Blackhearts

by Nicole Castroman

  As the shopkeeper left, his back stiff with his displeasure, Teach drummed his fingers on his knee. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction when he presented her with a ring.

  The jeweler was back. He set the box down in front of Teach and snapped open the lid. “Perhaps these are more to your liking,” he said.

  The rings were decidedly less ornate, but no less beautiful. Teach’s eyes settled on a gold band, carefully handcrafted, with a braided centerline framed by twisted ropes. Holding it up for inspection, he breathed a sigh of relief.

  “This is the one,” he murmured.

  The jeweler nodded.

  As much as Teach would have liked to buy her the biggest, fattest ring, this one suited her, much more than the other garish choices. “How long will it take for you to size it?” he asked, handing him a circular thread. He’d used it to measure Anne’s finger.

  The jeweler tilted his head to the side. “You may return to pick it up in two days’ time.”

  Teach smiled. “Excellent.” He shook the jeweler’s hand and headed outside, into the brisk fall afternoon.

  At the top of the hour, he met Anne and Elizabeth at the entrance to the docks, the sharp scent of fish and brine assailing their nostrils.

  Teach pulled Anne into an alcove, leaving Elizabeth standing a few feet away. “I missed you,” he whispered. Someone laughed quietly behind them. Teach looked and saw young Ruth and a friend pointing and giggling, with Elizabeth nearby. Teach reached into his pocket and took out two coins. “Here. Go and bother someone else,” he said to the little girls.

  They took off, running down the street.

  He threw one to Elizabeth as well. “What’s this for?” she asked.

  “For you to leave us,” Teach said.

  “But it wouldn’t be proper—” Elizabeth began, but Teach handed her another coin.

  “I just need you to go shopping for a minute or two. Miss Anne will be quite safe with me.”

  “Won’t your father be expecting us for lunch?” Anne asked.

  “No. He’s too busy.”

  “He works much too hard.”

  “You’re right.” Turning to the maid, Teach waved his hand. “Elizabeth, go and see if my father needs anything.”

  “You’re impossible,” Anne muttered. “Elizabeth isn’t going anywhere. Now hurry and show me what you want so that we can return home.”

  Sighing, Teach held out his hand, motioning to Elizabeth. “Hand over the coins.”

  Elizabeth clutched them to her chest. “No, sir. I need these. You gave ’em to me fair an’ square.”

  Teach’s mouth dropped open. Anne smiled.

  “This is your doing,” Teach said, pointing a finger at Anne. “I’m not sure if you deserve this.” Withdrawing the pocket watch, he held it out for Anne to see.

  She grabbed for it, but he raised it above her head. “It comes with a price,” he said.

  While his attention was focused on Anne, Elizabeth jumped up and caught the watch in her hands.

  Anne laughed. “Thank you, Elizabeth. Who knows what kind of price he would have demanded of me.”

  Recognizing that he was outnumbered, Teach accepted defeat and turned toward the docks.

  The Deliverance bobbed gently in the water before them, the waves lapping noisily against its polished hull. The square-rigged main and topsails were crisp and white, while the bowsprit jutted out like a spear from the foredeck.

  Elizabeth stopped in her tracks. “I’m not going on that.”

  Teach’s heart lifted. “Fine. You stay here and wait for us. This won’t take long.”

  He couldn’t help his surge of pride as he helped Anne onto the plank, leading the way as they boarded. Anne didn’t display any of Elizabeth’s fear. He’d asked his father if he could show Anne the ship, and his father had arranged for the crew to be absent during that time.

  The deck gleamed beneath the sunlight. Teach knew that after a few days at sea, the ship would not resemble its current state, but for now it was spotless. Ropes and barrels lay nearby, waiting to be used.

  Anne ran her fingers along the railing, apparently taking in every detail of the massive ship. They strolled the entire length, ending on the starboard side facing out to sea.

  “Do you like it?” Teach asked.

  “It’s magnificent,” Anne said. “I’ve never seen a ship this large before.”

  Teach wrinkled his nose. “Trust Father to attempt such an undertaking.”

  “But won’t it make a large target? Think of all the pirates who will come after this ship, hoping to claim it for their own.”

  Teach leaned against the main boom, his arms above his head. “Father has thought about that. He made sure that enough cannons are aboard, making a direct assault on the ship difficult.”

  Anne made a face. “Difficult, but not impossible.”

  “You need not worry. Father has said he’s hired the most experienced sailors and soldiers. He pays them well.”

  Anne walked across the quarterdeck, down the steps, and through the long hallway into the captain’s cabin.

  She twisted her hands in the folds of her dress. “You know, before you arrived home, I planned to leave on the Deliverance.”

  Teach’s eyebrows rose. “Did you?”

  She nodded, blushing. “Yes. Looking back, I realize how foolish I was. I had planned to steal away, or else pay someone to let me on board.”

  Teach smiled. “Not so foolish. I planned to be captain.”

  “Did you?” Anne asked.

