Taste of the Devil

by Dara Joy

  Tyler clenched his jaw. “Duly noted, quartermaster.

  What type of ship is it?”

  “Too early to tell.”

  “Keep an eye on her and come about if she gains on us.”

  Cappy was surprised. It wasn’t their usual course of action at this point. The Panther was most particular about what he went after.

  “Yer going to attack?”

  “Only if pushed,” the pirate captain answered cryptically before he strolled off, unconcerned about any possible threat.

  * * *

  Ginny had elected to stay topside for most of the day, enjoying the fresh breezes. She had never realized that sailing could be so bracing. She rather liked it and wished she had tried it sooner.

  Mabel and Henley, however, were another story.

  They reluctantly had both followed her lead and come onto the deck. Henley still had the slightest touch of mal-de-mer; thankfully he had lost the horrid shade of green that had graced his face on the Abernathy. Mabel stood near her charge by the railing, glaring at any pirate who dared look their way.

  The swabbees seemed to respect that forbidding glare as even the most hardened of them turned away.

  Although Ginny suspected that had more to do with the Panther’s orders to his men rather than any mysterious power Mabel had to stare off a pirate horde.

  The ship that had been spotted on the horizon dogged their course that entire day.

  Up on the quarterdeck Cappy watched through his spyglass, an uneasy feeling in the pit of his belly.

  "She’s nipping at our heels, Capt’n. Staying just out of reach. I don't like it much."

  Tyler took the glass from him to have a look.

  "Mmm... She's keeping her distance, though... Were you able to make her?"

  "Aye. Around noon, briefly. A schooner, she is, and by the look of her, fast."

  Tyler gave one last look at the ship and handed the spyglass back to his quartermaster. "Strike the colors,” he said unexpectedly.

  "What?" Cappy sputtered. "Why would ye want ta do that? She hasn't been gaining on us, and we've no real quarrel with her. Besides, she's riding high. There's naught but air in her hold."

  Tyler let out a long sigh. "I did not tell you to turn about and attack, did I? Raise our flag; let's see what she does."

  "Aye, Capt'n." Cappy called out the order and the Panther's flag was drawn up the mast.

  Tyler leaned against a canon folding his arms across his chest and calmly waited several minutes.

  "What is she doing?"

  The adam's apple in Cappy's throat bobbed. "She's full sail and gaining, sir."

  Tyler rubbed his jaw. "Has she struck any colors?"

  Cappy shook his grizzled head. "Nary a thread.

  And did I say she's fast, Capt’n? She's closing on us."

  "Turnabout and run the cannons out."

  "Aye, aye. Should we luff the ship?"

  "Nay. Let her catch us if she is so inclined. We can wait prettily on her." He winked at the quartermaster.

  The ship went from a relaxed state to a beehive of activity. Ginny’s crew watched the frenetic energy around them, bemused at the action.

  "Wot are they doin' running about like that fer?"

  Mabel scratched her belly. "It's too hot fer all that."

  It was plain the woman did not see the other ship boring down on them. Ginny tried to enlighten her.

  "Um, Mabel, I think–"

  She was interrupted by Henley, who peered at the horizon through his lorgnette, turning an even paler shade of white. He squealed. "Zounds, is that ship going to attack us?"

  "Wot ye say?" Mabel's eyes widened in fright.

  Ginny bit her lip. "It does look that way, Henley."

  Suddenly, the pirates stopped in their tracks and let out a huge, bellowing cheer. Henley gulped. "They're insanely happy to face death," he choked.

  Hack snorted as he ran by, overhearing his remark.

  "Nay, Fancypants, they just struck their colors."

  "And this is cause for celebration?" Ginny called out.

  "Aye, it is! ‘Tis Lord Lion's ship!"

  Lord Lion? The other infamous, cutthroat, dastardly murderous, legend of a pirate? Ginny glanced nervously at Tyler.

  Her self-proclaimed 'husband' was grinning ear to ear.

  Cappy grinned proudly at her. "Arrg, the Panther just had to flush the bugger out."

