The Pirate's Willing Captive

by Anne Herries

  * * *

  Maribel spent an hour or more unpacking items of value from the sturdy oak trunks that had been set down in the living room. She discovered porcelain the like of which she had never seen and stared at the markings on the underneath, trying to make out the strange figures. Beautiful blue-and-white designs depicting figures dressed in clothes that seemed different to her. She imagined they must be very costly and thought that they rightly belonged in the chamber destined for the master of the house.

  She sought and found Justin’s bedroom, discovering that his bed was much plainer than the one he had given her. Here there were no fancy hutches or carved stools, but just his sea chest and a plain stool with three legs. She set the vase down in a corner of the room, looking round as she thought that something more was needed here to make it comfortable. Noticing some stained linen, she picked it up intending to wash it for him. She was about to leave when she heard a sound and turned to find Justin looking at her.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘I unpacked the chest you had sent here. That vase was so beautiful I thought it belonged in your room. I have never seen its like. Where did it come from?’

  ‘I believe China. It was taken from a Portuguese merchant vessel. I have been told that the Portuguese have trading arrangements with China that no other country has and vases such as these are rare—beyond price. It does not belong here and should have been left in the trunk to protect it.’

  ‘Forgive me. I thought you would wish these things unpacked. I shall replace it…’

  ‘No, leave it now. This room is bare. I dare say it will come to no harm.’ He frowned as he saw the linen in her arms. ‘What are you doing with those shirts?’

  ‘I meant to wash them for you. It is little enough in return for all you have given me and I have time on my hands.’

  ‘You will ruin your hands,’ he said and took them from her, tossing them on to the bed. ‘Tom will see to them for me. It is one of his tasks as cabin boy to care for the men’s clothes.’

  ‘I feel so useless. Everyone else has work to do.’

  ‘If you wish for work, there is some mending. A lady’s hands were not meant for menial tasks, but I believe needlework is acceptable?’

  ‘Yes, of course…’ Maribel was hesitant. ‘I did not think it right that I should do nothing. I am sorry I unpacked the chest if you did not wish it.’

  Justin reached out and caught her wrist, as she would have turned away. She raised her head, holding back the tears that would shame her, but he saw them and reached out to touch her cheek with his fingertips.

  ‘Forgive me. It looks very much better in here. I did not mean to be harsh to you, Maribel. We should try to deal more kindly with each other for the time we spend on the island. I know there are things here that you cannot like, but it is not such a bad place—is it?’

  ‘No…’ She blinked away the foolish tears and smiled at him. ‘The view to the sea is breathtaking and some of the flowers are lovely. I should have asked before I touched your belongings, but I wanted to be useful. There is no place for a lady here.’

  ‘I should have remembered that you would need some employment. I will purchase silks another day and then you may use your skills to mend or embroider some trifle.’

  Maribel turned away. He thought her good for nothing but idleness or some embroidery! At home she had been used to many tasks—she had helped Juanita in the stillroom and with mending, as well as embroidering covers and hangings for the house and the church. There had always been a task of some kind, though she saw now that much of her time had been spent in idleness, either walking in the gardens, riding or playing her viola.

  What had she ever done of real use? If her husband had not died, she would have been mistress of his house, but in her father’s she had been nothing—just the daughter of a woman it seemed he hated.

  What would she be in the house of her English relatives? Perhaps they would give her some tasks to perform for her keep?

  Maribel was aware of a growing unease in her mind. She was not sure of her welcome in England. Even if her mother’s family accepted her, she could only be an outsider at best, for she did not truly belong with them.

  Where did she belong? The answer was nowhere. Anna would be accepted here, because she shared the work they all did—but Maribel was too much of a lady to do hard physical work and so she could never belong.

  Returning to her own room, Maribel spent the rest of the afternoon staring out of the window and watching birds flitting in and out of the trees. She had nothing to occupy her time and wished for some needlework or canvas and paint so that she might have something to make the hours seem shorter.

