The Pirate's Willing Captive (11 page)

Maribel turned her head as Justin addressed her. ‘In a little while, perhaps.’ She was aware that Pike was watching her still and suppressed a desire to run away.

‘Has something upset you?’

‘No, no, I am not upset.’ She took a peach and bit into it. The flesh was perfectly ripe, sweet and delicious, and the juice ran over her chin. Before she could wipe it, Justin reached out and smoothed it away with his fingers. He ran his index finger over her lower lip and then put it to his mouth and sucked it, his eyes on her face. Maribel’s appetite fled once again and she could hardly swallow even the small piece of peach in her mouth. She took a deep breath, her voice shaking, ‘You must not worry about me, Sylvester. Please attend to your business. I am perfectly well.’

Justin’s eyes flashed. ‘I did not ask if you were ill. You are distressed. Was it something Pike said to you?’

‘No, of course not,’ Maribel said a little too quickly. ‘He merely asked if I wished for some suckling pig. I said no…’

His mouth tightened. ‘You must tell me if he accosts you, Maribel. I would kill him rather than let him sully you with his touch.’

‘No…please, do not kill anyone for my sake. I am certain he will not try to touch me; I shall stay out of his way. Please, mix with your men. I am certain you must have more important things to do.’

‘Nothing is more important to me than your safety.’ Justin reached out to touch her cheek, caressing it and trailing a finger down her throat to the little pulse spot at the base. She swallowed hard, because the look in his eyes set her pulses racing again. His gaze was full of meaning, conveying a message if only she knew what he meant. Perhaps she did and that was why her heart was thudding so violently. He had told her once that he wished for a mistress, not a wife—was he letting her know she was his choice? ‘I would kill anyone who tried to harm you. I shall keep you safe until you are with your family if it costs my life.’

Maribel caught her breath, for his voice throbbed with passion. She wished that they were alone at the house. Her body was aching for his touch. She wanted to tell him that she did not want him to fight for her; she wanted him to love her. The moment was broken by the sound of shouting on the beach. Justin turned to look. A fight had broken out, drawing a crowd to watch.

‘I must sort out these fools before they kill each other,’ he said grimly. ‘I shall tell Anna to come to you.’

‘No, let her have fun,’ Maribel said, but he did not answer her.

However, as he walked away, Peg came towards her. She smiled, feeling relief as the older woman joined her.

‘This is the first feast yer have attended,’ Peg said. ‘Do not be too alarmed, Maribel. Most of this is high spirits. The men will fight, but it is not often anyone is killed; they are like children at play.’

‘Children do not have knives.’

‘Perhaps not where you lived. On the streets of London children learn to defend themselves early. I carried a knife from the age of eight. Me parents died of the plague, but I survived. I had to steal to eat until I could find work—and the work I wus offered did not please me, for I would be no man’s whore. Later, I found work as a servant, but men would not leave me be. When one of them raped me I used me knife to good effect to defend meself—and yer know the rest.’

Maribel saw the defiance in her eyes, but felt only admiration for her courage. ‘Would you teach me how to protect myself, Peg?’

Peg’s eyes narrowed. ‘Yer have Captain Sylvester to protect yer. Besides, yer will not stay here long. Why should yer need a knife?’

‘I should feel safer. You know what happened when Pike first saw me. I do not think he has forgiven me. Captain Sylvester cannot always be with me. If I had a knife, I might stand a chance against him.’

‘Yer have spirit despite yer fine ways,’ Peg said and grinned. ‘Yer may be a lady, but I see no fool. I will come tomorrow and begin yer lessons—and I will bring yer a knife.’

‘Thank you. I have some money. I can pay for my knife.’

Peg gave her a look of reproof. ‘Have I asked for payment?’

‘No. Forgive me. I did not mean to offend you.’

‘No offence taken, luvvie.’ Peg grinned at her. ‘I
thought yer wus above yerself when yer first come to me, but I like yer. I wouldn’t show everyone me tricks, but I reckon I can teach yer to protect yerself from scum like that Pike. I seen him lookin’ at yer and I reckon he may try somethin’ if he gets the chance.’

