Pirates and Prejudice (17 page)

She turned to
David. “It turns out that Captain Smith is not a pirate, not even a ship’s
captain. He is actually a slight acquaintance of ours.”

“Who?” both men
asked at once.

She turned to
her father. “You will find this difficult to believe.”

“Come, Lizzy,
pray tell! I am not getting any younger!”

“He is Mr.
Darcy,” she said softly, watching her father closely to gauge his reaction.

A smile formed
on one corner of his mouth, and he was soon laughing. “Certainly you jest,
Lizzy!”

“I do not, Papa,
but he does not wish for anyone else to know his real identity. He wishes to
speak with us in his quarters. I believe he will explain.”

David stepped up
alongside Elizabeth. “You are acquainted with Mr. Darcy? Of Pemberley?”

Elizabeth nodded.
“His friend leased a country home near ours last year, and we found ourselves
moving in the same circles.”

“Mr. Darcy?” he
asked again.

Elizabeth
stopped and faced him. “You seem more surprised that we are acquainted with Mr.
Darcy than you are that he was Captain Smith!”

“I confess that
I am equally astonished! Do you realize how sought after that man is? Both by
women who will do anything to secure his attention and by men who hope that
association with him will elevate their own status?”

“Well, he did
nothing to elevate our status, did he, Lizzy?” her father said.

Elizabeth stared
down at her feet as they walked the remaining distance to the captain’s
quarters. Her stomach felt as if it were tied in knots. If only her father
knew…

They reached the
captain’s quarters, and Mr. Bennet gave a few taps on the door.

Darcy opened it
and extended his hand. “Thank you for coming. Please come in and have a seat.”

The party
stepped in, and their eyes quickly scanned the room, admiring the fine wood,
bronze, plush rugs, and carpets.

“Quite
impressive!” David said.

“It is very
comfortable,” Darcy replied. “But please remember, it is not mine.”

“No, but it is
fine, just the same.” Mr. Bennet turned to look squarely at Darcy. “My Lizzy
has made a most astounding claim that you and Mr. Darcy are one and the same!
Could this possibly be true?”

Darcy nodded.
“It is as you say, Mr. Bennet.”

Mr. Bennet let
out a laugh. “My, this adventure gets more entertaining with each passing
hour!”

“I feel as
though I owe you an explanation, but I beg you, once you step from this room,
do not speak my real name. I would not want word of this reaching my sister
before I am able to see her in person.”

“We understand,
Mr. Darcy… Captain Smith,” Elizabeth said. She could barely bring herself to
meet his eyes.

Darcy took in a
deep breath and began. “There are two things I must explain. The first is why I
impersonated Lockerly the pirate, and the second, why I chose not to divulge my
true identity. I shall begin with the first.” Darcy’s hand went up, and he
fingered his beard. “I had, unfortunately, neglected my appearance for some
time and sequestered myself away from all that I held dear. I will not go into
the reasons for this; suffice to say that I wished to be invisible as I
stumbled through the streets of London, much like any other destitute
reprobate. I was in a deplorable state!”

Elizabeth’s brow
dipped in worry, and she chewed on her lip as she contemplated his words. She
wondered whether
she
may have been the cause of his anguish. Could her
refusal have affected him so profoundly? She had been certain that any regard
he might have still had for her after her refusal would be soon driven away.
Had she been wrong?

He went on to
tell them much of what he had already told her. Of course, she had not known at
the time his
true
identity, which added a whole new dimension to the
story.

He concluded
with how, when his ship encountered the merchant ship, he had to disclose to his
crew that he was not Lockerly, hoping they would continue to abide by his
directives. He was grateful that the men appeared willing to follow him whether
he was a pirate or just a ship’s captain. Thus they were able to drive off the
real Lockerly and his band of pirates and successfully rescue the captives.

Darcy clasped
his hands together and looked down at them. “And now for the reason I did not
wish my true identity to be known.” He took in a deep breath and shot a quick
glance at Elizabeth. “I did not want anyone on board to know who I was because
I am not particularly proud of how I neglected my person. I did not want those
dearest to me to ever find out about this. I am not proud of it, and I felt
that if anyone knew… if
you
knew… there would be a greater chance of
someone finding out.”

“Your secret is
safe with us!” David said.

“I am confident
of that, and I am most grateful.”

“We owe you so
much, Mr. Darcy,” David said. “I do not know what I would have done if
Elizabeth had not been saved.” He reached out and clasped Elizabeth’s hand.

