“Give me your hand.”
Slowly she unclenched her fingers and slid her hand across to join with his. His thumb caressed the back of her hand as he held her gaze.
“Can I trust you, Madeleine?” His dark eyes bored into hers and she nodded. “Over the next few days I will do my utmost to ensure that there is no bloodshed on this vessel. I have a task to complete and I will be honest with you. Having you on board has made my task much more difficult.”
Tears pricked at her eyes as uncertainty spiraled through her.
“But I will keep you safe.” His voice lowered and was full of kindness. “Many years ago, when I was a young man I made a rash decision and a young woman lost her life. It has taken me many years to forgive myself.”
“Did you love her?” Madeleine kept her voice soft, too. This was a very different man to the swaggering pirate who had teased her, frightened her, and plundered her mouth. He was trusting her with his story and a fragile connection held them together in this cabin.
Sébastien didn’t answer for a few moments and her heart picked up a beat as his eyes locked with hers. Finally he ran his hand though his hair and sighed. “I thought I did, but I believe I was too young to truly understand what I was feeling.”
His voice hardened and his dark eyes glittered. “But I will tell you now when I saw that cur with his hands on you and the knife in his hand, I thought it was going to happen all over again and I will not be placed in that position again.”
Madeleine opened her eyes wide. “What? What position?”
“I was afraid he would kill you.” As she looked into those dark eyes, it was the pirate who stared back at her. The man of the soft voice had disappeared but his words belied his expression. “If he had hurt you…or Jake… I would have thrown him overboard myself.”
Madeleine hitched a breath as she stared back at him. She had no doubt that this man was capable of doing just that and a shiver ran down her back. This world at sea was far removed from her quiet life in a country manor house with people at her beck and call. It was the first time in her life she had had to fight for what she wanted and her knowledge of the world, and human nature was growing. Her goal of returning to that life had been overshadowed by the fight to merely stay alive. Her fear and uncertainty must have been clear to see on her face because Sebastian pushed one of the glasses which sat in the middle of the table across to her.
“Drink of that. It will settle your nerves.”
Madeleine lifted her chin higher. “I am not afraid.”
“I am pleased to hear that. Courage is an admirable trait, but it would be advisable if you were a little fearful.” He held her eye but while his face was expressionless, she sensed a smile was tugging at his lips. “Now drink. It will settle your nerves.”
She would not allow him to see the fear deep inside her. The fear that the sailor knew her secret was overshadowed by her fear of the feelings she held for this pirate. When she was in his presence all thoughts of home and what she wanted to achieve fled from her mind. Reaching for the glass, she lifted it and watched as the golden liquid caught the light. The cut glass was heavy in her hand as she lifted it to her lips, wrinkling her nose as the sharp smell of brandy wafted across. Tipping the glass, she opened her mouth and drank the contents in one gulp. Fire burned down her throat and to her belly and she took a deep breath.
For an instant, she thought she’d surprised him as Sebastian frowned and leaned forward. She would show him she was strong and not afraid.
“May I have another?”
This time his lips did tilt in a smile as he lifted the bottle and half filled her glass. “I suggest you sip it this time, Madeleine, as I would imagine you don’t want to pass out and have me put you to bed?”
Madeleine hesitated as she lifted the glass and sensibility won out over trying to impress him with her nonchalance. She sipped and allowed the brandy to warm her before asking the question that was plaguing her thoughts.
“You assure me that man is locked away securely, and you tell me I do not have to be afraid of you, so my only concern is that I get back to New Orleans. Can you promise me that you will take me back after your…task…is done?”
“I will tell you again so that you understand me. You have no need to fear me. I will not lay a hand on you.”
Madeleine bit down the angry retort that rose to her lips. Provoking him would not get her anywhere. She would use her feminine wiles to ensure she got her own way. She knew he was far from immune to her. It may be difficult, she admitted to herself as she had no idea what they were or how to use them. She had little experience with the opposite sex; some harmless flirting with the local village boys had not prepared her for dallying with a man of his experience. Dropping her gaze, she put her hand to her forehead and let out a small troubled sigh as she relied on her instincts.
“I know that, Sébastien. You are a man I know I can trust.” She let a little waver creep into her voice. “I am afraid of my fate. What will become of me after this voyage?”
“What will become of you?” An undercurrent of cynicism laced his voice. “Perhaps it is too late to think of that now. Perhaps you should have thought of that before you left the protection of your uncle’s care.”
It was obviously not working; she would have to try harder. Madeleine fought to keep her temper and sipped at her brandy, but it went down the wrong way and she grabbed her hand to her throat as it burned and she coughed.
When she finally wiped the tears from her eyes, a dark gaze assessed her and she spoke crossly, unable to hold her anger, forgetting all about feminine wiles.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Coquetry does not become you, my dear.” She glared at Sébastien as he yawned and then rose in one fluid motion. For such a large man, he was as graceful as a cat. Long limbs, sinuous movements and a currently disinterested demeanor added to his mystery. His dark eyes held hers, his long dark lashes covering his expression. His lips were full and sensuous and she tried to forget the feel of them on hers. His face was strong and she sensed that he may be even more determined than she when he had a goal in sight. His dark as midnight hair was pulled back from his tanned face; he truly looked like the pirate he claimed not to be.
