Other Oceans: Book Two of the Hook & Jill Saga

by Andrea Jones

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “And still you will serve him?”

  “In any way but one, Sir.” Nibs’ face was dark.

  Jill’s voice shook. “And how will you defend yourself when you are accused of disobedience?”

  “I’m hoping it won’t come to that, Ma’am. He’s still got his mates.”

  The captain said, “It is as we discussed, Mr. Nibs. LeCorbeau’s mates do not appear to last so very long.”

  “No, Nibs! I won’t have that happen to you. I forbid you to go!”

  Cecco’s voice was sharper than Jill had ever heard it. “Madam. You forget your place.” Ignoring the shock on her face, he turned to Nibs. “Before I make this very serious decision, tell me what you are thinking.”

  Nibs looked at his boots to begin, then warmed to the subject. “I’m thinking I’d advance quickly under LeCorbeau. He favors me already, and it’s a smaller ship, less crew. I’d soon be earning a good percent of the takings. And…well, I would be a legitimate seaman then, wouldn’t I? Not as likely to be hanged by the Royal Navy.”

  The new captain spoke evenly, but his displeasure smoldered. “Never before have I heard you voice any such concern. If, as the lady fears, your chosen captain orders you to lie for him, you will now have had some practice.”

  Jill gasped, forgetting her place again. “Captain! Nibs has never been untruthful before! You must give him another chance—”

  His bracelets jangled as he held up his hand to silence her. “Mr. Nibs. You are not afraid of LeCorbeau, and you are not afraid of the law. If ever a man was born to be a pirate, you are the one.”

  Nibs fell silent. Still staring at him, Jill shook her head. Frantically, she sought an avenue of retreat for him. She spoke quietly, dreading to incur Cecco’s wrath on herself or her son, but determined. “Tell me this proposal is simply your reluctance to serve under Hook’s successor, whoever was chosen. Then we can settle your doubts.”

  “No, Ma’am. I won’t tell you that. Captain Cecco is a fine master.”

  “…Tom?” Her voice held a note of desperation.

  “Lady, I don’t want Nibs to go off without me, but we agreed that if you’re needing me here, I’ll stay.”

  Jill drew herself up. The pirate queen had never looked so regal. “I wouldn’t dream of separating you. If you must perform this duty, you will find some other way to do so, and you will both remain on the Roger— where you have sworn your loyalty.”

  Tom said simply, “Begging your pardon, Ma’am, but we swore to serve Captain Hook. And he’s gone.”

  Jill’s face blanched. Nibs’ words cut deeper still.

  “Tom means to say, Ma’am, that Hook’s just not here.”

  The tiny hope of finding Hook in LeCorbeau’s grasp wasn’t enough to risk her boys on it. Jill was ashen, now, with grief for Hook and anxiety for her sons. Surely, she believed, if this captain didn’t punish them for dissembling, L’Ormonde’s captain would condemn them as spies.

  Displaying no urge to comfort her, Cecco sat back and crossed his arms, one hand resting on the golden band that matched his gift to Jill. He leveled a stare at Nibs. “And you are determined to keep on serving Captain Hook. Are you not?”

  Neither man answered.

  “You will not say to me that you go to L’Ormonde to search for him. But this I know to be true.” Cecco aimed an appraising look at Jill. “Most fortunately for your mother, it is also true that she does not encourage you in this folly.” He studied Nibs, then Tom, and with a cold look he said, “You are both good men. I am sorry to dismiss you.”

  Jill’s eyes opened wide. “Sir! Don’t let them go on such a foolish errand.”

  “I have made my decision.”

  “Excuse them! They’re in shock over losing Hook. He was the closest thing to a father my sons have known.”

  “Madam. You try my patience.”

  Reckless now, she faced him. “You’ve seen what manner of man LeCorbeau is. Please, Captain. Don’t send my boys away in anger.”

  “Lady, I do not send them. They have asked to be released.”

  “And I ask you not to release them!”

  Cecco said with dignity, “Of ship’s company I hold no man, and no woman, against the will. As for anger, I harbor none. Only sorrow to lose two fine crewmen, who could not trust me to do right by our former master.”

