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‘Señora Gonzales told her husband and he told me. He warned me that I should not let you go there for Mendoza is not a good man—he is bitter and lives alone since his family died of a fever.’
‘He is the only one I can turn to. He will help me because of Juanita.’ Tears stung her eyes. ‘You must let me go. You must…’
His manner was stern. ‘I have given my word that you will not be harmed, but I cannot let you go there.’
‘Why? My father will probably refuse to pay the ransom. Why should he pay for my return if he wants my fortune?’
‘I think he will pay, for his pride’s sake, and because if you married your estates would belong to your husband. Under the law, he could not keep them from you then. Unless your future husband agreed to give them up…’
‘Do you think Lord Roberts agreed to give them up? Why…?’ Her gaze narrowed. ‘Why would he agree to such a bargain?’
‘Perhaps because he has little chance of finding a young and beautiful bride of good birth in England. Besides, once you were his wife, he could have reneged on the deal had he wished.’
‘Then my father knew what kind of a man he was sending me to.’ Maribel felt sickened. ‘I will not marry him. I shall never marry, for who could I trust if even my own father would use me thus?’
‘You may not have a choice.’ Justin’s eyes were on her. ‘Would you rather go to England with Captain Hynes or take your chance with me? I promise that I will help you find freedom. I shall not let your father sell you to that man or anyone else.’
He was asking her to trust him. It was a huge step, but she was not sure she had a choice, and there was something about him that reassured her…something that made her insides melt and she longed to feel safe and secure within his arms. Her father would call him a rogue and hang him if he had the chance, but her father had sold her to a man she must despise and fear. This man seemed honest and something was telling her to give him her trust for all he was a pirate. Once again she experienced a desire to be held in his arms, to give up the struggle to be free and let him dictate her life.
‘Do you swear it?’
‘I swear on all I hold sacred.’
‘Then I shall believe you.’ She felt close to swooning; if he had taken her into his arms then, she would not have resisted.
‘Come back to the camp—and give me your word that you will not try to run away again?’
Maribel stared at him for a moment, then inclined her head. ‘Very well. I give you my word.’ Her eyes sparkled with tears. ‘I do not know why I have resisted you. You have been kinder to me than my own father.’
‘Maribel…’ Justin moved towards her, gazing down at her face in the dawning light. Her heart pounded in her breast and she found it difficult to breathe as she caught the fresh masculine scent of him. She swayed towards him, her will to fight almost gone. ‘Will you give yourself into my care? I promise I shall not force you to do anything against your will.’
‘I believe you. I think that I…’ Maribel hesitated, looking into his eyes. Even as she would have spoken, they heard a booming sound from out at sea. Looking down at the beach, she saw the pirates were awake and yelling something as they dashed down to the water’s edge. ‘What is happening? Are we being attacked?’
‘No, the ship is mine—one that I took captive some weeks ago. It is bringing a message from your father.’
‘But you told me you were to meet on Cyprus…’ Her eyes widened and she drew away from him, feeling hurt. ‘You lied to me. You were planning to sell me to my father all the time!’
‘At first, yes, I thought of a ransom.’ Justin frowned. ‘When I spoke to you of Cyprus I planned to leave a message here for my other ship, but it has arrived sooner than I expected.’
‘How can I believe you?’ Maribel felt betrayed. ‘You are the same as my father—you care only for the money I may bring you.’
She turned from him and began to run back down the hill to the beach below, the tears stinging her eyes. He had looked at her in such a way that she had begun to trust him, to believe that he would treat her fairly—but he would use her for his own purpose like every man she had ever met, except her Pablo.
Chapter Three
Maribel sensed that someone was watching her. She turned her head in the direction of Captain Sylvester and the man who had brought the second pirate ship into the cove. He was older, dark of hair and pale complexioned; his eyes had a strange piercing quality.
‘Who is that man with the captain?’ she asked of Tom as he came up to her. ‘There is something about him…’ She shook her head, not knowing why the man’s gaze made her uncomfortable.
