A Pirate's Love (4 page)

“C
ap'n! The wench I told ye 'bout, she's got to be hidin' in the hold or in one o' them cabins.”

“Blast it, man, we don't have all day! Search the whole ship, but be quick about it.”

Bettina felt the sweat of fear break out all over her, and she wanted to die.

“Why, oh why didn't the
capitaine
give us a weapon?” Bettina whispered, clasping her hands to still their trembling.

“He did not expect to lose the battle,” Madeleine answered quietly. “But do not worry, Bettina. I will tell their leader that he can gain a great fortune if he will deliver you unharmed to Comte de Lambert. The
comte
will surely pay the price. He is a Frenchman and honorable.”

“But these men are pirates, Maddy!” Bettina cried. “They will kill us!”

“No, my pet. They won't kill us without reason. You must not worry about that, and you must not act frightened when they find us. Pretend you do not speak their English. I will speak for you. And for God's sake, do not lose your temper with these men,” Madeleine warned. “If you do, they will not
think you are a lady of good breeding and wealth.”

“I am too frightened to lose my temper.”

“Good. Now we must pray that their leader's greed for wealth is more powerful than his lust.”

“I don't understand, Maddy.”

“Never mind,
ma chérie
,” Madeleine replied, her voice betraying her concern. “Just remember to say nothing.”

The laughter and noise became louder as men moved back and forth in front of their cabin.

“She weren't in the hold, Cap'n, an' them other cabins were empty.”

“Tear down the last door,” replied a deep voice very near to the cabin, and the pounding started immediately.

“Dear God!”

“Hush, now,” Madeleine said quickly. “Remember to speak no English!”

Bettina was beside herself with fear. She was sure she would meet her death this day, and Madeleine could do nothing to prevent it. After a few more moments, the door crashed in, and Bettina screamed when she saw the grinning, bearded men.

“Glory, but them Frenchies sure turn out beauties!” said a short sailor with a patch over one eye.

“Aye, mate. I'd give me blessed mother to be the cap'n today.”

“Where is your
capitaine?
” Madeleine asked curtly.

“Ye'll see 'im soon enough, old woman,” one bearded man said, leading them out of the cabin.

Bettina avoided looking at the dead bodies of the
Windsong
's crew as she crossed the deck and was handed down to the other vessel. Madeleine kept
close by her side, with one arm around her waist for protection.

The pirate ship was three-masted, about the same size as the
Windsong
. But the crew was a rowdy, unkempt bunch. The men stopped what they were doing and stared at Bettina. Some wore no shirts, others wore only short vests to cover bare chests, and most were barefooted. Many wore golden rings in their ears, and all were heavily bearded.

“I demand to see your
capitaine
.” Madeleine said to the man who had escorted them onto the pirate vessel.

Another man jumped down from the deck of the
Windsong
and came around to face them.

“So you speak English,” he said. “Well, at least we will know your worth now.”

He was a big bear of a man, and Bettina felt tiny and frail standing next to him. She was used to looking at men on their own eye level, and even looking down on quite a few But this man was at least six feet tall and at least two feet wide across his chest. He was not fat, but was heavily muscled, as could be seen clearly by his huge, bare arms. His light-brown hair was cut short, coming only to his massive shoulders. But the thick, full beard that completely covered his face made him look so sinister, so dangerous. Bettina shivered.

“Well, what have you discovered, Jules?”

It was the man with the deep voice, who seemed to be in command. He jumped down onto the deck behind them.

“They speak English, Tristan, at least the old one does.”

This man Tristan stood directly behind Bettina, and she turned around to face him. What she saw
made her gasp, for this man was even taller than the other one. He was truly a giant! He was only a few inches from her, and Bettina had to look up past his broad chest to see his face. His eyes were a startling pale blue, and a long, thin scar started in the middle of his right cheek and cut a path into the dark gold of his beard.

Bettina stared for long moments at the thin scar, and the man's muscles tightened and his eyes grew icy. He grabbed hold of her arm, making her wince, and started to walk her across the deck.

“
Monsieur
, wait!” Madeleine cried. “Where are you taking her?”

The man turned around and smiled coldly. “To my cabin,
madame
, to talk with the young lady. Have you any objections?”

“Of course!”

“Well, save them!” he said curtly and dragged Bettina along.

“
Monsieur
, she does not speak English,” Madeleine called after him.

This brought laughter from the crew, and halted the man again.

“How ye goin' to tell 'er what to do, Cap'n?”

“Fer what the cap'n 'as in mind, no words is necessary.”

More laughter followed, which obviously annoyed the captain, for his grip tightened on Bettina's arm. She cried out in pain, and he released her immediately.

“Blast you scurvy dogs!” he shouted at his crew. “You've had enough amusement for one day. Get to your duties and get this ship under way.” He then turned to Bettina. “I am sorry if I hurt you,
mademoiselle
.”

She had not expected an apology from this pirate captain. Was he not as dangerous as he looked? She stared at him curiously, but did not speak.

“Blast!” he said, scowling, and turned to the other big man. “Jules, bring that woman here.”

Madeleine hurried to them without assistance, charged with concern. “You are not to harm her,
Capitaine
!”

The captain looked at Madeleine with surprise, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Are you giving me orders,
madame?
”

“I cannot let you harm her,
monsieur
.”

Jules chuckled at this, but the captain flashed him a murderous look, then focused his attention on Madeleine again.

“Are you her mother?”

“No, I was nurse to her and her mother both. I will be nurse to her children as well,” Madeleine replied proudly.

“Is she with child now?”

“
Monsieur!
You cannot ask–”

“Blast it, answer me, woman!” the captain cut her off sharply.

“No, she is not.”

