Lord of Pirates

by Scott, Scarlett

Edmond’s men scurried aboard the other ship, swords drawn, facing off against the attacking ship’s survivors. The clang of metal replaced the sound of gunfire. Lizzie was transfixed, frozen, horrified, unable to look away from the carnage. Good heavens, this was not the sort of adventure she’d had in mind. She frantically scanned the teeming throng of men in search of Edmond’s beloved form. She found him facing off against the opposing ship’s captain, who had jumped aboard the Freedom in the melee.

  Edmond thrust forward, engaging the other captain in a lightning-quick challenge of blades. As the two men fought, they moved slowly across the deck until they almost reached her hiding spot.

  “I’d allow you to surrender,” snarled the captain of the enemy ship, “but I’ll enjoy killing you far more.” He landed a glancing blow on Edmond’s shoulder.

  Lizzie held her breath. If she timed it properly, she believed she’d be capable of tripping Edmond’s opponent. Their steps moved closer, as did the metallic clash of swords. Edmond’s back was to her, his strong body tense as he fought for his life. His assailant was abreast of her in the next moment, completely unaware of her presence. She gauged her timing perfectly. Just as the captain took his next step, Lizzie slid her foot across his path.

  He fell like a downed tree.

  Chapter Nine

  What the devil? Edmond stared in shock at his opponent. He’d been about to deliver a death blow and now the bastard lay at his feet. Then he saw the innocent face of the woman he loved, who was not awaiting him in the hold as he’d requested.

  Damn her. Pride in her bravery warred with anger for her carelessness. He didn’t have time to deal with her recalcitrance but she’d get a tongue-lashing from him the instant this bloody battle came to an end.

  He cuffed the captain on the back of the head with the butt of his gun. If the way the man’s head thumped to the deck was any indication, he was unconscious. There was no help for it. He had to aid his men, which meant enlisting Lizzie, damn it all. He gave her his musket.

  “Do you know how to shoot?” he shouted over clanging of cutlasses and the cries of the men.

  “Yes, of course.” She scrambled to hold the musket in its proper position. She looked awkward, but capable.

  “Good. If he moves, kill him.” He unsheathed his own cutlass. “By God, woman, don’t leave this spot until I return.”

  Without waiting for her response, he rushed back into the skirmish. It was imperative they win this fight. As Edmond boarded the naval ship, he recognized the grisly carnage. Their gunner had done his work well. Men lay bloodied and battered across the deck. The Freedom, it seemed, would claim yet another ship.

  Jean was in a heated session of swordplay, and Edmond rushed to his aid, cutting down the officer he fought from behind. Jean wiped blood from a cut on his cheek, grinning. “Thank you, Captain. These English puppies, they don’t play fair.”

  “I’m an English puppy, if you’ll recall.”

  “You’re like me,” Jean offered. “You have no country, Captain.”

  It was true. After all these years at sea, he truly felt he belonged nowhere and to no one. Except Lizzie, his heart reminded him. Edmond scanned the ship, sensing their enemies were ready to raise the white flag. “Drop your weapons! We’ll be commanding this ship from now on, and if you value your life, surrender at once.”

  Arms clattered to the deck. The bloodied survivors of the battle were eager to save their own hides. Edmond appointed Jean in command of the naval ship and put ten of his men in charge of guarding prisoners before heading back to the Freedom and Lizzie.

  To his surprise, she had listened to him. She was where he’d left her, presiding over the downed captain like an avenging pirate angel. A hot stab of lust went directly to his groin. Sweet Christ, he wanted her.

  He loved her.

  He never wanted to be without her. It was madness of the first order, but he didn’t give a bloody damn. She was his. After all these years, they had found each other again. He would make it right between them. He had no other choice.

  He took the musket from her. “Are you hurt?”

  She appeared shaken by her first exposure to combat. She shook her head. “I am well. Are you unhurt, Edmond?”

  “Always.” He grinned with the triumph of the fight. “A little crew of navy puppies is no match for me.”

