Page 29 of The Pirate Lord
“Perhaps Louisa could help you just a little,” Sara interjected. She had to admit that the stew didn’t look or smell palatable, and a quick glance around the deck showed that the women weren’t eating their meals with any great enthusiasm, despite their hunger.
“That’s a capital idea,” said a new voice. Sara turned to find the English first mate standing at her elbow, smoking a cheroot. “Why not let the women help with the meals? God knows we could use a decent one for a change.”
Silas scowled at the first mate. “You’re takin’ the side o’ that woman? Well, I had enough o’ your complaints. And hers.” He turned and stomped away. “See if either o’ you gets any more o’ what I cook. I’ll let this harpy serve you a thinnish French broth and see how you like it. You’ll be beggin’ for more of me cookin’ in a week. Damned English fools. I swear I …”
He continued to mutter under his breath as he picked his way between the women seated on deck. But when Louisa started to go after him, Barnaby stayed her with one hand.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s an old curmudgeon who hates women. I’ve heard tell it’s because he can’t satisfy one in bed, if you know what I mean. Some sort of old war injury.” Barnaby cast Louisa an ingratiating smile that showed fine, white teeth. “If it’s a husband you’re looking for, you’d be better off with me. All my parts are in fine working order.”
A chilly smile touched Louisa’s lips as she snatched her arm away. “Are they indeed? Then I suggest you find a wife who’d be happy to oil and pamper them tokeepthem in good working order. I’d be more likely to smash them to bits.” With that, she lifted her skirts and hurried after Silas, leaving Barnaby to gape after her as he instinctively jerked his legs together.
“She’s a cold fish, isn’t she?” he commented to Sara.
“Not exactly. She just doesn’t like men much.”
“Ah,” Barnaby said as if he understood.
But his frown showed he didn’t. How could he? He’d never had his life utterly destroyed by the opposite sex. No man who hadn’t also been tormented simply because of his sex could understand Louisa’s hatred.
“And what about you?” he asked. “Doyouhate men?”
Unfortunately, no,she thought, remembering the mortifying way she’d responded to Gideon’s kiss. “Only those men who try to take away my freedom.”
The sun had finally set, and the gray dusk heightened the dark intensity of Barnaby’s black eyes as he scrutinized her. “You mean men like our captain?”
The trace of irony in his tone made her color. Everyone had just assumed she would swoon at their illustrious captain’s feet. And if they knew she’d practically done so—they’d laugh. Dropping her gaze, she skimmed her fingers over the smooth brass rail before her. “Yes, him. Certainly. He had no right to take us against our will.”
Barnaby leaned back as he drew languidly on his cheroot. “Look around you, Miss Willis. Does it appear to you as if your convict women object to being freed from that ship?”
Putting her back to the rail, she scanned the crowd of women. Someone had already lit the lanterns, illuminating patches of women and men who were laughing and talking. The women were assessing the men, some covertly, others with more boldness. Under the protective overhang of some rigging, a youthful pirate slid his arm around a sweet-faced convict, who not only allowed it, but gazed up at him with a shy smile. Even the older woman who’d spoken up this afternoon about her limited chances of finding a husband was being courted by a hoary-headed sailor, one of the few older men on Captain Horn’s ship.
Everywhere men hovered over the women like bees around a honey hive. Though they didn’t seem to be overly aggressive orrude, there was a definite arrogance in the way they pursued the women, as if sure of being accepted. And many of the women weren’t exactly discouraging them.
She sighed. “I suppose the women aren’t entirely angry over the situation.”
“Aren’t entirely angry?” He chuckled. “I’d say they’re quite content.”
Suddenly, there was a loud crack from across the deck and a shrill voice said, “Don’t touch me, you filthy pirate! I don’t have to suffer your grabbing hands just yet!”
Sara and Barnaby turned to see a man holding his reddened cheek as a comely young woman flounced off in a huff.
Sara cast Barnaby an arch look. “Not all are content, sir.” The wind blew a lock of hair into her eyes, and she thrust it aside. “Some are merely resigned to their fate. They know they have no choice. Since they’re used to accepting whatever hand life has dealt them, they’ll make the best of it. But I’d truly hoped life would deal them a better one.”
With that, she walked away, unable to bear more such discussions. Barnaby was no different from his master. He couldn’t see the grim realities of the situation. No matter what she said, both men would continue to think they had bestowed a great favor on the women by taking them captive.
Feeling even more morose than before, she headed for the fore hatch, only to be accosted by a sailor who stepped out of the shadows. Her instant spurt of fear turned to relief when she saw it was Petey.
“Come, miss, we got to talk,” he muttered, pulling her toward the fore hatch.
“We certainly do.” She followed him, casting a wary glance about her to make sure no one saw them. She waited until they’d climbed down into the ‘tween decks to ask the question that had bothered her ever since she’d seen him leave the captain’s cabin.“I suppose you sneaked aboard when they brought us on, but why haven’t they killed you?”
“Cap’n decided he had a use for me.” He lit the lantern in the ‘tween decks, and as he turned back to her, the dull gold light reflected the grim look on his face. “They’ve made me one of the crew, but that don’t mean I can do what I want. There’s plenty of eyes watchin’ me all the time. So we gotta make this fast.”
“I guess you heard what Captain Horn said. That we must choose husbands.”
He nodded, his hazel eyes darkening. “I heard. And I got a plan for that. When the time comes for you and the women to choose, you’d best choose me.”
The idea took her by surprise. Marry Petey? Though she knew his suggestion was designed to protect her, she wasn’t sure she liked it. A lifetime on a remote island would be bad enough, but a lifetime with a man she barely knew …