Elizabeth saw
the twitch in Darcy’s brow before he stood up and walked to the door. “You owe
me nothing, Mr. Adams. Every one of the crew played a part. I only wish we had been
successful in capturing Lockerly.” He opened the door and stood to the side.
“If you would please excuse me, I need to attend to some matters and then
relieve Bellows at the helm.”

They stepped
out, and Darcy closed the door behind them. David and Mr. Bennet chatted
enthusiastically about such a novelty as encountering Mr. Darcy impersonating
both a pirate
and
a sea captain. Elizabeth, on the other hand, only felt
confused.

As they passed
her cabin, Elizabeth stopped, prompting David to turn and ask, “Elizabeth, are
you unwell?”

She nodded and
brought her hand up to her forehead. “I am tired and have a headache. If you
will excuse me, I think I will bid you both a good night.”

David squeezed
her hand. “You have had a more taxing adventure than either one of us.”

As Elizabeth
opened the door, David took a lit candle from the passageway. He handed it to
Elizabeth, saying, “Take this and light one of the candles in your cabin. Then
you can light the others as it gets darker.”

“Thank you,
David.”

He nodded. “Get
a good night’s sleep, Elizabeth. You probably need it. We shall see you in the
morning.”

“Thank you. Good
night. Good night, Papa.” She reached up and kissed her father on the cheek and
walked into the cabin, quickly shutting the door behind her. While she looked
with eagerness to a good, comfortable night’s sleep, she was also looking
forward to some time alone to contemplate all that had taken place the past two
days. Finding out that Captain Smith was actually Mr. Darcy was something that
had her completely unsettled!

Chapter 17

When Elizabeth closed the door, the single candle she
held cast a soft glow about the cabin. She was grateful no one else was there.
She hoped the ladies would remain with their husbands for a little while longer
to allow her some time to reflect on this startling revelation. She lit a wall
candle and then blew out the one in her hand.

She sat down on
the chair that was to be Mrs. Keller’s bed, leaning her head back and closing
her eyes. Suddenly images of Captain Smith – Mr. Darcy – were before her. She
heard his voice and saw the twinkle in his eyes. She remembered his kindness,
bravery, and occasional teasing manner.

She grabbed a
nearby pillow and wrapped her arms tightly about it. She felt her eyes pool
with tears. Since first suspecting the captain’s true identity, she had made
every effort to put on a calm – even smiling – face, but it was far from what
she felt on the inside.

A tear trickled
slowly down her cheek, and she drew a shaky breath as she buried her face in the
pillow.

Why had he not
entrusted her with the truth of his identity? She shook her head and narrowed
her eyes, as if that would help her understand. A few months ago he had
entrusted her with a troubling family secret regarding his sister’s near elopement
with George Wickham. Did he feel that he could no longer trust her?

Elizabeth let
out her breath in a long sigh. Just that morning he had held her close to him
as they flung across one boat to the other on a rope! As she thought about
being held so tightly by him, her head pounded with indignation, her mind
tossed about in confusion, her cheeks flamed with mortification, and… what was
it? She shivered as she contemplated this new sensation that coursed through
her at the mere thought. The tumult of all these emotions assaulted her, vying
for prominence.

Elizabeth
dropped to the floor, pulling a blanket over her as she curled up on the rug.
When she brought her head down to the pillow, an onslaught of tears trailed
down her cheek. A few found their way to her lips, and she tasted their
saltiness, much like the seas in which they sailed. She thought – as another
tear made its way to her lips – that the sea and her tears would from this day
forward be inextricably linked to Mr. Darcy.

*~*~*

Darcy returned to
the helm, adjuring Bellows to go below and get some rest.

“Ye ken’t git
rid of me without first telling me what happened with Miss Bennet. Did ye tell
’er during yer dance?”

“Tell her what?”
Darcy asked with a blank expression.

“Ye know exactly
what ye needed to tell ’er!” Bellows said, leaning in to him. Poking Darcy’s
chest, he said, “Did ye tell ’er that yer Mr. Darcy?”

Darcy sighed and
shook his head. “I had no need to. Miss Bennet had grown suspicious of who I
was and spoke to me by name when the dance ended.” Darcy raised a brow at
Bellows. “No thanks to
you
!”

“Me? I didn’t
tell ’er who ye was!”

“No, it was not
your fault. How were you to know that I once uttered those same words to her
that I did to you?”

“What words?”
Bellows asked.

“Disguise of every
sort is my abhorrence.”

