The pirate folded his arms and raised his chin as he looked at Philip. “I’m not one for doing charity work. ’Tisn’t our way of life to protect traveling noblemen out of the kindness of our hearts.”
“I understand, Captain. When we reach Oakely Park, I intend to compensate you for your assistance.”
Captain Courtney shook his head. “I’d not hear of it. The lady and I have a bargain. One that she should be extremely proud of, as I am not often outmaneuvered.” He scratched his jaw. “I told you we’re not thieves, my lord.” He looked toward where Anna had moved to help a man peel and prepare fruit for their meal. “It’s been far too long since I had a conversation as diverting as I did today with your ‘sister.’ She’s a remarkable young lady. And so pretty.” His voice was low. His eyes softened as he watched her, and he reminded Philip of a lovesick youth, though he was surely near his fourtieth year. “I can see why you protect her the way you do, my lord. In your position, I’d do the same.”
Chapter 18
Anna knelt on the ground next to a group of the pirates. A sack of fruit sat in front of them, and one of the men had produced a cooking pot. She had determined to help as best she could and not do anything else that might put them in danger. She glanced around the clearing and saw Philip and Captain Courtney conversing quietly near the trees. She wondered what they were discussing but knew she’d overstepped her position enough for one day. The men were undoubtedly planning the expedition, and she could not wait to return home to Oakely Park and sleep in her own bed. She ignored the nagging reminder that it was not truly her bed or her home, and she turned her mind back to the group.
Mr. Blackbird crouched near her. Anna looked up at him and shrunk away. His appearance was just how she envisioned a savage warrior—long, straight hair that hung over his shoulders, high cheekbones, copper-colored skin—but it was his expressionless face and flint-black eyes that caused her to recoil.
He didn’t appear to notice her reaction. “Ackee fruit,” he said, handing her a red pod that was split open on one side. He lifted one himself and indicated the tears with his finger. “Open when it is ripe, but when not, it is poison. Do not eat a closed ackee.”
Anna watched him peel back the red skin and discard it, exposing sections of white flesh surrounding large black seeds. He discarded the seeds, tossed the flesh into the pot, and indicated for her to do the same. They settled into a routine, working quietly with the others until the pot was full.
Captain Courtney walked to the group. “No need to rush the meal. We’ll be here until dark. Now we’ve time to cook some meat.”
The plan was to wait for the cover of darkness? The idea of walking through the thick jungle when she couldn’t see sent a chill over her skin. She rubbed her arms.
Mr. Blackbird stood and pulled a dagger from his belt as he walked toward the pool. Anna’s mind barely had time to register his intent before the weapon shot through the air and impaled a large lizard on the rocks. The animal hung limp as Mr. Blackbird lifted it by the tail and walked back toward them.
Anna turned with her hands over her face, her stomach rolling.
Captain Courtney caught her arms. “Apologies, my lady.” He pulled her by the elbow, leading her away from the food preparation. “I’m sure even your protector won’t object to a walk around the clearing while the men tend to the more unpleasant parts of preparing the meal.”
Anna glanced toward Philip sitting on the ground next to Tom. He was speaking to the overseer, but his eyes followed her. He raised his brows in question.
She shook her head and smiled. She did not mind taking a walk with Captain Courtney, especially if it meant she would be away from the bleeding iguana lizard. And now that she no longer feared the man, she wanted to know everything she could about his band and their lifestyle. She could not believe that she was among a group of buccaneers. And not only were the men courteous, she found that she actually trusted their leader.
The captain tucked her hand beneath his arm and led her around the edge of the clearing. A memory teetered on the edge of her consciousness. A man—her father—walks with her in precisely this way. They stop to admire a rose garden. Like the others, the memory was merely a fragment, and she wanted to cry out in frustration.
She glanced at Captain Courtney from the corner of her eye and saw that he was watching her. “Captain, I hope I am not being impolite, but I wonder about your history. How did you come to choose your particular . . . profession?”
“You are wondering how such a charming and refined man as myself found himself as the leader of a band of pirates.” He laid his hand on his chest as he spoke.
