Page 56 of Pirate's Intent
He knew their plantation had been taken, and there was no place for her in Virginia anymore. He also knew he should have told her what else happened before now, but the timing had never seemed right.
“There is news,” he said softly.
When she looked at him in question, he went on. “I can only assume you thought Thomas and I came upon you and your sister by chance.” He shook his head. “But we did not. Your uncle’s captain betrayed him a while back and planned to go off course. He made a deal with Blackbeard. Let him and his men join his crew and enjoy the pleasures of piracy in exchange for both your uncle’s ships and everything on them.”
“Surely not!” She sat up wide-eyed. “He would not dare!”
“He would, and he did. We are lucky he did not know about that brooch,” he commented. “Or things could have gone very differently.”
“Yet things went poorly enough, didn’t they?” she said softly, addressing the entirety of his revelation. “My uncle did not make it to what might have been our new residence, did he?”
“No,” he said. “Blackbeard’s men captured his ship. All were killed, including your uncle.”
“I see,” she murmured. Surprisingly enough, her eyes grew misty.
“Are you all right.” He brushed his fingers along her cheek. “I did not think this news would trouble you so.”
“Sinner that I am, it does not,” she whispered, choked up with emotion. “All I feel is relief...unbelievable relief.” Her eyes met his. “Is that wrong of me?”
“Nothing has ever been so right.” He cupped the side of her neck, offering her comfort. “That man ruined your childhood, Hannah. His was the sort of dark nature that deserved such an end.”
She nodded and wiped away a tear before something occurred to her, and her brows snapped together. “The captain might not have, butyouknew about the brooch.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, a mixture of fear and pain in her eyes. “Is that why you came for us?”
“No, Hannah.” He kept her eyes with his so that she understood. “We came for you and your sister because we love you. Because we would not see you taken by the likes of Blackbeard and his lot.” He shook his head. “We would not have you anywhere but with us.”
“Anywhere?” she said softly.
“Anywhere.” He caressed her jaw. “So I ask again, could a life of tease and sin be for you?”
“This then?” she murmured. “Us?”
“Yes.”
“But you are a pirate,” she reminded. “Where would that leave me?” Her eyes swept over the cabin with a wicked little gleam. “Living here? Like this?”
“What if you could live somewhere new?” he said. “And visit a spot like our special place with me whenever you like? Visit a spot just like this cabin?”
She swallowed hard and eyed him. “What are you saying, Luke?”
“Thomas and Rose are heading to the Massachusetts Bay Colony to start a new life,” he said. “Why don’t we join them?”
“Massachusetts?” she murmured. “But that’s so far away.”
“No further away than your new home was about to be.”
“But how when you are a pirate,” she began then trailed off when she understood. Always one to keep abreast of the latest news, she must have caught wind of it before she left. “You are going to request King George’s Royal Pardon? Truly?”
On five September seventeen, seventeen, King George I of Great Britain issued the “Proclamation for Suppressing of Pirates.” This granted full pardon of all crimes to pirates who surrendered themselves to any governor in the colonies within the next year.
“I am,” he replied. “As is my brother and our crews.”
“Is that so?” she murmured, clearly trying to process that information. “But why?” She peered at him. “Do you not prefer piracy?”
“It suited me for a time,” he granted. “Privateering and piracy allowed me...”
When he couldn’t seem to find the right words, she guessed at it. “A means to vent your anger?”
“Yes, I suppose,” he conceded, forgetting how well she knew him.
