“How does one become a Representative?” Izzy asked, realizing Johnny was leading her to the galleys.
“One inherits the position,” Johnny told her, “though lineage isn’t necessary. The previous Representative can choose his – or her – replacement before… retiring, I suppose you would say.”
So it much resembled At World’s End then. Or was it the other way around?
“Well,” Izzy said once they had entered the large room. “I’m sure they will follow you. You’re supposed to be their leader, right? Did you inherit the position?”
Johnny shook his head and took a seat at the head of the table. “No,” he said, and as he continued to speak, Izzy detected slight bitterness in his tone. “No, I was born into my position, love. I was Chosen, as you might say. Though, ironically enough, I had no choice in the matter.”
“Well, surely you were chosen for a reason Johnny,” Izzy said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You know that, don’t you? Everything happens for a reason. And I’m sure that the reason that you were chosen out of everybody else was because nobody could do what you’re capable of doing. You know, for someone who has a hard time with trusting others, it surprises me you have trouble trusting yourself.”
“I don’t discriminate,” Johnny said with a tired smile, though he felt his insides elated by her encouraging words.
“If it makes a difference,” Izzy said, looking at the table as she finally took a seat next to him, “I trust in you.”
Johnny’s lips twitched up, this time on their own accord, and he reached over and placed his hand over hers. “It makes all the difference,” he murmured.
Before the two could talk anymore on the subject, the galley door opened and thirteen, fourteen, about seventeen pirates – all men – came in. Some seemed wary about trusting the elusive pirate Clover, others were determined to go to battle no matter who was leading, while others were simply curious. They all took their places at the long table and looked at Johnny, waiting for him to begin. It seemed as though they didn’t even notice Izzy’s presence, or if they did, they ignored it. All that was on their minds was battle, pure and simple. And if Johnny could lead them into it, then they would certainly hear what he had to say.
“Well, Clover?” an Englishmen barked, narrowing his dark blue eyes in Johnny’s direction. “What say you? What be your plan?”
“Well gentlemen,” Johnny said, throwing an easy smile onto his face. “I must be honest, I am quite surprised that you showed up. That all of you showed up, I should say.”
“Yes, well so are we,” the Representative from Japan said before snapping a piece of the gum he was chewing.
“Enough chitchat,” the pirate in charge of Africa demanded, slamming his fist on the table, startling Izzy slightly. “What is your plan, Clover? You were already late showin’ up here which means the Navy is close by. We only have little time before set sailing for battle, and this is our first time convening.”
“I see your point,” Johnny said, keeping his voice calm and his cool eyes focused on the man who addressed him. “But I do have an ace up my sleeve, as it were.” He shifted his eyes so they were now focused on the group before him as a whole. “As is customary for pirates, I say we call a parley and have an old chat with Lord Shield and a couple of his men. See if we can’t work things out with words.”
“Can’t work things out wit’ words!” the Irishman exclaimed as though Johnny was dense for even suggesting something as pointless as that.
“Yes, well we should try,” Johnny said firmly, “unless you are willing to lead your men into a battle – to their deaths – a battle that may have been worked through with words, we parley and discuss terms and agreements.”
“And if agreement is impossible?” the Representative of America asked, meeting Johnny’s cool eyes with his own.
Johnny sighed through his nose, as though he knew that fighting would be necessary, despite any attempts otherwise. “If an agreement cannot be reached,” Johnny said slowly, taking care to articulate each and every word, “then we have no choice but to go war. And that’s my final decision.”
Chapter 35
“I want to go with you,” Izzy stated firmly, placing her hands on a jutted hip.
Johnny looked at her with a decidedly determined frown, his eyes trailing over her face. How he had gotten used to such a face in these past few months. Take, for instance, those brown eyes that were pointedly narrowed in his direction. Beautiful eyes, of course, but they appeared as sharpened spears as they looked at him. And her brow was furrowed so low that it nearly rested over those beautiful eyes, with a vertical wrinkle indenting just above her nose. And that mouth – those lips – that he adored kissing and wanted nothing more than to claim them once again as his own were pressed into a prominently thin line.
“That is absolutely out of the question,” he told her flatly, looking at her with a dark, lazy gaze. If it was possible, her brow got even lower upon hearing his answer. “You cannot threaten to become a whore now, and you cannot run away.”
“I’m creative,” Izzy mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked away, not even bothering to stop the pout from touching her features. “I’ll think of something.”
“I’m sure you will,” Johnny agreed, nodding a couple of times as he placed his palm on the surface of his desk. They were currently in his quarters once the meeting had dispersed, Izzy claiming she had wanted to talk to him before the parley. “But my answer’s still going to be no.”
“You are so closed minded, you know that?” Izzy asked, dropping her hands down to her sides. “Don’t you realize that if I wore a certain type of clothing that fit quite nicely and revealed my assets, I may actually distract the Royal Navy Lord and you can get him to agree to whatever you want?”
“David Shield is not that daft,” Johnny said, his eyes narrowing a fraction at her suggestion. “And that is exactly the reason I do not want you coming with. David Shield is a man who, when he sees something he wants, has every desire to get it, no matter the cost. And when he spots you, he will most certainly want you. And I’ll be damned if I let him take you.”
