Alastair nodded. “Aye, Beth is my weakness.”
Teach understood that weakness only too well.
“I’ll butcher the man who ever harms a hair on her head. Webb knows the tavern is important to Beth, although she’ll tell you it’s mine. My name is on the papers, but all the money we earn is set aside to help escaped slaves move on. Every once in a while, Webb will send some men to come in and wreck the place. Just to prove they’re in charge.”
“But you don’t believe Webb sent those men the other night,” Anne said.
“No, I don’t. Pelham’s official business here is to help put a stop to pirating. He’s particularly keen on catching a female pirate named Reva. Word is she stole something valuable from him a few years ago. Benjamin said she was at the Fox when Pelham attacked.”
“I saw her.”
“You were attacked?” Teach asked, his insides turning to ice. He didn’t like not knowing what was going on.
Anne glanced at Teach’s face and quickly shook her head. “It was a small scuffle. Nothing happened.”
Teach didn’t believe Anne for a minute, and he felt powerless to protect her. That frustration coupled with the fact that he wanted to be alone with her did not improve his foul temper. This was not how he had envisioned his reunion with the woman he loved.
“Pelham mentioned something about the Royal African Company,” Anne said, clearly trying to change the subject.
“He says it’s only a matter of time before the slave trade is open to all merchants.” Alastair exhaled, running a hand over his jaw.
Teach looked between Anne and Alastair. “What does that have to do with you?”
“Pelham wants to have a large group ready to act if the monopoly breaks. Of course, he wants to be in charge. He thinks he can persuade me, but I have no intention of joining them. Thankfully, neither Webb nor Pelham know about all my business dealings. The minute they become more of a threat, and as much as I’d hate to do it, I’ll take my leave of the island, assets and all, including my merchant ships.”
“But you’ve lived here for so long,” Anne said.
“True, and I had a better relationship with the previous governor, Trott, but he left. He came from a prosperous family and didn’t need the hassle of dealing with the riffraff of Nassau.”
“Webb said he sent out ships to search for the Deliverance. Surely that shows he’s fair,” Anne said.
Teach’s eyebrows drew together. “He told me the same thing, but I saw no sails.”
The three of them were silent for a moment. Teach didn’t like the picture Alastair painted of the governor. It merely confirmed what he’d first suspected. And he didn’t know who this Lord Pelham was, but Teach was certain that anyone working with the governor would be rather shady. “My crew is still locked up.”
“John?” Anne’s voice was fearful.
“Aye, including John. Those are good men, and they fought bravely.” Teach stared down at the floor, his mind racing, but he could not come up with any alternatives. “I’ve been in the fort. It would be impossible to plan an escape.”
“For that many men, yes,” Alastair agreed, his eyes glinting. “Now, if you only had to break out one person . . .”
Teach frowned. “And how am I to choose which one survives? No, I’m not leaving any of my men behind. I’ll take the job with Webb before I sentence them to death.”
“You might be doing just that by taking the job,” Alastair said quietly.
“Surely there’s some other way,” Anne asked, looking between the two of them.
“I’m afraid not. Even if we could, by some miracle, free all his men from the fort, it would be impossible to hide them on some ship sailing out of port. Webb has eyes everywhere, including this tavern. It would only be a matter of time before he rounded the lot of them up.”
Pain unfolded in Teach’s chest at the thought of leaving Anne again so soon. Nor did he like being backed into a corner.
“So what are our options?” Teach asked.
“You take the job with Webb. And we go from there.”
“I’d hoped to marry Anne. Today if possible.”
Alastair shook his head. “That wouldn’t be wise. The last thing you want is for Webb to know your weakness. And judging by the way you look at her, Anne is very much your weakness.”
• • •
The governor’s mansion was a large structure, two stories high, made from local quarried coral stone. Wooden louvered verandas stretched around the exterior, to provide privacy, ventilation, and protection from the sun. Its many windows were shuttered, the roof covered in cedar shingles.
At the front door, Teach gave his name. His footsteps echoed off the marble floor as he followed the footman through the halls of the large house. This time there were no shackles around his wrists and ankles. There could be no doubt in the governor’s mind that Teach would take the job.
The smell of roasted meat wafted through the air from the direction of the kitchen house. With its hot fireplace, the structure stood back from the main building amidst the densely landscaped property. Farther back, barely visible amongst the thick vegetation, was the low roof of the slaves’ quarters.
Frowning, Teach followed the footman into a large office. A mahogany desk dominated the space with potted palms dotting the corners of the room. The books lining the wall mirrored his father’s study back in Bristol. Teach shook off the unwanted memory and glanced out the open windows, grateful for the light breeze that blew through the room.
“The governor will be with you shortly.” With a slight bow, the man left.
Moments later, the door opened and Webb entered the room, followed by another man wearing a powdered wig and ornate long coat. This must be Lord Pelham.
Webb moved to the large leather chair situated beside one of the floor-to-ceiling windows, and sat down, his steps stiff, and halting, as if he was in pain. Once off his feet, his features seemed to relax somewhat. Waving toward Teach, he motioned for him to do the same.
