The Sea Hawk (10 page)

She managed to work the palms of her hands flat against the wall and willed all of her strength into her arms, shoving her body backward. The man seemed surprised at her strength and released her for a second. She turned toward him, prepared to defend herself any way she could. "Jean-Claude!" she hissed before he pushed her back against the wall and covered her mouth again, intent on what he wanted from her. She pushed against him, but he wrapped a long arm around her to pin her arms. Now in the dim light she saw the leer on his face as he pressed against her again.

As she began to turn her head to escape the smell of his heavy breath, she saw the smile vanish from his face and felt his grasp on her weaken. Her eyes round, she saw a surprised look in his eyes as he took a step back. Then she watched as his body collapsed to the floor of the passageway. Breathing hard she saw a tall figure standing where Jean-Claude had been moments before. The figure shifted slightly and Simone's face, still partially cloaked in shadow, came into view. An arm reached out and guided Julia away from the body lying on the floor between them. Pulling herself into the safety of Simone's body, Julia wrapped her arms around the solid figure and breathed deeply to calm her racing heart. The deeper she breathed, the more her lungs filled with Simone's scent, musky and as cleansing as the sea air itself. A hand tentatively stroked through Julia's hair before making its way around her shoulders. Julia clung to her unable, or unwilling, to break the contact between them for several moments.

"Are you injured?" Simone finally asked. She wanted to bury her face in Julia's hair. Now that the distance between them was gone, the smell of the smaller woman imprinted itself in her mind.

"No," Julia answered, her face pressed against Simone's shoulder. Turning her head to glance at the body, she said, "I just met him a few hours ago."

"You are a beautiful woman. For some men nothing more is necessary."

Julia looked up at Simone and started to say something as their eyes met, but couldn't. Stepping away from her, Simone said, "Come. Joaquin insisted I save some food for you."

Escorting Julia onto the main deck, Simone stopped and looked around. "Henri! There is trash in the passageway. See that it is removed," she ordered.

Archambault nodded as Simone guided the English woman toward her cabin. Signaling two crewmen to follow him, he made his way toward the ladder leading into the second deck.

Inside her cabin, Simone pulled a chair away from the table and motioned Julia to be seated. She pushed a plate full of bread, cheeses, and fruit in front of her, poured two glasses of a rich burgundy and took a seat across the table from her guest.

"You have my apologies for the behavior of my crewman,
Mademoiselle
," Simone said as she brought the glass to her lips.

Julia picked up the wine glass and gulped down half its contents before lowering the glass. "Thank you, Captain," she said as she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. "However, although I am hungry, I'm not sure my stomach would tolerate food right now."

"You cannot allow the actions of a fool to prevent you from eating. The cheese is quite mild, I assure you."

"Where is your friend?" Julia asked as she glanced around the cabin, nibbling at a small wedge of cheese.

"Which friend is that?"

"I don't know her name."

"Ah. Esperanza. She is making Joaquin ready for bed. She will return later."

"She's a striking woman," Julia said in an attempt at small talk.

"Yes, she is."

"Is she...are you and she..." Julia couldn't find a graceful way to ask what she wanted to know.

"Is Esperanza my lover? Is that what you wish to ask?" Simone smiled benignly.

Julia felt her body stiffen. "Your personal life certainly is none of my business, Captain."

"Esperanza is my...companion. I care for her and Joaquin very much."

"And Joaquin is her son?"

"
Oui
. I wish to thank you again for spending time with the boy. He rarely has the opportunity to meet someone new and has learned much from you in the short time you have been with us."

"Is his father a member of your crew?"

Laughing lightly, Simone shook her head. "I know nothing of his father except I am quite certain Esperanza killed him."

Simone seemed amused by the startled look on Julia's face. "Esperanza was the property of a plantation owner on one of the islands. Joaquin is the son of the plantation owner's brother. When I brought them to live aboard
Le Faucon de Mer
, Joaquin was nearly five-years-old already. Esperanza is of mixed blood, as is her son. But that is enough to make them slaves in your country and many other places. It is an abominable institution. The only good thing the British have ever done is to outlaw it."