Anna laughed at his humor. “Yes, I suppose I am.”
He was silent for a moment before he answered. His eyes took on a faraway look as he walked. “Being a genteel lady, you don’t know what life is like in the poor districts of London, but it ain’t for the fainthearted. Wapping is plopped right between London Bridge and the naval yards on a marshland filled with disease. I lived with fifteen people to a room in a stinking, crumbling building that, as an orphan, I was lucky to have. The smell when it rained is something I can’t even begin to describe. The churchyard had a mass pauper grave that remained open until fully occupied. Corpses of animals rotted on the roads, and people daily died of fevers or measles. Abandoned children filled the streets, starving to death, thieving, and begging. Most prayed to be bought by a chimney sweep or sent to a workhouse.” He glanced at Anna and swallowed. “I myself went to sea.”
Anna was horrified at his description. Her heart ached as she imagined such poverty, and her stomach twisted at his description. She shook her head to rid the thoughts of starving children and sickness. “It was a very good decision,” Anna said. “I imagine it was—”
“I was not a gentleman or an officer, Lady Anna. Life at sea was very similar to the life I’d left behind; the only difference was the added fear of drowning.” His lips were set in a tight line for a moment before he continued. “We were wakened at all hours and set to work—climbing slippery ropes during rolling storms; firing cannons and being fired upon; all the time, half awake and usually half drunk. My shipmates fell from riggings, were blown apart by cannons, or died after long bouts of dysentery. Heat, cold, scurvy, disease, lice, rats, cockroaches. And add to that a captain who understocks the food supplies to pad his own pockets and flogs for minor mistakes, and yer ripe for a rebellion.”
Anna’s chest was tight as she thought of the harsh life Captain Courtney had endured. No wonder he had chosen the life of a buccaneer. She studied him. He stood straight with his head held tall and held her gaze without wavering. She did not think a common sailor on a naval ship would have the same bearing. The man who stood before her was a confident leader. “And are you happy now, Captain?”
He smiled and tucked her hand back into his elbow crook, continuing their stroll. “Happier than I’d ever have imagined. My band is my family. We divide our spoils equally, elect our leader by popular vote, and fight for no king.” He lifted his face to the sun. “I’ve seen the beautiful places of the world and been the master of my own destiny.” His eyes slid to the side. “And now I’m in a flowered paradise with the prettiest lady I’ve seen in years. Aye, I’m a happy man, Lady Anna.”
“I am glad for it.”
“And, my lady, if you don’t mind me asking, from whence do ye hail?”
Anna grimaced. She should have anticipated the question and did not know how to answer. If she did not want to reveal that Philip had fabricated the story of their relation, she needed to continue with his untruth, but she didn’t want to say something that contradicted him. She squirmed inside. Even drawing on the truth wouldn’t work as she had no idea of her real past.
“His lordship already confessed to his deception. Yer not his sister.” He turned to face her, holding onto her hand. “So who are you, Lady Anna?”
Anna studied his expression, grateful that he did not seem angry at being lied to. H
is expression contained no more than friendly curiosity. She shrugged her shoulders. “I do not know who I am.” Seeing the confusion in his face, she continued. “Lord Philip told me I washed ashore on his beach, but I have no memory of anything before awaking in his guestchamber.” She watched him, waiting for his reaction.
He scratched his jaw. “That explains it.” His eyes twinkled, and the creases around them deepened. “I lost a wife named Anna. I thought you seemed familiar. Let us return to the boat, my dear.” He attempted to maintain a straight face but failed, and a large grin spread onto his cheeks.
“Captain Courtney, you are teasing me.”
He shook his head, making a tsk sound. “Didn’t fool ya, did I? But it was worth a try.”
She swatted at him, laughing at his jest.
His smile waned as he studied her. “I’d imagine it makes matters a bit complicated between the two of ye.” His gaze darted across the clearing to Philip. “Not knowing yer past. You could be . . .”
Anna nodded, surprised how quickly a lump rose into her throat.
Captain Courtney patted her hand where it rested on his arm. He sniffed the air. “I’d say our supper is nearly ready. Shall we return?”
