Moonlight on the Caribbean
Chapter Four
The H.M.S. Dolphin
Lady Belle Black had finally managed to make it above deck for the first time since the ship had left port. The seemingly endless case of seasickness had abated enough for her to be restless in that cabin after spending so many days trapped there. Still, she was incredibly weak from her ordeal. Isabella Black had never had a very strong constitution to begin with, and this illness had seemed to drain her of even more vitality, leaving her as fragile as a porcelain doll.
She took small, unsteady steps across the deck, supported by her father on one side and Chloe on the other. She wasn't in a state to notice the beautiful clear blue skies or the gentle rhythm of the lolling sea. The warmth of the tropical sun as it beat down upon them wasn't looked on as a blessing, simply another of the dreadful trials of traveling over this wretched ocean. She might actually kneel and kiss the ground if they ever did make it safely to the shores of Jamaica.
Mimi watched her with sympathetic, attentive eyes as she followed along behind, ready to assist her mistress at the slightest sign of weakness. She had always seen Belle as her little sister, of sorts, even though they were the same age. Belle was meant to be petted and sheltered, taken care of. And Mimi would always be there to do that for her. Besides, watching Belle so closely gave her a reason to avoid the other maid who walked beside her.
Jan let her eyes drift with disdain among all of the four of her companions. She loathed and despised them all. They thought they were so high above her, even that pathetic little servant girl Mimi put on airs, like she was one of them. She never was, and she never would be. Her eyes narrowed as they zeroed in on Lady Chloe Wesley. She hated them above them all. Haughty and arrogant, unconcerned with the feelings of others, she could think only of her own troubles. And Jan knew that she didn't honestly love Philip. She had made that only quite clear. But the day would come when Jan would put them all in their place. She smiled cruelly, knowing that in the end, she would make every one of them suffer.
Chloe felt guilty. Her best friend was still suffering the after-affects of a prolonged battle with seasickness, and here she was wishing this trip would never end. Something about the sea both calmed her restless spirit and set her soul on fire. She could feel adventure warming her skin with even more heat than the unfiltered rays of the sun. She inhaled deeply of the salty sea air, breathing in as well the taste of freedom and romance. It was only in her mind, she knew. Nothing exciting would ever happen to her, closeted safely away in her pampered little world. But as long as the vast ocean stood between her and the man waiting for her on the other side, she could still dream and pretend that something extraordinary would happen to change the course of her destiny.
A sudden buzzing among the sailors on lookout drew Mimi's attention. She lagged behind the rest to satisfy her curiosity about what was going on. Apparently, they had spotted something approaching in the water. Not seeing any great ship sails, Mimi wondered if perhaps they might have come across a whale or a dolphin. The idea intrigued her enough to abandon her spot behind Belle entirely and make her way to the ship's rail.
To her disappointment, she found that it was only a small rowboat in the water with a dozen haggard looking men inside. One of them had stood up to wave a tattered fabric of cloth towards the sailors of the Dolphin. She watched, unmoved by their shipwrecked state. Mimi knew enough of the affairs of the West Indies to have a fleeting suspicion that the men were pirates, and she had no desire to become better acquainted with them. However safe she might be on an English merchant ship, Mimi had known enough of the lower breeds of men. She didn't need to meet a dozen more.
But apparently, such thoughts didn't interfere with the sailors' decision to allow the men to board. The English sense of justice would allow for nothing less. She wasn't sure what kept her glued to her spot as they lowered the rope ladder for the bedraggled men to climb up. Perhaps just the boredom of so many weeks at sea. Anything new had its appeal, even if it wasn't the kind of excitement she felt she needed.
Mimi's breath caught as the first man stepped over the rail. She didn't understand the sudden knot that formed in her stomach. Or rather, she understood it but didn't want to feel it. It was the kind of feeling that got a girl like her into trouble. But he sent heat through her entire being, quite against her will. He was well-built, hair bleached and skin bronzed by so much time in the sun. He exuded a self-assurance and a masculine sexuality that drew her despite herself. Suddenly, he turned his gaze in her direction, and she gasped aloud at the shockwaves that went through her system. His eyes were a deep emerald green, made even more brilliant by his tan skin. He noticed her stare and flashed her an insolent grin, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth.
Offended by his impudent behavior, and even more unsettled by her instant attraction to him, Mimi averted her eyes, giving him a snub worthy of even Lady Chloe herself. As soon as she had managed to free herself from the spell of his presence, Mimi noticed that the scene had attracted Lord Black and the rest. They had made their way to the fringes of the crowd, and she skirted around to join them.
"What's going on here?" Lord John demanded, looking from the ship's sailors to the growing number of muscled, intimidating men coming over the railing.
The man who had first attracted Mimi's attention stepped forward, bobbing his head respectfully in Lord Black's direction. "Pardon, cap'n," he said with a deference Mimi was almost convinced was false. "We lot were sailors on the Portsmouth but were shipwrecked when the ship hits on a rock. We had almost giv'n up hope when you gents come along. And 'tis grateful we are that you did, cap'n."
Lord John looked somewhat unsettled, and Belle looked positively terrified at the rough group of men. But Chloe's eyes lit up with some long- suppressed inner fire. She didn't care what kind of trouble these men brought with them. She would get one adventure at least, before she was forced to accept a carefully controlled life as a dutiful wife. "I'm not the captain of this boat," Lord Black's clear, deep voice disrupted Chloe's rebellious thoughts. He gestured to the man at his side. "This is Captain Reed. You should speak with him."
As the apparent leader of the men discussed the situation with Captain Austin Reed and asked for passage for him and his men, in return for work, no one noticed when another figure made his way up the side of the ship. He was used to moving with silence, speed, and secrecy; and he timed him movements well. He paused by the bottom of the rail, where he had an unobstructed view of the principles in the little drama.
