Capturing the Pirate's Heart (The Emerald Quest Book 1) (11 page)

Several hours
passed before the ship’s cook tapped at the door and slid open the bolt before
passing in a tray with a bowl of broth and some biscuits. It must have been
after midnight by that time, and Madeleine ate every morsel on the tray before
climbing back into the bed and falling into a deep sleep.

Now, she opened her eyes and watched the shards of sunlight play
across the timbered walls. The groaning and the rocking of the boat had eased
and it appeared to be slicing smoothly through the sea.

The storm had passed and Sébastien had not yet come back to the
cabin. She was sure he would not have bunked in the crew’s quarters as that
would have appeared strange considering the crew knew he had a woman waiting in
his own bed. Pushing back the covers, her bare feet touched the floor and she
crossed to the narrow aperture in the hull. Blue sky and shining, flat silvery
water filled her vision. After visiting the curtained area, and having a wash,
Madeleine crossed back to the bed and sat looking around the cabin which was
now lit with bright light through the apertures in the hull. She hadn’t noticed
there were so many. Even though she enjoyed her own company, this lonely
confinement was unsettling her.

Throughout the next hour she moved from the bed to peer out through
the narrow gaps, and then completed a circuit of the cabin. Eventually the
small space became too confining and she crossed to the door. Sébastien had said
that she had to follow his instructions to the letter, but surely she could go
above deck for some fresh air?

If she had to stay down here alone any longer, she would lose her
sanity.

Madeleine stood beside the door and considered her options. At best,
the Captain…the pirate…Sébastien would ignore her. She didn’t even know what to
call him in her mind. She could sit behind the wheelhouse again, take in some
fresh air and have some of Jake’s company. At worst, Sébastien would be furious
at her for venturing out—she knew the door was unlocked because she had waited
for the bolt to slide back when the cook had left but she had not heard it
click in. She glanced over; the tray was still on the table where she had left
it after finishing her meal.

Madeleine stared at the wooden handle and slowly reached her hand
toward it, before snatching her hand back and folding her arms across her
chest. It was cold down here; the sun would warm her, and if he asked she would
explain that was why she had gone above deck.

Not because she was lonely…
Why am I so intimidated by the man?
It
had nothing to do with being scared of him or the fact that he was a pirate, it
had more to do with the fact that he had asked her to do as he said. She
crossed back to the bed and sat, becoming more impatient as each long minute
ticked over. There was no way she could stay down here for the whole voyage.

But did he tell me to stay here?
The
little voice of reason nagged at her conscience.

Not in so many words.
He had said he
would come back and see her when they were about to get underway.

But he didn’t
. So he had broken his word
and she had not given her word that she would stay here. Not in so many words.
She had promised to obey him. She had not promised to stay below deck.

Maybe Sébastien had forgotten she was down here?

But he did send Jake to check I was all right? And he did send the
cook with food.

Madeleine stood and walked slowly to the door and stared at the
handle again. She ignored it and pressed her ear to the door to listen. There
was no sound to be heard; even the hull had stopped creaking. Tentatively, she
reached her hand out and was about to touch the wooden handle when it lowered
of its own accord and the door opened in front of her. She jumped back, letting
out a small shriek at the sight of Sébastien filling the doorway. His black
hair was disheveled, and deep, dark shadows circled his eyes. For a moment,
Madeleine was tempted to reach up and smooth the frown line that was between
his brows, but instead she squeezed her hands together tightly in front of her
chest.

“You were waiting for me to return? I hope you haven’t been standing
by the door all night?” The lines disappeared and a smile tugged at his lips. Madeleine
dropped her gaze from his, to stop the usual warmth flooding her.

But too late. A bronze-skinned, bare chest filled her vision. Her
eyes remained fixed on that chest, slowly rising and falling with each breath
that he took. The muscles across his broad chest rippled when he raised his
hand to take her chin in his fingers. Madeleine’s mouth dried and she wet her
lips.

