Page 33 of The Pirate Takes A Bride

Perhaps he might find what he was looking for with Ashley. Not that he expected her to be content to sit by a fire on their country estate and embroider. They were kindred spirits, longing for excitement and fun. But there were many ways to appease those desires—traveling the world, hunting or hawking, and, of course, bedsport. The night they’d just shared together proved to him she still desired him. And he—he desired her. He felt he had only just begun to whet his appetite for her. Even if Chante had not interrupted them, Nick knew one night with Ashley would not be enough.

He heard footfalls behind him and turned to see Chante approaching. “Speak of the devil,” he murmured.

Chante gave him a wide, white-toothed grin. “Good morning, Cap’n.”

“If I didn’t know you so well, Mr. Chante, I might think you planned your interruption.”

“Me, Cap’n?” Chante had the gall to look shocked. “How was I to know what you were up to?”

The man knew everything that went on aboard the Robin Hood. “Just give me your report, Mr. Chante.”

“The men signaled, Cap’n, and we get no response.”

“Everything looks quiet,” Nick said, eyeing the approaching land again.

“That be what I’m afraid of.”

“It’s too quiet.”

“That means two things. Either they all dead.”

“Or there’s an ambush.”

“Yes, Cap’n. Orders?”

“We drop anchor and send a scouting party ahead.” He named the men he wanted to accompany him. “On board, the men stand ready at the guns. If we’re not attacked, we’ll send word, and you lead the next group ashore. We leave half the crew, those without family on the island, on the ship to keep watch and man the guns.”

“Yes, Cap’n. What about the girl?”

“She stays on the ship.” But even as he said it, Nick knew Ashley would never obey. The woman was not made for shipboard life. Anyone with one eye could see she hated the confines of his cabin and the cramped conditions on board. He held up a hand. “Fine. She comes ashore on the second boat. I’ll speak to her and explain why she must wait. I don’t want her causing trouble while I’m away.”

“Oh, I think that be something she can hardly avoid.”

Nick gave his quartermaster a look, and Chante shrugged. “With all due respect, Cap’n.”

“You don’t like her much, do you, Mr. Chante? No, strike that. Speak to me as Chante, as a friend. You don’t like her, do you?”

Chante shrugged. “I doan like her for you, Nicholas.”

“Why?”

“Once when was a child, I walked with my father. We were hunting. Big game. Lions.”

Nick raised his brows but said nothing. Chante so very rarely ever spoke of the time before he’d become a slave. Nick knew he’d lived on a sugar plantation in the Caribe, but he’d escaped and joined the crew of the first ship he encountered in port. Nick had met him some years later in Tripoli and persuaded him to join the crew of the Robin Hood.

Chante looked at the rising sun, the light bathing his face with a warm glow. “We waited in the tall grass. While we waited, I watched two spiders mate. The female, when she was done, she bit off the head of the male. She killed him when he wasn’t expecting it.”

“Interesting story,” Nick said finally. “And you think Ashley is like this spider? She’ll stab me in the back or shoot me when I’m not looking.”

Chante shrugged. “There be more than one way to kill a man.” He gave a short bow. “I’ll relay your orders, Cap’n.”

Nick watched him go. “Did you kill a lion that day?” he called after the quartermaster.

“No, Cap’n. I was watching the spider when I should have been watching the grass. The lion, he get away.” Chante nodded toward the stern of the ship, and the great cabin, meaningfully.

“Well, at least I understand that warning.”

AS HE EXPECTED, SHE did not want to stay behind.

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