“What?” Her head popped up above the side of the bed. “Ye’re keepin’ me a prisoner in here? I’m yer wife now! How could ye?”
“It’s just for now,” he told her, not sure yet that he could trust that none of the crew would bother her. With that map on her back, it might be too damned tempting for men like Noll to try to get a copy of it so he could somehow find the treasure for himself. “Stay here. I’ll be back later.” He hurried out the door, locking it behind him.
When he heard her soft sobbing from inside the room, he realized that he’d made a big mistake. In marrying her, he had just ruined the poor girl’s life forever. It was his own selfishness of wanting to keep her here that made him do it. He liked having her around, and didn’t want her to leave because he’d miss her. Now, instead of things getter better between them, it was his fault that they were only getting worse. What did he expect? He was a pirate, and getting married was the last thing he should have ever done!
Chapter 10
“Cap’n, ye’re done already?” asked Ramble as soon as Tristan stepped out of his cabin and locked the door.
“Get out of my way, Ramble.” Tristan headed over to the galley, noticing every man’s eyes on him.
“Well, I must say, that’s got to be the fastest beddin’ ye’ve ever given a wench.” Ramble hurried to keep up with Tristan’s long stride.
“What I do is none of your concern.” Tristan walked around a man carrying a skein of rope, and picked up a cleat, tossing it to another crewmember.
“I didn’t mean anythin’ by that, of course,” Ramble continued. “Not that there’s anythin’ wrong with a fast beddin’, mind ye. After, all ye’re our captain and a very busy man. Ye don’t have much time for things like this. I just know how ye usually like to take yer time with the lassies. Except, of course, when it’s one of those classy whores, the kind that Mardon likes, who charge twice as much for their time than ye want to pay. Then, ye’re usually in a big hurry.”
Tristan stopped, turning around to face Ramble. “Are you comparing my wife to a whore?”
Ramble’s eyes opened wide. “Nay, of course not, Cap’n. I’d never suggest anythin’ like that. Gavina is a fine lass. A fine lass, indeed. She is kind and smart and witty, and talented. She can play the flute like none other. I didn’t mean that she was a whore in the least. Honest, I didn’t, Cap’n.”
“Go swab the deck or something,” he spat, leaving Ramble as he opened the curtain hanging in the doorway of the galley and ducked to step inside the darkened area. The aroma of spices and fresh herbs filled his senses bringing back memories of his childhood when his mother used to cook with these. It was something he hadn’t had much of since living on the sea. “Nairnie?” he asked, his eyes still trying to get accustomed to the dark after being out in the bright sun.
“Tristan, what brings ye here?” asked Nairnie, humming as she chopped up some cooked chicken that he figured his men must have stolen from the Crooked Crow. She seemed to be in a good mood, which wasn’t normal as far as he knew. Of course, then again, he’d only known his grandmother for a few days. Still, the entire time he knew her she was usually threatening someone, slapping them, or chasing a man down with her ladle.
“I wanted to talk to you about Gavina.”
“Ah, Gavina, that angel. Yer new wife.” She giggled. “My first grandson is married, and I canna tell ye how happy that makes me,” she said proudly, sounding much too chipper. “I only wanted to live long enough to dance at one of yer weddin’s. Now I need to dance with ye the way I danced with Aaron. We need to have a special celebration and a weddin’ feast.”
“Nay, that’s not necessary,” he told her, not feeling like celebrating after what had just happened between him and his new wife.
“Well, now that the marriage is consummated, I might even live long enough to see a great-grandchild or two in my lifetime, and it’s all because of ye. Ye have no idea how happy that makes me. It’s all because of ye, Tristan.” She pushed the cubed chicken aside and started chopping onions next, wiping a tear from her eye. He wasn’t sure if the onions were making her eyes water or if those were tears of joy. God’s teeth, he hoped it was only from the onions. Because if she was shedding tears of joy, they were soon going to turn to tears of sadness, and that would be because of him as well.
“Nairnie, I need to ask you something.”
