A Pirate Princess (18 page)

“No, I sha
ll not.” She said determinedly, still looking around Burke’s room as if on a treasure hunt.

“What on Earth are you looking for?” Burke finally asked.

“Nothing,” she answered, “Only looking at all of your things. It helps me know my fiancé better.”

She is so strange,
Burke thought to himself. “Odelia, coming in my room is pointless. I do not love you, nor will I ever. And I shall not marry you either. Not unless you can prove that I am the man who took your virtue, which you cannot do because I did not take it.”

Odelia was silent, pretending not to hear what he said as she rubbed her hands across Burke’s armoire. Opening the mahogany doors, she ran her fingers across his clothes, his wallet, his watch, and everything else he carried in his pockets from day
to day. “Burke, my darling! You are quite right. It’s late and I really must be going. Goodnight,” she called as she ran from his room, closing the door behind her. Burke lay back down on his bed, confused by Odelia’s actions.
Oh well,
he thought,
at least she’s gone now!

Odelia walked quickly down the hallway, pausing at her door. Instead of entering, she walked up the stairs and onto the deck of the ship. She
snuck quietly to the large storage rooms being used as prison cells. Fumbling with the key she stole from Burke’s room, she unlocked the door quietly. Turning the door knob she peered inside. There were four hostages tied up in the first storage room.

She knew that t
he second storage room held only one prisoner, who she was not interested in. Each captive was tied at the wrist and ankles. All seven were sleeping uncomfortably in the floor and Odelia scanned each one until she picked out the handsome one with long legs, muscular shoulders, and blond hair.

Odelia crept
to Falco de Vries quietly and when she was standing over him she realized he was awake. She bent down to him, and whispered “I am Lady Odelia Vadeboncour.”

“
I’m Falco de Vries. What do you want?” He answered suspiciously.

Odelia smiled flirtatiously, “I think we may be a
ble to help each other if you shall shut up and listen to me, you worthless pirate.”

“Oh,
ja
?” Falco asked, unamused.

Odelia traced her finger down Falco’s face and ran her hand through his blond hair, “You must be real unhappy that Burke is stealing your fiancé, right?”

He growled in a low voice, “What does it matter to you?”

She grabbed his chin with force, “Because your tramp of a
fiancé is trying to steal my man. Burke is supposed to marry me and I want him back. I’m not going to sit around doing nothing like you.”

“What do you expect me to do? I
’m tied up and locked in a storage room! Do you expect me to break these ropes and take my revenge?”

“You don’
t have to. What if I told you I had a very good plan that shall return your fiancé to you and my fiancé to me without ever being suspected?”

“How?”
Falco asked in consideration.

Odelia smiled ruefully, “
Let me tell you all about it…”

“All done, boss!” Karoly said with a sigh of relief the following day. “I tried to hurry so you could get back to
The Beloved Loss
with that woman of yours. She sure is a beauty!”

“I know, Karoly! She
is as pretty as a picture and sweet as candy. Now if only I can get rid of Odelia so that I can marry Cori,” Burke chuckled.

“There i
s no way to do that! You know Odelia will not confess,” Karoly hissed.

“No, she probab
ly won’t. I’m not sure what I shall have to do to get out of her. I even thought about giving up my title as Count and sailing away with Cori, not caring what the King, Lord Orson or anyone else thought. But that would hurt the people I love, like my parents. They would be discredited. Besides, Cori deserves an easy life as a Countess. I cannot give that to her if I give it up,” he said in a dreamy tone.

“Perhaps you
shall find a way to get out of the marriage with Odelia and not have to suffer yourself. You can find the man who took her virtue,” Karoly suggested.

“Oh, Karoly.
I’m sure Lady Odelia has slept with a countless number of men but none of them would admit it now. They’ve heard what she has pulled on me and don’t want a similar fate!” Burke rejected. Karoly didn’t reply for a minute. He was staring onto the deck with an elated smile on his face. Burke tried to see what Karoly was staring at but the only person on deck looking toward them was Leala. She was cleaning the floor, often glancing up at Karoly. Burke wondered if the two of them were making progress but he decided not to interfere. Instead, he just grunted to get Karoly’s attention back.

