“The bed was fine,” Esta said, as a maid brought her hot rolls, butter and honey. “I did have a terrible night, though.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Perhaps.” Esta paused, still uncertain if she should involve Merielle. She didn’t know the woman well but felt she was trustworthy—a good person to have in her corner. But if Esta’s suspicions were true, this might involve Nikolas and when pushed, Merielle would always support her husband.
“There is a man I need to find,” Esta said. “You know Wildecoast and I cannot go alone. I thought two ladies might be safer. Would you come with me?”
Merielle’s eyes widened and she clapped her hands. “An adventure, excellent.” She rose from the table and headed for the door. “Let me get changed and advise the staff of our plans.”
Chapter 12
Samael sat at the bar in his new lodgings, having moved from a respectable tavern near the palace to one where he was more at home. The unique mix of sea water and refuse, not to mention smelly sailors, wafted to him as he drank his ale. A waitress delivered his meal and he moved to a table in the front corner, all the better to have a wall at his back and be able to observe those coming and going.
A tour of the markets this morning had revealed no clues as to the whereabouts of the mysterious Vitavia. His feet ached and he was certain the throbbing in his left little toe indicated a blister. Damned new boots! He eased the offending footwear off and peeled back his sock to find his sore toe engulfed in a bubble. Sam shook his head. That’s what came of living on land. He didn’t know how these city folk bore the constant pounding on pavements that were only fit for beasts of burden.
He pushed the sore toe from his mind and wolfed down the fish pie that was a specialty of this tavern. Not as good as the last time he was here. Everything was going to the dogs in Wildecoast and he was stuck here trying to find a woman who probably didn’t wish to see him. He washed down the last of the pie with his ale and ordered another mug. May as well drown his sorrows for now. That blister wasn’t going back into his boot any time soon.
Samael had received his second mug of ale and relaxed back against the wall to enjoy it when a ruckus drew his attention to the road in front of the tavern. There was shouting and he swore he heard female voices, one that jogged his memory. Frowning, for surely the lady in question could not be outside this establishment, Samael rose and walked to the door, ale in hand, one boot off and one on.
He leaned on the door frame and looked out.
“Unhand me you lout,” the lady was saying, struggling with a brutish sailor who had her by the arm. Her chestnut hair glinted in the sun and there wasn’t a mask to be seen. Sam’s heart gave a thump.
“What do you charge, lass?” the brute said, leering at her bosom. “I can get us a room upstairs and we can have us some fun.”
“For the last time,” Lady Moonlight said. “I’m not a prostitute. I’m looking for someone.” She wrenched her arm again but the lady was no match for the man who had his heart set on a romp.
Just then, a lady with brilliant red hair interposed herself between Lady Moonlight and her brutish attacker. “You will let her go or my husband, Admiral Cosara, will hear of this.”
The man laughed and motioned another sailor over. “Here’s one for you, Lofty,” he said, shoving Merielle Cosara at a small stocky man who stood to the side.
Lofty caught Merielle and drew her in for a kiss but the lady stamped down hard on his foot, elbowed him in the stomach and then brought her knee up under his chin with a sharp crack. Lofty slumped to his knees and toppled to the cobblestones. Three of his friends stepped up to defend him.
Sam swore. This was getting ugly fast and here he was in one shoe!
“Unhand them, swine.” Sam leaped into the midst of the fracas as he pulled on his second boot. He didn’t know which way to turn. Four men were more than he usually cared to tackle.
The burly sailor who had Lady Moonlight fixed Sam with an eager smile. “More than enough to go around, man. Wait your turn.”
Sam shook his head. “Let her go,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Not on your life. I’ve been months at sea and hankering after a tasty wench like this.”
Sam took a step closer, aware that Merielle struggled with her three attackers, managing to land several punches and kicks. She was stronger than she looked. “If you want to be hung for interfering with a lady you’ll get what you wish for,” he said. “Besides, this lady is mine so I would thank you to take your grubby paws off her.”
