“All right, we’re ready to go,” announced Mardon. “Aaron, you’ll come with me and Emmaline. I mean, Sister Emmaline. The rest of you wait here until we return with the treasure.”
No one said a word.
“Mardon?” she whispered. “Why are they so quiet?”
“They’re just still in shock,” said Aaron, walking over with bare feet as usual.
“Shock?” She started getting worried. “About what?”
“It’s not every day that a pirate captain beds a nun.”
“Oh, no!” she said, biting her lip and looking over to Mardon. “Mayhap we should tell them.”
“Nay,” he growled. “It wouldn’t be safe for you.”
“What difference does it make?” asked Aaron, sounding upset that, once again, he wasn’t allowed in the cabin to sleep. “After all, you bedded a nun so now they’ll all think they can do it, too.”
“Will they?” She looked up at Mardon, afraid they’d made a mistake by spending the night together.
“Nay. Of course not. Now, let’s go. We’ve got a treasure to get to before Nereus.” He started to pull her by the arm.
“Och, my head aches,” came Nairnie’s voice as she emerged from the galley. She reached down and picked up the ladle hanging at her side. The handle was bent at an odd angle. “What the hell happened to my ladle?” she asked.
“Grandmother, don’t you remember?” asked Aaron.
“Remember what?” She made a face and put a hand to her head.
“You hit Goldtooth over the head with it last night.”
“I did?”
“Aye,” Aaron continued. “You did it so he’d pass out and you’d win the drinking competition.”
“Did I win?”
“You did,” said Mardon. “Even though you cheated.”
“Well, I’m on a pirate ship so cheatin’ makes no difference,” spat Nairnie, holding out her hand. “Pay up, Mardon. I’m the winner. I believe it was one gold piece.”
“Now, Nairnie,” Mardon started, but Nairnie wouldn’t let him get out of it.
“Ye made the deal and I won and have a killin’ headache to prove it. Now pay up or I’m goin’ to hit ye with my ladle as well.” She waved her bent ladle in the air, making the crew laugh.
“All right, all right,” said Mardon, pulling a pouch of coins from his belt and heading over to Nairnie. All the men crowded around, hoping to get one for themselves.
“What’s the matter, Nun?” Goldtooth appeared from the shadows. “Don’t ye want a gold coin, too? Or did Mardon already pay ye for last night?”
“Nay, it’s not what you think.”
“Isn’t it? I don’t know how he does it, but his little trick with the drinkin’ competition to distract us was a nice touch.” He chuckled. “Well, I guess he ruined ye for the convent now, hasn’t he? Ye’re goin’ to be the most talked about nun for years to come.”
“Stop it,” she said, feeling as if she’d made a mistake now. “Leave me alone.” She took off at a run for the cabin since the rest of the crew was busy. When she entered, she closed the door, knowing what she had to do. She’d only come along on the journey for one reason. Now, she’d take what she came for and then she’d never return to this ship again.
Spying the dagger that she’d dropped earlier on the floor, she ran over and picked it up. Then removing the blanket from the painting, she looked at it once more and released a deep breath. “This will be the last time I have to see you,” she said to the painting, reaching up and cutting it right out of the frame. Then she put the blanket back over the frame.
Hurriedly rolling up the painting, she lifted her gown. Spying a strip of cloth on the floor, she used it to tie the painting to her leg. Then she stuck the dagger under the cloth band as well. With one last thought, she hurried over to the small chest on the table, lifting the lid. Sure enough, Mardon had put her wedding ring back in there. She lifted it out, thinking about stealing more of the jewels, but she couldn’t. Not after how nice Mardon had been to her. All she came here for was to collect what was stolen from her. That is all she would leave with.
“Emmaline? Emmaline?” she heard Mardon calling to her.
She lifted her skirt and tied the ring on the strings of her braies. She had just finished and dropped the hem of her gown when the door opened.
“Emmaline? What are you doing in here?” asked Mardon, looking confused.
