Within a Captain's Hold (24 page)

Of course, he’d need to subdue her. She’d become crude and unabashed. He’d remind her of the proper way of things. His way of things. He’d keep her on a short lead, and she would never dream of running from him again.

This would be one lesson forever branded upon her soul.
Hmm, branding. That could be interesting. If we burned our mark into her flesh, there would be no question as to whom she belonged.
Some might find it frightening how amused he was at the prospect. Hearing her screams as the smell of burning flesh curled his nostrils. Nay, she’d never run from him again.

Wolfsan watched the balcony through narrowed eyes. He reached out and crushed a crimson flower blooming in the bush before him. His iron grip reduced its tender petals to pulp.

Their color stained his hand.

Jaxon held her in his arms. They were in a tumble upon the floor. Sheets and pillows hastily called into service lay strewn about. His hands swept across her back while his lips brushed the top of her head.

“I wish I could spend the whole day with you in my arms,” he murmured into her hair.

“Perhaps we could go to that little private cove you told me about. It sounds beautiful.”

He kissed her shoulder before rising, then turned and helped her up. “Unfortunately, I have business to attend to down at the docks.” He slipped his pants on. “I got word yesterday the repairs to the
Scarlet Night
are near complete and I want to inspect the work.”

Annalise shook the wrinkles from her skirt. “Truly? That’s wonderful news.” She refastened the buttons on her blouse. “You’re well, and the ship is fixed. When do you think we’ll be able to leave for Port St. Maria?”

Jaxon pulled at the laces on his shirt. “We aren’t going to Port St. Maria.”

Annalise stopped mid brush of her hair. She must have misunderstood him. “But I thought once the ship--”

“I never said I’d take you there.” Winding the wide sash about his waist, he looked back at her over one shoulder.

She frowned in confusion. “It was part of our bargain.”

Sitting, he slipped on his boots. “No, our bargain was to wed so Duke Wolfsan would no longer have claim to you in exchange for the title of marquis and all that came with it.” He held up his left hand. He hadn’t taken her father’s ring off since the day their union was made official.

His glibness chafed her. “Yes, plus getting me to Port St. Maria to reunite with my Alice and returning us to England.”

He shook his head. “I agreed to return you to England, but there is no way in hell I’m sailing anywhere near that port. It would be suicide.”

“But Alice is waiting for me. I should have arrived weeks ago.” Annalise’s cheeks heated with her building anger. This was not their deal, and he knew it.

“I’m sorry, Anna. The answer is no.”

He didn’t sound sorry. He sounded like he was speaking to a child begging for a sweet too near her supper. Clearly, he’d forgotten the seriousness of this.

“I’m not asking to go for a picnic by the sea. I must meet up with Alice. The entire purpose of stowing away aboard the
Scarlet Night
was to get there. Did you think I’d abandoned that?”

“I’m telling you, I’ll never sail my ship into those waters. By now, the French royal galley is docked there for the winter. They hold the port. The French don’t exactly appreciate me and my crew getting rich off their ships. We’re wanted men. A narrow channel is the only way in and out of St. Maria, and the
Scarlet Night
would be blown out of the water before we ever reached the harbor.” His voice rose.

His tone made her notch her chin and stare at him. “Then we’ll take another ship.” Impatient anger clipped her words.

He planted his hands on his hips. “Ship or no ship, there’s a bounty upon my head. I’ll not walk into that hornet’s nest.” The muscle in his jaw pulsed. “And neither will my wife.”

“We had an agreement.” she snapped.

“Yes. On
my
terms,” he barked back.

She gestured toward the scattered pillows. “I only thought that meant you wanted me in your bed.”

He turned his back on her and continued dressing. “Among other things.”

“You tricked me,” she raged at him.

“You were the one to propose.” His yelling gave way to a controlled quiet, yet irritation radiated from him. The bitter accusation stung her.

“I should have known you’d strike a dishonest bargain. You are a
pirate,
after all.”

He spun on her. “You knew who and what I was when you made the bargain.”