  “But Captain—”

  “Hush, Lady. It is clear that these men understand the situation into which they plunge.” Jill had never seen his eyes so devoid of sympathy. “Like you, they are willing to take imprudent risks— in this case, for the sake of their…captain. That they are your sons is unfortunate.”

  Falling on her knees before him, she laid her hands on his legs, nearly sobbing. “Because they are my sons, Sir, you cannot let them go!”

  “Lovely one.” He looked down on her. Impersonally, as if she were an object of art, he ran his hand over her hair. “You yourself insisted I show no favor or prejudice. To do other than this would be a violation of our accord.”

  As all sense of balance deserted her, Jill closed her eyes and pulled her hands away. Feeling for her chair, she dragged herself into it. Tom saw her sinking.

  “I know it makes it harder for you, Lady, to lose us, too. But Nibs is set on doing his duty, and I’m set on following him.” Making sure his shirt was tucked first, he faced the captain straight on. “Sir. None of this is Jill’s idea. She’s devoted to you. Will you swear to us you’ll take care of her?”

  From far away, Jill heard Cecco’s reply.

  “You have my word.”

  “Lady. Don’t worry too much. You taught us to watch out for ourselves.”

  The words tore themselves from her lips, “And to do your duty.” She felt sick.

  “Aye, Ma’am. And that.” Tom leaned over the desk and bent his head to look into her downcast face, smiling. “There’s no changing us now!”

  Jill looked on her sons, and saw that they had changed. They were fully grown men, marked by their experiences, and honor-bound— soon to be bound to a man without honor. She pushed herself out of her chair and turned her back. “Captain. When shall we rendezvous with L’Ormonde?”

  “It is my intention to allow her to catch us tomorrow.”

  Jill collected herself, then spoke over her shoulder to her sons, commanding. “Mr. Nibs, Mr. Tootles. You will say good-bye to me before you go.”

  “Aye, Madam. We will.”

  “Yes, men.” Cecco remained firm. “You will have to cross your own names from the book. No one can do that for you.” He dismissed them and they left, much more quietly than they’d entered. When Nibs looked back to close the door, Jill was wilting on the window seat, her head bowed and her hands spread over the pillows. Cecco still sat with his arms crossed, his dark eyes watching his sailors’ departure.

  They all noticed that Captain Cecco hadn’t invited the men to return, after their search of L’Ormonde was over.

  § § §

  If you are brave enough to face it, change can be welcome. As her father accepted the teacup, Liza recalled her mistress’ words from that very first day. The woman was right. Excitement and adventure waited to be found in the pirates’ way of life, and for Liza it was only beginning. Her tale would be far different than anyone had imagined.

  Hanover sighed. “You may go to bed now, Liza. The captain informed me that the lady won’t need you tonight.”

  She lingered while he took the first sip, and squeezed her hands together.

  Her father noticed her hesitation. “Don’t be afraid. Our guest won’t awaken for another hour or so. When he does, I will be ready with the ether.” Hanover swallowed some tea, then set the cup next to the medicine bottle on his desk. “I will retire, as well. These last few days have been trying.” He stood and removed his waistcoat. Liza took it from him and hung it neatly next to the coat, which she had stitched back to usefulness. Finding excuses to avoid her bunk, she sent furtive glances toward her
father until he finished his tea. Wearily, he ambled to the door to check the lock, then turned toward his bed. Pausing only to slip off his shoes, he collapsed into it.

  Liza crept near her father. His eyes were closed…he was asleep already! She collected his shoes to set them properly under the clothes hooks. Picking up his teacup, she inspected the contents, pleased to find no remainder. After wiping it clean, she replaced it on its tray. He would never suspect he had been drugged.

  From her dresser drawer Liza removed a tall, corked bottle, and slices of bread and cheese wrapped in a linen napkin. She placed them in her bunk, following them with the small bowl of fruit from the table. In front of the mirror, she washed her face and brushed her hair, then shed her clothing and hung it. When Liza had turned up the flames of the desktop lanterns, she began to climb to her bunk. She paused. She dropped to the floor again and bent over the prone figure of her father. Slipping her hand into his breeches pocket, she removed a ring of brass keys, allowing them to tinkle, just for the pleasure of hearing them.

