To everyone who reviewed, thank you so very much. You are heaven sent, now onto chapter 5.

-The disclaimer is in Chapter 1 if you're looking for it.

Chapter 5

"What now?" Ned asked as they clung to a piece of wood.

"There" George pointed to the island.

"Is everyone ok?" Valencia asked as they flopped down onto the sandy bank.

"Fine, we need to find shelter, it will be getting dark soon" Ned said.

"I have three bullets".

"I have my knives".

"I only have a few left myself" Ned counted the rounds left in his pistol.

"I'll find shelter, you two find us something to eat" Valencia surveyed their surroundings.

"100 yards, then circle back, we'll meet in an hour" they separated.

"Good evening Captain Roxton" Danielle smiled seductively as he opened his eyes.

"What, where am I?" her nightgown clung to her body as he lay shirtless on silk sheets with candles lighting the room.

"You are in my room" swinging her hips seductively, she started to walk toward to bed.

"Where is Margo?" he demanded.

"Rotting in the dungeon where she belongs" Danielle continued to move closer.

"What about the Duke?".

"Do you honestly believe that I love that buffoon? He was desperate for a bride that I offered my services".

"Miss Tribune, as lovely as you are, you are betrothed and my heart belongs to another" he started to move away.

"Captain Roxton, why so formal? If we are to be lovers and partners than we must be comfortable with each other, call me Danielle," she purred as she crawled onto the bed.

"Miss Tribune, please, I have no interest in you. Your betrothed...".

"Do you honestly believe that I love that clown?" she spat. "He cares for nothing except for his damned title and the serving wench that he is infatuated with. We have a deal, I will be his duchess and play nice and he can have all the brats he wants with her".

"Miss Tribune, I am truly sorry he does not care for you, but I do not love you".

"Guards!" she called out.

Two burly guards appeared.

"Take Captain Roxton to the dungeons. Enjoy whatever time you have left with your precious Captain Margo" he was dragged away.

As John was dragged away, Tribune stormed into his sister's room.

"You know, brother dear, it's proper to knock before entering".

"What the hell do you think your doing? The natives have always supported Margo. You had better let them go or we'll have a riot on our hands" he chastised her.

"Or what? You'll go running to the governor, who as I recall at this moment, is in Spain, at court with their majesties? I don't think so brother. I suggest you keep your mouth shut and play the part you play so well or you'll be joining Captain Margo on the gallows".

"You wouldn't" his face paled.

"Captain" she bellowed.

"Milady?" the captain stepped forward.

Tribune remained silent and walked away.

"Never mind Captain, you are dismissed".

Down in the dungeon, John was thrust into Margo's cell.

"John?" she whimpered. "I'm here" her clothes were in tatters and her face and body were covered in bruises. "I was so worried about you" she kissed him ferociously.

"What did they do to you?".

"I don't know, last thing I remember is being on the ship and waking up here" her head again sounded as if shots were being fired from within.

"I'm sorry" she started to sob.

"It's ok, were together, that's all that counts".

"It isn't exactly Buckingham Palace".

"To be honest, Buckingham palace was a little grand for my taste" he tried to cheer her up.

"Thank you" she snuggled into his arms.

"I'm ready to listen" he encouraged her.

"I was twenty; Valencia was fifteen, when papa died. Every material possession was taken; we were left with nothing. Our former housekeeper, Mrs. Dobson, took us in, but she died within a year; Uncle Arthur had disappeared. Valencia started begging, there was a soldier who took a liking to her, but she turned down him down. One night, he was drunk and tried to rape her. I killed him. While I was in jail, Callum, Xan's henchmen offered me freedom for work. I thought it would be a one-time deal, but soon we were both working for Xan. We ran out of money and we found out how he dealt with those who couldn't pay. Somehow Uncle Arthur found us and got us out of Cuba. I was hoping that Xan had forgotten, but he hasn't" she continued to sob.

"You did what you had to do" he pulled her into his arms.

They slept in each other's arms, forgetting momentarily, where they were, until the guards woke them up.

"You, come with us" the guard pointed to Margo.

"No!" two guards held him back as Margo was escorted out, hands tied behind her back.

"I love you," she said silently as they walked away.

"Try anything foolish and your lover dies," the guard threatened as the door slammed behind her.

"Hello, Margo, it's been a long time" Xan appeared out of the shadows.

"Xan, I would have expected you to be behind this".

"You, my dear, still owe me quite a bit of money, however, if you cannot repay me in gold, there are other ways" Margo knew that beyond his calm demeanor lay a dangerous man who would not hesitate to kill her.

"Margo, I believe you remember Private Danu" Margo's face paled as Danielle gleefully grinned

"Lieutenant Danu, I've been promoted" the man informed her with a wicked grin.

"I killed you with my bare hands, I saw you die".

"Lieutenant Danu is fine actor".

"You planned this, all of this. You hanged an innocent man, stole his fortune and desecrated his name, forced my sister and I to beg and you knew about Xan and the Lieutenant" Margo accused.

"Very good, Margo, well spoken. Lieutenant, would you like to inform Margo of our agreement?"

"Your sister is a very tasty morsel that I wish to take for myself. Master Xan has agreed to forgive all of your debts, that is, if you give her to me" Lieutenant Danu enjoyed watching the bitch squirm.

"And if I don't?" If Margo had a gun in her hand, the man would have died where he stood.

"Then I shall enjoy watching you hang" Danielle would enjoy the day that the great Captain Margo would meet the hangman.

"Pardon me, Lieutenant, milady, but we cannot locate Miss Krusix or her companions" the guard interrupted.

"Well then, we shall have to force them out of hiding. Captain Margo and Captain Roxton hang in two days, when the sun has reached its peak. Take her back to the cell".

"Milady, you promised me Miss Krusix" he steamed as Margo was led back to the cell.

"And you shall have her. Escort him to his carriage and make sure he gets home safely, we wouldn't want trouble with the natives".

"Aye, milady". Early the next morning, the man crept silently to the camp where Valencia, Ned and George slept. The fire they had lit were little more than embers, hiding the figure in the darkness.

"One move and your dead" her knife held tight to Jarl's throat.

"Valencia, it's me, Jarl".

"You, young man, have a bad habit of sneaking up on people" George said as he and Ned were roused from their sleep.

"I have news; Margo and Captain Roxton are going to hang in two days. My village is near by, we have food and weapons".

"We should kill the fire, to make sure were not being followed" Ned suggested.

"Lead the way" they followed Jarl away from the camp after the fire was reduced to ashes.

He walked quietly down to the dungeon, making sure that he wasn't being followed. His sister had eyes and ears all over the palace.

"Sir" the guard snapped to attention.

"Give me the keys and turn around" Tribune ordered.

The guard dropped to the floor unconscious.

"Margo" he quietly called out.

"What do you want?".

"To get you two out of here, safe" he unlocked the door and handed them the bundle.

"Why are you doing this?" John asked, his suspicions aroused as the unconscious guard was dragged into the cell.

"Only a fool would let a woman like Margo out their life" a sad look overtook his face.

"Thank you" they started to quietly make their leave.

"I think fool is just the right word" Danielle appeared, guns aimed and ready as they were surrounded.

Evil laugh, Mwa ha ha ha ha. You know the deal, read, review; let me know what you think.