did not want to marry the man to begin with. Discovering that he is a merciless, bloodthirsty pirate has not changed my mind in any way.”
“That is good. You were very convincing. I was worried…” His sea-green eyes bored into her.
Pretending to straighten an imaginary stray strand of hair, Lucy finally found the courage to ask what was on her mind.
“Were you worried that my moral compass was lacking, or that I was fond of someone other than yourself?” she muttered, her gaze firmly on her clad feet.
“Both…” He whispered hoarsely, giving her a sheepish smile.
Lucy’s eyes widened. Her heart started thudding in her chest. “Captain Preston…do you…are you declaring your affections?” she managed to whisper, her pleasure and hope barely contained.
“You are the one good thing that has happened to me in quite some time. The minute I set my eyes on those rebellious curls of yours, I fell for your charms Miss Madison. So yes, I am declaring my affections. Should we live through this ordeal it is my firm intention to seek your hand in marriage.”
“Should you seek my hand in marriage,” she said, pausing. “I would utter no word of protest – quite the opposite in fact.” She pulled out the knife she had pocketed during dinner and handed it to him.
“Thank you dearest, now go before they find you here,” Preston whispered.
“I don’t want to leave you here,” she replied her brows furrowed.
“Miss Madison, please.” Suddenly, Preston’s green eyes grew wide with fear. “Look out behind you!”
EIGHT
Lucy did not react to Captain Preston’s warning quickly enough. She whirled around to find the Blue Devil standing there, masked and brandishing his sword. He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her close. Then the pirate held up his blade, so that it hovered inches before Lucy’s throat. In his other hand, he carried a blazing torch.
“I regret to inform you, Miss Madison, that you will not escape me so easily this time,” he said. “You have nowhere to hide, nowhere to go. You were mistaken to not forget this foolish sea captain and accept my rather generous offer.” It was clear she was caught re-handed and that whatever lie she concocted now would not suffice to appease Armistead, so Lucy settled for the truth.
“I will never be yours, Mr Armistead.” Lucy stared at the torch fire, which flickered dangerously close to her skin.
“Let her go,” Preston ordered, rage colouring his features. “Your quarrel is with me, Armistead.” He was hoping to delay his actions long enough for him to cut through his ropes.
The merchant ignored the sea captain, instead fixing his piercing blue gaze on Lucy.
“In that case, I am afraid I shall have to dispose of you, just like Captain Preston.” The Blue Devil pulled Lucy over to the edge of the ruined ship. He pressed her against the railing. “I am afraid that you will not escape this time. But I shall be kind. I will not burn you along with your beloved sea captain.”
“Let her go!” Captain Preston roared in the background.
The pirate nodded his head in response.
“I will do just that, right off the side of the ship. There are no barrels to sleepwalk into this time around, I am very sorry to say.” A devilish smile flickered across his face. Lucy flinched, remembering her fear the last time she had sunk into the sea. This time, Captain Preston would not be there to save her. This time, only the Good Lord was going to save them.
“Let go of me!”
Lucy jabbed the Blue Devil’s hand with her hairpin. He cried out and let go of her. He also dropped the torch, which landed on the deck and began to blaze against the wood.
“You insolent girl!” Armistead shouted, rubbing his injured hand and leaning against the railing of the ship. He raised his sword. “How dare you!”
At that moment, t
he ship lurched once more and Preston came flying from behind and shoved the pirate back against the railing. The railing of the Golden Griffin shook with it, giving way somewhat. Lucy watched the Blue Devil’s bright azure eyes pop out as he felt himself beginning to fall. He reached out to drag her down with him, but Lucy was pulled back into Preston’s safe embrace. She watched him flail through the air and go crashing into the dark water below. He never resurfaced after that.
“We are alive,” she said, shaking her head and blinking back tears caused by the acrid smoke.
The captain smiled back and embraced. “All thanks to your bravery, my dear.”
Lucy leaned into his embrace and started shedding the tears she had been holding in.
“We had better get off this ship,” Preston exclaimed, as he held on to her tight. Much to his alarm, the fire was climbing up the masts of the ship, setting the sails ablaze. The flames leapt across the air, over to The Delight. Lucy and Preston watched as the pirate ship began to burn, as well.
“We need to go before this ship breaks apart. There are a few rowboats on the deck over there.” The couple raced over to one of the few crafts that was not on fire and managed to shove it overboard. They watched it crash onto the surface of the water below.
“Time to jump again,” Preston said, staring down at the water.
“We have been doing that quite a lot lately, have we not?” Lucy took Preston’s hand, and together they plunged down into the cold sea. Before she could sink too far, Preston was pulling her back up and yanking her into the lifeboat.
For a moment, the two sat there, dripping wet and shivering.
Then, slowly, Captain Preston reached for the paddles and began to row away from the two burning, sinking ships.
***
The pair kept rowing through the dark night that had descended upon the vast, relatively placid ocean. Exhausted from the events that had transpired Lucy slept as Preston rowed through the night. By morning, he had been at it for several hours, without any glimpse of land.
“I think this is hopeless,” Lucy said quietly.
“Don’t lose hope. We must not give up. We might be simply too far out to sea to be within reach of any land.”
“Enough of your hollow encouragement, Captain Preston. You know as well as I do the hopelessness of our situation,” she exclaimed. Much to her surprise, Preston smiled at her. “Oh, what are you gawking at now?”
“I am just rather sorry, Miss Madison.”
“Sorry? Sorry for what?”
Captain Preston stared at her for a moment and then leaned in close to her.
“I am sorry I did not do this earlier.” Lucy almost moved back, but intense gaze drew her closer. She closed her eyes and felt his lips on hers. Her heart soared.
They broke apart for a moment, to catch their breaths.
