Blackhearts (30 page)

hand.

“No, Edward. The girl is right. It’s the least I can do, to help her on her way.”

Anne gave a small nod, her pent-up breath threatening to

explode. “Thank you, sir. Now, if you will excuse me, I find I’m not as hungry as I first thought,” she said, coming to her feet.

Drummond waved her away. “Yes, you may go.” Teach

looked as if to follow suit, clearly intent on chasing after her, but Drummond wasn’t finished. “I ask that you stay, Edward,”

he said. “We still have things to discuss.”

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Anne shot Drummond a grateful look, aware of the blaze burning in Teach’s eyes. Now was a good time to make her

escape.

As she closed the door behind her, Anne could still feel the

heat of Teach’s gaze on her back.

Two hours later he found her in the library.

Teach entered, and then used his foot to close the door

behind him. Anne stood abruptly, the book in her hands drop-

ping to the floor. If she’d wished to avoid him, she could have

gone into town, or retired to her room, but she had decided it

was time to stop running.

“Why did you do it?” he demanded.

Anne thrust out her small chin. “You know why.”

A swallow rippled visibly down his throat, and he ran a

hand through his already disheveled hair. This was a new ver-

sion of Teach, one she’d never seen before. He reminded her

of a caged animal, and it pained her to think she was partly

responsible for it.

“How can you stand there so calmly?” he asked, his voice

rough.

If he only knew.
Her head ached. She’d spent the past two hours trying to convince herself that leaving was the best for

everyone concerned, even Teach, although he couldn’t see it at

the moment.

Now that her funds were secured, she hoped to find a place

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where she belonged. She would see firsthand the places her mother had told her about in the West Indies. It was both excit-ing and terrifying at the same time.

But without Teach at her side, her plans felt somehow empty

and hollow, as if she would leave a piece of herself behind.

“My father and Lord Hervey have gone to toast my father’s

acceptance into the aristocracy. Strangely enough, they didn’t

ask me to join them.”

“I know.” She’d heard them leave.

“And my future bride has gone to pick up her dress for

William’s ball this weekend.” There was no disguising the bit-

terness in his voice.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Are you?”

“Of course. I don’t wish to see you suffer. I like to think of

you as my friend.”

Teach moved forward, and then was standing so close to

Anne, she could feel his body heat, even though they were not

touching. “We’re more than just friends. You know that.”

She shook her head, her eyes fixed on the floor. “I’m afraid

we shall never be more than friends as long as I’m frightened.”

“You once told me I didn’t frighten you.”

“Perhaps it’s not you I’m afraid of.”

Teach reached out and caressed her cheek with his finger.

“Please,” she whispered, her breath catching in her throat.

“Whether you acknowledge it or not, Anne, we belong

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together. We could be on opposite sides of the world, but you would still be mine, as I am yours.”

Anne closed her eyes. Deep down she knew he was right.

Fighting for composure, she moved toward the desk and began

gathering the papers scattered across its surface. They were her father’s, the ones Mr. Cogswell had given her.

Teach bent and retrieved the book from the floor, then

came to stand by her side. “You’re not the only one who can

run away, you know. If you truly wish to leave England, I will

accompany you. It’s far too dangerous to travel by yourself.”

Clutching the papers in her hands, she glared at him. “You

think I’m running away?”

“Aye, I do. You’re afraid to trust someone. But you have

the means to be independent, and I have no desire to hold you

back. If you truly wish to find your mother’s family, I will help you search for them.”

Struggling against the pull of his words, Anne looked once

more at the desk and the papers on it. Everything he said was

true. It would be hazardous for her to travel alone. Even if

she secured a lady’s maid, they would be on a ship for several

months. The uncertainty of the weather alone was enough to

give her pause.

And once she reached her destination, who knew what

kind of circumstances she would find herself in? Even if Mr.

Cogswell was in a position to help her, he didn’t have time to

send a message to any contact before she left. It would be a

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relief to know she didn’t have to undertake this daunting task alone.

But the most important reason for her to agree with him

was that she could not think of anyone else she’d rather have

by her side.

“Let me come with you,” he said, his voice soft. Urgent.

“Please.”

Anne sighed. “All right,” she said, looking up. “If that is

what you truly wish.”

Teach’s eyes glowed with triumph, and he slid his arms

around her. He bent his head to kiss her, but she stopped him,

her fingers on his lips.

“But we will wait until after the ball to leave. I do not want

your father to go back on his word. Once my money is secure,

then we will go.”

“Agreed.”

“And you will not kiss me until that time.”

Teach drew back, his eyes wide. “What?”

Anne pushed at his chest. “Technically, you are still

betrothed to another.”

“Yes, but—”

“Those are my conditions.” She felt a small sense of victory

at the flash of irritation in Teach’s eyes, glad that she was able to unsettle him as well.

“All right. We will wait until after the ball tomorrow night.

But I will secure our passage on a ship.”

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“Shouldn’t we wait until the
Deliverance
sets sail?”

“Why?”

Guilt caused her voice to be sharp. “Because you are your

father’s only son. It’s bad enough that you’re leaving him. I

would hate for our departure to ruin his moment of glory.”

“The
Deliverance
sets sail in twelve days, Anne. I have no intention of waiting that long.”

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C H A P T E R 2 9

Anne

Anne drew in a deep breath, wishing Sara hadn’t pulled the

stays so tight in her ivory gown. Now that Anne didn’t work her

fingers to the bone every day, her shape had softened. She had

curves in places that before had been sharp angles. She waited

dutifully as the maid pinned the last pearl clip into her hair, the design matching the pearl choker around her neck. Her hands

were slick with perspiration.

