A Pirate’s Wife (24 page)

He swallowed hard, touching her face

'Things will be different there. Things will seem

strange, and sometimes what seems true is not. There are

no laws and no morals. The only law that counts is the

Falcon's. He is a hard and cruel man and does not take

deception lightly. The best course is always to be

straightforward. Say only what is necessary.' He gulped,

taking in deep breaths as if he braced himself against

whatever lay out there.

'I cannot stress it enough. You need to trust me and

know that I love you, no matter what.' Urgency filled his

voice and he held her with a rigid firmness.

'Roberto, you frighten me when you talk like that!

But I also believe that you have your reasons, and because I

love you, I trust you. There is no doubt in my mind.'

Again, the familiar, confused thoughts from the

beginning entered her mind.
What is he not telling me?
she thought.

For weeks, she had seen a side of him that she

adored and loved. Her feelings for him had grown. She

respected him not only as her husband but also as a man.

His character was not that of a pirate. Stories her father told

her of them convinced her that he was not one. She did not

know what to expect once they were on land. But he

desperately wanted her to trust him, and that she was

willing to do.

'I will never hurt you intentionally, but you need to

be brave, and Rosa-Lee,' he hesitated. 'Trust no one else.'

'Yes Roberto of course.' She hugged him, anxious

because of his seriousness, and he drew her closer in his

embrace.

'Roberto, what are you not telling me?' she asked

after a while, her heart beating loud in her chest. Panic

filled her.

'Always remember that I love you. All will be

revealed at the end. That is all I can say for now. Keep on

trusting me,' He said in a desperate plea, crushing her

mouth with his. He took her to their cabin where their

bodies became one under their intense passion, his

masterful touch causing her to blossom under him, taking

him into her.

When he left he was sombre and just stood at the

rail as he watched the land mass. Rosa-Lee would watch

with distress, touching her belly reassuringly.

Pierre had his hands full with both Roberto and

Rosa-Lee. But it was easier to speak to her than Roberto.

He shut every one out. Pierre knew to just be there and

make sure to cover his friend's back once they set foot on

the island.

For three days, they sailed around the south coast

and up the east coast until they reached the Isle of Saint

Marie. It was a beautiful island filled with lush, thick

foliage, a mountain on the far horizon.

During these three days, their lovemaking was at

times frightening Rosa-Lee. It felt as if he were branding

her with every touch and every kiss. There were times

when he hurt her but she didn't say anything, her trust in

him unmovable. Her body was adjusting and aroused under

his raw desire. The things he did with her astounded her but

it brought them closer, leaving her breathless and numb in

his arms.

When he finally stepped out of the cabin after the

anchor was dropped, she saw the man she had met the first

day of their journey, the menacing, stern pirate. Her

Roberto was deeply buried.

The longboat was set out on the water, waiting for

him. She had to wait on board for him.

When he kissed her, he said, 'It will be either Pierre

or I that will collect you. Be ready at any time.'

'Yes, Captain.' She looked at him and he smiled. For

a brief second the Roberto that she loved was back as she

touched his cheek. He kissed her palm and then her lips in a

final good-bye.

When he went over the railing and down the Jacob's

ladder, Captain Roberto de Ville was in full command of

his surroundings, stern in posture, broad shoulders straight

and expression fierce, the picture of a pirate.

Pierre followed after he assured Rosa-Lee once

again that he would protect him and bring him back safe.

She squeezed his hand in a final good-bye and watched as

the love of her life moved over the water without looking

back.

The ship's doctor took her hand and motioned for

her to go to her cabin. He had watched her the last few days

and knew she did not feel well. Now was a good time to

determine what was wrong although he had his suspicions.

He smiled at the young woman, reassuring her that

everything was all right, that Roberto knew what he was

doing and that she must trust him.

It was with great difficulty that he calmed her down

once his suspicions were confirmed. Rosa-Lee cried and

laughed the whole of the night, staying in their cabin with

the wonder that was within her. She could barely contain

herself until waves of worry would capture her and create

havoc in her mind.

Roberto himself had great difficulty in leaving her

behind. But he had to determine if everything was still all

right on the island. A pirate's live changed in minutes and

he had been gone eight months. The Falcon was

unpredictable on the best of days.

As they rowed to the shore he refused to look back

knowing that Rosa-Lee would watch for him. But he could

not afford to turn around. He had to leave her behind and

think clear-headed for now. That was the difference

between survival and certain death.

