by Anne Herries
‘You are tired and hungry. We must prepare food for the men when they come back.’
Maribel followed Anna from the inn. She could see that the fires were out, but two buildings were burned to a shell and others were blackened and badly damaged by the fire. The stink of burning and thick smoke was in the air, as the two women left the waterfront and walked through the row of houses behind.
Maribel was too tired to notice the way people looked at them. She was thirsty and anxious now to be at home so that she could help prepare the food for Justin and Higgins when they had time to eat.
* * *
It was an hour or so later that Justin and his first mate came back to the house. Maribel had washed her face and hands, changing into one of her simple gowns before helping Anna to prepare food. The men were grim-faced and silent as they came in, both of them drinking water before seating themselves at the table.
‘How bad is it?’ Maribel asked. ‘I know several were hurt—were many killed?’
‘Three men and two women,’ Justin replied. ‘Two ships were lost, another damaged but not beyond repair. It might have been worse.’
‘Was one of the ships lost yours?’
‘Yes. Pike’s was damaged, but it will sail again.’
‘So you have only the Defiance?’
‘I am fortunate to have that.’ A nerve flicked in his cheek. ‘It seems that my ships were what they were after. Pike’s vessel and another caught the flames, but the fires were meant for us.’
‘Meant for us?’ Maribel’s eyes widened. For a moment she did not understand, then the colour drained from her face. ‘Are you saying…no, how could it be?’
‘The ships that attacked us were Spanish. Pike saw the attack. He says that the pennant belonged to Sabatini…your father…’
‘No! How could my father know where to find you?’
‘Word of this place may have spread. I do not know that they came looking for us, but it was not mere chance that made them attack my ship.’
Her throat tightened. ‘You think…you blame my father…and me?’
‘No, I do not blame you,’ he said, his voice hoarse. ‘But I fear others will, Maribel. They will blame you—and me for bringing you here.’ He frowned. ‘It may be that I am to blame…’
‘Why? I do not know what you mean.’
‘If it was your father’s ships, then I may have brought them here.’
‘Surely not? My father could not have known you would come here—he could not!’
‘You forget Mr Hendry. He had knowledge of our plans. It may be that he passed on his knowledge.’
‘You think he betrayed the location of the island?’ Her eyes widened. ‘He sailed away before the attack. You think that he brought them here? Why would he do that? He took your message to my father and you gave him the ship, as you promised. Why would he betray you—all of you?’
‘He may not have had a choice. Your father may have hoped to trap me. When I did not walk into the trap or send back the map, he decided to take another kind of revenge. I was told that he had doubled his offer, but that may have been just to lull me into a sense of security. Hendry may have agreed to show them the way here to save his own life…and a cowardly attack is something your father might try. He knows that our ships will beat his when we meet at sea, but with the ships anchored and a skeleton crew aboard…’
‘What happened to those men?’
‘Some managed to swim for the shore, some died.’ Justin’s mouth settled into a hard line. ‘I care little for the ships. We began with one and we can rebuild our fleet, but…’ His eyes were flinty. ‘Tom was one of the crew on watch. He did not make it to the shore.’
‘Tom is dead?’ Tears welled in her eyes. ‘No! Oh, no, I cannot bear it. He was so happy to be a part of all this and he was so young.’
‘He knew the risks when he threw in his lot with us.’
‘How can you say that?’ Maribel was too distressed to think clearly or to notice that he was strained and tense. ‘Tom was little more than a child.’
She ran from the room, feeling close to tears. In her own bedchamber she sat on the bed, covering her face with her hands. The tears she had held back as she helped with the wounded fell thick and fast. She had known that the pirates led precarious lives, but the cabin boy’s death was shocking and painful. She looked up as her door opened and saw Justin standing on the threshold.
‘You should not weep for him,’ he said. ‘We all run the risk of a violent death. It could have happened at sea. Ours is a precarious trade and death is common amongst us.’
‘You speak so lightly of death.’ Maribel’s face was white as she stood up. ‘I cannot help but weep for Tom. He was like a young brother to me.’
‘Weep then, but accept it.’ Justin moved towards her, looking down at her face. She believed she saw something like regret in his eyes. ‘I thought perhaps we might have something, you and I—but this is no life for you, Maribel. You do not belong here. The life is too harsh for a woman of your breeding and you would sicken and die of a broken heart. The sooner I get you to England the better for all concerned.’
‘I thought…’ She choked back the words. Earlier that day he had held her in his arms and kissed her until she melted for love, but that was a different man, a man she could love and respect, the man he had been before he became a pirate perhaps. This man with the cold eyes looked at her as if he despised her, thought her weak and useless. ‘Yes, you are right. Yet even if I do not belong, I can do something to help. Anna and I tended the wounded and we shall return to see what more we can do in the morning.’
‘No! You are not to go down to the waterfront. I forbid it.’
‘You forbid it? I do not understand. I am capable of helping to nurse the wounded.’
‘Now that the fires are out there will be plenty to help the wounded. You are not needed—and Anna would do well to stay away too. These people can look after their own.’
