Because Turner was a pirate.
The mere thought inspired naught but anguish, because she loved him, and she could not reconcile the man who made love to her, with a tenderness she did not know existed, with the ruthless occupation marked by thievery and murder. It made no sense.
Why did he come to her aid, in Port Royal, if he possessed no honor? Why did he protect her, when that awful man stole her trunk and refused to return it? And why did he accept payment for transport to Charles Town, and sail them north for more than a month, if he intended to kill them?
“Rose, are you not going to retire?” Mama eased between the sheets of her small bunk and yawned, blissfully oblivious to the danger that surrounded them. But Clinton knew, and he warned of the peril, but Rose did not listen. “It is getting late, and you need your rest, as you rise so early.”
No, she did not. She remained in Turner’s bed, long after he departed for duty.
“Yes, Mama, but I believe I shall pray, first.” At last, her mother rolled onto her side, and Rose counted down the minutes, until a telltale snore reverberated through the room.
On tiptoes, she crept out of the chamber, because she needed to talk to Turner, and he would be expecting her. Although she knew not how he would respond to her queries, but she had to know his motives.
In the hall, she peered left and then right and moved toward the bow. At that hour, most of the sailors should have been in their hammocks, on the lower deck, yet an uproar reverberated through the ship. As she neared the galley, she overheard the crew invoking her name, and she backed against the wall. As they did for dinner, the men pooled at the long tables, much to her surprise.
“The Armistead woman is our Lady of Fortune.” Murtaugh dipped his chin. “I would swear to it on me mother’s grave.”
That was not the first time a crewmember called her by that term, and she did not comprehend the significance, especially from the polite helmsman.
“She brings us good luck, prizes, and booty, Cap’n.” Tolly slapped his thighs. “We have to keep her.”
She gulped at the prospect, given Tolly never failed to salute her, when she ventured on deck.
“And we need to throw the mother and the brother overboard.” Allen pointed a finger. “We do not need two more mouths to feed, and they serve no purpose.”
That statement struck terror in her heart, and she wanted to flee, but there was nowhere to hide, as they were trapped aboard what amounted to a floating prison full of pirates. Oh, what a fool she had been, as she may have brought her family to their doom.
“I disagree.” Tolly leaned forward. “While I do not speak for the old hag, Clinton would make a good sailor, and he is eager to learn.”
To keep quiet, Rose bit the fleshy underside of her hand, and tears welled, but she refused to yield to the pain and unadulterated fear twisting her insides, as the crew she once considered her protectors conspired against her.
“Men, as I told Tolly, Eastman, Allen, and Murtaugh, we cannot kill the family and expect Rose to help us.” Turner propped a foot on a bench and jutted his hip, as he addressed the crew, and she cursed the day she met him. “And the truth is we do not need Miss Armistead, as we have never taken a woman to sea. The Sea Serpent carried a fortune in ambergris, and we are all the richer for it. Let us be satisfied with that.”
“But she alerted us to that British man-o-war, which would have sent us straight to Davey Jones’ Locker, Cap’n.” Eastman, who she considered a friend, nodded once. “And she spied the Sea Serpent before the helmsman or the forward lookout saw it, and that speaks for her.”
To think, she was only trying to be helpful, and her benevolence jeopardized those she loved. How could she have been so stupid?
“Do not forget she found that wreck and the submerged long boats weighted with gold doubloons, Cap’n.” Allen, who she thought a gentleman, betrayed her, too, and her spirits sank, because she boasted of her find, to Mama and Clinton. “Miss Armistead is not leaving this ship, no matter what you say.”
Oh, what could she do? How could she save Mama and Clinton?
Then it occurred to her. She could make Turner a bargain. In exchange for her remaining with him, he would let her family go free, unharmed.
“Hear, hear.” Several sailors pounded the tabletops.
“But Cap’n promised to make her stay.” Murtaugh scratched his chin. “He seduced her for us.” He elbowed Turner. “Did you not succeed, because I thought I heard her scream?”
At that moment, Rose almost vomited.
