“Capt’n!”
“Mr. Bowers!” Trent called back, never taking his eyes off the crowd.
“Coast in range!”
They all turned to see. Eleanor could see the coastline clear. Scattered homes sat on the land with a large mansion just overlooking the coast. She tilted her head, admiring its beauty. It reminded her of life she should know, so different from sitting on a ship, rolling with the seas, on constant watch for treasure.
Behind her, an audible moan, stifled but there, sounded.
“Recognize it?” Trent prodded.
“Isn’t that Clearwater Cove?” James answered. “Your father’s plantation, Albert?”
The nabob sputtered. “Why are we here?”
Trent’s lips curved. The look on his face was one of satisfaction and glee, but with a twist. A shiver shot down Eleanor’s back. “I believe your father has to answer to a death.”
* * *
James did a double take, and shook his head to hopefully clear his ears. Death? Whose death? His mind searched but found nothing the Earl might have done. Eleanor looked puzzled though Lydia was stoic. But Clearwater was another matter. He was as pale as a sheet and his upper lip trembled. Whatever was going on?
“Whose death?” He pushed.
Trent’s gaze was of steel. “Rachel Cavendish, my wife.”
Eleanor stared at him, open-mouthed.
Shocked, James’ brows furrowed. “How? To name a member of the nobility when you sail as a pirate, your wife in tow, why would one waste the time? You are criminals.”
“She was stolen from me off a merchantman she was a passenger on. I pursued as quickly as I could. Offered the world but their ship escaped.” Trent spat. “Later, I was sent word she died in transport by the Barbary pirates.”
James stood, trying to follow the narrative when Eleanor interrupted. “And how would a nobleman team up with pirates?”
“Capt’n Cavendish weren’t wit the account,” Fitzgibbons offered.
James watched. Trent’s expression didn’t even flicker. His stance was rigid, feet solidly planted on the decking. “Let us send a greeting, shall we?” he announced to no one in particular. Within a minute, the pirates on deck jumped into action, swerving the ship’s guns toward the port. “On my mark…”
“No! Wait!”
James with the rest spun to Clearwater. The man still shaken as before. Why?
“A plea for your father will fall on deaf ears, Clearwater.”
Trent’s non-use of title made James think hard. Titles, including that of captain, were needed to make society move in their place. Including pirates. But the loss had another meaning, he was sure.
“Ready guns!”
“No! You are making a mistake! He did not kill her!”
That plea made everyone turn to face him, except Lydia.
“Explain yourself.” Trent looked furious. If it was his goal to pummel the plantation to the ground, Clearwater’ interruption had better be good.
“It was all for love,” Clearwater began. “My brother, Lionel, he was in love with her. He was sure she’d annul the marriage if she knew he loved her. You had no children.” He shrugged.
“And this brother often falls for married women? Abducts them for personal pleasure?” Trent’s voice was tense, angry, and sharp.
“No, no he didn’t. But he knew Miss Rachel. He had taken her for carriage rides and such before she married you. He was not in town at the nuptials to stop them. So he devised another plan.”
James frowned. “And he knew of the Barbary pirates in order to have her taken?”
Clearwater glanced down. “Not exactly. He enticed our father, who, due to trade goods between here and England, have discussions with them.”
“Discussions?” This time, it was Eleanor who chimed in.
Clearwater brought his head up and gave her a weak smile. “Yes. One does what one must to protect interests.”
“In other words, he bribes them to leave his cargo alone.” James shook his head. This was making the Earl closer and closer to trade.
“Yes.” Clearwater straightened, his confidence slowly reappearing. “But plans fell apart and they took her away, to escape.”
“They were being chased by me!” Trent interjected. “And they killed her!”
“That wasn’t the plan,” Clearwater pushed. “But, we did hear of it. Edgar was devastated.”
“He was devastated? And what of her husband?” Trent roared.
“Edgar was convinced she’d seek annulment when she heard of his true love.” Clearwater repeated, shrugging. “We’ll never know, will we?”
