AN: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed my story! I appreciate it so much and I am so glad that you enjoy it!
/
Charlotte hadn't slept well. Between the unquenched lust, the loud snoring, and the sweltering heat inside the building, she had barely begun to doze off when the sun began rising and the men with it. Ian however, woke bright and chipper only adding to Charlotte's annoyance. "What has you in such a foul mood today," he asked her as they stood in line for breakfast. Charlotte scrubbed at her eyes, "I didn't sleep at all."
Ian frowned down at her as they shuffled forward, "Why? I was comfortable." Charlotte scowled, "I know you were. You're snoring proved it. Besides the snoring, it was too hot." Ian grabbed her shoulders, rubbing them and slightly shaking them playfully when she slapped at them sharply, "Stop! I'm not in the mood." When she shook him off he knew something else had to be happening, "Something else is bothering you. I've seen you tired before and you are never this pissed."
Charlotte didn't turn to face him and instead hunched her shoulders, "I'm just tired." Ian didn't accept that excuse and instead, continued to watch her as they sat down to eat. It didn't take him long to figure out the hidden reason. Not long after they had sat down, Captain Vane walked by followed by Jack and Anne. Vane looked directly at Charlotte, but she never raised her eyes from her plate even though she tensed all over.
Ian almost growled out loud. He had told Vane to leave her alone and now clearly something had happened between them that had pissed off Charlotte. Soon after, Charlotte stood up, put her plate away and stalked off through the village. Ian rushed to keep up with her and caught up half way down the path. "What did he do," Ian demanded. Charlotte never stopped, "Nothing." Ian tried to grab her arm, but she shook him off, "Like hell he didn't! You can't think that I didn't notice."
Charlotte didn't answer and kept walking until Ian jumped in front of her. Charlotte looked up at him, "Nothing, Ian. I swear. Just stop." As she stepped around him, he shook his head. He wasn't a fool and knew she was just brushing him off, but decided to leave it alone for the moment. The walked the village in silence for a while until they came across Billy and some of his men practicing sword fighting.
Charlotte surprised Ian when she caught Billy's attention and asked, "Could you teach me?" Billy wiped at the sweat on his forehead, "How much do you know?" Charlotte shook her head, "Nothing. I was able to teach myself how to shoot, but it's a little harder to teach yourself the sword." Billy nodded and motioned to one of his men for an extra sword. Ian already knew sword fighting, but knew that practice wouldn't hurt so he picked up a spare blade himself and joined them.
The men paired up again as Billy began going over the basics with Charlotte such as proper stance, how to hold the blade and how to parry. "I won't teach you how to attack today. Just work on your footwork and holding the blade to defend yourself. Just that will have you sore," Billy explained as he came to stand in front of her, touching her elbow to bring up the sword a little. "It is heavier than I expected," she said as the blade shook a little. Billy nodded, "You'll need to get used to that until it's like an extension of your arm."
Unsheathing his own blade, Billy brought his up into an attack stance. Charlotte's eyes widened and Billy chuckled, "I'll go slow. I just want you to get a feel for blocking another blade." Starting slow, Charlotte began to realize just how much work she had a head of her before she became even remotely capable. Even so, she was doing well enough that Billy began pushing her a little after an hour, going a little faster in his attacks. She was blocking well until her arm began to fatigue. Their blades met and she blocked most of the attack however, Billy's slid just a little past her block, slicing her upper cheek just below her left eye.
Charlotte took a few quick steps back from the pain, bringing up her hand to cover the cut as Billy quickly lowered his sword a rushed forward. "Are you all right? I'm sorry, I should have known you were getting tired. Is it bad," he asked all this in rapid succession. Charlotte chuckled, "I'm fine. It's just a little cut." She dropped her hand to show him and Ian who had come over to investigate. The cut was only about two inches long and not very deep, but since it was on her face it was bleeding quite a bit. As the blood dripped off her chin she said, "I think I had better go get this cleaned up."
