Christine Dorsey - [Sea 01] (27 page)

Fond? Was he? Jack couldn’t say for sure. He found her interesting, and certainly desirable, but she’d been more an annoyance than anything else. Jack shrugged away the comment.

“Nafkebee found me. I suppose he told you about de Segovia,” Jack said, turning back toward his uncle.

“Indeed. I suppose that’s why I was so surprised by your plans to marry.”

“One has naught to do with the other. I’m leaving for St. Augustine on the morning tide.” Jack paused, surprised by his uncle’s expression. “You doubt my words?”

“I believe that is your intention, however...” Robert stood and carefully made his way to the window.

“What? What is it you’re not saying?” Jack knew his uncle well. He was one to usually speak his mind.

“Nothing.” His hand beneath the layers of lace fluttered as if in dismissal. He appeared to have a change of heart and continued. “I just wonder how serious you could be about finding de Segovia and punishing him.”

“How can you even question my intent, or my commitment to avenging our family? I have sacrificed nearly everything to that end.”

“What you say is true.” Robert touched his finger to the side of his nose. “However, you do plan to marry today.”

“I already told you that shall have no effect on my quest.”

“Ah.” Robert’s hands lifted. “That is easy to say now, when the blood runs cool. But a night in your young bride’s arms may change that. Women have a way of working their wiles upon a man. Your mother for instance—”

“I’m leaving for the
Sea Hawk
immediately after the ceremony,” Jack said with determination.

“Excellent.”

The hard edge of malice that tinged Robert’s smile did not escape Jack. This man was obsessed with revenge. Almost as obsessed as Jack himself. They indeed had the same goal in life. Still, Jack was glad he’d stopped Robert from expounding upon his mother.

Robert had been in love with Jack’s mother. The notion still surprised Jack, even though he’d had nearly a year to get used to the idea... a year since Robert had told him of the beautiful Flora. And how she’d at first encouraged the amorous attentions of a noble second son, only to spurn him after meeting his older brother, Jack’s father.

It made Jack wonder, after Robert told him of this strange triangle, why his uncle came to the Carolinas with his parents. But Robert had always seemed devoted to Jack’s father, and he was still obviously affected by his death.

As was Jack.

Sometimes he wondered if he’d ever get over his own feelings of rage when he thought of de Segovia.

Jack took a deep breath. “Soon, Uncle.” He clenched his fist. “Soon I will return from St. Augustine with word that I’ve killed the bastard de Segovia.”

“A day we all await.” Robert clasped his nephew’s shoulder.

Jack spent the remainder of his visit discussing Royal Oak, his plantation to the south of Charles Town. The land was the original grant given to his father when he’d settled at Port Royal. Jack was so often away at sea, Robert managed it for him.

During their talk, Jack thought how amusing it would be to inform Miranda that her betrothed, besides being a pirate, was also a wealthy landowner. With a shrug he conceded she probably wouldn’t care.

But would she ever want to live on the plantation with him? Jack had played with the idea of retiring from the sea and focusing his energies on growing rice. He’d even discussed it with his uncle. But it wouldn’t be until he found de Segovia, of course. And hopefully, his sister. But then, perhaps Jack would consider it. A change in lifestyle would help alleviate the itch at the base of his neck if nothing else.

“Jack, are you listening to me?”

“Aye.” Jack searched his mind for what his uncle just said. “You plan to flood more acreage. I think that’s a prudent idea. Rice is bringing a good price.”

“And it is relatively safe from pirates,” Robert added.

“Indeed.” Jack laughed. He stood and walked to the window. It was time for him to go to Henry Chadwick’s house, but he still had something to discuss with his uncle. “The
Sea Hawk
was attacked by a Spanish ship.” Jack couldn’t help himself; he studied his uncle’s reaction carefully. He appeared surprised.

“Good heavens, when? I thought you did the attacking.”