“If ye are wonderin’ if I’ll watch yer bairns someday, ye needna worry. I’ve spent so much time with yer little nieces and nephews, that even though it’s been a long time since I cared for a bairn of my own, I dinna think I’ve lost the touch. So, aye, I’ll be happy to do it.”
“Nairnie!” he shouted to get her attention. Why was everyone rambling on today about things that were none of their concern?
“Ye dinna need to shout, Tristan,” she told him, slamming down the cleaver. “I might be an auld woman, but I’m no’ deaf.”
“I’m trying to ask you if you’ll check in on Gavina to see if . . . to see if she’s all right.”
“What?” She wrinkled her brow. “Why wouldna she be? Och, Tristan, were ye too rough with yer love makin’? I hope ye didna hurt her. The lass was a virgin and ye should have been gentle.”
“She is still a virgin, and don’t worry because I didn’t hurt here. Or at least not in that way,” he mumbled, running a hand through his hair and looking in the other direction.
“Are ye sayin’ that ye didna consummate the marriage?”
He peeked back at Nairnie to see the shocked look on her face. Tristan didn’t want to admit it to anyone, and he certainly didn’t want his brothers or the crew to know he hadn’t even consummated his marriage. Still, he needed to tell Nairnie, because he was concerned about Gavina. He needed Nairnie’s help. Tristan had a feeling he’d made a mess of things and wasn’t sure how to fix it.
“Nay, Nairnie, we didn’t . . . make love.”
“Well, why the hell no’?” Her voice was hard and stern. Tristan could look a man in the eyes as he slit his throat and never flinch. But when Nairnie talked to him in this tone, he wanted to look anywhere but directly at her. “We all saw ye drag her into the cabin in an all fire hurry. If ye werena beddin’ her then what in the devil’s name were ye doin’ in there?”
“I – I was in a hurry to copy the map that’s on her back,” he admitted, feeling very small about right now.
“Ye did what?” Nairnie’s hands flew to her hips again, and that was never a good sign. The first thing he learned about having his grandmother on board was that when her hands were on her hips, you didn’t want to be anywhere near her because something bad was about to happen.
“Never mind. It doesn’t matter. I don’t have time for this right now. Just please check on her for me because I think . . . I think she might be crying.” He placed the key to his cabin down on the table and turned to leave.
“Might be cryin’?”
Tristan made a face but didn’t turn around. “Aye, I think so.”
“What’s this key?” he heard her say. “Please dinna tell me ye locked her in there.”
“It’s for her own good. I am trying to protect her,” he said, still not turning around to face her.
“Tristan Fisher, if ye broke that lass’s heart on her weddin’ day, I am goin’ to break yer neck.”
Tristan’s hand went to his neck, not doubting that the old woman could do it. Without responding, he hurried out of the galley and up to the sterncastle, avoiding eye contact with any of his men. Taking the steps two at the time, he stopped beside Mardon who was at the helm.
“Well, Brother, how was it?” asked Mardon, a ruddy tone coloring his cheeks as he waited for the details.
“You’re back already?” Tristan heard from above him, looking up to see Aaron untangling a line to a twisted sail. “Wybert, you and Noll finish up here,” said Aaron, dropping down right next to Tristan. “Well, Brother, how is it being married? I didn’t hear any moaning or screaming at all. Is Gavina
one of those quiet girls or did you muffle her cries of passion so the men wouldn’t hear and get too excited?”
“Aye, I’m dying to know what she looks like under those baggy clothes,” said Mardon. “Actually, I’m surprised you even wanted to marry the wench since she doesn’t seem to be your normal type at all.”
“That’s true,” said Aaron with a nod and a chuckle. “Usually you like the loud ones in more ways than one.”
“Why don’t you two just shut up?” Tristan ground out. “I’m not up here to talk about what happened between me and my wife. That is nobody’s business. I’m here to discuss finding this bloody treasure.”
Mardon and Aaron looked at each other from the sides of their eyes and shrugged.