His words struck her like the lash of a whip. ‘You are cruel, sir. I wished only to help.’
‘You will do more harm than good. People are blaming you for this attack—and me. They do not want your help. Even I must watch my back when I walk there—you would be too vulnerable.’
Maribel was silenced. He was so harsh and his words were like a knife in her heart. He spoke of others blaming her—but he blamed her too. The ships that had wreaked so much damage on the island and its inhabitants were part of her father’s fleet. She had tried to change, to become like Anna and the others, but she had never belonged here—and now she was hated.
‘I would not have had this happen…’ Her eyes were wide, filled with tears. ‘You know I would not…’
‘What I know is nothing to the point. For your own safety stay away from the waterfront. The Defiance should return in a few days. As soon as it has unloaded its cargo and provisioned we shall leave the island.’
Maribel inclined her head. ‘Very well, I shall be ready. As you said, the sooner I am on my way to England the better.’
* * *
Maribel slept little that night. She had wept until there were no more tears, but then she tossed restlessly, going over and over all the events of the past weeks in her mind. What could she have done differently? People believed that she had brought this cruel attack on them, but even if her father’s ships had been responsible it did not mean that she had brought them here. Had they been looking for her they would surely have brought a party ashore and demanded her return? No, she could only think that the ships had come at this time by chance—and seeing so many pirate ships assembled had taken a swift revenge before retreating.
It was unfair for Justin to blame her!
* * *
In the morning she rose early and went out to fetch water. Anna came into the kitchen as she was washing some clothes. She looked tired and her hair was hanging down her back, as if she had not bothered with it.
‘Did you not sleep last night either?’
‘I am sorry. I know that you wished to make your home here.’
‘Higgins says we may have to find somewhere else to set up our trading store. Some of the men told me that we are no longer welcome on the island. I think we must be careful, Maribel. There could be trouble.’
‘Surely we are safe enough here?’
‘Perhaps—but we must not go to the waterfront alone.’
‘Captain Sylvester forbade it. Yet you still went last night—why?’
‘I thought the resentment would not be for me, but it seems I am tarred with the same brush as you.’
‘Do not hate me, Anna. Please. You know that I would not have had this happen. Besides, I do not think they came to look for me, because no one came ashore—though it seems they were my father’s ships.’
‘Perhaps they thought you were not here since the Defiance was not in the harbour.’ Anna frowned. ‘Higgins says people are wondering why it was not here.’
‘They cannot think that Sylvester knew the attack would happen? If he had, he would have warned others and sent all his ships away.’
‘When people are hurt and angry they do not think clearly.’
‘This is so foolish,’ Maribel shook her head. ‘We were not even here when the attack happened.’
‘That makes it all the worse…Do you not see what people think?’
‘They believe he deliberately chose to be absent? How foolish can people be? We rushed back as soon as we saw the smoke…we all helped as best we could!’
‘Higgins says someone is stirring them up, making trouble.’
‘Why? Who would do that?’
Anna shook her head. ‘I do not know. I only know that things have changed. We must leave this island and the sooner the better.’
Maribel was about to reply when she heard a noise behind her. Swinging round, she saw Peg watching them.
‘I did not hear you come in?’
‘I wanted to creep up on yer,’ Peg told her, unsmiling. ‘Yer asked me for lessons to defend yerself and yer will need them. Folk are saying yer brought the trouble on us and they want yer gone—one way or the other. Some are fer hanging yer.’
‘Anna has told me what people are saying. I knew nothing of this, Peg. I swear I would not have had it happen for the world.’
Peg looked at her in silence for a moment and then nodded. ‘Aye, I believe yer, but others will not. They won’t listen. Especially with Pike stirring them up. He says Sylvester sent his ship away to save it.’
‘That is nonsense! You know he would not do that, don’t you? He could have sent all his ships if that had been the case—so why didn’t he?’
‘Yer need not try to convince me, lass—but others will listen to Pike. Sylvester has been too successful. Some are jealous of him and need only a grievance to make them turn against him. He brought yer here and that’s good enough for most.’
‘Is he in danger?’ Maribel asked. ‘I have not seen him this morning. I do not know where he is.’
‘It’s yerself they hate most. Come outside now, and I’ll show yer a few of me tricks with a knife so that yer can defend yerself, but it will be best fer yer all if yer leave as soon as yer can.’
* * *
‘It is getting late,’ Maribel said as the sun began to dip on the horizon that evening. ‘Sylvester has been gone all day and Higgins with him. I fear that something has happened to them.’
‘Someone would have told us,’ Anna said, but was clearly worried. ‘They are not all against us despite what happened. Sylvester’s crew would stand behind him whatever others thought.’
‘Would they?’ Maribel eyed her uncertainly. ‘Supposing they have been hurt? The crew might be afraid to send for us…Sylvester might forbid it if it meant danger for us.’
‘There is little we can do. They might be anywhere.’ Anna frowned. ‘I do not think they would leave the island without us.’
‘Of course they would not. Captain Sylvester would never desert us.’