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  When the schooner closed in on them, both crews were cheering and whooping.

  Apparently, the meeting of these outlaw ruffians was cause for great celebration. Slash was already dragging up a barrel of grog from the ship’s hold under Cappy's orders.

  As the wind whipped her hair about, Ginny examined the schooner’s flag. Another jolly roger, she lamented. Instead of the traditional skull, the head of a lion roared against a black background. Beneath him were the signatory crossbones that dripped blood.

  Delightful.

  The boats almost bumped against each other but before that occurred men from the other ship were already throwing grappling hooks and swinging aboard.

  Seeing the bloodthirsty things filling the main deck was a bit worrisome.

  Ginny wisely sidled over to Tyler. "Ah, how well do you know these fellows?"

  "Well enough. You have nothing to fear."

  One of the Lion's crew dropped down in front of Henley and leered dangerously at him. "Are you sure about that?" she murmured nervously.

  Henley backed up slightly, but managed to glance at her over his shoulder and make a giddy moue with his mouth. Dammed if the fop wasn't secretly enjoying the attention. Ginny shook her head.

  Her attention was soon riveted to a man who jumped onto the deck. The captain of the other ship, no doubt. Lord Lion himself.

  He cut quite a dashing figure.

  Of a height with Tyler– perhaps a shade taller– he sported a dark brown coat. A leather vest covered a white lawn shirt with billowing sleeves. His trousers were dark maroon and his thigh-high boots, a deep saddle brown. On his head sat a wide leather hat and a gold earring gleamed at his left ear. Curiously, his hair was braided all about. The long, woven tendrils were a dark glossy color.

  When he lifted his face seafoam greenish-blue eyes flashed in a countenance kissed golden by the sun.

  He was larger than life and a bonny-looking bloke.

  The pirate strutted across the main deck as if it were his right and swaggered up onto the quarterdeck.

  Whereupon he swept off his hat and gave them all a deep, mocking bow.

  Flashing white teeth, he smoothly asked the Panther, "So, do you seek quarter, then?"

  Tyler calmly arched a black brow. "Do you?" he rejoined.

  Two infamous pirate captains demanding the other seek quarter? Ginny, Mabel, and Henley gulped in trepidation.

  Pirates’ moods were notoriously fickle. This could end badly.

  Lord Lion briefly glanced their way and as his penetrating gaze passed over her, Ginny had the distinct impression that the impressive captain had already taken her measure.

  A lopsided grin coupled the Lion’s loaded answer.

  “Aye, Panther, I just might.”

  Tyler’s brow arched higher.

  "And who is this fair beauty?" The dreaded outlaw inquired in the mockish, polite way that only a really good pirate can muster– and usually spells trouble of one kind or another when all is said and done.

  Silence on deck.

  "Well, she's the captain's hempen halter," Hack piped up to snickers from the crew.

  “Hempen halter?” Ginny's nose scrunched up, not liking the sound of that.

  "Hangman's noose," Mabel whispered from behind her hand.

  "Oh, really." Ginny threw the swabbee a dirty look.

  Hack grinned sheepishly then shifted his feet a tad nervously. They had all heard the hellcat’s screeches the night before when the Captain had forcibly taken her from Creaze's ship. No one ever spoke to the Pan
ther liked that–and lived. Truth to tell, the crumpet was a mite scary when she was angry.

  Grinning broadly, the Lion examined her from head to toe with keen interest. "Is she now?"

  Undaunted, Ginny placed her hands at her hips and stared right back.

  The Lion chuckled low and soft. It was a very pleasing sound, and yet, one definitely could hear the underlining threat inherent in the pirate’s soft laugh. It rather made the man simultaneously convivial and alarming.

  Strangely, it was a rather attractive combination.

  And his eyes were every bit as beautiful as her husband's... Even if they seemed to conceal levels that one might be wise not to invoke. Her judgment was reflected in the level glance she threw him.

  The Lion cocked his head to the side, reassessing his original impression of her as simply a feisty beauty.