His eyes traveled over his men, unsurprised but pleased that they had all unobtrusively made their way to positions which were ideal for attacking or retreating as the occasion demanded. Satisfied with the state of affairs, he continued his survey of all the leading players. His eyes settled on the auburn-haired beauty first. Judging by the plain style of her clothes, she was probably a servant of some type. She kept shooting furtive glances at his second-in-command. Moving on, he noticed a dark-haired woman standing next to her, again dressed in the more common garments that indicated a position of servitude. She was watching everything and everyone, as if she was accustomed to spying.
Knowing she held little interest for him, he turned his attention to the dignified, well-dressed man who watched the scene playing out with black brows raised in suspicion. He knew that this was his target. Lord John Black. He pushed away the conflicting emotions warring in his heart as he looked at the father he had thought was dead for most of his existence. He didn't have time to deal with that now. They had a mission to accomplish.
His feelings were less difficult to define when his eyes settled on the petite blonde figure next to the man. She was so lovely and so childlike in her innocence. Even her dress was a pristine white that spoke of purity and goodness and all the things his life had been sorely without. She instantly brought out a protective side to him that he didn't know he possessed. So that was his little sister.
He had almost forgotten the remaining life to be taken into account, until he saw her standing there, apart from all the rest. Even if she had been standing in the center of the crowd, she would have stood apart. There was something about her that spoke of a goddess among the common rabble of mortal beings. One could look at her, but never touch. He took in her dark hair, swept back and up and intricately styled, despite the fact that she was at sea, and the chore must have been excruciatingly tedious for her maid. She was dressed in royal blue satin, extravagant and audacious. And yet still, he couldn't help but notice how it brought out the sapphire light in her eyes.
He had to snap himself out of it. This spell she had cast over him had kept him entranced for far too long. Speed was essential to this plan. Still, she made the most convenient hostage, he reasoned to himself, shutting out the mocking voice that told him he just wanted an excuse to be closer to her. Then, he shut down all his thoughts, all his emotions, and just acted, as he had so many times in the past.
He inched along the side of the ship, balancing carefully on the bottom of the rail, moving away from the safety of the ladder. In no time at all, he was level with the goddess and ready to put his plan into action. She didn't even hear him slip up behind her. He was as agile and silent as a cat. Then, before she even had time to gasp, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and pull her backwards while she felt the cold metal of a pistol up against the artery in her throat. "Do exactly as I say, or I'll kill you," came a menacing, husky voice in her ear.
Chloe's breath caught in her throat, as fear coursed through her system. This wasn't exactly what she meant when she'd wished for an adventure. Something a little less dangerous perhaps. She nodded weakly, too scared to make any sound but an almost inaudible squeak. She turned her head slightly to try and see her assailant, but he jerked her head firmly forward. She knew better than to try again.
He began to move forward, bracing her in front of him. He ignored how good she felt in his arms, ignored the way the sweet scent of her was invading and intoxicating his senses. He wasn't allowed to get distracted. In reaction to the unwanted effect she was having on him, his hold around her waist tightened, pulling her body even closer into his. Chloe wasn't prepared for the way his hold on her made her senses spin. It was nothing more than that her stays were too tight, she rationalized. That was it. Coupled with the terror she was feeling, it would be enough to make any woman feel faint.
"I don't believe we'll be needing your hospitality after all, Captain," his voice rang loud and clear across the deck of the ship, gaining the attention of the crowd. Belle screamed when she saw Chloe in the arms of the ruffian masked in black and promptly fainted dead away. There was a slight softening to the man's tone, as he ordered, "Help the lady up."
As one of the pirates moved to follow his captain's orders, John stepped between his daughter and the blackguard. "Don't lay a finger on my little girl," he snarled, with enough menace to make the man back away for a moment. But only for a moment. Then, the rest of the men burnished their cutlasses, rapiers, and pistols; and the pirate lost his fear, calming lifting the tiny woman and throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. And John could do nothing but watch, horrified, all too aware of the two pistols aimed straight for his heart.
"Don't worry, your lordship," the masked man said smoothly. "I swear, not one hair on your daughter's head will be harmed by my men. They have their orders." The tone of his voice was mocking, knowing that added to the intimidation factor. But he was serious, and his men knew it. They had been told in no uncertain terms the dangers of any advances on the ladies. No one wanted to tempt the wrath of Captain Blackheart.
"However," he went on, making his way back towards the ladder slowly, his eyes on all the sailors. They were nothing but common merchant sailors, unremarkable and unused to battle. But he didn't need one foolish act of bravery to mess up his perfect plan. Or rather Jason's perfect plan. His had left too many details unaccounted for. "I cannot promise the same for this charming wench if you don't all do your best to cooperate." He pressed the gun further into Chloe's neck for emphasis, causing her to wince with fright. He wouldn't really fire the pistol, of course; but they didn't need to know that.
"Have you gone mad?" Captain Reed demanded. "This is an English ship. If you are a pirate, don't you think you're attacking the wrong ship?" He searched for some way to stall, to distract, to counterattack. But there was none. These men knew exactly what they were doing. A dozen pirates against a whole crew of seamen, and they would still win.
"Oh, I hardly think so," the other captain returned blithely. "This is the H.M.S. Dolphin bound for Port Royal, Jamaica. On board this vessel travels the prestigious Lord John Black on a diplomatic mission for His Majesty King Charles." He nodded his head in the direction of his father, who even as he spoke was being bound fast with rope. "He is accompanied by his daughter who is engaged to be married to Commander Shawn-Douglas Brady of His Majesty's Royal Navy; and by the young lady I hold in my arms, who if I am not mistaken is supposed to be married to Philip Kiriakis upon arrival." He grinned sadistically. "When you do reach port by the way, give my best to him. Tell him, I'll be happy to return his affianced…if she still wants him, of course."
Chloe's eyes widened in horror at his audacity. She wanted nothing more than to slap his face and loathed her inability to do so. Why wouldn't anyone do something? Wasn't there any man brave enough to intervene and save her? She completely ignored the still alive, though small, part of her that was finding some unholy thrill out of the whole experience. If she could do a good enough job of overlooking it, maybe she'd be able to believe it wasn't there.
