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Maribel jumped as the cabin door opened. She swung round, half-expecting another visit from the captain since she had ignored his advice to go on deck, but it was only Anna.
‘We are to go ashore this evening,’ Anna told her. ‘The pirates will provision the ship ready for the voyage to Cyprus and it is the last chance for us to go ashore before we reach our destination.’
‘We must try to escape,’ Maribel said. ‘Juanita came from Mallorca. My father has estates here. If we could reach them…’
‘I have given my promise not to try to escape in return for being allowed ashore, and you must do the same. It is the only way, my lady.’
‘A promise to a pirate? Would you put that above your duty to me?’ Maribel asked, feeling piqued that her maid had seemingly given her allegiance to the enemy.
Anna looked uncomfortable. ‘Please do not ask me to break my word. I swore that you would not try to run off, my lady. I think they would punish us both if you did—I might be beaten…’
‘No! I should not allow that,’ Maribel said. ‘If we were caught, I should take the blame.’
‘We have not been treated ill, my lady. Why do you not simply wait for the ransom? It might be dangerous to escape. We could fare worse at the hands of others. Remember we have no money to buy a passage home.’
‘I am not sure I wish my father to ransom me.’ Maribel frowned. ‘If my stepmother’s relatives would take me in, I might recover control of my fortune—and then I should not have to obey my father. I could marry when I chose.’
‘Do you think Don Sabatini would allow that? Do you not know why he is sending you to England?’
‘What do you mean?’ Maribel’s gaze narrowed.
‘Your father covets Don Pablo’s estates. It was the reason he allowed you to marry him. I have heard it whispered that it is the reason your husband was killed.’
‘That was bandits…’ Maribel felt sick and shaken. She moved her head negatively. ‘No! You cannot believe that my father…would have had Pablo killed.’
‘I do not know, my lady. I have heard these whispers. But why would he send you to such a man if it were not so? Perhaps he anticipates your death…’
Maribel turned away from her, unable to look into her servant’s face. She thought of her sweet young husband. She had always believed he was killed by bandits, but if her father…No, she could not believe that of him, even though he had disregarded her wishes in the matter of her marriage. Yet if the servants were talking of these things, there must be some truth in them. Her determination to escape hardened. If she could reach Juanita’s family, they would surely take her in and help her…
‘I am pleased that you have decided to be sensible,’ Justin said, a wry smile playing about his mouth as she came on deck later that day. ‘We shall sleep under the stars this night, lady, but a bed shall be prepared for you so that you may lie comfortably.’
‘How long do you intend to remain here?’
‘A day or two to replenish the supplies of fresh fruit and wine, also meat and water. We have taken on supplies here before and the people are friendly. They do not condemn us, as your people do, as heretics and pirates, but trade with us for gold and silver.’
‘When will you send word to my father that you wish to ransom me?’
‘Captain Hynes will have carried the tale to him. I said that he might arrange a meeting through an agent in Cyprus. We shall do the exchange there…if one is made…’
‘What do you mean—if?’ Maribel studied his face, trying to read what was in his mind. She was not sure why his nearness made her feel so odd, as if her chest was constricted and she could scarcely breathe. She drew away, suppressing her feelings. She must not begin to like him. If she once let down her guard…Impossible thoughts filled her mind but she banished them.
‘I thought you might prefer your freedom?’
‘You would let me go without ransom?’
‘I might take the ransom and still keep you.’ Justin’s teeth flashed white as he smiled in the moonlight.
‘You do not mean it?’ She was not sure if he was teasing her.
‘Would you prefer me to hand you over to a man who would sell you to the devil?’
‘I should prefer it if—’ Maribel stopped. She had been about to tell him of her stepmother’s family and beg him to let her go to them, but something held her tongue. He was persuasive, but she must not trust him. She had only his word that Lord Roberts was diseased and evil, though she could see no reason why he should lie to her.
‘What would you prefer, lady? Tell me. Perhaps I might grant your wish.’
Maribel hesitated. His voice was soft; it seemed to promise much and a part of her longed to confide in him. He was so strong and she wanted someone to help and protect her from the things she feared, but he was a pirate. How could she believe the man who had abducted her? Her mind told her it would be foolish and yet her instincts were telling her something very different. Despite herself she was beginning to like him.
‘No…’ She shook her head, because she could not be sure he would help her. ‘I should prefer it if you had never taken me captive.’
‘Would you, Madonna?’ He smiled at her and her heart missed a beat. ‘I am not sure that I believe you. Come…’ He held out his hand. ‘You must climb down to the boat and be rowed ashore.’ She gave him her hand and his fingers closed about it, strong, cool and somehow comforting. ‘I have your word that you will not try to run away?’
‘I believe Anna already gave you surety?’
‘Yes, she did, but I would have it from you.’
‘Very well, you have it.’ Maribel glowered at him. She looked down at the rope ladder. ‘I am not sure I can manage that.’
‘Fear not. I shall go before you. I shall steady your feet so that you do not miss a rung—and if you fall I shall catch you.’