Her rage was quick to turn to fear. Not fear of him. Fear of the realization that her feelings for him weren’t shared. “And what have we been doing for the past month?” She gathered the scattered sheets and tossed them back upon the bed. She held a pillow to her chest to cover the sudden hollow ache there. “Has everything since the night we married been nothing more than a business deal for you? I thought we… I thought you…”

Jaxon held her gaze. Ice chilled the blue. “I’ve made no declarations to you.”

Annalise shivered as the cold reached through her flesh and bones and frosted her heart. “You’re right, you haven’t. I was a fool to believe you were a man of honor. And even more a fool to believe you cared for me. Now I see I’ve been little more than your whore.”

“Not my whore. My wife.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat that threatened to choke her. “From where I stand, I see little difference.” Dropping the pillow upon the tumbled bed, she turned away from him. All her feelings of love, peace, and safety vanished beneath the weight of hurt. She was back in that horrible hold. Desperate and alone. Struggling to keep her footing while the world around her threw her carelessly about. There was only one thing that saved her then. By God, it would save her now. Her iron determination.

She couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t be near him. She headed toward the door. “Fine. If you refuse to take me to Port St. Maria, I’ll go without you.”

He grabbed her arm as she passed. “You’re not going anywhere.” His grip was firm, but not painful, and yet, it scalded her skin. “You will stay here. I forbid you to leave these grounds, and I forbid you to even think about plotting another foolish plan to get to Port St. Maria. Is that understood?”

Anger flared again. “You
forbid
me to think?”

“Yes, if it will keep you from some harebrained scheme. It’s not safe for you away from the manor. You’re to stay put.”

She jerked away. “So, I’m your prisoner, too?”

“Call yourself whatever you wish, woman. I haven’t the time to deal with this right now. Jaxon slipped his baldric over his head and picked up his hat. He paused at the door. “I won’t be gone long. We’ll discuss this further when I return.”

As the door closed behind him, Annalise was tempted to throw something heavy and breakable against it. “Discuss it all you wish, Captain Steele. I won’t be here to hear it.”

* * * *

“Robbins?” As soon as Annalise was sure Jaxon was away, she pulled her hair into a thick braid and headed downstairs in search of the boy. She found him helping Nell carry ash from the main fireplace.

“Missus?”

“Could I borrow your britches and hat again?”

“Whate’r for?”

“I’m meeting with my dressmaker later today, and I’d like to thank you for all your hard work and…and friendship…” She hated lying to him, but she didn’t have much time. “I’m having a new set of pants made for you, and a hat fit for a fine sailor.”

“Ye don’t be needin’ to do that.”

“I know, but…” She had to think quick. “You, see, today would have been my brother’s birthday. I…I miss him terribly. It would make me happy to do something for you in his place.” She waved a hand. “I’m sorry. Forget I asked. It was a silly idea. I suppose I’m just a bit homesick. He would have been seventeen today.”

Ten minutes later, she clutched the boy’s clothes to her midsection and ducked behind a hedge to change. Darting glances over her shoulder, she stuffed her skirts into the small satchel she carried. Sweat slipped between her breasts as she bound them. Dirt replaced lampblack to sully her trembling hands and face.

A borrowed bit of silver from the governor’s dining room would pay for her passage on whichever ship would take her to Port St. Maria. Lady Annalise, common thief. How had she resorted to lying and stealing? Perhaps being the wife of a pirate rubbed off somehow. Now all she had to do was find her way back to the harbor and not cross paths with that particular pirate. Or any other.

Jaxon handed off the reins of his horse to the groom and bounded up the front stairs of the manor. He hated how he’d left things with Annalise. Their argument that morning haunted him all day. She loved him, and his love for her was growing stronger by the day, even though he’d never said the words.

It was true he hadn’t made any declarations to her, not out loud, but his heart and mind shouted his love every time he looked at her. Every morning waking and finding her soft and warm in his bed. Every touch. Every word. He cherished each second as if it were the richest bounty. Even in anger, the sight of her still stunned his senses and filled him with want.

The more time he spent with her, the more he realized the painful truth of it. He had no right to tie her to a life such as his. It had always been his intention to bring her back to England and settle the threat with Wolfsan so she could live out the rest of her life in peace. He couldn’t ask her for more. He didn’t deserve to ask for more.

