The Blue Diamond (The Razor's Edge Book 1)

by P. S. Bartlett

  “So, are you saying he did it for love…or tits?” Ivory asked over a hiccup, inciting a roaring laughter.

  “I don’t really care to tell you the truth, since you want to poke fun. But, I will tell you he’s got the body of a man half his age… and the pecker of a horse,” Miranda said, as she plopped back down on the bunk.

  “Well, I’ll drink to that!” Keara shouted.

  “A toast to Sandy’s horse pecker it is!” Ivory added.

  “You are all going straight to hell,” Cassandra laughed.

  “Well, what about you, missy? If big ol’ Master Green’s manhood matches his muscles, it’s a wonder you ever walked again,” Miranda said, jumping up and limping around the room holding her back.

  “Oh, you’re a filthy lot of she-devils, I swear it!” Cassandra declared, as she handed her cup to Ivory for more. “What about Maddox, Ivory? What was it about him that dropped your knickers?”

  “Well,” Ivory said over a breathy sigh, “since I wasn’t wearing knickers at least half of the time, I suppose there was quite a bit more to the seduction. I mean, with no knickers to drop, he could have spread my legs quite easily in my weakened state, but...”

  “But, that didn’t happen…right?” Keara asked, as she sat up and leaned a bit forward.

  “No. He was always a complete gentleman. Although, it was bothersome how he observed me naked as I slept, on more than one occasion.”

  “How absolutely erotic, Ivory…” Miranda sighed and slithered back to her seat.

  “I suppose had I been immediately attracted to him it may have been. But, as you know me, my first instinct was to slit his throat… and I nearly did.” She lied, at least about the lack of instant attraction. Even if she didn’t admit it, her reaction to him given the first opportunity to share breath, was proof enough that she was waiting or perhaps even hoping for that moment on the floor in his dining room to come.

  The women all moved in closer so as not to miss a word. They were anxious and enthralled to hear more, and as Ivory drank and the room grew darker, the trials of her capture spilled from her lips. With each sentence spoken, what they believed to have been a torturous ordeal transformed into a tale of romantic woe.

  “I was so angry and bitter towards him, of course, and frightfully weak, which is something to which I am unaccustomed. He has a lovely young girl who works in his house named Zara, without whose assistance, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.” Her captive audience simultaneously frowned. She continued, quickly, “No offense, of course, my darlings. She simply had the foresight to pack my old clothes and a dagger that…” Ivory stopped for a moment and smiled sheepishly, as she fondly remembered Maddox roughly extracting her from her gown, and she took a long pause.

  “Really, Ivory! You’re not going to leave us like this, are you?” Keara groaned and yawned.

  “Well, let me just say the first time we…well, he had a bit of trouble getting me out of the gown with which he had so kindly provided me, and once he was through with it, it was worthy of floor scrubbing.”

  “So he bedded you well, then?” Miranda asked, turning her face up at Ivory from Cassandra’s hip.

  “He bedded me well is an understatement. That pretty mug of his extends all the way to his feet and back again, and it moves and feels even prettier.”

  “Is it getting warm in here?” Miranda sighed, waving her hands at her face like a Spanish fan.

  “It’s a bloody shame he’s such a bastard,” Keara remarked, shaking her head.

  “That’s a sore point with him. He made that perfectly clear.” Ivory laughed softly. “I’ll admit I don’t know everything there is to know about him, but I learned quite a bit. And did I mention he’s brilliant? Well-educated chap, and he has excellent taste in just about everything.”

  “In women as well, I’d assume,” Miranda mumbled.

  “Well, he fell for our girl, didn’t he?” Keara snapped.

  “Fell for me? Of that I can’t say, but…” Again Ivory drifted off into a memory which dipped far deeper than she realized memories could go. Deep inside, she could still feel his velvet lips, regardless of how hard she tried not to.

  “We’ll be up all night at this rate,” Miranda groaned and sat up, reaching out her cup for a refill from Keara’s bottle.

  “Give her a chance to answer, Mir. Ivory’s not like you, and we’d all easily agree that she’s sat and listened for a long time whilst we gushed about lovers over the years.”

