The Pirate's Willing Captive Page 19

  ‘You had best tell us then, Justin.’

  ‘When we took the ship and set the captain ashore, I became its captain in his stead, but we sailed by the rules of the brethren, which make all men equal.’

  ‘Brethren—you mean pirates?’ John’s eyes narrowed. ‘You became a pirate? You preyed on the ships of others and stole what was theirs—you killed men for gain?’

  ‘We took the cargoes we captured and sold them. We did not kill wantonly, Father. If the ship surrendered immediately there was no bloodshed, though a few may have been killed, those that refused the truce and tried to resist. Not by my hand, but by others. I have killed only when forced.’

  ‘But the ships were taken by your order?’

  Justin met his gaze. ‘Yes, sir. I was the captain. I gave the orders, which my men obeyed. I sold the prizes we took and distributed the gains between them, and kept my share. I have ordered men flogged and I have killed men in fair fight—but I punished the crew only when I had no choice.’

  ‘You are by your own admission a pirate?’

  ‘Yes, Father.’

  ‘Then you have shamed your family and yourself.’

  His father stared at him a moment longer, then turned and walked away, leaving the room.

  ‘Father…forgive me…’

  ‘It will take time.’ Lady Devere stood up. She placed a gentle hand on her son’s arm. ‘Do not be hurt or bitter, Justin. Your father is an honest man. This news has shocked and distressed him. He was always so proud of you and now…’

  ‘I have brought shame on him and myself.’

  ‘No, Justin.’ Lady Devere’s eyes were soft and moist with tears. ‘You did what you had to do—what seemed right at the time. You were forced to lead the mutiny and then it must have seemed that you had no choice but to become a pirate. I understand, dearest. Your father will learn to think as I do and to forgive you.’

  ‘You will persuade him, Mother.’ Justin’s face was fiercely proud. ‘You may persuade him to make a show of forgiveness, but in his heart he will never forget what I have done. He will never truly forgive me; he will never be proud to call me son.’

  ‘He is a proud man, Justin—proud of you and his honour. Give him time to think this through.’

  ‘I had to tell him, to tell you both. You must feel that I have let you down, Mother. I did have a choice. I could have put the captain and his officers in chains and sailed back to England to take my chances.’

  ‘Would the crew have accepted your decision?’

  ‘I am not sure. I did not offer them the choice.’

  Lady Devere touched his cheek. ‘You know that they would not have listened if you had. You would have died with the captain and his officers. They owe their lives to you, my son. You have done the right thing now. Your father will understand in time.’

  ‘I shall leave in the morning, Mother.’

  ‘Why?’ She looked at him in alarm. ‘Where will you go?’

  ‘To London to beg an audience with the Queen. If I am to live as I was born to live and hold my head high, I must seek a royal pardon. Only then can I build my house and bring honour to the woman I love.’

  ‘The woman you love?’ Lady Devere’s eyes widened. ‘You have said nothing of this, Justin. Please tell me about this lady—she is a lady?’

  ‘A beautiful, innocent, perfect lady. Her father is a Spanish Don. He meant to sell her to a rogue so that he could steal her lands and fortune, but I stole her away from the rogue who would have harmed her. I love Maribel and she loves me.’

  ‘Maribel, that is a beautiful name,’ his mother said and smiled. ‘You will bring this lady to see me, Justin. Give me your word that you will return once more and bring your bride with you.’

  ‘Maribel is not yet my wife, for I wished to clear the shadow that hangs over me if possible. She is with her mother’s family and I shall return to claim her as soon as I am able.’

  ‘Supposing the Queen refuses to see you?’

  ‘If I am at liberty I shall sail away and never return to England.’

  ‘And if you are thrown into the Tower?’

  ‘I must take my chances, Mother. I must pay my respects to Queen Elizabeth. I pray that she will remember me as a loyal supporter at a difficult time. I shall arrange for a gift to be sent to her; if it pleases her, she may grant me a pardon.’

