The Pirate's Willing Captive (22 page)

If it had not been for that damned pirate, Maribel would already be his to do with as he wished—and it would give Samuel pleasure to tame the vixen. Once he had her she would soon learn to know her master!

He was determined to have her, and he craved revenge on the man who had stolen her from him twice. He had tried persuasion, but now he must resort to cunning and force. Maribel was safe while she remained inside her uncle’s house. Samuel must find a way of enticing her to leave it. He knew that she did not walk out alone as she had sometimes at her home in Spain, but she must long to walk on the beach when the weather was fine. If she thought that she was coming to meet that damned pirate, she might disobey her uncle and slip out alone.

On his ship with his crew to protect him, Devere was impossible to beat, but if he had been in London, as Michael Fildene had obligingly revealed when they were talking before the girl made her appearance, it should be possible to set a trap for him. He was travelling alone and might not be on his guard in his eagerness to claim his bride.

* * *

Justin decided that he would stop at the inn he had stayed at before when making his way to London. He could not hope to reach Maribel before nightfall and it was best to avoid the roads at night; a man travelling alone was easy prey for the bands of beggars and rogues who haunted the roads.

After his audience with the Queen, he had stayed in London only long enough to buy gifts for Maribel, most of which he had had sent to his father’s house, along with other things he needed. It was Justin’s intention to take Maribel to visit his mother. If his father would receive him, he would visit with his parents until he could find an estate he thought worthy of his wife. If not…perhaps he would take her to court, where he was certain she would be welcomed.

He was still surprised to find himself being addressed as Sir Justin, but did not imagine that a knighthood would weigh with his father. John Devere would not change his mind simply because the Queen chose to find his son’s adventures worthy of honour.

At least he could hold his head up high, Justin thought as he dismounted and gave his horse to a groom. In the morning he would speak to Maribel’s uncle and ask for her hand.

He was crossing the yard to the inn when he heard something behind him and whirled round. Seeing the three rogues advancing on him, Justin drew his sword. By the look of their faces they were out for more than the gold he carried and he was immediately
wary. Once before he had been caught in a trap, his attention on the rogues who were attacking him from the front while another attacked him from behind. It would not happen this time. He gave a low piercing whistle and suddenly men came running towards him from the shadows—several more than he had expected.

‘Higgins?’

‘You sent word to meet you here, Cap’n. I brought a few of the men with me just in case.’

Justin smiled in the gloom. ‘I applaud your caution, my friend. We’ll make short work of these rogues between us.’ He brandished his sword in anticipation. One of the would-be assassins pointed a pistol at Justin, but before he could press the trigger a knife thudded into his chest and the shot went wide. Seeing they were outnumbered, the two men who had threatened Justin disappeared into the shadows and a third man watching at a distance scowled and melted away.

‘What made you think an attack might take place here?’ Higgins asked as a couple of shots were fired after the fleeing rogues.

‘As soon as you sent me word that Hynes had been seen lingering in the vicinity I suspected that he would try something. He could not know when I left London, unless he had someone watching me, and I had not noticed anything unusual; therefore, it was likely he would try to surprise me when I stopped at the inn. He may have men watching for me at various inns, but if he made enquiries he could have learned that I stopped
here before.’ Justin’s brow furrowed. ‘Is my lady safe? He has not tried to harm her?’

‘Hynes made some attempt to persuade her to let him take her to his father. Anna told me there was some tale of Sabatini being ill and wanting to make amends. When her uncle left her alone with him, he tried to force her and was caught out. Fildene is no fool, but…’ Higgins looked awkward. ‘Anna says that he means to question you about your plans before he will permit the wedding. He will not have his niece marry a pirate.’

‘Nor would I expect his blessing if that were the case. I believe he will be satisfied. Her Majesty hath seen fit to bestow a knighthood on me and I intend to take my bride to my father’s house until I can find an estate fitting for her.’

‘I am glad that the Queen pardoned you.’ Higgins gave him a hard look. ‘What of the rest of us? Are we to receive the royal pardon too?’

