Christine Dorsey - [Sea 01] (6 page)

With those words echoing in his ears, Henry hurried out the door. He found Jack pacing the piazza. “What did you do to my daughter?” Henry demanded without preamble.

Jack looked up, a scowl darkening his features. “I didn’t do one damn thing to your precious daughter.”

“Well, she said you—”

“I don’t give a damn what she said. What in the hell are you doing with a Spanish daughter?”

 “She’s not Spanish.”

“Well, she sure as hell speaks Spanish.”

“She speaks English and French, Latin, too.” At Jack’s disbelieving expression, Henry continued, “Her grandfather taught her languages... among other things,” he finished in a mumble. Straightening his shoulders, Henry advanced on Jack. “But that’s not the important thing here. What you did to my daughter is.”

“No!” Jack faced Henry toe to toe. “The important thing is why you don’t believe me when I say I didn’t do anything to her.” With that Jack turned on his heel and slammed out the door into the bright sunshine.

He was feeling sorry for himself.

Jack recognized the symptoms. Knew he should do something about it. Chose not to.

His chair tilted against the wall in the small waterfront tavern, he swirled his ale in the pewter mug, then took a healthy swig. He’d been here for... hell, he didn’t know how long he’d been here. But he’d consumed a fair amount of ale. Not enough, but a fair amount nonetheless.

Jack smacked the mug onto the rough-hewn table. Sitting here getting drunk was ridiculous. He should be readying the
Sea Hawk
to sail away from Charles Town... forever.

Once Henry’s daughter finished with his reputation, he’d no longer be welcome in the town no matter how much the people wanted the cargo he brought. The good citizens could overlook his true profession so long as it didn’t slap them in the face. But once someone started screeching, “pirate”— and Henry’s daughter could certainly do that—they would ignore it no longer.

If he didn’t get out of here, he’d end up like old John Sparkes. Jack untwisted the cravat from around his neck. He’d already yanked off his fancy silk waistcoat. It lay across the table in a wrinkled heap.

Slamming the front chair legs to the floor, Jack shook his head. He probably should walk over to Meeting Street and say good-bye to his uncle. Then he needed to sail away.

Jack took another gulp of ale and let his head fall into his palms: Lord he didn’t want to leave Charles Town like this.

“What’s the problem, Jack?” A pair of hands slid sensually inside the opening of his shirt. “I’ll warrant it’s not something Lottie can’t fix.” The hands slipped lower as Jack raised his head.

“See.” Lottie rubbed her full breasts against Jack’s shoulder as she skimmed her fingers over the bulge forming in his breeches. “You’re feeling better already.”

“That I am, Lottie girl, but I’m afraid—”

“Jack! I have to talk to you.”

Jack looked up with drink-blurred eyes to see Henry standing before him, nervously twisting his hat brim. A stoic expression tightened his handsome features. “You come to arrest me, Henry?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Henry’s glance strayed to Lottie, who was still working her wiles on Jack. “I need to talk to you in private.”

Jack’s hand covered Lottie’s, and he shifted on the hard chair to relieve some of the pressure in his groin. “Be a good girl, Lottie, and get my friend here a drink.”

“But Jack...” The girl’s petulant mouth grazed Jack’s ear. “I was thinking you and me could go upstairs.”

“Maybe later,” Jack hedged, though he doubted he’d have the time for more than a hasty departure from town.

“I’ve looked for you everywhere,” Henry said while scraping a chair across the floor to sit huddled beside Jack.

“I’ve been here.”

“So I see. How much did you drink?” Henry fluttered his hand in a dismissing motion. “Never mind. That’s not important.” He blew out a puff of air. “I spoke with Miranda.”

Jack arched his brow. “And that
is
important?”

“Enough of your sarcasm, Jack. She means to see you tried as a pirate.”

“Well, I hate to disappoint your charming daughter, but I plan to be long gone before that can happen.” Jack’s eyes shot to meet the older man’s. “Unless of course she sent you to see that I don’t leave.”

“Don’t be a fool.” Henry released another puff of air and mopped his damp brow. “Though I am supposed to be seeking out the constable.”

