A Pirate's Love (13 page)

B
ettina asked Tristan if she could walk on the grounds and was a bit surprised when he nodded his assent. She left by the front door, walked to the side of the house and around it. As she scanned the edge of the forest, she saw a corral just inside a clearing beyond the trees. She walked there slowly, unbraiding her hair as she went to let it dry in the breeze.

At the edge of the forest, a path led the few feet to the corral. There were seven horses inside, and one beautiful white stallion that caught her eye. She beckoned to him, but he shied away from her as the others did.

Bettina wished that she knew how to ride. Her father, André, had insisted it was not proper for women. But it shouldn't be too difficult to learn, she thought, if the horses were tame.

A soft crackling of twigs made Bettina tense, and she turned abruptly, thinking to find Tristan. But a man with coal-black hair was coming quickly down the forest path. He edged his way around her, blocking the path to the house.

“If this ain't my day of days,” the man smirked. “Where'd you come from, girl?”

“I—I came from the—”

“Never you mind,” he chuckled. “I should've known better than to question a gift from heaven.”

He started to approach her with his hands outstretched, and Bettina panicked. He was stocky in build, with bulging arms, and was a bit taller than she. It was not hard to guess his intent, and she was able to scream once before he reached her and clasped his hand over her mouth.

“What're you scared of, wench? I'll not hurt you. What I've in mind don't hurt none,” he laughed, holding her to him tightly. “We'll just go a little farther into the trees, just in case someone happens to come this way.”

Bettina was desperate now. She could think of only one thing that might protect her, and she prayed that it would work. She jerked her head away from his chest.

“You do not understand,
monsieur
—I am Tristan's woman!”

The man released her and backed away warily, his eyes filled with uncertainty. “Captain Tristan ain't on the island,” he said nervously; then he looked her up and down and grinned.

“He—he is at the house. We came this morning,” Bettina said hastily.

“I think perhaps you're lying to me, girl.”

“Please,
monsieur!
I would not want to see you die because of me.”

“Die? How so?”

“Tristan has sworn to kill any man who touches me.”

“That don't sound like Captain Tristan. He don't give a damn about women, and that proves you're
lying, girl. Even so, you might just be worth dying for.”

He grabbed her again before she had a chance to run. Bettina struggled fiercely, pounding the man with her fists while he sought her lips. And then, suddenly, he was lifted away from her and thrown forcefully to the ground.

“You blasted whoreson! I'll—” the man shouted, but stopped short when he turned over and saw Tristan standing above him, dark with rage.

“He did no harm, Tristan,” Bettina said quickly. “You cannot kill him for no reason!”

“He tried to rape you! You call that no reason?” Tristan bellowed.

“But he did not,” she replied weakly.

“What have you to say, Brown?”

“She said you came in this morning, Captain, but I didn't believe her. None of your crew has been to the village. I thought she was lying when she said she was your woman. Honest, Captain Tristan, if I had known she was yours, I wouldn't have touched her.”

“You haven't seen your captain, then?”

“No. I just came from the village now.”

“Very well. Since you're Casey's first mate, I'll let it go at that. But I give you warning now, Brown. Don't ever come near this one again,” Tristan said, nodding to Bettina. “Now go and find your captain. I believe he's taken the other path to the village.”

“Thank you, Captain Tristan,” Brown said. He left quickly, without another glance at Bettina.

“I would also like to thank you, Tristan, for coming in time,” Bettina said quietly.

He walked to her slowly, forcing her back against the fence with his nearness. He took her in his arms,
and his lips found hers in a hard, forceful kiss. Bettina melted in his arms for a moment, letting him have his way with her. But then she regained control and pushed him away.

“I did not escape one rape, Tristan, only to be in danger of another!” Bettina snapped, angry at herself for responding to him.

“You didn't escape rape, little one; you were rescued from it. I only thought you would wish to thank me properly.”

“I have thanked you already.”

“So you have. Now tell me, why did you defend Brown when he nearly raped you, when you would kill me for doing the same?” Tristan asked.

“Because he did not rape me. But
you
have—many times! You have tricked me, lied to me, and used me. I hate you, Tristan, with all my being, and I will yet have revenge!” she stormed, her eyes flashing dangerously.

“Must I again fear for my life, little one?” Tristan asked, smiling at her.

“You do not take me seriously, Tristan, but you will one day. As for my revenge, it will wait until I escape you.”

He laughed derisively. “And how do you propose to take this revenge you speak of?”

“I will find a way.”

“Such hate from my woman. And by your own words—you
are
my woman,” he reminded her.

“I am not!”

“What? Do you deny it now? Do you admit it to everyone but me?”

“You know why I told him that! But it seems you are not as feared as you like to think,
Capitaine
Tris
tan, for the man still persisted,” Bettina said. She turned and walked away from him toward the house.

 

“Maddy, will you stay with me tonight?” Bettina asked nervously. She was sitting in the middle of the big brass bed, with her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “If he forces me to sleep with him again, I swear I will run away.”

Bettina had moved her things into the room at the end of the hall. They had cleaned this room in the afternoon, while the two Indian girls had cleaned the rest of the house. Bettina would have preferred to move to the opposite wing, but Jules had taken one room, and Captain O'Casey and Madeleine had the others. Tristan wanted privacy on his side of the house.

“I will stay with you if I can, Bettina, but I do not think the
capitaine
will allow it.”

“You could say that I am sick,” Bettina ventured. “That something I ate disagreed with me.”

“I could say that, but Tristan would be suspicious. You do not look sick,” said Madeleine.

“Then you must not let him in the room.”

“Bettina, he is the
capitaine
, and although I don't fear him as much as before, you forget that he is the one who rules here. He holds our lives in his hands.”

