Except for one. A stocky man with a red bandana tied around his head, a few greasy locks of hair plastered to his pock-marked neck leaned back against the rigging and stared down at her. She hadn’t noticed him before. His mouth hung open in a salacious grin and his gaze dropped to her breasts. She raised her hands and crossed her arms, putting her head down and turning her back to the sailor when she reached Jake. He was sitting amidst a coil of ropes in the shade behind the wheelhouse.
“I didn’t see that man yesterday.” She jerked her head toward the man who was now working on the rigging. “He looked at me and it was awful.”
Jake looked up. “He was one of the crew who went to shore for the provisions yesterday. Just ignore him.” He nodded with wisdom beyond his years. “He probably hasn’t seen a woman for a few months, and if you pardon me saying so, Miss Madeleine, you are a sight to behold.”
“Thank you, Jake,” she said with a wry note to her voice. “It is something I am not used to, that is for certain.” She leaned back against the timber of the wheelhouse and let the warm morning sun soak into her bones. Despite sleeping after the storm had eased, weariness overcame her. She smiled at Jake when he dug in his pocket and pulled out a small bag. He removed a couple of biscuits the same as the cook had brought with her broth.
“Are you hungry?”
“Thank you.” She grinned at him and took one. Not the sort of fare she was used to at home, but she was hungry and they had eased her hunger last night.
They sat in silence for a while before Jake glanced around. “So tell me more about this treasure you are seeking?”
Madeleine followed his gaze. There was no one within earshot and the rigging above them was empty. The horrid sailor with the bandana had disappeared.
“My Great Aunt Josephine sent me her diary. Well, in truth, she sent it to my father, but after he died I found it in his possessions.” Madeleine held back a sob. “I never knew her. She lived in New Orleans and she apparently was the owner of a fabulous heirloom. A priceless emerald and diamond necklace.”
Jake’s eyes were as round as saucers. “And you know where to find it?”
“The diary gave me clues where to look.” Madeleine hit her hand into her lap with a thump. “Now you know why it is so frustrating for me. If this pirate hadn’t left the harbor like a thief in the night, I would have the necklace by now and I would be preparing for my voyage back to my home. The necklace will be enough to restore my family home to the way it was. And bring all the servants back.”
Jake looked at her as though he was judging her. “I thought you were from a poor family and that is why you were with a poor ship’s chaplain.”
“I am a Bellerose of Bellerose Hall in Derbyshire and it is my task to bring it back to its former glory.”
Jake spluttered. “With servants?”
She looked back at him and her voice was hesitant. “Yes, what is wrong with that?” No one had ever questioned her way of life before and she had taken it for granted.
“It is just as bad as the slavery over here.”
“How is that so? Our servants are not oppressed like the slaves I heard Uncle Titus speak of. They are free to choose their own master and they are paid for their service.”
“But they are still not free.” Jake curled his lip.
“I know nothing of that.” She drew herself up straight and her voice was as haughty as she could make it, and then she regretted it immediately. “I’m sorry Jake, let’s not disagree.”
“I’m sorry too. It’s just that—”
“Just what?”
But Jake shook his head and changed the subject. “Why would your aunt have hidden the necklace? And how do you know it really exists?”
“In her diary she writes of a portrait where she is wearing the necklace.” Madeleine closed her eyes and leaned back against the timber behind her back.
“And have you seen it?” He frowned.
“No, not yet, but I will find that, too.” The sun was warm on Madeleine’s face and she kept her eyes closed. “The necklace will be worth a fortune and when I sell it, I shall return home and Bellerose Hall will be filled with life and laughter again. All of my dear friends who worked there as I grew up will come back to work at the manor, and life will be as it was.” A single tear spilled unbidden from the corner of her eye and ran hotly down her cheek. As nice as it would be, she knew it would never be the same without Mother, Father, and her brother Robert.