“Oh well, at least you can spend some time with Mademoiselle Corisanda now tha
t your ship is repaired and we’re closing in on Cuba!” The carpentering Boatswain finally consoled as he returned his concentration to Burke.

“Very true!”
He chuckled. “Drop the sails, Karoly. I have to get this boat stopped.”

An hour later he was aboard
The Beloved Loss
, gazing in awe at the woman he had fallen so hopelessly for. “Did you miss me, Cori?”

“Oh, of course.
I had no one to dance with last night,” Cori giggled.

“How did Acel treat you?
” He asked with a smile, assured that Acel was a perfect gentleman.

“Acel is a sweetheart, Burke. It must run in the family. What am I ever going to do when we get to France? I
don’t know how I shall stand it when you get married and we can no longer be friends,” she said with a dejected sigh. Cori had been trying to prepare herself for heartache but it seemed so impossible that Burke could be ripped from her.

“Perhaps we won’
t be separated,” he cooed.

“Your fia
ncé begs to differ, Burke. You’re going to have to get used to the idea, as I am. We are just not meant to be friends. All we have is this last voyage,” she replied, feeling defeated. Before he could answer, Cori turned on her heels and walked away, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes.

Burke knew very little about Corisanda S
t. Aubin. He hadn’t even known her for a month yet she consumed his thoughts, dreams, and plans.
What am I going to have to do to get you to love me, Cori?
He wondered as he stood at the helm of
The Beloved Loss
.
How things have changed lately! Before this voyage I never wanted to marry. I still don’t, unless I can have Cori. There is no other like her. I would be such a happy man waking up next to her every morning.

He couldn’t imagine what it would take to convince her to fall in love with him.
She cares, I know she does. That was obvious with her concern for me after Falco stabbed me in the side. If she’s in love with me or not is something I cannot know for sure, unless she tells me.
With his thoughts about love the memory dawned on him that he had told her he loved her on the night of the battle with
The Beloved Loss
. After being stabbed and struggling to heal, he had totally forgot that the concession had slipped from his lips.

What d
id she think? Does she think I’m crazy? Or does she love me too? I cannot believe I said that. I do love Cori, I know that. She’s the only woman I have ever felt this way about. But that is typically something you tell someone after they agree to court you, possibly marry you! Not when you’re trying to blow her father’s ship to pieces and take him prisoner!

Thoughts about her opinion of him raced through
his mind.
Her feelings were extremely hard to read or understand. One minute she laughs, smiles, blushes, and stares at me like I have her heart. The next minute she seems determined to let Odelia marry me and never see me again once we reach France.
He sighed, shaking his head from side to side as he watched her scrubbing the deck of
The Beloved Loss
vigorously on her hands and knees. Burke wished she would just quit and allow him to treat her like a proper lady of class and nobility.

Cori knew nothing about life off of a ship. She had never been to a city, never been in clothing shops or seen a French Mansion like the one Burke owned. Cori knew nothing about the lavish lifestyles a Count and Countess would share, or that maids were hired to clean… not the lady of the estate!
What can I do to convince her that I would do anything in the world to become her husband? Does she understand that I don’t love Odelia? What can I do to show her my love?

Cori sat on the floor that she had scrubbed time and time again. She felt bad
for being irritable with Burke; she just didn’t know any other way to become accustomed to the idea of being without each other but to banish their flirtatious gestures.

His words,
I love you
, played in her mind daily.
Did he really mean that or was he just in the excitement of battle and get carried away? Does he care about me like he seems to or is he just leading me on, thinking I am young and naïve? He is going to marry Odelia, maybe he just thinks of me as one last conquest before his wedding? Or, perhaps he led Odelia on and that put him in the predicament he is in now! If so, am I different or is he doing the same thing to me as he could have done to her?

If he does love me,
what does he expect to do? I will not be his mistress! If he marries Odelia I will no longer be a part of his life, not only because I shall not be his mistress but because his wife would not let him be my friend. If he found a way to break the union with Odelia then I would love to marry Burke. But I cannot marry a pirate captain. That is the one life I have dreamed of being out of since I knew what it was!