“How many times must I tell you—he will not kill us!” Bettina said with exasperation. “He has given his word to me that eventually he will take us to Saint Martin.”

“Why do you still resist him, Bettina?” Madeleine asked, changing the subject. “He is a handsome young man. Even the Comte de Lambert is not so handsome and virile as this one. It would be much easier on you if you gave in. And it would be no
disgrace, my pet, since he gives you no choice.”

Bettina was astonished. “He uses my body, even though he knows I detest him! I would prefer any other man to him!”

“He rapes you because you resist him. He wants you, that is all. I thought you would have accepted your situation by now,” Madeleine said, ignoring Bettina's anger. “Tristan treats you better than a husband would—he gives you much. He even continues to shave his beard for you. Jules told me how furious Tristan was when he cut his beard.”

Bettina smiled despite herself, for that was one battle she had won without even trying. She remembered the night after Tristan had shaved his beard, and the angry scowl on his face when he saw the bright red marks his stubble left on her face. The red marks disappeared after a short time, and they didn't hurt, but Tristan didn't know this. He stormed at her for making him shave his beard in the first place, mumbling that now he would have to continue to do so. It was either that or abstain from making love to her until his beard was soft again.

Now he shaved late in the day, whenever he was of a mind to take her, which gave Bettina warning well in advance. And Tristan had shaved before dinner this day.

“Please, Maddy, you have to stay with me tonight,” Bettina pleaded, going back to the subject at hand.

“Even if Tristan allows it tonight, what of tomorrow?”

“I will think of something else tomorrow. It is this night that I fear,” Bettina replied. “Go now, and tell Tristan that I am ill. Tell him I want you to stay with me. But go before he comes to find me.”

“Very well,” Madeleine sighed. “I will try. You had better get into bed while I am gone.”

Madeleine closed the door and took a deep breath before she started down the dimly lit corridor. She just couldn't understand why Bettina hated Tristan so much. She seemed to find a distinct pleasure in hating him—she came to life whenever they argued, as if she thrived on their battles.

Madeleine would help Bettina if she could, but she doubted whether she would succeed. Bettina had become an obsession with the young captain, and the more she resisted him, the more he wanted her.

She descended the stairs and slowly approached the table where the men were drinking. A couple of Tristan's men were downing large tankards of rum, and the man Jake Brown, whom she had met earlier, was seated with Captain O'Casey.

“Where is Bettina?” Tristan asked when he saw Madeleine standing beside his chair.

“She is in bed—she does not feel well,” Madeleine said, wiping her hands on her skirt.

“What's the matter with her?” Tristan inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“I think it is perhaps something she has eaten,
Capitaine
. But I insist you let me stay with her this night. She needs me.”

“She does, eh? Well, that won't be necessary,” Tristan replied. He left his chair and started for the stairs.

“But,
Capitaine—
”

“Sit down,
madame!
” Jules cut her off sharply. “Your lady is Tristan's responsibility. If she needs looking after he can do it. Although I don't think that's what she needs.”

“You keep insinuating that Bettina needs a beat
ing,” Madeleine said angrily. “I suppose you would like to be the one to inflict it!”

“Now, now, settle down,” Jules said, surprised at Madeleine's sudden outburst. “I wouldn't touch your lady. Tristan would have my head if I did. It is just that he is too soft with her. He's let her have her way too much, and now she thinks she can get away with anything.”

“You forget that Tristan still has to rape her,” Madeleine whispered so no one else would hear.

“Exactly. That's why I say she needs a good beating.”

 

Tristan opened the door to his room, but when he found it empty, he guessed Bettina's game. He crossed to the room next to his and found it empty also; then he went to the last door and opened it slowly. She was curled up under the covers on the far side of the bed, with her head resting on one hand. But she sat up when she heard him, her hair falling gloriously about her shoulders.

“This is not your room, little one,” he said quietly. He closed the door and leaned against it.

“Then I have no room,” she returned icily. “Would you prefer me to sleep outside?”

“No, I prefer you to sleep with me,” he replied with a slow curling of his lips.

“Well,
that
, Tristan, I will not do!” Bettina snapped, her green eyes dark with fury.

“Your servant tells me you don't feel well,” said Tristan. “You seem rather spirited to be ill.” His grin widened, and he crossed to the bed, sitting down on the edge. “
Are
you ill, Bettina?”

“Yes!” she hissed angrily. “But I will not discuss my complaint with you.”

“I think perhaps you're lying to me. But on the slight chance that you're not, I will get you some sour milk. It should relieve your stomach of its contents in no time at all.”

“Thank you, but no,” she returned, her chin tilted defiantly. “I would prefer to sleep if you don't mind—undisturbed.”

“But I insist that you have a cure, Bettina.”

“You can save your insisting for your crew,” she said, edging to the opposite side of the bed. “I told you before, Tristan, that I will not take orders from you. Now where is Maddy? I want her to stay with me tonight.”

“She is downstairs, but she won't be staying with you this night. Or any other night, for that matter. It would be rather uncomfortable to fit the three of us in my bed,” Tristan chuckled.

“I am staying here!”

“You should have learned by now that it is pointless to argue with me. Now, will you come peaceably, or do I carry you to my room?”

“You must know better than to ask that question. I will never go peaceably to your bed! Never!” she cried. She tried to scramble from the covers.

But Tristan reached out, grabbed a handful of her flowing white-blond hair, and pulled her back across the bed. With a quick sweep of his arms, he picked her up and carried her swiftly back to his room. He dropped her on his bed, then went back to close the door. When he turned around, he saw Bettina jump from the bed, looking frantically about the room for a place to hide.

For a moment, she seemed like a frightened little rabbit, and Tristan was tempted to forget his need for her this night. But the murderous glint in her eyes
struck him like a slap in the face and renewed his determination to have her.