“ ‘Tis the usual scenario. But not this time. It was three days ago.” He paused a moment. “At the mouth of Snebley’s Creek.”

Robert shook his head. “Dreadful. But it appears you came through it unscathed.”

“Aye, but two of my men were killed.”

Robert made a clicking noise with his tongue. “A shame. But I suppose that’s one of the consequences of being a pirate.”

“I suppose.” Jack ran his finger along the wainscoting. “But we’ve always felt relatively safe at Snebley’s Creek.”

“Because it’s well hidden?”

“Aye. And because so few people know of its existence.” Jack knew he should let it drop, but some perverse streak made him continue. “You are one of those few people, Uncle Robert.”

“So I am. You did tell me its location. And as I recall, you said Henry Chadwick also knew about it.”

“He does.”

Robert crossed to the table to pour some more wine. Jack shook his head at the silent offer. “Then, I imagine if you found the creek, others could too. Perhaps this Spanish ship stumbled across your hiding place.”

“You could be right.”
Except that they were waiting for us
, Jack thought. But he didn’t say it. He had an uncomfortable feeling he’d said too much already. It wasn’t as if he honestly believed his uncle would betray him. But then who? a small voice asked. “Well, I must be on my way.”

“I am welcome at the nuptials, aren’t I?”

“Aye.” Jack laughed, wishing he could dispel his nagging doubts. This man was his flesh and blood. “Inviting you was one of the reasons I stopped by.”

Miranda had never been so pushed and prodded in her life. When all she wanted to do was read or study a specimen under her microscope, two servants twisted her hair into smooth, upswept rolls. They teased a few raven curls onto her forehead before adding a fontange of stiff lace that made Miranda appear several inches taller than she was.

Her stays were laced tightly and covered with a mantua of the finest ruby silk. The stomacher sported bows of ivory ribbon. The same ribbon that ruched, decorated her petticoat. The scarlet overskirt was tied back and trailed along the floor in a train that Miranda thought would surely trip her before the day was through.

“Your ladyship looks ravishing,” declared Molly, the servant her father had borrowed from his friend, Mistress Denley.

“Oh, indeed she does,” Henry piped in as he stood in the doorway to her bedroom. “May I come in?”

“Of course, Papa.” Miranda turned to the two servants. “Are we finished?” she asked, almost frightened that they might have some other form of torture waiting for her. But they simply nodded and, after curtseying, left the room.

“Jack is downstairs.”

“He is?” Though her father seemed certain the pirate would show up today, Miranda had secretly hoped and even expected he wouldn’t. Oh, maybe, a small part of her didn’t like the idea of his rejecting her so obviously; however, she thought that preferable to a forced marriage.

Miranda sighed and decided to wage her last battle against what was about to happen. She’d been unable to come up with any way out of this marriage—even using all her reasoning skills. Perhaps if she and the captain joined forces, they could come up with something. “Do you suppose I could speak with Captain Blackstone... here.”

“In your room?” Henry appeared shocked that she would suggest such a thing.

“Actually, it doesn’t have to be in my room, but really Papa, what could possibly happen? I’m so bound up in these clothes, I can barely move.” Miranda spoke with more tact when she noticed her father’s cheeks turn a dull red. “I really do need to discuss, something with him... privately.”

Her father seemed somewhat disgruntled as he left the room, but a few minutes later he returned, the pirate captain in tow.

Of course, he appeared nothing like the pirate he was. He was tall and handsome, his golden hair neatly brushed and his powerful body dressed in the most stylish of clothes. Miranda’s pulse quickened, just looking at him.

He stepped into the room, shutting the door on her father, who mumbled something about remaining in the upper hallway.

“You wished to see me?”

“Yes.” Now that he was in the same room with her, some of Miranda’s courage failed her. It was much easier to think when he wasn’t near her. And she’d been wrong about his not seeming like a pirate. Though he was shined and polished, there was still a wildness about him that all the silk from China couldn’t conceal.