Teach remained standing, as did Lord Pelham.
“Have you thought about my offer?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. I suppose you’re curious as to what it entails.”
Aside from the clenching of his jaw, Teach gave no response.
“I want you to search for someone.”
“Who?”
Pelham laughed lightly, the sound grating on Teach’s already raw nerves. “Aren’t you going to ask him about the pay? Good Lord, Webb, where did you find this one? He’s willing to do it for free.”
Truthfully, Teach had not considered that fact. He thought his freedom was his payment. “How much?”
“Five hundred pounds. I will pay you five hundred pounds to search for George Easton.”
“Who’s George Easton?”
Webb’s lips thinned. “A pirate. And he’s been plaguing these shores for far too long. I will give you a ship and provisions. All I ask is that you bring the scoundrel Easton to me. Preferably alive.”
“Why me?”
With a quick glance in Pelham’s direction, Webb scowled. “Sir.”
Teach shook his head slightly, not understanding why the governor had addressed him as such. Webb sat up straight in his chair. “You will address me as ‘sir.’ Is that understood?”
“Yes. Sir.”
If Webb noticed the slight hesitation, he chose to ignore it. “As governor of this island, I deserve at least that much from you. Now, you want to know why I chose you. It’s because you’re a fighter. And you’ve proven yourself capable of getting out of a tight scrape.”
“Has anyone else gone after Easton?”
“Yes, but none of them have returned.”
“Is he so dangerous?”
Pelham spoke up again. “The last man Webb sent after Easton came home in parts. The governor received his head on a spit. Is that dangerous enough for you?”
Despite himself, Teach winced at the image. “I wish to u
se my own crew.”
“Fine. But they will stay locked up until the Triumph is ready to depart,” Webb said.
“That’s unacceptable. The more time they spend in those cells, the weaker they’ll become. If you truly want me to catch Easton, my men need to be ready.”
“I’m sorry, but those are my conditions. I can’t have you getting any ideas in your head about quitting the island before you perform your duties. The ship will leave within the week.”
It seemed to Teach that the governor was posturing in front of Pelham, trying to make himself appear more threatening. “The ship will leave within three days. And you will make sure my men are given adequate food and water until that time. I also want their quarters changed.”
“That’s impossible. That’s a fort, not an inn.”
“Then I want them to be allowed up in the courtyard during the day.”
“You remind me of someone,” Pelham said, his gaze narrowed. “Have we met before?”
Teach shook his head, an alarm sounding in his head. Was it possible Pelham had met Richard Drummond before? It would be disastrous if that were the case. Pelham would most likely contact Teach’s father about his whereabouts, and Teach could find himself on a ship back to England. Without Anne and without his crew. “No.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Webb pursed his lips. “What makes you think I can have everything ready in that time?”
“You’re the governor.”
Tilting his head to one side, Webb’s expression darkened. “I may have underestimated you, Teach.”
“I’m sure you won’t make that mistake again.”
CHAPTER 16
Anne
Standing in the shade of a warehouse lining the docks, Anne eyed the Triumph, a painful knot gathering in her throat. It was clearly a warship, small and maneuverable, with several cannons, built with one purpose in mind. And in less than forty-eight hours, Teach would set sail on it and leave Anne behind. Anne still didn’t know exactly what job Teach was to perform for the governor. She had considered going with him, but it would be impossible to stow away on the Triumph. And if she was honest, she had no desire to return to sea so soon. The crossing on the Providence was still too fresh in her mind.
As much as she disliked Nassau, at least she was not alone.
Toying with the pistol at her side, Anne waited for Alastair to finish his conversation with some merchant as the late afternoon sun continued to sink toward the horizon. Alastair had asked Anne if she wished to accompany him. They had not seen Teach since he left the previous day to go and speak with the governor. He had sent word that the ship would leave within three days and that the governor had kindly made sleeping arrangements for him.
“The governor wrote that,” Anne had said. The wording had been too stiff and formal. Teach would never had written a missive like that.
Alastair had agreed with her assessment. “Webb’s not letting him out of his sight.”
In the hope of catching a glimpse of Teach at the docks, Anne had agreed to go with Alastair, but Teach was noticeably absent. There were other figures striding about the deck, checking the rigging and adjusting the sails, as supplies were loaded on board the Triumph. Anne could only imagine how much preparation needed to be done, especially in such a short amount of time. But where was Teach?
“All right, let’s go,” Alastair said, returning to her side. Giving her his arm, he led the way back along the wharf. Several people nodded at him as they passed. It was clear everyone knew him on the island. And the only weapon Alastair carried was a large dagger hanging from his waist.
Anne felt Alastair’s eyes on her. “I’m sorry you weren’t able to see him, Anne. Don’t worry. I’m sure he’s fine.”
Despite the heat of the day, a shiver ran down Anne’s spine. She did not know what was worse. Sailing on the Providence and not knowing Teach’s whereabouts the entire time. Or being within reach of him, but not knowing if he was all right. She hated this feeling of vulnerability.
“I want to make the governor feel this powerless,” Anne muttered. How she hated the man for putting them in this position.
