Author's Notes: This had been in the works for a LONG time and I've just recently gotten around to getting it ready to post. I do have quite a few first drafts of other chapters written but with school and work both just starting I don't know how often I'll be able to get one ready to post.
But I love Captain Gold and I can't wait to share him with you all! :) I hope you all love him as much as I do.
—
Soft music cut through the warm Caribbean air coming from the open glass doors that lead out onto the extensive outdoor terrace were Belle Laurent now stood, catching her breath. Letting a soft smile cross her lips she closed her eyes and listened, slightly swaying in time and imaging the dancing that was taking place inside. Not that she wasn't fond of dancing, but she had been twirled around by several suitors over the past few hours and either they had never been properly taught how to dance or they had a natural inability to do so properly. More than seven times had her feet been trodden upon but her partner and she was quite sure there would be a bruise or two forming on her legs where they had ran into her or scuffed her in some other way.
Turning back around to look into the grand ballroom she took in the soft light spilling from the doors and watched the countless couples all matching their moves in an elegant dance and she smiled. Gathering the skirt of her golden gown in her hands she sat down on the banister not far from the stairs leading down to the ground level of her home. Looking back into the ball she sat thinking. This was all for her, she knew, though her father would never outright say it was. She needed to be married soon and balls were the best way to become acquainted with suitors. Of course, on the islands this was a much bigger deal as attendance often required travel. Marrying would take the burden of her expenses from her parents and let them devote the money to Alexandria, her little sister, whose health was getting worse.
After a few moments of her silent reprieve she thought it best that she returned to the ball and made her presence known. With ease she was on her feet and gliding back towards the open doors, reaching them and pausing just beyond the threshold one last time. It was then, in that moment's hesitation, that she heard the footsteps behind her.
A man with piercing brown eyes came to a slow stop at the top of the stairs. His deep red coat was trimmed in gold and tailored perfectly to fit his slight but muscular frame, the collar high around his neck. At his side hung an elegant sword, and taking into account he was some years her senior, most likely indicating some sort of high official standing with the navy or royal guards. The deep black of his pants matched that of his knee high boots and the shade of his hat. Trimmed in gold as well, the hat had a large brim that was folded up on one side, a single large plume of ruby red feather pinned there and escaping out the back, the brown hair underneath long but tied back at the nape of his neck. With a playful half smile and gleam in his eye he inclined his head, bowing to her. She returned the gesture, turning to face him and giving a graceful curtsy.
With an elegant wave of his hand he gestured inside. "Might I have this dance, Madam?" To Belle's surprise he talked with an accent she assumed was Scottish.
"You may, Sir." Belle inclined her head and offered her hand to him.
Quietly he took the offered hand and led her out into the center of the ballroom, facing her and falling into step with the other couples around them. Just a few steps into the dance Belle found he was by far the best dancer she had encountered all night, though she thought she caught a catch in his step now and then. Suddenly, after only a few moments, the music trailed off signaling the end of a dance and permission to seek another partner.
With wonder Belle stared at the man as he dropped her hand and prepared to make his goodbye. As he bowed over her hand she caught a glance of a man making his way towards her and she groaned. She knew him well and had danced with him twice already tonight. He seemed quite smitten with Belle though she entirely disliked the man at no fault of his own other than she found his interests exceedingly dull and mundane. It also seemed that if her father had his way, she would be married to him before the year was out.
"Oh. That was entirely too short to be counted as a full dance, which is what I believe I agreed to. Another, then, Sir? It's only fair." She didn't know this strange man with her now but she hopped his company was better than the other man who was fast approaching.
"Aye, dearie. Another then." He smiled pleasantly at her and took up her hand, standing in wait for the next song to start.
Belle saw the other man, Gaston was his name she recalled, take note of this and his face dropped. In the next instance another waltz started, this one much slower and more refined, the movements more elegant and more difficult, yet again her strange partner seemed a master of the dance and this time she knew she saw his one knee catch, though he hid it well.
"Might I know your name, Sir?" She caught his eye as they turned, hands parting in the air to find their way back once more.
Smiling at her he nodded, voice smooth as ever. "Captain Gold."
Navy, then. She thought, smiling back at him. "I am Be-"
"Belle Laurent. Eldest daughter of Governor Laurent of Leogane." He held her eyes with a knowing smile as they turned again and the breath caught in her chest.
Regaining her composer, after a few turns in silence she asked. "Are you a suitor then, Captain?"
"Nay, ma'am. Just a guest." He led her through another move with ease.
