"Why did you insist on leaving the ship today?" he said without preamble.
Sophia looked up at him, and a ray of sunlight coming in through the window glinted off her hair, adding a touch of gold to the nearly white braids wrapped 'round her head. She looked, as usual, small and defenseless, a pose Jack was coming to appreciate was a useful ruse, much like a possum playing dead to avoid being eaten.
"I just wanted some time to myself off the ship," Sophia said. "I never meant to get Mick in trouble."
Jack walked over to the railed sideboard and poured himself a glass of wine, and one for her as well. She took it, and after one sip set it aside. Jack seated himself at the table across from her and folded his arms on the tabletop, looking at her.
"If nothing else, Mick learned a valuable lesson today on how a pretty face can get a man—or boy—into trouble."
Sophia's eyes flashed up at him, but then she looked down at her folded hands. If he hadn't seen that brief glint of anger in her eyes, he would have been completely fooled by her pose. He leaned back in his chair, more at ease. The more time he spent around Miss Deford, or Mrs. Burrell, the more he was learning about her.
At the same time, the more time he was spending with her, the more he had an itch to scratch, and that wasn't good. Either he'd have to find a way to lure her into his bunk, or he would be falling back on pastimes he hadn't thought about so often since the days when he was a spotty-faced adolescent. Well, not that often, his eyes landing on his worn copy of Fanny Hill
Which brought him to the issue at hand.
"We will forget this morning's incident and move on, Sophia. Show me the clues."
Sophia set aside her sewing and fetched her notes.
"The map had a spot circled to show where the search begins."
"That's it? Just a circle on a map?"
She hesitated.
"There was more. There were other circles on the map, each at a spot in East Florida, and a note explaining one of them was the final destination, but you need the clues to determine in which order to visit the locations. The clues tell you how to proceed."
"This is lunacy."
"Possibly, but I imagine when trying to think of how to safeguard his treasure Captain Garvey was willing to go to extremes to make sure no one stumbled across it. Here is the first clue:
'"A shipwright's dream in the Ancient City stands guard over the people. High above, the key is found to lead you to the next step.'"
Jack came around the table to stand next to her, and leaned over to unroll his charts and compare them to Sophia's unsophisticated map. She pointed to a circle, near the northern edge of the Spanish possession. Her hair gleamed in the cabin's light, and the scent of violets drifted up to his nose.
"Looks like St. Augustine," he said, his voice coming out rough. She turned her head to gaze at him, her eyes inches from his, her mouth seeming even closer. She licked her lips and his glance darted down at the glistening pinkness, and he moved in on her, his arm going around her to brace itself on the table as he leaned in.
"Jack—"
"Where are the other circles?"
He saw her throat move as she swallowed, and she pulled her eyes away from his and looked back at the map.
"I will keep that information to myself until we figure out the first clue."
He put his fingers on the tip of her pointed chin and turned her head to face him. "Maybe you should tell me now, so I can plan for what comes after."
She looked him coolly in the eye and said, "Was I born yesterday, Captain Burrell? If you have all the locations on the map, why would you need me to come with you?"
"Because I owe it to Captain Tanner. Because I am married to you
and would not abandon you."
"There are fifty thousand pounds at stake here, Captain. I will stay to your side like a barnacle until this is completed."
Jack looked at her for a long moment. Her icy blue eyes gave away nothing of what she was feeling now. A curl fell across her forehead and he brushed it aside, a move that made her pupils widen, and she pulled herself away from him to move to the other side of the table.
"You don't give your trust easily, do you, Sophia?"
"It is my sad experience, Captain, that trust must be earned. Now, more importantly, do you have any idea what the first clue means?"
"No, but once we're in St. Augustine, we'll be in a better position to puzzle it out. The reference to standing guard could mean the fort, or the parade ground, or a number of other areas."
Jack cursed under his breath at the overly imaginative Garvey and his cohort, Captain Tanner.
"Just answer one thing for me, Mrs. Burrell. Do any of these clues take us inland?"
She hesitated, then nodded her head.
"You warned me the Seminoles were among the dangers we would face, Captain."
"Indeed, and inland is where you will find the Indians. As more settlers move in, more Indians get pushed back. Though the Seminoles are settlers themselves, their attitude is this is their land now, and they're not going to give it up without a fight. You are not giving me enough information to prepare for these situations."
"We will pursue this first clue, Captain, in St. Augustine. I am not releasing more information until I know we can get past the initial hurdles."
Jack grunted. He would pursue this later and he would get more information out of her.
"We will need a convincing story to explain our travels."
At her questioning look, he elaborated.
"If you recall, I warned you that East Florida is raw country. We will be staying in the homes of planters and settlers, because there are no inns to speak of outside of St. Augustine and Feraandina."
"The families open up their homes?"
"They expect it, because it is the same way they travel. When you sit down to dinner in someone's home in Florida you might find all sorts of visitors. If we tell people we are on our wedding journey, they will be delighted to host us. And sticking close to the truth is always a
good idea."
"I will go along with this as long as you understand we are not really married, Captain Burrell."
"Afraid I will insist on my husbandly rights?"