  There was a keen intelligence behind that pretty face.

  "Seems your treasure acquiring skills have improved greatly, Panther," he concluded in a wry murmur.

  Tyler's nostrils flared with annoyance as he realized the Lion was showing an unhealthy interest in his wife.

  "Perhaps," the Lion continued, purposely bating the Panther, "we should rethink our ‘brethren of agreement.’

  This may be a treasure worth stealing from you." He stroked his jaw slowly in an attempt to goad the other man.

  "One can also kiss the gunner's daughter," the Panther snapped, rising to the bait.

  A few gasps were heard as the men waited to see what the Lion would do. After all, the Panther had just threatened to hoist the dreaded pirate over one of the ship's guns and flog him!

  If the Panther threatened that much to one such as the Lion what would he do to an ordinary swabbee who might get out of line with her? Many of the hardened pirates shuddered just to think on it.

  The Lion caught Tyler’s eye and nodded imperceptibly.

  The two men had just successfully set boundaries for their two crews. He smiled at Ginny. "It seems this Panther fellow has a tendre for you, midear.” He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a brief kiss on the back. “Who am I to meddle?" He swept off his hat and presented her a courtly bow.

  "Who indeed, sir?" She smiled back, dangerously flirting with the infamous outlaw and, no doubt, surprising both men. Damn and blast, but she wanted off this floating asylum and wasn't about to look a gift pirate in the mouth! This charming fellow might be persuaded to take up her cause and transport Henley, Mabel and her to the Carolinas.

  Tyler caught Ginny’s eye and shook his head clearly warning her to not even think of causing that kind of trouble on board his ship.

  Ginny blinked back at him dumbly.

  Tyler wasn’t fooled for an instant. He had seen that act before.

  Sharp as a razor’s edge she was. Hiding his irritation, he instructed Cappy. "Splice the mainbrace." Both crews yelled out a cheer at the expected order for grog all around. Then the Panther faced the other pirate captain and said two words. "My cabin."

  The Lion audaciously winked at Ginny before strolling leisurely after the Panther to his quarters.

  Serenaded by crusty sea shanties, the crews would continue to guzzle watered rum far into the night.

  As gentle waves knocked the ships together under the moonlit sea, Ginny had another epiphany.

  It would prove to be more dangerous than her last.

  * * *

  "So who is she?"

  Julian Lionel Huntingdon Alexandre’ crossed his arms over his broad chest and leaned back against the door of the captain’s cabin.

  "No threat to you, Julian." Tyler sprawled into a seat and stretched out, leaning the chair precariously against the wall.

  "I never thought she was. I simply want to know who she really is– and don’t tell me she’s just your prisoner. I know how much you detest taking hostages, even beautiful ones– the sound policy of which eludes me, by the way, as it is quite often cold and lonely at sea.

  Especially at night, mate."

  Tyler cast him a measured look.

  "And this one," Lion continued on astutely, "is a bit too sure of her place on your ship. Not an ounce of fear in her. Is that wise, d' you think, Tyler?"

  Tyler locked his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles. "You don't know Ginny. The royal palace or a brethren ship– it's all the same to her and she remains the same." His lips curled up in a smile.

  "True to herself? A treasure, indeed. So did you marry her quick?" The Lion asked sharply.

  The grin froze on Tyler's face. "How did you know?"

  The Lion snorted. "It was obvious to me, boyo. What is she doing on your ship then? I can't imagine you brought her aboard willingly. Not you. She is in danger."

  “That I well know– but it wasn’t exactly my plan.”

  Tyler proceeded to fill him in on the business with Creaze and how he had found Ginny strictly by chance when he boarded the Abernathy.

  The Lion was stunned by the tale. "Blimey, perhaps pirates do live right. Fortunate for you both that you found her in time."

  No longer relaxed, Tyler stood and paced the cabin. He rubbed the back of his neck under the fall of his hair, his real concern showing. "When I think how close she almost came to–"

  The Lion left his post by the door to rest a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. "She's safe now, Tyler. Either get her back to England as soon as you can or show her the life. She is defenseless and that is a danger to her; her presence on board this ship is a danger to you."