I want a legal husband, one who is dependable, credible, trustworthy, and honest! I care naught for titles, wealth, or a big house
but I want a husband who doesn’t run from prison! If he would give up his pirating career for Odelia, would he do the same for me? And if he does, what shall he do for income? How will he survive? Does he have enough saved to last him a lifetime or would he take another career? Could he even get a legal career without being arrested for a previous life of pirating?

Cori didn’
t know what he wanted from her and that was the hardest part of all.
Why will he not just come to me and tell me exactly what he wants so we can talk this out?
She sighed, realizing that she could do the same thing but would not. Cori didn’t know exactly what her future held, but she vowed that she would try to let each day come and go.

She glanced up at the man who made her head spin. He was staring back. Cori felt the warm blush spread across her face as he looked her questioningly in the eyes. After several moments he opened his mouth as if to say something to her. He closed it back, not allowing himself to speak. Burke just smiled and shook his head at her. Cori could not help but to smile back. There was no way for her to resist his attention.

“How many days until we arrive at Cuba?” Cori asked Burke to break the awkward silence at the dinner table.

The pair sat alone waiting on Novia and Guillermo to finish cooking, “We should be there the day after tomorrow, if all goes well.”

“I’
ve been trying to spend as much time with them as I can,” Cori sniffed, fighting back tears as she thought of her Aunt and Uncle. “They’re the only family I have ever had, Burke. When my mother died, my father just handed me over to Novia’s care. I don’t know what would have happened to me without them.”

“Do you want them to stay with you? They could move to France!” Burke suggested, trying to console the woman he worshiped.

“I have asked them to consider it, but they’re both anxious to return to their homeland. They want to know what happened to their family. Uncle Guillermo and my mother were very close to their father, my grandfather. They’re hopeful that he’s still alive. Although I shall miss them both, I’m happy that they’ll receive their life back,” she said, trying to smile.

Burke rubbed her shoulders soothingly, “Maybe you will be able to visit them one day?”

“Perhaps, but that would require a ship, a captain, a crew, and a lot of money!” Cori giggled.

“You should marry a c
aptain! Think about it, he would own a ship, have a crew, and be excited for you to sail with him!” Burke replied with a devilish grin.

Cori’s giggle turned into
roaring laughter, “Oh! You aren’t fooling me, Burke Belcourt.”

“Well, I thought it was a wonderful idea,” he chuckled with a shrug of his shoulders.
His blue eyes twinkled mischievously as he stared into Cori’s dark brown ones.

Dinner was served and the four current members of
The Beloved Loss
ate together, enjoying their meal. “Out of curiosity, Captain Belcourt, Guillermo and I were wondering if your prisoners have said anything of interest since their arrest,” Novia prompted timidly.

Burke shook his head,
“I have only spoken with them once since then. At that time, I only talked to Yvet and Laron. I have not said anything to Marin. Karoly, my Boatswain is in charge of feeding them three times a day and helping them to the bathroom when needed. Why do you ask?”

Guillermo spoke up, scowling at his wife for bringing up the subject in front of their niece, “We were wondering if Marin has
said anything about Cori or if he is worried about prison. Sharlene should be mortified since an escape from incarceration is what landed her on a pirate ship in the first place and we assume that Falco has been raising quite a fuss as well, especially over Cori.”

“I’
m interested to know as well. As soon as we reach Cuba I shall ask Karoly for any information he might have. Are you both excited to return home?” Burke asked.

“
Si,
we are. But we will miss Cori!” Novia answered.

“I sha
ll miss you both also. And I know this seems strange, but I’m going to miss my father. If only there was something I could do to save him. All I have ever wanted was to be close to him and make him love me. He deserves to go to prison for his crimes but I hate to see him punished. Is that silly?” Cori questioned sadly.

“No, Mademoiselle. It’
s not silly. If my own father committed a crime that was prison worthy, I would still hate to see him go. I would do anything in my power to save him from it, if it was me,” Burke comforted.