Bellows eyes
widened, and he slowly nodded his head. “Aye! I told ’er ye said that.”

“Well, it
sparked her memory and gave rise to her suspicions. I have since spoken with not
only her, but Mr. Bennet and Mr. Adams, as well, telling them what happened,
and admonishing them not to divulge my identity. To them I shall still be
Captain Smith.”

“Well, I’m glad
to hear that. I shall go below an’ git some rest. It should be easy sailing.
The winds are mild, but the sails are catchin’ what little there is, movin’ the
ship steadily along. Jest keep us headin’ in this direction. Furl the sails an’
lay anchor when darkness falls. Call me if ye need me.”

“I will. My
thanks, Bellows.”

Darcy was
grateful for the time alone. He trusted that the men manning the sails were
fairly competent. Being at the helm would allow him time to think about the
past two days. He gripped the wheel as he wondered what Elizabeth thought,
knowing now that it had been him who had received her tender ministrations as
she nursed his wound, teased her, watched her unabashedly, brazenly flirted
with her… He shook his head. Yes, for him it had been brazen, as she had no
idea of his true identity or his intentions. The mere thought of holding her in
his arms powerfully stirred him.

He let out a
huff and gripped the wheel tightly as he recollected holding her close to him
as they swung from one ship to the other. He could not have done anything more
indulgent of his desires, and yet he had asked her to trust him. He had
convinced himself that no one else could be trusted to do it. Only he could do
it.

He jutted out
his jaw and fingered his beard as he considered his recent conduct. Elizabeth
would certainly have every reason
now
to accuse him of ungentleman-like
behaviour.

As his mind
turned over thought after thought and accusation after accusation, he noticed
Mr. Bennet walking up to the helm.

“Good evening,
Mr. Bennet,” Darcy said with a nod of his head.

“And a good evening
to you, too, Mr… Captain Smith!” Mr. Bennet raised a brow and then let out a
chuckle. “Not much of a wind, is there?”

“Not enough to
get us to St. Mary’s before dark. But we ought to arrive first thing in the
morning.”

“Good, good.”

“Mr. Bennet, do you
mind if I ask you something?”

“No, no! Go
right ahead!”

“I did not have
the opportunity to inquire of Miss Bennet, but I wondered how you came to be in
these seas? It is quite far from Hertfordshire.”

Mr. Bennet
braced his hands on his hips and looked out to the darkening skies. “My sister
lives on St. Mary’s, and we received word that she was in failing health. I
wished to visit her and brought Lizzy along. She is the most adventurous of my
daughters, and I must confess, my favourite.”

Darcy nodded his
head. “Yes, she is… adventurous, that is.”

“I know a father
ought not to have favourites among his children, but how can one not love her
wit, good sense, and liveliness?”

Mr. Bennet let
out a long sigh, which was echoed by Mr. Darcy.

“You know not
how distressed I was that something might have befallen her with those
pirates!” He turned to Darcy with eyes filled with intensity. “We owe you so
much, Mr. Dar…, Captain Smith. I shall always be grateful for the risk you took
to save my girl.”

“You owe me nothing,
Mr. Bennet.”

Mr. Bennet let
out a hearty laugh. “For that, I am thankful. I could never repay you what my
Lizzy’s safety is worth!”

“She is a
priceless jewel, I am certain.” Darcy took in a deep breath trying to calm
himself before asking the next question. “And Mr. Adams?” He thought he heard
his voice crack. “Does he reside on St. Mary’s?”

“David? No, he
is my cousin’s son. My sister and his mother were always very close cousins
and
friends. He was there visiting with his parents from Staffordshire, and I must
confess that he was quickly taken with Lizzy.”

Darcy kept his
eyes ahead, but his brows lowered. “And does she… return the affection?”

Mr. Bennet
laughed. “Oh, I think she likes him well enough. He’s returning with us to
Longbourn so they can further their acquaintance, and he can meet the rest of
our
esteemed
family.”

Darcy pursed his
lips together. His mouth went dry, and his thoughts whirled about in his head.

His reflections
were interrupted by Mr. Bennet, who turned to him with his arms folded across
his chest. “You asked me a question; now may I ask you one?”

Darcy raised a
brow and nodded. “You may.”

With a crooked
smile, Mr. Bennet scrutinized him from head to toe. “I wonder how you came to
find yourself in such a dire sea of neglect.” With a wave of his hand downward
he continued, “This all seems quite removed from the style of dress and
exacting neatness you exhibited in Hertfordshire. Pray, what possibly could
have wrought this change?”

