Blackhearts (13 page)

threw the words, like a pail of cold water to hit him in the face.

They had the desired effect, and he stepped back, his expression masked.

“If that’s all, sir,” she said, taking up the linens and candle-

stick.

“Leave the linens for tomorrow. It’s late.”

“Yes, sir.” Anne closed the door on her way out. Shaken, she

headed to the west wing to start making the beds, disregarding

Teach’s instructions. As tired as she was, she knew she would

not be able to sleep. Her mind replayed the events of the past

few days, as well as Teach’s professed interest.

He wasn’t the only observant one in the household, and

Anne could see a battle being waged. He was torn between

wanting to please his father and wanting to make his own path.

Master Drummond dictated every aspect of everyone’s life

in this house, and Miss Patience was his choice for his son’s

bride. It didn’t mean she was Teach’s. It was not a stretch to

imagine that Teach would look for any opportunity to rebel.

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What would be more defiant than having a tryst with someone in his father’s own household?

Not liking the direction of her thoughts, Anne hurried

through the rooms, making the beds by the light of the single

candle, trying hard not to picture the chamber she had just

vacated.

She was halfway through the task when she heard footsteps in

the hallway. Extinguishing the flame, Anne peered out through

the half-open door, and spied Teach, dressed in a heavy riding

cloak and boots, striding toward the back stairs, the candle in his own hands flickering with each step.

Curious, she followed him through the darkened house.

Where was he off to at such a late hour? Not eight days ago he’d had a high fever. Now here he was, leaving in the middle of the

night? Surely nothing good would come of this.

Tiptoeing down the stairs, she felt her way along the dim

interior. In the kitchen all was silent. Margery had obviously

taken his advice and retired. There was also no sign of Sara or

Mary, and the embers in the fireplace cast an eerie glow about

the room.

Anne reached the back door and was about to step out,

when Teach came barreling out of the barn astride his black

stallion. He flew past her, in the direction of town, the hooves echoing down the drive behind them. A dog barked in the distance, and Anne stayed where she was, staring after him until

the sound of his departure faded away.

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She could not help her small twinge of envy, or the strong desire to follow him. How she longed to ride into the night like that, with nothing holding her back. But it was as if she had a

rope secured around her waist, anchoring her to this house. The

only time she was ever allowed to leave was to run errands for

Margery in the marketplace.

The closest she would come to freedom at the moment was

when she slept, for there were no rules while dreaming.

With a heavy heart Anne climbed the stairs to her room up

in the garret. With its slanted roof and crooked floor, it wasn’t much compared to her old bedchamber in her father’s house.

She missed the soft bed and pale blue walls.

Her present space was a far cry better than the squalid hovel

she’d shared with her mother, but it had come at the cost of her independence.

She’d spent far too much time in Teach’s company the past

few days, and needed to get to the city to try to sell some of

the items she’d stolen. In less than three weeks the
Deliverance
would set sail. She saw her opportunity for escape being like the sand in an hourglass, and it was running out.

As Anne lay down, she attempted to wipe her mind clean.

She was successful for the most part, but when she eventually

drifted off to sleep, her last conscious thoughts were of black

stallions and sparkling green eyes.

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C H A P T E R 1 1

Teach

The sky overhead was an inky black, lit by a sliver of the moon

and a thousand sparkling stars. Adjusting the rough plank of

wood, Teach slid it across the short gap stretching between the

dock and the
Deliverance
.

She was broad in the beam and powerfully built, and Teach

could picture her graceful bow cutting through the choppy

waves on the open sea. As he boarded, a chill wind whipped

his face, and he took a deep breath of the briny air, unable to

prevent the smile on his lips. The boat swayed gently beneath

his feet, and Teach stopped to close his eyes, his chest expanding in a moment of pure joy.

The ride through the empty city streets had energized him,

for he hadn’t slowed down, as if the very hounds of hell had

been at his back. His father often called him reckless, but Teach liked to think he took calculated risks. This life was too short 115

not to approach everything with zeal. His mother’s untimely death had taught him that.

“Don’t move, or you’ll find yourself flat on your arse and

my knife in your gut,” someone growled from behind.

The smile on Teach’s lips increased. “Is that any way to talk

to a friend, John? Especially since I went to so much trouble to get you this post in the first place,” he said, turning and extending his arm in greeting.

John let out a long breath and clasped Teach’s hand in a

crushing grip. John was built like any number of farmers or sailors walking the streets of Bristol, with a broad back and stout

legs. And he was the best fighter Teach had ever seen, which was why Teach had written his father and told him about his friend.

John had proven to be an excellent night watchman.

“Curse your eyes, Teach, you gave me a start. What are you

doing here in the middle of the night?” John asked. His light

brown hair was long and unruly, just like him. “Is Mary all

right?”

“Yes. She’s fine. This has nothing to do with her.” Teach felt

a twinge of guilt, wondering if he should tell his friend about

the cheating maid. But he wasn’t sure how to do it.

“I was thinking of coming by the house sometime to visit

her, but whenever I send word, she says she’s too busy to see me.

You’re not working her too hard, are you now?”

“Hardly. Instead of sending word, why not simply stop by and

surprise her?” Teach knew it was a terrible suggestion, but perhaps 116

John would then see for himself what kind of girl he was marrying.

John smiled, transforming his formidable face. “I think I

will, if I can find the time this week. I’ve missed her something fierce. Now, mind telling me why you’re here?”

Teach walked to the mast and ran his hands along the

smooth wood and ropes. “I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to pay

you a visit.”