‘You are all pardoned for the mutiny and Captain Smythe has lost his master’s ticket. Her Majesty is willing to grant me letters of marque so that we could sail as privateers if we wished. She told me in confidence that she fears Spain; if that country grows too powerful, its king may cast covetous eyes on England’s throne, and, as is well known, the Portuguese merchants will not share the secrets of their trading with the exotic lands of the east.’

‘Rich pickings for the taking…’ Higgins nodded his understanding for the Portuguese were the envy of other nations who craved a share of their special trading
agreements. ‘But’ tis not your intention to sail under licence to the Crown, is it?

‘No. I could not ask Maribel to share life on board a privateer. I must make a home for her. She is a lady and deserves to be treated as such.’

Higgins looked thoughtful. ‘Me and Anna—we have thought of settling down. We had thought of a trading post on the island, but…’ He rubbed the bridge of his nose. ‘I have been talking to some folk who think of sailing to the New World.’

‘The Spanish grow wealthy on silver and gold stolen from the Incas and other tribes, but you could not compete with them.’

‘It is not of gold or silver taken from the earth that these men dream, but of freedom and the wealth of the soil. They say that there are great forests where the game is so plentiful that a man would never starve. They talk of a settlement where they can build new lives for themselves, unhampered by old prejudices and unfair laws—a land where all men are equal and all can work to earn their fortunes.’

‘Do you believe such ideals are possible?’ Justin asked doubtfully.

‘I may be pardoned for the mutiny, but there are men in England with long memories. I could be hanged for stealing a loaf of bread. I might be arrested for speaking out of turn to an aristocrat. I am thinking of buying a cargo and sailing for the New World. I know that there are men who sailed under you who have thought of it too. If men are to settle there, they will
need ships to supply them with the goods they cannot provide for themselves.’

‘What would you do—set up a trading post?’

‘Aye, I’ve thought of it, but I’ll need a regular supply, someone I can rely on to replenish my stocks once they have gone. I don’t know what you have in mind for the
Defiance.
There’s the
Mistress Susanna,
too—though that was promised to the men.’

‘I might pay its price myself, but I am not yet certain of my plans.’ Justin was thoughtful as they went into the inn together. ‘I had thought to become a merchant adventurer when I was no longer a pirate, but things have changed. Give me a few days to think this over and I will give you my answer.’

‘It will take me a week or two to get a cargo together. I’ve been asking what kind of things will be needed. For a start it will be tools and seed that are most wanted, but the settlers will no doubt take those things with them. I was thinking of other stuff: lamps and crockery, material for women to make new gowns and shirts for their menfolk.’

‘You will make a fine shopkeeper,’ Justin said and chuckled, clapping him on the back. ‘I thank you for coming to my rescue this evening. I shall give your ideas some thought, but for the moment there is still the problem of Samuel Hynes. His first attempt to have me killed has failed, but there will no doubt be others.’

* * *

‘Why are you looking so upset, Aunt?’ Maribel asked as she walked into the parlour and found Lady
Fildene sitting over her needlework, tears trickling down her cheeks. ‘Has something happened to distress you?’

‘Michael has been telling his father that he would like to join some men who are making plans to sail for the New World. Sir Henry says that we must not hold him if he wishes to go; it is an adventure and he is a young man—but I had hoped he would marry and live here with us. His father had thought he would take over much of the business.’

‘I am sorry. You will miss him if he goes,’ Maribel said. ‘But you have other sons who—’ She broke off as the door opened and a maid entered carrying a small tray on which lay a small piece of parchment. She offered it to Maribel, who took it and saw her name inscribed. It had been folded and sealed with wax, but there was no insignia to indicate who had sent it. ‘Who gave you this, Jess?’

‘A young lad brought it, mistress. He said it was for you and that his master would be waiting for your answer.’

Maribel broke the seal and gave a little cry of pleasure. ‘It is from Justin. He says that he will be here later today. He asks that I will meet him on the beach because he wishes to talk to me alone.’

‘Show me…’ Lady Fildene held out her hand and Maribel gave it to her. ‘Is this Captain Devere’s hand? Are you sure it came from him?’