All the tender caresses and whispered praise of her abilities were naught more than a ruse. A brutal charade that struck at her heart and shattered it into countless pieces. And the approbation mocked her, as she covered her ears.
Crouching low, she listened to their horrible plot, committing everything to memory, as they conspired to kidnap her and murder her family. Somehow, she had to spare Mama and Clinton, but she could discern no solution, save Turner.
At first, only one person spoke against the devious scheme, and that was Captain Reyson, not that it gained him a measure of respect, in her estimation, because he betrayed her trust. Of all things to steal, he purloined her leap of faith.
“Lads, while I want Miss Armistead on this ship, for as long as I sail with her, I will not support any campaign that inflicts violence upon the lady, because that is bad luck.” Eastman frowned, and she forced herself to calm down. “Worse than a Jonah, and we would never escape it, until we atone. Do you want that in our wake?”
A hushed murmur of concurrence swept through the crew, but it did nothing to dispel her trepidation.
“Eastman is right.” Tolly wrinkled his nose. “And I like the lady. I said it before, and I will say it again, she treats us with respect, when others do not. I say we put the mother and the brother ashore, in Charles Town, because we have journeyed this far, and we keep Miss Armistead. We fulfill our bargain, and that should satisfy her.”
“I agree.” Allen shifted his weight. “And I am sure Cap’n can persuade her, if she rebels.”
The men laughed at her expense, and she swallowed a sob of misery. Did everyone know of her shame?
“Do not talk about her in that fashion, or I will kill you, myself.” With feet spread and shoulders squared, Turner rested fists on hips. “I will not deny that I want her here, although my reasons have nothing to do with her peculiar talent, but I would have her remain by choice. And I do not care if she spots another prize or booty, because it matters not. If I cannot convince her to take up the life, then I will let her go, and the devil take me for it.”
“You let your wick do your thinking, Cap’n.” Eastman inclined his head. “You have gone soft on the woman.”
“I admit nothing, and that may be, but did that stop us from prevailing, today, did it?” Turner’s defense offered a measure of comfort, because she wanted to believe in him. She desperately needed to believe in him. “We won a prize, men. We are going to sell the ambergris, in England, and it is worth more than the Spanish gold, because we can name our price. And perhaps, in the days that remain of our voyage, I can prevail upon Miss Armistead to anchor at my side. If not, then we can forever tell tales of the Fortuna of Charles Town.”
“I say we honor the lady.” Tolly raised his mug. “To Miss Armistead, our Fortuna.”
“To Miss Armistead,” the gathering toasted, in unison.
As the men dispersed, she retreated, despondent and so alone. Just as she backed into the corridor, Turner stared in her direction, and he pinned her with his all-knowing gaze. His guilty countenance spoke volumes, and she whirled about and ran to her cabin.
Chapter Six
Charles Town
His Majesty’s Province of Carolina
It was late when the Malevolent neared the docks of Charles Town, and the crew dropped anchor, offshore. Standing at the helm, Turner kept watch for Rose, but she did not appear. Then it dawned on him that no one had notified the passengers, because
everyone presumed he would do it. At last, he had an excuse to approach Rose, and he was halfway down the companion ladder before he realized he had moved.
By the time he stood at the door to her cabin, his heart raced, his palms dampened, and he dried his hands on his wool breeches and knocked. “Mrs. Armistead, Miss Armistead, we have arrived at your destination.”
“Come,” the mother called, and she smiled when she spied him. “Hello, Captain Reyson.”
“Ma’am.” He pushed open the panel, just as she prepared to exit, and he almost knocked her down. “You should gather your belongings, and we will take you ashore.”
“I should have a word with Clinton.” Mrs. Armistead brushed past him. “Thank you, Captain Reyson. We are in your debt.”
As he scanned the tiny chamber, he discovered Rose sitting in the shadows, on the small bunk, and he shut the door behind him. At first, he knew not how to address her, and he choked on fear of losing her. “I suppose you have nothing to say to me, given you have avoided me for the last sennight.”