A yawn escaped her as she watched him and weariness with her situation—or the brandy—began to cloud her mind.
Sébastien pointed to the bed. “You have had an eventful morning; I suggest you take a nap. I will get the cook to bring you something to eat.” He turned to leave and Madeleine fought the disappointment that settled in her belly.
“Surely you are tired, too? I do not mind if you wish to rest?” She tried to keep her tone even.
Sébastien reached over and trailed a finger down the side of her cheek and she fought to stop her face from turning into his hand. “Being down here with you in my bed would not be a wise move, my dear.”
As he walked to the door, Madeleine strained to hear the words he spoke quietly.
“I promised to keep you safe and that would certainly lead to me breaking my word.”
Perhaps she had misheard. What could he mean? The door closed behind him with a soft click and Madeleine rose and crossed to the bed, confused by the feelings warring in her mind and consuming her body.
She would rest as he had suggested and everything would seem better when she woke up.
It would.
Chapter Fourteen
Seven days passed and Madeleine sat above deck with Jake during the day. Sébastien had not spoken to her in that time, apart from a brief acknowledgement when she came up each morning. They had fallen into a routine. She slept in the captain’s cabin at night, and when she came up on deck, he disappeared for a few hours and she assumed he was sleeping in the bed she had vacated. She was anxious to return to shore; with so much time on her hands her thoughts were filled with the necklace and how she would find it, and return triumphant to Bellerose.
“It appears as if we ar
e about to see some action.” Jake interrupted her daydream. “The captain and Mr. Abraham have been in conference all afternoon. The crew has guessed they are plotting co-ordinates for the intercept.”
Madeleine looked around the upper and lower decks at the activity around the guns and in the rigging. Something was definitely afoot and a glimmer of anticipation ran through her. “Do you think we will be allowed to stay above deck when the…what did you call it…happens?”
“The intercept.” Jake looked at her scornfully. “I will, but you will surely have to stay below deck. It may be a pirate vessel or a slave trader. There may be bloodshed.” He dropped his eyes. “And beggin’ your pardon. Miss Madeleine, but one look at you and they would seize you without hesitation.” Jake’s face was scarlet.
“Yes, Madeleine.” Sébastien’s deep voice came from behind her and she jumped as his voice set her nerve endings firing all over her body. She had not heard him approach. She would have to take care with what she said in future when she believed she and Jake were alone. Sébastien walked as silently as a ghost.
“The lad speaks the truth. It is time for you to go below deck.” Sébastien waited for her to move.
Madeleine stood and pulled the top of her chemise up as she rose. This tight fitting attire was unfamiliar. It seemed to have a mind of its own and she constantly had to remember to check she was not indecently displaying too much bare flesh. She looked across at Jake.
“Whatever is about to happen, you keep yourself safe.” She reached across and brushed a quick kiss across his cheek and Jake’s face colored even more. “You are the only friend I have.”
Sébastien’s eyes were on her and his mouth was set in a straight line.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Madeleine put her hands on her hips and looked up at him. His white shirt was loose and billowing in the stiff breeze and his hair had come loose from the leather at the back of his neck. Despite that, Sébastien’s expression was stern and she ignored the little frisson of fear that snaked down her spine.
“I am merely waiting for you to follow me. I am not aware of any ‘look’ on my face that is different to usual.” He spoke formally and gestured for her to step ahead of him. She shot a final smile to Jake and mouthed a farewell to him before she turned to the hatch.
Sébastien followed her down the ladder and ushered her into the cabin as she fought the panic rising in her chest. She sensed impatience in him, a suppressed excitement, as he stood at the open door and regarded her solemnly. His brow was furrowed and his usually arched eyebrows were set in a straight line. She stared back at him as his dark eyes held hers and the panic dissipated as the usual warm heat rushed to her belly.
When he spoke, the deep timbre of his voice set the pulse pounding in her throat. She had missed the parry and thrust of their conversations since he had been avoiding her for the past week.
“I would remind you of my request. You must stay below deck.” His gaze bored into hers and Madeleine parted her lips as she took in a deep breath. His eyes followed the movement and a small measure of satisfaction filled her. He was not immune to her.
“Jake is right. We are now to the part of our voyage which is fraught with danger.” He reached out and where his hand settled on her bare shoulder, Madeleine’s skin burned.
“I have no doubt all will be well, but it is imperative you stay below deck. Can I trust you to do as I ask?”
“I will.” She nodded. “I promise you.”
“I will not lock you in. In case there is a fire—but rest assured—there is little chance of that.”
Madeleine held his gaze as she nodded. A curse left Sébastien’s lips.
“For luck.” He reached out and pulled her close. His lips descended on hers in a hard, swift kiss before he pulled back and looked at her.
Madeleine lifted her fingers to her lips and whispered. “Stay safe, Sébastien.”
He turned on his heel and walked to the door and Madeleine thought he was going to leave without a backward glance at her. As she held her fingers to her lips trying to keep the warmth from his lips, he turned slowly and his gaze lingered on her face. Madeleine yearned for him to stay with her. She lowered her hand from her mouth and held it out to him, but he turned and stepped through the door before closing it quietly behind him.