Before Ian could say anything, Charlotte held up her hand, "I'll be fine on my own. Stay here, both of you, and continue." Charlotte began to hand Billy back the cutlass, but he waved her away, "Keep it. It's yours. You'll be sore tomorrow, but if you really want to get better, meet me back here at the same time and I'll keep practicing with you." Charlotte thanked him and slid the sword into her belt, "I'll see you tomorrow then." Charlotte set off to the bath house, pleased that she was learning a valuable skill, but rubbing her arm from stiffness, nonetheless.
The village was busy with everyday activity and so she didn't notice Jack and Anne up above on one of the walkways to her right. "Wonder what happened to her," Anne asked Jack. Jack had his back turned to where Anne was looking, "Who?" Jack saw Anne motion below them and so he turned around just in time to see Charlotte with blood running down her cheek, rubbing her arm. "I don't know, but Charles isn't going to like it," Jack said and then jumped as he heard right behind him, "What won't I like?" Jack began to stammer out an excuse when Anne pointed below. When Charles looked down he saw Charlotte, but didn't understand what he wouldn't like until she turned around to someone behind her, exposing her left cheek to him. He was gone before Jack or Anne could stop him.
Charlotte turned around to Madi who was catching up with her when she saw the look on Madi's face as she slowed a few steps away. Charlotte turned around and almost bumped into someone's chest. Before she could move, her chin was being grasped in firm fingers and thrust up and to the right. Locking eyes with a certain Captain, Charlotte clenched her jaw and slapped his hands away, "Get off!" She felt eyes on them from all around as he demanded, "Who?" That simple word made her want to tell him and to hit him all at the same time. She chose to reply calmly, "None of your business."
Charles began to demand an answer when she cut him off, "Do you really want to do this here with an audience, Captain?" She watched in satisfaction as his own jaw clenched now and his eyes narrowed, until he gripped her upper arm and began hauling her away. She followed him with very little struggle until they were in a building, then she took both hands and shoved directly into the center of his chest. If he had been standing squarely and there hadn't been a stool in his way, the push wouldn't have made him take more than a step, but his balance was off and before he could blink he was on his ass staring up at a woman who looked like she could joyfully kill him.
"Don't you ever put your hands on me like that again. I held my temper this time, but next time I won't care who is watching," she hissed the warning out at him as she stabbed her finger in his face. "It is none of your fucking business what happens to me and I am tired of this ridiculous game. You stay the hell away from me Captain Vane until you can decide what the fuck you want," Charlotte demanded. Satisfied, she spun on her heel and reached for the door handle, ready for a dramatic exit when she was spun around forcibly and pushed back into the door. Vane's mouth came down on hers hard, trying to punish her for the shove and the speech, and for a moment Charlotte enjoyed the feel of him against her.
Then she did something he didn't expect again, she landed an uppercut under his chin sending him stumbling back. He'd been slapped by many women, none had punched him. Charlotte stood there fuming, "I'm deadly serious. No more games." Then she was gone.
/
Anne watched from across the way as Charlotte stomped out of the building, slamming the door behind her. She saw Charlotte take a deep breath, shake herself, then stride off towards the bath house. Anne almost smiled, she was please that if there was going to be another woman on a crew that it was one who had a spine, but also understood the politics of the ship. Challenging a Captain in public, no matter the reason, wasn't a good idea, and Charlotte already showed good judgement in taking the argument private.
Just as Jack joined Anne, Vane stepped out of the building and they could tell he was furious. "Christ, why does this have to be happening," Jack asked, shaking his head. "We should be focused on pushing back the English and retaking Nassau, but Charles is too busy with this female and Flint and Billy are too busy fighting each other," he said as Vane approached them. Jack was pleasantly surprised when Charles said, "Find Flint and Billy. We need to make a plan soon." Without asking any questions, the three split up to search.