“I…I was waiting.” The words were slow to come. “I am tired of being
cabin bound. I was worried for my sanity.”

A low chuckle came up from his chest as his dark eyes held hers.
“You may go above deck now while I rest. I have asked Jake to wait for you and
keep you company. He has had some sleep through the night. Did the storm keep
you awake?”

She nodded. “For a while. I have had some sleep, thank you.” Why did
she feel as though he was treating her like a child?

Almost telling me to go and play on the deck, like a good little
girl.
She lifted her chin, determined to have the
last word. “And when you are rested, we shall discuss this voyage and my return
to New Orleans, Captain.”

His teeth flashed in his tanned face. “That we shall, Madeleine. Now
run along like a good girl. Jake is waiting for you.”

###

Madeleine tried to
adjust her scanty clothing as best she could before she climbed the ladder but
it made little difference to the amount of her bare skin on display. She
swallowed, climbed the final rungs and inhaled with pleasure as the fresh salt
air brushed her face. She walked quickly across to the wheelhouse, nevertheless
attempting to add a confident swagger to her gait. A couple of curious glances
were thrown her way but most of the crew above deck were focused on their
tasks.

Except for one. A stocky man with a red bandana tied around his
head, a few greasy locks of hair plastered to his pock-marked neck leaned back
against the rigging and stared down at her. She hadn’t noticed him before. His
mouth hung open in a salacious grin and his gaze dropped to her breasts. She
raised her hands and crossed her arms, putting her head down and turning her
back to the sailor when she reached Jake. He was sitting amidst a coil of ropes
in the shade behind the wheelhouse.

“I didn’t see that man yesterday.” She jerked her head toward the
man who was now working on the rigging. “He looked at me and it was awful.”

Jake looked up. “He was one of the crew who went to shore for the
provisions yesterday. Just ignore him.” He nodded with wisdom beyond his years.
“He probably hasn’t seen a woman for a few months, and if you pardon me saying
so, Miss Madeleine, you
are
a sight to behold.”

“Thank you, Jake,” she said with a wry note to her voice. “It is
something I am not used to, that is for certain.” She leaned back against the
timber of the wheelhouse and let the warm morning sun soak into her bones. Despite
sleeping after the storm had eased, weariness overcame her. She smiled at Jake
when he dug in his pocket and pulled out a small bag. He removed a couple of
biscuits the same as the cook had brought with her broth.

“Are you hungry?”

“Thank you.” She grinned at him and took one. Not the sort of fare
she was used to at home, but she
was
hungry and they had eased her
hunger last night.

They sat in silence for a while before Jake glanced around. “So tell
me more about this treasure you are seeking?”

Madeleine followed his gaze. There was no one within earshot and the
rigging above them was empty. The horrid sailor with the bandana had
disappeared.

“My Great Aunt Josephine sent me her diary. Well, in truth, she sent
it to my father, but after he died I found it in his possessions.” Madeleine
held back a sob. “I never knew her. She lived in New Orleans and she apparently
was the owner of a fabulous heirloom. A priceless emerald and diamond
necklace.”

Jake’s eyes were as round as saucers. “And you know where to find
it?”

“The diary gave me clues where to look.” Madeleine hit her hand into
her lap with a thump. “Now you know why it is so frustrating for me. If this
pirate hadn’t left the harbor like a thief in the night, I would have the
necklace by now and I would be preparing for my voyage back to my home. The
necklace will be enough to restore my family home to the way it was. And bring
all the servants back.”

Jake looked at her as though he was judging her. “I thought you were
from a poor family and that is why you were with a poor ship’s chaplain.”

“I am a Bellerose of Bellerose Hall in Derbyshire and it is my task
to bring it back to its former glory.”

Jake spluttered. “With servants?”

She looked back at him and her voice was hesitant. “Yes, what is
wrong with that?” No one had ever questioned her way of life before and she had
taken it for granted.

