Christine Dorsey - [Sea 01] (12 page)

“God’s blood!” Straightening, Jack strode to the transom windows and looked out at the endless sea. When he was near her, looking into those blue eyes that reminded him of the Caribbean sky just before sunset, he forgot all about maggots and what she’d done to his crew. Now, with some distance between them, he could try and recapture some of his anger. But even that seemed impossible.

Glancing over his shoulder, he said, “Do you think I enjoy eating food infested with vermin? I don’t. But on a ship there’s no choice. You eat it or you starve.” His voice gentled. “I’m not interested in seeing my men starve.”

Miranda didn’t know what to say. A flush of heat swept over her as she stared at him. He looked the same, gloriously bronze and golden with a body that made her itch to sketch his musculature; he even still had that arrogant lift to his square jaw, and slight scowl shadowing his green eyes. But in that one moment when he spoke of his men, he seemed different to her... more human and definitely less ignorant.

He’d pointed out something to her that she hadn’t considered. Though she was smart enough to know there were many things beyond her knowledge—she missed terribly the explanations her grandfather or some other member of the Royal Society gave her—Miranda never expected to be taught anything by the pirate captain.

And he was right. She hadn’t thought about the consequences of showing the maggots or the animalcules to the pirates. She’d known about them for years, and so it didn’t really bother her. But these men... Apparently this smattering of knowledge she gave them about their food and water wasn’t a good idea.

“I’m sorry.”

Jack pivoted around. “What did you say?”

“I, apologize for causing trouble with your men. It wasn’t my purpose to alter their eating habits, and I am sorry.” Miranda’s gaze fell to the floor or she would have noticed the surprised expression on the pirate captain’s handsome face.

He’d never expected her to apologize... to act so reasonable. He also hadn’t expected her to look so defeated with her down-turned face and rounded shoulders. Jack resisted the urge to brush a lock of shiny black hair from her face. He balled his fingers into a fist and headed for the door. Then, because he had to admit that she really wasn’t that bad, despite her attempt to have him hanged; he hesitated. “I’m sure they’ll stop worrying about the maggots and start eating again.”

Miranda glanced up. “I do hope so.”

Jack watched as she tucked the wayward curl behind a perfect, shell-shaped ear, then reached for the latch.

“Captain... Blackstone, is it?”

“Aye.” Jack hadn’t realized she knew his name.

“I was wondering...” She hesitated, and Jack urged her to continue. “Well, you said that none of the crew was allowed in here again.” Her head tilted slightly. “Who is to bring my food?”

For an instant Jack was speechless. Then he wished for a bulwark to slam his fist into. He hadn’t thought of that when he’d ordered his men to stay away from the cabin. But apparently she had. That alone was enough to gall him. Add to that the choice of changing an order. Gritting his teeth, Jack barked out his response. “I’ll see that you get fed.” Now he was going to have to come below and be around her.

“Thank you. And, Captain.” Miranda tried not to cringe when he turned back. The understanding glint had definitely left his eyes. Taking a breath she continued. “Am I still to be allowed on deck?”

 “I’ll see to that, too,” Jack snapped. Now he had to accompany her above deck. God’s blood, he wished being near her didn’t bother him so.

“I shan’t speak to the crew,” she offered because he seemed so annoyed with her

“You can talk to the damn crew. Just not about—”

“Maggots, yes, I know.”

“Or those little invisible animals that swim around in water.”

“I wouldn’t think of mentioning animalcules.”

“We’re agreed, then?”

“Oh, yes, we’re agreed.” Miranda smiled, and Jack nearly jerked the door off its iron hinges getting out of the cabin. As soon as he did, he slammed the heel of his hand against a rafter.

They’d shifted direction.

From the first time she was allowed on deck, Miranda knew the
Sea Hawk
headed north. Now, as she climbed through the hatch and felt the sun on the back of her head, she realized they sailed east.

She took the captain’s offered hand and allowed him to help her on deck. Since that afternoon two days ago, there was a quasi-truce between them. He allowed her the freedom to roam the ship—after he escorted her above deck—and she uttered not a syllable about maggots or animalcules.