If Izzy wasn’t arguing about something she saw as important, she would allow the flattery she felt at Johnny’s words to sink into her psyche. But she was arguing for something important, and suddenly, she got an idea. “How about this then?” she began as she felt her posture straighten with this new surge of confidence. “If you let me accompany you to this parley, then I absolutely promise that I won’t fight.”
Johnny chuckled lowly. “Even if you wanted to fight, you couldn’t,” he told her. “I wouldn’t allow it.”
“Of course you’d say something like that,” Izzy murmured, but she didn’t seem thrown. In fact, she was almost pleased he had said something along those lines. “However, you won’t be around to watch me, will you? You’ll be fighting, as will everyone else. I could sneak out if I wanted to and you’d have no way of knowing.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Johnny warned, feeling his body start to seethe.
Izzy arched a brow up, almost as though to say ‘Wouldn’t I?’ “If you let me accompany you, I won’t leave your room,” she told him.
Before Johnny could answer, somebody knocked halfheartedly on the door before barging in. It was Pimms, his dark grey eyes wide with worry. “It’s Shield, captain!” the man exclaimed, his tenor piercing the air sharper than Izzy imagined it could. “He’s docked by the bank and ready for the parley.”
Johnny nodded gravely at Pimms. “Get O’Malley,” he told the scrawny pirate. “I want him to be my second-in-command.” Pimms nodded and closed the door before Johnny threw eyes over at Izzy. He stared at her for what seemed like a long portion of time before Johnny finally relented. “Fine,” he said, his voice low. “But you’re not allowed to wear anything too revealing or call attention to yourself in any way. In fact, you’re not allowed to speak, alright?”
Izz
y didn’t exactly agree, but she nodded a couple of times before deciding to change. She left Johnny’s room and went into the one next door, where most of her clothing was stored. She grabbed a simple blue tunic and black breeches, before slipping on her boots. Instead of pulling her hair up, she decided to leave it long. If Johnny wouldn’t allow her to speak, then she could at least reveal her gender in another way. Once she had finished, she was ready.
--
It was almost like being in a movie. It reminded Izzy of the old Wild West movies her grandfather would watch with her when she was younger. Johnny was in the center, the Irish Representative O’Malley was on his right, and Izzy was on his left. Ahead of the pirates on the sandbank were three men, coming towards them. From the way he walked, Izzy assumed that the man in the middle was Lord David Shield, head of the Royal Navy. He had jet black hair and piercing sapphire eyes that reminded Izzy of ice cubes. The corners of his thin lips were curled into an arrogant smirk, but unlike Johnny’s usual grin, Shield’s had no charm to make it attractive. However, the man was well-built, with more muscle than Johnny. Despite this, Izzy was certain Johnny was smarter and faster, so while it seemed as though Shield had the advantage, Johnny really had the ace up his sleeve.
“Well,” a crisp, cool voice said once the two groups stopped a few feet away from each other. “Here we are, albeit a few weeks late.” He threw his icy gaze at Johnny, but Johnny didn’t seem disturbed by the intensity of the man’s stare. “Now, what is the reason for this parley?”
“We wish to convey our desire to once again ask that we not fight this battle,” Johnny said smoothly. He had been thinking a lot about what he was to say, wishing to sound more confident than he felt at present.
“You do not have to fight, but that does not mean we will withdraw,” Shield said, the smirk slipping onto his face once again. “Pirates die either way, Johnny Clover, and I really was hoping to actually have some fun with the challenge you think you present us. But a dead man is still a dead man; it does not matter how he dies. So if you and your men would like to form rows, we can practice our shooting.”
Johnny forced a charismatic smile onto his face, though it clearly did not reach his eyes. “I am so sorry to disappoint you, David Shield, but my men are willing to give their lives for what they believe in,” he told the man. “Are yours?”
“If it means wiping out pirate scum like you off of the face of the planet, then yes, they are all willing to die for the greater good,” Shield replied, and then added in a tart tone, “And it’s Lord David Shield.”
“Of course,” Johnny amended. “And it’s Captain Johnny Clover. So,” he began, changing the subject and cocking his head slightly to the side. “Since battle is imminent, we need to sort out the ground rules so we play fair.”
“All’s fair in war,” Shield said with that smirk of his. Izzy realized she furrowed her brow every time it decorated his face, not pleased with its presence whatsoever. “But since you pirates are all but barbarians, it is probably wise to have some sort of structure over this, hmm?” He narrowed his eyes suddenly at Johnny, his whole careless demeanor disappearing completely. “We fight to the death, Captain Clover. There is no such thing as surrendering. And whichever side is still alive by the time it’s all over are the winners.” He paused here, and looked at Johnny levelly. “You know that this does not mean piracy will suddenly be legal if, on the off chance, you cheat and happen to win.”
“If it were legal,” Johnny pointed out. “It wouldn’t be as much fun.” He glanced over at O’Malley for a long moment, before the Irishman nodded cryptically. “The rules are set and agreed upon. If it works with you, I suggest we fight at dawn on the sea, of course.”
