скачать книгу бесплатно
‘Good work there, Greenacre, we’ve been after her for months. You survive a shipwreck and apprehend the sister of Barbados’s most wanted in the same day.’
Barbados’s most wanted? Will screwed his eyes up, trying to concentrate. It had been a long day and he wasn’t sure he could recall exactly what had happened. He remembered the storm and the swim and the feeling of dread as he saw the cliffs towering above him. Then the vision of Mia on the clifftop, her saving him and finally the kiss on the beach.
He groaned. He’d kissed her. He owed his life to her and he’d assaulted her when all she’d been trying to do was help. He wasn’t sure why he’d done it. He had been pretty delirious, but really that was no excuse.
Will squinted as they emerged from cells into the bright Caribbean light.
‘It’s only a couple minutes’ walk to the Governor’s residence. Think you’ll make it, old chap?’
The muscles in his legs felt battered and achy, but it did feel good to stretch them out. If it was truly only a couple minutes’ walk he was sure his legs would get him there.
‘What are you doing out here, Thatcher?’ Will asked as they walked.
He’d known Thatcher from school—both boys had been at boarding school together—and whilst not in the same year they’d come across one another plenty of times on the sports field or during illicit night-time missions into the nearby town.
‘Advisor to his Majesty’s Governor of Barbados.’ Thatcher said it without much enthusiasm.
‘Can I deduce it’s not a post you care for?’ Will asked quietly.
‘The Governor’s a fool. I spend most of my time trying to right the mistakes he’s made.’
They’d reached the grand Governor’s residence and Thatcher knocked on the door. It was opened immediately and they were shown inside. Thatcher was obviously well known in the residence. The footmen nodded their acknowledgement, but otherwise let him pass unimpeded from the entrance hall to the inner corridor.
‘Mr Greenacre, or is it Lord Sedlescombe?’
Will stopped and turned.
‘I offer you my sincerest apologies. My men had no idea who you were. I regret you had to spend time in one of our cells—most unfortunate for a man of your standing.’
A man in a pristine white shirt and a decorated red dress coat was coming down the corridor behind them.
‘Governor Hall,’ Will guessed out loud, ‘it is an honour to meet you.’
‘Come, come, Thatcher, get the man a drink. He’s been through hell and back.’
The Governor led the two men into a cavernous dining hall which had a table laid out with food at one end.
‘Sit, eat, drink.’
Will sat and took a long draught from the cup in front of him. He savoured the liquid, allowing the cool wine to soothe his parched throat.
‘I want to hear all about what happened,’ the Governor said.
Will shrugged, running a hand through his hair, a delaying tactic so he could push the memory of the screams of the sailors from his mind.
‘We were only a few miles offshore. The storm hit and the Captain tried to make a dash for it.’
The Governor shook his head. ‘Captain Brent was a good friend of mine.’
‘The ship went down quickly and the few sailors who did survive the initial shipwreck wanted to wait for the Navy to rescue them.’
‘We’ve sent the boats, but I doubt anyone will be left now.’
‘I swam for shore and I’d just about given up when a woman dived in and saved me.’
‘Ah, yes, the infamous Mia Del Torres.’ The Governor shook his head. ‘You’re lucky she didn’t slit your throat. As you know, her family are notorious throughout the Caribbean.’
Will frowned. That didn’t sound right. The woman who’d rescued him was kind and caring and willing to risk her own life for a complete stranger. Not a notorious criminal. And the surname—surely it had to be a coincidence. The woman who’d saved his life couldn’t possibly be related to the man he’d come to the Caribbean to hunt.
‘What happened next?’ the Governor asked.
‘I can’t really remember any more,’ Will said, pushing the very clear memories of kissing Mia’s soft lips from his mind.
‘It’s a tragedy, a real tragedy,’ the Governor said, ‘but at least you’ve survived. We’ve been awaiting your arrival eagerly these past few weeks.’
Will sensed the change of tone of the conversation; they were getting down to business.
‘We will give you whatever help you need to succeed,’ the Governor promised, and looked enquiringly at Will.
‘I’ll need a ship, full crew and someone with good local knowledge to assist me, preferably someone with first-hand experience of dealing with these pirates,’ he said.
The Governor smiled. ‘We can do better than that.’ He motioned to Thatcher, who disappeared out of the room. Will wondered what they were going to come up with.
‘We’ve had reasonable success in dealing with most of the privateers and pirates in the waters around the Caribbean,’ the Governor explained, ‘but there are pockets left. Pockets we can’t seem to find.’ He tapped his fingers on the table in irritation. ‘They seem to go to ground whenever we get close. Someone is sheltering them, must be.’
‘Sounds a likely theory,’ Will said. ‘In my experience a little local support goes a long way.’
‘Quite. But it will not be tolerated any longer. I have vowed to clear these waters of pirates and I do not intend to break my vow.’
‘Of course not, sir. And whilst the Navy is brilliant in beating the pirates when it comes to an out-and-out fight, often the pirates fight dirty.’
‘That’s why we brought you in. You come highly recommended.’
Will took another sip of wine and grimaced. ‘Sometimes you need someone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty for the greater good.’