  “Yes. My father doesn’t like to hear me say it. Even if everything hadn’t worked out in our favor, I had no intention of marrying Miss Patience. I had no idea how to approach the subject with him, but I was determined to be on board when the Deliverance left port.”

  “If our plans had worked, we would have been together anyway,” Anne said.

  Teach took her hand in his. “Always.”

  Now it was Anne’s turn to smile.

  CHAPTER 32

  Anne

  “I’m sorry, but I have no desire to return to the city,” Anne said. It was late afternoon two days after their visit to the Deliverance, and her breath came out in soft puffs of white. Her fingertips were numb.

  She and Teach had gone for another walk in the garden, the grass beneath their feet long dormant. The limbs of the bushes and trees appeared lifeless, suspended in their frozen states.

  “Are you sure?” Teach asked.

  “Quite sure, but thank you,” she said. It was time to return the last remaining items to the house. For the past few days she’d risen early and gone to the two willows, hid the stolen silverware in her skirts and cloak, and returned them to their original places when no one was looking. Only a small number of objects remained, as well as all of the coins she’d collected. She’d decided to give the money to Elizabeth and her family, as well as to Sara.

  “It won’t take me long. I promise to return soon,” Teach said.

  “You can’t go into the city like that,” Anne protested.

  “Like what?”

  She eyed the dark scruff on his chin. “You look like a pirate. Has your father seen you?”

  “No, my father is too concerned with his ship at the moment, and I have had more important things to do in the morning than to bother about my appearance.”

  “Oh, really? And what was so important?”

  “Coming to see you,” Teach said, pulling her toward the shadow of the garden wall.

  “We live under the same roof. You see me every day,” Anne pointed out.

  “Trust me, I’m well aware of that fact.” His arms wrapped around her, and his mouth covered hers.

  Anne felt a surging tide of warmth that left her breathless, and she kissed him back.

  Eventually he lifted his
head, his eyes bright. “When I return, perhaps we can go for a ride. Is that all right with you?”

  Anne managed to nod.

  “Good.” After one last lingering kiss, Teach turned and strode toward the waiting carriage.

  As it pulled away, Anne paused, an uncomfortable feeling settling inside her. The sooner she completed this task, the sooner she could relax. There would be no more secrets between them, and Anne could begin her new life with Teach, for she could not imagine spending it with anyone else.

  Glancing back at the house, she paused and scanned the windows. She couldn’t help feeling as if someone were watching her, but there were no movements anywhere.

  She was being ridiculous. It was her guilt that made her feel this way, for surely she was the only one foolish enough to remain out in this cold.

  Shivering, Anne ducked beneath the archway and entered the wilder realm outside the Drummond grounds. With brisk steps she approached the willows, grateful to put this part of her time in the Drummond house behind her.

  As Anne swiped aside the long branches, her heart stopped at what she saw—or, more important, her heart stopped at what she didn’t see.

  The chest was gone.

  Rushing forward, she looked around the base of the two trees and at the surrounding ground, but the chest was not there.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Anne spun to find Margery standing several feet away, a flicker of triumph lighting her cold eyes.

  The buzzing in Anne’s ears started low but grew sharper, more piercing. “No, I . . . I just needed some fresh air.”

  Margery smiled. “Aye, you often seem to require quite a bit of fresh air, don’t you?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Your early morning walks. You enjoy rising early, before the rest of the house. You were never that industrious as a maid.”

  “What do you want?” Anne asked, wishing she felt as fearless as she sounded.

  “Master Drummond would like to see you. He’s waiting for you back at the house.”

  Anne turned even colder, and her mouth went dry.

  Margery stepped away but stopped when she noticed that Anne hadn’t moved. “I suggest you come with me now. He’s not in a favorable mood.”

  This time Margery waited for Anne to precede her. Anne’s mind raced with each step. Her pulse drove in erratic surges, and her chest was tight with fear.

  He knew.

  What could she possibly tell Drummond about the chest?

  He stood in the back door, waiting for her approach. ­Margery nodded at him before she disappeared into the kitchen.

  Motioning for Anne to follow him, Drummond led the way to the drawing room. He closed the door behind her, the look in his eyes hard.

  “I wished to speak with you about my son.”

  Anne’s face grew warm, but she managed to meet his eyes. It was not what she had expected.

  “Sir?”

  “What are your plans?” he asked bluntly.

  “My plans?”

  “Yes.”

  Anne shook her head, perplexed. What kind of game was he playing? “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Margery tells me that you and my son spend a great deal of time together. Is this true?”

  “We dine together, yes. But that is only to be expected.”

  “And is it expected that you take walks together in the garden, or that he show you my ship?”

  “Teach asked for permission. You arranged that.” Too late, Anne realized her mistake. Drummond’s mouth turned down at the corners at the use of his son’s nickname.

  “Edward did ask me. But I would not have given my permission if I’d known about the nature of your relationship.”

  “Sir, under the circumstances, you can hardly expect your son and me to ignore each other. If you would like, I will take my meals in my room.”