“There’s a way for you to still see Teach. I have a small sloop. If we have to, we can set sail on it. I could try to get word to Teach and we could meet somewhere, once his crew is secure and they’ve left port.”
“You truly wouldn’t mind leaving all this behind?” Anne asked, touched by Alastair’s offer.
Alastair glanced around, his gaze thoughtful. The docks weren’t nearly as crowded as they were first thing in the morning, when people rushed to and from the busy markets. Many people were indoors, resting during the heat of the day, before the evening started and patrons flocked to the many taverns and brothels. “I started the Fox with nothing. I can do it again somewhere else. I’ll be damned if Pelham makes me join his group. I’m willing to go anywhere, as long as those I love are with me. Sometimes you have to lose everything you have to get everything you want.”
“What about Beth? Her mother is buried here.”
“Beth always says wherever we go, we all live under the same sky. She’s already told me she’s willing to move on.”
“Could we do it? Could we really be prepared to leave so soon?” The only way Anne would consider boarding another ship this soon was if Teach was at her side. Surely Alastair’s ship would not be as bad as the Providence had been. And she’d have her friends with her, as well as Teach.
“It wouldn’t be easy. Like I’ve said, the governor has eyes and ears everywhere. We would have to be quick. We could take the supplies we needed from the Fox. I have a skeleton crew who could help us sail my sloop out of the harbor.”
“Where would we go?”
“There are a number of islands nearby, many of them uninhabited. If we wanted to, we could stay on one of them for several months. We’d lie low until Webb stopped looking for us.”
“For how long?” Anne asked, warming to the thought.
“It depends how angry the governor is. Until we find out what Webb wants with your friend Teach, I’m afraid I don’t have any specifics. But that’s not to say it couldn’t be done.”
Anne remained silent, as Alastair continued to think out loud, her own mind racing with possibilities. She had just sent word to her solicitor in Bristol, but she hoped she could send another missive, notifying him to hold on to her inheritance until further notice.
It took her a minute to realize that Alastair had stopped speaking. Glancing at his face, she noticed the set of his lips and the hardness in his eyes.
Anne followed his gaze, momentarily puzzled. Two dirty, coarse-looking men stood beside a wooden post just off to the side of the docks. Their faces were red from either the sun or exertion. One held a whip in his hand, laughing at something his companion had said. The other man held the remains of a rope, the edges frayed. He was the same slaver she had seen the day before at the wharf.
Anne’s blood turned cold when she noticed the dirt at their feet. Painted crimson, two furrows ran from the post, as if someone had recently been dragged away. She looked around, but everyone appeared to be moving of their own accord.
“Ah, Alastair,” one of the men called out as Anne and Alastair strode by. “I’m sorry you missed the show. A few minutes earlier and you could have helped us.”
Alastair stiffened at his words, but he stared straight ahead. Anne did the same, knowing that the two swine hoped to get a rise out of them.
“We just taught a lesson to one of the governor’s slaves.”
Anne clenched the pistol at her side. Just a few more feet and she and Alastair would turn the corner and be out of sight.
“What about her, Alastair? Did you bring her for us? She’d fetch a handsome price.”
The blood drained from Anne’s face and she could scarcely breathe around her rage.
“Pay them no mind,” Alastair ground out as they rounded the corner, only to stop. Another man blocked his path. He was smaller
than Alastair, but he carried a large knife.
Anne cast a quick glance over her shoulder and noted with dread that the two men from the whipping post were right behind them. “Alastair,” she whispered.
The Irishman stepped in front of Anne, trying to shield her as they faced the three attackers. Anne pulled out her pistol at the same time Alastair whipped out his dagger.
“Oi, lookie here, boys. The lass thinks she’s gonna teach us a lesson. Ye tried that yesterday, love. It didn’t work. Remember? It’s not even loaded.”
“We’ll have to see what the governor says about that, now won’t we?” his companion said.
Clutching the weapon with two hands, Anne glared at the trio. The three of them took turns lunging at them, reminding Anne of cats playing with mice.
Except she wasn’t in the mood to play.
The largest one of the group danced forward, his knife narrowly missing Alastair’s face. All the helplessness and rage that Anne had felt in the past few weeks rushed to the surface. These men were slavers. They lived to hurt and destroy other people.
Anne was tired of living in fear, tired of seeing people hurt. This was her chance to strike back, to make them fear her.
Anne’s vision clouded and her arms trembled as she pointed the pistol, squeezing the trigger. Boom! Unprepared for the kickback, Anne slammed into the brick wall behind her, her ears ringing, while the acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air.
“She shot me! She shot me!” the man yelled out, writhing on the ground and clutching his foot with both hands while blood spurted out between his fingers.
Alastair appeared just as surprised as their assailants, his mouth hanging open, but he had no time to respond. After a moment of shocked silence, the two remaining men attacked. With a swift punch to the gut, Alastair managed to knock one of them down.
The other man grabbed Anne’s wrist in a bruising grip. She kicked out, connecting with his knee. He fell to the ground, raining foul curses down on her head.
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