On that, Trent bellowed vengeance. “You son of a bitch!” He slammed his fist into the man’s cheek. Clearwater fell backward and instantly scrambled to stand before another blow came.
“Captain!” James rushed to pull him off his friend.
“Trent, please!” Eleanor pleaded from the side.
Fitzgibbons jumped in, trying to pry Trent off the nobleman. Yanked out of the fray, Clearwater stood, straightening his frock coat and taking the handkerchief from Lydia to dab his swollen, bleeding lip.
“Abduction alone is a crime but to have her in the hands of those barbarians equals slavery and death!” Trent spat blood from his own cut mouth, the result of the nob actually getting a swing in.
Lydia sauntered up and laced her arm through James’s. “Truly, it is a marvel how these events can turn.”
James gave her a frown while disengaging her hold. “You talk as if this was nothing more than a fight over dinner arrangements.”
“This happened before we knew him,” she said, pointing at the pirate. “Why should we care now? He is a criminal by the courts and Albert is not, for he did not participate or plan this, and as a member of the nobility, is protected.” She worked her arm back through. “It will be a story we tell to our children.”
“What?” That indication meant his children, from her? Not in hell! “I strongly doubt my offspring will mix with yours.” He pulled away and took a couple steps to get out of her reach and place himself closer to Eleanor.
His wife wore a confused look on her face. Her fingers were at her temple, applying pressure while her eyes darted about the crowd. He needed her to remember. There were moments, seconds really, he swore she gave the appearance of understanding but was that true?
“There will be none of your heirs from Elle’s belly,” Trent seethed, wiping his mouth again. He took her arm and pulled her closer to him. She stumbled but caught her footing.
“Trent, please,” she murmured, her fingers pressed against her temple. “The headaches…”
“Will pass,” he replied softly.
James would have none of this. “Get your hands off my wife.”
Eleanor stared at him hard. “Wife?”
Trent laughed. Oddly enough, Lydia joined him.
“She is no longer bound to you. I have freed her, as Captain of Equuleus.”
“I swear, you can not break English matrimonial law!” James’s nerves were on fire. He went to retrieve her.
“James, if he declared it, here on the sea on his ship, he is right.”
James turned to Clearwater. “Now you’re siding with the man?”
“Not really,” he replied. “Just it is the rule of the seas.” He shrugged. “I learned a thing or two over the years.”
Eleanor’s mouth was open, her lips parted at his declaration. “Wife?”
“No, darling, you are not now.” Trent’s arms encircled her waist, drawing her to him. He kissed the top of her head. “So you can stay here, with me.”
* * *
Eleanor’s head hurt to the point she wanted to scream. Images blurred through her mind, similar to ones that haunted before, but now they took shape into people she recognized, like James and Clearwater. That cow, Lydia, was still vague… But words they all said struck home, especially wife. Memories of a ceremony loomed before her. It had to be her wedding. She looked
at James. The man was handsome, very gentlemanly with proper manners, no swearing like the pirates, and convinced he was her husband.
Then Trent just dissolved the whole thing. Puff! And she was no longer married. That rubbed her wrong. But when she looked at him, his rugged good looks and determination added to a good man at heart.
“Very good, see darling?” Lydia cooed, swooping in for James. “Now our banns will not be in vain.”
“Lydia, stop.” James once more disengaged himself from her.
Suddenly, a male hand was on Eleanor’s frock sleeve. One that was gentlemanly white and cuffed in lace. Clearwater.
“And now, my lady, I can offer my hand…”
“Albert, what are you doing? That’s still my wife!”
Trent exploded, yanking her away from the nobleman. “She is now free to wed me!”
She was on the verge of screaming, all the men vying for her. A man who was her husband, the captain she’d been involved with, and now another who claimed her. This was just too much.
“Sir, Capt’n,” Fitzgibbons called. His tone was low, severe.
“What, Mr. Fitzgibbons?” Trent snarled.