“Dawn it is,” Shield agreed. “Oh, and Captain, I should probably tell you now so I’m being fair… It is I who will take the life from you. You will die by my hand, and no one else’s.”
Izzy’s mouth fell slightly ajar when she realized Johnny was amused by his statement.
“We’ll see about that,” was all Johnny would say before turning around to face both O’Malley and Izzy, and the three started heading back. “Let’s head back to the ship then. O’Malley, tell everyone what transpired here. Get your men ready. Get everyone ready. We cannot be late. We cannot let them win.”
Without thinking about it, Izzy slipped her hand in Johnny’s. The simple gesture took Johnny by surprise, and he glanced down at the young woman, offering her a simple smile. Though he squeezed Izzy’s hand gently in order to reassure her, the young woman was not relieved.
Not in the slightest.
Chapter 36
It was about an hour before dawn, or at least, that’s what Izzy assumed as she peered out the window from the captain’s quarters. Currently, she was lying on her back, her head facing the window as it rested comfortably on Johnny’s shoulder, his arm around her waist. She was fully clothed, and nothing intimate had transpired between them the previous night, but Izzy needed to be close to him before he left to fight, and though Johnny wouldn’t admit it aloud, he needed her close to him as well. Her mind was frantic with worry, wishing that time would freeze and they could stay this way forever, no fighting – no risking his life for the greater good; just the two of them in each other’s arms. But no. This battle had to happen and as such, Johnny had to leave her. She just hoped he came back.
“Remember what you promised,” came a mumbled voice from beside her. Izzy refocused her eyes on the pirate beside her, his eyes still shut. There were times when he would read her like a book, as though he could see through her. It amazed her how he knew she wasn’t sleeping when his eyes were closed.
Then his words sank in, and she freely rolled her eyes, a dry look touching her features. “How could I forget?” she asked.
Though Johnny’s eyes were still shut, the corners of his lips turned up. He was amused. “You know it’s for your own good, darling,” he murmured before yawning silently and opening his eyes. The first thing he saw was her face, the worry written so clearly in her eyes. “How lucky am I, to be waking up to you this morning.”
Izzy looked away. She was too consumed in her thoughts that she didn’t even blush at his flattering words. “I wish you wouldn’t speak like that,” she told him. She paused, and Johnny could tell she was struggling with something she needed to say. He turned towards her, propping his elbow on his pillow and cradling his head in the palm of his hand, remaining silent so Izzy could say everything she needed to say. “Look, I don’t know if this is going to come out the way I mean it to; I’m known for saying things and they just come out wrong and people take offense at it when I didn’t even mean it that way.” Johnny’s lips curled up once more as she rambled on, unable to look him in the eyes just yet. “I know that you have to go and do this and save piracy from extinction and whatnot, but I don’t want you to go.” When she finished, she finally looked him in the eyes, hoping that he wasn’t affronted by what she had said.
In fact, Johnny was anything but. He remained mute for a long moment, simply staring at the woman in front of him, his eyes trying to memorize every inch of her face. Finally, he reached out and curled an errant strand of hair behind her ear, a tiny smile touching his lips at he looked at her with adoration.
“You know,” he began, his voice low, his tone serious, “that I’ve never had anybody worry about where I’ve been or what I’ve done or who I was with. I used to believe that it would be quite annoying, having to explain every action I did to somebody, and every reason why I did it. I know that I don’t have to do that with you, darling, but out of all the people in the world, I would choose to do so with you. I like the fact that you’re concerned about me. It means a lot, knowing that you care for somebody like me.”
Johnny swallowed, unsure where he was going with this line of speech, but somewhere deep inside of him urged him to continue. Johnny had never been daft; he knew that he was mortal, just like every person in the world, and that there was a good chance he wo
uld die in the impending battle. If he didn’t get this off his chest now, he may never have the chance to. “You’re the only person I trust, Isabelle,” he continued, his voice even softer than before as his hand cupped her cheek. “And I know this may sound selfish, but I am glad that I got you not only in your world, but in mine as well.” He smiled now, completely amused with the situation at hand. “You know, I never thought I would ever say this to another person, but I realize that as I’m about to, it will probably be the easiest three words I ever say. I want you to know that everything I said about love – I realize it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true because I” -
Before Johnny could finish what he was about to say, Izzy reached out and placed her hand over his lips. Johnny cocked a questioning brow, wondering why she had wanted him to stop talking when she had to have known what he was going to say.
“No,” she whispered, almost desperately as her eyes filled with tears. “No. Don’t say that yet. You tell me after this war, after you have finished. Then you can tell me anything you want. But not now.” She pushed her brow up as a tear rolled down her cheek before finally releasing his mouth, letting her hand drop carelessly to the bed. “What you can say,” she continued, swallowing a bit before looking him in the eyes. “What you can promise is that you’ll come back to me. I came back to you, remember? And I’ll always come back to you.”
Beautiful Disaster (A Pirate Romance book, Historical Romance) Page 18