  “What I would like is for you to quit my house.”

  Although she’d tried to prepare herself for the dismissal, the sting of his words was severe. “Please, let me explain.”

  Drummond ignored the pallor of her face, looking ready to attack. “In light of the circumstances, I think it would be best if you left. I’ve arranged passage for you on the Deliverance when it sets sail.”

  “Please—” she began, but he ignored her.

  “I have hired a lady’s maid to accompany you. You have the money your father left behind, although you certainly don’t deserve it. That should be enough for you to start a new life somewhere else. I’m prepared to give you more, to ensure that you leave.”

  Anger quickly replaced Anne’s pain. “Money is your answer for everything, isn’t it? If you want to become a member of the aristocracy, you have only to throw money at a baron. If someone falsely accuses your son of piracy, by all means, pay for the constable’s silence. If someone falls in love with your son and wishes to marry him, you pay her off and send her packing, because you don’t approve of the match. You think that just because you have money, everyone else has to bow to your every whim.”

  The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on Anne. It wasn’t that long ago that she had planned to do that very thing, leave Bristol and everything behind her, to search for her mother’s family. But her situation had changed, and the last thing she wanted was to leave now. Especially without Teach. She’d thought that perhaps, once she and Teach were married, they could visit the islands together.

  “Do not make this harder than it needs to be.”

  “Harder than it needs to be? You’re asking me to leave everything I know and love behind.”

  Drummond was unmoved by the tears in her eyes and the desperation in her voice. “So you refuse to leave on your own?” he demanded.

  “I do not wish to.”

  “I didn’t want to resort to this, but I can see that you leave me no choice. There is another matter.”

  Anne closed her eyes.

  “It has been brought to my attention that several objects in the household have gone missing.”

  “I was going to return everything,” she said, meeting his condemning gaze. “I never meant to steal from you.”

  “What, precisely, did you mean to do?”

  “The only reason I took anything was because I was treated unfairly here and I wanted to escape. I took nothing more than you owed me. Or my father.”

  Drummond looked decidedly uncomfortable at the reminder. “Yes, well, you will have a hard time convincing the constable of that.”

  “Are you going to contact him?” Anne asked, desperate to wake up from this nightmare. How had everything gone so wrong in such a short amount of time?

  “Not if you go willingly. You will leave within the hour.”

  “But I can’t—”

  Drummond held up a warning finger. “Unless you wish to go to jail, you can and you will. Margery will help you. She has already gathered your things. I will have your solicitor send part of your inheritance to the White Stag Inn. Once you reach your destination, you may let him know where he may send the rest.”

  “But that could take months.”

  “You should have thought of that before you stole from me. I will allow you to pack all of the dresses I have given you, but nothing more. You will stay at the White Stag near the docks for the next few days. When the Deliverance sets sail, you will be on it. My debt to your father has been paid in full.”

  Anne pressed the knuckles of her clenched fist against her stomach, a fierce pain slashing her heart. “And Teach—” she said, almost afraid to mention his name.

  “You will write Edward a note, telling him you harbor no genuine feelings for him and that you only used him.”

  “But that’s not true!” she cried, her blood turning to ice water. She didn’t want to believe he could be that cruel.

&nbs
p; “Regardless of whether it’s true or not, you will declare it so.”

  “He won’t believe it,” she said.

  “Yes, he will. Oh, I know he was fond of you, but that was before he knew you were a thief and a liar. In time he will get over you. As he did Miss Patience.”

  Anne flinched at his words, but anger and hurt pride drove out some of the pain. She’d once accused Teach of the same thing. Now, of course, she knew better, but there was no way she could convince Mr. Drummond of Teach’s feelings for her.

  “After you are gone, he will go on and marry someone else, someone who will bring out the best in him.”

  “You mean someone with a title.”

  “Yes, someone with a title. Someone more suited to him.”

  “If you knew him, you would know that he doesn’t want that.”

  Drummond snorted. “And you know my son so well?”

  “I do. I know he understands and accepts people, regardless of their circumstances or backgrounds. He’s independent and forthright and appreciates it when others are as well. And the last thing in this world that your son cares about is marrying into the aristocracy.”

  He glared at her, his eyes hard. “I admit, I made a mistake with Miss Patience. Thanks to you, that disaster was averted. But I believe I know what’s best for him, and that person is most certainly not you.”

  “Have you ever thought to ask your son what he wants?”

  Drummond turned from her. “I have hired two gentlemen to see you to the docks and then safely onto the ­Deliverance. They will make certain you arrive at your destination and nowhere else. Once you are gone, my son will once again become the boy that I remember.”

  Anne shook her head incredulously, wondering at his conceit. “You can’t continue to control his life. At some point you will lose him.”

  “On the contrary. When you’re gone, everything will return to normal. When he saw William attack you, Edward was . . . wild, half-crazed. I’ve never seen him act like that before. He was clearly not himself. You brought out those primitive responses in him. At the time, I was angry with William as well. I had no idea of the depth of Edward’s feelings for you.”