  Lady Devere leaned forwards to kiss his cheek. ‘My prayers are with you, my son. I shall speak to your father. It may hurt him to know that you were for a short time a pirate, but I believe he will forgive you.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Justin smiled. ‘At least I know I have your forgiveness and your love.’

  ‘Nothing could ever change that,’ she said. ‘You are my son.’

  * * *

  Maribel looked about her excitedly. She had never been to a fair such as this, because her father would not have approved. A large field had been set aside to accommodate all the merchants and pedlars that had made their way here for the festival. All kinds of goods were set out, either on blankets set on the ground or on boards and trestles. There were men of several races displaying their wares; men with dark skins and eyes from the east with perfumes and trinkets made of ivory, silver and horn. Also merchants of France and Italy selling materials so fine and beautiful that Maribel could not resist touching them, letting the silk run through her fingers. Some of the merchants had leather belts and jerkins tooled with gold and vibrant colours, others had slippers and purses of leather or velvet, still more sold cures with strange-sounding names and relics from the saints. One man had a sliver of wood in a silver casket that he swore came from the Cross of Our Lord Himself.

  ‘Do not buy any of the relics,’ Lady Fildene advised. ‘Rarely are they true relics and thus have no magical properties. Many of the baubles you see are merely glass and cheap metal—but the perfumes are usually good and the material is quality.’

  ‘I love this green silk and the bronze velvet is beautiful. It would make a wonderful cloak to wear over a cream gown.’

  ‘Are you thinking of your wedding, Maribel?’

  ‘I am not certain whether I wish to make my wedding gown just yet. It might be better to wait until Justin returns—’ Maribel broke off as she saw a man looking at her. He was standing some distance away, beyond the stalls, in a part of the field where contests and games of chance were being held. She turned away immediately, her heart thumping. It could not be! She must be mistaken. ‘I think perhaps I should like to go home, Aunt. I have a sudden headache.’

  ‘My poor child.’ Lady Fildene looked at her with sympathy. ‘You have not bought anything yet. But you must go back and rest. I shall purchase the silk and velvets you have chosen and have them sent to us. Go now, dearest. You look exceeding pale.’

  Maribel thanked her in a low voice. She walked slowly from the field so as to avoid looking as if she were in a panic, climbing the steep hill towards her uncle’s house. Her heart was pumping hard as she increased her pace, wanting to be safe, afraid that he had known her and would come after her. Reaching the drawbridge, she glanced back, shading her eyes against the sun that had come out from behind the clouds. She could see the figure of a man some distance away. He was just standing there, staring at her, but making no move to follow.

  Perhaps she had been mistaken. Surely it could not have been Samuel Hynes? How could he have been here? Why would he have come to this quiet village? Had he known she was living with her uncle and aunt?

  She was almost certain that he had seen her even before she had noticed him. Yet he had made no attempt to speak to her or to accost her. If he had come to abduct her, he would have surely taken his chance. No, he must have visited the fair for purposes of his own. What would he do now that he had seen her?

  Maribel felt sick and frightened. Her uncle would protect her from Hynes if she told him that she was in danger, but to do that she must explain everything…tell him that she had hidden the truth from him. She had allowed him to believe that
Justin was her betrothed and implied that she had her father’s blessing. Sir Henry would have every right to be angry if he knew the whole.

  No, she could not tell him! She must keep her secret and make certain that she stayed safe within her uncle’s house. Samuel Hynes would not come looking for her there.

  * * *

  ‘Your fortune is safe with us, sir,’ the goldsmith assured Justin. ‘The funds lodged with us by your esteemed great-grandfather, Lord Robert Melford, have grown to almost twice that placed in our care when you were born. The money is available whenever you wish for it, Mr Devere.’

  ‘Thank you. I may wish for a part of my fortune to be transferred to France or perhaps Italy. I have not yet made up my mind. Can you recommend a safe house for my business?’

  ‘I have a cousin in Lombardy. He is well trusted by the most noble of the land, sir. I could write a letter of introduction. He would advance you anything you required against your funds held here and they need never leave England.’