There was a stifled yell followed by a thud, and Madeleine’s eyes flew open. At the same time a filthy hand landed on her chest, and pain shot through her as hard fingers squeezed her breast. She screamed and looked to Jake but he was no longer sitting across from her. A pock-marked face filled her vision and she put a hand over her nose as the putrid breath of the man with the red bandana assailed her nostrils.
“Your little friend is over there, sweetheart.” The sailor nodded to the other side of the vessel and she followed the direction of his gaze. Jake was lying in a crumpled heap against the side of the deck as though he’d been thrown there. There was no one else in sight; this man had chosen his time well to accost her. Madeleine opened her mouth to scream for help but his fleshy fingers filled her mouth and she gagged.
“Now keep yourself quiet.” He looked around the deck with an evil grin and Madeleine’s blood ran cold. “And tell me what you were about to tell your young friend. There is no one to help, so tell me what—” His breath left him in a soft oomph as Jake ran across the deck and head butted the sailor’s flabby midsection. The man laughed and removed his hand from Madeleine’s mouth long enough to pick Jake up as though he was a bothersome insect and throw him hard against the wall again. Madeleine opened her mouth and let out an ear piercing scream as Jake hit the side of the wheelhouse and lay unmoving at her feet.
“Take your vile hands off me.” She took a breath, but before she could scream again, the sailor moved his hand up to cover her mouth.
“Tell me where that diary is. No, we will make this quicker. Just tell me where I can find your treasure, and I will let your young friend live.” His voice was a guttural whisper as his face pressed against her ear. With his other hand he reached down and grabbed Jake’s hair. The young lad’s eyes remained closed and a trickle of blood ran down his neck. Madeleine gasped around the fleshy fingers on her mouth as the glint of a knife flashed in the hand holding Jake’s hair.
Before she could take it in, all hell broke loose. One of the dark-skinned men ran around the wheelhouse, scooped Jake from the deck up into his arms and moved away from the knife that the sailor was now brandishing from left to right.
“So a heathen slave thinks he can best me, hey, matey?” The man’s evil laugh turned Madeleine’s blood cold. “Go back to your black brothers or I will kill the wench after I have my way with her.”
There was a flash of golden movement behind him and suddenly Madeleine was freed from the sailor’s deathly grip. She dropped to the deck, crawled to the wheelhouse and leaned against a keg with her knees pulled to her chin in an effort to stop her legs from trembling. Mr. Abrahams appeared beside the African man as Sébastien held the sailor firmly in a headlock.
“Pray that you live to tell the tale, you cur.” Sébastien’s deep voice sent a shiver through Madeleine and she looked up at him. He was shirtless and the powerful muscles in his chest and shoulders flexed as he held the man securely in his arms.
As she watched he turned the sailor around in one swift movement and pulled the man’s hands up behind his back as the sailor let out a strangled yelp.
“Mr. Abrahams, see that this cur is locked securely in the hold for the remainder of the voyage.” He looked to Madeleine as he spoke and she shivered at the hardness of his expression. He looked nothing like the man who had kissed her earlier.
When the sailors came running from the lower deck, he released the man into their hold. “You may walk the plank, yet, you dog. No man touches my woman and lives to tell the tale.
”
“No, Captain. No. Please no. I swear I didn’t know she was your woman.” The rough voice was now a sniveling plea, but to Madeleine’s relief he did not mention the treasure.
Sébastien crouched down beside her as the two crewmen took the man and held him securely. Sébastien’s dark eyes stared into hers as if he were trying to warn her of something and then the sun was blotted from her view as he dropped his head to hers and claimed her lips.
