The Pirate's Willing Captive

Maribel stared out of the porthole at the calm sea. They had been at sea for two days and she had not left her cabin. She turned her head as her maid entered. Anna brought her food and wine each day and already knew her way about the ship.

‘The captain says you may come on deck for some air, my lady—but that you should keep your head covered for the sun is hot and he would not have you take harm.’

‘You may tell Captain Sylvester that I have no wish to come on deck or to mix with rogues.’

Anna looked at her oddly. ‘Do you think it wise to send such a message, my lady?’

‘How would you have me address him—as a friend?’ Maribel knew that her maid’s counsel was wise, but something inside her would not allow her to give in so easily.

‘We have not been treated ill…’

‘Indeed?’ Maribel’s dark eyes flashed. ‘If you do not think it ill to be abducted and forced aboard a pirate ship, I do. Sylvester had no right to take us captive.’

‘He had the right—’ tis the law of the sea. He might have sunk the vessel and all with it, but only those that resisted were harmed, and I think none killed. It is not always the case with pirates. Had we been taken by corsairs we should be dead or on our way to a slave market, where we should be sold to the highest bidder.’

Maribel wrinkled her brow. She knew that her maid spoke the truth; they could have fared worse. However, she had no intention of relenting towards the pirate.

‘You will please give my message to the captain, as I bid you.’

‘Yes, my lady—but should you not like to go on deck for some air?’

‘Not with rogues!’

Maribel turned back to her view of the sea. She was longing for some fresh air, tired of being cooped up in her cabin, and yet her pride would not let her give in.

After Anna had left her, Maribel ate a piece of bread and a mouthful of cheese. The bread was coarse and harder than she was used to, but the cheese tasted good. She sipped her wine, then put it down and began to pace the cabin. How long would it be before they made land? Where was the pirate taking her—and what would happen next?

‘Forgive me, sir. My mistress is proud and bid me answer you in her own words. She is angry because she was forced to come aboard your ship.’

‘Do not look anxious, Anna,’ Justin said, a wry smile on his mouth. ‘I shall not blame you for your mistress’s words. I shall leave her to her own devices for a few days and then we shall see.’

‘She needs to come up for some air or she will be ill.’

‘Is she unwell? Does she suffer from sickness?’

‘She is well enough, but I know she is fretting.’

Justin inclined his head. ‘I shall speak to the foolish woman myself.’

He spoke to his first officer and then left the bridge. The Spanish woman was proud and ill tempered. When he first saw her she had taken his breath with her exotic beauty. Her hair was dressed across her forehead and caught in ringlets at either side of her face in the Spanish style, her clothes heavy and ugly compared with the gowns his mother had worn, for Lady Devere’s gowns had come from France. Donna Maribel Sanchez was proud, cold and disdainful, as were most of her kind. Clearly she considered no one but herself and was furious at finding herself a captive. Her maid was concerned for her and would bear the brunt of her sickness if she fell ill. She deserved to be taught a lesson and yet he had seen spirit in her, something fine and lovely. He would not have her become sickly from lack of fresh air.

Outside her cabin door, he paused and then knocked. There was a moment’s hesitation and then the word ‘enter’ spoken in a way that made him smile inwardly.

‘Donna Maribel,’ he said as he entered the cabin, ‘I understand you are frightened to come on deck because you think us rogues and murderers.’

‘I am not afraid, sir!’ Maribel’s head came up with a flash of pride. ‘I simply do not wish to consort with murdering rogues…pirates.’

‘I shall not deny that we are pirates, for’ tis clearly our trade. However, my men are not wicked rogues. They were driven to mutiny by a cruel master and must now earn their living by roaming the seas in search of rich merchant ships to plunder.’

‘You do not consider that makes you rogues?’ She looked at him scornfully.

‘Did you see anyone murdered aboard Captain Hynes’s ship?’

‘No…’ She looked at him uncertainly. ‘You said your men wished to hang him.’

‘Yet I did not allow it. Some men in my position would have taken the ship as well as the cargo and hung or marooned those who would not join us.’

She was forced to acknowledge that he spoke the truth. When he spoke softly to her, she found herself drawn to him against her will, but she was not ready to admit defeat.

‘Very well, not murderers, but still thieves, for you took what was not yours.’

‘We are adventurers. We take what we need, but we do not harm innocent women and children; men are given the chance to surrender and join us or go on their way. Your maidservant has not been harmed and you may walk safely on our decks. I give you my word that not one member of my crew will lay a finger on you.’

‘The word of a pirate?’

‘My word is as good as any man’s.’ Justin moved towards her. She gasped and stepped back, her eyes widening as if she thought he would repeat the punishing kiss he had given her before. ‘You are quite safe, as long as you behave yourself, lady. I have never yet taken an unwilling woman…’ He laughed mockingly. ‘Most come willingly enough to my bed.’ His voice had a deep, sensual timbre that sent shivers down her spine. ‘I shall not deny that I think you desirable, but I shall never force you to lie with me. You must come to me of your own free will…as you may one day.’