‘I shall not fall!’
Maribel did not miss the gleam in his eyes. She watched as he went on to the ladder. Tom came forwards to help her place one foot on the ladder and then she was over the side and seeking the next. A strong hand caught her ankle and placed her foot on the next rung, sending a shock running through her that made her gasp and almost lose her balance. How dare he touch her in such an intimate manner? She had almost begun to trust him, but this was too much! She would have liked to vent her fury on him, but it would be undignified to rage at him in this position. She glanced down indignantly and saw the gleam of mischief in his eyes.
‘Thank you, but I need no help of that kind.’
‘I would not have you fall on me, lady.’
Maribel caught the mockery in his voice and fumed inside. Oh, what a rogue he was! How dare he laugh at her? She would have liked to reprimand him, but all her concentration was on negotiating the ladder without treading on her skirts or lifting them high enough to give him a view of her thighs.
As she reached the bottom he helped her to step down into the boat, steadying her as she found a seat and sat down. She sent him a look of scorn, but refused to speak, because the expression on his face told her that he had enjoyed her predicament.
Maribel watched Anna descend nimbly into the boat and scowled. Her maid had managed easily alone and she might too if that oaf had not grabbed her ankles every time she took a step. How he must have enjoyed that!
She would not look at either of them, sitting stonyfaced and staring at the shore as they were rowed closer. When she realised that she would have to wade through water to get to the beach, she was dismayed. She must either lift her skirts high enough to avoid getting them wet and thus reveal her legs in front of the pirates or suffer a wet gown for hours.
She stood hesitating, unsure of how best to go about it, but then became aware that Captain Sylvester was in the water beside the boat.
‘Come, lady, let me carry you.’ He held out his hand.
‘I can manage…’
‘You will get your gown wet and it will not be pleasant.’
‘I can manage.’ Maribel tried to put one leg over the side of the boat, but he grabbed her waist, swinging her up and over his shoulder. She gave a scream of anger, beating at his back.
‘Put me down, you brute! Put me down at once.’
‘You tempt me, lady. You sorely tempt me to dump you in the water,’ Justin said but carried her up the beach and then set her on her feet. Maribel immediately took a swing at him, but he caught her wrist in an iron vice, his expression stern and forbidding. ‘Be careful, Madonna. Try my patience too often and you will regret it.’
‘You are arrogant and I hate you!’
‘Arrogant? Yes, perhaps I am,’ Justin said. ‘But I do not believe that you hate me. Tell me you are sorry.’
‘No. I shall—’ Maribel caught her breath as he suddenly crushed her against him. She lifted her gaze and something in his face made her gasp. He was so powerful and strong and she was playing with fire. ‘I take it back. You are arrogant, but I do not hate you.’ The strong feeling he aroused in her was not hate, but a mixture of annoyance and frustration, because he seemed to enjoy provoking her. She was used to politeness and respect and this man—this man had cut through the layers, stripping away all that she had known and accepted as her due.
‘That is better.’ Justin laughed and let her go. ‘Forgive me, lady, but you tempt me almost past bearing. I have seldom seen such delicious ankles and beautiful legs. I could not help myself. You are a siren sent to lure me to my death, I dare say.’
Maribel tossed her head, protecting herself in the only way she knew. ‘You are impossible. Would that I were a man! I would run you through with my sword.’
‘You might try.’ His eyes seemed to flash blue fire, making her hold her breath. ‘Tantrums will avail you nothing. We of the brethren are equals. You will be required to work, as is everyone else. You may help Tom fill the barrels with water from the well at the hacienda. It is a job for boys and women.’
Maribel threw him a look of disgust, but held her breath. He had made her very aware of his strength and power over her. She could only obey him for the moment—but when everyone was sleeping she would rouse Anna and together they would escape into the interior of the island. Someone would tell her where she could find Juanita’s family.
Justin watched the woman struggle with the heavy pail, tipping it into the barrel, which would be loaded on to the ship with others for their journey. She had made her dislike of him plain enough, but she had not shirked from the job he had given her, even though she must find it hard after the life she had led.
He frowned as he wondered just what kind of life she had led as Don Sabatini’s daughter. Everything he knew of the man had led him to feel nothing but disgust and anger, but the girl was different. Yes, she was proud and arrogant, but anyone might react that way when taken captive by pirates. No doubt she had feared for her life or worse at the start, and indeed if it had been one of the other pirate vessels that roamed the seas in search of ships to prey on she might have fared much worse. Had Corsairs taken the ship she could have been sold as a slave in the markets of Algiers.
She was proud and spoiled, and at first he had thought she might in truth be her father’s daughter and not to be trusted, but he had realised almost at once that she was innocent. Indeed, had he not known she had been widowed, he would have thought her still an untouched girl.
Her beauty stirred his senses, and had he been another kind of man he would have taken her when she defied him in her cabin, but her courage in defying him had amused him. She was Sabatini’s daughter and as such could mean nothing to him save for the ransom she would bring, but there was something about her that made him smile.
