Christine Dorsey - [Sea 01] (29 page)

Her grandfather would have labeled it an intuition and summarily dismissed it. Miranda tried.

“I didn’t realize until today that my... husband had an uncle in Charles Town.” Miranda didn’t add that there were many things she didn’t know about the pirate captain.

“Ah, yes. I fear Jack and I are all that’s left of the Blackstones who came here from Scotland.”

“That’s a shame. How many of them were there?”

“My brother, his wife and children.” Robert Blackstone smiled down at her. “Jack and his sister,” he explained. “We came to the New World seeking a better life, but alas, it ended tragically.”

“What happened?”

Robert sighed. “The Spanish from St. Augustine attacked one day, killing most everyone. The rest Don Diego de Segovia took prisoner.”

There was that name again. “Were you taken prisoner?”

“No.” His smile hardened till Miranda thought it seemed more like a sneer. “I was away from the settlement.”

“I see.”

“It is something I’ve had to live with since that day.”

“What happened to Captain Blackstone?”

“Why don’t you ask your husband that question?”

Miranda stiffened as the deep voice floated over her left shoulder. She turned and tilted her head, staring up at Jack Blackstone. He was smiling, but no mirth touched the stormy green of his eyes. “I was just —”

“I heard you.”

“Oh.” Obviously he didn’t like being the topic of conversation.

“Your father wishes to see you.” Jack took Miranda’s arm. “Will you excuse us, Uncle Robert?”

“But my father is by the punch bowl,” Miranda protested as Jack pulled her along toward the piazza. He ignored her, and made only the briefest comment to several men who offered their congratulations. When he shut the door, effectively sealing them off from the crush of guests, Jack turned to his bride.

“What is it that you wish to know?”

“... I don’t understand.”

His golden brow arched. “You forget that I’m somewhat acquainted with you. You’re asking questions about me—of Phin, of Robert. Perhaps you should simply ask me.”

Miranda lifted her chin. “Will you answer them... truthfully?” She couldn’t forget how he’d lied to her before.

“Perhaps.” The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

“I want to know about de Segovia!” She saw the hint of a smile disappear and anger darken his eyes.

“Why?”

Miranda hesitated. She really couldn’t answer that. She simply wanted to know. “I think you’re trying to find him.”

Jack held her gaze a moment. “Again, why should you care?”

“Well, I am your wife.” The words were out of her mouth before Miranda could stop them. She could tell they shocked the captain as much as they did her. “I mean...” She tried to come up with an explanation but could think of nothing.

“This really doesn’t concern you, Miranda.”

“You wanted to know why I didn’t ask you.” Miranda turned away from him. “This is why. I didn’t think you’d tell me.”

He caught her before she moved two steps. “He’s the man who killed my parents, and captured my sister and myself.” Jack answered quickly, then wondered why he bothered at all.

“You escaped?”

“Obviously.”

Miranda ignored the sarcasm. “And now you’re going back for him. But why?”

“My sister didn’t escape.”

Miranda bit on the end of her thumbnail. “But anything could have happened to her in—how long ago was this?”

“Twelve years.”

“Twelve years?” Her eyes widened. “But surely you can’t hope to—”

“You asked why I was going after de Segovia, and I told you.”

Miranda had more questions, but with a sweep of his hand, her husband indicated the interview was over. Miranda sighed, having no choice but to lead him back into the garden.

“There ye be,” Phin bellowed as soon as the door opened. “I was thinkin’ ye done sneaked off ‘fore I could raise me hand in a toast.”

To Miranda’s thinking, Phin had already raised his hand too many times. But he draped one arm about her shoulders and the other around his captain’s waist, explaining how it was the quartermaster’s duty to salute the health and success of a wedding.

“Phin, I don’t think it’s necessary to—”

“Now, Cap’n, I knows me duty.” Phin untangled his arm from around Miranda, managing to push her toward Jack in the process. She fell against his chest and stayed there. Phin gave a sharp yell, gaining everyone’s attention. “To the cap’n and his bride.” Phin held up a silver goblet that looked too delicate for his hand, then downed its contents in one gulp.

Most of the guests took a moment to exchange glances, then followed suit.

“Now ye need to give her a good kiss.” Phin tried to shove the newlyweds even closer together. “Phin, you’ve had too much to drink.”