Anna turned her glance to the other side of the clearing where the buccaneers, Philip, and Tom had gathered near the fire.
When she and the captain joined the group, Anna was given a large leaf with cooked ackee and shredded meat. She discovered the ackee turned bright yellow when it was cooked. She could not bring herself to eat the meat.
***
It was nearly dark when they left the clearing. The men had fashioned torches from branches and cloth, but those did little to illuminate the area beneath the jungle canopy. The pirates had also made a crutch for Tom, and the combination of a medicinal tea and the splint on his leg made walking bearable though slow. Anna followed Captain Courtney. Philip walked directly behind her.
A few buccaneers were sent ahead to scout. Others chopped a path through the trees. They moved efficiently. The quiet was broken only by the crackling of the flames, the slashing of the machetes, and the rustling of the foliage around them. Even the birds were silent. Periodically, the entourage would stop to listen.
The air was nearly chilly. Anna wrapped her arms around herself, wishing for a shawl. She hoped it would not cool much more before they reached Oakely Park. She ran her hands up and down her arms.
Captain Courtney halted. One of the scouts had returned—Mr. Blackbird. Anna didn’t know how he had approached without her hearing. She stepped closer and overheard him tell the captain that the highwaymen waited on the road near the beach.
She glanced behind to see Philip’s expression. In the flickering torch light, she saw his mouth set in a grim line. He moved closer to the buccaneers’ discussion, and his hand bumped Anna’s arm.
“Your skin is cold as ice.” He pulled her in front of him to lean back against his chest as he rubbed her arms.
Anna felt like butter on a warm piece of bread. She wanted to rest her head back and relax against him—but it was completely out of the question. Her heart sped up, her cheeks warmed, and she was most definitely no longer chilled.
More of their group gathered around to hear Mr. Blackbeard’s report.
“Will you be all right?” His breath was warm against her cheek.
Anna nodded. Her voice had somehow stopped working.
A man bumped into her in the space between the leafy stalks. In the torchlight, she recognized him as the pirate who did not wear underclothing. He was short and very hairy and wore the most beautiful Oriental silk scarf around his neck. The fabric, however, was torn and filthy. She’d seen him use it to wipe his mouth during supper. He glanced at her and removed his cape, holding it out toward her. “I’d not want ya to be cold, m’lady,” he said, his smile revealing missing and yellowed teeth.
“Thank you, Mr. . . . ?”
“Teach, m’lady.”
Philip took the cape and draped it around her shoulders.
An odor rose from the wool, which had obviously not been laundered for quite some time, if ever. The combined scent of food, sweat, and wool in a tropical climate had her eyes running and tickled the back of her throat. She coughed to disguise her gag. “Oh, my.” Anna gasped and coughed again as she looked at Mr. Teach’s smiling face. “What a thoughtful gesture, Mr. Teach,” she said between clenched teeth.
She felt more than heard Philip’s chuckle.
“Course, ’an yer welcome to it.” He nodded, obviously pleased that his offer had been so well received.
Anna smiled, not allowing herself to breathe through her nose. Mr. Teach’s personal smell reminded her strongly of livestock. She prayed that no fleas or other creatures lived in the cape.
Captain Courtney informed the company that they would alter their route. Anna was relieved to hear that the detour should not take them much longer than they had planned.
Anna walked with one hand beneath her nose to block the smell and the other holding onto the grimy cape. She was certainly warm now, but she much preferred Philip’s method. Her pulse jumped at the memory of his touch. Philip. Merely his name had the power to make her heart trip. Why did she allow herself to care so deeply when her situation was unknown? Why had she become so involved in this life that she could not imagine any other, even though she knew it was temporary?
Philip’s touch had left trails of heat on her skin. His voice sent a thrill through her core. Was there another man somewhere who made her name sound as if it were the most precious word ever uttered? From her brief scraps of memory, she knew there were other people in her life. Being unable to attach any emotion to those quick glimpses left her feeling anxious and frustrated. She both longed for her memories to return and feared what she would find once they did.
