To Catch a Pirate (5 page)

Biting back a moan, he did as she ordered. He wasn’t a fool. Her bunk was preferable to the brig.

Her fingers touched his shoulder. They were so warm, so gentle. “I think you’re all right.”

She backed up a step.

“You and I have a different understanding of all right,” he grumbled.

“I simply meant that I don’t think I need to send for the doctor again.”

She strode to her desk and sat in a large leather chair behind it. She opened a journal, dipped her quill into the ink pot, and began to write. “Since Mr. Sterling has declined to help us, we have no cause to delay. We’ll set a course for the Bahamas. See to it, Mr. Northrup.”

“You shouldn’t be alone with the likes of him.”

“I have two pistols, a sword, and a knife. Quite honestly, I’ve lost patience and would welcome an excuse to use one or all on him. So see to your duties and I shall see to mine.”

James could almost feel the bite of the cat-o’-nine in the glare that Northrup gave him.

“Aye, Captain, but I’ll leave the door open,” Northrup finally said before turning on his heel and storming from the room.

“Right jolly fellow there,” James muttered.

“Like me, Mr. Sterling, he has little patience with pirates. I suggest you rest and gather your strength. You’ll need it to fight off the rats in the brig.”

She tried valiantly to be tough, but he’d seen the tears in her eyes when the doctor had been tending his back.

“Why do you want Crimson so badly?” he asked.

“For the same reason I wanted you. He stole from me.”

“You’ve made it very personal.”

She came up out of the chair with the force of the wrath of an avenging angel. “It is personal. The treasure belonged to the king. My father was responsible for it. Now he sits in prison at New Providence, under suspicion of piracy or cowardice — Rogers has not yet determined which — because my father survived.”

“And now you risk your life to save his?”

“He knows nothing of what I’m doing, and I’ll not have you call it into question. It’s enough for you to know I want the treasure.”

With a flounce, she turned on her heel, walked back to her desk, and sat in her chair. Very deliberately, she dipped her quill into the inkwell and began scratching in her journal.

“What were you doing on the
Horizon
?” he asked.

Her hand stilled, her quill poised above the paper. “At the behest of the king, my father was to serve as the royal governor of Mourning. Do you know the island?”

“Aye.” He narrowed his eyes. “It doesn’t even have a decent port.”

“The reason the king sent gold with my father. So one could be built.”

“And you think returning the treasure —”

“Will give the governor no reason to hold him.” She gave him a hard look. “Not to mention the justice of it, which I’m fairly certain you’re unable to comprehend. Pirates do not have a right to steal.”

“So you want to put an end to pirating?”

“I do. I never want anyone to experience the terror I did that morning when the
Phantom Mist
attacked us.”

He refused to allow her words to make him feel guilty. “I didn’t harm you.”

“You threatened me, Mr. Sterling. You stole my ring.”

He felt it grow warm on his finger. He was surprised she’d not taken it when she had the chance.

“I was merely carrying on a tradition that began when men first began to travel the seas.”

“Thievery?”

“There have always been pirates, m’lady.”

She straightened in her chair. “And there have always been those willing to challenge them.”

She was so easily angered. So righteous. He couldn’t deny that he enjoyed pricking her temper.

A knock sounded on the door. “Enter.”

James was expecting Ferret, returning with his porridge. Instead, it was the bloke who’d wielded the lash.

“Cap’n, Mr. Northrup sent me to fetch you. There’s something he needs you to see.”

“Thank you, Mr. Kane.” She rose from the chair and walked to the door.

James couldn’t believe his luck. He was going to be left alone.

“Mr. Kane, please escort Mr. Sterling back to the brig.”

“Aye, aye, Cap’n.”

Kane walked into the room. He was a huge bulk of a man. James could see two swords, the hilt of two knives, and three pistols strapped across the man’s chest.

“Don’t be giving me any trouble, pirate.”

James slowly, laboriously made his way out of the bunk. “Wouldn’t dream of it, mate.”

Annalisa joined Nathaniel at the prow of the ship. “You wished to see me, Mr. Northup?”

“Yes, Captain,” he said most formally.

He pointed toward the east. “It looks like we might be headed into a storm. Do you want to stay on this course?”

In the distance the clouds were black and low. It almost looked as though they were touching the water.

She suspected Nathaniel was feeling wounded from their earlier encounter when she’d questioned his judgment. Now she asked, “What do you recommend?”

His gaze darted to her quickly, before he turned his attention back to the sea. “It’ll be rough sailing for a bit, no doubt about that. But the ship is seaworthy. She can take it. Staying on course will get us to the Bahamas sooner, and we’ll have one less pirate to worry over.”

“Perhaps we should trim the sails a bit, though. No sense in rushing headlong into a storm, but I agree we should stay on course.”

“As you wish.”

“Do you think they’ll hang Sterling?”

“Absolutely.”

“Governor Rogers is known to grant pardons to pirates who renounce their wayward life.”

“James Sterling tossed your offer for freedom back into your face. Do you not think he’ll do the same to Rogers? Sterling values nothing except the clinking of coins. And even if he is granted amnesty, he’ll soon be back to his pirating ways. I have no doubt he is headed toward a noose.”

