Blackhearts (23 page)

have seen the way people live. It’s a hard existence. You can’t go alone. It’s far too dangerous.”

“I want to at least be given the chance.”

The air in the carriage seemed to shrink, charged with

oppressed tension. It reminded Teach of an uneasy calm before

a storm.

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Anne’s breathing wasn’t quite steady, her agitation obvious.

“I do not mean to sound ungrateful, but I’m tired of others

directing my life. I’m ready to take charge of it and see where

my choices lead me.”

Teach sat back, his unease sharpening into something else.

He could not argue with Anne, for he was all too familiar with

her hopes. How often had he longed to tell his father the exact

same thing?

But Teach knew Drummond, better than anyone else,

and as much as Teach understood Anne’s feelings, he sincerely

hoped that his father would be able to change her mind.

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C H A P T E R 2 0

Anne

The library was Anne’s favorite room. The wide windows

usually let in long slanting rectangles of light, warming the

otherwise cold house. And there were, of course, the books to

linger over, innumerable titles containing wonderful details of

adventure.

At the moment, however, a stormy sky outside cast omi-

nous shadows over the library’s carpeted floor and obscured

Drummond’s expression. Anne hesitated in the doorway,

unsure if she should follow Teach in, or . . .

“Father—”

“I see that trouble has again darkened our door,” Drummond

said, swirling a glass of amber liquid in his hand.

Anne stopped short, exchanging a questioning glance with

Teach. Was it possible Drummond knew what she was about to

ask him?

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Teach continued a few more paces and stopped beside his father’s chair. “Sir?”

“None of this would have happened if you had simply done

as I asked,” Drummond said, his mouth hardening as he looked

up at his son.

“What’s wrong?’ Teach asked.

Drummond tipped back his head and downed the rest of

his drink before he answered. “This will ruin everything. Every-

thing that I’ve worked so hard to accomplish.”

“What?”

“You’ve been charged with piracy.”

Anne’s stomach plummeted, every muscle clenching with

fear. Any argument for her own cause fled from her mind,

replaced with an image of those five men in the cart. Except, in their place she saw Teach.

“That’s impossible.” Teach’s body tensed.

Drummond stood slowly, as if he’d aged ten years in the

short time since Anne had last seen him. The grooves in his face were more pronounced than ever. He thrust a piece of paper at

Teach. “See for yourself.”

Teach took the paper and scanned its contents, while Anne

moved silently to his side and read over his shoulder.

In support of our sovereign lord the king, upon oath, I

present that Edward Drummond, late of Bristol, mari-

ner, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being

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moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, by force
and arms, upon the high seas, and within the jurisdic-tion of the admiralty of England, did piratically and

feloniously set upon, board, break, and enter a certain

merchant ship . . .

Teach crumpled up the paper before Anne could read any

further. “There is no basis for these allegations,” he ground out, visibly trying to control his anger.

“Who dares accuse him of such things?” Anne asked.

“The constable did not say. There is to be an inquiry. I have

arranged for my Bristol solicitor to meet me at his office, and will leave within the hour. I do not expect to return anytime soon.”

“Shall I come with you?” Teach asked.

“No! You’ve done enough. None of this would have hap-

pened if you’d simply stayed home and married Miss Patience

like I asked.”

“You didn’t
ask
me, Father. You never ask me anything. You either demand or command.” Teach spoke with a boldness no

doubt born out of desperation. Anne recognized the anxiety

and frustration on his face, for they mirrored her own. These

were serious charges indeed. If found guilty, Teach would hang.

The thought filled her with dread.

“If the baron or Miss Patience find out about these charges,

it could mean the end of your engagement. They have sent

word that they will arrive in two days’ time to discuss a date

for the wedding. I don’t know how to stop them from coming.”

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Caught off guard by the news, Anne was unprepared for the sharp stab of jealousy that pierced her. Miss Patience would be

returning. She chanced a glance at Teach, to gauge his reaction

to his father’s statement about Miss Patience, but his expression was closed.

“Miss Patience is ill,” Teach said.

“She appears to be on the mend,” Drummond snapped.

“I should leave you,” Anne said.

“No, please don’t. I must rely on you to make sure Edward

does as I ask this time.”

Teach rubbed the back of his neck. “Father, let me go with

you. I’ll speak to the constable and explain to him that those

charges cannot possibly be true. I did not commit any crimes.”

“You expect him to believe you?” Drummond demanded.

“Why wouldn’t he?” Teach shot back. “I’ve done nothing

wrong.”

Even though it was not directed at her, Anne felt the full

force of Mr. Drummond’s fury, and she wished she’d waited

until the morning to try to speak with him.

Drummond opened his mouth once again, but Anne

stepped forward, hoping to defuse the situation. “Please, what

is to be done?”

“Have you not heard of the men they apprehended earlier,

the ones charged and convicted of piracy?” Drummond asked.

Anne nodded, sure she would not forget them for as long

as she lived.

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“The constable says, since their capture, he’s had at least two new charges of piracy brought before him. It’s the equiva-lent of a witch hunt.” Drummond turned an accusing finger at

Teach. “And if you hadn’t insisted on sailing, I would not be in this predicament.”

“What evidence did they have against those men?” Anne

asked.

“They were caught unloading stolen goods from a ship late

at night. It’s suspected they’ve been attacking merchants near

the continent for the last six months at least.”

“But in the past six months, he was nowhere near these

shores,” Anne said. “That should be easy enough to prove.”

“Yes, well, with everyone clamoring for justice to be served,

the investigation will proceed, regardless of where he was. As

I’ve said, I’m meeting with my solicitor shortly. Edward is not

to leave the house until I return.”

