Читать книгу In the Tudor Court Collection - Amanda McCabe - Страница 29

Maribel’s anxiety grew with every minute that passed. Justin must know that they would be worried. Why was he so late? It was almost dark and he had still not returned. Her instincts were to go and look for him, but he had forbidden her to go down to the waterfront.

She could not sit and wait. The house felt too small and confined to contain her and she needed some air. Anna called to her as she moved towards the door.

‘Where are you going? It is nearly dark and too dangerous to go looking for them now.’

‘I just need some—’ Maribel broke off as she heard sounds outside. She rushed to the door and threw it open, staring in dismay as she saw Higgins and two of Justin’s crew she recognised. They were carrying something between them—Justin’s body. She saw blood on his shirt and clapped a hand to her mouth to stop herself screaming. ‘What happened?’

‘He was set upon by some ruffians.’ Higgins scowled. ‘It was Pike’s crew, ordered to it by him no doubt. The captain had been to see some of the wounded. He had promised to make good their losses and explained why our ship was not in the harbour. They listened to him and he left believing all was settled—then this gang attacked him. He fought them off and wounded or killed three, but they were too many for him. Had I and some of the crew not arrived in time he might have been finished.’

‘Carry him through to his room,’ Maribel said, hovering as they brought Justin’s unconscious body into the house. Her heart was hammering and she felt sick with worry, but would not give way to her fear. ‘He has lost blood—where is his wound?’

‘He has a wound to his thigh and another to his shoulder—but he was knocked unconscious by a blow from one of those murdering devils. Fortunately, we drove them off before they could finish him, but he will need nursing. I’ve sent word to the surgeon and he’ll be here soon.’

‘Thank you for all you have done. I am so grateful.’

In the bedchamber, Anna had pulled back the sheets. Justin was deposited gently on his bed by the men; they then drew back to look at him in silence, not sure what to do next. Anna brought a knife and slit his breeches at the side so that they could see the wound to his thigh. She examined it and then looked at Maribel.

‘It has bled a lot, but is not too deep. He should mend without too much help from the surgeon,’ she said on a note of relief. She then slit open the sleeve of his shirt all the way to the shoulder. ‘This is a little deeper, but I think neither wound will kill him—providing he does not take a fever.’

‘It seems you were in time to save his life. Thank you,’ Maribel said to Higgins. Tears trickled down her cheeks, but she brushed them away. She turned to Anna, an appealing expression in her eyes. ‘Please tell me what to do. You know better than I how to help him.’

‘We must cleanse and bind the wounds,’ Anna told her. ‘I do not know what more we can do, but the surgeon will tell us when he comes. It may be that he will cauterise the wound to Sylvester’s shoulder.’

Maribel’s face turned white and she swayed, clutching at a bedpost to steady herself. She had never been present when it was done, but she knew that to apply a hot iron to open flesh must be fearful and would cause terrible pain.

‘I pray God that it will not be needed,’ she whispered. ‘I shall fetch water and clean linen.’

She was praying and crying at the same time, for she was afraid that whatever they did Justin might die.

The surgeon had closed Justin’s wounds without cauterising them, cleansing the skin with a mixture of his own that smelled like alcohol to Maribel and binding him tightly to stop further bleeding. When he had finished, he turned to Maribel.

‘Fortunately, they are both little more than flesh wounds. He should heal within a week or two if he rests, but you must watch for a fever. That blow to the head has rendered him unconscious. Such wounds can kill a man, but sometimes the victim recovers without serious harm. You must watch over him and wait. I will leave something to help him with the pain. If a fever develops, you must keep him cool, and if necessary send for me again.’

‘Thank you.’ Maribel’s throat was tight as she held back her tears. ‘Anna is very good. She will help me to nurse him and she knows how to prepare mixtures that help with a fever, if she has the herbs.’

‘Send to me if you need anything and I will bring whatever Anna requires. It is best that she does not go looking for her herbs alone—the mood here is still uncertain. ’ He wrinkled his brow in thought. ‘I do not blame you or Sylvester. I dare say the ships found us by chance, as was bound to happen one day. Had they been prepared for an attack, they would have done much more damage and probably sent a party ashore to look for you.’

‘I think much as you do,’ Maribel said. ‘My father would have sent men ashore to look for me if he had planned this attack; I believe they must have found the island by chance. However, they may return with more ships and more men; my father is a vengeful man.’

‘There is talk of setting up cannon on shore in case we are attacked from the sea again, though others talk of leaving the island, giving up the attempt to settle here. Most of the captains neglected to protect their ships; they felt safe here, but this attack will make them take measures to make sure next time we can at least fight back. However, some feel the island is no longer safe for us.’

He smiled as he took his leave. Maribel thanked him. She stayed by Justin’s side, watching as he lay unconscious. He was breathing still, but had given no sign of coming to himself, though he had moaned once or twice as the surgeon treated his wounds.

‘Please live,’ she whispered. Her tears came freely now for she could no longer hold them back. One or two fell on his face as she bent over him, pressing her cheek to his. ‘I love you, my own dear pirate. I would not tell you if you could hear me—but I love you as I have never loved anyone else.’

Bending over him, she bathed his forehead with a cloth wrung out in cool water, then slid it over his shoulders and arms. His body was so hot and he had been throwing his arms out of the bed.

‘I love you so,’ she said as the tears trickled down her cheeks. ‘I know so little of you, but you are brave and generous, and I was luckier than I knew when you took me captive. Please get better, my dearest. If you died I should not want to live.’