"You could try," she said softly. "But always remember this, Captain. Everyone goes to sleep sometime. And I am a patient woman."
He said nothing to this, because his plan was to lure this kitten with a bowl of cream, not with coercion. Cats didn't respond well to threats but came to hand for those who gave them what they craved.
He, too, could be patient.
"Unpack your cases and let me see what clothing you have brought, so we know what to purchase in town."
"I have been dressing myself for many years now, sir! I am sure I can continue to dress myself for visiting people's homes!" But she pulled out her larger trunk and opened it for his inspection, and he started rummaging through her things, ignoring her angry looks.
"As I warned you, Miss Deford, nothing you experienced in England, even on the hottest summer you can recall, prepared you for this. You insisted on this fool's journey because you wanted someone who knew the area. Part of knowing the area is knowing what is appropriate attire for the climate, and your English frocks won't do in a Florida summer. Nor is your footgear appropriate," he said, holding aloft a dainty white kid boot perfectly appropriate for summer in Portsmouth.
"I have walking boots in there as well, Captain. I did not come totally unprepared!"
He was skeptical, but knew time would tell. And perhaps if she was uncomfortable enough she would change her mind and leave.
Somehow that thought didn't cheer him as much as it would have earlier.
"What do I do with all of this?"
"You can store it here or in St. Augustine." He frowned, holding up a filmy chemise, which Sophia snatched out of his hands.
"I will need to take some respectable clothing for when we're in peoples' homes."
"True, but if we ha
ve to travel through the brush you will be riding on muleback or in a small cart and walking through woods where trails are narrow. Only pack that which can be loaded on a mule, bearing in mind we will also need to carry our own supplies and weapons. As you
saw last night, it is prudent to go armed in Florida.
"And speaking of that," he said, leaning against the table and watching her, "do you have any idea why we were attacked last night?"
"No, but I can hazard a guess."
He raised a brow and waited for her to continue, interested in seeing whether her thoughts matched his own.
"I would guess the men who attacked us are in the employ of Lord Whitfield. I told you he is also looking for the treasure, and to the best of my knowledge is the only other person who knows about our map. I might have thought they were random criminals you irritated, except they wanted to take me with them. Now that Whitfield knows I am alive, I imagine he wants me back in his hands. Or at least Captain Garvey's map and my clues."
"He doesn't know about your talent?"
"No. You and Mr. Deford are the only ones who know about that."
It all made sense, and sounded like it could be true. It also matched what he suspected.
"I don't have any enemies I know of who would attack me on a Fernandina street. Certainly there are United States and Spanish officials who would like to discuss my activities, but they wouldn't send Weasel to do their work."
"Did you find him when you were in town this morning?"
Jack shook his head. "No, he's gone to ground and no one could give me any good information as to where he might be. We will have to be vigilant as we travel, but I was expecting this would be a hazardous journey. This is just one more danger to make life more exciting."
"Well, between piratical dining and random attacks on the street, I can certainly say this is more exciting than life in a bookstore in Portsmouth."
He grinned at that.
"Thank you for reminding me. If you are as good a shot as you claim—and I presume you were aiming for that man's foot last night— I will purchase a pistol for you to carry."
"Why, Jack," she said, fluttering her lashes at him, "aren't you afraid I will shoot you?"
"You need me too much to shoot me, Mrs. Burrell."
"Yes," she said and stopped folding the dress she was holding. "It is a good thing you are indispensable to me. And that you need me as well."
"To find the gold," he clarified.
"To find the gold," she repeated.
CHAPTER 11Shopping for a gun in Florida was no chore at all. The gunsmiths offered a variety of firearms for all occasions, from a Ferguson rifle to Brown Bess muskets to pistols of all sizes.
"That one," Jack said, pointing to a handgun on display.
"An excellent choice," the gunsmith said, pulling out a small pistol. "This one has, as you can see, two barrels, allowing for two shots without reloading."
The shopkeeper was startled when it was Sophia who took the gun in hand, examining its workings and weight. But he was an experienced salesman, and this was Fernandina, so he didn't bat an eye when she took the pistol, shot, and powder behind the shop to try it on the range he'd set up for this very purpose.
"It handles well, Jack," Sophia said, after getting two shots into the target pinned to a pine tree. "You try it."
Jack wasn't impressed with the firepower of the pistol, but he acknowledged if Sophia was ever to shoot someone, she'd be going for accuracy rather than range.
"It isn't too heavy for you?"
"I would not want to keep it tied to my garter, but I think I can carry it in a reticule or pocket without strain."
"We'll take it," Jack said when they returned to the shop. The pistol came in its own traveling case, fitted to hold all that a shooter would need to keep the gun in good working order. Soon they were back out on the street, blinking in the bright sunlight, Jack carrying the box cradled under his arm.
"Sophia, have you ever been out in a small craft?"
Sophia looked at him, a questioning expression on her face.
"Much of the traffic here is waterborne. I would like to teach you how to sail, so you'll be able to help me if we take a boat out."
"Sailing..." She thought that over, then smiled up at Jack. "That would be fun to learn, Captain."