“You can’t be serious,” Teach said.

“I am. And this time you will do exactly as I say. I do not

want you venturing into the city, for any reason. You are to stay here and wait for Miss Patience’s arrival.”

“And what should I tell her? How long will you be gone?”

Teach asked.

“I have not the faintest idea, but I do not expect to return

home until the matter is resolved satisfactorily. I will do whatever it takes to see these charges dropped, and will send word

with a messenger once I have more information.” With that,

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Drummond turned on his heel and left the two of them alone.

It was several moments before Anne heard the sound of

Drummond’s carriage fading away. Teach remained where he

was, staring at the floor, his mouth grim.

Anne wanted to say something, anything to comfort him,

but wasn’t sure what that should be. Glancing at the door, she

almost wished for Margery to appear. But the house was silent,

except for the occasional pop of the fire.

“My father thinks I’m the devil incarnate,” Teach said,

striding to the hearth. He stabbed the logs with the fire iron.

Sparks flew up, illuminating his face with a dangerous light, as the evening outside darkened to dusk.

“You don’t mean that,” she said.

“Don’t I?”

“No. He just wants to see that your name is cleared.”

“Not my name, Anne.
His.
He’s never cared about my

thoughts or my dreams. It’s always been about him and what

he wants.”

“He wouldn’t have rushed off in such haste if he didn’t care

for you. He’s a powerful man. If anyone can have the charges

dropped—”

Teach flung the fire iron against the nearest wall. The wood

paneling cracked beneath the force, and the rod clattered to

the floor. He rounded on Anne and approached her, his steps

purposeful. “If word of this gets out, which it undoubtedly will, then any chance my father had of the aristocracy accepting him

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will be gone.
That
is what he cares about.
That
is why he was so quick to act.”

Had their relationship always been so volatile? Or had it

deteriorated since Mrs. Drummond’s death? “He is not as cold

as you believe he is. Look at what he’s done for me. He will get you out of this.”

“How?” Teach asked, stopping in front of her. His face was

grave.

She threw up her hands, her own fear making her voice

sharp. “I don’t know. I don’t know how any of this will turn out, but we have to give your father time.”

“You saw the men today, Anne. Time is not on my side.”

Anne turned and strode toward the fire, her speech trying

to keep pace with her agitated thoughts. “Concentrate for a

moment. Who would want to see you suffer or possibly hang?”

“I can’t imagine anyone would want to see me hang.”

“Nor can I, but obviously someone does. Now think. Is

there anyone you’ve angered recently?”

“Henry Barrett is the only person I can think of.”

“Do you think he knows we spoke with Mr. Cogswell?”

Would that even be possible? They’d left the solicitor’s office

barely an hour before.

“I doubt it. Henry is angry with me for another reason.”

“Why is he—” As his words sank in, Anne closed her eyes

against the prickling along her scalp. Teach had never returned

the money. “Why? Why didn’t you give it back to him?”

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“Because he’s a fool!”

“And it appears you’re the greater fool for not thinking he

would seek revenge. When he left, he said he’d make you pay.”

“Do you really think he’s capable of such a thing? He would

accuse me of piracy simply because I didn’t return a few coins?”

Anne noted the heightened color in Teach’s face, and wished

she could tell him no. But she wouldn’t put it past Henry to

have done just that. “I can’t say for sure, but look at what he did to me,” Anne said. “If it had benefited him to have me gone, I

have no doubt he would have sent me away. Permanently.”

Teach’s eyes glinted, his chest expanding with a deep

breath. “I’ll butcher him. This time I’ll kill him with my bare

hands. If I’m going to hang for a crime, I might as well be

bloody guilty of it.”

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C H A P T E R 2 1

Teach

Teach’s mouth was dry, and he strode to the sideboard to pour

himself a drink. He noticed the trembling of his own fingers as

he gripped the decanter. Despite Anne’s and his father’s assur-

ances, he was unsure how the investigation would end.

Studying her over the top of his glass, Teach noticed that

her face was ashen, and she fingered the watch in her hand, a

sure sign of her anxiety.

“Killing him won’t solve anything,” she said. “And you said

yourself you do not want another man to suffer by your hand.”

“That was before I knew that Henry Barrett planned for me

to suffer.”

“Don’t do anything rash.”

“He should pay for what he did to you.”

“Yes, but not by you. If you go after him now, it will be as

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good as admitting your guilt. We need to let your father know about Henry. Perhaps he can—”

Setting the glass down with a little more force than neces-

sary, Teach cursed beneath his breath. Anne gave a start at the

sound. He wished there were some way to soothe her, but his

mind was already busy with plans.

“I have to go out,” he said. “If anyone asks for me, tell them

I’ve retired to my room.”

She intercepted him on his way to the door, planting herself

in front of him. “Your father said you shouldn’t venture into

town again.”

“My life is on the line. Not his.”

Anne grabbed Teach’s arm. “Which is why you need to be

careful. These charges are serious.”

Teach placed his hand over hers. “And that is precisely why

I must act. I cannot idly sit by and do nothing.” He gave her

fingers a squeeze. “I will return before daylight.”

“Don’t do this. He’s not worth it.”

“Would you absolve me of my crimes, Queen Anne?”

“If it were in my power to do so. But I do not believe you

are guilty of any,” Anne said, studying his face. “Yet.”

“Trust me,” he said, her hand still caught beneath his.

She looked as if she were about to argue further, but Teach

stepped around her and exited the room.

On his way out the back of the house, Teach stopped in the

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kitchen. “Please see that Anne has a hot bath, and prepare a tray of food for her.” After the day that she’d had, Teach knew she