“Please God, keep them both safe.” Madeleine muttered the words and her voice broke. For the first time since her family’s untimely deaths, she worried about the safety of another.
Jake, her young friend. And Sébastien, a pirate captain, whom she trusted with her life, if not her heart.
***
Her simple but heartfelt words filled his mind as Sébastien stood on the upper deck with Mr. Abrahams and looked to the south.
Stay safe. He had no fear for his physical safety but was fighting the feelings that filled him when he was in Madeleine’s presence and when he thought of her well-being. As long as he could keep her safe and return her safely to…
To who? That was a problem to be dealt with when the goals of this mission had been achieved. It would be necessary to find out more about her personal circumstances. He shook his head and lifted his hands to the back of his neck, quickly securing the loose hair into a short braid before winding the leather tie around the end.
A boiling mass of clouds was just visible above the horizon as the dark of night began to descend suddenly as it did out near the islands which he knew were close by.
“There will be no moon before we reach the Ann Marie.” Mr. Abraham’s voice was low.
“Yes, and with any luck the storm will be upon us just as we reach her.”
“Captain!’ The shrill cry came down from above and they both looked up. The sailor manning the platform was pointing to the east. “There she is.”
A flurry of activity followed as the crew took on their respective roles. The master gunner gathered his four crewmen together ready to load, aim, fire, and reset the guns as needed. Sailors climbed the rigging, ready to drop the extra sails to pick up speed as soon as it was pitch dark.
Sébastien smiled as he beckoned Jake over to him. It was fortuitous that they had come across the Ann Marie in the dark of night. It would make for a greater surprise, and the boarding and the transfer would be so much easier. So close to their final destination, the captain of the slave trader would be complacent as he approached San Domingo. Sébastien knew these waters like the back of his hand. He had learned how to sail in the Caribbean Sea.
“Jake. I have a task for you.”
“Yes, Captain?” The young lad looked up at him earnestly.
“I want you to go down to Miss Madeleine and ensure that she is informed that the ship is to be in total darkness. She must not have her lantern alight.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Before the cabin boy could scurry away to the ladder, Sébastien stayed him with a hand to his shoulder. “After that, I want you to send up the crewman who is guarding the door of the brig and I want you to take over guard duty below deck” He knew the lad would be safer down there than up on deck if anything went awry and there was little fear of the prisoner escaping. Sébastien had himself checked his bindings on his way up to the deck.
“Yes, Captain.”
Sébastien’s muscles tensed as the boy disappeared and the ship was shrouded in silent darkness. The next hour was crucial and the success of the mission hinged on the element of surprise. Their sails had been furled as the time for the intercept had come closer and he was sure that the other vessel would not have seen them against the glare of the setting sun. Anticipation filled him. It was almost time. He grinned as he caught himself making the sign of the cross on his chest. Sébastien was not a religious man but his entire future depended on the success of this mission. The Maiden sliced silently through the small swells of the waves as the storm clouds boiled ahead of them.
Chapter Fifteen
Madeleine hoped when the events of the night were over and all went to Séb
astien’s plan, they would be returning to New Orleans. She would have to find some new clothing before she could step off the Maiden and finish her quest. For some reason, the urgency of the need for her to complete her quest and return home had dimmed. She pushed that thought away, not wanting to dwell on what had diminished her determination.
As she lay there, the gentle rocking of the boat soothed her and she let her mind wander to Great Aunt Josephine’s diary. A small shiver ran down her spine as she thought of the crewman, Dirk, who knew of the existence of the necklace. Perhaps she would have to tell Sébastien a little about her quest to ensure that the man did not follow her when she finally got back to New Orleans. She knew Sébastien was a good man and she could trust him.
Perhaps he would even help me? I could pay him and then he could assist me to find a passage home. The thought of saying goodbye to him left a strange feeling in her chest and she swallowed it down.
I catch my breath and throb with need as I wait for his skilful touch. Aunt Josephine’s words held new meaning for her now and Madeleine had a deeper understanding of what Josephine had been feeling when she had penned them. With a simple kiss or two, Sébastien had touched her in places she had never felt before and her mind wandered over the pleasures that Aunt Josephine had described. Her skin tingled as she imagined Sébastien’s fingers stroking her as she had read about in the diary.
What pleasures unheard of, undreamed of? She closed her eyes and hitched a breath; she could almost feel his fingers on her skin.
Boom! The sound reverberated around the cabin and Madeleine sat upright, her hands over her ears. The boat rocked from side to side and gathered speed as Mr. Abrahams’ shouted command to drop the sails reached her through the timber deck. Loud voices and the sound of running feet were followed by another loud boom.
“Oh, God, please keep Sébastien safe.” Madeleine jumped from the bed and pulled her skirt on over her chemise. She stepped to the narrow window at the end of the cabin and hesitantly pressed her face to the opening. It was too dark to see anything apart from some lights ahead of them to the port side of the boat. The lights were getting closer.
Capturing the Pirate's Heart (The Emerald Quest Book 1) Page 12