Sam’s carefully chosen words only had the effect of enraging the man but he did let go of Lady Moonlight. He threw a punch at Sam who ducked and sent one of his own crashing into the side of the sailor’s head. The man fell to his knees and then collapsed onto his face. Rubbing his knuckles, Sam turned to the others only to discover that Moonlight had thrown herself into the fray to rescue her friend. One man had joined Lofty on the cobblestones, clutching at his groin, but the two others were dragging the women toward an alley.
Merielle screamed an odd keening as she fought tooth and nail but Moonlight appeared to have been knocked out by her abductor. A red mist swamped Sam’s vision as he took in the sight of the lady being dragged senseless into the lane. He bolted forward, smashing into Moonlight’s captor and knocking him to the ground, somehow managing to save the lady from hitting her head on the cobbles. He sat her up against the wall of the alley and turned to the man he had knocked down. The fellow was just rising so before he could recover, Sam punched him in the jaw, sending him to the ground again.
Lady Moonlight’s chest rose and fell in a steady cadence. Sam longed to wake her, ensure she was well but he turned to Merielle and her marauder, landing a right fist to the man’s stomach and then a left to his head in quick succession. The man slumped, his hands slipping from Merielle who stood panting in the middle of the alley. She had a wild look in her eye and her hair had broken free of its confines in a mad cascade of crimson strands.
“You are safe for now, my lady,” Sam said, hoping to reassure her. She didn’t appear to hear him but spun around to glare back at the opening of the lane. Sam glanced that way too and discovered more sailors lurked at the mouth of the alley. They looked none too happy and if they were part of the same ship’s crew then he was in for the fight of his life. He flicked a glance over at Moonlight who was beginning to stir.
“You men,” Sam called, trying to instill authority into his voice. “Disperse now and no one else needs to get hurt.”
The crowd surged forward a step.
“Our only option is to run, sir,” Merielle said.
“You run if you like but I can’t leave the other lady to that mob.”
“Carry her.”
Sam turned to Merielle. “We don’t have time to get to her before they get to us.”
She frowned and as her eyes took in the angry men at the mouth of the alley, Sam saw fear for the first time. “Then we are done for.”
“It would seem so.”
There was a stir behind the crowd and a voice rang out. “What’s the meaning of this? Move aside before I have all of you clapped in prison. Pick up those men and get them some help.”
“Nikolas!” Merielle said, running toward the mob. The crowd parted and there stood the admiral. Merielle threw herself into his arms and the sailors vanished like smoke in a high wind.
“On second thoughts,” Nikolas said, turning to a man behind him. “Collect all the injured and throw them in prison. It appears they have attacked my wife.” His arms around his love, the admiral met Sam’s gaze. “Who are you?”
“Just someone trying to help these ladies, Admiral. They had drawn the attention of desperate men and were in a spot of bother.”
“Looks like more than a spot to me.” He looked down at his wife. “Have I not told you about going out in public? And who is this lady? She doesn’t appear at all well.”
Sam helped Lady Moonlight t
o her feet and supported her with an arm around her waist.
“She is my new friend, Lady Esta Aranati,” Merielle said. “She was looking for someone to relay a message to, which is why we were here.” Her eyes narrowed as she studied Sam. “That someone was you, wasn’t it, sir?”
Sam couldn’t help the reaction of his body when she said those words. Had the lady been looking for him? And to finally know her real name. Lady Aranati, indeed!
“We need to move out of this area,” Nikolas snapped. “It’s ready to boil over and I don’t wish for you to be here when it does. I thought you were safe on our estate!”
Merielle drew apart from him, her eyes flashing. “I come and go as I please, Nikolas. You know that.”
The admiral drew in a long breath. “Never mind. We’ll discuss this later. For the moment, we must get you and Lady Aranati back to the castle.” He turned and led Merielle back up the docks to her coach. The young driver looked fearful. “You have some explaining to do, driver. Would you let these ladies perish because you were too fearful to go to their aid?”