/
Charlotte was angry to say the least as she washed her face and the cut. She kept replaying everything that had happened since she had first arrived in Nassau and her interactions with Vane just made her angrier. She was desperately attracted to him, she could admit that to herself, and it was making her make poor choices. Instead of prioritizing learning how to survive in this new environment, she had been too busy daydreaming. Well, from now on that stopped. Vane was clearly not in any frame of mind to make decisions and in any case, did she really want to be romantically involved with a pirate? She was quite sure she was the type of girl to require a commitment and was positive that he wasn't the kind of man to offer one. The whole situation was ridiculous and she vowed to put an end to the nonsense.
She was stepping out of the bathing hut when a man leaning up against the outside wall slapped her on the ass and winked at her. The man was one who had been calling obscenities and leering at her since she had been discovered a woman and so far she had just ignored him. She had found out he was part of Vane's crew and Billy had warned her to stay far from them, that they were not the typical pirates.
Not wanting to start anything now while she was alone, Charlotte quickly walked away from him and back towards the village. Luckily, he didn't follow her and she found Ian walking with Billy. "It doesn't look as bad now that the blood is gone," Ian told her once they stopped. Billy nodded, "I am sorry though." Charlotte smiled, "Really, it's not a big deal. I can't even feel it now. I assume more injuries will be common if we continue so we might as well accept it." Billy nodded, "Most likely. I have a meeting to get to, so I will see you later."
As Ian and Charlotte watched him walk off Charlotte said, "I wonder what they are always meeting about. They seem to talk a lot, but nothing ever happens." Ian shrugged his shoulders, "I'm sure we will find out soon enough." Charlotte was much more curious, but followed Ian away from the building. It was her turn to help with supper preparations anyway.
/
Hours later, once everyone had been fed, she was handed a tray along with another woman from the island. "Take this to the Captain's. They'll be wanting food and there's no telling when they'll come out," the ship's cook said. Charlotte couldn't believe her luck. She was too curious for her own good, but at least she might get to quench some of that curiosity. Billy and Flint were shouting at each other when she opened the door and it took her a minute before she could follow what they were saying.
"We cannot invade the island!" Flint shouted as Billy shouted back over him, "We need the people!"
"We risk hundreds of lives of potential supporters!"
"Once we have the land, the people will follow us!"
"Even if we free the slaves in time, what good will that do if the Royal Navy is coming?!"
The back and forth argument continued as Charlotte and the woman set out the food on the table. Once they were done, the other woman left quickly, but Anne watched as Charlotte followed the argument. No one had come up with any solutions and Anne's head was beginning to ache. She lifted her chin at Charlotte and asked, "What?" Surprisingly, this caught everyone's attention and they all turned to look at Charlotte. Caught by her own curiosity, Charlotte blushed, but spoke up about the idea she had forming, "I could find out what the Royal Navy plans regarding Nassau."
They all looked at her speechless until Madi spoke, "How could you find this out?" Charlotte shrugged her shoulders, a little uncomfortable, "My godfather is the Admiral of the Fleet Sir Stafford Fairborne. His wife hosts a ball this time each year and he is always in attendance. I usually attend and I can ask. If that doesn't work, I'll search his office for information."
When they continued to stare at her she said, "Or not. I'll just go." As she started to leave, Flint called out, "Wait!" Charlotte turned as he continued, "Do it. I'll sail you back to England myself." Charlotte was pleased that she could help until Vane spoke, "I'll take her. You, Billy and Silver are needed here to build support. Everyone in England thinks I've been hung so they won't be looking for me." Charlotte prayed that Flint would refuse and that she would be allowed some space from her temptation, but she was not to be spared. Flint nodded, "True. Alright, hopefully this proves profitable."
As Charlotte left, Charles sat in his chair silently wondering where the hell his intelligence had gone. Even as he had volunteered to go he had wondered at his own stupidity. Had he been smart, he would have let Flint take her back to England and hopefully leave her there. As he pondered the situation, the thought of leaving her in England became more appealing. He'd get the information they needed then leave her back where she belonged. Pleased with his decision, he came back to the present to listen as Silver spoke about the slaves on the island.
