Capturing the Pirate's Heart (The Emerald Quest Book 1) (17 page)

Safe at rest, at home.

She would have to trust
Sébastien and together they would search. Then she would make her mind up about
her future and what course of action she would take.

Luck was with the
Maiden
as they sailed in on the incoming tide and the docking at the wharf was speedy
and trouble free. By sunset, the sails were down and there was much jovial
calling out to each other among the crew who were looking forward to going
ashore. As they maneuvered the boat into position against the wooden quay,
Sébastien put his hand to his eyes and searched along the river’s edge. There
was no sign of the British frigate that had brought Madeleine across the ocean.
He wondered whether her uncle had left New Orleans.

He rolled his shoulders and
stretched. To have this final mission behind him was a great relief. The crew
was tired and as ready to spend some time on the land as he was. He grinned; he
knew his tiredness had more to do with the return journey and Madeleine being
in his bed, rather than the intercept itself, which had gone more smoothly than
any other mission he had led. At the outset, he had worried about Madeleine’s
presence on board but it seemed she had brought him luck. The assault by the
crewman had been more problematic for the voyage than the intercept itself.

“You look tired, Captain.” His
first mate came to stand beside him. “Are you going ashore tonight?”

“Yes, I will escort Captain
Lamoreau to the governor as soon as we are secure.” The French captain had been
compliant and had caused no trouble aboard the vessel as they had traveled
back. “Why do you ask?” The gangplank had been lowered but the crew was still
securing ropes to the quay.

It was out of character for Mr.
Abrahams to ask Sébastien of his business unless it was to do with the
Maiden
,
which would now be under his command.

“The three new crewmen have left
the boat and gone ashore already. They must have jumped to the quay before we
turned the bow in.”

“Three?”

“The man who was secured has
gone too. I went down to check on him when I noticed the other two had gone but
they must have released him. They have all gone. They must have chosen a time
when I was occupied below.”

Sébastien frowned. He was
concerned about Madeleine’s assailant being on the loose. “Can you keep a close
watch on who comes on board while I am with the governor?”

Mr. Abrahams nodded and
Sébastien turned for the ladder. “I will be as quick as I can in town.” He
looked back over his shoulder. “Where is young Jake?” The boy was usually
hovering around the first mate and was nowhere in sight.

Mr. Abrahams frowned. “I’m not
sure. He must have gone below.”

Unease filled Sébastien as he
climbed down the ladder. He walked along the dark passageway and entered the
small cabin where the man had been locked up. The door was open and the ropes
which had bound him had been cut and were lying on the wooden floor. Stepping
back into the passageway he looked around, checking in each of the other spaces
as he passed them. It had been a mistake hiring them for the voyage, but he
hoped they were long gone by now.

He tapped lightly on the cabin
door. “Madeleine, it’s me. Sébastien.”

The bolt unlatched with a sharp
creak and the door opened slowly. The wanton of a couple of hours ago had been
replaced by a young lady in a modest dress, her hair braided and coiled neatly
at the nape of her neck. Madeleine stood demurely in the shadows watching him.

“You look very pretty.”

She bobbed a curtsy, holding her
skirts wide. “Thank you, Captain.”

Sébastien reached for her and
pulled her to him. “I missed you.”

Although her arms circled his
waist, there was a slight distance in her response and he looked down at her.
“Is everything all right?”

Relief filled him as she turned
her cheek into his shoulder.

“I was frightened when you were
ashore. Someone tried to get into the cabin.”

“Who tried? Did they harm you?”

“I don’t know, and no, I was not
harmed.” Madeleine tipped her head back slowly. “And now, I am a little sad our
journey has ended. I will be honest with you. I am unsure of what to do.”

Sébastien’s heart sank and he
forgot about the intruders who had tried to get into he cabin. Perhaps she had
made her decision already and was not going to accept his proposal. “To do?”

“Part of it is about Great Aunt
Josephine’s necklace.” A measure of relief ran though him but he would take
this slowly. “What concerns you?”

“I have been selfish.”

Tears filled her eyes and
threatened to spill over. He lifted his hand and cradled her cheek. “I think
you have been very brave.”

She shook her head and pulled
away from him. “No. Every decision I have made has been for me.”

“Every decision you have made
has been for your well-being and safety. From what I have seen of your actions
and heard of your thoughts, your motives have been selfless.”

“Sébastien, I know that you
think I am foolish.” Her harsh cry tugged at him as she pulled away from his
hold, but he let her go and she began to pace the cabin. “I have not given this
enough thought. Even if I find the necklace I cannot do what I intended.
Bellerose Hall is in the hands of Uncle Titus.” She turned and walked back
toward him, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her brow wrinkled and her
lips in a straight line. “And how would I get the necklace or the money to
England? There is no one I can send it to.”

She stopped pacing when she
reached him. “It was a foolish hope that I could change anything at Bellerose
Hall. Jake had more understanding than I did, and his words made me think.”

“Jake’s words? What did he say?”
Sébastien reached out and took her hand in his.

“He told me that having servants
is very much like the slavery that you fight against.” She shook her head. “Oh,
I know it is different in many ways, but it made me ponder. I cannot change the
way things are and they were the foolish, immature thoughts of a silly young
girl to think that I could.”

“No, not foolish. Noble and
brave.” He reached his other hand up and gently lifted her chin but her tears
continued.

“And why would you want me to
accompany you to your new life? Can I believe that you will not leave me?”

Sébastien cradled Madeleine’s
face between his hands and stared into her eyes trying to convey what he was
feeling through his touch before he spoke.