“Well, sir, it bein’ that decl’ration you stated. It’d be correct, accor’ing to Mr. Kendall, sir.” The Irishman shuffled his step.
“Continue, Mr. Fitzgibbons.” Trent sounded angry.
“Sir, ’parently if’n you be deep at sea and remained so, ya might be right. But,” the man stopped and pointed at the coast line, “you be British waters. Under their law. So she’s still married ta the lord.”
“What!”
“’Tis true, sir,” Kendall rushed on deck. “I had been trained in law before joining. We are in British waters. You’re ruling does not apply.”
Trent swore loudly. “Elle, please stay with me. You’ve seen the adventure and the love. There’s more to come.” He smiled at her, that devilish grin that stole her heart weeks ago.
“Eleanor, please darling,” James called. “I love you. You love me. We’ve been inseparable until you were abducted…” He paused and glanced at his friend. Silence loomed for a couple of seconds. Was he wondering what she was? James finally spoke. “Are you the one responsible for her disappearance?”
“It wasn’t to happen the way it did…”
Eleanor gasped. Memories swept back into her mind, crowding to be heard. She vaguely remembered the two who took her and she shuddered. Hearing them making mention of a nobleman who hired them echoed loud and clear.
“Why?” she whispered. “Why would you do that to me?”
“Oh, please,” Lydia started. “He loves you. You were hardly a fortnight as his wife, so what an opportunity to make you see your mistake.”
“Mistake? Hardly.” James stuck back. He turned to his friend. “So she is the woman you found? The one you loved?”
“Yes,” Clearwater snapped. “I’ve loved her since the moment I laid eyes on her. You don’t deserve her!”
“So you stole her, like your brother did Cavendish’s wife?” James’s tone was of total disbelief. “As we discovered, that didn’t work well. Why would you jeopardize Eleanor’s life for your mistaken love?”
“It is not mistaken!”
“Gentleman, please,” Lydia said, coming next to James. “It all works well. Albert gets his love, I get mine and you,” she looked at Trent, “remain untouched.”
James whipped toward her. “You were part of this? How dare you, you harlot!”
“It makes perfect sense,” she continued. “You will see.”
“She isn’t soiled!” Clearwater retorted. “Leave Lydia out of this.”
Eleanor stood in a maze of memories with this tempest about her. And then it clicked. “You love her,” she said to Clearwater, pointing to Lydia.
“No, Eleanor, it’s you.”
She shook her head. “No, you two have been conniving. I’ve seen it.” She looked at James. “As have you, no doubt.” She turned toward Trent. His face was contorted but his gaze upon her was tender. “Darling, you know I must stay with my husband.”
He breathed hard. “I love you, Elle.”
She gave him a half smile. “You loved your Rachel more.” She stepped closer and touched his cheek. “Please, release us and sail away to freedom. Grieve your wife. I think you’ve been so bottled up by revenge, you haven’t grieved. Our moments were of two fluttering hearts, needy and tender, drawing us together. It was wonderful, but these memories, too, will fade.” She leaned forward and whispered. “I will miss you. And the joys of being out the sea with you and Mr. Fitzgibbons and everyone. But I have loved James, enough to marry him. We have a challenge ahead but you’ve taught me enough about strength that I’m determined to see it through for me and for James.” A tear pooled in her eyes as she gave him a tender smile. She knew she’d miss him.
He closed his eyes, bending forward so their foreheads touched. “I will always hold you close.”
“Eleanor, my love.” It was James, his voice soft and beckoning. “We need to see about leaving this ship.”
With a small part of reluctance, she pulled away from Trent. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it hard before she was free of him. A rugged smile came to his lips with a nod of his head.
He was releasing her. As much as she adored him, it was right to go back to her husband. The nobleman waited. He was handsome and the small curve of his lips as she took a step toward him ignited a release of her memories. Scenes flashed back, filling the void of her absence. Wedding, bedroom, dining rooms, horseback riding, and many more. The mere touch of his hand sent a cascade of fireworks off in her mind.