At the shore he was met by several men; some new

ones and some familiar faces. He was rushed to the

Falcon's place immediately. He hardly saw the dense bush

as his eyes were fixed on the men with him, observing each

one as they went deeper into the over-grown bushes. A path

snaked through the trees and bushes, leaving the place dark

at times.

Everyone in the group was loyal to the Falcon. The

few men he knew were not among this group.

They reached an opening where several huts stood

close by with a larger one in the middle. Heat emanated

from the blue sky with only a slight breeze that ruffled his

hair and jacket. Perspiration covered his body but he did

not notice it as he tightened his jaw.

Screams echoed from the large hut and Roberto

could only guess what was going on. He hardened his

features as they walked into the larger hut, larger than most

on the island.

The hut had once belonged to a chieftain on the

island but Falcon had killed the man and his wives and

taken his children as slaves. He was living in the place as a

chief.

When they got inside the cool shadows of the large

room they saw the Falcon sitting in the middle of the room

at a dining table. A woman was over his knee and hit her

without mercy. Several men stood around him as smacks

on her bare bottom resounded through the silence. He

chuckled, a deep, rough noise that came from his throat, his

beady eyes dark with cruelty.

Roberto clenched his fists in anger but he could not

show it. When the Falcon noticed Roberto he stopped the

smacks.

'Are my trusted son?' Falcon greeted him jovially

and stood. The woman fell to the ground and he kicked her

aside. 'Take her away,' he barked to no one in particular.

Two men stepped forward and reached for her

unceremoniously. She screamed. One smacked her hard

and she fell backward.

'Take her, dammit,' the Falcon cursed loudly.

'What must we do with her?' a bald-headed man

asked with a grin. That was Trevor, a rogue they had

picked up on the streets of London. A dangerous man.

Roberto knew him well, and the mere thought that

the woman was at his mercy was devastating. Roberto

looked at Pierre who stood there with clenched jaw. Both

men knew they could not help her.

'You can have her,' Falcon said ruefully and the

man's face contorted in an ugly grin. 'Thank you!'

It had to be one of the Falcon's favourites for him to

even give her a second glance. What she had done to

displease him they could only guess.

'No!' the woman screamed as he pulled her up by

her hair, threw her over his shoulder, and walked out. For a

while they could hear her begging, crying and screaming,

but without any help. Tomorrow she would most likely be

dead as the other man followed Trevor and the screaming

woman.

'Roberto, I trust you are well?' the Falcon said as he

stood before Roberto with a grin, scratching his chin.

'Yes, Falcon I am well,' Roberto replied, giving

away nothing of his feelings to Falcon.

'Pierre,' Falcon acknowledged him briefly.

'Falcon,' Pierre returned the greeting as Roberto

had.

'And have you brought me the ransom?' The

Falcon's dark eyes glimmering with satisfaction.

'Yes, Captain,' Roberto answered.

'Well let me hear all about it!' He wrapped an arm

around Roberto's neck and walked with him to the table. A

pitcher with wine and glasses awaited them and a servant

girl was already pouring it for them, hands shaking.

She received a slap from the Falcon and the pitcher

fell from her hand and broke on the floor. Wine sloshed

against his boots.

'Now look what you have done, you idiot woman.

Clean it up.' He screamed. She was on her knees with a

cloth in her hand that Roberto assumed was her skirt and

cleaned up the mess with the Falcon still smacking her over

the head.

Roberto balled his fist and tried to stand up but

Pierre stopped him and shook his head.

Roberto sat down and watched with growing hatred

the abuse to the young woman. She scampered away

through the door.

Pierre was right it was not time for any heroics. Not

yet.

'Well, tell, man! We are anxious to hear of your

travels.' The Falcon's second, Tiny Forehand, came and sat

next to him. Tiny was, as his name stated, tiny, but with a

sure hand that could impale a fly with one quick throw with

his daggers. He kept them stashed behind his back. He was

ruthless in his endeavours and vicious to any captive. If

they needed information from an informant he knew how to

get it out skilfully, meticulously and with bloody results.

'As expected, Cisco Almaida was not very pleased

with the ransom or the abduction,' Roberto began, 'but at

the end he released the ransom as requested.'

'And the daughter? Is she anything like Pedro said?'

'Yes.'
And more
. But that did he not disclose. The

Falcon's eyes peered in his for a long time and Roberto kept

his eyes unwavering on him. The young woman was back

with another pitcher. Before she could pour the contents

Roberto got up and took it from her.

'You were always too soft,' The Falcon said as he

watched the display. 'The woman needs to be put in her