“What is there to discuss?” It bothered him that she refused to look at him, in light of their last glimpse, after the crew met to discuss her fate. “You are a pirate, and you deliberately set out to seduce me, which you made clear to your crew, much to my shame. I am nothing to you. I am but a pawn, and in a moment, I shall leave this ship, and I will never see you again.”
“Is that what you want?” Her slumped shoulders and melancholy tone belied her misery, and wanted nothing more than to hold her. To make love to her. To reassure her that he wanted her in his life, but he would not force her to stay. “Or do you want to travel the world, because we could have the world, as it is ours for the taking, and I would give it to you? Regardless of what you think you heard, I would never let my men keep you, by force. And what we shared we did because I wanted you. Not because of some damn suspicion. But we can put that behind us and start anew.”
“What are you asking?” In that instant, she stood and faced him, and the dark circles and pale complexion cut him to the core, as she suffered because of him. “What would you have of me?”
“You could wake up in one port and go to sleep in another.” When he stepped toward her, she backed against the wall, and he spied tears in her blue eyes. “You could live by your own rules, decide your own fate, and never be beholden to anyone or anything not of your choosing.” He moved a little closer. “Do whatever you wish, when you wish, with or without me.”
“But you are a pirate.” She clutched her throat and whimpered. “You are a thief and a murderer. You attack innocent people, and you seize property that is not yours to take. And your men were going to kill Mama and Clinton.”
“I am a merchant, the same as any other, only I am more genuine than most, and I never would have let anyone harm your kin.” Somehow, he had to persuade her to stay with him, because he could not cast off without her. “And just how honest was Captain Donat? He took your money, in exchange for transport to Charles Town, and he failed to live up to the bargain. Instead, he abandoned you in Port Royal, the pirate’s den, leaving you to fend for yourself. Do you recall how we met, because I will never forget, and I thank the powers of fate that put me in the bordello that day, because I shudder to think of what might have happened to you, otherwise. And Donat traded in human cargo, something I consider contemptible, yet you think ill of me.”
“You killed the crew of the Sea Serpent.” As he stood toe to toe with her, she wrung her fingers. “Justice is not yours to mete, Turner. The rule of law is the only thing that separates us from the animals.”
“It is on the ocean.” He placed his palms on the bulkhead, at either side of her head. “And I only dispatched those who refused to return the slaves to their homeland, after I freed the cargo. Those who agreed to sail the ship were not harmed, and we took no more than the stores we needed to complete our trip. As to your claims, I never take a life unless it is necessary, or they try to kill me, first.”
“What of your thievery?” Her voice quivered, as he trailed his nose along her jaw. “Why can you not make an honest living?”
“Do you believe the gold I remove from Spain’s ships is obtained through honorable means?” He nipped her chin, and her knees buckled, but she did not fall, because he lifted her into his arms. “They rape the land, as well as the people, yet they are good and I am evil, because they wear fine clothing?”
“You have it all figured out, do you not?” To his infinite gratitude, Rose hugged his shoulders. “And you would make me a pirate, too?”
“No.” He rubbed his nose to hers. “I would make you my woman, and you would live with me, aboard the Malevolent. In autumn and winter, we would stay at my home in Port Royal. When the weather is fair, we could journey to any destination of your choice. You need only name it.”
“But you would still be a buccaneer.” It had been too long since he held her, and he flexed his hips, pressing his loaded cannon against her. “We would sail in search of prizes.”
“Sweetheart, with your sharp eyes, we might never have to resort to piracy, again.” When she kissed his neck, he could have cried. “We could focus our efforts on recovery of booty.”
“Is that why you want me to stay?” At last, she relaxed in his grip and rested her forehead to his. “Because your crew believes I am your Lady of Fortune?”
“No.” Now he claimed a proper kiss, and he suckled her tongue. “If you never spot another prize, I do not care. I want you. You are all I want.”
“I am so confused.” Rose pressed her lips to his. “But I cannot give you an answer, at this moment. I must think on it, and I must get my mother and my brother home, because I do not believe they are safe on this ship.”
“Of course.” With great reluctance he set her on her feet. “I will have my men carry your trunks on deck.”