‘Yes, I think he may,’ Maribel said. ‘I did not wish to say anything to Sylvester because I am enough trouble to him already, but that man frightens me. He is evil.’

‘Evil he is,’ Peg agreed, her eyes blazing, ‘but he bleeds like any man. If I show yer how to defend yourself, yer’ll be safe enough.’

‘Thank you.’ Maribel smiled. Someone had started to play a fiddle. The fighting had been stopped and men were dancing, some with their women and others together. ‘Do you wish to dance, Peg? You must not stay with me if you do.’

‘Aye, I’ll dance,’ Peg said and seized her hand. ‘And you’ll dance with me.’ She arched her brow as Maribel hung back. ‘Don’t tell me yer don’t know how ter dance?’

Maribel shook her head. Suddenly, she felt better. She was no longer the outsider, watching and feeling apart from the others. Peg was forcing her to join in the fun, and she discovered that she wanted to dance.

It was just a simple joining of hands. The dancers twirled, broke hands and then joined in a line skipping up to meet each other and then breaking off to dance with a partner once more. Maribel discovered that her partner was another woman instead of Peg, because everyone
was changing partners. Next she danced with a man who grinned at her, but held her respectfully, clearly remembering that she was Captain Sylvester’s woman. After that, she found herself being twirled by Tom and then she was back with Peg again. When she broke from the line again, her hands were taken firmly and she looked up into bold eyes that made her heart race.

‘I did not know you liked to dance, Maribel.’

‘You hardly know me, Captain,’ she replied and laughed softly. ‘We sometimes danced at home in the courtyard when the wine harvest was done. I enjoyed dancing in the sunshine with the people of the estate, but when my father held a banquet, Juanita and I did not dance, for he did not approve of it—though others did. My stepmother taught me even though my father would not allow it.’

‘Then dance with me, Maribel…like this…’

He pulled her into his arms, directing her body so that she felt as if she were floating, thistledown in his arms. The music had changed, was slower now, and when he twirled her round and round he did not let go of her hand. Others swapped partners, but he kept her with him, gazing into her eyes as they moved.

Maribel hardly noticed they had moved away from the throng of dancers. When he took her hand and led her along the sandy beach her heart was racing, her breast heaving as she caught her breath. What was this feeling between them? Was it only physical passion, the need for release—or was it something more? Maribel felt that she was being drawn into a net from which she
could never escape; her heart told her that this was love—but she was afraid that it was only on her side. Justin desired her and he was both generous and kind—but she wanted so much more.

‘Are you feeling better now?’ he asked, gazing down at her in such a way that she swayed towards him, wanting to be back in his arms, wanting to be kissed. ‘I could not resist when I saw you dancing. You seemed to be so happy…’

‘I was—I am happy,’ she breathed. ‘I am looking forward to seeing the other side of the island, away from—’ She broke off as his eyes narrowed. ‘Forgive me, I do not mean to criticise your men, but there is a wilder element amongst the pirates. I do not like men like Captain Pike.’

‘Well, you need not fear him while I am with you. Besides, I believe he means to leave soon. He had little luck last time out and needs to find a good prize.’

‘It would be a better place without his sort,’ Maribel said. ‘Though I have found friends. Peg is a friend. I like her.’

‘You know that she was convicted of murder and should have hanged had she not escaped?’

‘Yes—but she took revenge for what was done to her. I cannot blame her.’

‘Yet some would say that murder is wrong even if the cause be just.’ Justin’s expression was serious. ‘I shall return you to Anna. Higgins will take you back to the house. The serious business is about to begin and there may some fighting as the men drink too much.’

‘Yes, we shall leave you to your business.’

Maribel walked away from him to join Anna and Higgins. She had thought as they danced that Justin wanted to make love to her. If he had taken her in his arms and kissed her she would not have denied him, but she had spoken of wanting to see the other side of the island and the spell had been broken.

Justin was keeping his promise not to take advantage of her while she was under his protection. Maribel knew that if she wanted him to make love to her she would have to show him that she was willing to be his.