"All right. You've made your point," Lord Black spoke up, as two of the scalawags began to haul him towards the side of the ship. "What do you want? How much money?"
"You offend me greatly, your lordship," Captain Blackheart returned in mock dismay. "Why, we ask for no more than the company of your esteemed self and these beautiful ladies on an inspection tour of these islands. I'm sure you'll find it most informative, much more informative than the one I'm sure the King of Spain would like you to take."
Lord John heard the veiled message in the young man's words. Strangely, it sounded more like a warning than a threat. "If I go with you, will you leave my daughter and the others behind?" He searched for one last way to spare his daughter this fate worse than death.
The man sighed in a dramatic show of regret. "Sadly, no. I must insist on the company of all the ladies. After all, what's a cruise in the Caribbean without some lovely faces for a man to see?" He inclined his head towards the two maids, indicating that they too should be prepared for departure. He turned his attention away from Lord John to the merchant captain. "It's been a pleasure, Captain Reed. I do have just a few warnings though before my men and I must sadly take our leave." Even as he spoke, the men began to descend the ladder, taking down first Lady Isabella and then the dark- haired maid.
"The first is this, if I were you, I would not make any attempt to chase us down after we depart or to fire any sort of parting shot, so to speak. Dreadful as the duty is, I intend to keep my pistol aimed straight at this lady's head for the entirety or our little trip. If you do attempt anything foolish, her death and the subsequent deaths of the other captives will be entirely on your heads."
At this, Lord Black made a brief, unsuccessful struggle to free himself before being passed down to the waiting longboat with the other captives and a growing number of the pirates. Only the captain, the green-eyed man, and another remained. Mimi froze in fear as she saw the stinking hulk of a man approach her to throw her over his shoulder as she had seen done to Belle and Jan. But a hand on his shoulder and a slight nod of a head, and the giant of a man backed away, heading for the rail and hoisting his weight over the side.
Mimi froze with quite another emotion, as the man who sent such strange longings through her body approached her. She could do nothing but watch in silence as he stopped before her, that same arrogant smirk crossing his features. He reached out a hand to brush a loose, blowing strand of her hair behind her cheek before pausing to caress her lightly. She knew she ought to run or fight or slap him. Something. Anything. She wasn't weak. She had grown up the hard way and knew all there was to know about men like him. But still, she stood, unwilling to pull away from the electricity of his touch.
He frowned suddenly, as if unable to comprehend his gesture anymore than she had. Then, he bowed exaggeratedly before her. "My lady," he said with flourish. "Allow me to escort you." In a matter of seconds, before Mimi had time to think or react at all, he had swept her off her feet and into his arms. She felt an incomprehensible feeling of security, even more bizarre given the fact that she was virtually being abducted. But as he carried her to the railing and instructed the men to bring her down gently, she felt only confusion and gratitude. And, if she was being honest with herself, more than a slight rush of desire.
Jason remained onboard after seeing the maid safely down. Brady stood beside him now, both of them with their backs to the rail. Jason kept his pistol pointed at the captain, while his cutlass remained within easy reach, while Captain Blackheart's hostage made sure that they all kept their distance. "One last thing, and then we must sadly bid thee adieu." The mocking tone left his voice now entirely, as his deep blue eyes poured into the Captain Reed's consciousness with their essential humanness and caring. "Be careful. The Spanish may not find out what we've done; and if they catch up to you, they'll be much less lenient than we were." That said, he climbed over the rail, the lady still in his arms and made his way down to the awaiting escape vessel, Jason following immediately behind.
The laughter of the men echoed across the water, taunting the merchant seamen, as they rowed away. This was one that would go down in history. They had long thought that Captain Blackheart and Jase Masters were capable of accomplishing anything, and they had certainly proved it today. Five captives taken from an English merchant ship—four of them beautiful wenches, at that—and all without a single drop of blood being shed. It was a welcome novelty to the men hardened by too many battles at sea. If only the captain would let them have some fun with the women…
Mimi, with her usual astuteness, realized that nothing had been left to chance, not even the seating arrangements in the boat. It had all gone smoothly from beginning to end, something which had obviously required a lot of planning and thought. And now, here she sat in one corner of the longboat, tied next to Jan Spears with the green-eyed man keeping guard on her. Lord John was surrounded by four rowers in the middle of the boat; and on the other end, the masked man kept his gun aimed at Chloe as he had promised. Belle lay beside them, still suffering from the vapors. Mimi wanted more than anything to be by her side at this moment.
Unexpectedly—at least to Mimi—Jan made a lunge for the ocean, intent on escape. However, her action apparently wasn't a surprise to the man keeping guard on them. He grabbed her arm in an iron grip, causing Jan to cry out with the pain. "I wouldn't suggest that, miss," he said in a deceptively calm voice. "For starters, your hands are tied, so even if you could swim, which I highly doubt, you wouldn't be able to make it even twenty feet, let alone the hundred yards to the ship. And let's not forget all those lovely sharks in the water. No, if I were you, I'd trust your fate into our hands."
"Why should I?" Jan shot out spitefully, looking ready to take her chances with the sharks. "You're nothing but low, vile filth. You're pirates! Don't try to pretend you're not. I know."
His mouth tipped in a sardonic half smile. "Did any of us ever deny it, miss? We're all pirates here, as bloodthirsty as they come. But for some reason, you're still alive. You should take that as a good sign, I think. So sit down and shut up."
Mimi found herself faced with the perverse desire to laugh. She'd been dying for someone to speak that way to Jan for the longest time. The man caught the glint of amusement in her eye and smiled, the first genuine smile she'd seen on his face so far. It looked good on him. "So what about you?" he asked her, with a much different tone in his voice. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," she said instinctively, without bothering to consider the possible implications of such a statement. Why had she said it in the first place? This was a man who had just abducted her! How the hell could she trust him? But the fact remained, she did. She knew if he gave his word to her about something, he would rather die than break it.