‘I do not think I have seen Justin’s writing before this,’ Maribel said and looked at her aunt. ‘Do you think it could be a trap?’

‘Is this the kind of thing your betrothed would ask you to do? I think it most improper for you to meet any man alone on a beach.’

‘I do not know…’ Maribel wrinkled her brow in thought. She was remembering the walks they had taken together on a beach, and the way Justin had kissed her. He might long to hold her in his arms and feel that he needed to be sure of her love after whatever had happened to him. ‘Justin might wish to be alone with me before he spoke to my uncle. Yet I am not sure. I think I must show this letter to Uncle Henry.’

‘Yes, my dear. That would be the best—ask your uncle what you should do.’

‘I shall go and find him now.’ She hesitated, then, ‘You should not cry, dearest Aunt. If Michael understood how you felt, I am sure he would not leave you.’

‘But he must not know,’ the loving mother said at once. ‘You must not tell him, Maribel. If it is his wish, I shall not stand in his way.’

Maribel inclined her head. Her aunt was so generous and she was sorry that her son seemed likely to leave his home. An adventure such as Michael was about to undertake must be fraught with danger—but it would be exciting. To begin a new life in a land where all were equal, valued for their contribution to the community rather than their birth. It was an interesting thought, but she pushed it from her mind as she went in search of her uncle. However, she was told that Sir Henry had gone out on business and would not be back until later that afternoon.

Maribel returned to her own chamber. As the sun began to move round the sky and the time for the meeting with Justin drew nearer she felt restless, unable to settle to her needlework. It was a fine day and Justin might be waiting for her on the beach, wondering where she was and thinking that she no longer loved him. Yet it might be a trap…

Making up her mind, Maribel found a light cape to wear over her gown. She would go down to the beach, but she would not go unprepared. She took out the knife Peg had given her on the island. If the note had come from Samuel Hynes, she would not be as weak and defenceless as she had been once before.

* * *

‘You had my letter?’ Justin asked as he was shown into Sir Henry’s counting room. A large table was spread with ledgers and small piles of coin and talents were set out in readiness. ‘Forgive me. I was told you were here, but I see you are busy.’

‘My steward has made a reckoning of the rents and monies owed for this past month, but we are almost finished now. My servants and labourers will be coming for their pay at any moment but the steward will manage without me. Walk with me, sir. I would talk to you alone. I believe you bring good news with you?’

‘Yes, the news is better than I had hoped, sir. I wished to talk to you…to tell you of my plans. Now that her Majesty has seen fit to give me a knighthood I mean to retire from the sea, but I may carry on trading. I have
a fine ship and I am looking for a captain to sail it to the New World for me.’

‘Indeed, that is interesting,’ Sir Henry said. ‘You must meet my son Michael—you may have something in common. You have answered my most pressing question, for I did not think I could allow Maribel to marry a pirate—or even a privateer. She is my sister’s only child and has become a daughter to us. I want to be sure that she will be happy.’

‘It is my chief concern.’ Justin inclined his head. ‘I have fortune enough to provide a good home for Maribel, to give her the life she is entitled to expect. I have always known that I could not wed her and continue the life I led before.’

‘Then we are in agreement.’ Sir Henry smiled. ‘I know she has been waiting anxiously for your return and I think we should not keep her waiting a moment longer…but there is something else I must tell you. I have received news of Maribel’s father. If it is true, he was taken ill of a seizure after a quarrel with someone and has since died—’ He broke off as he saw his wife coming towards them. ‘Lady Fildene, my dear. Sir Justin hath come to claim Maribel and I have given him my blessing.’

‘Then why have I just seen her leaving the house alone?’ Lady Fildene looked alarmed. ‘This morning she received a letter that was supposed to have come from Captain Devere. I warned her that it might be a trap and she said she would ask you what she ought to do, Henry—did she not come to you?’

‘I have been out all morning on business. What did this note say?’

‘It asked her to meet Captain Devere on the beach…’

‘Samuel Hynes! He tried to have me killed. When the attempt failed he thought he would abduct Maribel instead!’ Justin cursed and turned on his heel. ‘I must go.’