The Pirate's Willing Captive

Maribel jumped as the cabin door opened. She swung round, half-expecting another visit from the captain since she had ignored his advice to go on deck, but it was only Anna.

‘We are to go ashore this evening,’ Anna told her. ‘The pirates will provision the ship ready for the voyage to Cyprus and it is the last chance for us to go ashore before we reach our destination.’

‘We must try to escape,’ Maribel said. ‘Juanita came from Mallorca. My father has estates here. If we could reach them…’

‘I have given my promise not to try to escape in return for being allowed ashore, and you must do the same. It is the only way, my lady.’

‘A promise to a pirate? Would you put that above your duty to me?’ Maribel asked, feeling piqued that her maid had seemingly given her allegiance to the enemy.

Anna looked uncomfortable. ‘Please do not ask me to break my word. I swore that you would not try to run off, my lady. I think they would punish us both if you did—I might be beaten…’

‘No! I should not allow that,’ Maribel said. ‘If we were caught, I should take the blame.’

‘We have not been treated ill, my lady. Why do you not simply wait for the ransom? It might be dangerous to escape. We could fare worse at the hands of others. Remember we have no money to buy a passage home.’

‘I am not sure I wish my father to ransom me.’ Maribel frowned. ‘If my stepmother’s relatives would take me in, I might recover control of my fortune—and then I should not have to obey my father. I could marry when I chose.’

‘Do you think Don Sabatini would allow that? Do you not know why he is sending you to England?’

‘What do you mean?’ Maribel’s gaze narrowed.

‘Your father covets Don Pablo’s estates. It was the reason he allowed you to marry him. I have heard it whispered that it is the reason your husband was killed.’

‘That was bandits…’ Maribel felt sick and shaken. She moved her head negatively. ‘No! You cannot believe that my father…would have had Pablo killed.’

‘I do not know, my lady. I have heard these whispers. But why would he send you to such a man if it were not so? Perhaps he anticipates your death…’

Maribel turned away from her, unable to look into her servant’s face. She thought of her sweet young husband. She had always believed he was killed by bandits, but if her father…No, she could not believe that of him, even though he had disregarded her wishes in the matter of her marriage. Yet if the servants were talking of these things, there must be some truth in them. Her determination to escape hardened. If she could reach Juanita’s family, they would surely take her in and help her…

‘I am pleased that you have decided to be sensible,’ Justin said, a wry smile playing about his mouth as she came on deck later that day. ‘We shall sleep under the stars this night, lady, but a bed shall be prepared for you so that you may lie comfortably.’

‘How long do you intend to remain here?’

‘A day or two to replenish the supplies of fresh fruit and wine, also meat and water. We have taken on supplies here before and the people are friendly. They do not condemn us, as your people do, as heretics and pirates, but trade with us for gold and silver.’

‘When will you send word to my father that you wish to ransom me?’

‘Captain Hynes will have carried the tale to him. I said that he might arrange a meeting through an agent in Cyprus. We shall do the exchange there…if one is made…’

‘What do you mean—if?’ Maribel studied his face, trying to read what was in his mind. She was not sure why his nearness made her feel so odd, as if her chest was constricted and she could scarcely breathe. She drew away, suppressing her feelings. She must not begin to like him. If she once let down her guard…Impossible thoughts filled her mind but she banished them.

‘I thought you might prefer your freedom?’

‘You would let me go without ransom?’

‘I might take the ransom and still keep you.’ Justin’s teeth flashed white as he smiled in the moonlight.

‘You do not mean it?’ She was not sure if he was teasing her.

‘Would you prefer me to hand you over to a man who would sell you to the devil?’

‘I should prefer it if—’ Maribel stopped. She had been about to tell him of her stepmother’s family and beg him to let her go to them, but something held her tongue. He was persuasive, but she must not trust him. She had only his word that Lord Roberts was diseased and evil, though she could see no reason why he should lie to her.

‘What would you prefer, lady? Tell me. Perhaps I might grant your wish.’

Maribel hesitated. His voice was soft; it seemed to promise much and a part of her longed to confide in him. He was so strong and she wanted someone to help and protect her from the things she feared, but he was a pirate. How could she believe the man who had abducted her? Her mind told her it would be foolish and yet her instincts were telling her something very different. Despite herself she was beginning to like him.

‘No…’ She shook her head, because she could not be sure he would help her. ‘I should prefer it if you had never taken me captive.’

‘Would you, Madonna?’ He smiled at her and her heart missed a beat. ‘I am not sure that I believe you. Come…’ He held out his hand. ‘You must climb down to the boat and be rowed ashore.’ She gave him her hand and his fingers closed about it, strong, cool and somehow comforting. ‘I have your word that you will not try to run away?’

‘I believe Anna already gave you surety?’

‘Yes, she did, but I would have it from you.’

‘Very well, you have it.’ Maribel glowered at him. She looked down at the rope ladder. ‘I am not sure I can manage that.’

‘Fear not. I shall go before you. I shall steady your feet so that you do not miss a rung—and if you fall I shall catch you.’

‘I shall not fall!’

Maribel did not miss the gleam in his eyes. She watched as he went on to the ladder. Tom came forwards to help her place one foot on the ladder and then she was over the side and seeking the next. A strong hand caught her ankle and placed her foot on the next rung, sending a shock running through her that made her gasp and almost lose her balance. How dare he touch her in such an intimate manner? She had almost begun to trust him, but this was too much! She would have liked to vent her fury on him, but it would be undignified to rage at him in this position. She glanced down indignantly and saw the gleam of mischief in his eyes.

‘Thank you, but I need no help of that kind.’

‘I would not have you fall on me, lady.’

Maribel caught the mockery in his voice and fumed inside. Oh, what a rogue he was! How dare he laugh at her? She would have liked to reprimand him, but all her concentration was on negotiating the ladder without treading on her skirts or lifting them high enough to give him a view of her thighs.

As she reached the bottom he helped her to step down into the boat, steadying her as she found a seat and sat down. She sent him a look of scorn, but refused to speak, because the expression on his face told her that he had enjoyed her predicament.

Maribel watched Anna descend nimbly into the boat and scowled. Her maid had managed easily alone and she might too if that oaf had not grabbed her ankles every time she took a step. How he must have enjoyed that!

She would not look at either of them, sitting stonyfaced and staring at the shore as they were rowed closer. When she realised that she would have to wade through water to get to the beach, she was dismayed. She must either lift her skirts high enough to avoid getting them wet and thus reveal her legs in front of the pirates or suffer a wet gown for hours.

She stood hesitating, unsure of how best to go about it, but then became aware that Captain Sylvester was in the water beside the boat.

‘Come, lady, let me carry you.’ He held out his hand.

‘I can manage…’

‘You will get your gown wet and it will not be pleasant.’

‘I can manage.’ Maribel tried to put one leg over the side of the boat, but he grabbed her waist, swinging her up and over his shoulder. She gave a scream of anger, beating at his back.

‘Put me down, you brute! Put me down at once.’

‘You tempt me, lady. You sorely tempt me to dump you in the water,’ Justin said but carried her up the beach and then set her on her feet. Maribel immediately took a swing at him, but he caught her wrist in an iron vice, his expression stern and forbidding. ‘Be careful, Madonna. Try my patience too often and you will regret it.’