“I – I had to use the chamber pot,” she said, spying the wooden bucket pushed up against the wall.
“Oh, all right. Well, come on. The crew is anxious for us to return with the treasure.”
“Of course,” she said, leaving the room with him, once again feeling daggers shooting from the eyes of each crew member. Aaron was right. Now that they thought their captain had bedded a nun, there would be no stopping them from trying it either. She had half a mind to rip off her veil and tell them who she really was. But what would that do? Once they recognized her as the girl in the painting, it would only make things worse.
She looked over at Mardon once again, seeing him smiling at her. They’d spent a wonderful, intimate night together and she would never forget it. She would never forget him. As much love as he’d shown her, as much care as she’d felt, she knew now that she couldn’t stay. She had what she needed now to clear her name and reputation. As soon as she gave the painting to the king, her reputation would be restored. Then she’d be betrothed to an English knight and she’d be able to live the life of a lady again. This is all she really wanted.
“After you, my lady,” Mardon whispered into her ear as they left the ship and headed down the boarding plank. Damn, why did he have to continue to be so polite and treat her like a lady? He was a pirate! A bloody pirate. Why the hell couldn’t he start acting like one? If so, what she was about to do wouldn’t bother her so much.
“Aaron’s got horses waiting for us,” he told her. “Once we get to Canterbury Cathedral, we’ll wait outside while you go in so we don’t rouse suspicion.”
“What if the treasure is too heavy for me to carry?” she asked.
“If so, return and let us know when the coast is clear. Then Aaron and I will sneak in and get it.”
“Of course,” she said, resting her hand over her leg with the hidden painting. She thought how upset the crew was going to be when they found it missing. Then she started wondering if Mardon would hate her because she stole it. It didn’t matter, she decided. If he didn’t hate her for that, he would surely hate her when he discovered that she’d never meant to help them steal the treasure, and that she wasn’t inside the cathedral. The only place she was going now was home.
“What’s taking her so long?” asked Aaron as he and Mardon stayed hidden behind some brush, waiting for Emmaline to report to them about the treasure inside the cathedral.
“If she doesn’t hurry, mass will be starting and then we’ll never have a chance to get it,” said Mardon.
“I don’t like this,” said Aaron. “Something is wrong. Do you think she got caught? Or maybe double crossed us?”
“Nay, just relax. I’m sure everything is fine. Give her another minute.”
“I’m not sure we have another minute. Look,” said Aaron, pointing to someone else hidden in the brush not far from them.
“Who is it?” Mardon stretched his neck, getting a glimpse of someone he hoped not to see. “Damn it! I can’t believe it. Nereus is already here with a few of his men.”
“I’m going in to steal it,” said Aaron, taking off at a run through the shadows before Mardon could stop him. Taking the horses, Mardon made his way to the back of the cathedral, stopping in his tracks when he saw Emmaline atop a horse, riding away from the cathedral at a fast pace.
“What the hell is she doing?” He started to mount his horse to go after her, then remembered that Aaron was inside and Nereus and a few of his men were hiding in the shrubs. He couldn’t just leave his brother. He looked back at Emmaline to make sure she wasn
’t being chased. She wasn’t. His heart sank. The girl was leaving and not coming back. She’d fooled them all, making them think she was going to help them. Then he thought about the night they’d spent making love. His feelings for her were real. He’d thought she felt something for him, too. Now, he could see he was wrong. She’d used him. “Damn it,” he ground out, realizing his mistake. He usually only bedded a woman for release, having no ties to her. But with Emmaline, it was different. He’d given his heart to her. She’d taken what he’d offered, and just rode out of his life forever.
“Mardon!” cried Aaron, running out of the cathedral, chasing a girl with a box in her hands. The girl was dressed like a nun. “Mardon, stop her,” cried Aaron.
“What the hell is going on?” Mardon didn’t understand any of this, until he saw Nereus and his men appear from the bushes, riding their horses in his direction. Mardon mounted his horse and rode toward his brother, but by the time he got there, Aaron had jumped the young woman and had her on the ground.