Miranda moved toward the fireplace... anything to put distance between them. When she turned back, she caught Captain Blackstone watching her, a light in his eyes that she well remembered. Perhaps her father was right about not allowing them too much privacy. Miranda had the strongest urge to wriggle out of her clothes and wrap herself around him—pirate or not.

She cleared her throat. “We must find a way to change my father’s mind about this marriage.”

“Why?”

Why? What did he mean, why? She was the one who usually asked such questions. “Because neither of us wants it,” Miranda said, stating what she thought was the obvious.

“Perhaps,” Jack agreed. However, seeing her now, he couldn’t remember exactly what he had against this match. “But sometimes we must do things simply because it is the right thing to do.”

Miranda’s mouth dropped open. “That’s a strange thing for you to say.”

“Why so strange?”

“Well you’re a... I mean...” This was not the way she wanted to start this conversation, by insulting the captain.

But he didn’t seem insulted. He only shook his head and chuckled. “Because I’m a pirate?”

“Well, yes.” She might as well be honest. “And is that why you’re so against marrying me?”

“No... yes... perhaps it has something to do with it. But it isn’t the main reason,” Miranda hastened to add.

“Which is?”

“I simply don’t wish to marry.” Miranda lifted her hands. “I don’t believe either of us does. There must be another way to solve this problem. We need to do some deductive reasoning.”

“I’m afraid reasoning of any sort is out.” Jack had to grin at the expression on her face when he said that. You’d have thought he suggested she jump out the window.

“But that’s ridiculous. Logic and reasoning—”

“Don’t always work when you’re dealing with people’s feelings. And that, Miranda, is what we’re dealing with here!” Jack took a deep breath and tried to think of the best way to explain. For all her knowledge about planets and gravity and little invisible animals, his bride to be knew very little about human nature.

“What we did together—and I assure you I take full responsibility for it—is usually reserved for people who are married. Now, sometimes a man and a woman do make love without the sanction of a wedding.” Jack held up his hand when he felt she planned to interrupt. “However, it is not something that is openly spoken of.”

The captain paused, and Miranda continued to stare at him. When he said nothing else, she prodded, “And?”

“And because you told the constable, and the king’s revenuer that you ran off with me, they assume we... well, what we did.”

Miranda whirled about, brushing her hands over the scarlet silk in frustration. “I still don’t understand—”

“God’s blood! Your reputation will be ruined if we don’t wed. And your father, who loves you very much, will be devastated.” Jack clenched his teeth. “That’s all you need to understand.”

 Couldn’t he hold a rational conversation without yelling? Miranda stuck out her jaw, and kept her voice as low as she could. “Don’t forget that my lie about running away with you won’t be believed if we don’t marry.”

“There’s that, too,” Jack admitted. “But if saving myself was all that concerned me, I would have sailed away last night rather than tonight.”

“You’re leaving tonight?”

Her words were spoken softly, and Jack felt a tightening in his chest. “Aye. You won’t have to concern yourself that I will—I mean, after the ceremony I’ll be leaving.”

“Off pirating?” she asked. Miranda couldn’t understand it, but she felt disappointed. He wasn’t going to stay with her at all.

“Aye, pirating,” he said but he’d hesitated before answering, and Miranda could swear he wasn’t telling her the truth.

Miranda watched in silence as he turned abruptly and left the room without further explanation. Her last hope gone, Miranda realized she was actually going to have to marry him.

And then he was going to leave her. The idea should have pleased her, but for some reason she couldn’t get the image of her mother from her mind. Her mother who’d been married and left behind.

Of course, that was different. Her mother and father had loved each other. And Father had gone off to make a better life for them, not taking his wife because of the danger.

But that hadn’t saved Miranda’s mother from dying alone, longing for her husband’s touch.

“This isn’t the same thing at all,” Miranda mumbled. But as she followed the captain downstairs, she decided to find out the truth about where he was going.