  * * *

  As dusk began to fall, she saw Anna at the well. She filled one bucket and left the other while she carried that back to the house. Maribel went out and tied the other bucket to the rope, letting it down until she heard the splash of water. She had begun to wind the handle to bring it up when Anna returned.

  ‘You should not be doing that, my lady.’

  ‘I am sick of being told what I should not do,’ Maribel told her crossly. ‘I have nothing to do but stare at the walls of my room, while you struggle to carry water, clean, wash my clothes and cook. In future I am going to help you with the chores.’

  ‘Captain Sylvester said that you were to be treated with the respect due you as a lady.’

  ‘He is not my father or my husband! He cannot command me. I shall do as I see fit. When I am in England I shall be a lady for I shall have no choice, but here on the island I must do some work or go mad.’

  ‘It is better to work,’ Anna said and smiled. ‘Let me carry the bucket, for you have filled it to the brim and it will be heavy. Tomorrow you can help prepare the food.’

  ‘We shall carry the bucket between us,’ Maribel said. ‘And then I shall change my gown for the evening. It will be cooler when the sun goes down and I think it would be better to wear one of my simpler gowns this evening.’

  * * *

  Maribel looked around the beach. Bonfires had been built at intervals along the shoreline and tables made of rough planks set upon trestles had been set up. Some of them were covered with plates of food: bread and fruit and messes of meat cooked in wine and sauces. She caught the aroma of roasting pig and the smell made her mouth water. Already barrels of ale and sack had been tapped, and the men were drinking heavily.

  On some tables goods were displayed for sale. Weapons of many kinds, boots, clothes, all manner of trinkets, from combs for a lady’s hair to gentlemen’s silk breeches; barrels of wine and ale, goblets and cooking pots were jumbled together to be haggled over.

  ‘That is what is left of what we took,’ Higgins told Maribel and Anna. ‘The Cap’n sold the best stuff and we’ll be dividing the money later. The rest is there for anyone to buy, but it will not bring much.’

  ‘Is this the kind of thing you and Anna mean to trade?’

  ‘Aye, something of the sort. But there are other things that are scarce here, like flour, salt, spices and sugar—and I mean to buy a cargo after our next voyage and bring it back,’ Higgins replied. ‘But you must be hungry. May I fetch you food, lady—and you, Anna?’

  ‘I shall come with you.’ Anna smiled at him. ‘I know what my lady likes to eat.’

  ‘You are not to wait on me. I shall come with you and choose for myself.’

  Anna made a disapproving face, but did not try to stop her. Maribel followed behind them, taking one of the pewter platters and moving along the table as others were doing. She helped herself to some coarse bread and a yellow cheese, hesitating over the fruit; eventually she selected a peach.

  ‘You should try the suckling pig,’ a voice said close behind her and she jumped, swinging round to look at the man who had spoken. That evening Captain Pike was wearing clothes that looked cleaner than those he had worn the first time they met. His beard had been trimmed, but his hair was still greasy and nothing could disguise the foul
smell of his breath. Maribel’s flesh crawled; she found him repulsive. ‘Let me bring you a slice, Maribel.’

  She shuddered, feeling her stomach heave. The lascivious look in his eyes robbed her of the desire to eat and she moved away, going to stand by a palm tree, her back against it as she surveyed the scene. A group of men were dancing on the beach, arms crossed as they performed some kind of a jig. Others were eating or squabbling over the goods set out for sale. She saw one draw a knife and threaten another. ‘Are you not hungry?’

  Maribel turned her head as Justin addressed her. ‘In a little while, perhaps.’ She was aware that Pike was watching her still and suppressed a desire to run away.

  ‘Has something upset you?’

  ‘No, no, I am not upset.’ She took a peach and bit into it. The flesh was perfectly ripe, sweet and delicious, and the juice ran over her chin. Before she could wipe it, Justin reached out and smoothed it away with his fingers. He ran his index finger over her lower lip and then put it to his mouth and sucked it, his eyes on her face. Maribel’s appetite fled once again and she could hardly swallow even the small piece of peach in her mouth. She took a deep breath, her voice shaking, ‘You must not worry about me, Sylvester. Please attend to your business. I am perfectly well.’