“Get off of me.” The woman bit Aaron on the hand and kicked him in the groin.
“Umph,” snorted Aaron, feeling the blow. The girl got up to run, and Aaron grabbed her legs, causing her to fall. When she did, the box fell and the lid opened. A piece of parchment fell out. He grabbed it and quickly read another clue. Then the girl snatched it away from him and ran.
“Let’s go, Aaron,” cried Mardon, reaching down and pulling his brother up on the horse behind him. The girl ripped off the nun’s robe, throwing it to the ground, heading as fast as she could toward Nereus.
“Well, fancy meetin’ ye two here,” called out Nereus, reaching down and pulling the girl up onto the back of his horse.
“Go to hell!” shouted Mardon, turning and riding hard for the dock once he realized there was no treasure inside the box, once again.
“Wait!” said Aaron. “What about Emmaline? Are you just going to leave her?”
“She’s already left us,” Mardon told his brother. “And by the looks of that empty box on the ground, I’d say she’s not the only one who made us look like fools today.”
Chapter 10
Emmaline’s father’s manor house wasn’t far from Canterbury Cathedral and she was there before she knew it. She’d decided it would be safer to turn the painting over to him and have him give it to the king. Feeling anxious to give him the painting and not have to worry anymore about her past, she approached the gate, being stopped by one of her father’s guards.
“State your name and purpose,” said the guard at the gate, not letting her pass.
“Sir David, it’s me. Lady Emmaline,” she said, pulling off her wimple to show him her face and hair. “Please, let me pass. I am anxious to see my father.”
“He’s not well, my lady,” said the guard. “Your mother told me he is moments away from death.”
“Nay!” she cried, feeling sad as well as angry. “I need to see him. And don’t call Lady Aldusa my mother, because she’s not. She’s only my stepmother.” She rode through the gates and dismounted before the horse even stopped. Running to the manor house, she bolted up the stairs, meeting her stepmother coming out the door.
“Emmaline! What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in the convent,” said the woman in a scolding tone. She was a tall, thin woman with dark but graying hair. She had a crooked nose and thin lips. Her demeanor was shrewd. Emmaline could never understand what her father saw in the woman.
“I need to see my father. I hear he is near dead,” she said, pushing past the woman and running up the stairs to her father’s bedchamber. She rushed inside to find the healer as well as a priest standing at the side of his bed. “Father!” she ran to him, bending down and throwing her arms around him.
“Emmaline?” Her father looked up at her, seeming dazed and confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Leave us,” she said to the other two men, wanting to talk to her father alone.
“Nay, he’s dying,” said the healer.
“Is there anything you can do to save him?” she asked.
“Nay,” admitted the man.
“Then leave. Both of you. I want to talk to my father alone.”
“Aye, my lady,” said the healer. He and the priest left the room, closing the door behind them.
“Father, please don’t die,” she said, tears coming from her eyes, splashing down on his cheek.
“Daughter.” He reached up and feebly took her hand. “I am so happy that your face will be the last one I see.”
“Don’t say that. You’re not going to die. I will do something to save you.”
“There is nothing anyone can do now.” It took all his effort just to speak. “Why have you left the convent?”
“I don’t want to be a nun,” she told him. “I brought the painting to you that caused my horrid reputation, so you can give it to the king and he can destroy it. Then King Edward can betroth me to an English nobleman and our family name will no longer be sullied.”
“Nay,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “I was wrong to suggest that. You should have stayed in the convent . . . for your own protection. I am so . . . sorry what happened to you. It is . . . all my fault.”
“What do you mean? You couldn’t have known that Jean Philippe was a wretched cur when you betrothed me to the man. It’s not your fault.”
“I never . . .” he stopped and wet his lips and tried to swallow. “I never wanted you to marry him. It was Aldusa’s idea and she . . . convinced me. I recently discovered, Jean Philippe is her brother. She is . . . not to be trusted, Emmaline.”