Maribel’s teeth sank into the soft meat of the suckling pig that had been slow roasted over a fire for hours. It was very strange, but she had never eaten anything quite as delicious. At first she had been inclined to refuse such fare when the succulent thigh was offered her, but the smell was so good and she was hungry after her work.
She wiped the grease from her mouth, then hesitated before rubbing it into her hands. The water buckets had been heavy and her hands felt sore from carrying them from the well to the barrels that the men had then transported to the ship; the grease would act like a salve and ease the stiffness.
The owner of the hacienda had come to greet them. He seemed on friendly terms with Captain Sylvester and more than ready to supply them with all the food they needed for their journey. It was he and his wife who had supplied the feast they had just eaten. Maribel wondered if he might know of her stepmother’s relatives.
Getting up from the bench where she had sat to eat her meal, she wandered over to where the farmer’s wife was ladling soup into wooden bowls.
‘Good evening, señora.’
‘Would you care for some wine, Donna Maribel?’
‘Thank you, but I have eaten well of your suckling pig. I was wondering if you might know some friends of mine who live on the island?’
‘I know everyone who lives on Mallorca, lady.’
‘Would you know the family of Donna Juanita Sabatini? Her family name is Mendoza.’
‘I knew Donna Juanita, a lovely lady.’ The woman smiled at her. ‘I worked for her family as a young woman. There is only an elderly cousin left now and he lives alone.’
‘Where can I find him?’
‘At the other side of the island, a journey of some hours on foot—but I would not go there if I were you.’
‘Why?’
‘He is a peculiar, lonely man. He might not welcome strangers.’
‘Juanita was very dear to me…’ Maribel hesitated. ‘Could I borrow a horse from your stable? I would return it.’
‘You will have to ask my husband, lady. Perhaps if Captain Sylvester stood surety for you…’
Maribel hesitated. It seemed these people trusted her captor, but not her. She might have to make her journey on foot—and she could not be sure of a welcome. She had hoped that Juanita might have a sister or female cousin, but when she thought it over, her stepmother had never talked of her family.
It was a risk, but one she must take. She could not go with the pirates to Cyprus and she would not return to her father to be sent to England like a package he had sold.
One thing the pirate captain had done for her was to make her question her father’s motives. It seemed that there might be more behind his determination to marry her to an English lord than met the eye—but surely Juanita’s cousin would help her? She would pay him once she had control of the fortune left to her by her husband.
Surely someone somewhere would be willing to help her?
The crew had been drinking and singing for a long time. They were obviously enjoying their time on shore, but at last they had quietened. She believed that most were asleep now.
Maribel sat up and looked about her. She could see no sign of movement. It seemed that the pirates felt secure enough not to set a guard. She reached out and shook Anna’s shoulder. The woman snorted and grunted, but would not wake.
‘Anna!’ Maribel whispered, bending close to her ear. ‘It is time for us to leave!’
Anna snored on, giving no sign that she had heard. Maribel hesitated. If she shouted at the girl, someone else might wake. Perhaps it was best to leave her and go alone. Beneath Maribel’s gown was concealed a pouch containing all the gold and jewellery she possessed; her clothes and other valuables remained on board the pirate ship, but she must leave them behind if she wanted to escape. She could only pray that Juanita’s cousin would be prepared to take her in and help her recover her fortune. If he would not…
Maribel was not certain what she would do then. She only knew that she did not want to remain as the pirate’s captive, nor did she wish to return home.
Anna could stay where she was; it seemed she was happy enough under the pirate’s rule. Maribel stood up, taking her blanket with her. It was cooler now, though during the day it would be hot. The blanket would keep her warm and if she had to spend more than one day in the open she would have something to lie on at night.
She deliberately put the farmer’s wife’s warning from her mind. Juanita’s cousin would surely help her. Why should he not?
Creeping from the campsite, Maribel slipped away into the trees that fringed the beach. She had only a vague idea of where to find Juanita’s family, but she could ask someone. The people at the hacienda had been friendly and she had money to ease her way.
She had been walking for only a few minutes when she heard a twig snap behind her. Her heart beating wildly, she turned but could not see anything.
‘Who is it?’
No answer came. Maribel took a deep breath and walked on. She began to climb the ridge that led away from the beach. She could hear rustling sounds behind her and her pulses raced. It must be some kind of animal. Perhaps a pig turned loose in the woods to forage…
Suddenly, the noise came from a different direction. Spinning round, she saw a man’s figure through the trees and caught her breath.
‘I thought it was you. Where do you think you are going?’
Maribel hesitated. He had followed her! She might have known that escape would not be as easy as it seemed!
‘I needed to relieve myself.’
‘So far from the camp? Why did you bring a blanket with you? Are you sure you were not trying to escape?’
‘Why should I? Where could I go?’
‘To the house of Don Vittorio Mendoza, perhaps?’
‘She told you…’ The farmer’s wife had betrayed her!