“What?” Jack’s fist smashed into the table, shaking the wood and spilling the drink that Henry had yet to touch.

“Keep your voice down.” Henry gave a nervous look over his shoulder. Most of the tavern’s patrons were seafaring men, louder and more boisterous even than Jack. “I’m not doing it.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” Jack emptied his ale, backhanded his mouth and kept his gaze on Henry.

“Scoff if you will, but my daughter intends to see justice served. Something about laws of science or logic... or some damn thing like that.”

Jack picked up his waistcoat and tried to smooth out the wrinkles. “Well, let her try to serve justice when I’m out on the high seas.” Giving up on the wrinkles, Jack tossed the jacket over his arm and tried to stand. Henry’s arm stopped him.

 “You can’t leave.”

Flopping back down, Jack stared at Henry in shock. “What the devil are you saying? I’ll not stay and have my neck stretched because of that little hellion you call a daughter.”

Henry’s back stiffened. “Watch what you say about Miranda, Jack.”

“Lord save me from fathers.”

“You’ll understand some day when you become one,” Henry shot back.

“And please, Lord, save me from that.”

Henry leaned forward. “Would you be serious?”

“Hell, I
am
being serious! Your daughter is planning to see me hanged, and I’m seriously planning to leave.” Jack stood. “Come down to the pier with me and we’ll work out what you owe me for the goods I brought. I’ll wager my men have unloaded a goodly amount.”

“No.”

“No?” Jack slid back into his seat. “What do you mean no?” He bent till he was nose to nose with Henry. “My men risked their lives for our cargo, and I intend to pay them.”

“Oh, I’ll pay you. Haven’t I always?”

Henry ignored Jack’s mumbled comment about that being before fatherdom. “I meant no you can’t leave. At least not now. That won’t solve anything.”

“It will sure as hell solve the problem of my elongated neck.”

“Well, what about me?” Henry’s voice squeaked on the last word.

“You?” Jack shook his head. “You aren’t a pirate.”

“True enough, but I deal with pirates—mostly you,” Henry added with an accusing look.

“And made yourself quite wealthy by doing it.”

“I know, I know.” Henry wiped his face again. “But the fact is, Miranda doesn’t know. She thinks I’m a respectable merchant. She admires me.”

Jack said nothing. He just waited for Henry to continue and tried to ignore the prickly sensation at the base of his neck.

“If she goes to the king’s revenuer, he will investigate... even if you’re gone. And I’ll be implicated for sure.”

Jack studied his friend for a moment, unable to stop feeling a bit sorry for him. But when all was said and done, Henry would receive nothing more than a mild reprimand—if that. He certainly wasn’t in jeopardy of being hanged. Jack told him as much... but it didn’t seem to brighten his mood.

“But Miranda will find out.”

Jack sighed and leaned back. “She’s your daughter. She won’t believe it if others speak ill of you.”

“No, no.” Henry shook his head. “I couldn’t bear for her to hear rumors about me.”

“Then, tell her yourself. Make a clean breast of it and ask for her forgiveness.” Jack had found this method of dealing with women effective in the past but he could tell from Henry’s reaction he didn’t fancy the idea.

“That wouldn’t work. You saw the way she feels about pirates.” Henry had the decency to lower his eyes sheepishly. “She thinks they’re the scourge of the earth.”

Jack took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. “As I see it, it’s about time that daughter of yours faced the realities of life.”

“I fear she is a little... how should I say this—”

“Odd?” Jack offered.

“I most assuredly wasn’t going to call my daughter that. After all, she did have a terrible shock. You did attack her ship... her English ship. And knocked her to the deck. Jack, that doesn’t seem at all like you.”

“I didn’t knock her; we fell. And as for my attacking her ship, it wasn’t exactly an attack, they gave up. And when I saw your precious daughter she was with a Spaniard.”

“Um,” Henry agreed, “Don Luis.” Henry inched his chair closer. “But this discussion is getting us nowhere. I’ve thought about the dilemma. And I think I have the answer to our problem.”

“
Our
problem?”