“Captain Preston?”
“Yes, Miss Madison?”
“We are to be wed are we not?” she whispered shyly.
“Indeed.” He took her hand rained kisses upon it. Despite the fact that she was freezing and soaked, Lucy felt warmth spreading to the tips of her fingers.
Suddenly, much to her disappointment, Preston broke away from her and practically stood up in the boat.
“Captain Preston, was it that terrible?” she asked, feeling insecure and a bit embarrassed. “I have never kissed anyone before, but I know I can do better…”
“No, no, you were lovely.” Preston pointed into the distance. “But I see land!”
“Land?” Lucy cried, whirling around. Sure enough, a thick smudge of darkness had appeared on the horizon. It stood out against the bright moonlight.
“It must be the Azores,” Preston said, plopping back down into the boat. He grinned at Lucy. “We are saved.” Feeling so happy that she could have cried, Lucy looped her arms around his neck.
“Miss Madison …” the captain began.
“Yes, Captain Preston?”
“It would seem our engagement will be a very short affair indeed.” His expression had shifted from jubilant to quite intense beneath the pale moonlight. “I am only a man. I am not sure I will be able to resist your loveliness all the way back to England.”
Lucy, laughed aloud and replied without a care, “Well, then we will have to be married both here AND in England!”
***
Holding hands, Preston and Lucy burst out of the Scottish church and ran toward their carriage. It was a beautiful spring day, and the locals milling about the village scarcely noticed the ecstatic, newly married pair. Plenty of young English men and women came into town every year, eager to take advantage of Scotland’s somewhat more lax marital laws.
After a few weeks of recovering in the balmy Azores and obtaining a passage back home, the couple had decided to head directly across the northern border and wed, rather than first explaining the situation to friends and family in England. It would still cause a scandal, they reckoned, but they were far beyond caring what others thought of how they had met.
Captain and Mrs Preston still had quite a few miles to go before arriving back at the family home in England, but the former made sure to carry his new bride over every single threshold in the meantime. Presently, the sea captain swept her up into his arms and deposited her in their new, cherry-red carriage.
“Thank you, Captain,” she said, smiling, as he clambered in after her.
“Of course, Mrs Preston,” he replied, taking the reins and urging the two bay horses to begin trotting down the road.
“What do you think your family will make of this whole mess?”
“I think they will be quite pleased with me, actually,” Lucy said, sounding more than slightly pleased with herself.
“Pleased at their prodigal daughter returning after spurning one of the most eligible, wealthy pirate-bachelors in Newhart? They must be of the rather forgiving type.”
Lucy laughed and watched the soft hills of heather roll by. “You do not know my parents. I believe Sir and Mrs Madison will be happy enough that I am returning a married woman.”
EPILOGUE
“Even the fact that I am a sea captain will not cause issue?” Preston asked. By now, they were a good many hours into their journey down south. Preston had insisted that they stop by his home before they continued, and Lucy had readily agreed. She was curious to see what it looked like.
“I do not think so,” Lucy said. She honestly had no idea how her parents might react. Their prejudices were often arbitrary and hard to read. Still, she assumed that they were too genteel to be terribly overt about their displeasure over her marrying beneath her station. “And even if it does, there is nothing they can do about it now.”
Lucy looked out the window and saw a large manor house looming before the carriage. It was a huge, expansive building, with multiple wings and an impressive set of wild grounds. “Where are we going, dear?”
“My house.”
Lucy pointed at the manor house. “That is your house?”
He smiled at her. “Yes.”
Lucy blinked at her husband. He had scarcely touched a bottle in all the time they had been recovering from their run-in with the Blue Devil. Had she married a madman?
“That is indeed the Preston family manor,” he said, smiling as if he could read her thoughts. “It is where we will be living. I wanted to surprise you before we met your family. I will be able to support them. We will make sure that your siblings and parents are well-provided for.”
Lucy felt so dizzy, she thought she might pitch straight out of the carriage.
“But, Captain Preston, if you have so much money, why on Earth are you a merchant ship captain?”
“Boredom. I had no interest in going into law as a young man, and the clergy did not suit me. I liked the idea of sailing, but the Navy seemed too disciplined for my tastes. There is not much to do around here, if you do not have a profession. So I started sailing on small merchant ships—much to the disappointment of my poor parents.”
He shrugged. “Would you have honestly believed me had I told you this while we were aboard the Golden Griffin?”
“No. I certainly would not have.”
“I always thought I might switch over to the Navy one day, but I was too lazy. Besides, I had no interest in fighting in wars and whatnot. You have to understand, though… After my brother was murdered at sea, that was the only thing drawing me back out on expeditions—the tantalising thought of seeking vengeance for my brother and distracting myself. I had no one. My parents passed away shortly before my brother died. Going out to sea allowed me to bury myself in work.”
“And now?” Lucy asked quietly. “Will you go to sea again?”
He looked at her and brushed a strand of her pale hair away from her face. “No. I have no need for distractions anymore. I have you.” Preston kissed her forehead. “Unless your father challenges me to a duel for marrying you without permission…Then I might be forced to flee the country. But you are welcome to accompany me, if that is the case.”
“I would not worry. You are not just a former sea captain. You are a former sea captain with more money than most of our acquaintances in the county, mind you.”
“That is a fair assessment. At least they know what they want, then.”
“Once you get beyond the subject of money, you will find that my parents are remarkably undiscriminating. Just do not agree to go into any business ventures with my father. We are not the most lucky family when it comes to that.” She smiled at Preston. “My dear, they will love you. Just as I do.” She kissed him on the cheek.
Preston took the reins in one hand and used the opposite arm to pull Lucy closer. “Very well, my love. Do you think they will be angry that they did not have the chance to celebrate your wedding?”