  Lizzie smiled halfheartedly, still clearly overwhelmed. “What shall we do with him?” She gestured to the captain.

  “Fetch me some rope from over there,” he told her. “We’ll tie him up and make him sing.”

  If there was one thing he’d learned in his time on the sea, it was that with the proper incentive, naval officers liked to tell everything they knew. With the right amount of intimidation, he hoped the captain would reveal everything he knew about the state of things in the Chesapeake. He was beginning to feel like the fox in the hunt. He’d never been chased with as much determination as he had in these last few weeks. It was a grim sign that it may well be time to forego pirating for good.

  When Lizzie returned with the rope as he’d asked, he lashed together the captain’s hands and feet. It was time to uncover the truth and make a plan for the future, whatever it may bring.

  Lizzie was tired. It was all she could do to remain upright in her saddle. She felt as if she’d been riding forever. After burning the naval ship and sending it to the deep, they’d gone ashore. Edmond had learned through the captured captain that there were several ships and spies scouring the region in search of him. Governor Spotswood wanted his head more now than ever before. The news frightened Lizzie. She didn’t much like the idea of being in close proximity to anyone who wanted to do Edmond harm.

  She had reservations about throwing themselves upon the mercy of the people, but they had no other choice. Gunfire and the storm had rendered the Freedom thoroughly compromised. So it was that with the few living prisoners gleaned from their opposing ship, they docked in Virginia and separated. The plan was set for all men to return within a week’s time. Edmond had shared that he expected a week’s time would provide enough opportunity to repair the ship and allow Thomas to recover properly.

  Lizzie, Thomas and Edmond were on their way to a plantation owned by one of Edmond’s friends. Because they only could obtain two horses, Edmond walked between Thomas and Lizzie. Fortunately, Thomas was able to sit a horse, but beyond that feat, he had little strength. He was still recuperating and weak.

  “Are you sure this is wise?” she asked Edmond as they clopped through the dense forest.

  “We have no choice, and the thinner we spread ourselves, the better,” Edmond answered. “I’ve done this hundreds of times before. Have faith in me.”

  She did have faith in him, and yet she still harbored a niggling feeling in her stomach.

  “I understand, Edmond, but I wish there was a better way.” She prodded her roan along. He ever wanted to stop for a snack. Indeed, over the course of their hour’s jaunt, he’d wanted to stop and relieve himself or eat at least half a dozen times.

  “This is our only way, my love.”

  Suddenly, a disturbance rose in the undergrowth surrounding them. Lizzie saw the unmistakable blur of a man running, and in the next instant, shots were fired. She ducked low across the saddle as a musket ball sliced the air above her so close she could hear it. Dear God, for the second time in less than twenty-four hours, they were under attack.

  “Lizzie,” Edmond called, jumping up on the saddle behind Thomas, “ride east as hard as you can. Keep your head down.”

  Terror clamped her heart like a fist. “What is happening?”

  “Ride, Lizzie! We haven’t much time.”

  Half a dozen men had emerged from the scrub, armed with muskets, all determined to capture or kill, whichever came first. Keeping her head down as Edmond had instructed, she kicked her roan into a gallop. The tepid creature was spooked by the gunfire and instantly tried to buck her. Lizzie held on, urging the horse to go faster. Suddenly her mount
bucked again. She lost her tenuous grip on the reins and tried but failed to retrieve them. The roan reared up and the next thing she knew, Lizzie hurtled through the air.

  Chapter Ten

  She woke to the throbbing of her head and utter confusion. What in heaven’s name? She took in her surroundings: a small, sparsely decorated chamber, sunlight streaming in through a cracked window pane. Her hands were tied behind her back, her body thoroughly sore. She was seated in an unforgiving wooden chair.

  Where was she? What had happened? Dozens of questions sifted through her mind.

  The door to the chamber creaked open, revealing a man in officer’s dress. She recognized him. Impossibly, he was the captain who had attacked Edmond’s ship. He’d been left under Jean’s guard, which meant that something was very much amiss.

  It was then that comprehension hit her. She’d been captured. Fragments of her dash through the forest returned to her. She’d been pushing her mount, trying to escape, when the horse had thrown her.