Darcy’s cheek twitched,
and he brought his hand up to rub it, his fingers getting tangled in his coarse
beard. He studied Mr. Bennet’s face, wondering whether Elizabeth might have
told him about his proposal and her refusal. Judging by the man’s composed
deportment, he doubted she had. That made him wonder how he should answer him.

He gripped the
wheel and turned to look straight ahead. “I… I found myself in a rather trying
state. I was faced with some hard truths… about myself, in particular…” Darcy
let his voice trail off. Shaking his head, he said, “At length, I succumbed to
an excessive neglect of my person and an excessive attention to brandy.
Consequently, in the condition in which I found myself, I was mistaken for
Lockerly, and… you know the rest.”

“So it seems!” Mr.
Bennet laughed. “I still find it difficult when I look at you to find the man
we all knew in Hertfordshire.” He shook his head and put up his hand in a
slight wave as he turned. “I always enjoy a good laugh, Captain, and this shall
divert me for many years to come, I am certain.”

Darcy watched
the man as he walked down to the main deck chuckling all the way. He let out a
groan and looked down at his knuckles. They had turned white from tightly
gripping the wheel. “I doubt it shall do the same for me!”

As darkness
cloaked the ship, Darcy ordered the anchor to be dropped and sails to be
furled. It was a moonless night so all sailing would cease. The soft flicker
from candles in lanterns and the soft tossing of the ship was like a balm to
Darcy’s weary soul. He decided he would remain on deck as long as possible to
allow Bellows more rest.

Bellows returned
to the helm a few hours later. “I’m rested an’ ready to do yer biddin’, Cap’n.
I shall remain on watch through the night an’ bring us into port in the morn.”

“Thank you,
Bellows. “You are a good man, and I appreciate all the help you have been to
me.”

“Especially wi’
Miss Bennet?”

“No, not wi’
Miss Bennet!”

Bellows shook
his head. “I saw that all the passengers but her were in the dinin’ hall
enjoyin’ themselves. Mayhap she’s makin’ herself perty fer ye!”

“I think not,”
Darcy replied. He let out a huff as he considered she most likely retreated to
her cabin so she would not have to encounter him again. “Take the helm,
Bellows. If you need me – I doubt that you will – I shall be in my cabin.”

Darcy was
grateful to enter the sanctuary of his cabin where he could be alone with his
thoughts. In truth, he needed sleep, but he doubted his cabin would provide it.
The thought that Elizabeth was in the very next room caused his heart to beat
wildly. Wondering what she must be thinking of him made him shudder.

He lit a single
candle in a wall sconce, which barely illuminated the room. It flickered lazily
as the ship rose and fell on small waves and it gave the cabin – in all its
sinister opulence – a dreamlike feel. Unfortunately, it felt more like a
nightmare than anything else.

Darcy was
restless and could not sit, let alone try sleeping, so he began to pace the floor.
Earlier he had removed his sword and baldric and now flung off his vest. He
pulled the large white shirt from his breeches and unbuttoned it. He wished for
nothing more but to toss these clothes overboard! He greatly looked forward to
returning to some form of normalcy when he returned to London.

Darcy walked
over to a small wall mirror. He leaned into it and studied his dim reflection
as he fingered his beard. He wished his valet was on the ship and at the ready
to shave it off! He touched the bruise above his eye tenderly. A scar was
likely, and he knew that every time he would look upon it, it would be a
painful reminder that although he would have a part of Elizabeth with him
forever, he did not have her.

He collapsed
into the large chair at the desk. He had hoped that in agreeing to this scheme,
he would rid himself of all his feelings for her. Yet now, he seemed tied to
her forever. He closed his eyes and shook his head as it fell back.

Moments later –
at least he felt it was moments later, for he knew he had not fallen asleep –
he felt the odd sensation of being lifted up, followed immediately by suddenly
plunging down. The ship groaned and shuddered, and a thunderous crash sounded
above him on deck. He jumped up, reached instinctively for his sword, and
rushed out of his cabin.

*~*~*

Elizabeth had
heard Mr. Darcy come to his room and pace. She had tried futilely to keep her
thoughts at bay, but her mind replayed everything that had transpired the past
two days. She simply could not fathom why he would have agreed to such a scheme
as impersonating a pirate and why he did not choose to tell her who he was. But
an even greater mystery was why she had begun to have such ardent feelings for
this man. Mr. Darcy, of all people!