Despite her fear and her shaking body, an exquisite sweetness rushed through Madeleine’s veins. Never before had she felt the power that coursed through her as Sébastien’s warm lips clung to hers. Instinctively her mouth opened and she laced her arms around his neck as his tongue slowly explored her mouth. Not knowing what to do, she let her body guide her and relaxed against him. His arms went around her waist and he held her close; her legs were still trembling too much for her to stand. If she were to be honest and if she could think sensibly, the weakness in her limbs was more from the feel of Sébastien’s mouth on hers than the fast diminishing fear of the man who had accosted her. Sébastien stood and pulled her up with him, his mouth not leaving hers.
Rational thought came back quickly as Madeleine opened her eyes. The man was still standing beside them and his hands were now tied behind his back. A malevolent gaze held hers and she pulled away from Sébastien.
The man knew about the necklace. He had overheard her talking to Jake. Ice replaced the warmth running through her veins as the possibility of losing everything she held dear filled her thoughts.
Chapter Thirteen
“Take him away.” Sébastien held Madeleine against him as he instructed the sailors to deal with the crewman. He spoke to Jake who was now sitting up and looking around dazedly. “Are you hurt, lad?”
The African had been examining Jake’s eyes and turned to face him. “He is all right. He hit his head on the keg when he was thrown across the deck. That is what caught my attention.” His deep voice held authority and he held Sébastien’s gaze. “He has a slight concussion and a small cut above his eye. I will see to him if that is all right with you…Captain?”
Sébastien nodded and the man helped Jake to his feet. Slowly Sébastien became aware that he was still holding Madeleine tightly to him and he eased up slightly. Her scream had awoken him, and he had run straight for the deck, not knowing what he would find. He cursed himself for allowing the crewman, Dirk, to stay aboard. From the moment the rigging had been fouled, he had had a bad feeling about the man, and he should have put him off at Barataria Bay, but the need for as many hands as he could muster had swayed his decision. He had made a wrong choice and it could have resulted in Madeleine’s death.
Now he looked down at Madeleine. Her face was white, but her lips were red. Good Christ, he had an insane urge to lean down and kiss her again. His intent had been to merely stake his claim on her in front of the crew who were watching, but the simple kiss had shaken him to the core. He could still taste the sweetness of her warm lips as they had opened beneath his and welcomed him. Her soft breasts had pushed against his bare chest and the blood had rushed to his groin unbidden. Sébastien fought back a groan; he could not allow that to happen again on this voyage. There was too much at stake and he had her innocence to consider.
“I’ll take you down to my cabin? Can you walk unaided?” She was trembling and her skin was cold beneath his fingers.
Madeleine’s eyes were wide but she stepped away from his hold and nodded. “As long as I know that…that man…is confined, and will stay away from me, I shall be all right.”
“You have my word. Come.” He held his hand out to her and she looked at him, before curling her soft fingers in his. Sébastien tried to ignore the satisfied warmth that shot though him as she looked up at him with trust in her green eyes.
Now he had to keep her safe to keep that trust. Not only ensuring her physical safety on this mission which was fraught with danger, but safe also from the rampant desire that coursed through him every time he looked at her. Once he had Madeleine safely in his cabin, he would stay well away from her. And not only to keep her trust. He could not afford to be distracted in the days ahead or there would be more danger for all aboard this vessel.
***
Sébastien opened the door to his cabin and stood back to allow Madeleine to enter. She had waited quietly beside him while he had instructed the African man to put Jake in the small cabin adjacent to this one and watch him while he slept. His hand still held hers tightly, and his voice was kind and full of concern. Madeleine watched as the tall, dark man carried Jake into the small cabin and placed him on the bunk. His educated voice had surprised her and she sensed that he knew what he was doing as he examined Jake’s head wound. In the quick glance she had of the cabin, it showed an austere space with none of the ornate furnishings that were in the captain’s cabin.
Her thoughts whirled and she put her fingers to her brow. It was becoming more difficult for her to reconcile this kind and concerned Sébastien with the pirate captain who had pulled the assailant from her. His expression and stance had been full of barely restrained violence.