He looked surprised at her answer, surprised and pleased. His eyes took in her full appearance, and yet not in a way that made her feel at all insulted. "What's your name?" he asked, rather than demanded.
"Mimi Lockhart," she said without a moment's hesitation. She had no idea where they were going or for how long they were going to be there, but she knew that she needed—and had just found—an ally in this man.
He wondered fleetingly why a woman's name had never sounded so sweet, then shoved the thought away. Hell, after all this time at sea, Brunhilde would sound like a lovely name. That had to be the reason for his attraction to her. It had been too long since he had been with a woman. Of course, he felt not the slightest emotion towards the brunette beside her. But, he rationalized, she looked like more trouble than she was worth. Whereas Mimi…well, she looked like serious trouble, but the kind of trouble he could handle. "I'm Jason Masters," he responded, cursing how infantile that sounded.
Mimi smiled slightly. She must be quite insane, she thought wryly. She had just been kidnapped by a self-proclaimed group of bloodthirsty pirates, and she was engaging in small talk with one of her captors and enjoying it. She needed something to restore her to the solemnity of the occasion. Glancing down at the various other men behind Jason though, she realized that there was something different about him. He was intelligent, clean, even kind to a degree. The rest of the men appeared to have more muscles than necessary and not a lot of brain power. Well, except for the masked man. She shuddered involuntarily, suddenly glad to be sitting exactly where she was…
Chloe was now able to see the man who had inspired so many foreign emotions in her in only the last hour. Well, she could see part of him anyway. The upper half of his face and his hair were obscured by a black mask. Only his eyes, a shockingly bright, deep blue showed through; and they taunted her relentlessly. She tried not to focus on the rest of him, tried not to notice the powerful muscles under the white shirt that was open in the front down to his abdomen. He was solid, tan, and earthy. And she hated that. She hated the brimming self-confidence and the mocking stare. She was determined not to cower anymore.
The way he was holding the gun now that they were out of sight of the Dolphin was proof that he wasn't really going to shoot her now. He thought they were safe, and he had no need to. But still, his eyes seemed locked on her face, as if waiting for her to react, waiting for her to release the storm of fury he had seen building in her for so long. And Chloe was only too happy to oblige.
"If I were you, I wouldn't look so smug," she hissed resentfully, her bright azure eyes narrowed to slits. "This is nothing short of treason against the English government. The whole British navy will be looking for you."
"That's what I'm counting on," he returned, unperturbed by her anger. He found it amusing and a little enticing, not that he was going to let her know that. He had to keep a cool head and a firm grip on his emotions. He was going to have enough to deal with these next few weeks dealing with the reemergence of his father and the sister he never knew. He had no intentions of letting his lust for a pretty face interfere with his plans.
Chloe creased her brow in confusion. He wanted the navy to capture them? Why? And why had an obviously English crew of pirates attacked an English ship? These questions and a thousand more swirled within her brain, but the one of utmost importance seemed to be, "Why did you take us? What are you going to do with us?"
The insufferable grin became downright devilish as he looked at her. "Ah, a long and complicated story, m'lady," he drawled, purposely avoiding a direct answer. "What would you like me to do with you?" The husky quality of his voice sent unwanted shivers down her back. Unwanted, because they weren't shudders of revulsion as they should have been, but rather of a pleasurable emotion hitherto unknown to her.
"I would like you to return me to the boat you took me from, along with all of my companions," she said haughtily, refusing to give in to the commanding presence of his eyes. "However, I can see that I cannot count on a pirate such as you to have any sense of honor or decency. If you did, you would never have attacked a peaceful merchant ship and frightened a young girl into hysterics." She looked pointedly at the slowly rousing figure of Belle beside them.
To her surprise, her allusion to Belle seemed to make an impact on the man. His eyes traveled to the still, pale face of the blonde lady. With gentle fingers, he brushed aside a lock of her hair that had fallen into her mouth. Then, as if remembering that his act of tenderness was being observed, he quickly reclaimed his armor of scorn. "A necessary evil, I assure you," he said, returning his attention to Chloe. "But you must take into account when you consider my 'honor and decency' that not a single drop of blood was shed today. I consider that a great accomplishment."
She shot him a withering stare. "Oh, really? Well, maybe King Charles will take this into account and give you a medal before you're hanged. You do realize you will be, don't you? You attacked an English ship today. You forcibly kidnapped a British ambassador and four English ladies. There will be no mercy shown when you are captured. In fact, I'm almost positive you won't even make it back to Execution Dock alive."
His laughter was full and boisterous at her meaningless threats. "My dear lady, you overestimate your importance to His Majesty. You see, I've already won myself a place on Execution Dock. I think that was secured the moment I took the El Diablo. So I have nothing more to fear now, than I did an hour since."
The knot of fear that had been accompanying her all the while suddenly burst inside of Chloe, as the dread words invaded her heart. "The El Diablo?" she questioned, her voice a mere whisper on the breeze. Even in England the rumors of what had been done to that ship and other like it had made their way into dining hall society. "Then you must be…" Her words trailed off, choked by her terror.
He laughed again, harshly this time, when he saw the full weight of her situation sink in. Of course, she would be perfectly safe; but she didn't need to know this. He had a feeling she would be much more manageable if she didn't. "Captain Blackheart at your service, my lady." He took her gentle hand in his and bowed low over it, planting a feather-light kiss on the soft skin that shocked Chloe all the way to her core.
She yanked her hand away. "What do you want with me?" she asked again, this time without a hint of anger and only her overpowering horror.
He frowned, the look in her eyes disquieting him for unknown reasons. He was spending too much time in conversation with the lady. She was beginning to make an impact on him. "That remains to be seen," he said with quiet force. And for the first time in her life, Lady Chloe Wesley knew true fear…and true desire.