Behind her, Trent spoke with a slight tremble. “She is right. Go. Get your stuff. We will dock shortly. And this one,” meaning Clearwater, “will clear this ship and crew, right?
The man nodded. Eleanor noticed that now, Clearwater and Lydia were tight, standing together, speaking in low whispers.
But Trent wasn’t through. She’d seen that look on his face when they had approached prey ships—determination, with anger glowing from his eyes. He planted himself in front of Clearwater, his shoulders locked, neck muscles strained and his hands fisted at his sides.
“Not only will you get us safely into port, you will sign a confession to the death of my wife, a confession you will write, for I will not let you go without doing so.”
“If I do that and get you free port, with no patrols, you will release me?” Clearwater’s voice shook in a reply that border question and affirmation. He pulled himself up and looked at Trent. “And you won’t kill me?”
Eleanor froze. The pirate captain’s fists clenched tightly. She could see the veins on his forearm bulging from the tension surging through him. But before he could reply, James stepped into the fray.
“Captain, the Visount is a nobleman. He will do as requested.” He shot Clearwater a glance and even Eleanor could see the plea in his eyes for the man to do so.
“Yes, the Earl of Windhaven is right. I will gladly write and sign my part in the awful mess that took the life of your wife.” When Trent continued to glare without speaking, Clearwater added softly. “You have my deepest apologies. She was a gem in a world full of power struggles and muck and mire. All I want is to see her smile again. What I did was wrong.” He hung his head to emphasize the point.
Lydia stood to the side, silent but her mouth fell open at his admitting guilt.
“You do not have to bow to a pirate!” She seethed. “Your father owns the land here and the port. My father also has strong investments here." She turned her wrath on Trent. “How dare you think you could take on a lord!”
The pirate squinted, his brows furrowed with a look of disbelief.
“Lydia, now is not the time…” Clearwater warned.
“No, it most certainly is the time! He who raids British ships, abducts English noblemen and takes ladies’ virtue with no remorse!”
Eleanor pulled back, shocked. The woman knew nothing of her time he
re.
“You are no better than he,” Trent hissed. “You will find life in a bordello will…”
Lydia gasped as the blood drained from her face. She opened up her mouth to retort when James stepped up, raising his hand in the air as a sign of bringing attention to him.
“Whoa, wait here,” he started. “Let us re-think this.” He got in front of the pirate, as if to shield his friend and the lady, Eleanor thought. She also knew Trent was furious and wanted blood for Rachel’s death and her stomach twisted, for she couldn’t think of a way blood wasn’t going to be spilled.
“Hear me out,” James continued. “With signed confession, I will promise to bring this and charges you file to the attention of the magistrate of the island.”
Trent snarled. Eleanor knew it wasn’t enough.
“I will also implicate his father, Lord Summers, as well. Let the courts settle this. As to Lydia, let us return her to her husband and bring it to his attention his wife as strayed too far from him and needs to be checked on all her comings and goings.”
The pirate’s gaze narrowed. “I can appreciate your attempt, Lord Windhaven, to save their lives. But I have a crew, demanding loot and will need to appease that or that plantation there,” he pointed to the coastline. To Clearwater’s father’s holdings. “Will no doubt be in flames within the hour.”
James nodded. “Of course. Retribution as not been fully met. On top of the indictments, Clearwater will pay you over twenty-thousand pounds sterling…”
“That’s blasphemy!” Clearwater roared.
James cocked his head as he glanced at his fellow nobleman. “Really? Was that not the ‘price’ set on Eleanor’s head, when you thought the situation was under control through those vermin you’d hired to take her?”
Clearwater blanched.
“Uh huh.” James turned to Trent. “Will you accept those terms?”
The man snorted and a smile returned. “It is a valiant start.”
The tension broke. Lydia started to sob. Clearwater nearly lost his balance but James got to him to prevent his fall. And Eleanor wanted to jump for joy. She raced over to Trent and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him.
Her Perfect Gentleman: A Regency Romance Anthology Page 21