"She does not seem to spend much time with her son." Occasionally observing Joaquin and his mother interact from a distance Julia wasn't able to see much affection between them.

"He is the product of an unwanted liaison. She provides for him."

"He seems much closer to you," Julia commented.

"He is the son I will never have. He is aware of the circumstances of his creation."

"It all seems rather depressing."

"Life is what it is,
Mademoiselle
. No one can predict what the future holds for each of us. We make our way through what we call life the best way we can. More than that we cannot dream of."

"Why do you do this? Sail around with no purpose, attacking other ships?"

"I have a purpose, but it is mine alone. If others choose to follow me that is their choice."

"You could have decided to put me on one of the long boats with the others."

"That is true." Julia watched as Simone held her glass up to the light and observed the color and clearness of her wine.

"Why didn't you?"

Cocking her head slightly, Simone shrugged. "I cannot say. It was an irrational decision made on the spur of the moment."

"Well," Julia smiled, "we all make irrational decisions from time to time."

Their conversation was interrupted as the cabin door opened and Esperanza stepped inside. Glancing from Simone to Julia, she asked, "Am I interrupting?"

"Of course not, my dear." Simone smiled at the woman and motioned her closer. Esperanza bent down and kissed Simone lightly. "
Mademoiselle
Blanchard had an unpleasant experience and I offered her something to eat."

Julia felt self-conscious in the presence of the two women and stood. "If you will excuse me, Captain. I am a little tired." A glance at Esperanza caused Julia to hope she could find some way to lock the door to her small cabin.

Rising and hugging Esperanza, Simone said, "I shall return in a moment,
cheri
." Crossing the cabin in long strides, Simone opened the door for Julia.

"It is not necessary for you to escort me to my cabin, Captain."

"It would be my honor,
Mademoiselle
." As Julia passed by her, Simone's hand came to rest on the small of her back.

Simone stopped before they reached the ladder to the second deck. Looking around briefly until she saw her second in command, she asked, "Has the problem

been taken care of?"

"The trash has been removed,
Faucon
," he replied.

"Thank you, Henri." Pressing lightly on Julia's back, Simone went down the ladder and took Julia's hand to assist her in the darkness. The passageway showed no sign that a man died there less than an hour before. As Julia reached her cabin she stopped and spun around, almost running into Simone. "I...I am sorry that my presence has led to the death of your crewman."

"He made a decision and it turned out poorly for him. You were not to blame." Unexpectedly Simone bent slightly and kissed Julia on both cheeks. "Rest well,
Mademoiselle
."

"Thank you," Julia barely managed to say as Simone reached around her and opened the door to the cabin, brushing lightly against her. Julia's breathing stopped as Simone's face passed close to hers and their eyes met. As soon as she entered the room and closed the door behind her, Julia leaned back against it. Simone's rich bay rum scent still lingering in her mind, her cheeks burning where Simone's lips touched her.
Shit!
In another time and place she would have gladly invited the sultry woman to join her in the cabin. Or perhaps in my bed, she thought and then blushed at the idea.

Chapter Seven

A LITTLE MORE than a week passed before
Le Faucon
sailed around the southern point of the island of Martinique and made anchor in a cove on the eastern shore of the island. A cheer went up from the crewmen and Julia watched as Joaquin stood in front of Simone while she piloted the ship into a small cove. The captain ordered the anchor dropped when the crew lowered the last sails. Seeing Julia observing them, Joaquin waved and said something to Simone, who nodded and smiled at Julia. Joaquin ran down the steps and came to a breathless stop in front of Julia. She heard Simone issue orders to make the long boats ready. Moments later, Esperanza mounted the steps to stand beside Simone, wrapping an arm around her waist and pointing to something on shore.

"Look!" Joaquin said as he jumped onto the bottom rail surrounding the deck.

Julia shielded her eyes from the sun and wished again she had her Ray-Bans. "What is it, Joaquin?"

"
Les chevaux
," he smiled up at her.