“I’m sorry, Admiral. I was frightened. I know it was cowardly of me but since I was set upon by those men last year…”
Nikolas took another long breath. “Just take us to the castle.” He turned back to Sam. “You will come with us, since my wife believes the lady was looking for you. I would like to question you further.”
Sam was in two minds. He wished to ensure Lady Moonlight, Esta, was well but he didn’t welcome any scrutiny the admiral might provide, let alone the King. Didn’t seem he had a choice. “Give me a moment to collect my things and settle my account.”
Esta’s mind was foggy as they traveled to the castle. She needed a pain powder and a long rest. Her body was still cold with the shock of the beating she had received and the speed at which her situation had turned deadly. She couldn’t spare a thought for the man who sat beside her, staring down the admiral. What a pickle she was in and now her true identity was at risk. She groaned at the thought and a big hand engulfed hers. Esta closed her eyes, not wishing to meet the prying gaze of her rescuer. How many times must she rely on this man to bail her out? Later. She would deal with him later when she recovered her composure.
Once at the castle, Sam scooped Moonlight up and carried her to Nikolas Cosara’s private audience room on the second floor. The lady stiffened as he held her close and she remained so for the entire trip until he lay her on a lounge chair. She refused to meet his gaze as he examined her face and head. There was a nasty swelling over her right temple and puffiness around that eye too.
“Do you feel ill, my lady,” he asked. “Dizzy, weak?”
“The room is spinning and I could empty my stomach if there was anything in it,” she said, her voice warning him that she wouldn’t accept his help.
“You have concussion,” Sam said, turning to Nikolas.
“I’ll have Mosard attend her right away,” Nikolas said, ringing the bell.
A maid came and scurried away after a whispered conversation with the admiral. Merielle came to sit next to Esta on her lounge.
“I am so sorry, my friend,” she said. “I was thoughtless to allow you to enter that region. We have been lucky that this man was there to help, otherwise…”
“Yes!” Nikolas said. “And this man still hasn’t told me who he is.”
“I’d rather not if it’s all the same to you,” Sam said.
Nikolas frowned. “Tell me now.”
Sam sighed. He had known it was a mistake to enter this society. Had told himself he risked everything looking for his mother in Wildecoast but if there was a chance she might be here, he was willing to take it. Only the reality was that his future might now hinge on Nikolas Cosara.
“Samael Delacost, Admiral,” Sam said, offering his hand.
Nikolas surprised him by shaking it. “Sounds familiar,” Nikolas said. “Have we met before?”
“I was at the ball two nights ago, Admiral, though I don’t believe we met,” Sam said, hoping to distract the admiral from delving too deep. “Perhaps someone recognized me and mentioned my name to you. I have somewhat of a reputation with the ladies in the south.” Not many would associate the Singing Pirate with the name Samael Delacost and he hoped the admiral wouldn’t either.
“Perhaps,” Cosara said, his gaze narrowed. “Yes, it could be that.”
Doctor Mosard arrived to examine Moonlight and refreshments were delivered. Merielle set about pouring tea and serving small cakes and fruit. She then entered her sleeping chamber, no doubt to change her dirty gown.
The patient still hadn’t met his eyes and Sam was becoming irritated. She was ill, yes, but he had put himself at risk, damn it, and deserved at least politeness. He hovered behind the doctor as he mixed powder in a goblet and made Moonlight drink.
‘She will recover quickly with rest,” Mosard said. “I’ll check in again on the morrow.” He bowed and left.
Sam took the opportunity to address the lady.
“I seem to be making a habit of saving you,” he said quietly.
Finally she met his eyes. “Thank you,” she said.
“That’s all you have to say, after what we’ve been through? Thank you?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I was in the docks looking for you,” she snapped.
Sam frowned. “Why? Could it be you wanted to continue our tryst, begun the night of the ball?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I knew this was a mistake but I thought you needed to know.”
What is she talking about? The knock must have done more damage than they had suspected. “Know what?”
“Your mother, Vitavia was her name, was it not?”
“Yes…this is about my mother?”