Chapter Four
The H.M.S. Dolphin
Lady Belle Black had finally managed to make it above deck for the first time since the ship had left port. The seemingly endless case of seasickness had abated enough for her to be restless in that cabin after spending so many days trapped there. Still, she was incredibly weak from her ordeal. Isabella Black had never had a very strong constitution to begin with, and this illness had seemed to drain her of even more vitality, leaving her as fragile as a porcelain doll.
She took small, unsteady steps across the deck, supported by her father on one side and Chloe on the other. She wasn't in a state to notice the beautiful clear blue skies or the gentle rhythm of the lolling sea. The warmth of the tropical sun as it beat down upon them wasn't looked on as a blessing, simply another of the dreadful trials of traveling over this wretched ocean. She might actually kneel and kiss the ground if they ever did make it safely to the shores of Jamaica.
Mimi watched her with sympathetic, attentive eyes as she followed along behind, ready to assist her mistress at the slightest sign of weakness. She had always seen Belle as her little sister, of sorts, even though they were the same age. Belle was meant to be petted and sheltered, taken care of. And Mimi would always be there to do that for her. Besides, watching Belle so closely gave her a reason to avoid the other maid who walked beside her.
Jan let her eyes drift with disdain among all of the four of her companions. She loathed and despised them all. They thought they were so high above her, even that pathetic little servant girl Mimi put on airs, like she was one of them. She never was, and she never would be. Her eyes narrowed as they zeroed in on Lady Chloe Wesley. She hated them above them all. Haughty and arrogant, unconcerned with the feelings of others, she could think only of her own troubles. And Jan knew that she didn't honestly love Philip. She had made that only quite clear. But the day would come when Jan would put them all in their place. She smiled cruelly, knowing that in the end, she would make every one of them suffer.
Chloe felt guilty. Her best friend was still suffering the after-affects of a prolonged battle with seasickness, and here she was wishing this trip would never end. Something about the sea both calmed her restless spirit and set her soul on fire. She could feel adventure warming her skin with even more heat than the unfiltered rays of the sun. She inhaled deeply of the salty sea air, breathing in as well the taste of freedom and romance. It was only in her mind, she knew. Nothing exciting would ever happen to her, closeted safely away in her pampered little world. But as long as the vast ocean stood between her and the man waiting for her on the other side, she could still dream and pretend that something extraordinary would happen to change the course of her destiny.
A sudden buzzing among the sailors on lookout drew Mimi's attention. She lagged behind the rest to satisfy her curiosity about what was going on. Apparently, they had spotted something approaching in the water. Not seeing any great ship sails, Mimi wondered if perhaps they might have come across a whale or a dolphin. The idea intrigued her enough to abandon her spot behind Belle entirely and make her way to the ship's rail.
To her disappointment, she found that it was only a small rowboat in the water with a dozen haggard looking men inside. One of them had stood up to wave a tattered fabric of cloth towards the sailors of the Dolphin. She watched, unmoved by their shipwrecked state. Mimi knew enough of the affairs of the West Indies to have a fleeting suspicion that the men were pirates, and she had no desire to become better acquainted with them. However safe she might be on an English merchant ship, Mimi had known enough of the lower breeds of men. She didn't need to meet a dozen more.
But apparently, such thoughts didn't interfere with the sailors' decision to allow the men to board. The English sense of justice would allow for nothing less. She wasn't sure what kept her glued to her spot as they lowered the rope ladder for the bedraggled men to climb up. Perhaps just the boredom of so many weeks at sea. Anything new had its appeal, even if it wasn't the kind of excitement she felt she needed.
Mimi's breath caught as the first man stepped over the rail. She didn't understand the sudden knot that formed in her stomach. Or rather, she understood it but didn't want to feel it. It was the kind of feeling that got a girl like her into trouble. But he sent heat through her entire being, quite against her will. He was well-built, hair bleached and skin bronzed by so much time in the sun. He exuded a self-assurance and a masculine sexuality that drew her despite herself. Suddenly, he turned his gaze in her direction, and she gasped aloud at the shockwaves that went through her system. His eyes were a deep emerald green, made even more brilliant by his tan skin. He noticed her stare and flashed her an insolent grin, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth.
Offended by his impudent behavior, and even more unsettled by her instant attraction to him, Mimi averted her eyes, giving him a snub worthy of even Lady Chloe herself. As soon as she had managed to free herself from the spell of his presence, Mimi noticed that the scene had attracted Lord Black and the rest. They had made their way to the fringes of the crowd, and she skirted around to join them.
"What's going on here?" Lord John demanded, looking from the ship's sailors to the growing number of muscled, intimidating men coming over the railing.
The man who had first attracted Mimi's attention stepped forward, bobbing his head respectfully in Lord Black's direction. "Pardon, cap'n," he said with a deference Mimi was almost convinced was false. "We lot were sailors on the Portsmouth but were shipwrecked when the ship hits on a rock. We had almost giv'n up hope when you gents come along. And 'tis grateful we are that you did, cap'n."
Lord John looked somewhat unsettled, and Belle looked positively terrified at the rough group of men. But Chloe's eyes lit up with some long- suppressed inner fire. She didn't care what kind of trouble these men brought with them. She would get one adventure at least, before she was forced to accept a carefully controlled life as a dutiful wife. "I'm not the captain of this boat," Lord Black's clear, deep voice disrupted Chloe's rebellious thoughts. He gestured to the man at his side. "This is Captain Reed. You should speak with him."
As the apparent leader of the men discussed the situation with Captain Austin Reed and asked for passage for him and his men, in return for work, no one noticed when another figure made his way up the side of the ship. He was used to moving with silence, speed, and secrecy; and he timed him movements well. He paused by the bottom of the rail, where he had an unobstructed view of the principles in the little drama.