Julia watched a small group of men lead six magnificent horses onto the sandy beach. The animals appeared to be high spirited, prancing in the sand along the shoreline as if they, too, were excited by the sight of the returning ship. Julia was startled as Simone brushed past her and climbed over the railing. She dropped into one of the long boats and waited to help Esperanza and Joaquin aboard the boat. Looking up, she motioned to Julia to climb down. She looked hesitantly at Kitty.

"Go on, Julia," Kitty smiled. "I will be on the next boat with Anton."

Julia looked at the Irish woman curiously. The maid had disappeared several times during the voyage to Martinique and Julia had seen her walking on deck with Anton many evenings. Swinging a leg over the railing, Julia clung tightly to the netting and made her way toward the boat below. Near the bottom, strong hands on her waist lifted her down the final two or three feet. As soon as she sat, two crewmen began rowing away from the brig. Julia would be glad to finally feel firm ground beneath her once again. When the long boat was nearly to shore, Simone left it, dropping into water nearly to her waist and with powerful steps pushed through the water. As the crewmen jumped from the boat to pull it on shore, Julia watched the captain stride to the horses and embrace each one affectionately. Laughing, she grabbed the mane of a dark chestnut and pulled herself onto its broad back. The horse reared and danced around. Julia smiled at the sheer joy on the usually taciturn woman's face. Bringing the large animal under control, she turned it toward the boats. Kicking it soundly in the side, the horse leaped forward and began to close the distance. "Joaquin!" she called out.

The boy turned and saw Simone and the horse rapidly approaching and ran farther onto the beach into their path. Julia reached out to stop him, but Esperanza grabbed her arm. "No," she said calmly. Joaquin turned his body sideways and held up his right arm. Simone guided the horse, still running, near the boy and at the last moment reached down with her left arm and easily swung him behind her on the horse. They raced down the beach through the surf. It was a spectacular sight. There was no doubt in Julia's mind the bond between the privateer and the boy was a strong one, based on unquestioning trust.

Within an hour everyone except a few crew members was ashore. Simone made relief assignments to allow everyone an equal amount of time off the ship. Members of Simone's household staff loaded horse drawn carts while everyone else followed.

Joaquin claimed a horse immediately and shared it with Esperanza while Anton rode with Kitty sitting comfortably in front of him. As Julia brushed sand from her hands, a shadow fell over her and she looked up to see Simone extending a hand down to her. With a wary glance at Esperanza, a gesture not missed by Simone, Julia hesitated to take the hand.

"You may walk if you are too stubborn to accept my offer," Simone said.

Julia climbed onto the prow of the long boat and waited for Simone to guide her horse closer. Taking her hand, Simone scooted back slightly and pulled her onto the horse's back in front of her. As she settled herself, Julia's arm brushed lightly against Simone's breasts. She could feel the nipples react and a blush made its way up her neck. "I'm sorry," she barely managed.

"Why should you be sorry if I am not?" Simone rasped in a low voice, her mouth close to Julia's ear. The blush spread quickly to Julia's cheeks. Holding Julia securely, Simone laughed and urged her mount forward at a leisurely pace.

The island was lush and green. Colorful red and yellow birds flew through the trees and small waterfalls fell from walls of flowering vines to make their way down the hillsides toward the ocean. Julia relaxed against Simone as they climbed away from the beach. Periodically Simone shifted her weight, bringing her body into closer contact with Julia's. Simone drew her horse to a stop as they topped the hill overlooking the cove. She took in the view of the ocean while they waited for the others to catch up.

"It is magnificent," Julia breathed. At their leisurely pace she didn't realize how high they were climbing.
Le Faucon de Mer
looked much smaller and the changing color of the water as it extended away from shore was a panoply of blues and greens.

"This is my favorite view. It is nearly as beautiful as the water surrounding Montserrat."

"Montserrat? Joaquin told me that was your family's home."

"
Oui
. When my family was driven from the island by the British, I came here."

"Is that why you hate the British so?" Julia asked, turning toward Simone. Her face was much closer to Simone's than she anticipated and she swallowed hard as she watched Simone's lips quirk into a slight smile.