Chapter Seven
Maribel’s anxiety grew with every minute that passed. Justin must know that they would be worried. Why was he so late? It was almost dark and he had still not returned. Her instincts were to go and look for him, but he had forbidden her to go down to the waterfront.
She could not sit and wait. The house felt too small and confined to contain her and she needed some air. Anna called to her as she moved towards the door.
‘Where are you going? It is nearly dark and too dangerous to go looking for them now.’
‘I just need some—’ Maribel broke off as she heard sounds outside. She rushed to the door and threw it open, staring in dismay as she saw Higgins and two of Justin’s crew she recognised. They were carrying something between them—Justin’s body. She saw blood on his shirt and clapped a hand to her mouth to stop herself screaming. ‘What happened?’
‘He was set upon by some ruffians.’ Higgins scowled. ‘It was Pike’s crew, ordered to it by him no doubt. The captain had been to see some of the wounded. He had promised to make good their losses and explained why our ship was not in the harbour. They listened to him and he left believing all was settled—then this gang attacked him. He fought them off and wounded or killed three, but they were too many for him. Had I and some of the crew not arrived in time he might have been finished.’
‘Carry him through to his room,’ Maribel said, hovering as they brought Justin’s unconscious body into the house. Her heart was hammering and she felt sick with worry, but would not give way to her fear. ‘He has lost blood—where is his wound?’
‘He has a wound to his thigh and another to his shoulder—but he was knocked unconscious by a blow from one of those murdering devils. Fortunately, we drove them off before they could finish him, but he will need nursing. I’ve sent word to the surgeon and he’ll be here soon.’
‘Thank you for all you have done. I am so grateful.’
In the bedchamber, Anna had pulled back the sheets. Justin was deposited gently on his bed by the men; they then drew back to look at him in silence, not sure what to do next. Anna brought a knife and slit his breeches at the side so that they could see the wound to his thigh. She examined it and then looked at Maribel.
‘It has bled a lot, but is not too deep. He should mend without too much help from the surgeon,’ she said on a note of relief. She then slit open the sleeve of his shirt all the way to the shoulder. ‘This is a little deeper, but I think neither wound will kill him—providing he does not take a fever.’
‘It seems you were in time to save his life. Thank you,’ Maribel said to Higgins. Tears trickled down her cheeks, but she brushed them away. She turned to Anna, an appealing expression in her eyes. ‘Please tell me what to do. You know better than I how to help him.’
‘We must cleanse and bind the wounds,’ Anna told her. ‘I do not know what more we can do, but the surgeon will tell us when he comes. It may be that he will cauterise the wound to Sylvester’s shoulder.’
Maribel’s face turned white and she swayed, clutching at a bedpost to steady herself. She had never been present when it was done, but she knew that to apply a hot iron to open flesh must be fearful and would cause terrible pain.
‘I pray God that it will not be needed,’ she whispered. ‘I shall fetch water and clean linen.’
She was praying and crying at the same time, for she was afraid that whatever they did Justin might die.
* * *
The surgeon had closed Justin’s wounds without cauterising them, cleansing the skin with a mixture of his own that smelled like alcohol to Maribel and binding him tightly to stop further bleeding. When he had finished, he turned to Maribel.
‘Fortunately, they are both little more than flesh wounds. He should heal within a week or two
if he rests, but you must watch for a fever. That blow to the head has rendered him unconscious. Such wounds can kill a man, but sometimes the victim recovers without serious harm. You must watch over him and wait. I will leave something to help him with the pain. If a fever develops, you must keep him cool, and if necessary send for me again.’
‘Thank you.’ Maribel’s throat was tight as she held back her tears. ‘Anna is very good. She will help me to nurse him and she knows how to prepare mixtures that help with a fever, if she has the herbs.’
‘Send to me if you need anything and I will bring whatever Anna requires. It is best that she does not go looking for her herbs alone—the mood here is still uncertain. ’ He wrinkled his brow in thought. ‘I do not blame you or Sylvester. I dare say the ships found us by chance, as was bound to happen one day. Had they been prepared for an attack, they would have done much more damage and probably sent a party ashore to look for you.’
‘I think much as you do,’ Maribel said. ‘My father would have sent men ashore to look for me if he had planned this attack; I believe they must have found the island by chance. However, they may return with more ships and more men; my father is a vengeful man.’
‘There is talk of setting up cannon on shore in case we are attacked from the sea again, though others talk of leaving the island, giving up the attempt to settle here. Most of the captains neglected to protect their ships; they felt safe here, but this attack will make them take measures to make sure next time we can at least fight back. However, some feel the island is no longer safe for us.’
He smiled as he took his leave. Maribel thanked him. She stayed by Justin’s side, watching as he lay unconscious. He was breathing still, but had given no sign of coming to himself, though he had moaned once or twice as the surgeon treated his wounds.
‘Please live,’ she whispered. Her tears came freely now for she could no longer hold them back. One or two fell on his face as she bent over him, pressing her cheek to his. ‘I love you, my own dear pirate. I would not tell you if you could hear me—but I love you as I have never loved anyone else.’