A Pirate's Tantalizing Passion (Historical Regency Romance) Read online

  “No, Geoffrey. I am simply thinking like a pirate. What would be the best use of her? Ransom her for money, sell her as a slave…”

  “Or keep her as the ship’s wench!” Jenkins added in, but that only earned him a glare from Geoffrey, causing Jenkins to slink away and go to work on other crates.

  “The easiest and most convenient thing to do would be to sell her as a slave,” Leonardo piped up, passing around a water skin for all the men to take a quick swig of before they got back to their work.

  “If we are going with the easiest method, then we should just kill her,” Geoffrey said with a shrug of his shoulders, even as he carried a heavy crate to the other side of the ship’s belly.

  James sighed as he thought about it more, wondering what he would do if he was the captain of a ship. A more personal thought came to him as he thought of Jenkins’ idea. If he was indeed captain of his own crew, he would have kept her in his private quarters before he made a decision instead of leaving her in a slave room.

  “Perhaps you should bring it up over dinner with the Captain,” Leonardo said as he captured James’ attention. “Then you would know what a captain would do.”

  James nodded his head, knowing that his mentor was right. And though he did his best to focus on his work, his thoughts always lingered back on the green-eyed young lady that he couldn’t deny was fierce and beautiful.

  ~*~

  The next morning in Portsmouth brought with it a new feeling of determination within Gregory. As he readied for his trip to London, his footman already taking his packed bags down to his waiting horse, Gregory said silent prayers that he and Fitz would be warmly welcomed by his uncle and gain permission to speak to this admiral about rescuing Maria. When no reports of a body being washed up on shore reached Lord Willcox’s house, Gregory knew in his heart that his dear sister had been kidnapped by the pirates.

  As Gregory left his room, donning his riding trousers, boots, and coat, he stopped in the hallway outside his parents’ bedchamber and knocked lightly on the door. He heard his mother’s soft voice and entered, the room dark from having the curtains drawn over the windows. A few candles lit the room, giving Gregory enough light to reach his mother and sit beside her bed on a chair that had been brought over for such a thing.

  He took her hand as he gazed into her tired eyes. “My boy,” she said, “my sweet, sweet boy. You must come home with your sister.”

  Gregory smiled as he looked at his frail mother, fearing the worst would happen while he was away. He didn’t want to leave home but knew that he must see Fitz’s plan through. He kissed his mother’s cool hand and laid it back down on the bed covers. “Then you, Mother, must be well by the time I return with good news about Maria’s return. She’ll not want to see you so melancholy when she comes to see you,” Gregory said as he looked into his mother’s tear-stained face.

  “I just don’t know what I’ll do if I lose her, Gregory. She’s supposed to be getting married, not living in fear with dreadful pirates,” Lady Willcox said, her voice soft and barely over a whisper.

  “Shush now, Mother. We both know how strong-willed Maria is. She’s probably talked those men into submission and charmed the Captain into releasing her,” Gregory said with a smile, a faint one showing on Lady Willcox’s lips. “Fear not, Mother. All will be well.”

  Gregory leaned forward and placed a kiss on his mother’s head, silently pleading that she would be well by the time he returned with some real news. He squeezed her hand one last time and headed for the bedchamber door. There, he opened it and looked back at his mother one last time before stepping out of the room and closing it behind him. As he walked down the hallway, he prayed that he hadn’t looked upon his mother for the last time in his life.

  ~*~

  Maria had been walking again, humming softly as she ran through her mind stories of novels she’d read in the past. Sometimes she would imagine herself as the heroine in the novels, living and doing adventitious things, allowing her mind to forget where she was for a short time. It was in this manner that she was found when the door was unlocked and Louis limped into the room with a bundle in his arms.

  “Hello, Louis. How are you doing today?” Maria asked with a smile. When the young man had returned to give her the dinner meal last night, she’d learned his name and a bit about his past. Having been born with a lame leg, he’d been dismissed from doing much work and earning an income. But it had been Captain Maidus who’d hired him as a ship hand, being strong enough to do small things for the crew, and he could tend to all the slaves when the ship was full. Louis had explained that he’d lost his eye during a skirmish at sea, the shrapnel from a cannon hitting the deck where he was, damaging his eye beyond repair.

  “I’m well as I can be, miss. I’ve brought you a small bundle of extra clothes. Granted, they’re for men, but they’re cleaner than what ye have on,” Louis explained, his cheeks turning pink at the thought of her undressing. “And here is some salted pork. Not much, but better than nothing.”

  Maria took the small satchel from Louis and peered inside to see the salted meat, trying to be grateful when she didn’t know when the next time she would eat would be. “Thank you, Louis. That is very kind of you. And I’m sure I’ll find something comfortable to wear with the things you’ve brought,” Maria said kindly, trying to pacify the young man and win his trust. Already he’d shown his kindness to her and she wanted to repay him for it the best way she could. She was just happy to meet someone so kind in a place like this.