“You don’t much like him.”

Nathaniel looked at her as though he couldn’t believe she’d said that. “In so short a time, he’s already managed to charm you.”

“No, of course he hasn’t. I threatened him with hanging. You tried brutality.”

He flinched.

“Perhaps we used the wrong tactic.”

“And what would you recommend? Serving him tea?”

His voice contained a great deal of chiding. And she knew her next words were going to be met with resistance.

“Not tea. Dinner.”

Nathaniel turned slowly and faced her completely. “You’re not serious.”

“He refused to help because he doesn’t think I’ll keep my word. If he knew me better —”

“He’ll take advantage of you, Anna. He’ll determine your strengths and your weaknesses and he’ll prey upon them.”

She angled her chin. “What weaknesses?”

“Your kind heart for one.” He looked out to sea. “Treat him with all the civility you want. You can’t tame him.”

She wasn’t certain she really wanted to.

“We need Crimson Kelly alive in order to find out where he buried the treasure, and Sterling is the only one who knows the man well enough to help us lay a trap. Even that Ferret fellow hasn’t a clue as to where the island might be.”

“Not surprising there. He doesn’t strike me as a man who knows much of anything. I can’t believe you took him on as a cook’s assistant.”

“I felt I owed him more than the reward. It would hardly keep him in grog for long.”

“Your generous soul will get you in trouble one day, Anna. I do hope you won’t hold the actions I took this morning against me. They were well-intentioned.”

She rubbed her hand up and down his arm. “I know. I suppose I worry that we could easily become what we’re hunting.”

He nodded slowly but kept his gaze on the approaching storm. “Very easily indeed.”

*  *  *

How could she convince a pirate that she could be trusted? Especially James Sterling, who’d been betrayed at least twice by all accounts — first marooned by his captain, then traded for coin by his mate.

Annalisa pondered her dilemma all day as the ship slowly sailed south by southeast. The winds began to pick up as the storm seemed to turn toward them. They could possibly outrun it, but there was no way to be sure which direction would guarantee them safe haven. Better to face the devil than have him at your back.

For now the rain merely battered the ship and the swells were growing slightly angrier, but no one was overly concerned. They weren’t in the midst of a full tempest, so Annalisa was continuing with her plans for dinner. Besides, they all needed to eat.

For her special guest, she’d brought out her best. She’d planned to wear the royal blue Empire style dress to her father’s first dinner party as governor. But there had been no joyous celebration when he arrived at New Providence to report the attack. There’d been only fury, blame, and distrust.

They’d thrown her father in prison. He’d become a man broken in spirit and heart. Even if they didn’t kill him, he now had no more life to him than a corpse. Crimson Kelly had stolen her father when he’d stolen the gold.

She’d get the treasure in order to return her father to her. But Crimson Kelly she’d see hanged.

Of course, she had to find him first. And James Sterling was the key to unlocking that door.

So tonight she wore her royal blue gown. Her hair she’d brushed to a fine sheen and left hanging loose, past her shoulders. It was thick and luxurious, her crowning glory. While she was not vain, she knew young men found her beautiful. She intended to use her beauty as a weapon against Sterling.

He’d kissed her once. He’d hinted that he wanted to kiss her again. The first kiss he’d stolen. The next one would cost him dearly.

When she was satisfied with her appearance, she stepped out of what passed as her private quarters, where her bed was nestled, into the larger part of the captain’s cabin. Here was a long table with five chairs on either side and one at either end so eleven of her officers could join her for supper.

At her desk, Nathaniel often discussed their plans and their course, mapping out the route. He was the skilled seaman. By all rights, he should have the captain’s cabin. But this venture was her idea, her quest. So she slept in the nicest quarters on the ship and felt only a bit of guilt about it.

Tonight she’d use it to bait Sterling into helping her.

She’d sent Nathaniel and several men to fetch the pirate. Before they brought him up, though, they were to make him take a bath and give him fresh clothes. Since he’d be sharing her meal, she didn’t want the odors from the brig trailing in with him.

As she paced in front of her desk, she wondered what was taking them so long. In her experience, ladies always took longer to prepare themselves than gentlemen. Hadn’t her father spent countless minutes waiting on her mother?

Surely Sterling would relish the opportunity to rid himself of the filth that had accumulated since his capture. And clean clothes were a luxury she had little doubt he’d been without for a while. He was close to Nathaniel in height. A bit taller, a bit broader across the shoulders, perhaps. But close enough that Nathaniel’s clothes should fit him comfortably.

Tonight she would treat him like a civilized man instead of the barbaric pirate he was. She’d appeal to the decency that she was certain resided somewhere within his soul. She’d not think about the kiss. She’d not get angry. She’d be reasonable. And in turn, so would he.

After all, she’d used valid argument and logic to convince Nathaniel to help her. She’d apply the same approach to Sterling.

Hearing the thunderous footsteps, she stopped her pacing, took a deep breath, and faced the door. They were bringing him to her. With any luck, before the night was done, she’d have their destination plotted and the course marked.

The knock sounded on her door so loudly that it almost vibrated through her chest.