‘Higgins told me he is the acting captain of the Maria. The ship was taken a few weeks back and is a Portuguese merchantman. His name is Mr Hendry—or Captain Hendry, I suppose. Higgins doesn’t like him; he thinks he is sly and not to be trusted, but Captain Sylvester put him in charge of their sister ship, because of his experience. He will sail with us to Cyprus.’
‘Are we still to sail for Cyprus?’
‘I have heard the men say that we may sail for the pirates’ island instead. There are many islands in the region that are uninhabited, some used by the brethren. We need a safe haven so that we can divide the spoils of the past months. I am to receive a share though I took no part in capturing them.’
‘What is the name of this island?’ Maribel looked apprehensive. ‘I suppose it is a sinful place where pirates congregate to get drunk and frequent the tavern whores.’
‘I cannot tell you the name—its location is a secret—but I believe it is much the same in any port, lady,’ Tom told her. ‘Men will drink and indulge themselves after a long sea voyage. It is natural for men who live as we do to spend their gold in such fashion. At least until the time comes to settle down.’
Maribel was silent. In her heart she knew she had no reason to condemn the pirates or their captain. It was true they had taken her captive, but she had been treated fairly since then. She wanted to believe in their captain, if only she could let go of her preconceived prejudices and accept his word.
She walked towards Captain Sylvester and Mr Hendry, wanting to know what was being decided between them. As he saw her approach, the captain left his companion and came to meet her.
‘Your father has sent word that he wants a truce between us,’ Justin told her, but there was an odd expression in his eyes. ‘He asks that I meet him face to face. He will pay a ransom for your safe return and for safe conduct through these waters. It would mean an end to what has become a feud between us.’
‘Do you wish for an end to it?’ She held her breath as she waited for his answer.
‘If Don Sabatini agrees to pay us for safe passage, we shall leave his ships in peace. There are plenty more vessels we might take and the Portuguese merchantmen are usually the most profitable.’
‘So you will sell me to him?’ Maribel’s face was white and she felt the sickness rise in her throat.
‘I thought it was what you wanted?’ Justin’s gaze narrowed. ‘When I took you captive you assured me your father would pay to have you back—and it seems you were right.’
‘I did not know then what manner of man he was.’ Maribel was close to tears. ‘I hate you…Why did you pretend to care what happened to me?’
She turned and fled down the beach, because the tears were close and she did not wish to shame herself before him.
Justin stared after her. He had not told her the whole truth, because he was uncertain what to believe. The Don’s message was a little strange. It seemed that there was something he wanted even more than the return of his daughter.
Touching the package inside his jerkin, Justin frowned. Could the map of the silver mines, which he had captured from Don Sabatini’s flagship, be the only one in existence? If the Don wanted the map more than his own daughter, it must be that he could not return to the mines without it. Justin had taken some chests of silver from the Don’s ships, but the map to the mines might be worth vast sums—if a man were willing to risk all that it entailed.
Had Maribel been sent to sea as bait? Had he walked into some kind of a honeyed trap—and did she know about it? If she did not and her father truly desired the map above her, he must indeed be as evil as rumour would have him. If he were so evil, it would be wrong to send her back for she would be given to a man whose very touch would corrupt her. This was a problem that required some attention and could not be solved in an instant.
Justin was thoughtful as he stared out to sea. He knew that the Don was a brutal man who had murdered slaves—could he ever be justified in returning the map to such a cruel devil? Giving his daughter back was out of the question.
Maribel walked for some time and then found a rock to sit on. She stared out at the sea. Within hours she might be back with her father—and how long would it be before she was once more on her way to England?
She did not want to marry the English lord her father had found for her! Even if she discarded what Captain Sylvester had told her, she would not wish to marry a man she did not know. If the story of his wickedness were true…she could not bear that her father would send her to such a man. Tears trickled down her cheeks. She dashed them away and began to walk slowly back towards the pirate camp. When she saw Captain Sylvester coming towards her, she hesitated, wanting to run away again but knowing she could not avoid him for long.
‘I am sorry if I made you cry,’ he apologised as he came up to her. ‘Forgive me, Madonna. I shall send word that you are not to be ransomed and there will be no truce. The men would be against it—some of the crew have served aboard his ships and they hate him.’ His hand reached out to her, wiping her face with his fingertips. ‘Will you forgive me?’