He’d been a true bastard this morning. She had a right to her anger. If he couldn’t profess his love, then he could at least tell her he’d be able to send a message along with another captain to Port St. Maria. Her friend would get word of her safety. At the moment, it was the best he could do.

She wasn’t in their rooms, or on the balcony. He called out into the gardens, “Annalise?” No response. Reaching the main floor, he found her maid, Nell.

“Where can I find Mistress. Steele?”

The girl bobbed in a curtsy, “She’s meeting with her dressmaker, Captain. That’s what she told Master Robbins.”

An icy finger ran down his spine. She wouldn’t… “Robbins.” His shout echoed off the ceilings.

The boy came into the room at a dead run.

“Where is my wife?”

“I-I thought she was with you. Said she was--
dammit
.”

“What?”

“She took my britches and my hat.”

“What. Why?” Anger wrestled with pure dread. Jaxon knew the why before the boy could answer. She was gone. No doubt headed toward the docks. The real question was could he find her before she fell into the wrong hands. Cold sweat slipped down his temple.

“Said she wanted te buy me new ones. I think now she was tellin’ me a tale.”

“Bloody hell. How long ago?”

Robbins shrugged one shoulder. “Two, mayhap three hours now.”

“When I find her, I’m going to wring her beautiful neck.”

“Whose neck you be wringing?” Cookie thumped through the doorway. He scanned the room. “Where’s yer wife?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Jaxon planted his hands on his hips. “She’s run off, but I’ve a pretty good idea where she’s going.”

Cookie swore under his breath. “Are you sure she’s just run off?”

“Why? What now?”

“Got word this morn. Heard tell there was someone askin’ around tent city for her. ’Tis The Duke of Wentworth, Capt’n.”

The cold fear Jaxon felt at the idea of Annalise being alone and unprotected out on the streets of Port Royal froze solid at hearing the name. “Wolfsan? Are you certain?”

“Aye.”

“
Damn.
” Jaxon shouted toward the door, “Bates, saddle me a fresh horse.”

He turned back to Cookie. “How long has the bastard been on the island?”

“Near two days now. Come ashore screamin’ like a hurrikin for Lady Gatherone. Struttin’ through the sots at the shore in heels and a wig, demandin’ te know where she be. Found out she was wed and near tore up the man who told him. He knows she’s here.”

“Someone’s after Mistress Steele?” Robbins shot a look to Cookie.

“Aye.” The word hung in the silence of the room.

Jaxon frowned. Two days? A dark, ominous cloud settled over him. If Wolfsan simply wished to lay claim to Annalise, he wouldn’t have waited two days. The duke had more in mind. “We need to find her before he does. I don’t know what the bastard is playing at, but I’m not waiting around to find out.”

* * * *

Annalise moved through the clutter of humanity littering the narrow streets and alleys. She’d lost her direction twice since reaching the shore. Where the hell were the docks? Keeping her head down, she tried to get her bearings. This was madness. What had she been thinking? She’d been angry, hurt, and bullheaded, and now she was lost. She had to get out of here, but which way. Why hadn’t she paid more attention when Cookie drove her past the harbor?

A hulk of a man jostled her and cuffed her shoulder with a curse when she got in his way, throwing her into a vendor’s cart. The vendor cursed them both, causing the hulk to spin back to answer the insult with a swift fist. The end of the cart crashed onto the street, slipping its wares into the muck. Its owner retaliated with a swing of a short club of wood connecting with his attacker’s nose. Screams, blood, and chaos erupted around her. Four others joined in the fight. The crowd around them cheered and gathered closer to watch. Annalise squeezed through the press of bodies and backed away from the vicious brawl. Terrified, she ducked into a fetid alley to escape the melee.

She gasped for breath until the horrid smells in the tight passageway choked her. Human waste and rotted food assailed her senses. A puddle of something foul made her retch. Her heart threatened to pound its way out of her body as a huge black rat rushed past her. She jumped back deeper into the shadows.

A steely arm snatched her about the waist as a hand clamped over her mouth to silence her shocked cry. Annalise was crushed against her attacker’s chest. The air squeezed from her lungs. She couldn’t breathe. She kicked and clawed, but his grip only tightened. Pure panic and lack of oxygen darkened the edges of her vision.