  Where was Edmond? What had happened to Jean?

  “Ah, madam, I see you’ve decided to join us,” the captain drawled with a sardonic air. “I trust you’re comfortable?”

  He enjoyed his power over her. She tipped up her chin, determined not to allow him to intimidate her. “Forgive me if I find your hospitality sadly lacking, sir.”

  “Such fire.” He crossed the room, his booted footsteps heavy, ominous. “It’s little wonder he wanted you for himself.”

  Lizzie instinctively knew she could give no quarter to him. She feigned innocence. “Who are you speaking of, Captain?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Don’t play coy with me. I saw you with him aboard his ship with my own eyes.”

  “Of course I was aboard his ship. I was taken prisoner by him and his men.” If she could just convince him she had nothing to do with Edmond, perhaps he would let her go.

  “I think not.” The captain lowered his face until she felt the heat of his breath fanning her lips. “I don’t believe a word of what you’ve told me, madam. In fact, I believe you are that pirate bastard’s whore.”

  She remained still, refusing to flinch or show even a pinch of fear. “I told you I was an innocent captive.”

  “You must think me a fool.” He dragged his fingers over her cheek and she shrank from the touch. “What were you doing aboard his ship?”

  “I was taken from a passenger ship,” she repeated, holding her head high. She would not break. She would not allow him to see her faltering. “I expect the others drowned in the storm.”

  “Tripe.” He gripped her arms with enough force to bruise. “If you won’t tell me the truth, I’ll be forced to make you.”

  Tears of pain stung her eyes but she refused to let them fall. Perhaps she needed to try another tactic. “The only tripe in this room is you, sir. How dare you treat a respectable lady in such a debased fashion? You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Does the governor know the depths to which his hired assassins have sunk? Preying on innocent women?”

  He slapped her soundly across the face. “Where is he hiding?”

  Shock rendered her numb for a few breaths. She realized he’d split her lip. The taste of blood tainted her tongue. There was a chance that if she didn’t tell the captain something soon, he’d inflict far more pain upon her. He seemed determined to hunt down Edmond and he didn’t have any compunction about abusing her to glean the information he sought.

  “Maine,” she said truthfully. “He said he was heading for Maine.”

  Of course, his path had changed dramatically given the storm and the battle. She had a feeling Maine was the last place he’d turn up at the moment, which was why she mentioned it so readily.

  “He’s on land now and Maine is out of the question. Surely he has a hideout here that you’re aware of, madam.”

  Her gaze remained unwavering upon the captain’s. “I am not privy to his hideouts, having just been his captive.”

  “Perhaps this will help you to think more clearly.” He grabbed her curls, pulling her hair with a great deal of force.

  Pain tore through her, sending tears to prick her eyes.

  She feared he’d tear her hair from the roots even as she made an effort to remain outwardly stoic. “I cannot tell you what I don’t know, Captain.”

  “Damn you,” he growled, sending a spray of spittle over her face. “I’ll have him at my mercy one way or another. You’re only prolonging his inevitable hanging.”

  Her stomach was heavy as an anchor. “Honestly, sir, I don’t have a care for the man. He was my captor, nothing more.”

  “Liar,” he spat. “You were seen embracing him. You’ve been in his bed and there’s no mistaking it.”

  “I’m a respectable widow,” she maintained, hoping he couldn’t sense her deception. She’d never been terribly good at prevarication. But if ever there was a need for it, surely it was this. If she remained impervious to the captain’s abuses, she could at least give Edmond a fighting chance.

  “I can see why he was so smitten with you that my men almost caught him.” He released her hair and trailed the back of his hand down her throat. “Mayhap I should treat myself to your loveliness.”

  Instinct spurred her to action. She had to escape. With great effort to conceal her movement, she began testing her wrists against her bonds. They were loose enough that with sufficient wriggling she believed she could free herself. She needed to distract the captain long enough to accomplish the deed.

  “Do you have a wife, Captain?”