His eyes traveled over his men, unsurprised but pleased that they had all unobtrusively made their way to positions which were ideal for attacking or retreating as the occasion demanded. Satisfied with the state of affairs, he continued his survey of all the leading players. His eyes settled on the auburn-haired beauty first. Judging by the plain style of her clothes, she was probably a servant of some type. She kept shooting furtive glances at his second-in-command. Moving on, he noticed a dark-haired woman standing next to her, again dressed in the more common garments that indicated a position of servitude. She was watching everything and everyone, as if she was accustomed to spying.
Knowing she held little interest for him, he turned his attention to the dignified, well-dressed man who watched the scene playing out with black brows raised in suspicion. He knew that this was his target. Lord John Black. He pushed away the conflicting emotions warring in his heart as he looked at the father he had thought was dead for most of his existence. He didn't have time to deal with that now. They had a mission to accomplish.
His feelings were less difficult to define when his eyes settled on the petite blonde figure next to the man. She was so lovely and so childlike in her innocence. Even her dress was a pristine white that spoke of purity and goodness and all the things his life had been sorely without. She instantly brought out a protective side to him that he didn't know he possessed. So that was his little sister.
He had almost forgotten the remaining life to be taken into account, until he saw her standing there, apart from all the rest. Even if she had been standing in the center of the crowd, she would have stood apart. There was something about her that spoke of a goddess among the common rabble of mortal beings. One could look at her, but never touch. He took in her dark hair, swept back and up and intricately styled, despite the fact that she was at sea, and the chore must have been excruciatingly tedious for her maid. She was dressed in royal blue satin, extravagant and audacious. And yet still, he couldn't help but notice how it brought out the sapphire light in her eyes.
He had to snap himself out of it. This spell she had cast over him had kept him entranced for far too long. Speed was essential to this plan. Still, she made the most convenient hostage, he reasoned to himself, shutting out the mocking voice that told him he just wanted an excuse to be closer to her. Then, he shut down all his thoughts, all his emotions, and just acted, as he had so many times in the past.
He inched along the side of the ship, balancing carefully on the bottom of the rail, moving away from the safety of the ladder. In no time at all, he was level with the goddess and ready to put his plan into action. She didn't even hear him slip up behind her. He was as agile and silent as a cat. Then, before she even had time to gasp, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and pull her backwards while she felt the cold metal of a pistol up against the artery in her throat. "Do exactly as I say, or I'll kill you," came a menacing, husky voice in her ear.
Chloe's breath caught in her throat, as fear coursed through her system. This wasn't exactly what she meant when she'd wished for an adventure. Something a little less dangerous perhaps. She nodded weakly, too scared to make any sound but an almost inaudible squeak. She turned her head slightly to try and see her assailant, but he jerked her head firmly forward. She knew better than to try again.
He began to move forward, bracing her in front of him. He ignored how good she felt in his arms, ignored the way the sweet scent of her was invading and intoxicating his senses. He wasn't allowed to get distracted. In reaction to the unwanted effect she was having on him, his hold around her waist tightened, pulling her body even closer into his. Chloe wasn't prepared for the way his hold on her made her senses spin. It was nothing more than that her stays were too tight, she rationalized. That was it. Coupled with the terror she was feeling, it would be enough to make any woman feel faint.
"I don't believe we'll be needing your hospitality after all, Captain," his voice rang loud and clear across the deck of the ship, gaining the attention of the crowd. Belle screamed when she saw Chloe in the arms of the ruffian masked in black and promptly fainted dead away. There was a slight softening to the man's tone, as he ordered, "Help the lady up."
As one of the pirates moved to follow his captain's orders, John stepped between his daughter and the blackguard. "Don't lay a finger on my little girl," he snarled, with enough menace to make the man back away for a moment. But only for a moment. Then, the rest of the men burnished their cutlasses, rapiers, and pistols; and the pirate lost his fear, calming lifting the tiny woman and throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. And John could do nothing but watch, horrified, all too aware of the two pistols aimed straight for his heart.
"Don't worry, your lordship," the masked man said smoothly. "I swear, not one hair on your daughter's head will be harmed by my men. They have their orders." The tone of his voice was mocking, knowing that added to the intimidation factor. But he was serious, and his men knew it. They had been told in no uncertain terms the dangers of any advances on the ladies. No one wanted to tempt the wrath of Captain Blackheart.
"However," he went on, making his way back towards the ladder slowly, his eyes on all the sailors. They were nothing but common merchant sailors, unremarkable and unused to battle. But he didn't need one foolish act of bravery to mess up his perfect plan. Or rather Jason's perfect plan. His had left too many details unaccounted for. "I cannot promise the same for this charming wench if you don't all do your best to cooperate." He pressed the gun further into Chloe's neck for emphasis, causing her to wince with fright. He wouldn't really fire the pistol, of course; but they didn't need to know that.
"Have you gone mad?" Captain Reed demanded. "This is an English ship. If you are a pirate, don't you think you're attacking the wrong ship?" He searched for some way to stall, to distract, to counterattack. But there was none. These men knew exactly what they were doing. A dozen pirates against a whole crew of seamen, and they would still win.
"Oh, I hardly think so," the other captain returned blithely. "This is the H.M.S. Dolphin bound for Port Royal, Jamaica. On board this vessel travels the prestigious Lord John Black on a diplomatic mission for His Majesty King Charles." He nodded his head in the direction of his father, who even as he spoke was being bound fast with rope. "He is accompanied by his daughter who is engaged to be married to Commander Shawn-Douglas Brady of His Majesty's Royal Navy; and by the young lady I hold in my arms, who if I am not mistaken is supposed to be married to Philip Kiriakis upon arrival." He grinned sadistically. "When you do reach port by the way, give my best to him. Tell him, I'll be happy to return his affianced…if she still wants him, of course."
Chloe's eyes widened in horror at his audacity. She wanted nothing more than to slap his face and loathed her inability to do so. Why wouldn't anyone do something? Wasn't there any man brave enough to intervene and save her? She completely ignored the still alive, though small, part of her that was finding some unholy thrill out of the whole experience. If she could do a good enough job of overlooking it, maybe she'd be able to believe it wasn't there.