  “No, its fine, Cass,” Ivory said. “Until tonight, the past week has felt like a dream, as if it hadn’t really happened at all. I’m unaccustomed to these…emotions… and, quite frankly, I’m not certain I like feeling this way. But, here with you all again, just telling you about it, I can appreciate it was real. I know now that something I never thought possible is…possible.”

  “You poor thing, how horrible it must be to love someone you can never be with,” Miranda said, again resting her head on Cassandra.

  “It’s not horrible to have loved, even if only for a few days. Some people never find their true love at all.” Cassandra’s words were quiet and silenced everyone for several moments. Their eyes grew tired, and Keara had already tipped back against the chair and was sleeping with her mouth wide open. “I’ll get her to bed,” said Cass “Come along and help me, Miranda.”

  “Just a moment, Cass.” Miranda took a deep breath and seemed to steel herself. “Ivory, I wanted to tell you that Sandy and I have decided, once we’re back in Port Royal, we’d like to find a place of our own, perhaps even start a little farm. With his strong back and my knowledge of running a home, I think we could be truly happy.”

  Ivory reached out and squeezed Miranda’s hand and said, “I think that’s lovely. I know you won’t mind if I say I’m surprised, but I’m very happy for you. I’ll take care of you, Mir, and I will double your shares once I sell those stupid rocks.”

  “Oh, thank you, Ivory!” Miranda squealed and clapped her hands. “He’s a good man, I swear. You’ll love him, too, once you’re better acquainted.” Miranda leaned over and kissed Ivory on her cheek. “And I’m sorry about your Maddox, love.”

  Ivory smiled up at her and bade goodnight to her girls. Once alone, that foggy veil was lifted, releasing every detail of her memories, down to the scent of Maddox’s skin after they’d made love. She raised her forearm and dragged her nose across it, recalling the musky, sweet fragrance his post-sex perspiration had left lingering on her. Her eyes closed when she found only her own scent, mixed with soap and rum, and she pulled the cup in her hand to her lips and poured it into her mouth.

  She wanted to drown him. Reliving her memories only served to entertain her cousins and quiet their curiosity. For Ivory, their sadness for her loss felt more like pity. She desperately wanted to be happy for them, but the realization that soon she’d be completely alone kept the rum pouring until the ship tilted, stealing her balance and leaving her on some uncharted and deserted island in her dreams.

  * * * *

  The Cutlass and the Jade continued unpursued and arrived, as expected, in Port Royal on the morning of their third day of travel. Ivory had accepted the loss of the Jade reluctantly, but a deal was a deal, and she’d even given the offer to her crew to stay on with Captain Jackson, to which most declined. Jackson was unaffected by their decision and was anxious to set off and celebrate, with a renewed outlook, as well as a purse full of gold for his trouble.

  “We lost your man in Nassau, you know.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “That young carpenter, what was his name?”

  “Tommy Boston,” Ivory answered without emotion.

  “Yes, yes, that’s it. He disobeyed my order to remain aboard. He took a dinghy in the middle of the night. Insubordinate, that one was.”

  “I suppose.”

  “If you don’t mind my saying so, you appear rather unconcerned about a losing the man.”

  “It isn’t an appearance. He’s a fr
ee man. He can do as he wishes, and since he disobeyed an order, he broke the code, and I’d not welcome him back anyway.”

  “I suppose you’re right, Captain Shepard. Well…I’ll be on my way. It’s been a pleasure.” Jackson tipped his hat, again never losing eye contact with her.

  “I wish I could say the same. However, you earned it. Enjoy my ship, Captain. She’s been a pearl.”

  “I certainly will. Considering you took her from Barclay, I understand your attachment to her. Pity we didn’t sack the Cat, aye? She’s more to my fancy.” Jackson marched off in the direction of the town and disappeared, as Ivory bore a pistol shot into the back of his plumed hat with her eyes.

  Ivory gave the crew twenty-four hours to do as they pleased before returning to ready the Cutlass for her voyage to America. Her plan was to see a man in Charles Towne whom she’d heard paid top dollar for jewels. Her previous intention to have them set into jewelry was thrown aside for the opportunity to fill her pockets with enough money to pay off her crew and move on to a new life—a life she had yet to fully choose. She knew most of the men would squander it away, but that was no longer her concern.