The captain's annoyance seemed to disappear with her answer. “Now tell me, why do you speak English and she does not?”

“I—I was born in England. I came to France as a child with my parents,” Madeleine said truthfully.

“She speaks no English at all?”

“No,
Capitaine
.”

He sighed and studied Bettina, who had been watching him the whole time. “Who is she?”

“Mademoiselle Bettina Verlaine.”

“And where was she being taken?”

“To Saint Martin, to be married to Comte de Lambert,” Madeleine replied quickly.

“And the fortune that was found on your vessel—it was her dowry?”

“Yes.”

The pirate captain smiled lazily, displaying even, white teeth. “Her family must be very rich. And her betrothed, he is also a man of wealth?”

“Yes, he will pay you well if you deliver her safely to Saint Martin—unharmed.”

He laughed at her last word. “I'm sure he will, but I will have to think on the matter.” He turned to Jules. “Take the nurse to your cabin and lock her in. The
mademoiselle
will come with me.”

Madeleine was dragged away, screaming and kicking to be free, and Bettina suddenly felt horribly afraid. She couldn't stop thinking of the stories she'd heard in the convent. Wouldn't a quick death be preferable? She looked at the railing of the ship. It was not so far to reach, and then to be engulfed in the cold blue water.

“Oh, no, Bettina Verlaine, not yet, anyway,” the captain said, as if reading her mind.

He took her arm and led her to his cabin. Inside the small, disorderly room, the captain sat Bettina down in a chair beside a long table. He filled two tankards with a dry red wine, handed her one, and sat down also. The long table obviously served as a desk, for it was covered with charts and nautical instruments.

He leaned back in his chair and stared at her silently. She watched his light-blue eyes nervously, and felt the color rising to her cheeks under his close examination.

“My men seem to think you are a beauty, Bet
tina,” he remarked casually. “But frankly I don't see how they could tell with that black powder covering your face.”

Bettina instinctively tried to rub away the black. But when her hand came away clean, she realized he had tricked her.

“So you understand English after all. I thought as much. Why did your servant lie?”

Bettina hesitated before answering. “She—she did not want me to talk to you. I think she was afraid I would lose my temper.”

“And will you?”

“I see no reason why I should.”

The captain laughed deeply. “Was the old woman lying about your betrothal also?”

“No.”

“So this Comte de Lambert really is a wealthy man?”

“Yes, extremely so,
capitaine
,” Bettina replied, beginning to grin to relax a little.

The man didn't seem half so dangerous as she had expected him to be. She had to admit he was handsome, and he appeared to be young, though his golden beard made him look older.

“You will be a rich man if you take me to my betrothed,” Bettina said.

“I have no doubt of that,” he replied easily. “But your dowry alone has made me a rich man, and I don't hold with carrying women on my ship.”

“Then what will you do with me,
monsieur
, throw me into the sea—after you have raped me?” she asked sarcastically.

“Exactly.”

She stared at him, aghast. She had expected a denial, but without one, what could she say?

“Is—is that your intention?” she asked fearfully.

He stared down at his tankard of wine for a moment, as if contemplating her question. Then he looked at her, an amused expression on his face.

“Take off your clothes.”

“What?” Bettina whispered.

“I intend to make love to you, Bettina Verlaine, then I will take you to your betrothed. So take off your clothes. I would rather not have to rape you and perhaps hurt you in the process.”

“
Non, monsieur, non!
Comte de Lambert will not take me if I am dishonored!”

“I assure you,
mademoiselle
, he will take you, and he will pay a high price to do so. He has seen you, hasn't he?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then there is no question about it. Your lack of virginity will not matter too much.”

“No!” Bettina replied adamantly. “I will not go to him dishonored. It would shame my family. I will not do this!”

“I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter. But I'm sure the
comte
will hide the fact that you will be no virgin on your wedding night,” the captain remarked calmly.

“No, you cannot do this to me!” Bettina cried, her green eyes wide with fear.

“I repeat, Bettina, I am going to make love to you. Nothing will save you from that. But I don't want to have to force you. I don't like rape.”

“But it is rape,
monsieur
, for I don't want to make love!”

“Call it what you like, as long as you don't fight me.”

“You—you must be crazy! You cannot expect me
to be submissive, to just let you—I won't!” she stormed, her fear replaced by anger. “I will fight you with all my power!”

“Let us strike a bargain,
mademoiselle
. Besides you and your servant, a few other prisoners were brought aboard for sport, including the captain of the French ship.”

“For sport?”

“My men are a ruthless bunch. They seem to take pleasure in killing a man slowly. First they cut off the ears, then the fingers, then the feet—need I go on?”

Bettina felt sick. “You—you allow this?”

“Why not?”

She turned pale at his answer. He must participate in this sport also.
Mon Dieu!

“You spoke—of a—bargain,” she said weakly.

“Your submission for the lives of those men. You I will have whether you fight me or not. I will not be denied you. But I will spare the lives of the prisoners and set them free in the next port on one condition—that you don't fight me.” He paused and smiled. “You have lost already, Bettina, for I will have you no matter what you decide. But the prisoners have everything to gain. They will live and not be harmed if you agree. I want your answer now.”

“You are merciless!” Bettina gasped. “Why must you rape me?”

“You surprise me. You are a prize worth having, and I want you,” he said.

“But I do not want you!”

“I will tell you, Bettina, that you are the only reason I captured your ship. I usually prey only on Spanish vessels. My lookout saw you on deck and
described your beauty to me. You should be grateful that I don't intend to share you with my crew. But enough, I want your answer!”

“You leave me no choice,” Bettina replied slowly, feeling completely helpless for the first time in her life. “I must save the lives of those men.”

“You will put up no resistance?”