"All right. You've made your point," Lord Black spoke up, as two of the scalawags began to haul him towards the side of the ship. "What do you want? How much money?"
"You offend me greatly, your lordship," Captain Blackheart returned in mock dismay. "Why, we ask for no more than the company of your esteemed self and these beautiful ladies on an inspection tour of these islands. I'm sure you'll find it most informative, much more informative than the one I'm sure the King of Spain would like you to take."
Lord John heard the veiled message in the young man's words. Strangely, it sounded more like a warning than a threat. "If I go with you, will you leave my daughter and the others behind?" He searched for one last way to spare his daughter this fate worse than death.
The man sighed in a dramatic show of regret. "Sadly, no. I must insist on the company of all the ladies. After all, what's a cruise in the Caribbean without some lovely faces for a man to see?" He inclined his head towards the two maids, indicating that they too should be prepared for departure. He turned his attention away from Lord John to the merchant captain. "It's been a pleasure, Captain Reed. I do have just a few warnings though before my men and I must sadly take our leave." Even as he spoke, the men began to descend the ladder, taking down first Lady Isabella and then the dark- haired maid.
"The first is this, if I were you, I would not make any attempt to chase us down after we depart or to fire any sort of parting shot, so to speak. Dreadful as the duty is, I intend to keep my pistol aimed straight at this lady's head for the entirety or our little trip. If you do attempt anything foolish, her death and the subsequent deaths of the other captives will be entirely on your heads."
At this, Lord Black made a brief, unsuccessful struggle to free himself before being passed down to the waiting longboat with the other captives and a growing number of the pirates. Only the captain, the green-eyed man, and another remained. Mimi froze in fear as she saw the stinking hulk of a man approach her to throw her over his shoulder as she had seen done to Belle and Jan. But a hand on his shoulder and a slight nod of a head, and the giant of a man backed away, heading for the rail and hoisting his weight over the side.
Mimi froze with quite another emotion, as the man who sent such strange longings through her body approached her. She could do nothing but watch in silence as he stopped before her, that same arrogant smirk crossing his features. He reached out a hand to brush a loose, blowing strand of her hair behind her cheek before pausing to caress her lightly. She knew she ought to run or fight or slap him. Something. Anything. She wasn't weak. She had grown up the hard way and knew all there was to know about men like him. But still, she stood, unwilling to pull away from the electricity of his touch.
He frowned suddenly, as if unable to comprehend his gesture anymore than she had. Then, he bowed exaggeratedly before her. "My lady," he said with flourish. "Allow me to escort you." In a matter of seconds, before Mimi had time to think or react at all, he had swept her off her feet and into his arms. She felt an incomprehensible feeling of security, even more bizarre given the fact that she was virtually being abducted. But as he carried her to the railing and instructed the men to bring her down gently, she felt only confusion and gratitude. And, if she was being honest with herself, more than a slight rush of desire.
Jason remained onboard after seeing the maid safely down. Brady stood beside him now, both of them with their backs to the rail. Jason kept his pistol pointed at the captain, while his cutlass remained within easy reach, while Captain Blackheart's hostage made sure that they all kept their distance. "One last thing, and then we must sadly bid thee adieu." The mocking tone left his voice now entirely, as his deep blue eyes poured into the Captain Reed's consciousness with their essential humanness and caring. "Be careful. The Spanish may not find out what we've done; and if they catch up to you, they'll be much less lenient than we were." That said, he climbed over the rail, the lady still in his arms and made his way down to the awaiting escape vessel, Jason following immediately behind.
The laughter of the men echoed across the water, taunting the merchant seamen, as they rowed away. This was one that would go down in history. They had long thought that Captain Blackheart and Jase Masters were capable of accomplishing anything, and they had certainly proved it today. Five captives taken from an English merchant ship—four of them beautiful wenches, at that—and all without a single drop of blood being shed. It was a welcome novelty to the men hardened by too many battles at sea. If only the captain would let them have some fun with the women…
Mimi, with her usual astuteness, realized that nothing had been left to chance, not even the seating arrangements in the boat. It had all gone smoothly from beginning to end, something which had obviously required a lot of planning and thought. And now, here she sat in one corner of the longboat, tied next to Jan Spears with the green-eyed man keeping guard on her. Lord John was surrounded by four rowers in the middle of the boat; and on the other end, the masked man kept his gun aimed at Chloe as he had promised. Belle lay beside them, still suffering from the vapors. Mimi wanted more than anything to be by her side at this moment.
Unexpectedly—at least to Mimi—Jan made a lunge for the ocean, intent on escape. However, her action apparently wasn't a surprise to the man keeping guard on them. He grabbed her arm in an iron grip, causing Jan to cry out with the pain. "I wouldn't suggest that, miss," he said in a deceptively calm voice. "For starters, your hands are tied, so even if you could swim, which I highly doubt, you wouldn't be able to make it even twenty feet, let alone the hundred yards to the ship. And let's not forget all those lovely sharks in the water. No, if I were you, I'd trust your fate into our hands."
"Why should I?" Jan shot out spitefully, looking ready to take her chances with the sharks. "You're nothing but low, vile filth. You're pirates! Don't try to pretend you're not. I know."
His mouth tipped in a sardonic half smile. "Did any of us ever deny it, miss? We're all pirates here, as bloodthirsty as they come. But for some reason, you're still alive. You should take that as a good sign, I think. So sit down and shut up."
Mimi found herself faced with the perverse desire to laugh. She'd been dying for someone to speak that way to Jan for the longest time. The man caught the glint of amusement in her eye and smiled, the first genuine smile she'd seen on his face so far. It looked good on him. "So what about you?" he asked her, with a much different tone in his voice. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," she said instinctively, without bothering to consider the possible implications of such a statement. Why had she said it in the first place? This was a man who had just abducted her! How the hell could she trust him? But the fact remained, she did. She knew if he gave his word to her about something, he would rather die than break it.