Jack nearly dropped the pistol box. That girlish, open smile did things to her kitten face. It made him wonder who Sophia Deford would be if she'd grown up in a less ramshackle household, one where she'd had the opportunities and future other young ladies had.
They both turned as someone hailed them.
"Still here, Captain Burrell?"
"Oh, Captain Aury," Sophia said, twirling her parasol, "I just could not wait until St. Augustine to shop! You have so much merchandise here! Everything a lady would need for traveling through Florida."
"Very true, madam, Fernandina is a popular spot for merchants. And our prices are better than in St. Augustine because my Republic of Florida values trade and doesn't wish to hinder it with unnecessary taxes and tariffs."
"Indeed, Captain, it is a paradise for a lady who has been at sea."
Aury smiled at her, but then turned back to Jack. "My offer is still open, Captain Burrell. I could use a man of your skill and intelligence."
"You flatter me, sir, but my priorities now are to see to my lovely wife. In fact, she was saying she would like to learn to sail. Is there a shipwright you can recommend who might have a lively little sloop suitable for a lady to handle?"
Captain Aury thought for a minute and said, "You might try Raul Rodriguez down at the harbor. I heard he came into possession of a handsome craft a few weeks back and is trying to sell it. Just do not ask too many questions about where he obtained it."
"I know better than that, Captain," Jack said. "Thank you for the advice."
"One more word of advice, Captain Burrell," Aury said. "There was someone asking about a Miss Sophia Deford about a fortnight back. I understand from Captain Roberts that is you, Mrs. Burrell."
"Was it Weasel?"
"No, but I heard Weasel Wesley and his companion headed out to St. Augustine, and that Weasel's friend was on crutches. I trust they will not bother you again."
"I believe Weasel and his friend have learned I am not a man to
trifle with," Jack said, ignoring the sidelong glance his wife cast him.
"Indeed, Captain Aury, Captain Burrell is everything I could desire in a husband," Sophia said.
Jack wondered over hidden meanings in that statement, but then the ruler of Fernandina was bidding them adieu, strolling off with his bodyguards to inspect his tiny kingdom.
Sophia and Jack walked on.
"I am convinced the stranger asking after me was Lord Whitfield, since he was asking for me by my maiden name. But now he also knows we are together."
"And married."
"Yes." She looked up at him, and then cocked her head to the side. "Why are you not wearing your eyepatch?"
"Do not worry about my eye. It is none of your concern."
"I would think that would be exactly the kind of thing a loving wife would be concerned about. What if you were blinded and I had to take care of you for the rest of my days?"
"Sophia, I have no doubt if I were blinded you would direct me to the edge of the nearest cliff and then encourage me to take just a few steps forward, rather than care for me all your days."
Sophia didn't argue this. "Nonetheless, I believe as your wife I should know these things about you."
"Let us make a trade. When you agree to perform all your wifely duties, I will explain about my eyepatch."
"That is not likely to happen, Captain."
"I suppose part of it depends on how much curiosity a little cat like you has," was all Jack said. He took her by the arm and directed her down to the harbor, where he found Raul and his sloop.
It was indeed a trim little craft, with a snug cabin that would benefit from a good airing. The sails were i
n reasonable condition given the boat's history. Raul agreed to let Jack take the boat out into the harbor to check its seaworthiness. Jack climbed aboard and gave Sophia his hand to lift her over. He looked at her dress critically.
"Your clothing is fashionable, but hardly appropriate for handling a boat. We will have to do something about that. I also suggest going barefoot aboard ship. You will find it easier to maintain your footing than you will in those boots."
"If it is all the same to you, I will wait to untie my garters until we're out of sight of the docks."
Jack said nothing to this but set sail and began Sophia's lessons.
"There's a lot to know about a small craft, Sophia, so pay attention. We only have the one mast on this sloop, and this sheet—"
"That is a rope. A sheet is on a bed."
"No, aboard ship a rope to trim the sail is called a sheet."
"Then what do you call the bed linens?"
"That isn't important! Now, pay attention!"
"I cannot call it a rope?"
"Not where I can hear you."
He knew it was complicated for a beginner, and it took hours of work aboard ship to turn a land lubber into an able seaman. He had confidence in Sophia, though, there was nothing slow about her.
"Wait a minute, Jack, this rope..."
"Sheet."
"Aaaargh!" she said, but then stopped. "I have an idea. If I make a drawing of the rigging, I can memorize it."
Jack thought about this for a moment.
"The only way I know how to sail is by doing, Sophia, but if you think it would help, when the boat's brought to the Jade you can make a drawing of it."
Jack brought the craft back in and Sophia climbed out of the boat and shook water out of her skirts.
"I do not suppose you are so upset over getting your dress soaked that you are prepared to call off this crazy quest?"
Sophia poured some water out of her shoe and looked up at him, one pale eyebrow raised.
"So far in your company, I have survived robbery by a highwayman, kidnapping off my ship, marriage by a pirate to a pirate and being accosted by villains in an alley. Do you really think I would let a damp skirt keep me from continuing?"
The Bride and the Buccaneer Page 11