  Tyler's jaw clenched. "What are you implying?"

  "A blind man could see that you are in love with her.”

  Silent, Tyler stared out the transom windows at the sea beyond. Lion respected his distance.

  Finally he spoke. "It was really most unexpected."

  "Yet welcome, I’d wager. Does she know how you feel?"

  Tyler visibly winced; the Lion’s question scraped something deep that caused him pain. “She would never believe me.”

  He paused. The poignancy of the moment was not lost on Julian.

  “I never wanted her to know about this side of my life,” Tyler revealed in an undertone. “I had hoped to shield her from it.”

  “You do her a disservice then. She is no hothouse flower– can you not see that?”

  Tyler shook his head. “She is young and innocent; certainly no match for the rigors or realities of such a harsh life.”

  Lion grimaced. “I think you’re wrong, boyo.”

  “I won’t gamble her decency against the sordidness that vengeance can inflict.”

  “You might not have to– or hadn’t you considered that?”

  “I won’t consider it. I will not compromise her.”

  Lion thought it wise not to mention that the Panther had undoubtedly compromised her already.

  Opening his life to her might be his friend’s one, best option. “Let her go or let her in. It’s your only choice.”

  “No. For now I’ll keep her here with me where I can keep an eye on her. She is headstrong; trouble finds her and she finds trouble with an ease that frankly, unsettles me.”

  “You are making a mistake.“ The Lion said quietly.

  “In this instance, I would rather err on the side of caution. If a dire situation finds her while she is next to me, I am ready to sacrifice myself to protect her.”

  “Then what would become of her?”

  Tyler smiled ruefully. “Why, then, you would watch over her.”

  The Lion stared at him, serious for once. “You should not jest because I rather envy you, matey.”

  Tyler glanced at him, turning away from the ocean view. "Why would you ever envy me?"

  Julian paced in front of his desk, appearing confined even in the spacious cabin. He was like a caged beast when he got in these moods. Tyler had seen it repeatedly in the past; a restlessness that sprung from having no home, no family, no country.

  "What do I have in life?” Lion grimaced. “I eat. I sleep. I raid. I swiv
e. That sums up my existence. That's what I do.”

  “And well by all accounts, I am told.”

  Lion frowned at him.

  Tyler’s attempt to lighten the mood worked somewhat. Julian was a true renegade in every sense of the word. He had never led a double life like Tyler.

  The sea was all he had. The man had been banished from the British Isles years ago, stripped of his titles and property by men who had conspired against him.

  If he should ever set foot in England again, he would be summarily hung. There were rumors on the Pirate Round that Lord Lion might have within him the blood of ancient kings. No one knew the truth of his past except Tyler– and he suspected he knew only a small portion of it.

  He had never realized how much Julian was questioning his lot in life; the man certainly took to marauding with a relish.

  "Think of it this way, Julian, at least you are damn good at what you do."

  “The best,” he affirmed quietly. "Which brings me to my point and the reason for this little tea party–

  were you able to get it?"

  Tyler instantly knew what the Lion was referring to. His recent trip to Cornwall and the small package that had ended up saving his wife’s life.

  "Aye." He stood up and walked over to his chest.

  Opening it, he retrieved the velvet box and tossed it to the other man.

  Lion caught it clean. He paused for a beat before opening the lid, holding his breath.

  When he gazed inside he exhaled heavily. "I never thought I'd see you again, you little beauty," he whispered to the contents.

  Tyler walked over and gazed beyond his friend's shoulder to the item that had caused so much grief.

  Nestled in folds of red silk was a very curious ring.

  By all accounts, Lord Lion’s ancestral ring.

  The man might have been stripped of everything else, but that ring, with its unique cartouche, stood for all that he had been and perhaps, all that he was meant to be.

  Its possession was a symbol of what could not be taken from him.

  Slowly, he took it out of the box and slipped it onto his index finger. The intricate onyx design with its carved golden egg center was unique.