  “Miranda, take this and go.”

  “Now?” Miranda asked as she took the small bag of gold from Ivory’s hand.

  “Why wait? Trust me, the longer you and Sandy linger here, the harder it will be to leave. I want you to be happy today, not regretful tomorrow.”

  “Pleased to finally meet ye, Cap’n,” Sandy said with his outstretched hand.

  “The pleasure is mine. You take care of this woman, or I’ll be paying you a very unwelcome visit.”

  “Not ta’ worry, Cap’n. She’s me match, and I’ll be taking good care a’ this one here fer a long time.”

  “Well, see to it, then.” Ivory pulled Miranda into a tight embrace and then let her go with a gentle push. “Go on, and don’t worry…I’ll find you. There’s more gold coming your way once I finish my business”

  “I believe you will,” Miranda said with a wink. “We’ll just go make our goodbyes to the rest and be on our way.” Watching her beloved cousin walk away on the arm of her new beau made Ivory’s chest tighten but when Miranda looked back with a sad smile, she knew she wasn’t ready yet to say goodbye.

  “Miranda, wait,” Ivory said, pulling her back. “I can’t let you go like this. We’ll have a party tonight at the pub. Would you like that?”

  “Thank God! I was starting to feel like you were happy to be rid of me!”

  “I need to see to a few things first. Can you inform the others, and we’ll gather around six o’clock?”

  “Consider it done,” Sandy chimed in.

  Ivory headed down the beach to go over the log and navigation with James for their impending voyage. Every barrel, crate, and bucket was inventoried, until Ivory knew exactly what they’d need to supply the journey. She counted out what James would need in order to procure it as quickly as possible. Keara assisted him, and by the time they were all preparing to take the stroll to the pub, Ivory was free to enjoy the festivities as much as her cohorts, with barely a care to hold her down.

  The torch-lit path into town was packed with frolicking pirates and scantily clad women waiting to join them for wine and merriment. Ivory watched from her bedroom window until most of them were the size of ants fading into the sand, before making sure the diamonds were securely back in their hiding place and locking down the house to leave. She snatched her old cavalier and buckled her belt on her way out the door.

  “You do not leave this house,” Ivory ordered Richard as he sat on the front porch carving a piece of driftwood.

  “I don’t know why I can’t go. I’m nearly a man.”

  “You’re about as near to a man as I am.” Ivory watched Richard’s brow disappear beneath his bangs. “You know what I mean but I’d have to agree that both of us have more of the right stuff to pass for one than most of the ones I know. But, please, just stay put and keep an eye on the house. Any sign of trouble, run as fast as you can to the pub and fetch me.”

  Richard nodded glumly and went back to his carving.

  The noise echoing from the town was joyous and pulled at Ivory until she weaved her way through the boisterous mass of skirts and knickers. She finally found her cousins already raising their cups of ale and rum, as well as their voices in song. Cassandra turned on her bench, handed Ivory a mug, and cleared a seat for her, all the while continuing to sway and sing at the top of her lungs.

  Ivory had never seen the pub this crowded, but she rarely visited, and as she swayed in time with Cassandra, she wondered what had kept her away from such pleasantries. The festive atmosphere did not, however, keep her from scanning the faces in the room. Many were unfamiliar, but even though there were several ships in port, she tried not to be suspicious. Still, she found herself at the song’s end asking Cassandra if she knew any of them.

  “I don’t believe I’ve seen half of these men before,” Cass answered. “The familiar ones were Jackson’s left-over crew, but the others? I cannot say.”

  “I don’t like strangers. Shall we keep a watchful eye on them?”

  “You know my mind too well, cousin,” Cassandra said, rising from her seat to have her pitcher refilled.

  “I’ll get that, Cass.” Ivory smiled and took the pitcher over to the bar and dipped herself sideways between two of the unfamiliar faces.

  “How’d ye do, m’lady?” one of the men asked, as he shamelessly undressed her with his eyes.

  “Captain Ivory Shepard, sir… and you are?”