When Anna stepped out of the trees into the moonlight, she found that Mr. Blackbird’s detour brought them to the clearing with the slaves’ gardens. An enormous weight lifted off her chest. They were at Oakely Park, and they were safe! She breathed a prayer of thanks, and when her eyes met Philip’s, she saw the same relief reflected in his face.
He took her hand and squeezed it, letting out a heavy breath. “We are home, Anna,” he muttered.
He couldn’t have any idea the effect his words had on her. Her throat constricted. Oakely Park wasn’t her home. She wished she could burrow her face into her cape to keep from looking into his eyes, but her gag reflex would have none of it. She turned away, hoping to school her expression so he couldn’t see her lip quivering.
Captain Courtney bowed and began to take his leave.
Philip held up his hand. “You are my guests, sir. Please come with us to the house; we will see that you and your men have a suitable place to sleep and a hearty breakfast in the morning.”
“’Tisn’t necessary, my lord.” Captain Courtney scratched his cheek. He looked extremely uncomfortable with the idea.
“I insist, Captain. If you will not accept payment for your services, you must at least consent to our hospitality.”
“Please do, Captain Courtney,” Anna said. Philip continued to hold her hand, and it didn’t escape her notice that he had said our although he surely referred to the household staff and not her.
She and Philip walked across the plantation hand in hand. The night was beautiful. Bats flitted through the sky, and insects trilled and chirped in the trees. Anna loved the feel of her hand in Philip’s and stole glances at his profile in the moonlight. If she tried very hard, she could almost forget the unspeakable things they’d seen—their injured friend, the men looking for them, their pirate escorts, and her foul cloak—and imagine it was just the two of them, out for a late stroll.
When they neared the house, Betty ran to meet them. Ezekiel followed behind as quickly as he was able.
“Where in de worl’ have ya been?” Betty said. She grasped Anna in an embrace then stepped back quickly, wrinkling her nose. Her gaze moved around the company nerv
ously.
“My lord!” Ezekiel panted. “Where is yo’ horse?”
Philip released Anna’s hand. He turned to his servants and began to give orders, and the illusion was over. He was the master once again, and she—she was simply Anna. “Send for Dr. Bevan. Tom is injured. Betty, please see to the accommodations for our guests.” He indicated the band of buccaneers, and Betty’s eyes grew wide.
“No accommodations necessary, my lord,” Captain Courtney said. “We’re accustomed to sleepin’ outside. If ya don’t mind, we’ll camp here on yer lawn. We’ll not be any trouble, and soon as we’ve broken our fast tomorrow, you’ll not even know we were here.”
“Very well, Captain.” Philip nodded once and shook the pirate’s hand. “I am indebted to you, sir. If you need anything, you have but to ask.”
“I thank ye. And we’ll not be needin’ anything a’tall.” Captain Courtney turned to Anna. He took her hand and bowed but did not kiss it again, for which she was grateful. “Good night, Lady Anna.”
“Good night, Captain. And thank you for seeing us safely home.” She unwrapped the cape from her shoulders, grimacing as a fresh wave of odor hit her nose. She thanked Mr. Teach for his care, and as it seemed there was no further need for her, she climbed the stairs to the Great House.
Anna was exhausted. She glanced behind her and saw that Dr. Bevan had arrived and was taking Tom away on his horse. The band of men spread out, sitting in groups on the ground. Some lay, wrapped in their cloaks, and she wondered if they were already sleeping.
She felt immensely grateful for the pirates. If not for the unlikely heroes, she had no doubt they would have been discovered in the jungle or waylaid on the road. The thought of Horace’s red face, twisted with cruelty and sneering at her, and the men chasing them through the jungle, intent on their destruction, caused a new wave of fear to wash over Anna, jolting in her chest and leaving her cold and shaking. She walked into the house and crossed the main hall.
They were safe for now, but what of the workers in the fields? Would Horace enact revenge on them? Would they attack another shipment? The road to Port Antonio wasn’t safe, especially for Philip and his workers. If only there was a way to protect them.
Simply Anna Page 17