  Justin’s eyes flashed. ‘I did not ask if you were ill. You are distressed. Was it something Pike said to you?’

  ‘No, of course not,’ Maribel said a little too quickly. ‘He merely asked if I wished for some suckling pig. I said no…’

  His mouth tightened. ‘You must tell me if he accosts you, Maribel. I would kill him rather than let him sully you with his touch.’

  ‘No…please, do not kill anyone for my sake. I am certain he will not try to touch me; I shall stay out of his way. Please, mix with your men. I am certain you must have more important things to do.’

  ‘Nothing is more important to me than your safety.’ Justin reached out to touch her cheek, caressing it and trailing a finger down her throat to the little pulse spot at the base. She swallowed hard, because the look in his eyes set her pulses racing again. His gaze was full of meaning, conveying a message if only she knew what he meant. Perhaps she did and that was why her heart was thudding so violently. He had told her once that he wished for a mistress, not a wife—was he letting her know she was his choice? ‘I would kill anyone who tried to harm you. I shall keep you safe until you are with your family if it costs my life.’

  Maribel caught her breath, for his voice throbbed with passion. She wished that they were alone at the house. Her body was aching for his touch. She wanted to tell him that she did not want him to fight for her; she wanted him to love her. The moment was broken by the sound of shouting on the beach. Justin turned to look. A fight had broken out, drawing a crowd to watch.

  ‘I must sort out these fools before they kill each other,’ he said grimly. ‘I shall tell Anna to come to you.’

  ‘No, let her have fun,’ Maribel said, but he did not answer her.

  However, as he walked away, Peg came towards her. She smiled, feeling relief as the older woman joined her.

  ‘This is the first feast yer have attended,’ Peg said. ‘Do not be too alarmed, Maribel. Most of this is high spirits. The men will fight, but it is not often anyone is killed; they are like children at play.’

  ‘Children do not have knives.’

  ‘Perhaps not where you lived. On the streets of London children learn to defend themselves early. I carried a knife from the age of eight. Me parents died of the plague, but I survived. I had to steal to eat until I could find work—and the work I wus offered did not please me, for I would be no man’s whore. Later, I found work as a servant, but men would not leave me be. When one of them raped me I used me knife to good effect to defend meself—and yer know the rest.’

  Maribel saw the defiance in her eyes, but felt only admiration for her courage. ‘Would you teach me how to protect myself, Peg?’

  Peg’s eyes narrowed. ‘Yer have Captain Sylvester to protect yer. Besides, yer will not stay here long. Why should yer need a knife?’

  ‘I should feel safer. You know what happened when Pike first saw me. I do not think he has forgiven me. Captain Sylvester cannot always be with me. If I had a knife, I might stand a chance against him.’

  ‘Yer have spirit despite yer fine ways,’ Peg said and grinned. ‘Yer may be a lady, but I see no fool. I will come tomorrow and begin yer lessons—and I will bring yer a knife.’

  ‘Thank you. I have some money. I can pay for my knife.’

  Peg gave her a look of reproof. ‘Have I asked for payment?’

  ‘No. Forgive me. I did not mean to offend you.’

  ‘No offence taken, luvvie.’ Peg grinned at her. ‘I thought yer wus above yerself when yer first come to me, but I like yer. I wouldn’t show everyone me tricks, but I reckon I can teach yer to protect yerself from scum like that Pike. I seen him lookin’ at yer and I reckon he may try somethin’ if he gets the chance.’

  ‘Yes, I think he may,’ Maribel said. ‘I did not wish to say anything to Sylvester because I am enough trouble to him already, but that man frightens me. He is evil.’

  ‘Evil he is,’ Peg agreed, her eyes blazing, ‘but he bleeds like any man. If I show yer how to defend yourself, yer’ll be safe enough.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Maribel smiled. Someone had started to play a fiddle. The fighting had been stopped and men were dancing, some with their women and others together. ‘Do you wish to dance, Peg? You must not stay with me if you do.’