  Not long after, feeling cool and refreshed, she locked the door again. A glance in the mirror indicated the necessity of smoothing her hair once more; her quick venture to the windy gun deck had mussed it. Satisfied then, she yanked her father’s bed curtain closed and slithered into her bunk. Everything was ready for her master. Liza lay down by his side, breathlessly awaiting her next adventure— into womanhood. To pass the time until he awakened, she closed her eyes and imagined that Mr. Yulunga’s big black hands had already wielded the needle to prick her ears, and she was flaunting those golden earrings.

  The ship plowed on through the darkness, her moans lulling her off-duty voyagers to rest. All but one. For him, the song of the Roger was a stimulant.

  When Hook came to awareness, he soon discovered that the chains at his hand and foot made no sound, and the girl was sleeping. The time had come to make his move.

  § § §

  It seemed long before Jill could face her duty again. When she did, her captain was cordial. He waited beside his desk, where she came to stand before him, looking up slowly. The lanternlight played on the linked medallions at his neck, and on his headdress.

  “Captain.”

  “Lady.” Honoring his promise to wait for her to reach first, Cecco didn’t touch her. “You are not as alone as you imagine.”

  “So you would have me believe. In any case, we now have the answer to your question of this morning. We know what you would not do for me.”

  “Breaking my word would not be a service for you, but an injury against you.”

  “Do my sons offend you so deeply that you will allow them to go into danger?”

  “They face danger every day on the Roger. But they offend me only by trusting me too little.”

  “I trusted you to look out for us. Sir.”

  “If they had confided in me, I might have understood their desire to seek their captain.”

  “Nibs and Tom were trying to be discreet, in order not to offend you.”

  “And they spoke for themselves. That discussion is over.” He gazed on her, his regard intensifying. “But their mother displeased me— not once, but several times.”

  “Sir…I couldn’t just let them go!”

  “I know this is not your wish to see your sons leave our ship. Even under the best of circumstances.”

  “Is it your wish?”

  “I have already told you. They asked to be released.”

  “And if I asked, would you let me go?”

  “You, I must refuse. We are both bound by accord. And, I think, you are not asking such a thing. You belong on the Roger.”

  Gauging his displeasure, she ventured further. “Sir, what else do you know about me?”

  “I know you believed you could not ask me, but you would have preferred that I find a way to inspect L’Ormonde myself.”

  “Then you have thought to search for Hook aboard her?”

  “Ah, yes! But of course, LeCorbeau is not likely to show us anything he does not wish us to see.”

  “To do so would at least have saved my sons from that man.”

  “And saved you and me from a delicate situation. But as you have seen, they are not afraid. Nor do I shy from facing the sensitive circumstances between me and my lady.”

  “Aye, Sir, I do see. You show more courage than many men own. But is there no other way to ensure Hook isn’t aboard L’Ormonde?”

  “None that I can find.”

  “Then Tom and Nibs are right to go?”

  He shook his head. “I have not said this.”

  “What else have you not said?”

  “I have not said what you might not believe. That I honored my oath to Hook, and before taking his prize I, too, searched the Roger to find him, and considered he may have fallen victim to LeCorbeau. But, I have done everything that lies within my power. Tom was right, Lady. Hook is gone. We may never know where or how.”

  “But I can feel him!”

  Cecco heaved a heavy sigh. “Lovely one, it is as I told you before. Gypsies are a superstitious people. With patience I have listened to your claim. Now I will hear no more. No more talk of the dead. I wish the man’s soul to rest in peace.” With his fingers, he sketched a gypsy banishing sign, down from his forehead and across his breast.

  Recognizing that Cecco’s indulgence was at an end, Jill bowed her head. “I spoke out of turn in front of your men. Please have patience one more time, Sir, and excuse me.”

  “You will not do so again. Always, you learn the lesson and move forward. It is one of the qualities I admire in you.”

  “Thank you, Captain. It is hard, losing so many people I love.”