Captain Blackstone could be charming. Miranda didn’t like acknowledging it, but it was nonetheless true. Phin confided that the captain was known as Gentleman Jack because of his courtly manners. And Miranda could believe it. He smiled at her now, and she had to force herself to remember he was the pirate who kidnapped her. But remember she did.

“Are we heading toward land, Captain?”

Jack paused and turned back. He had just deposited her near the rail. He had things to do, and he never doubted she could keep herself occupied. She seemed to always be doing something, whether it was sketching on parchment or conversing with his crew.

What she talked to them about, he didn’t know. But there was no more trouble with eating hardtack or drinking the water. There’d been no more trouble at all. Obviously refusing to allow any of them to go to her cabin and keeping everything out in the open had solved the problem.

 “Aye, we’re heading for land. We should spot it before nightfall.” He didn’t question how she knew.

“Is it a town?”

“Nay, only a small inlet I know of.” Jack had decided to follow Henry’s advice and have his crew careen the
Sea Hawk’s
hull while he waited to return his captive to Charles Town. Scraping the barnacles was a job that needed done, and this way he’d not lose any more valuable time when he could be hunting for de Segovia.

“Is that where you will collect the ransom?”

“What... ? Oh, the ransom.” How could he have forgotten the rest of Henry’s scheme? He was supposed to be holding the little lady for ransom. “Aye, your father will deliver the money there.”

“Will I be able to see him? Go home with him?”

 “No.” Damn, she asked a lot of annoying questions. “He’ll just send a messenger.”

“Can I leave with him?”

“No, dammit, you can’t.” Jack felt the grip on his temper slipping away.

“But I don’t understand why not. As long as you have the money, I should think you’d be happy to be rid of me.”

He couldn’t argue with that, but then he wasn’t getting any money from this hair-brained scheme. He was just getting annoyed... and frustrated.

He hadn’t slept well since they left Charles Town, and Jack could no longer blame the small hammock or the snoring crew. It was the dreams—erotic dreams that woke him, hot and hard and almost moaning. And they all centered around Miranda Chadwick. Miranda Chadwick! The very fact left him puzzled.

Not that she wasn’t lovely. In her own soft, delicate way she was beautiful. But he preferred women with more obvious curves and certainly ones who didn’t make a habit of asking him myriad questions.

Regardless, every night he found himself dreaming of his captive. Holding her. Kissing her. Doing all manner of wild and lusty things to her that would probably shock her speechless—a sight he wouldn’t mind witnessing.

To put a halt to the dreams, he’d tried staying away from her. That didn’t help. Yesterday he decided to overlook her strangeness and treat her like he would any other female. Perhaps keeping his distance caused him to think of her all the more.

It was too early to know if being around her would alleviate those damn frustrating dreams. But he did know it made him a target for her relentless questions.

He took a deep breath. “You cannot go with the messenger because that’s not the way ‘tis done.” She started to say something, but he held up his hand. “I’m the pirate here, remember. I should know how to handle a kidnapping.” He shifted slightly under her gaze. Her eyes looked lighter in the sunlight. More azure than twilight blue. And why he noticed or cared was beyond him.

“Now, if you’ve no more questions, I’ll be about my duties.” With that, Jack turned and headed for the quarterdeck. He had to do something to get this woman out of his thoughts, but outside of jumping ship and swimming to the nearest land, he couldn’t think what it could be.

“Don’t let him bother ye none. The cap’n’s bark is usually worse’n his bite.”

Miranda looked around at Phin and gave him a smile of welcome. “I know,” she said. “At least I think I do.” She couldn’t help remembering that kiss. There were things he could do to her if she provoked him too much. But she had no plans to do that.

Now she just planned to lean back and enjoy the sunshine on the water and the sea breeze in her hair. She caught Phin’s eye. “Your captain tells me we are headed for land.”

“Aye, to Snebley’s Creek.”

“I imagine there is an abundance of flora and fauna there.” When she noticed Phin’s puzzled expression, she clarified, “Plants and animals.”