“It is just as bad as the slavery over here.”

“How is that so? Our servants are not oppressed like the slaves I
heard Uncle Titus speak of. They are free to choose their own master and they
are paid for their service.”

“But they are still not free.” Jake curled his lip.

“I know nothing of that.” She drew herself up straight and her voice
was as haughty as she could make it, and then she regretted it immediately. “I’m
sorry Jake, let’s not disagree.”

“I’m sorry too. It’s just that—”

“Just what?”

But Jake shook his head and changed the subject. “Why would your
aunt have hidden the necklace? And how do you know it really exists?”

“In her diary she writes of a portrait where she is wearing the
necklace.” Madeleine closed her eyes and leaned back against the timber behind
her back.

“And have you seen it?” He frowned.

“No, not yet, but I will find that, too.” The sun was warm on Madeleine’s
face and she kept her eyes closed. “The necklace will be worth a fortune and
when I sell it, I shall return home and Bellerose Hall will be filled with life
and laughter again. All of my dear friends who worked there as I grew up will
come back to work at the manor, and life will be as it was.” A single tear
spilled unbidden from the corner of her eye and ran hotly down her cheek. As
nice as it would be, she knew it would never be the same without Mother,
Father, and her brother Robert.

There was a stifled yell followed by a thud, and Madeleine’s eyes
flew open. At the same time a filthy hand landed on her chest, and pain shot
through her as hard fingers squeezed her breast. She screamed and looked to
Jake but he was no longer sitting across from her. A pock-marked face filled
her vision and she put a hand over her nose as the putrid breath of the man
with the red bandana assailed her nostrils.

“Your little friend is over there, sweetheart.” The sailor nodded to
the other side of the vessel and she followed the direction of his gaze. Jake
was lying in a crumpled heap against the side of the deck as though he’d been
thrown there. There was no one else in sight; this man had chosen his time well
to accost her. Madeleine opened her mouth to scream for help but his fleshy
fingers filled her mouth and she gagged.

“Now keep yourself quiet.” He looked around the deck with an evil
grin and Madeleine’s blood ran cold. “And tell me what you were about to tell
your young friend. There is no one to help, so tell me what—” His breath left
him in a soft oomph as Jake ran across the deck and head butted the sailor’s
flabby midsection. The man laughed and removed his hand from Madeleine’s mouth
long enough to pick Jake up as though he was a bothersome insect and throw him
hard against the wall again. Madeleine opened her mouth and let out an ear
piercing scream as Jake hit the side of the wheelhouse and lay unmoving at her
feet.

“Take your vile hands off me.” She took a breath, but before she
could scream again, the sailor moved his hand up to cover her mouth.

“Tell me where that diary is. No, we will make this quicker. Just
tell me where I can find your treasure, and I will let your young friend live.”
His voice was a guttural whisper as his face pressed against her ear. With his
other hand he reached down and grabbed Jake’s hair. The young lad’s eyes
remained closed and a trickle of blood ran down his neck. Madeleine gasped
around the fleshy fingers on her mouth as the glint of a knife flashed in the
hand holding Jake’s hair.

Before she could take it in, all hell broke loose. One of the
dark-skinned men ran around the wheelhouse, scooped Jake from the deck up into
his arms and moved away from the knife that the sailor was now brandishing from
left to right.

“So a heathen slave thinks he can best me, hey, matey?” The man’s
evil laugh turned Madeleine’s blood cold. “Go back to your black brothers or I
will kill the wench after I have my way with her.”

There was a flash of golden movement behind him and suddenly Madeleine
was freed from the sailor’s deathly grip. She dropped to the deck, crawled to
the wheelhouse and leaned against a keg with her knees pulled to her chin in an
effort to stop her legs from trembling. Mr. Abrahams appeared beside the
African man as Sébastien held the sailor firmly in a headlock.