While a part of her longed for it, her pride ruled her head. To become his woman meant that she could never return to her own world. If he loved her she would give it all up willingly, but she was not sure he felt more than a fleeting desire—and that was not enough for her. She wanted, needed to be loved. There was a lonely place inside her that only love could ease.

He had told her that he could not return to England for he might be hanged as a mutineer. Maribel would be willing to sail with him—or settle in another country if he truly cared for her. She was not sure she wished to be a lady again. The life she had found here was a fulfilling one. She enjoyed helping to prepare the food and other small chores that Anna allowed her to do. Perhaps the life of a country gentlewoman would suit her, with a maid to help her. Juanita had delighted in her stillroom and Maribel had found it interesting to help with the preserves and cures they made from herbs.

To be a fine lady and sit all day at her sewing would
not suit her. It was the life she would have had as the wife of Lord Roberts and perhaps in the house of her mother’s kin. Surely there must be another way to live, something more worthwhile?

Here on the island she would always have to be on her guard, but a simple country life mixing with honest folk would be so much more satisfying than the life of a grand lady.

Maribel shook her head, smiling at her foolish thoughts. Captain Sylvester might want her, but he would not be prepared to give up his way of life at sea to pander to her foolish whims. His was a precarious trade but it brought him great wealth. The money he must earn from preying on merchant ships would be far more than he could expect from the existence of a simple farmer.

Her thoughts were nonsense! She must accept what the future had in store for her. She would be restored to her mother’s family and then…her thoughts refused to think further; it seemed like a dark tunnel that she must follow with no turning or reward.

How much better it would be if she were like Anna, free to give her heart to a pirate and think nothing of it. Anna was prepared to live on the island and mix with the rough seamen that lived and visited here. Maribel did not think that she could settle for such a life, even though she longed to be with Justin.

She did not even know his true name! Maribel was restless as she lay in her bed that night. Who was he truly? What was his family like and how did they feel
about his disappearance? Did they have any idea of what he had become?

It was very late when she heard him come in. His footsteps paused outside her door and her heart raced as she heard the sound of his hand upon the latch. The door was locked. She had turned the key as a precaution lest Pike should attempt to get into her room while Justin was occupied elsewhere. Now she wished that she had left it unlocked.

Would Justin have come to her? Would he have woken her, taken her in his arms to love her?

Her body cried out for him and she longed to feel his arms about her. Had she been less proud she would have left her bed and gone to him, but years of strict upbringing would not allow her to offer herself to a man.

If he loved her, surely he would speak? Maribel longed for him to give her a sign that he cared even a little for her, but her head told her that she could never expect him to love her.

* * *

It was no good, she could not sleep. The night was too warm and her mind would not let her rest. Getting out of her bed, Maribel pulled a thin wrap over her night-chemise and went through to the living room. It was still stuffy and warm in here so she unlocked the door and went down the little steps leading to the veranda.

The moon was full, making Maribel feel lonely. She walked a few steps to a position where she could see out over the cliffs to the ocean below. At night it looked
dark and mysterious, the water strangely calm, unmoving. She sighed deeply for she longed for something…something she could not name.

‘What are you doing out here at night?’

Startled, Maribel turned to face Justin. He was wearing just his breeches. His feet were bare and he had not put on his shirt. She could see a trickle of sweat running over his bare chest and guessed that he too had been unable to sleep.

‘I could not rest. It is so hot and…I was thinking…’

‘I often come out at night to think. The air is cooler and things seem simpler.’

‘You must have many problems…regrets?’ Maribel looked at him. ‘You told me that you could not return home—do you miss your family?’

‘I think of them sometimes. I know my mother must miss me.’

‘Do you have brothers or sisters?’

‘I had a younger brother, but he died when he was but a child.’

‘Then your mother must miss you terribly.’

‘Perhaps.’ Justin frowned. ‘Did you have no brothers or sisters?’

‘My mother died giving birth to a stillborn child, at least that is what I have been told—but my father never spoke of her. I think they quarrelled.’ She sighed deeply and turned away to look out over the sea.

‘Were you sighing because you wished yourself at home?’