Henry ignored the skeptical arch of Jack’s brow. “I want you to kidnap Miranda.”

“What? Are you insane?”

“Keep your voice down, and please resume your seat.”

Jack absently righted the chair he’d knocked over when he bounded to his feet, and flopped back into it.

“Now, I know you think my plan sounds bizarre, but—”

“Why in the hell do you want me to kidnap your daughter?” Jack whispered his words when Henry shushed him.

“If you’ll just be quiet, I’ll tell you. It’s to—”

Jack held up his hand. “Wait! I don’t want to know. I’m sailing with the evening tide.”

“Please, Jack. I can’t let her find out about me.”

The please did it. Jack shut his eyes and wished he couldn’t remember his mother calmly teaching him his manners. “I’ll listen,” he said, spearing Henry with his stormy, sea green gaze. “But I’m not kidnapping your daughter.”

Henry settled into his seat. “Miranda plans to see the king’s revenuer about your being a pirate.”

Since he paused, apparently awaiting a response, Jack nodded. “So you say.”

Henry’s lips thinned, but he continued. “Joshua Peterson, the revenuer, leaves for England in a fortnight.”

Jack leaned the chair back on two legs. “Lock Miranda in her room for two weeks,” Jack suggested drolly.

“I can’t do that.”

Jack merely shrugged.

“At any point, until a new solicitor arrives from England, Nathan Peabody is to take his place.”

“Nathan Peabody.” Jack laughed. “He has more than a passing knowledge of piracy.”

“Exactly.” Henry crossed his arms and smiled. “If Miranda went to him, he’d listen politely, agree with her concern and promptly do nothing. Miranda would be happy, she’d never find out about me, and you could continue to trade in Charles Town... out of sight of Miranda, of course.”

“As I see it there’s but a wee problem in this scheme of yours. What am I supposed to do with your daughter for a fortnight?”

Henry threw up his hands. “I don’t know. Keep her prisoner... but don’t harm her, of course.”

“Oh, of course. Aren’t you the father who, just accused me of throwing his daughter to the deck?”

“I never really thought you did that. I did say it didn’t sound like you, didn’t I? Just keep her in a cabin ... and give her plenty of sea air.” Henry’s face lit up. “And hold her for ransom. That’s it. I shall pay the ransom, and she’ll know how much I love her.”

“And she’ll do whatever she can to see me hanged.”

“She’s planning to do that now,” Henry pointed out reasonably.

Jack couldn’t argue with that, but that didn’t mean he agreed with Henry’s plan. Crossing his arms, Jack leveled his glare on his friend. “There are several other things you’ve failed to consider.”

His face a study in bewilderment, Henry lifted his hands, palms up. “Such as?”

“Such as where your charming daughter would stay on a ship full of pirates.” A smug smile accompanied what Jack thought an obvious flaw in the plan.

“I’d thought your cabin. It is the nicest, and I wouldn’t want Miranda to be uncomfort—”

“Where in the hell am I supposed to sleep?”

“I’m certain you’ll find someplace,” Henry responded with such conviction that Jack was momentarily speechless.

When he did find his voice, Jack countered with, “And what about my crew? They aren’t used to having a woman on board, and they’re a lusty lot. God’s blood they’re pirates!”

“Don’t announce it to the whole town.” Henry darted a glance over his shoulder.

“No, we’ll leave that little chore to your daughter.”

“Sarcasm will get us nowhere,” Henry pointed out.

“And listening to this foolishness will?”

“It isn’t foolishness.” Henry paused. “As for my daughter’s virtue... I shall trust you to keep that secure.”

“Hell.” Jack slumped back in his chair. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” With a sigh he straightened. “Listen, Henry. I don’t know how to tell you this... I might as well simply say it. I don’t wish to be around your daughter for two weeks. Hell, I don’t want to be around her for two minutes.”

Jack yanked up the sleeves of his white linen shirt. “Look what she did to me.” He thrust his arms across the table. They were bronzed, well-muscled and covered with golden hair. And on each arm was a six-inch-long scar.

“Miranda did that?” Henry couldn’t disguise the pride in his voice.