  “Have a good day, miss,” Louis said, wincing at his words. It dawned on him again that this young lady was a captive and not just another young lady. “I’m sorry,” he added as he opened the door.

  “There is nothing for you to be sorry for, Louis. You’re not the one who captured me,” Maria replied, truly meaning her words. Louis just nodded in reply as he stepped out of the open door and locked it behind him once he’d closed it.

  Maria sighed as she went to the bundle, setting her satchel of salted meat aside as she knelt and looked at the various clothes. She wasn’t surprised that she couldn’t find a dress, so instead she started looking over the trousers, trying to find a pair that would fit her best. Then, she found a small cotton shirt that had all its buttons, allowing her to fasten it securely once she put it on. She also found a decent vest and tunic to go with it.

  “Looks decent enough,” Maria said as she held out the clothes, making her final decision. Not knowing how long she’d be left alone, Maria quickly took off her gown, followed by her petticoat, stay, and shift. She already felt better being rid of the filthy garments as she tossed them aside and pulled on the trousers, followed by the cotton shirt that she quickly buttoned to the bottom of her chin. Once she had the vest and tunic on, she felt well enough covered.

  Next, she looked at the other clothes, taking out a shirt from the bundle and tugging on it until it ripped into small rags. She started eating the salted meat, then using her saliva to spit onto the rags she used the damp rags to scrub her arms and face, trying to rid her skin of the grime and stench. It was a small improvement, but at least she was feeling better.

  Maria couldn’t help but smile as she finished her small meal and tasks at hand. She’d never have imagined herself doing such a thing in her entire life and wondered that if at a later point in time she could use her experiences in a novel. She knew that no one would believe that a lady, born and raised in luxury and higher education, would ever do such a thing as don men’s clothing and use spit to clean herself. No, these details were only fit for a book that other young ladies would read and laugh over.

  But the more she thought about writing a novel of her experience upon a pirate ship, the more she realised just how uncertain her future was. She still had no idea what the Captain’s plans were for her, and not one of the pirates who had come to this room had asked for her name. They were being careful around her, biding their time. Surely, she would learn of their plans soon enough.
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  ~*~

  James sat at the small dining table that was used to feed the Captain and his small chosen few. He sat next to Leonardo, possibly the oldest man on the ship, and thus the most respected pirate of them all so who dined with a few of the other crew members, while the majority of the men ate in their bunks below. While most were fed potatoes and gruel, tonight James was able to enjoy cooked chicken, fresh vegetables, and a full cup of wine. He knew that it was only his obedience and dedication over the years that had earned him the right to sit at the Captain’s table. These men might be pirates, but they were all loyal to their Captain.

  “Captain Maidus, about the captive young lady. Have there been any plans made for her?” James asked towards the end of the meal, when Captain Maidus had lit his pipe, signaling that soon they’d have to leave his quarters.

  Captain Maidus regarded the young man, contemplating his motives for asking such a question. But deep down he knew that James was a pirate at heart and only asked the question with good intentions towards him as the Captain, and not for his own personal gain, like so many of the crew members often did.

  “I have not made a decision and would appreciate the opinion of my trusted few,” Captain Maidus replied, casting his gaze around at the handful of men.

  “We should just be rid of the girl, Captain. She’ll just be a burden in the long run and could be disposed of tonight. Then there is no more issue with her,” one of the men said, opening his hands before the Captain as if to say that it was an easy answer to a problem.

  “What about leaving her at the next port? We stop in southern Spain before entering our home’s sea. Why not leave her there, a British young lady amongst all the Spaniards. I’m sure that would go over well with the two monarchs,” another said with a laugh, causing a round of laughter to fall upon the table.

  “As humorous as that would be, the most profitable idea would be to sell her as a slave,” Leonardo spoke up, trying to be the reasonable one.

  “Why sell her as a slave when she could be our slave? A woman on the ship would be to our advantage and overall morality while sailing,” Jenkins spoke up, a cruel glee in his eyes.

  Captain Maidus simply chuckled at that comment as his eyes roamed over those at the table. “I agree with Leonardo that she would be worth a price at the slave markets. Though, I think she could be of some use,” he said, causing Jenkins to perk up, hoping that his idea would come true. “James, since you were the one who captured her, I want you to go and collect her now and bring her before this table. I’ve decided that she’ll work till we reach Tripoli. Then we can decide from there.”

  Those around the table mumbled their agreement as James rose from the table and commenced to do as he was ordered, hoping that this young lady wouldn’t give him any trouble as he brought her before the Captain. There was a lot she could attempt between the slave quarters and the Captain’s personal ones.