"Well, Captain, you would be the first man all night I have had the pleasure to dance with yet not have you also seek my hand."
He nodded and they turned twice more in silence before he spoke again. "I fear, ma'am, that it should be so. But I did come with the intention of speaking with you."
She looked him in the eyes as the made another elegant turn and ended up chest to chest, an inch of air between them, faces close as they stared into the each other's eyes. "We speak now sir. Is this all you intended? A simple conversation?"
"Indeed not, ma'am." The song ended and they stood like that, silent for a moment, chests almost touching with each breath. "I would ask that we may have a word…" He glanced quickly around. "Alone. Out on the terrace perhaps?"
She looked deeper into this man's eyes and was simply puzzled. Maybe she should be frightened, but she wasn't and she nodded to him, offering a hand which he brushed to his lips lightly, a tingling sensation running over her spine. Belle could almost feel Gaston deflate in anger from across the room as she let this man tuck her hand around his arm and lead her from the room and into the night air.
Another dance struck up as they exited the building and escaped into the fresh evening, new and faster paced music wafting out the doors behind them. Captain Gold smiled to himself, pleased in knowing the sound inside would prevent anyone from listening unless they were very close to the pair.
"Thank you, Captain." Belle followed his lead as he slowly took her out further into the brisk air and away from the doors. He raised an eyebrow in her direction in question and she smiled slyly before answering. "You have, it seems, saved me from the presence of at least one, if not more, undesirable men whom call themselves that which you do not. Yet have I met a suitor who I can stand to be around."
"Ah, I see." He returned her smile, the same slyness playing on his lips. "Well the pleasure was mine then." He released her arm and took a few steps away on his own. "So to business, Miss Laurent-"
"Belle, please, Captain. Call me Belle." She smoothed out the skirts of her dress when he glanced back to her.
Turning fully to look at her he smiled softly. "Belle, then." He swept his coat tails from behind him and he sat as Belle had earlier, on the low banister not far from the stairs he had come up. Belle noticed as he tried to hide the fact that he was favoring the knee she had seen catch during their dance but she pretended not to. "Belle, I've heard a great deal about you and your family. Understanding some of the circumstances you live with I've come to make you a deal."
She moved closer to him, standing a few inches from his good knee and looking down at him. "I'm afraid I don't understand, Sir."
He took his hat off in a sweeping movement and set it on the banister at his side, away from Belle, making it easier for him to look up at her. "Your younger sister is sick, you believe by marrying your family will have more resources to devote to her health. Noble of you for sure, but you look for a loveless marriage that you do not truly want."
She looked down at him with skepticism. "I thought you were not a suitor, Captain. From the way you are talking it does not seem that is the case."
"Fret not, dearie. Sit and I will do my best to explain." He gestured to the banister beside him.
Slowly she lowered herself to sit near him and noticed that when he turned his body to face her that their knees almost touched. "You certainly have my attention, Sir. I, for the life of me, cannot seem to figure out what it is you intend."
He smiled playful at her words and nodded. "I've heard tales of the Governor's daughter who once dreamed of pirates and treasure, of adventure. Tell me, Belle… Do you still dream?"
Now she looked at him in complete bewilderment. "I did. Once. But now that all seems… most unpractical." She looked him over, noticing for the first time that he had no mark of a Navy standing, like most of the men who wore their badges and stars and cords like their very manhood demanded no one miss them. Something was different about this man and she couldn't quite place it, but where others would be frightened of this puzzling stranger, she was enthralled. "The childhood dreams must give out to the duty, especially to one's family, eventually. In real life that is how it goes. Adventure… well there isn't much chance for that when you're a woman."
"Aye, Belle." He nodded slowly and in his smile she caught a flash of gold. "What would you say, however, if I could offer you the chance to dream again?"
She was catching on to what he might offer but tried not to let him know that. It was in vain for he already knew she was. "If I had assurance my family would be unburdened with me and may even receive a small allowance, then I would be entirely open to discussion of the possibilities."
He smiled at her fully. "You would have my word to those things, ma'am. And on my ship you would sail the Caribbean and see the things you used to dream of."
"What would you gain, Sir? If this is to be a deal, both sides must gain."
Smart girl. He inclined his head in acknowledgement. "This deal would be forever, dearie. You would be lucky to see your family thrice more in your lifetime. And you would have duties on the ship that you may never have in a life made through these means." He nodded back to the ball.