With that, Turner gritted his teeth and walked out of the cabin. In the passageway, he bumped into Mrs. Armistead and Clinton.
“Captain Reyson, we will be ready to depart, soon.” Mrs. Armistead smiled. “And we thank you for your hospitality. If you wish to avail yourself of one of our guestrooms, we are too happy to accommodate you.”
“It is nothing, Mrs. Armistead, and I will remain aboard the Malevolent, until we cast off, after dawn, but I appreciate the offer.” He nodded once. “I will see you on deck.”
As usual, Clinton said nothing, but his expression left Turner in no doubt of the scamp’s contempt. When he gained the waist, he signaled Tolly.
“Prepare the mainsail hull, and lower the jolly boat.” Turner flagged Eastman. “Compose a list of supplies, which we will purchase, in town, in the morning, before we cast off. And send the swabs to retrieve the Armistead’s baggage.”
“Aye, sir.” Eastman saluted. “Everyone’s baggage?”
“Aye.”
At the rail, Turner remained on guard, as he scanned the vicinity for any suspicious activity. He told himself he was not dying inside, at the prospect of leaving Rose in his wake.
By the time she appeared, and the trunks were loaded, he drifted in a sea of indecision and a strange gut-wrenching sensation, as he sought some way to keep her in his life, because he needed her, and he needed nothing. Without a glance in his direction, she rotated, and Tolly and Allen lowered her to the jolly boat. The mother and the brother followed suit.
With a tight grip on the rail, Turner wanted to summon her, but he held his tongue, even as something shattered within him. In desperation, because he might never get another opportunity to say the words, he mustered the courage to make the declaration he had never pledged to anyone, as he mouthed, I love you.
Peering at him, Rose flinched, as the tars took up the oars.
“Turner.” In a flash, she scrambled to the Jacob’s ladder and climbed aboard the ship. As she gained the deck, he drew her into his arms and swore he would never let her go. “I cannot do it. I cannot leave you, but I cannot stay in the capacity you suggest.”
&nbs
p; “Rose, come back,” Clinton hollered.
“What do you want, sweetheart?” Burying his nose in her curls, he whispered, “Tell me what you want. Anything you ask of me is yours.”
“Anything?” She shifted and framed his face with her delicate hands. “Anything at all?”
“Are we to bargain, here and now?” Given her smile, he would gift her the damn ship, if she wanted it. “Is it not enough to be my woman?”
“Oh, I will settle for nothing less.” The kiss she pressed on him waylaid his defenses, because he was hungry, and the cannon in his breeches primed for battle. “And I will be your woman, so let us set the terms. Did you mean what you said?”
“Aye.” In the glow of her enthusiasm, he could deny her nothing. “You have but to name your requirements, and I yield, my Rose.”
“I have your word?” She trailed a finger along the crest of his ear, and he shuddered.
“By the code, I will honor your demands.” He held her gaze. “I swear on my soul’s salvation.”
“Then we have an agreement, Captain Reyson.”
Turner rolled onto his back, pulled the sheet over Rose’s naked body, and rested his head on his folded arms, as she nestled at his side and teased the hair on his chest with her fingers.
“I should be keelhauled for what I allowed to happen today.” He snorted in unveiled disgust, and she bit her tongue against laughter. “But I knew you were a wicked negotiator, so I never should have offered to broker terms of surrender or made such a foolish, all-encompassing overture. Thus, I am to blame.”
“Are you so unhappy with the bargain we struck?” Scooting closer, she propped on her elbow and kissed him, long and lovingly, as an olive branch. “Do you regret our arrangement?”
“Arrangement?” He blew out a breath, and she reflected on his new state, which could not have been easy for him, yet he acquiesced to her demands with nary a protest. “Is that a polite way to reference our wedding?”
After much discussion, Rose, Turner, Tolly, and Eastman accompanied her family into Charles Town, located the parish priest, and the unconventional couple married in a small ceremony at the little church on the bluff, where she was baptized, with the groom brooding the entire time.
The Blood Reaver Page 7