“Ye got the right of it there, your ladyship. There’s plenty of plants and bugs where we’re goin’. Skeeters big enough to suck a man’s body clean dry.”

“Goodness,” Miranda said, cocking her head. “I don’t imagine I’ll need my microscope to study them, will I?”

Phin’s walnut brown face flushed red. “Mayhap I were exaggeratin’ a mite. But they is big.”

Miranda just laughed and clamped her bonnet on her head.

“Ye make any more sketches a them maggots?”

“I told you we can’t talk about them anymore.”

“I ain’t gonna stop eating my vittles.”

“That’s all well and good, but I did promise Captain Blackstone that I would cease discussing maggots and animalcules with his crew. And a promise is a promise. Even if he is a pirate—” Miranda paused and bit her lip. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you.” Despite his profession, she’d become quite fond of Phin. She liked King and Scar and most of the others, too.

“No offense taken.” Phin screwed up his face. “It’s just me and the men kinda liked hearin’ ye talk about such things.”

“I know,” Miranda sighed. “But I did give my word and—” Her expression brightened. “There’s nothing to stop us from exchanging views on other topics.”

“Well, there sure ain’t.”

“We’ll have to hold our discussions on deck, of course. But I don’t believe your captain would mind. That is, as long as I don’t interfere with your work.”

“Maybe you could tell us more ‘bout light movin’. Though I still think it’s either there or it ain’t.”

When Jack walked past his captive a quarter of an hour later, she was sitting on a coil of hemp, making a drawing on a sheet of parchment, and Phin and No Thumb sat by her feet.

“Does this drawing help?” Miranda asked, holding up a sketch she made of the sun and its planets.

The wrinkles in Phin’s forehead deepened. “I ain’t sure I got it yet.” He twisted his head to the side and caught sight of Jack. “What ye think a this, Cap’n?”

Miranda’s gaze flew to the tall, golden captain, and she sucked in her breath. She really didn’t think he had any interest in science in general and what she had to say in particular. And he had just told her he had work to do. He couldn’t help but resent the interruption. She waited for the roar of his voice as he told Phin not to bother him with such “inconsequential things”, but it never came.

Instead he, squatted in front of her, so close that his muscled thighs nearly brushed her skirt. After reaching for the parchment, he spread it across his knees. His expression was serious as he examined the sketch.

“This is...?” he asked, and Miranda, pulled her attention away from watching his long, bronzed finger point to a circular shape.

“Jupiter.” Miranda swallowed. She never before noticed the tiny prisms of crystal green and silver that made up his eyes. “And that’s its moon.” She reached out and touched the paper.

“And I suppose this... ‘person’ is on Earth.” Jack outlined the tiny stick figure she’d drawn standing in front of a long cylindrical shape.

“That’s Olaus Roemer looking through a telescope.” Miranda paused. “It’s not a very good likeness.”

“One would hope not. At least for old Olaus’s sake.” That coaxed a smile from her, and Jack couldn’t help grinning in return. “What’s he doing?”

“He’s timin’ an eclipse, Cap’n.”

Jack glanced around. He’d forgotten Phin and No Thumb were even there. “Why’s he doing that?”

Phin rubbed his bristled jaw. “Now, that’s the part I ain’t too sure ‘bout, Cap’n.”

“He’s recording the difference in time of the eclipse of Jupiter’s moon behind the planet when the Earth is closest to Jupiter and when it’s farthest away.”

“And?”

The captain was looking at her as if he understood what she said. Miranda leaned forward. “And he found the closer we are to Jupiter—Roemer was at the Paris Observatory.”

“A Frenchie,” Phin spat in disgust.

“Oh, no. Roemer isn’t French. He’s Danish. He only used the observatory in Paris because, well, that really isn’t important. Anyway.” Miranda took a deep breath, surprised she still had the captain’s attention. “Roemer found that when the Earth was on the same side of the sun as Jupiter, he could see the eclipse earlier, which meant it took the light from Jupiter’s moon less time to travel the shorter distance.”