She swallowed hard and touched her mother’s necklace, gathering her resolve to portray a calm facade. “Enter.”

The door opened and Nathaniel stepped in. “Captain, we’ve brought the prisoner as you ordered.”

Silently, she thanked him for using her title and for making it clear that he followed her orders. She needed Sterling to see her not as the frightened girl in the hold but as a young woman who had control not only of this ship but of her destiny.

Two crewmen, standing on either side of Sterling, holding his arms firmly, shoved him into the room. He was still manacled, but he and his clothes were now clean. Which should have been an improvement. Should have made him look less threatening.

But her heart had started pounding and her hands had dampened while her mouth had grown dry. It seemed her body was as confused as she. How could he now appear so much more dangerous?

Why was she suddenly so unsure of her plan, terrified that it would result in disaster? Perhaps it was because she could almost forget he was a pirate. Perhaps because for one insane moment she wondered what it might be like to stroll through a moonlit garden with him, dart behind a rose-covered trellis, and rise up on her toes …

“Mr. Sterling, I thought you might like to join Mr. Northrup and me for dinner.”

Nathaniel’s eyes widened at that pronouncement because the plan had not been to include him, but suddenly Annalisa was feeling less confident. Being alone with Sterling, where no bars separated them, was probably not the wisest of moves.

He seemed to have recovered quite nicely from his earlier ordeal. She noted no stiffness in his movements as he assessed the room as though he thought he had a chance of escaping through the portal. Finally, his eyes came back to her. It irritated her that he could dismiss her far more easily than she seemed capable of dismissing him.

“I’d be honored.” He bowed slightly, mockingly so. He held up his shackled wrists. “I assume we’ll dispense with these bothersome encumbrances.”

“No, we shan’t,” Nathaniel said before Annalisa could speak. He looked over at her. “We had a bit of a scuffle on the way here. I think Sterling has the notion of trying to escape.”

“You can hardly hold my actions against me considering what happened the last time I was taken from the brig,” Sterling said.

“Yes, you were treated quite unfairly this morning. How is your back?” Annalisa asked.

“Feel nary a thing.”

She doubted that. But she also doubted he’d admit if he did.

He rattled his chains. “Now what about these?”

She looked at Nathaniel. “We’re in the middle of the ocean. Where could he go?”

“Free about the ship, I think he could do a great deal of harm.” He held her gaze. “To you especially.”

“I’ve never harmed a woman in my life,” Sterling said defensively.

But that didn’t mean that he wouldn’t. Annalisa remembered his threats in the hold. She nodded toward Nathaniel. “You’re right, of course. Sterling, have a seat.”

She dismissed the two crewmen. They closed the door in their wake.

Before she could pull out her own chair, Nathaniel moved quickly to do it for her. He was always courteous, always polite. She was at an age when she should be courted, attending balls and having fun. Instead, she was suffering the hardships of the sea. She smiled at him. “Thank you, Nathaniel. If you’ll do the honors …”

She sat, paying little attention as Sterling took his place and Nathaniel sliced and served the seasoned beef. Meals were always better at the beginning of the voyage, while the meat was fresh. Potatoes and carrots completed the offerings. When Nathaniel had filled everyone’s plates, he sat. Annalisa concentrated on cutting her meat into smaller portions. She was suddenly very self-conscious that they’d kept Sterling in chains, especially as they rattled with his movements below the table. She was acutely aware that his eating would be awkward, perhaps even embarrassing for him. She glanced up. “Would you like me to cut your meat into smaller portions?”

He grinned easily. “Yes, please.”

His eagerness surprised her. As she got up and walked to the far end of the table, she felt Nathaniel’s eyes on her, his disapproval evident. Sterling’s shackled wrists were in his lap, hidden beneath the table. She brought his plate nearer to her and began cutting his meat into more manageable pieces. She noticed that his portion was thicker than hers, would be more difficult to handle. She wondered if Nathaniel had done it on purpose, to give Sterling no choice except to eat like a barbarian.

“You always smell so sweet,” Sterling said quietly.

She was certain her face was turning red, because her cheeks felt so hot. “You smell somewhat better than you did. Did you enjoy your bath?”

“I’d have enjoyed it better without an audience.”

“You can hardly blame us for not trusting you, Mr. Sterling.”

“Don’t blame you at all, m’lady. But if they’d explained having a bath meant sharing a dinner with you, I might not have fought them.”

She stopped slicing the meat and looked at him. “They didn’t explain —”

“They said nary a word.”

“My apologies, Mr. Sterling. You’re our first prisoner. I’m afraid we haven’t quite worked out our protocol.”

“I’d be more than happy to provide suggestions.”

She didn’t like being this close to him, seeing the scar on his cheek, wondering how he’d come to have it. Looking into eyes as green as the sea.

“I’m sure you would.”

She turned back to the task at hand, quickly finished up, and shoved his plate back into place. “There.”

Before she could retreat, he grabbed her hand. She jerked back to face him. His eyes captured hers, holding her attention as he grinned. “Thanks, m’lady.”

He kissed the back of her hand and winked at her. It was only then that she noticed he was no longer shackled.