“You look beautiful, Miss Anne,” Sara whispered, taking

a step back to look at the girl before her. “Don’t pay attention to what anyone else says about you. You’re a lady, no doubt

about it.”

Anne had confided some of her fears to Sara about the

upcoming ball. There would be no way to stem the tide of gos-

sip and speculation her appearance would create, but in order

to gain her inheritance, Anne was willing to face the vultures.

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Turning toward the looking glass, Anne’s eyes widened in surprise. Her skin glowed against the creamy fabric, while her

hair hung in luxurious black curls that Sara had painstakingly

set and pinned. The combination was mesmerizing, and Anne

couldn’t help the surge of pleasure that ran through her, as she involuntarily wondered what Teach would say.

She’d not seen him since they’d agreed to leave together.

There had been several raised voices and slamming doors from

the Herveys. No doubt the conflict had to do with Anne’s pres-

ence in the house.

She’d kept to her room, reading over her father’s papers and

writing a list of things she would take with her when she left. It still seemed unreal to her.

Giving herself a slight shake, Anne turned. “Thank you for

your help, Sara. I shall miss you while you’re gone.” She was

glad Sara had agreed to spend some time with her mother. She

was leaving tonight, and John would escort her home, since

Sara lived in an unsavory part of Bristol.

Anne had no wish to say good-bye, for she’d grown genuinely

fond of Sara.

Following the maid out the door, Anne heard the sound of

voices in the entryway below them.

“I still don’t understand why she has to come,” Patience hissed.

“What does it matter?” Lord Hervey replied. “They simply

wish to announce her coming out.”

The baroness, who had arrived the evening before, spoke

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up. “I knew this would happen. If you want your daughter’s evening to be ruined—”

Teach’s terse voice interrupted her. “Nobody’s evening will

be ruined.”

“It will be if your father doesn’t return soon,” Lady Hervey

said sharply. “His obsession with that ship is disturbing. You’d think he cares more for it than for his own son.”

“My father regrets being called away, but it’s early yet. He

will still be able to make the ball later in the evening. We will not announce the wedding date until he is present.”

A sad smile touched Anne’s lips as she descended the stairs.

Teach would fight this wedding until the bitter end. “Good

evening,” she murmured. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”

The four individuals in the entryway turned to look. Both

Patience and Lady Hervey glared at Anne. Lord Hervey’s mouth

dropped open. Teach stared openly, looking splendid in a crisp

white shirt and black coat with breeches. The yearning in his

eyes reached across the space between them.

He helped Anne with her matching ivory cloak, the color a

perfect foil for her skin. His fingers brushed her collarbone as he clasped it for her.

Patience quickly grabbed Teach’s sleeve, pulling him closer

to her. As they exited the house, Teach allowed the Herveys to

precede him, his eyes skimming Anne from head to toe once

more as he helped her into the carriage.

Anne sat next to the baron, as his wife and daughter had

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taken the other side. She expected Teach to sit between the two women, but their dresses took up too much space. Instead

Teach settled himself beside Anne.

It was a tight fit. Miss Patience and her mother glowered at

Anne the entire way. Beside her, Anne felt Teach’s thigh pressed against her own, the heat reaching through the layers between

them. His nearness stole the breath from her lungs, and she

was painfully aware of every move he made. She stared out the

window in an attempt to distract her thoughts.

It was no use.

By the time they pulled up in front of the Cardwell estate,

Anne was dizzy. Torches lit the stairs leading up to the grand

entrance. The house itself was aflame with lights, the windows

full of people milling about in the interior.

The baron and his wife exited first, followed by Patience.

Clutching the arm Teach offered, Anne lifted her skirts and

stepped forward, her heart fluttering wildly in her chest. Her

initial reaction to the invitation had been correct. She should

have stayed alone at the Drummond house.

Anne hadn’t even accompanied her own father when he’d

been entertained elsewhere. Instead she and her mother had

stayed at home, content to read or sew by the fire.

This would be her first real social gathering, and she felt ill

equipped to manage it.

Patience grabbed Teach’s arm and attempted once more to

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disengage him from Anne’s side, but Teach held back. “It would be in poor taste to let Anne enter alone. My father is her guardian, and he asked me to look after her tonight.”

“But . . . but,” Patience sputtered. “We are to wed.”

“Your father is waiting,” Teach said.

Patience gave Anne a look of pure venom before joining her

parents.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Anne said, although

inwardly she was pleased. She was quite sure no one had ever

put Patience in her place like that.

“She deserved it. She acts as if we’re already married,” Teach

muttered. “Which we never shall be.”

Not daring to think about their secret departure, Anne took

in her surroundings, trying not to gape at the luxurious setting.

The air was heavy with the scent of hothouse flowers. Inside the grand manor, women floated along in their beautiful dresses.

The men all wore breeches and waistcoats, their shirt collars

starched and standing at attention.

At the entrance to the ballroom, their names were

announced. Teach paused, glancing around until he saw the

Duke and Duchess of Cardwell. He advanced, giving Anne a

gentle tug when she held back.

“Come along now,” he said briskly. “Let me introduce you

to our hosts.”

“I wish you wouldn’t,” she replied beneath her breath.

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“Nonsense. It would be rude not to acknowledge their hos-pitality.”

“But what if William has said something to them about me?”

“What could he have said?” Teach asked.

Anne gave a short laugh, surprised by his obstinacy. “That I

used to be a maid in your house.”

“But you’re not anymore.”

She still refused to move. He made it sound so simple.

Looking at the duchess, Anne was intimidated by both her