“What do you mean? He’s her brother? I don’t understand.” When her father seemed as if he were having a hard time talking, she got up and poured him a goblet of wine and brought it to him. “Here, drink this, Father. It will help you with the pain.”
“There is no pain. Not anymore,” he told her. “It is my mind that is slipping away. And my heart has become weak.”
“What is it that is ailing you?” asked Emmaline. “Why can’t the healer cure it?”
“I fear I’ve been . . . poisoned somehow. But I can’t prove it. Go back . . . to the convent. You’ll be . . . safe there, Daughter. I am . . . sorry.” His eyes started to close.
“Poisoned?” Emmaline’s mind raced. When she took the bottle from her stepmother, she had no idea the woman was poisoning her father, but now everything was clear. “Nay, Father! You can’t die. I will be here with you now to help heal you. I don’t want to be a nun. Look, I have the painting and we can destroy it ourselves if you want. Everything will be better now.” She pulled it out from under her gown, holding the rolled-up parchment. “No one will think of me as a strumpet ever again. I can remarry and start over. I will clear our family name.”
“Nay,” he said with a shake of his head. His hand reached out and covered hers. “It’s too late, my dear. If you don’t want to . . . be a nun . . . then find a man you love . . . and marry him. Never . . . stay with someone who you . . . don’t love . . . like I did with . . . Aldusa.”
“There is someone I love, Father. But he – he’s not a noble. He’s . . . he’s a pirate.”
“A p-pirate?” The corners of her father’s lips turned up and he started to chuckle but ended up coughing. She handed him more wine. “Do you love this man? This . . . pirate?”
“I think I could, Father. Mardon has treated me well. He’s been kinder to me than any man I’ve ever known. Besides you, that is. I can’t explain it, but I feel safe around him. I know he will always protect me.” She saw her father’s life slipping away and she bit her lip to keep from crying.
“Then go to this . . . Mardon . . . Emmaline. Be with the man . . . you love. You have . . . my . . . blessing.” With that, his eyes closed and he drew his last breath.
“Father? Father!” she cried, throwing herself down, hugging the man, crying, not wanting to let him go.
The door to the room burst open and the healer and priest rushed in.
“Someone help him,” she cried, cradling her father’s head and shoulders. “Someone please, help my father.”
“I’m sorry,” said the healer, reaching over and checking for life signs and then shaking his head. “I have tried for months, but it seems he’s been poisoned by something. Since I didn’t know what, I couldn’t find an antidote that would reverse the effects.”
“P-poisoned,” she repeated, once again thinking about the bottle she’d stolen from her stepmother, thinking it was just rosewater at first. “My stepmother poisoned him. I found a bottle of poison in her chamber months ago!” She sat up, wiping away a tear.
“Lady Aldusa?” asked the healer. “Are you sure?”
“She’s lying.” Lady Aldusa walked in, followed by two guards. “She is doing this because she has never liked me.”
“Why did you do it?” screamed Emmaline. “How could you kill my father? Is it because you wanted to inherit his estate? Is that why you also locked me away in a convent?”
“You need to go,” Lady Aldusa told Emmaline.
“Nay. I won’t leave my father.”
“You aren’t well, and need someone to care for you,” she continued.
“Don’t think I’m going back to the convent, because my father told me I didn’t have to.”
“Nay, of course not, my dear.” Aldusa smiled wickedly, motioning for someone in the corridor to join them. “You need to be with someone who can actually control you and your wild ways.”
Before Emmaline could ask who she meant, a man stepped into the room and her jaw dropped.
“Jean Philippe,” she whispered, not able to believe it was true. “B-but I thought you were dead.”
“Nay, my dear,” said the man, limping into the room. “It will take more than a pirate to kill me. If you wouldn’t have been in such a hurry to leave France, you would have known I still lived.”
Mardon (Pirate Lords Series Book 2) Page 12