“There’
s nothing I could do though, Burke. You’re the one arresting him,” Cori laughed.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” he said in confusion.
Why do I expect Cori to have any faith in me? Why do I expect her to fight for me when I’m the one sentencing her own father to prison?
“Cori, if there was anything I could do to get him out of this I would do it for you.”

This time it was Cori who patted Burke on the back sympathetically,
“I know you would, Burke. And I understand why you cannot! He arrested you, nonetheless. It’s quite fitting for you to arrest him. If you were hired by the King to capture him then you are most certainly expected to do it.”

The long day proved tiring to Cori and she retired as soon as dinner was over. Burke seemed forlorn about it, hoping to spend time with her.
“I just need time to sleep and the morning light will bring answers or a better attitude,” she explained.

However, when she snuggled into the covers it did not feel as soothing as she had hoped. Cori tossed and turned with
many thoughts playing in her mind. She contemplated marriage and a nice home in France. She pictured children playing in the sand on a beach by the ocean. After hours went by and the comfort of sleep did not come, she decided to take a walk on the deck.

The night was dark but the stars shined brightly in the sky. The round orbs
overhead reflected brightly on the crystal blue water surrounding her. No land could be seen in any direction. They had both ships floating a distance from any island to avoid other pirates. She lay down on the wooden deck, staring up at the breathtakingly beautiful night around her. “Quite a picture, is it not?” Burke said, startling a gasp out of Cori.

“You scared me!” She squealed. “Yes, it is certainly beautiful. Do you think this is as beautiful as the rainforest in Hispaniola?”

“It’s a completely different atmosphere, but I’m more at ease on the sea. It’s my home just as it has always been yours. I don’t think I could live without it,” Burke said.

“
You would if you had to,” she argued, thinking of Odelia.

Burke dropped to his knees and rolled onto his back, lying next to Cori.
“True, but not happily!”

Cori laughed. “Are you going to miss me, Burke?”

“I don’t want to have to miss you, Cori. I want you to be with me. If you married me, we could always be together. When you felt like staying on land we could settle in at my home in France. It’s a big, beautiful home. You shall like it. And when you are ready for a mission on the sea, we could jump on
The Heart of Calais
and sail. Acel could handle the ship in my time off with you. Does that sound so bad?” He asked in hope.

Cori’s heart was racing again. Any time that Burke mentioned marriage, love, or a life together she could not help but yearn for it. “It sou
nds wonderful. I just don’t see a point in discussing it and dreaming about it when we both know it cannot happen. Besides, why would you want to marry me? I’m sure all the French women beg for your attention. Odelia proves that point.”

“You know how Odelia is. She cares nothing about me, Cori. Only my money and the easy life I could
provide for her. I have never offered it to her, but I would freely give it to you,” Burke prompted.

“I can
not deny that I would love being with you. I just don’t know how that makes any difference when you are bound to marriage with another woman.”

“If I’
m able to get out of the marriage, would you consider… a courtship?” He asked nervously.

“A courtship?
What is that?” Cori asked.

Burke realized he had been speaking to her as if she was accustomed to the lavish balls and parties that introduced men and women to the prosp
ect of marriage in Europe. “It’s where a man and woman see each other exclusively. We would get to know each other and if it worked out, it could result in a marriage agreement,” he explained.

“Besides the exclusivity part and the agre
ement to wed, is that not what we are already doing?” She asked in true speculation.

Burke chuckled, “Well, I suppose it is.”

Cori smiled broadly, hoping she understood the subject. “Alright, if you don’t marry Odelia we would be exclusive. Once we were exclusive and knew all about each other, marriage might or might not be an option. Yes, I agree to court you if you don’t marry someone else.”

Burke just smiled, staring at the beautiful stars.
It’s no agreement to marry me, but at least it’s in progress!
He silently decided. “Cori?”

“Yes, Burke?”

“Do you want to dance?”

“Right now?
It’s dark!”

“So what?
Do you want to?”

“Yes.”