But no matter what she thought he was, she could trust him and she was safe from harm while she was on his vessel. The kiss they had just shared had firmed her certainty. It had been shared. She may be an innocent virgin, but her feminine instinct told her that he had been affected by their kiss as much as she had. Madeleine let out a small sigh of relief as Sébastien finally let go of her hand and closed the door behind them. His cabin had become a safe haven for her and at the moment she would have happily stayed below deck until the vessel berthed back at the quay in New Orleans.
He leaned back on the door and observed her without speaking as Madeleine ran a shaking hand through her hair. She needed some time to herself and she kept her voice controlled as she lifted her gaze to meet his.
“I…I’m going to have a wash.” Without waiting for him to answer, she crossed to the privy and lifted the curtain to the small, private space. After it dropped behind her, she stood for a moment with her hands clenched in front of her until she heard Sébastien moving about the cabin. A clink of glass and the sound of liquid being poured preceded the scraping of a chair leg on the wooden floor and then all was quiet.
Slowly Madeleine peeled off her clothing, piece by piece until she stood naked behind the curtain. Her hands shook as she poured water from the pitcher into the bowl and soaked a wash cloth before scrubbing herself until the skin of her chest was red. She pressed the damp cloth against her face trying to let go of the fear that had filled her when the rogue crew man had grabbed her. She dipped the wash cloth in the cold water and scrubbed at her breast again to wash away the feeling of his hand against her skin.
Her thoughts were whirling—full of fear that her conversation with Jake had been overheard— but she was still confused by the reaction of her body and her traitorous emotions. Her reaction to Sébastien’s kiss claiming her as his woman had set tumultuous feelings surging through her veins, even while feeling the taint of the crewman’s touch.
“Madeleine, are you all right?” His voice was soft but she knew he was close, a whisper away, just on the other side of the flimsy curtain. She grabbed for her clothes and held them against her bare breasts as Sébastien’s voice came through the thin curtain.
“Are you almost done?”
“Yes, just give me a moment…please.” She pressed the damp cloth against her burning cheeks and neck, and then let the cool air dry her skin for a moment before pulling her chemise back on.
After she had dressed, she quickly braided her hair and coiled it at the back of her head. She paused and swallowed before taking a deep breath and lifting the curtain.
Madeleine held her chin high and let determination flood her as she stepped out into the cabin. She had gotten herself into this situation and she would deal with it. No one else was to blame. No one else could help her.
She would ignore these strange fe
elings when she was in Sébastien’s presence.
He stood by the table and he had put his shirt on. Madeleine hitched a thankful breath. If she’d had to look at his magnificent chest again, she did not know what she would have done.
“Come and sit with me.” His expression was friendly, and his voice was calm, and a measure of confidence came back to her. Sébastien gestured to the table and she crossed the room.
“We must talk.” His deep voice sent a shiver running down her back, but she nodded silently as she sat at the table. She folded her hands in her lap and she dropped her eyes, not yet ready to meet his.
“Madeleine, look at me. Don’t be frightened.” Sébastien’s voice was kind, and she lifted her head slowly. His expression was full of concern as well as something else that she couldn’t understand. No man had ever looked at her like that before, with the same hunger that was in Sébastien’s eyes. She recognized it because the same need, unfamiliar yet exquisite, was still coursing through her body, overlaying her worry about the necklace and the fact that the scurrilous crewman had overhead her conversation with Jake about the diary. No matter what else was in her thoughts, Sebastian’s mere presence sent the blood coursing through her veins, warming her and taking over her thoughts.
He spoke slowly and his voice was calm as his gaze locked on hers. “I am going to speak the truth to you because I do not want you to be scared of the unknown. I deeply regret that you had to experience the attentions of that scoundrel, Dirk. I will not add to your fear by having you wonder what is going to happen in the next few days on this voyage.”
Madeleine watched, fascinated as he reached his hand out across the table.
Capturing the Pirate's Heart (The Emerald Quest Book 1) Page 11