“All right,” said Mardon. “So, tell us. Where is this treasure buried?”
“Go south,” Tristan answered, looking out to sea.
“I am going south,” said Mardon. “How far?”
“You’ve got a ways to go yet.” Tristan waved his hand through the air. “Just head toward Hartlepool, but stay clear of the mainland. It’s buried on an island.”
“An island? Which one?” asked Aaron. “There are quite a few islands in that area.”
“Just head south,” he told them, honestly not knowing which island it was. He needed to get another look at Gavina’s back.
“Aaron’s right. Which one is it?” asked Mardon. “Give me a name, will you?”
“It doesn’t matter. Just keep sailing in that direction.” Tristan needed to get away before they asked him anything else.
“Is this some kind of addled guessing game?” Aaron sounded very disgusted. “Why don’t you just give us the copy of the damned map and let us see it for ourselves?”
“Aye. Where is the copy of the map?” asked Mardon. “I don’t see it on you. Is it back in the cabin?”
“Nay, dammit, I don’t have a copy!” he blurted out. “I intended to make one, but when she started crying, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.” Suddenly, he was feeling very vulnerable and as if he were losing control of his emotions. This had never happened to Tristan before Gavina came aboard. He was always the one who was able to maintain control, not letting anyone or anything rattle his nerves. Lately, it seemed like he was rattled all the time.
Mardon and Aaron both became quiet, making Tristan realize he’d already said too much. He grimaced, waiting for the barrage of questions from his brothers that were sure to come.
“You made her cry?” asked Aaron in surprise.
“Mayhap, I did. I’m not sure.” Tristan started pacing back and forth.
“So . . . you really don’t have a copy of the map?” asked Mardon, as if he couldn’t believe it. Tristan couldn’t blame him, because he couldn’t believe it either. This treasure was the most important thing in his life and yet the final destination of their future was still unknown. Tristan thought about that. It wasn’t only the resting place of the treasure that was unknown, but also his future with Gavina. Hell, he didn’t know anything anymore.
“Nay, I don’t have it,” Tristan admitted, his hands waving in the air. “I did see it, though, even if I didn’t have a chance to write it down.”
“Good,” said Mardon. “Then tell us . . . on which island is the treasure buried?”
Tristan stopped pacing. “I . . . I’m not exactly sure. The bottom of the map was . . . it was . . . well, what I mean is . . .”
“It was what?” asked Aaron. “God’s eyes, it didn’t wash off, did it?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then tell us what you saw,” said Mardon. “Why are you acting so odd?”
“I didn’t see the whole map because the bottom of it with the island and the X was hidden beneath under her trews.”
Mardon and Aaron looked at each other and smiled.
“Interesting,” said Mardon. “Tell us, Brother. How did you couple with your new wife without removing her trews?” Mardon’s tone was snide and Tristan didn’t like that.
“You didn’t do it!” Aaron looked as if he were going to burst out laughing. His face became bright red. “You couldn’t do it!” said Aaron.
“Nay, that’s not it. Of course, I could. I’m quite capable of bedding a woman any time day or night.”
“Then why didn’t you?” asked Mardon.
“Enough! I’m tired of this conversation. Now, I’m going to my cabin to rest,” said Tristan, starting down the stairs. He stopped when he saw Nairnie knocking on his cabin door. Deciding being with Gavina wasn’t the best idea right now, he turned around and headed back up the stairs. “On second thought, I’m going up to sit in the lookout basket for a while and keep watch,” he told his brothers.
“The lookout?” Mardon chuckled. “That’s Aaron’s hideaway. I can’t remember the last time you were up there. You never go up there.”
“Well, I am today. So, what of it?”
“It’s all right, calm down,” said Aaron with a smile. “You can use it, Tristan. If you’re hiding from your new wife, you know she’ll never go up there since she’s afraid of heights.”
“I’m not hiding from anyone, and certainly not my wife,” Tristan protested, even though it was true. “I just want to see if there are any ships on the horizon to pillage. Now, handle things down here, and I don’t want to be disturbed. Savvy?”