  Her question seemed to have the desired effect. He paused, his hand at her throat. “I fail to see that it’s any business of yours.”

  Which meant he had a wife. She knew a surge of triumph before she dashed forward. “Imagine, for a moment, that your wife is on a passenger ship that was besieged by pirates. She’s taken aboard the pirate vessel against her will. She’s frightened and horridly mistreated.” Behind her back, she slid her right hand free.

  “My wife wouldn’t cast herself into sin by giving herself to a pirate as you’ve done. And if she had, I’d hang her myself.”

  It was now or never, she realized, calling upon all the strength in her body. Lizzie had precious few choices. She lifted her legs and kicked against him with all her might. His response was instant. He stumbled back and Lizzie wasted no time in jumping from the chair. Her only option was to try running.

  “Then I pity her, sir,” she threw over her shoulder. And then, she threw open the door and ran directly into a man’s solid chest.

  Edmond staggered back, surprised by the female who had hurtled through the portal, nearly knocking him over in the process. He held her, anchoring her waist with his hands. “Steady.”

  He’d recognize those golden curls anywhere. Lizzie, thank hell. He drew her against him, breathing in her floral scent. Somehow, she always smelled of roses. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to her. She was all he’d been able to think of since they’d been separated.

  Thankfully, he had some friends in the area who knew where Bertrand had taken up residence. He’d had a suspicion he would find her here.

  “Edmond?” She looked up at him and he noticed a fine trail of blood on her lip. Someone had hurt her.

  Bloodlust consumed him. He’d come to save her, and he could not leave her mistreatment unanswered. He stalked past her, hell-bent on pummeling the piss out of the bastard. Edmond caught him by his fancy jacket and threw him against the wall.

  “You will never lay a hand on her again, Bertrand.” His fist made a satisfying connection with the captain’s face. “Never.”

  He swung again, but Bertrand was nimble. He sidestepped him and landed a jarring blow of his own to Edmond’s eye. Edmond bloodied his nose. Bertrand pulled out a dagger.

  “The governor has said the reward for you will be paid dead or alive,” Bertrand taunted.

  Edmond pulled a dagger from his boot, ready for hand-to-hand combat. He’d been in more than his f
air share of knife fights, and he hadn’t lost yet.

  He feinted to the right and managed to slash Bertrand’s sleeve. “Nothing would make me happier than giving you a scar to remember me by.”

  Bertrand sliced the top of Edmond’s hand. He didn’t even feel it, his body too numb. “I’ll send you to hell, Grey,” Bertrand snarled.

  “Not if I send you first.” Edmond raked Bertrand’s side with his blade, then cut his hand so badly Bertrand dropped his dagger. Edmond kicked it across the floor to Lizzie.

  Thank God he’d managed to recruit some of his men for the thorny task of rescuing Lizzie. Bertrand had rallied with his spies and mercenaries after escaping from his bindings and clubbing Jean over the head. It had taken Jean, Ollie and three others to subdue them before Edmond had even reached Lizzie. Now only one man remained. He circled Bertrand, wanting to kill the bastard.

  “Edmond, don’t!” It was Lizzie’s voice that he heard above the rage pounding in his head, Lizzie’s voice that made him stop.

  He knew if he killed Bertrand, there would be no going back. And the truth of it was he didn’t want to become beyond redemption in Lizzie’s eyes. He didn’t want to be a pirate whose only home was the sea. He wanted a wife, a life, a place where he was loved. He’d always known he couldn’t be a pirate forever, and now there was a siren who called him louder than the ocean. Lizzie. His Lizzie.

  He shoved Bertrand against the wall, pressing the tip of his blade into his skin with just enough force to release a bead of blood. “I could kill you now.” He scored a fine scratch from left to right. “I could cut here, slit your throat.”

  “Please,” Bertrand pleaded.

  “But I won’t.” He gestured to Lizzie. “She has shown you mercy. Don’t ever forget that.”

  Then he allowed his bitter enemy, the man who would have him dead, to walk away. It was, Edmond decided, his final act as a pirate. From this point forward, he was a new man.