And he didn’t. He hated pirates. They were greedy, cowardly, arrogant fools. Fools who had killed his brother. Governor Hall wasn’t the only one who wanted the Caribbean to be free from the plague of pirates. Will had worked for two long years to build his reputation so he would be deemed a suitable man to entrust with hunting Captain Del Torres and his crew.
‘Ah, here’s the local knowledge,’ the Governor said.
Thatcher re-entered the room, pulling a struggling woman behind him. In an instant he saw it was Mia.
‘Mia,’ he said, standing up.
She glared at him with hatred in her eyes.
‘We have been trying to apprehend Miss Del Torres for some months now,’ the Governor said. ‘Thanks to you we succeeded today.’
‘I...’ Will started, but realised he didn’t know what to say.
‘Miss Del Torres’s brother is the Captain of The Flaming Dragon, the scourge of the Caribbean. In exchange for her life she has agreed to assist you in locating her brother and his crew.’
Will smiled tentatively at Mia, but she just scowled in return.
‘Miss Del Torres will be released into your custody for the duration of your expedition and knows she will be killed immediately if she tries to escape or warn her brother you are coming for him. Killed in a most unpleasant fashion.’
‘What is her crime?’ Will asked.
‘Her crime?’ the Governor repeated.
‘For her to deserve the death sentence.’
‘Aiding and sheltering known pirates.’
Slowly Will nodded. He stood and took another sip of wine before walking towards Mia.
‘Your brother is a pirate?’ he asked.
Mia looked defiantly at him, but nodded after a few seconds.
‘And you know where he is?’
‘No.’
‘But you know where he might be?’
‘No.’
He stood directly in front of her and gently lifted her chin so she was forced to look into his eyes.
‘I’m not going to hurt you, Mia,’ he said quietly, ‘You saved my life.’
Her eyes remained stony and no emotion was displayed on her face.
‘I have a job to do, a very important job, and I will need your help.’
‘What choice do I have?’ she said quietly in a voice that betrayed every ounce of contempt she held for him.
Chapter Two (#ulink_969ffef1-c22e-55a7-8698-57cd384b541d)
‘You’ll never catch them in that,’ Mia mumbled quietly.
Will turned to look at her with inquisitive eyes. It was the first time she’d spoken since they’d left the fort, despite his valiant efforts to engage her in conversation.
‘Well, you won’t,’ she said after a few seconds.
‘I won’t be able to outrun them,’ Will corrected her. ‘I will be able to catch them.’
Mia fell silent again and looked around the dock. She knew some of the sailors judiciously avoiding her eye—she wasn’t going to get any help from them. And the shackles that restrained her wrists weren’t conducive to escape, either.
‘I hope you’re not thinking of running away, young lady,’ Thatcher said sternly.
She smiled her sweetest smile. ‘Why would I want to do that?’
Thatcher grunted.
‘I’m being treated so well.’
‘Were the shackles really necessary?’ Will asked, turning back to look uneasily at the chains on her wrists.
‘Can’t be too careful, Greenacre. This little lady had evaded us for months.’
‘Would have been longer...’ Mia muttered, looking pointedly at Will.
Not that she really regretted saving him. If she hadn’t jumped into the sea he would have been dead and she would have been free, but her conscience would never allow her to forget she had killed a man. And in her eyes allowing him to drown when she had the capability to save him would have been murder as sure as shooting him in the heart.
‘Shall we, my lady?’ Will asked, motioning to the ship.
They walked up the gangplank and on to the ship. She saw Will hesitate for just a second before he placed his foot on the wood of the deck, overcoming the memories of what happened the last time he was aboard a vessel like this.
The crew were all lined up along one side, waiting patiently for their orders. One man stepped forward and approached their little party.
‘Captain Little. Pleasure to have you aboard, Mr Greenacre.’
The Captain was a lithe man of about fifty. His eyes flitted backwards and forwards all the time as if taking in every detail and his skin had the weather-beaten leathery look all sailors shared in the Caribbean.
‘Thank you for your hospitality, Captain.’
‘May I introduce my First Mate, Ed Redding.’
A young man stepped forward and shook Will’s hand. He glanced at Mia and smiled sadly as if commiserating with her for getting caught.
‘And this is Lieutenant Glass.’
Another man stepped up and shook Will’s hand.
‘A pleasure to serve with you, Mr Greenacre. It will be an honour to assist you in catching these pirates.’
‘Lieutenant Glass is here at the Navy’s request. He will be representing their interests in our voyage.’
‘I am here to give whatever help I can.’
Mia studied him. He looked rather dashing in his pristine white waistcoat and blue coat—each of the buttons shimmered in the sunlight and reflected the mid-afternoon rays. There was not a hair out of place in his ponytail and not a single scuffmark on his shoes. He was most likely a stickler for rules and routine.
She diverted her gaze back to Will and watched as he walked down the line of assembled men, greeting each in turn, asking their names and a little about their lives. He was good at getting people to like him; Mia could see that already. The crewmen were not used to a Commander who took an interest in them as people. In a few days they’d probably lay down their lives for him.
‘When do we sail?’ Will asked when he was back by the Captain’s side.
‘The tide is favourable for the next few hours. If we miss that, we shall have to wait until the morning.’