‘If you imagine that I would lie with you willingly…’ Maribel’s manner was one of disdain, but underneath her heart was hammering wildly in her breast; the picture his words conjured up was disturbing. She suddenly saw him bending over her as she lay in silken sheets, his mouth soft and loose with desire, his breath warm on her face, and her throat closed as she was pierced with desire. She gripped her hands at her sides, controlling her feelings, as she had been taught from childhood. A high-born lady did not allow herself to be seduced by a pirate, despite his undoubted charm. It was a picture too shocking to be contemplated. Turning away, she used anger to hide her confusion. This was madness! She was beginning to like him and she must not. ‘You are a mocking rogue, Captain Sylvester. I shall never come to you in that way.’

‘So be it…but still you are free to take the air every day for an hour or so. If you stay here in your cabin you may become ill and we have no time to spare for nursing a sick woman. I shall not force you to come up, but if you are not sensible I may have to persuade you.’

‘What do you mean?’ Maribel’s heart raced and she caught her breath as her senses whirled and she imagined what he might do. ‘You wouldn’t dare…’

Justin moved in closer, towering over her. ‘I dare anything, lady—but I mean you no harm. We shall soon reach a secluded cove on the island of Mallorca, where I mean to go ashore and replenish our water supplies before we set sail for Cyprus.’

His words banished the foolish thoughts, making her angry once more. ‘Cyprus? No, I shall not go with you, sir. You promised you would ransom me to my family! How dare you take me to Cyprus? I demand to be returned to Spain!’

‘I believe I made no promises.’ Justin’s gaze narrowed. ‘I have learned that you know nothing of your affianced husband—or his cousin. You would not go so gladly to your wedding if you knew what manner of men they were, believe me.’

‘I do not go gladly, but I must obey my father. He controls the fortune my husband left to me and I have no choice…’ Her throat closed and the tears stood on her lashes. She looked at him with an unconscious appeal in her eyes. Could she trust him? If he spoke the truth, it seemed her father had betrayed her. She had never felt more alone in her life. ‘Is Lord Roberts truly the monster you told me?’

‘When I knew of him he was steeped in vice and, I believe, riddled with the pox. I would not have expected him to live long enough to take a bride. If you lie with him, he will infect you with some foul disease—a disease that will cause you great suffering, perhaps even your death.’

Maribel’s face was ashen. ‘My father could not have known he was so evil…’ Her voice broke on a sob. ‘My first husband loved me. He loved me…’ The tears slid down her cheeks, her pride forgotten for the moment. ‘I would rather die than become the wife of such a monster.’

Justin moved in closer. ‘Do not weep, lady. I would not see you break your heart. Perhaps the future holds more than you might think.’ His hand moved out to touch her, but fell without doing so. ‘For your own sake, come on deck for some air—or I may have to fetch you!’

Maribel looked up at him. Something about him then made her long to trust him. For some foolish reason she wanted to go to his arms, lay her head against his shoulder and weep, but pride made her raise her head once more. She was so alone and he seemed to offer comfort, yet how could she trust a pirate?

‘You swore none of your men would lay a hand on me,’ she said and even as she spoke saw his frown and regretted that her words broke the tiny thread that had held them.

‘Aye, I did—but I said nothing of myself.’ Justin glared at her. ‘’Pon my soul, lady, you could do with a lesson in manners—and I’ve a mind to give it! Think yourself fortunate that I have much to do on deck.’

He went out, letting the cabin door close behind him with a bang. Maribel caught her breath—she knew that she had pushed him hard. If he lost patience with her, he could make her very sorry for daring to challenge him. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her thoughts whirling in confusion. Her upbringing had taught her that men of his kind were not to be trusted, and yet her instincts told her that he was a man she could turn to in times of trouble. There was no reason why he should help her, and yet a little voice in her head told her that if she asked for help he might give it.

Maribel knew that the ship was no longer moving. She could see the coast of an island a short distance away and understood that they had anchored in the bay. Although she had never been there, she believed they were close to the island of Mallorca. Don Sabatini had estates here, brought to him by his second wife Juanita, who had come from the island. Maribel wondered if there might be cousins or relatives of her stepmother living here. Would they know her if she managed to get ashore? Would they help her to escape from the pirates who had captured her?

Yet if she did escape, what would happen to her? Would her father still force her to marry Lord Roberts? She doubted that he would believe her if she told him that the man was a disease-ridden monster. He would never take the word of a pirate captain, and perhaps she should ignore it—and yet why should Captain Sylvester lie about such a thing? How could it benefit him?