/
Charlotte spent the remaining week practicing her sword skills with Billy and avoiding Vane. She was improving slightly, but not nearly enough to actually fight someone and she hoped this voyage would prove uneventful. As she and Ian boarded the Ranger at the end of the week Ian said, "We should just stay in England and call this adventure finished." Charlotte shook her head, "We've barely been gone over a month. There is no way he's given up yet. Just going back for the ball is dangerous enough." Ian looked around at the crew on board and said, "Not as dangerous as this voyage is going to be." Charlotte silently agreed. She could feel the difference in attitude from the Ranger to the Walrus and knew she was going to have to be careful.
It wasn't but a few days into the voyage when danger found Charlotte. She had successfully avoided Captain Vane, but hadn't avoided the harassment from certain members of the crew. They were smart enough to not do it in ear shot of Ian, but they were relentless. Charlotte did her best to ignore it, but one evening after coming out of the head she wasn't able to ignore it any more. The same man who had slapped her on the ass back on the island now stepped up behind her, one of his arms around hers and the other around her waist trying to find a way into her pants.
Adrenaline hit her system like a ton of bricks, fear and anger flooding her system so that for a brief moment she was frozen. However, it didn't take her long to get moving again. Slamming her left heel into the instep of his foot, she simultaneously bit down on his arm. As he released her, she spun quickly bringing up her right knee to connect with his nose and she slammed his head down with her hands. The move had him dropping to the deck and trying to roll away from her. He succeeded in rolling down the stairway to the main deck, but Charlotte followed him. She jumped down on him intending to beat his face to a pulp when he caught her with a right hook, sending her reeling back off him. As this was happening, it was beginning to draw a crowd and that caught Jack's attention. He saw the fight just as the man was about to jump down on Charlotte who was flat on her back. Charlotte was a decent combative because she brought both feet to her chest and slammed both heels into the man's chin knocking him back to the deck.
Jack jumped the railing and ran to the Captain's cabin just as Charlotte climbed on top of the man and began to pummel his face with her fists. Jack burst into the cabin, "Charles you better come quick." The look in Jack's eyes had Vane springing up from his desk and running behind Jack. He expected to see something on fire or some of the crew to be fighting. He did not expect to push through every crew member he had to find Charlotte in the center, sitting on another crewman's chest slamming her fist into the sloppy mess that was left of the man's face.
Blood splatter covered the front of her and for a moment Charles couldn't look away. It was soon clear that she wasn't going to quit until the man was dead and so Charles ran in and pulled her off while Jack checked on the man. Charlotte was about to swing on him when he called her name, "Charlotte!" Coming out of the haze of her anger she was able to focus on him and so he saw when her adrenaline began to recede, leaving her shaking. Charles anger hit an all time high when he saw the tear roll down her cheek. "What happened," he demanded, his fists clenched at his sides to keep from touching her.
Charlotte wanted to tell him everything. The woman in her cried out for him to fix everything and just take her away, but the independence in her refused. She knew that crew members settled issues between themselves by fighting all the time. If she tattled now, it would irreparably damage her relationship with the crew and they would never respect her. So her reply made Charles all the more angry, "Just a disagreement, Captain." She saw his jaw clench, "You almost killed a member of my crew over a disagreement?"
Charlotte saw out of the corner of her eye the rest of the crew watching her as she felt something drip into her eye. Wiping at the moisture she looked back at Vane, "Yes." She knew she was in trouble when he gripped her arm and began hauling her through the crew, but the look of respect on the crews faces and her own absolute exhaustion kept her from fighting back.
Charles was just opening the door of the cabin when Ian came out of nowhere, "What the hell is going on?" He demanded until he caught full sight of Charlotte covered in blood. He went completely white, "What have you done?" This question was directed at Charles and Vane snarled in response, "Nothing and if you want to keep your life that is exactly what you will do." At that point, Charles jerked Charlotte into the cabin behind him and slammed the door in Ian's face. Despite the warning, Ian was about to burst in when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Anne, "Leave them alone. Whatever is going on is between them is none of your business no matter how much you love her." Ian began to argue and then hung his head in defeat.