“And when has that ever bothered ye, Cap’n, ‘cepten when I be on duty, and ye knows I don’t overindulge. ‘Sides, drinkin’s the right of ev’ry red-blooded pir—”

“If it’s a kiss you want,” Jack yelled, trying to cut off and drown out Phin’s last word. God’s blood, the man was loose-lipped when he was pie-eyed drunk. “It’s a kiss you shall get.” Jack swung Miranda around in his arms, hoping against hope that the constable didn’t hear the word pirate from Phin’s lips.

To the cheers of his men, and the shocked “ahhs” of several ladies, Jack leaned Miranda over his arms and kissed her soundly on the lips. A soft sound escaped her, one of surprise... of yielding. Her mouth opened, and before Jack could think, his tongue shot inside. Her body quivered, then seemed to melt into his. He could feel her arms slide up his to wrap around his neck and her fingers dig into his hair. And all thoughts of why he was doing this fled his head.

She was warm and soft and smelled more exotic than the mid-summer garden. Her scent seemed to envelop him as surely as his body surrounded her. It made him lightheaded. Ready to sink with her to the crushed-shell walkway.

He remembered what it felt like to lie with her, to touch her delicate body and sink into her heat. Blood pounded in his ears, boiled and raced to his groin. And all the while Jack’s mouth devoured Miranda’s, savoring the sweet honey of her.

Jack’s hands roamed along her back, the silk warm and smooth like the flesh below, pressing her ever more tightly into his embrace. And she came willingly, ardently.

All he knew, was the overpowering need that seemed to invade him, consume him, every time they touched.

Until he felt something hard and claw-like bite into his shoulder. Jack twisted, and reality flooded over him in one fearful and totally embarrassing moment. Henry’s hand gripped his shoulder, and the smile on his lips didn’t disguise the anger in his eyes. Miranda clung to him, her body limp and flushed, her breathing ragged. Jack could almost see her mind working, trying to formulate the question she would ask.

What happened? That would most definitely be it. And Lord, he wished he knew. One minute he’d been stopping Phin from getting them all hung by blurting out they were pirates, and the next he was soundly kissing his wife in front of a score of gaping people.

Jack’s gaze drifted out across them. Every last person gathered under the live oaks shading the garden appeared stunned... and that included his crew. God’s blood, he’d shocked a band of pirates!

Jack’s laugh was forced, and his voice huskier than usual. “Well, you wanted a kiss, a kiss you got.”

At first only silence greeted his words; but then gradually a few guests chuckled, then a few more, and eventually most of them drifted off toward the long food-laden table.

But not Henry. He stood his ground like a bulldog. Under Jack’s leveled glare he did remove his hand from Jack’s shoulder. But his tone was irate and fierce, though low enough not to be heard by the other guests. “Just what did you think you were doing?”

“Kissing my wife.” Jack gnashed out the words. He moved to walk away; but Henry blocked his path, and though Jack could have pushed him aside, it would have caused a scene... another scene.

“Listen to me,” Jack began. “Phin was about to announce to everyone that we are pirates. I didn’t think any of us would like that, so I did something to distract him.”

“Maul my daughter?”

“Nay.” Jack’s eyes narrowed. “Kiss my wife.” Jack forced himself to remain calm. “If you recall, Henry, the fact that she is my wife is your doing. Now, I suggest you leave it be.” With that Jack walked away.

“I’m sorry, daughter.” Henry let out his breath, and his shoulders sloped forward. “I never meant for any of this to happen.” His eyes met hers. “I never wanted you hurt.”

“I know that, Papa. And I’m fine, really.” Miranda smiled, though her knees still felt weak. “It was, after all, only a kiss.” Her father nodded his agreement, but Miranda didn’t think he meant it. And
she
certainly knew better. Captain Blackstone had touched her, and she’d lost all sense of reality.

“And, Papa, Phin
was
about to announce that they were pirates.” Miranda whispered the last word.

Henry let out his breath. “I should have told you of my involvement from the beginning. I’ve caused all this.”

“Nothing bad has happened.” Miranda touched her father’s sleeve. “Really.”

Jack stood off to himself and watched Miranda and her father. He should apologize to her. But that would mean being around her, and right now he didn’t want to do that. Strange things happened to him when she was close.

“Cap’n.”