Belle's blood ran fast with fire and excitement. She wanted nothing more than the adventure he promised her, she had wanted that her whole life. Yet not seeing her family gave her pause. Quietly she asked, "Could I write my family?"
"Aye, dearie. But alas, they might not be able write you. Thought we do have a port of birth, it is a hazardous guess as to how often we shall dock there." He was looking at her, trying to gage how her decision was going. When she sighed and looked back at the ball he knew it was time to play his last card. "There is one more thing, dearie."
She looked back to him, eyes far off as she mentally weighed her options. Promising her life to this stranger could be dangerous, but so could marrying any of her suitors. Men could tell pretty lies during courting and turn into someone completely different after the wedding.
"There is a mangy band of pirates making their way here as we speak. A small ship, few in number of crew, but they have the cunning to do some real damage. They could have the town half demolished and be on their way out of port before the Royal Guards or Navy even noticed their presence. Come with me, and my crew will defend against them and send them whimpering home like a kicked dog before your family would even know of the threat."
"And if I don't go? You would let them ransack the town? Murder and plunder freely through the streets? That kind of economic and emotional deviation could push this place past repair. You would let that happen?"
He gave a small shrug and a nonchalant nod. "I would gain nothing from risking my crew if you do not agree to my terms. No point in risking their lives for no reward."
No respecting Navy man would let pirates attack and plunder a port. Not even a merchant would go without alerting the Royal Guards. And no honorable man would be bargaining the fate of a town against Belle joining the crew. It finally fully clicked in her head. "You're a pirate." She breathed out as she looked him over again.
He smiled a sly and mischievous smile and raised an eyebrow playfully at her. "Aye, Lass. Captain of The Crisanto Rose." With a mock bow he added, "At your service."
In her chest her heart seemed to be beating a hundred beats a second as she stared at the man next to her, who inclined his head a little to allow his dark eyes to gaze back up into hers, still in his taunting bow. Logic told her she should make her way as quickly as possible away and back inside to alert others to what was going on, but instead she slowed her breathing and tried to think. She had heard of his ship before, The Crisanto Rose, but couldn't remember all the tales. It was famous and much talked about, and if she remembered correctly one of the two most feared vestals on the water, though she couldn't remember if it was the deadlier of the two.
Taking a deep breath she gathered up her courage. "My family, my friends… they will all live?"
He looked at her with interest, noting to himself that any signs of concern she showed had not been over learning he was a pirate. "You have my word."
"Then you have mine." She set her jaw. "I will go with you. Forever."
His smile spread and he let out a half chuckle before standing. "Deal." He smiled widely down at her, but she didn't find it nearly as threating as he had intended it to be, and after he placed his hat back atop his head in grand flourish, he reached out a hand to help her up.
When she took it and stood, she was surprised when he snaked an arm around her back, resting a hand on her rib cage, to lead her as they walked. A shiver coursed through her at the heat and pressure of his hand, even though the bodice of her dress was between their skin, and she was surprised as he led her back towards the party.
"You have the night, Belle. Do with it as you wish, but I suggest you keep our agreement between us." He turned to face her, all business. "My crew will spend the time between now and tomorrow morning eliminating any threat to your town and someone will be along tomorrow to fetch you when it is time for you to leave."
"Might it be you?" She didn't know if she could handle another stranger sweeping in and whisking her away.
"I fear it most likely shall not be. Matters of the agreement need attending and my crew will need direction. But I shall see you aboard my ship." His eyes darted swiftly to the door, as if he noticed something, and then he reached over and took her hand in both of his. "Until then…" Quickly he leaned over her hand and fully pressed his surprisingly soft lips gently but to the smooth skin above her knuckles before straightening up and giving her a quick nod before he retreated down the stairs, taking them with ease and determination.
"Belle?" A man's voice wandered over to her and she turned to see Gaston standing in the doorway. It was clear from the look on his face that he had seen Captain Gold kiss her hand and Belle briefly wondered if that was why the Captain had let his lips linger.
"Gaston…" Belle really had no idea what to say to the man, her mind still reeling from the deal she had just made. Finally she came up with, "Is the ball to your liking, Sir?"
"It was… until…" He let his eyes linger down the path where the Captain had disappeared. "Never mind that. Belle, shall you join us all back inside?"
"Yes, Sir, I shall." Belle went slowly, following the man back into the festivities. Pausing one last time before she entered she let her own eyes rest on the stairs and she felt her heart pound as she wondered over how much her life was about to change. At least this way it would change by her own design, her own choices, no one choosing her fate except herself.