Burke stood quickly, helping Cori to her feet. There was no music like there had been the few evenings when they danced in the dining room after dinner. All was silent as Burke began waltzing Cori elegantly around the deck. He started humming softly to keep the rhythm, and when Cori began laughing Burke turned his soft tune into a loud song. They floated around the boat, with Burke singing through Cori’s laughter.

Several yards away on
The Heart of Calais
, Acel and Karoly stood at the helm watching the young couple’s bliss. “If Burke marries Odelia and loses Cori it will break his heart. He shall not be the same man anymore,” Karoly sighed solemnly, knowing all too well the feeling of heartache.

Acel nodded, “If there was anything I could do, I would!”

“Do you think Mademoiselle Corisanda is falling in love with the Captain?” Karoly questioned, knowing the answer.

Acel sighed, “Yes, I think she loves him jus
t as deeply as he does her. I’ve never seen Burke smitten with anyone before, even as teenagers when everyone thought they were in love with someone! Burke never was. He undoubtedly is now. The question is, what are we going to do to keep him from regretting it?”

“We have to find some stupid man to testify against Odelia. If someone would speak up to the King, in front of Lord Orson, saying that Bur
ke’s not the one to blame for Odelia’s indecent behavior then that’s all King Louis would need to drop the charges on Burke. Right?” Karoly suggested.

Acel chuckled quietly, watching Burke spin Cori around a short distance away. “Where are we going to find any man stupid enough to risk marrying Odie?”

“It
’s getting late, Burke.” Cori said as the dancing partners took a break.

“Yes, it is. Should I let you retire for the evening, again?” He asked.

Cori smiled, “Perhaps it would be best for us both.”

“I
’m quite glad you couldn’t sleep earlier.”

“Me too.”

“Are you alright, Cori? You’ve seemed sad since we left Argentina.” Burke pried.

“Yes, I’
m alright. Burke, can I tell you something?”

He sat down, holding her hand in his own, “Anything.”

“There are so many things on my mind that I can hardly think straight. I’ve been worried about my father. I love him, you know. Whether my father loves me or not, I’ve always wanted to be close to him. Now I know that there shall never be a chance. He will die in a prison cell and it’s unlikely that I shall ever see him again. My father deserves that, but I don’t. I don’t deserve to never have that opportunity. Aunt Novia says that my father was an amazing man, happy, carefree, gentle and loving. When my mother died it broke his heart and pushed him into this life.
Can you imagine losing someone who meant the world to you? Would you give up everything you had and turn to a life of crime if your love was taken from you?”
She asked.

Burke knew she was speaking only o
f her father but it shocked him. He had mentioned to Karoly that morning that the only way to lose Odelia and keep Cori would mean to give up everything he owned, including his title, and turn to a life of crime, running from Lord Orson! “Yes, I understand his pain. When you love a woman, you would do anything for her.”

She shook her head sadly, “I just know that I pity him. Whether I should or not, I do. And I pity myself! I always thought that one day he might grow to love me
and now I have no hope.”

“Cori, I believe your
father does love you. He told me that he blamed you for your mother’s death, although it wasn’t your fault. Your father loves you, he just doesn’t know how to show it,” he comforted, hoping not to offend her.

Cori sat in silence, pondering Burke’s words. “Regardless, we have no hope
of ever having a decent father-daughter relationship. Life’s not fair, right?” She asked jokingly, trying to seem strong. “Good night, Burke.”

“Cori,
wait. I… I just… I want to tell you that… Never mind, goodnight.” Burke stuttered, not knowing what to say or do to relieve her pain.

She walked to her room with nothing else spoken between them. When the door was closed and her tired body slipped between the sheets on her small bed, Cori closed her eyes and cried.

The next day was spent in silence. Burke tried to talk to her, comfort her, or cheer her up but she only thought of her father and his imprisonment. Once Novia and Guillermo were in Cuba she would have no one left. An incarcerated father, a deceased mother, and distant relatives who live half a world away did not paint a pretty picture of a happy family. “What can I do to cheer you up?” Burke asked.

“Nothing, Burke. I
’m just dreading telling my Uncle and Aunt good-bye. When they are gone I will only have my father, and that leaves me no hope at all,” she refused.