Page 30 of The Pirate Lord
Of course, she didn’t know any of these men, did she? But one of them might want her for herself instead of marrying her out of some sense of duty. “I don’t know, Petey?—”
“Hear me out. If you marry me, we won’t have to be truly married, if you know what I mean.” His reddening ears told her exactly what he meant. “That’ll make things easier for you once we return to England. His lordship won’t have no trouble gettin’ the marriage annulled after we’re back as long as we don’t … er … you know.”
“Yes, I know.” Her eyes narrowed. “But surely you don’t think—” Two pirates passed so close that she could hear them laughing overhead. She froze until they moved away, then leaned closer to Petey. “Surely you don’t think we’ll even get the chance to escape.”
“We might. I know a bit about navigation and such. If this island lies close to any other islands, I can row us to one that’s inhabited.”
With a sigh, she twisted the chain of her locket around her finger. “Forgive me, Petey, but that doesn’t sound promising.”
“I suppose not. But remember, the cap’n also said something about returning to the Cape Verde Islands for supplies. ’Tis possible we could stow away on that trip and take passage to England from there. Don’t you worry, I’ll think of some way to get us out of here and back home.” His voice grew firm. “In the meantime, you’d best stay clear of the Pirate Lord.”
“Stop calling him that. It gives him importance beyond his worth.”
He grabbed her arm. “Listen, Miss Willis. Don’t be fooled because the cap’n is lettin’ the women make a choice. That one’s trouble. And he’s got his eye on you. That’s why you need somebody else to court you, somebody safe, to keep him from gettin’ his hooks in you.”
A strange tremor passed through her at Petey’s words. She told herself it was fear. After all, only a witless fool would be flattered by the attentions of a merciless pirate. Besides, Petey was wrong. “He doesn’t have his eye on me. Didn’t you hear what he said this afternoon?”
Petey scowled. “I know what he said, but I heard the men talkin’ and they’re all layin’ odds he’ll have you in his bed before the week is out.”
She colored. “Nonsense. You have nothing to worry about. I’d die before I let that monster put his hands on me again.”
“Again?” Petey’s fingers tightened on her arm. “What did he do to you while you were in his cabin? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“Of course not,” she said, cursing her slip of the tongue. “We had words, that’s all. But I don’t think he likes me much, and I despise him. So, you needn’t worry. He’ll never succeed in marrying meorseducing me.”
At least she hoped he didn’t. She wasn’t sure she could resist him if he tried. That thought gave her pause. “Perhaps you’re right, Petey. Perhaps I should choose you as husband.”
“It’s for the best, miss, you’ll see. But don’t you worry, one way or the other, I’ll get you out of this mess.”
She only hoped he could.
Chapter Nine
I hope, whileWomenhave any spirit left, they will exert it all in showing how worthy they are of better usage, by not submitting tamely to such misplaced arrogance [from men].
— “SOPHIA” (BELIEVED TO BE LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU),WOMAN NOT INFERIOR TO MAN
Night had just fallen when Gideon sauntered on deck. It was a clear, balmy night, with the sky dripping diamond stars over the ship like a king’s jewel-studded cloak. He filled his lungs with the tangy air. He would miss the quiet nights aboard theSatyr, the creak of timbers, the slap of waves against the seasoned oak hull. Although in future he and his men might sail to the Cape Verde Islands for supplies, they would no longer spend weeks at sea under the brilliant sky.
He surveyed the sailors on watch, then strolled the deck. A vague dissatisfaction nipped at him, destroying the pleasure he usually took in nights at sea. But then, he’d felt that often lately. That was why he’d decided to give up piracy for Atlantis.
The sea chases and the thrill of taking gold from noblemen he detested weren’t enough anymore, not when he knew whatwould happen if he continued. Piracy brought its followers an early death. There was no such thing as an old pirate.
Maybe some men didn’t care about dying young, maybe some wanted to leave this world in a blaze of excitement, but he wasn’t one. He intended to live a long, full life and not end it on the gallows. Or a ship, for that matter.
He’d given twenty-one years of his life to the sea. He’d been only twelve when his cursed father had finally drunk himself to death, leaving his only child penniless, friendless, and alone. So when, after a year of fighting off hunger and looking for work, he’d been noticed by a sea captain who’d taken pity on him and offered him a position as cabin boy, he’d jumped at the chance.
Later, when the American government had commissioned privateers to harass the English, he’d eagerly sunk all the money he’d saved into purchasing a sloop. It had seemed as good a way as any to survive. Before long, he’d done well enough to exchange the sloop for a pinnace, and the pinnace for theSatyr.
Throughout those years, he’d looked for only two traits in his crewmen: that they have no wives or families, so their courage would be the fiercer because they had nothing to lose; and that they hate the British as much as he did.
His careful hiring had proven advantageous, for they’d served him well. When the war had ended and the same men in Washington who’d prompted them to steal from the English now expected him and his crew to throw down their arms and make peace with them, he and his men had chosen a third path—piracy.
They’d had a good run of it, to be sure. But they’d begun to tire of a sailor’s uncertain and lonely life, and he more than any of them. To his surprise, the gold and jewels he’d stolen from his enemy didn’t satisfy him. Even tormenting the lordlings had lost its appeal. He wanted more—a real future, not just a series of voyages and captures. He wanted to build something that washis, something good and solid. He could do that on Atlantis. They could all do that on Atlantis.
He scanned the milling crowd, noting that the men not on watch were well on their way to gaining the women’s affections. Soon he’d have to call Barnaby to bring the women below and lock them in, but just now he wanted to savor this moment. He’d accomplished his goal. He’d found women for his men. And they would all soon be working together for a common good.
So why did he still feel so restless, so dissatisfied, when he should be rejoicing in his success? Why did he have this nagging fear that he’d handled the acquisition of the convict women badly?