“I called you my love before,
but perhaps I did not put it clearly enough.” Her eyes widened as he held her
gaze. “I love you, Madeleine, and it would break my heart if you chose not to
come with me. But if you wish, I will help you find the necklace and take it
back to England before you accompany me”

“You would?” Her voice calmed
and Sébastien’s heart stilled as he looked into the emerald depths of her eyes.

“I would, Madeleine.”

“Oh Sébastien.” She lifted one
hand and placed it gently on his cheek before she stretched up on her toes and
laced her arms around his neck. Her breath was a whisper on his lips as she
pulled his head down. “I will follow you.”

Her lips were warm and pliant
beneath his, and Sébastien closed his eyes as he gathered her close and held
her to him. They stood quietly together and it was as though, in that moment,
they made a vow. Finally, he lifted his head and regarded her, his heart
thudding so hard he was sure she would feel it through her dress.

“We will talk some more when we
go ashore together.” Madeleine opened her mouth but he put a finger on her
lips.

“Not now. We shall talk later.
There is much you don’t know. Now I must leave you very briefly.”

“Can I come with you now?”

“No. I must go alone. Keep the
door latched securely and pack your things ready to leave when I return. Do not
open it to a soul.” He kept his voice soft as he dropped his head for a final
swift kiss. The sooner he left, the sooner he would be back and their life
together would begin. “Don’t forget to pack your other dress. I have become
quite enamored of that scanty outfit. I would hate for you to leave it on
board.”

Madeleine’s laugh followed him
as he pulled the door closed behind him.

***

Sébastien paced up and down the narrow hallway behind the
ballroom of La Salle Conde Theater, his footsteps echoing in the narrow space.
He had been waiting for Carondelet for more than three hours, and an hour ago
the governor’s aide had come to him to advise that he would be the next to see
the governor who was attending a quadroon Carnival ball at the theater. The
French captain waited quietly in a chair beside the door and seemed disinclined
to move. At first, the governor had refused to see Sébastien and he suspected
that the long wait was deliberate, due to his insistence on seeing Carondelet
tonight. He had attended these balls himself and knew that the dancing could go
until dawn. He turned and paced one more length of the corridor considering
whether to go back to the
Maiden
.

“Can I get you a brandy,
Captain?” The aide flicked the Frenchman a scathing glance, yet he did not
appear at all concerned about the long wait Sébastien had endured. There was
nothing to be gained by losing his temper. “Thank you, but no.” The aide
clicked his heels and left the room. Sebastien stood and prowled around the
room looking at the portraits that covered the walls.

“Holy Mother.” Sébastien peered
at the portrait in front of him just as the door opened to admit the governor
and the aide. Josephine du Bois looked down at him, her expression serious, but
capturing his attention was the glittering emerald diamond necklace that
covered the bare expanse of Josephine’s chest above her ball gown. More than
twenty square-cut and oval emeralds were nestled between a myriad of countless
diamonds. The artist had captured the light perfectly and the glittering gems
were the focus of the portrait. He must bring Madeline to see this in the
morning. She would be excited to see the necklace did exist.

“Good evening, Captain.”

Sébastien reluctantly tore his
gaze from the portrait and the object of Madeleine’s quest. It would be worth a
king’s ransom. No wonder Jean-Luc was seeking information.

The governor looked at the
French captain and a smile of satisfaction crossed his face.

“Governor.” Sebastien inclined
his head as a mark of respect.

“Did you know the necklace in
that portrait has never been found? It is widely assumed that it was destroyed
in the fire that killed Josephine. What is your interest in it, Captain?”

“I have no interest. I had not
seen it before and I was observing the portrait only a moment before you came
in.”

The governor gave him a curious
look before he nodded and reached into the leather pouch that the aide handed
to him.

“And now to business, Captain.”

***

There was little packing for
Madeleine to do. She slid her bare feet into her beribboned slippers and lit
the lamp on the table before laying the shawl on the bed. She held up the red
and black outfit that she had fashioned to wear on the ship and smiled. She had
not thought to take it with her but now she placed it on the shawl with her ribbons
before rolling it up in a neat bundle. Placing it on the bed beside her, she
looked around the cabin which had been her home for the past weeks.

Her doubts had been dispelled
with Sébastien’s words and a warm flush ran through her as she held his declaration
of love in her thoughts. She wondered what was so urgent that he had had to
leave her.

All will be well.
She looked forward to embarking
on a new adventure; this time with Sébastien by her side.

###

Madeleine was asleep by the time
Sébastien returned. She woke briefly as he climbed into the bed and wrapped his
arms around her and whispered into her hair.

“A successful visit, my love.
And I have something to show you in the morning that will make you very happy.”

Madeleine rolled over and
pressed against Sébastien’s naked length and whispered saucily. “You can show
me now if you would like to.”

His deep laugh vibrated on her
chest and she placed her hand on him. He was ready as he had been each time
they were in bed together—and other times that they weren’t and had made use of
other alcoves in the cabin to slake their desire for each other. Madeline
sighed with pleasure as her fingers stroked his silken but firm length.

His voice was husky as he lifted
her hand away. “Now that you are awake, let me tell you what I have found.”

“Can it wait?” she murmured as
her lips found his neck.

“I have found the necklace you
seek.” He grinned as Madeleine sat bolt upright in the bed.

“The necklace? Great Aunt
Josephine’s necklace?”

He nodded with a smile and she
threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Sébastien, where is it?”

“Be calm, my love. I will show
you in the morning. I have found a portrait of your aunt wearing the necklace.”
He buried his face in her hair and she smiled. If the necklace was found,
perhaps she could sell it and somehow send the money to Bellerose and she could
follow Sébastien’s dreams?