  Chapter 9

  Having already received her evening meal, Maria was surprised to hear the lock on the door snap open before the door was pushed in. Maria stood from the place on the floor she’d been resting her legs after spending much of the day walking and daydreaming, feeling the sway of the ship around her. She was surprised when the man she’d been thinking often about stepped into the room.

  When James unlocked the door and stepped into the room, he wasn’t expecting what he saw before him. Not only had the room been scrubbed clean, freeing the humid area of rank smells, but the young lady he’d captured had been transformed from a common English woman into a lady of the sea. The trousers she wore fit her shapely legs nicely, and though she wore a cotton, button-up shirt, with both a vest and tunic, the layers still couldn’t hide her pleasantly shaped bosom.

  James stood and stared for several moments, pleasant ideas of how he’d strip her of those wayfaring clothes slipping through his mind, causing him to force that train of thought away as he remembered his orders. But it was hard to look at her as she crossed her arms over her chest, a victorious smile across her face, her golden hair pulled back from her face with what reminded him of a kerchief. The woman before him was certainly not the young lady he’d captured. No, this woman possessed fiery determination.

  “I see you’ve been busy,” James spoke up, finally finding his voice as he stepped further into the room, admiring her shapely figure in the fitting clothes that left little to the imagination.

  “I’ve simply done what you’ve told me to do. Behave and such. But I couldn’t help making a few friends, too,” Maria said with a wink as she fought back the smile that wanted to creep upon her face. She was trying to remain confidant and assertive and didn’t want her glee of surprising her capturer getting in the way of how she was trying to present herself.

  “I’ve never heard of an English woman making friends with pirates,” James said, a smirk crossing his features as he viewed the woman before him.

  “Well, English women have to make do, sometimes,” Maria replied. “So, why are you here? You’ve brought no food or water, so I’m sure there must be another reason.”

  James focused again on the task at hand, remembering that the Captain was waiting on him. “Captain Maidus has requested your presence at his dining table. He is to bring you before his most trusted men to decide your fate,” James explained, a sternness in his voice that sent chills down her spine. For a moment he’d almost been flirting with her, but now it was clear to Maria that he was there on official business.

  Not willing to show fear in front of her capturer, Maria squared her shoulders and gestured towards the hallway. “Well, lead the way then,” she said, a small smile on her lips to show that she wasn’t afraid of what lay ahead of her.

  James was surprised since most of the time he had to lead slaves kicking and screaming anytime he transferred them, but this young lady didn’t seem to be bothered by anything he said. He had to give her credit that she was the fiercest woman he’d ever met.

  Leading the captive into the hallway, James kept a close eye on her as they traveled down the hallway that was barely lit with lantern light. Then, they ascended the narrow wooden stairs that Maria remembered all too well from when she’d been first kidnapped. When the pirate opened the door at the top of the stairs, sunlight flooded into the space, forcing Maria to cover her eyes with her arm. She felt the man in front of her pull her arm, encouraging her to keep moving.

  As Maria stepped onto the top deck, it took her a few moments to gain her sight. As she looked all around her, she saw the ship’s deck stretch far ahead of her, and further she saw that they were completely surrounded by water, with no land in sight. On the horizon she saw the setting sun, the sky cast in hues of pink and orange, a sight that Maria thought was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

  The sway of the ship caused Maria to lose her footing as she stumbled and reached towards her capturer, who was quick to catch her, folding his strong arms around her as he held her close to his chest. He looked down into her eyes that were surprised that he’d caught her, and when she could feel a low rumble of laughter in his chest, she straightened her posture and regained her footing.

  “It seems ye haven’t gotten your sea legs yet,” her capturer said as he took her arm and hooked it around his so that he could help steady her for the rest of the way.

  If they’d been in England, Maria could imagine that she was taking a stroll with a gentleman through the park. Instead, her capturer led her across the ship’s deck towards the wheelhouse, with the breeze from the sea whipping around them. Around her she spotted various pirates who stopped and stared at her. Some would look at her with lusty eyes while others would glare at her. A few even spit in her direction as though she were filth. Maria decided to keep her eyes in front of her and not pay them any attention.

  “These are Captain Maidus’ personal quarters,” the pirate explained as he led her to a door underneath the wheelhouse, dropping her arm from his before he knocked loudly on the door. When a man inside
beckoned them to enter, the pirate opened the door and stepped inside with Maria closely following.

  “James, my boy. You’ve finally brought this beauty to meet me. I dare say, what a beautiful young lady indeed. And so fitting for the sea,” the man at the head of a dining table said, pointing his finger at Maria and laughing. Maria stopped moving, unsure of where in the room she should go or what she was supposed to do next. Maria gazed around the table as her capturer sat next to Leonardo. At least a few of pirates she could recognize. They laughed at her apparel until their mirth subsided, with the man at the head of the table standing.