  His dark gaze softened. “Many. But not all.”

  Jill read his face, then opened her palm to survey the color of her hand. It seemed to her that the stain should have paled in the last few days, but her hand was as crimson as the night she was marked. Accepting Cecco hadn’t changed that.

  “Aye, Sir. Not all.”

  Just below her palm, one of her bracelets caught the golden gleam of the lanternlight. Unthinking, Jill rotated her hand to admire it, then realized that, as she did so, she was lowering her arm and reaching out to Cecco. Already, the gesture was so natural that it accomplished itself without her direction. Once over her surprise, Jill knew it felt right. She wanted Cecco’s comfort. She wanted Cecco.

  He didn’t give her a chance to reconsider. He grasped her hand. “Bellezza.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Always, you may count on me. As your palm predicted, you are adored.” He straightened, and his grip on her fingers tightened. “But still, as I promised, the welfare of the Roger comes first. Now that we have settled ourselves, we must anticipate tomorrow and lay our plans.”

  “Of course.” Even as she followed his lead, Jill admired his skill in inducing her cooperation. “We must show no sign of weakness to LeCorbeau.”

  He smiled. “Ah, my Jill! Now I see the spirit at work again.”

  “Aye, Sir, with your encouragement.” When he smiled that way, she thought, he was so very dashing. Still bruised by her mingling emotions, she turned her mind to business. “The commandant should pay well to compensate us for Nibs. Do you believe he will accept Tom, too?”

  “If it is the only way to obtain the services of one, he will take both. And pay for them.”

  “We must watch carefully to read his reaction to Hook’s disappearance.”

  “Lady, we will stage a grand entrance, and I will make a show of my desire to be rid of your ‘troublesome’ sons. LeCorbeau will otherwise be suspicious. He is a canny man. He might easily guess their purpose, and I am sure you will wish to divert this. The Frenchman must believe I need your sons to go— in order to secure my claim on you.”

  Relief washed over her. Cecco did intend to watch over her sons, after all. Grateful for his concern, she pressed his hand. “Thank you for that. And the surgeon?”

  “We will allow the business
partners enough leeway to allay suspicion. Hanover will attend the ‘ailing’ mate. Although our doctor has feigned to join us and his game is exposed, he still hopes to pass through his trial period, regain his jewels, and spirit you away on L’Ormonde. By the time it appears possible for him to buy your freedom, you must seem on the brink of running from your new captain.”

  His assumption that she would be faithful reminded Jill of Smee’s old doubts, and she found she could think of Smee without pain, now. “You will trust me, in the end, to remain true to you? Even if I must string Doctor Hanover along until the very last moment?”

  “‘The very last moment.’ An appropriate way to put it! For such it will be— if I am crossed.” With a strong hand, Cecco encompassed her throat. As she tensed, he slid his hand to her shoulder. “But yes, of course I trust you to make the wise decision. I know of your loyalty. And as I have said, you are far too intelligent to betray me.” He said it casually, but his eyes made their impression. Her heart skipped a beat. This captain was not a man to be trifled with. His hand remained, heavy, on her shoulder. He said, “Hanover is doing his part, as expected. Your ‘lover’ is already impatient to speak with you again.”

  Jill caught the note of mischief in his voice. Her eyes widened. “You don’t mean to allow it?”

  He shrugged. “As a token of good faith, I have already promised.”

  Shocked, Jill studied Cecco’s confident face, and a gradual smile slid to her own. “Yes….Of course.”

  “But you will not be alone. Mr. Yulunga will be watching. For that matter, so will the rest of the crew.”

  “Doctor Hanover will be pleased to learn of my son’s change of allegiance. I was never sure, but now his sudden interest in Nibs is explained. He must have been following LeCorbeau’s directive in luring Nibs away.”

  “Certainly. It seems our overly-moral surgeon is caught between pirates and privateers. He has surrendered more than a few of his principles to win you, and to win his freedom.”

  Jill shuddered. “To think I ever allowed that man to touch me!”

  Cecco removed the knife from his belt. Setting it on his desk, he laid his hand firmly upon it. “You will have your satisfaction. And so will I.”