  ‘I shall let you know of my decision in good time, sir. Meanwhile, I have this chest of raw silver. I would like to barter it for a precious jewel—something that might please a noble lady. Something worthy of a queen.’

  ‘Ah, yes, I think I may have the very thing.’ The goldsmith smiled. ‘Wait there, sir. I shall bring you something I think may please the most discerning lady.’

  Justin nodded, glancing round the goldsmith’s shop. It was sparsely furnished and nothing of great value was on display, for amongst the common folk there was some dislike of the trade and the goldsmiths, who were often of the Jewish faith. It was not unknown for their shops to be attacked by those who disliked repaying money loaned to them and felt they had been cheated. However, Master Baldini was well known for his honesty.

  ‘This may be what you wish for, sir?’

  The goldsmith laid a packet of black velvet on the counter and opened it, displaying a large ruby of such a deep blood red that Justin was struck by its beauty. It had not been mounted, but could easily take pride of place in a necklace or a crown.

  ‘That is magnificent, Master Baldini. Will you accept the silver in return?’

  The goldsmith looked at the silver, examined its quality and nodded. ‘It is a fair exchange, sir. I shall be pleased to trade with you for the ruby.’

  ‘Thank you. I may return to purchase another trinket—something as precious as the ruby, but simpler, more suitable for the lady I intend to wed.’

  ‘I have many such trinkets, sir. Perhaps pearls might be what you would wish for?’

  ‘Yes, pearls would do very well.’ Justin offered his hand. ‘My thanks, Master Baldini. I shall visit you again before I leave London.’

  ‘May your business go well, sir.’

  ‘I thank you for your good wishes. I pray it will—my future depends upon it.’

  Justin left the shop, the ruby safe inside his inner jerkin. He had asked for an audience with Queen Elizabeth and been told that he might have to wait some weeks before it was granted. He was by no means the only man who desired an audience with England’s new Queen. Ambassadors from France, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy were only some of those ahead of him in the queue, along with many English nobles.

  It was possible that he would have to kick his heels for weeks before being granted an audience. The enforced separation from Maribel was hard to bear. His thoughts were always with her, for he knew she would be thinking of him, anxious for his return. However, he must attend the court every day and wait as patiently as he could.

  At least she was safe in her uncle’s house. He hoped that she would not think he had deserted her, but there was little he could do except wait for the moment.

  * * *

  ‘Michael has sent word that he will arrive by this afternoon at the latest,’ Lady Fildene told Maribel that morning when she asked what was going on and why the servants were hurrying about their work with more urgency than usual. ‘He says that he is bringing a guest with him—a gentleman who may put some business our way.’

  ‘Oh, that sounds promising,’ Maribel replied going to sit beside her on the oaken bench. It had a high carved back and would have been uncomfortable to sit on had her aunt not made thick cushions to make it easier. ‘I know my uncle trades in wine, as do other English gentlemen. You said he mostly imports wine from Italy and France, I think?’

  ‘Yes, that is true. We have not bought from Spain for a long time, but we may do so soon, because it is Spanish wine we have been offered—from Don Sabatini’s winery, I understand.’

  ‘My father’s wine?’ Maribel drew her breath in sharply. ‘It is not he that your son brings here, Aunt?’

  Lady Fildene looked at her. ‘You have turned pale, Maribel. Does something bother you? The mention of your father? It is not he that visits with Michael, but a man who imports wine from him. We are to be offered an interest in bringing over a cargo of wine, but my husband may not accept. He would not if he thought it might harm you.’ Her gaze narrowed. ‘Did your father do something to hurt you, Maribel?’

  ‘Yes…’ She shook her head as her aunt’s brows rose. ‘I cannot speak of it. Forgive me. Will you excuse me, please? I must think.’

  Maribel left the room hastily. Her heart was racing. She knew only too well that the man importing her father’s wine must be Samuel Hynes.