/
Inside the cabin, Charles drug Charlotte over to the window where the last light of the sun was shining through. Leaving her standing there he grabbed a pitcher of water and a cloth and brought them back to the bench. He was a little concerned when she just stood there docile and let him set her down. Neither spoke while he splashed water on to the cloth and began wiping her face. He started at her forehead and when he made it to her eyes she was crying. Not sobbing or making a sound, silent tears rolled down her cheeks mixing with the blood already drying.
He wanted to destroy the person who was responsible, but she had already done a great job of that herself, so all he could do was sit here wiping her face. When her face was clean and the tears seemed to have stopped Charles said, "I have to know what happened. If there is a problem with my crew Charlotte I have to know." Charlotte took a deep breath and finally looked Vane in the eye, "If I tell you and you do anything, the crew will never accept me. They have to know that I am strong enough on my own." Even though it frustrated him, Charles understood her reasoning and said, "I won't do anything, but I need to know what happened."
Charlotte looked at him for a moment and finally nodded, "For weeks, a few of the crew have been saying things. Nothing serious and so I paid no attention. I hoped that it would eventually stop until the man tonight grabbed me and tried to…", she trailed off not because it was difficult to speak about, but because Charles was crushing her hand. "You're going to break my hand if you squeeze any harder," she told him. He dropped her hand quickly and sat back on the bench. "I was able to stop him and we fought. That's when you came out and broke up the fight," she finished explaining. She noticed that without his hand holding hers that they were shaking so she gripped them together.
Before Charles could say anything, someone knocked on the door. Irritated at the interruption he yelled, "What!" Jack stuck his head around the door and said, "I have news about the crewman." This caught Charlotte's attention and Charles cursed Jack's timing. "What about him," Charles asked as he stood up. Jack took a quick look at Charlotte and when it was clear the Captain wanted him to continue he stepped inside and shut the door. "He is unconscious, but will live although he will lose his left eye." Charles heard Charlotte gasp and wondered about her sympathy for a man who attacked her. "Once he's awake let me know," Charles said. Jack nodded and left quickly.
When he turned back to Charlotte she said, "I had no idea I was doing that…" Charles walked back to stand in front of her, "It sounds as if he got what he asked for." Charlotte looked up at him and he could see this was a turning point for her. He could scare her now, have her running for England and civilized life or he could tell her the truth. "You are more capable of taking care of yourself than you know. If this is the life you want, all you have to do is reach out and take it," he said softly.
It was dark in the cabin now as the sun had fully set, but what light remained reflected on the water onto his face and Charlotte couldn't look away. When she stretched out a shaking hand, knuckles bloody and bruised, Charles took it in his own and gently drew her up to him. Bringing her hand between them he placed a soft kiss on the abused knuckles, then slid a hand into her hair to draw her mouth to his. This time his kiss rewarded instead of punished and Charlotte let all of her fears melt away. When they broke apart, Charlotte was shaking again.
Vane held on to her as he said, "I've got to make some adjustments to our course, but I'll be back. Clean water is over on that table in the corner and I've got a clean shirt in that wardrobe." Charlotte nodded as he stepped away, and even after he had gone she stood still thinking about how her life had just changed again. Smiling slightly, she walked to the corner table and stripped. Dipping a cloth into the water she washed her face, arms, chest and hands trying not to think about how the blood had gotten there, but by the time she was done she was weak from exhaustion. She found a shirt, crawled onto the bed and immediately fell asleep.
She was on her stomach, her head turned towards the door with one leg pulled up, the shirt barely covering her butt when Vane came back and found her. The sight of her completely relaxed in his bed shifted something deep in his chest, but he brushed the feeling aside. Stripping down to nothing he crawled into the bed beside her and pulled her under the covers with him. He thought she might pull away when she began to wiggle, but she only turned toward him, tucking her head under his chin, putting her arm around his waist and one of her legs through his before falling back into a deep sleep. Charles slept better that night than he had in months.