  ‘Aye, I’ll dance,’ Peg said and seized her hand. ‘And you’ll dance with me.’ She arched her brow as Maribel hung back. ‘Don’t tell me yer don’t know how ter dance?’

  Maribel shook her head. Suddenly, she felt better. She was no longer the outsider, watching and feeling apart from the others. Peg was forcing her to join in the fun, and she discovered that she wanted to dance.

  It was just a simple joining of hands. The dancers twirled, broke hands and then joined in a line skipping up to meet each other and then breaking off to dance with a partner once more. Maribel discovered that her partner was another woman instead of Peg, because everyone was changing partners. Next she danced with a man who grinned at her, but held her respectfully, clearly remembering that she was Captain Sylvester’s woman. After that, she found herself being twirled by Tom and then she was back with Peg again. When she broke from the line again, her hands were taken firmly and she looked up into bold eyes that made her heart race.

  ‘I did not know you liked to dance, Maribel.’

  ‘You hardly know me, Captain,’ she replied and laughed softly. ‘We sometimes danced at home in the courtyard when the wine harvest was done. I enjoyed dancing in the sunshine with the people of the estate, but when my father held a banquet, Juanita and I did not dance, for he did not approve of it—though others did. My stepmother taught me even though my father would not allow it.’

  ‘Then dance with me, Maribel…like this…’

  He pulled her into his arms, directing her body so that she felt as if she were floating, thistledown in his arms. The music had changed, was slower now, and when he twirled her round and round he did not let go of her hand. Others swapped partners, but he kept her with him, gazing into her eyes as they moved.

  Maribel hardly noticed they had moved away from the throng of dancers. When he took her hand and led her along the sandy beach her heart was racing, her breast heaving as she caught her breath. What was this feeling between them? Was it only physical passion, the need for release—or was it something more? Maribel felt that she was being drawn into a net from which she could never escape; her heart told her that this was love—but she was afraid that it was only on her side. Justin desired her and he was both generous and kind—but she wanted so much more.

  ‘Are you feeling better now?’ he asked, gazing down at her in such a way that she swayed towards him, wanting to be back in his arms, wanting to be kissed. ‘I could not resist when I saw you
dancing. You seemed to be so happy…’

  ‘I was—I am happy,’ she breathed. ‘I am looking forward to seeing the other side of the island, away from—’ She broke off as his eyes narrowed. ‘Forgive me, I do not mean to criticise your men, but there is a wilder element amongst the pirates. I do not like men like Captain Pike.’

  ‘Well, you need not fear him while I am with you. Besides, I believe he means to leave soon. He had little luck last time out and needs to find a good prize.’

  ‘It would be a better place without his sort,’ Maribel said. ‘Though I have found friends. Peg is a friend. I like her.’

  ‘You know that she was convicted of murder and should have hanged had she not escaped?’

  ‘Yes—but she took revenge for what was done to her. I cannot blame her.’

  ‘Yet some would say that murder is wrong even if the cause be just.’ Justin’s expression was serious. ‘I shall return you to Anna. Higgins will take you back to the house. The serious business is about to begin and there may some fighting as the men drink too much.’

  ‘Yes, we shall leave you to your business.’

  Maribel walked away from him to join Anna and Higgins. She had thought as they danced that Justin wanted to make love to her. If he had taken her in his arms and kissed her she would not have denied him, but she had spoken of wanting to see the other side of the island and the spell had been broken.

  Justin was keeping his promise not to take advantage of her while she was under his protection. Maribel knew that if she wanted him to make love to her she would have to show him that she was willing to be his.

  While a part of her longed for it, her pride ruled her head. To become his woman meant that she could never return to her own world. If he loved her she would give it all up willingly, but she was not sure he felt more than a fleeting desire—and that was not enough for her. She wanted, needed to be loved. There was a lonely place inside her that only love could ease.