  It was he she had seen at the fair. Each day since then she had wondered if he would come to the house and demand to see her…if he would betray her to her uncle. She felt sick at heart and uneasy. Supposing Hynes claimed her for his bride as he’d threatened? Would she be forced to go with him? Would her uncle throw her from his house if he knew what had happened to her—that she had been Justin’s captive and then his lover?

  Could her father demand that she be returned to him or handed over to the man he had chosen as her husband?

  Maribel paced the floor of her bedchamber. She was anxious, afraid of what might happen when the visitor arrived. It might be better to confess all to her aunt, who was kind hearted—but supposing she turned from her? Maribel knew that without Justin to protect her she would not be safe outside her uncle’s house. Higgins was around somewhere, but she did not think there was much he could do to help her, especially if her uncle was of a mind to hand her over to her father’s agent.

  She did not know which way to turn for the best. Justin had left for London more than two weeks previously. How much longer would it be before he returned?

  She wished that he was with her. He would tell her what she ought to do or take her away. She had been happy enough here despite missing him every day he stayed away, but now she was on thorns. What ought she to do?

  ‘Maribel, my dear…’ She heard the knock at the door and her aunt’s voice. ‘May I come in, please?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Maribel opened the door to admit her. ‘I was about to come down, Aunt.’

  ‘Something is troubling you, my love. Will you not tell me?’

  Maribel hesitated. If she ignored this chance it might be too late. She took a deep breath and then inclined her head.

  ‘I must begin at the very beginning. I beg you will forgive me—I have not been entirely honest with you. When I first came here I did not know you and was afraid that you might turn me away. It is true that I am promised to Captain Devere, but we were not betrothed in the proper manner. My father wished me to marry a man I had never seen—a man called Lord William Roberts of Helbourne.’

  ‘Impossible! That wicked man…’ Lady Fildene’s face reflected her shock. ‘I have heard of him and the very idea offends me. How could your father suggest such a thing?’

  ‘He hated me, as I believe he once hated my mother. I begged to be allowed to wait and perhaps choose a husband for myself, but he would not listen. Lord Roberts sent his cousin to fetch me and I was forced to go with him, but then…I met Captain Devere. We fell in love and he asked me to wed him.’

  ‘How did you meet Captain Devere?’ Her aunt’s eyes were
on her face. ‘I have felt there is some mystery, Maribel…something you did not wish to tell me? Will you not be honest with me so that I may protect you from those that would harm you or take advantage of your innocence?’

  ‘Justin attacked the ship and forced Captain Hynes to give me up to him. At first I believe he had some thought of a ransom, but then—’ She broke off as she saw her aunt’s face. ‘No, it is not like that, Aunt. He truly loves me and I him. Justin would never harm me.’

  ‘Is Captain Devere a privateer?’ Lady Fildene frowned, clearly doubtful. ‘What is his business? I thought it strange that he should leave you here and go off on some secret mission.’

  ‘It is not secret. He has gone to seek an audience with the Queen…’ Maribel’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Please do not judge him or me, Aunt. I was treated ill by my father and by Captain Hynes. He tried to—to seduce me while I was on his ship. He said he had my father’s permission to do as he would with me. If Justin had not attacked the ship, I might be dead, for I would have taken my life rather than live as his thing.’

  ‘My poor, poor child,’ her aunt said and held out her arms. ‘I am not certain how your uncle will feel about a marriage between you and Captain Devere, for he would frown upon such a trade. Pirates and privateers are the scourge of the seas and cost many an honest merchant a great deal of money. However, you are not to be judged or chastised for you had no choice in all this, my love. Do not fear this man. You shall not be given up to him. My husband will listen to a business proposition if he makes it, but nothing will affect you. I give you my word. You shall not be forced to leave this house against your will.’

  ‘And Justin?’ Maribel looked at her uncertainly. She half-wished that she had not told her aunt anything. ‘I love him so very much.’

  ‘If that gentleman returns, he will explain himself to your uncle and me,’ Lady Fildene said, looking grim. ‘If we are satisfied the wedding will go ahead, but he must be prepared to tell us everything.’