“I have news of a woman called Vitavia who lived around these parts,” Esta said. “I regret to inform you that she passed away some years ago.”
The excitement that had gripped Sam at her first words now coiled around his heart, threatening to strangle the life out of it. His mother could be dead after all this? “What do you know of her?” Dread had turned his voice harsh and Moonlight flinched.
“I don’t know where to begin.” She pushed shaking hands through her chestnut hair, now disheveled after her misadventure. “The knowledge came by way of Lady Merielle. It might not even be your Vitavia.”
At this, the admiral stalked over. “I couldn’t help overhearing. Do you speak of my mother?”
Sam’s gut clenched and sweat broke out over his forehead. He slowly turned to confront the admiral. “Your mother’s name is Vitavia?”
He nodded. “It was. I lost her and father years back, of the fever. Why?”
It was on the tip of Sam’s tongue to tell Nikolas the truth but he couldn’t risk it here in this palace where Nikolas held all the cards. He had to get away, process this and decide on a course of action. “My mother is seeking her childhood friend after all these years. I think she might be your mother, Vitavia. She’ll be sad to know Vitavia is no longer with us.”
Nikolas nodded, his eyes distant as though he remembered a time when he could still count on a hug from his mother. “I give you leave to tell her. I’ve a likeness you may take to show her so that she may know if Vitavia is the woman she knew as a girl.”
Sam swallowed his grief as Nikolas produced a battered piece of parchment which held the picture of a beautiful young woman. He couldn’t take his eyes from it. This could be his mother; in fact he was certain of it. The eyes that looked back at him were his. If this were true, Nikolas was his half-brother. It was too much to take in.
“Thank you, Admiral,” Sam said. “This will mean much to my mother. I’ll return it to you when I can.” He looked at Moonlight who frowned at him, no doubt wondering why he had lied. Perhaps it was his nature to hide the truth. Perhaps the risk of exposing himself was just too much to accept. Perhaps he was a coward after all. He knew what the lady would have done, what she no doubt wished to do now. She could expose him and
let him take his chances.
All Sam wished to do was to escape the admiral’s company so he could mull over this development and decide on the right course of action. He had always known the search could reveal siblings and now it seemed he had one within reach. Nikolas Cosara, leader of the King’s navy no less. How the admiral would cringe to discover he was related to sea scum such as Samael Delacost. And Nikolas would work out where he had heard the name in time. Sam had to get away before that happened.
“I should be going,” he told Moonlight. “I wish you a speedy recovery and thank you for the information.”
The lady swallowed but didn’t seem to be able to speak. She nodded. Sam drank in the sight of her laying back on the couch, wishing they had the time for a proper chat. Damned Cosara! If he wasn’t so protective, they might be alone to speak candidly. He shook his head. She wouldn’t wish to speak with him. She had made that very clear. He was being an idiot. Sam bowed and turned to leave but found the broad chest of Nikolas Cosara in his way.
“I can’t let you leave without showing my appreciation, Mr. Delacost,” Nikolas said. “Please name your price.”
Sam smiled. “The safety of the ladies is all I require, Admiral.”
“At least allow me to convey you to your home,” Nikolas said.
Sam paused. “I live to the south and made my way here on horseback. My mount is stabled down the main street a ways. I’ll have no trouble on the journey home.”
“These are dangerous times to travel by oneself,” Nikolas said. “And now there has been trouble, I fear retribution. I’ll provide Lady Aranati my personal coach to convey her home and you may ride along with us.”
Sam ground his teeth. “That is most kind of you, Admiral. I’m sure the trip will be more pleasant for the company.”
“It’s settled then,” Nikolas said. “We’ll leave in the morning.”
Chapter 13
Esta could sense the walls closing in. Her head pounded, but worse than that, she would soon be on a trip back to her estate with Samael Delacost for company. Her feelings about that were a mix of dread and reluctant excitement for even though she had sought him yesterday, it was only to ensure that he had the chance to know more of his mother. She shouldn’t care, but she did.
The Lady and the Pirate Page 8