Jack turned to see Phin— a contrite Phin, standing at his elbow. His head was lowered, and his felt hat was smashed between two gnarled hands. “I’m askin’ yer forgiveness for what I said. I nearly got us all hung.”

“That you did, Phin.”

“ ‘Twas the drink, Cap’n. Now, I knows that ain’t no excuse, but...” He shifted his feet, smashing grass beneath his salt-stained boots.

“Let’s just forget it, Phin. Neither of us belong here, and the sooner we leave the better.”

“Like I said earlier, the
Sea Hawk’s
at the ready.”

“Good. We’ll sail with the morning tide, then.” Jack tore his gaze away from Miranda to smile at Phin.

“I knows what ye said earlier, but ain’t no reason ye has to be on board tonight.”

“What?” A moment ago, he’d forgiven Phin for almost getting them all hung. Now the old man thought he needed to arrange Jack’s wedding night. “No. Never mind. Don’t repeat yourself.”

“Well, I just was wantin’ ye to know—”

“I think I can handle this, Phin.”

“Sure, and ye can.” Phin leered up at his captain. “Never doubted that for a moment.”

Not long after Phin offered his bit of romantic advice, the guests started taking their leave. The pirates were the first to go. Jack was congratulating himself that his men had managed to mingle with the upper crust of Charles Town without actually getting arrested for piracy, when he glanced around to see No Thumb and Constable Hicks in a heated discussion.

“God’s blood, why didn’t he leave with the others?” Jack mumbled as he skirted a portly matron who was busily fanning away the first evening mosquitoes. “Leslie,” Jack said, clamping his hand on No Thumb’s shoulder. No Thumb jerked around, an angry glare in his pale eyes. He hated being called by his Christian name which was exactly why Jack did it now. If he was going to argue with anyone, let it be with his captain.

“What ye be wantin’, Cap’n?” No Thumb’s tone was surly.

“I just thought I’d say good-bye. Did you notice the others left for the ship? You should be leaving, too.” Jack’s tone was authoritative.

For a moment Jack thought the pirate was going to argue—he held Jack’s eye a little longer than necessary. But in the end, he heaved a sigh. “Aye, Cap’n. But would ye tell this landlubber about them invisible animals swimmin’ in the water. He don’t believe me.”

“That’s what you’re arguing about?” Jack felt the itch around his neck subside.

“Aye.” No Thumb, was indignant. “It ain’t as if I ain’t seen them with me own eyes.”

Jack tried not to laugh. “He’s right, you know,” he said, turning toward the constable. “They’re called—wait.” Jack snagged Miranda by the arm as she walked past him. “My wife’s the expert. My dear, Mr. Hicks would like to know all about your invisible animals.”

Hustling No Thumb off, Jack looked back to see a bewildered constable listening to Miranda’s explanation.

By the time the servants lit candles to keep the night shadows at bay, the wedding guests were gone. Only Miranda, Jack and Henry remained, and they’d wandered into the parlor.

It had been a long day, and Miranda was tired. She’d wanted to discover more about her new husband... about his reasons for going to St. Augustine, but that wasn’t going to happen. He was preparing to take his leave, and he was telling her father that the
Sea Hawk
was sailing early the next morning.

Miranda sighed, inadvertently drawing both men’s attention to her. “I... I suppose I should retire.” This moment of parting seemed so awkward. Especially because she wasn’t certain she wanted to part from the pirate. But it was obvious he couldn’t wait to leave. He paced between her father’s chair and the windows, like a wild animal longing to be free.

Miranda rose, her silk skirt rustling softly. She leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek. “Good night, Papa.” Next she faced her husband. “Good-bye, Captain Blackstone. I wish you success in your voyage.”

“My name is Jack. We are married... and well, I just think it would be better if you called me that.”

“All right.” Miranda held out her hand, and the moment he took it, she felt the familiar heat spread through her body. It was inexplicable. Miranda tried not to think about it. She pulled away from him and started toward the hallway when she remembered something.

“Jack,” she said, smiling over her shoulder. “Constable Hicks actually
was
interested in the animalcules.”

Jack stepped toward her, suddenly awash in emotion. He felt a stab of embarrassment because he’d used her to occupy the constable while he’d sent No Thumb on his way... and she obviously knew it. But that had nothing to do with the warmth that engulfed him. She was smiling, and he suddenly realized he might never see her again.