‘I do not know what to do.’ Maribel faltered, her heart pounding as he moved closer. He was so strong and handsome and powerful, his mouth sensuous and strangely compelling. She felt the pull of his magnetism, but still struggled against it. ‘If what you told me is true, I can never return to my home. My father controls my fortune. I have nothing but the things I took with me when I left for England.’
‘Have you no friends or relatives who would help you?’
‘There is only Don Mendoza…and you say he cannot be trusted.’
‘What of your own mother’s family?’
‘She was English and died when I was small. I know my uncle’s name but I do not know if they would take me in.’
Justin cupped her chin in his hand, looking down into her face. ‘If you will trust me, I shall try to find where your mother’s family live—and if any are still alive I will make sure you get safely to them.’
‘You would do that for me?’ Maribel’s eyes widened, her mouth parting slightly. Before she knew what was happening, she swayed towards him and he caught her against him, kissing her softly on the lips. For a moment she tensed, then allowed herself to melt into his body, giving herself up to the unexpected pleasure that flooded through her. For a few moments she floated away in a cloud of sheer ecstasy ‘Oh…that was nice…’ she said as he let her go.
Justin chuckled deep in his throat. ‘Sweet lady, you tempt me to sweep you up and run off to a place where no one will ever find us, but I have given my word. I shall make every effort to find your English family and return you to them.’
‘But how will you discover them? I can only tell you my uncle’s name.’
‘And that is?’
‘Fildene…I think that is right. Juanita mentioned my uncle once—Sir Henry Fildene.’ She saw his eyes gleam. ‘What? Do you know him?’
‘I have not met the gentleman personally, but I believe I may know where to find him—and, since my father purchased wine from him, I believe he must be honest.’ He smiled at her in a way that made her feel safe and protected. ‘There should be no difficulty finding your family, Maribel.’
‘I do not have words to thank you.’ She lifted her eyes to his. ‘Where shall we go next? To Cyprus as you planned?’
‘We shall go to our island so that the spoils of previous journeys may be divided between us. I shall ignore your father’s request to return his property and forget the truce.’
‘Supposing my father sends his ships to attack you?’
‘I do not fear Don Sabatini or any other man.’
‘But…I do not wish to cause trouble for you.’
Justin touched her mouth with his fingertips. ‘Your father and I were born to be enemies, for he is all that I despise. Whatever may happen in the future it will not be your fault, Madonna.’
He smiled down at her, making her heart beat like a drum. When he smiled like that she felt that nothing could ever harm her again.
Maribel stood on deck watching as the ship sailed away from the island of Mallorca. She had come on board willingly this time, though she was still apprehensive about her future.
She turned her head to smile as Captain Sylvester came to stand by her at the rails.
‘You look pensive. Are you thinking of your home—or your husband?’
‘My husband was kind to me. We were childhood friends. Pablo always told me that he would marry me one day. For a short time we were happy in our way. I think we were still children and thought like children, but we could not have stayed that way for ever.’
‘I am not sure I understand you?’ Justin lifted his brows.
‘Pablo was killed riding in the hills soon after our marriage—I was told by bandits, but I wonder now if my father had something to do with his death. Pablo was young to inherit such rich estates and he would never suspect my father of playing him false.’
‘You think your father coveted his wealth even then?’
‘Yes, perhaps. I did not suspect it then and when he asked me to return home after my husband died I was lonely and wanted the comfort of being with my stepmother. Juanita loved me. My father was much kinder to me while she lived.’
‘He controlled your fortune. Perhaps he had no reason to be unkind.’
‘My father is not a poor man. I do not understand, why would he seek to steal what belonged to Pablo?’
‘Wealth is power and some men will do anything for power. There are men driven by sheer greed; he may be one of those men.’
‘Supposing he tries to take me back by force?’
‘He did not demand your return. There was something he wanted more.’
‘Something he wants more than his own daughter?’ Maribel was intrigued.
‘I suspect that I have the only copy of the map leading to his silver mines in the New World.’ Justin’s eyes were on her face. ‘It was the map he demanded in return for a ransom.’