He looked surprised at her answer, surprised and pleased. His eyes took in her full appearance, and yet not in a way that made her feel at all insulted. "What's your name?" he asked, rather than demanded.
"Mimi Lockhart," she said without a moment's hesitation. She had no idea where they were going or for how long they were going to be there, but she knew that she needed—and had just found—an ally in this man.
He wondered fleetingly why a woman's name had never sounded so sweet, then shoved the thought away. Hell, after all this time at sea, Brunhilde would sound like a lovely name. That had to be the reason for his attraction to her. It had been too long since he had been with a woman. Of course, he felt not the slightest emotion towards the brunette beside her. But, he rationalized, she looked like more trouble than she was worth. Whereas Mimi…well, she looked like serious trouble, but the kind of trouble he could handle. "I'm Jason Masters," he responded, cursing how infantile that sounded.
Mimi smiled slightly. She must be quite insane, she thought wryly. She had just been kidnapped by a self-proclaimed group of bloodthirsty pirates, and she was engaging in small talk with one of her captors and enjoying it. She needed something to restore her to the solemnity of the occasion. Glancing down at the various other men behind Jason though, she realized that there was something different about him. He was intelligent, clean, even kind to a degree. The rest of the men appeared to have more muscles than necessary and not a lot of brain power. Well, except for the masked man. She shuddered involuntarily, suddenly glad to be sitting exactly where she was…
Chloe was now able to see the man who had inspired so many foreign emotions in her in only the last hour. Well, she could see part of him anyway. The upper half of his face and his hair were obscured by a black mask. Only his eyes, a shockingly bright, deep blue showed through; and they taunted her relentlessly. She tried not to focus on the rest of him, tried not to notice the powerful muscles under the white shirt that was open in the front down to his abdomen. He was solid, tan, and earthy. And she hated that. She hated the brimming self-confidence and the mocking stare. She was determined not to cower anymore.
The way he was holding the gun now that they were out of sight of the Dolphin was proof that he wasn't really going to shoot her now. He thought they were safe, and he had no need to. But still, his eyes seemed locked on her face, as if waiting for her to react, waiting for her to release the storm of fury he had seen building in her for so long. And Chloe was only too happy to oblige.
"If I were you, I wouldn't look so smug," she hissed resentfully, her bright azure eyes narrowed to slits. "This is nothing short of treason against the English government. The whole British navy will be looking for you."
"That's what I'm counting on," he returned, unperturbed by her anger. He found it amusing and a little enticing, not that he was going to let her know that. He had to keep a cool head and a firm grip on his emotions. He was going to have enough to deal with these next few weeks dealing with the reemergence of his father and the sister he never knew. He had no intentions of letting his lust for a pretty face interfere with his plans.
Chloe creased her brow in confusion. He wanted the navy to capture them? Why? And why had an obviously English crew of pirates attacked an English ship? These questions and a thousand more swirled within her brain, but the one of utmost importance seemed to be, "Why did you take us? What are you going to do with us?"
The insufferable grin became downright devilish as he looked at her. "Ah, a long and complicated story, m'lady," he drawled, purposely avoiding a direct answer. "What would you like me to do with you?" The husky quality of his voice sent unwanted shivers down her back. Unwanted, because they weren't shudders of revulsion as they should have been, but rather of a pleasurable emotion hitherto unknown to her.
"I would like you to return me to the boat you took me from, along with all of my companions," she said haughtily, refusing to give in to the commanding presence of his eyes. "However, I can see that I cannot count on a pirate such as you to have any sense of honor or decency. If you did, you would never have attacked a peaceful merchant ship and frightened a young girl into hysterics." She looked pointedly at the slowly rousing figure of Belle beside them.
To her surprise, her allusion to Belle seemed to make an impact on the man. His eyes traveled to the still, pale face of the blonde lady. With gentle fingers, he brushed aside a lock of her hair that had fallen into her mouth. Then, as if remembering that his act of tenderness was being observed, he quickly reclaimed his armor of scorn. "A necessary evil, I assure you," he said, returning his attention to Chloe. "But you must take into account when you consider my 'honor and decency' that not a single drop of blood was shed today. I consider that a great accomplishment."
She shot him a withering stare. "Oh, really? Well, maybe King Charles will take this into account and give you a medal before you're hanged. You do realize you will be, don't you? You attacked an English ship today. You forcibly kidnapped a British ambassador and four English ladies. There will be no mercy shown when you are captured. In fact, I'm almost positive you won't even make it back to Execution Dock alive."
His laughter was full and boisterous at her meaningless threats. "My dear lady, you overestimate your importance to His Majesty. You see, I've already won myself a place on Execution Dock. I think that was secured the moment I took the El Diablo. So I have nothing more to fear now, than I did an hour since."
The knot of fear that had been accompanying her all the while suddenly burst inside of Chloe, as the dread words invaded her heart. "The El Diablo?" she questioned, her voice a mere whisper on the breeze. Even in England the rumors of what had been done to that ship and other like it had made their way into dining hall society. "Then you must be…" Her words trailed off, choked by her terror.
He laughed again, harshly this time, when he saw the full weight of her situation sink in. Of course, she would be perfectly safe; but she didn't need to know this. He had a feeling she would be much more manageable if she didn't. "Captain Blackheart at your service, my lady." He took her gentle hand in his and bowed low over it, planting a feather-light kiss on the soft skin that shocked Chloe all the way to her core.
She yanked her hand away. "What do you want with me?" she asked again, this time without a hint of anger and only her overpowering horror.
He frowned, the look in her eyes disquieting him for unknown reasons. He was spending too much time in conversation with the lady. She was beginning to make an impact on him. "That remains to be seen," he said with quiet force. And for the first time in her life, Lady Chloe Wesley knew true fear…and true desire.