  “Beggin’ yer pardon, Cap’n Shepard. I be Peter McMillon, one of Cap’n Jackson’s men.”

  “Captain Jackson, you say? Is he here?”

  “Him’s upstairs, m’lady. Oh, pardon…”

  “For Christ’s sakes, if he’s spending his money on whores, what care is that of mine? Where did you and the rest of these men come from?”

  “Sorry Cap’n…we got word ‘bout a week ago he was lookin’ fer us, so we hopped us a ship outta Kingston, and here we are.”

  “Kingston, you say?”

  “We got our asses outta Florida as soon as we could after the wreck, but Cap’n Jackson was already long gone by the time we was back on our feet. Didn’t like America much. Too much goin’ on there fer this bunch. We likes our freedom.”

  “Why Kingston?”

  “We heard tell Cap’n Jackson was in Kingston, so we figured we’d try lookin’ there first, But, he’d already moved on. Then, we got the word he was here and was lookin’ fer us, and well, here we is. A job’s a job.”

  Ivory reached across the bar and retrieved the filled pitcher. She paid the bartender and turned to go, but then she stopped and turned back to Peter one last time. “Mister McMillon, have you received your orders from Captain Jackson yet?”

  “Why no, Cap’n. Why d’ye ask?”

  “I was just curious. Enjoy my ship, and see if you can manage to keep her right side up.” Ivory dodged her way back to the table and slid back in next to Cassandra. “Something’s not quite right.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I just had a few words with that one at the bar.” Ivory moved her eyes to Peter and back. “Apparently, Jackson sent word to these men to join him here…before you even left for Nassau.”

  “So? He knew he was getting the Jade in the end, if it survived the trip, and possibly the Cat. I suppose he was just making sure he had a full crew if and when we returned. You can’t very well run a ship, even a sloop, without a crew.”

  “It’s just a gut feeling. I’ll adhere to your explanation for now, but we’ll keep that watchful eye on them anyway.”

  As the evening advanced into the wee hours, the music and singing grew softer and slower. The men and women disappeared, two by two, upstairs or elsewhere, until maybe a dozen or so were left, passed out drunk and sprawled upon benches and chairs. Ivory was spent, and she nudged Cassandra to leave after noticing Keara and James, as well as Miranda and
Sandy, were gone, most likely to Miranda’s old favorite room. “Looks like it’s just you and me,” Ivory laughed, helping Cassandra to her feet and walking arm in arm down the dark stretch to the house.

  “They really should keep these torches lit. I can barely see a thing.”

  “That’s not due to the torches, Cass. You’re piss drunk. There’s nothing but tiny slits where your eyes used to be.”

  “Speaking of piss.”

  “Right here, Cass?”

  “Seems as good a place as any.”

  “You know, I may be drunk, but I still think Jackson is up to something.”

  “I can’t talk to you while I’m going, Ivory,” Cassandra murmured as she squatted in the sand.

  “Never mind. Get on with it. I want my bed.” Ivory laughed.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Ivory awoke to the rich aroma of ham and eggs frying, and when she rubbed her eyes open and rolled to her left, Cassandra’s feet looked back.

  “Ohhhhhh…” Cassandra moaned, rolling onto her back.

  “Cass, what the hell?”

  “I couldn’t sleep. The room was spinning around, so I went outside to get some air and when I returned, your boy was in my bed. I didn’t have the heart, or the senses, to wake him. My God, what is that glorious smell?”

  “My boy, I believe, must be quite a cook. I suppose I’ll have to find him a cot or something.”

  “Mornin’ ladies!” Richard appeared at the door.

  “Richard, if you shout once more, I’ll kill you dead,” Ivory whispered, holding her head.

  “Sorry about the bed, Madame Cassandra, but when ye didn’t come back, I suppose I just fell in.”

  “What is it, Richard?” Ivory groaned.

  “Breakfast is ready. It’s nearly noon, so I figured you’d want somethin’ on yer stomachs—at least, Cap’n Carbonale…well, he always did the mornin’ after.” Richard swallowed hard and lowered his head.

  “We’ll be there in a few minutes,” Ivory said and nudged Cassandra to rise.