As Tristan took a hold of the lines and started to climb, he could hear his brothers talking about him from down below.
“I can’t blame him for not wanting to bed her,” said Aaron. “After all, she’s not much to look at.”
“Aye,” agreed Mardon. “I’m still puzzled why he even wanted to wed her in the first place since it will be like being married to a boy.”
They both got a good laugh out of that, only upsetting Tristan even more. What the hell was happening here? Tristan never let anything bother him. He’s the one the rest of crew came to when they were upset or having problems with someone. Tristan could always set things straight because he never let emotions take the best of him. That is, not until he brought two women aboard and all hell broke loose. Now he could see why lassies on the ship were forbidden in the pirate’s code.
Having his brothers say these things about Gavina really upset him. The poor girl lost everything, and she sounded as if she had no future to look forward to either. She was made to look like a boy against her will, and didn’t choose that.
He flipped his body into the lookout basket, letting the breeze lift his hair and blow away his worries. Still thinking about his conversation with his brothers, he started wondering what Gavina would look like in a gown.
Then he started thinking about when he’d kissed her. It was nice. Even though she looked like a boy, with his eyes closed, she was very alluring indeed. That only made him feeling randy, causing him to feel more uncomfortable than ever. He needed to do something to remedy this situation, and he needed to do it quickly. If he couldn’t push these wretched emotions aside and take control of his life, soon everyone on board the Falcon would know that he’d never consummated his marriage. That, he decided, would be the worst thing that could ever happen, because then he would lose the respect of his entire crew forever.
Gavina stood on Tristan’s bed, trying to push her shoulders through the small opening of the cabin window, realizing that she was stuck. Not able to go out, nor able to get back into the room, she found herself in a very harrowing situation. If she didn’t break free before Tristan returned, he would be furious about this. Plus, she never wanted to see him again.
The sound of someone knocking on the door made her freeze. Her heart sped up, and she didn’t know what to do.
“Gavina?” she heard Nairnie’s muffled voice from outside, and then more knocking. “Can I come in, lass?”
“Nairnie!” she called out, thankful it was the old woman and not one of the men. “Tristan locked me up like a prisoner and took the key.”
“Dinna worry, lass, I have the key.”
&nb
sp; Gavina heard the sound of the lock turning, and Nairnie poked her head into the room, looking around.
“Where are ye?” asked Nairnie.
“I’m up here.” With her shoulders stuck, she could barely look back to see the old woman behind her. The hanging canvas bed beneath her feet moved every time the ship rocked back and forth
“Losh me! What are ye doin’, child?” Nairnie’s mouth fell open.
“Nairnie, help me,” said Gavina. The old woman started to run to her, but Gavina stopped her. “Nay! First close the door.”
“Och, of course,” she muttered, closing the door and waddling quickly over to the window. “What were ye thinkin’, lass?”
“I was tryin’ to escape, but I got stuck. Can ye grab a hold of me and pull me back in?”
“This is preposterous,” she grumbled, pushing aside Tristan’s hanging bed to get closer to the window. When she did, Gavina’s feet moved beneath her, and the weight of her hanging body caused her to slip out of the window and fall to the ground.
“Oomph,” she said as she hit the floor hard.
“Are ye all right?” asked Nairnie, reaching down to help her to her feet.
“I think so.” She stood up, brushing off her clothes.
“My grandson never should have locked ye in here, and ye shouldna be tryin’ to escape. Ye’re married now.”
“I ken. That’s the problem. I dinna ever want to see Tristan again.”
“Stop it.” Nairnie’s hands went to her waist. “Now sit down at the table and I’ll help ye clean up and ye can tell me what is goin’ on.”
“I dinna like bein’ married,” she said with a pout, plopping down on the bench.
“Tristan said ye were cryin’. He asked me to check on ye.” Nairnie picked up a piece of clothing from the floor, wetting the end of it, using the jug of water.
Tristan (Pirate Lords Series Book 1) Page 17