‘A map that reveals the location of rich silver mines?’ Maribel was stunned. ‘How did you come by such a thing?’
‘It was in a small chest I took from the captain of the Juanita. No one but me knows of its existence. If my men learned of such a map, they might wish to exploit it, for there is a fortune to be made from these mines.’
‘You could be rich beyond your wildest dreams.’ She saw his smile and bit her lip. ‘Is that why you refused his truce?’
‘You must know it was not my main reason for refusing?’ Justin laughed softly as her eyes widened. ‘Wealth is not my driving ambition. I am not sure what should happen to the map, but I was not willing to send you back to him once I understood what he intended for you.’
‘Oh…’ Her breath came faster as she gazed into his eyes. Was he telling her that she was more important than the treasure map? ‘Will you keep the map?’
‘Perhaps…’ Justin’s eyes were on her face. ‘What do you think I should do with such a map? It must be worth a great deal for your father to offer a large sum of gold for its return but some would say the mine is stained with the blood of those that died there.’
‘I…do not know what you should do,’ she said and shivered at the thought of what had happened at the mine. ‘But if my father wants that map, he may try to get it back. He may send ships and men to look for you.’
‘He might try. I have refused his offer. I shall not return the map, at least until I have considered more. Captain Hendry was brave enough to say that he would take the message.’ Justin suddenly grinned at her. ‘I told you once before, I do not fear Don Sabatini.’
‘Is there anything you fear—anything that causes you pain?’
His eyes clouded, his manner becoming reserved. ‘If there were, I should not tell you, Maribel. Such things are best unspoken.’
She felt a withdrawal in him and was sorry. Did he have a dark secret that he kept hidden?
Justin frowned as he watched her go below. He thought that she had begun to trust him a little, but he was not certain how he felt about the beautiful Spanish woman. It was true that he found her desirable. From the first moment he saw her standing so defiantly in her cabin he had wanted to make love to her. Being close to her was enough to make him burn with the need to kiss and hold her, the need to feel her heart beating next to his, to have her in his bed—but there were so many barriers between them. She thought of him as a pirate and a rogue, and although she had accepted that he was her only hope of reaching England and freedom, he was not certain that she would ever like him.
He had told her about the map to gauge her reaction, but she had no interest in it, and he was sure she thought it should be destroyed—that the blood of the murdered slaves tainted the mine. At first he had looked for something of her father in her, for a sign that she would betray him if she had the chance, but the more he spoke with her the more certain he became that she was innocent. She was certainly proud and wilful, but now that she had stopped fighting him, he found her too attractive for his peace of mind. Something inside him wanted to take away the look of anxiety from her eyes, to hold her and comfort her, and assure her that nothing would ever harm her again.
A rueful smile touched his mouth. Justin had loved once with all his heart, but the girl he would have made his wife had died suddenly of a fever a few days before their wedding. He had vowed that he would never allow himself to feel that kind of love again, to feel the deep dark despair and the pain that had almost torn him apart.
It was because of Angeline’s death that he had become involved with the wild friends that had talked of deposing Queen Mary and setting Princess Elizabeth in her place. His despair had led him to drink too much and become careless—and that was what had brought him to his present situation.
Justin could never ask a woman to marry him, because he was a pirate and he had nothing to offer a decent woman…a woman like Maribel Sanchez.
He should put all thought of her from his mind and make arrangements to restore her to her family as soon as he could. In the meantime it would be better to avoid her company. Being close to her made him think of what might have been—what might be in the future if things were different.
Hearing the knock at her cabin door, Maribel looked up in surprise as the captain walked in. For a moment her heart pounded, but in an instant, she saw that he had not come with seduction on his mind.
‘I thought you might like this, to help you pass the time,’ Justin said, and handed Maribel a small book. It was bound in leather and looked as if it had been much used. ‘It is written in English, but I think you understand the language well enough to enjoy it.’
‘That is kind of you,’ she said. ‘Sometimes the days are long on board ship.’ Opening the pages, she saw it was a book of poetry and exclaimed with pleasure. ‘Oh, how lovely. I shall truly enjoy reading this, Captain Sylvester.’