“You didn’t come to see me.”

“Of course I did. Why do you think I’m here?”

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” John asked, laughing.

“What?” Teach’s head snapped up at John’s words.

“You’re in love with the
Deliverance
already. Don’t bother denying it. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Teach murmured, his heartbeat

returning to normal. He continued along the deck, his foot-

steps echoing through the night air. “How have you been? Have

you had any trouble?”

“Nah, it’s right quiet around here. A bit boring, if you ask

me. But down the dock a ways, every once in a while, they get

a bit of excitement.”

“Really? How so?”

“Several men show up and empty the belly of a ship.”

“That’s nothing unusual,” Teach said. “These are the docks,

after all.”

“Right, but why wait till the middle of the night to unload

your cargo?”

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Teach shrugged. “Maybe their laborers were delayed. The harbor master still has to inspect the ship.”

“Aye, but it might be easier to hide things in the dark.”

“Do you think they’re hiding something?”

“I think they’re unloading something they don’t want

nobody else to notice.”

Intrigued, Teach took a few steps in the direction John had

indicated, searching for any sign of movement in the distance.

“Have you seen anything tonight?”

“No, nothing. I never know when they’ll come.”

“Do they ever bother you?” Teach asked.

John grinned, his teeth flashing in the dark. “I’d like to see

’em try.”

“Well, let me know if they do. Or if you’d like more help,”

Teach said.

“I’ll be fine, but you’re more than welcome to stay for a bit.”

Teach had left the confines of the house hoping to find a

distraction from his home life and his impending marriage, as

well as a particularly disturbing maid under his father’s roof.

Since he’d arrived home, the walls of the estate had seemed to

be closing in on him for more than one reason, and he was

searching for a way to let loose some of his pent-up frustration.

But since the
Deliverance
was simply another point of contention with his father, Teach wondered about his decision to

come here. Perhaps a tavern would have been a better choice.

“Care to share a pint?” Teach asked. John was a simple,

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hardworking type, and Teach enjoyed his company. In the past year he and John had become fast friends, much like Teach and

William had been at Eton. Both William and John knew of

Teach’s struggle to please his father, while at the same time trying to assert himself and make his own decisions, and they were

sympathetic to his plight.

But unlike with William, there was nothing about John

that annoyed Teach.

“And have your father sack me? No thanks, mate. But drink

one for me, will you?”

“Anything for a friend,” Teach said, giving a mock salute

and turning to leave.

“Hold on. You can’t go into one of these taverns dressed like

that. People might recognize you, and your father would hear

about it for sure.” After shrugging out of his jacket and picking up a large, floppy hat from the deck, John walked over and

placed the items in Teach’s arms and took Teach’s cloak. Once

Teach was back on the dock, John pulled the plank after him,

preventing others from surprising him like Teach had.

“Stay out of trouble,” John said with a final wave.

“Always,” Teach replied before striding away.

Walking in the direction John had indicated, Teach scanned

the area, but there was no movement at the moment, just the

gentle splash of water hitting the stone dock.

Disappointed, Teach followed the unmistakable sound of

a rowdy crowd coming from a tavern in the distance. It was

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several blocks away from the
Deliverance
but still within sight of the waterfront.

In the gloomy, smoke-filled interior, every corner was

packed with lively games of cards, drawing plenty of interest

from the raucous crowd, and Teach picked a seat near the back

wall, enjoying his anonymity. The fact that nobody could rec-

ognize him beneath his disguise was reassuring. The floppy hat

pulled down low over his forehead prevented anyone from get-

ting a good look at his face, and the rough jacket John had

provided fit in with the rest of the drunken horde.

There was no way Drummond would hear of Teach’s activ-

ities, which was another reason Teach had sought out this par-

ticular establishment. Drummond would not have been caught

dead in a tavern located in this part of town.

Teach, on the other hand, felt quite at home as he sipped an

ale, enjoying the atmosphere and the revelry.

“Bring me another pint!” a large blond called out, his bul-

bous fist waving his mug in the air.

A bolt of recognition shot through Teach, and he looked in

the direction of the booming voice. His old nemesis from Eton,

Henry Barrett, sat at a table in the far corner. Teach frowned,

debating if he should leave or remain where he was. During

their years at school, Teach and Henry had come to blows more

than once.

A short, ginger-haired companion attempted to wrestle

Henry’s bulky arm back down. “Come on, Barrett. You’ve had

12 0

enough. Concentrate on the game,” he said gruffly, sweat standing out on his brow.

Henry Barrett shook him off, like a giant swatting a fly, and

shoved him back so that the small man lost his footing. “I’ll tell you when I’m done,” he bellowed, slamming the mug onto the table.

Someone helped the unlucky fellow to his feet while Henry

picked up his cards and the game resumed.

A harassed barmaid struggled through the crowd, a frothy

ale in her hands. She was almost to Barrett’s table when she

stumbled and fell forward. The drink doused a nearby sailor,

who stood up, sputtering. Everyone’s attention was drawn to

the spectacle. In that same instant Henry rearranged two cards

in the deck, which let Teach know the game was rigged and the

cards were textured. Henry had been fingering them, giving the

illusion of thorough shuffling, but what he’d really been doing

was trying to find the match.

Teach whistled under his breath, not sure if he should be

impressed by the boldness of Henry’s actions, for the three other players involved in the game were by no means small. If they

discovered Henry’s deceit, Teach was quite sure Henry would

leave the premises in a decidedly altered state.