Justin did not stir. She looked for a flicker of his eyelids, but there was none. Please God he would wake soon…she could not think of a future without this man.

As the night wore on he began to moan and move restlessly in his bed, calling out a name she could not quite catch. She lay a hand on his forehead and thought he felt too warm. The surgeon had told her to keep him cool. Maribel hesitated and then fetched water in a bowl; it was cold from the well and she dipped a cloth into the cool water bathing his face and neck once more. He was still hot, so she stroked her cloth down his arms, then drew back the covers to his waist and bathed his chest. He seemed to settle then and she replaced the covers.

His breathing was easier now and she thought that he seemed more comfortable than before. She settled down on a blanket beside the bed and after a little fell asleep.

When a sound awoke her light was beginning to creep into the room. She started up, giving a little moan as she felt the stiffness in her back from lying on the floor. Getting to her feet, she looked at her patient and saw that he was now awake and staring at her.

‘That was foolish of you, Maribel,’ he said, looking stern. ‘You should have gone to your own bed—or had someone else watch me. Where is Anna?’

‘Anna has enough to do. She helped the surgeon when he tended you—and she stopped the bleeding when you were brought back. It did not hurt me to watch over you for a while.’ She reached out to touch his forehead, but he caught her wrist. ‘You were hot last night. I thought you might have a fever.’

‘I have a damnable soreness in my thigh and left shoulder.’ His gaze narrowed. ‘I remember fighting the rogues off, but then something hit me from the side.’ He scowled. ‘There were too many of them. It is impossible to guard against such a cowardly blow. What happened after that—how did I get here?’

‘Fortunately, Higgins and some of your men arrived to drive the wretches off. You were unconscious when they brought you home. Anna tended you first and then the surgeon came.’

His eyes were on her face. ‘You know what is being said of you?’

‘That the attack was because of me. Do you believe that? Do you think I would want that to happen?

‘I know you would not. That it was your father’s ships is not in question. However, it may have been chance that brought them here—unless Hendry revealed the secret of the island and how to enter its waters. One reason this island was chosen from so many others is that there is chain of rocks guarding it. Only those that have visited know how to navigate the channel. If your father’s ships got close enough to inflict so much damage, they must have known the secret—but if they came for you, why was there no attempt to rescue you?’

‘I do not know—perhaps I was not important.’

Justin frowned and was silent for a moment. He knew, but would not tell her that her father cared so little for her that he had been willing to give her up for the return of his map. Sabatini was evil and it made him wonder if the man was truly her father. ‘I think he came to show me what could happen to me if I do not return his map.’

‘You think the attack was planned merely for revenge? Because you refused to give up the map?’ She was silent for a moment. ‘What will you do? Shall you send it to him?’

‘The way he so callously destroyed property and life here tells me that he should never have that map. With it he will become even more powerful and I cannot condone what he did. He is an evil man.’

‘But if you keep the map he may attack you again.’

‘Do you think I should be safe from his vengeful spite if I sent him his map? He would see it as a sign of weakness.’ Justin looked thoughtful. ‘I had considered trying to find the silver mine myself, but it has cost too many lives already. I think it is cursed and I shall destroy the map. Better it is never found again than it should cost more lives.’

‘My father will always be your enemy.’

‘You need not worry yourself over my safety. In two or three days I shall be able to get up. As soon as the Defiance returns she will be provisioned and we shall sail to England. Once you are with your family you will be safe.’

‘The surgeon said you need to rest.’ Maribel felt that he was dismissing her once more and her eyes stung with tears she would not shed.

‘I shall be well enough to leave when the Defiance is ready to sail.’

‘What will you do next? Will you return to the island? You’ve built a fine house and furnished it—but you have lost one of your ships and people may turn against you because of what happened.’

‘It can be of little interest to you what I do. I promised to keep you safe until you are with your family. After that you should forget me.’

How could he speak to her so? Was he deliberately trying to drive a wedge between them?

‘I think you must be thirsty. I shall draw some fresh water from the well.’

She walked away from him, her throat closing with choking emotion. He was still determined to take her to her family and leave her. Did he blame her for the loss of his ships and the destruction here? She blinked away her tears. Maribel had wept when she believed he might die, but she would not weep now!

‘If your father saw you now he would not know you,’ Anna said as Maribel was drawing water from the well three days later. ‘Your skin used to be a pale olive and was much admired, but now…you are as brown as a gypsy.’

‘I cannot stay in the shade all the time here. There has been more work to do since Justin was injured. It would not be fair to expect you to do everything. You chopped the wood so that we can cook, so I draw the water and help with the washing and other chores.’

Anna stared at her in silence for a moment, then smiled a little reluctantly. ‘You have learned to make yourself useful. Sometimes I almost forget that you are a lady and I am your servant.’

‘You are my friend, Anna. The old ways are forgotten here.’

‘But when you go to England you will be a lady again, and if I came with you I should be a servant.’ She shook her head as Maribel was silent. ‘No, do not deny it. That is the way of your world, the way it has always been. You cannot change it if you would, which is why I shall not stay in England.’

Anna was right, but Maribel did not want to admit it. Here on the island she had found a measure of freedom and she did not want to return to her old life—but what else could she do?

‘Where will you go if you cannot return to the island?’

‘Higgins thinks he shall go to the New World and I shall go with him. There is plenty of land there for settlement. If you have money for sufficient supplies to get you through the first year or two until the land begins to grow enough crops, it could be a good place to live.’

‘The New World…’ Maribel wrinkled her brow. ‘I have heard it said that it is a land of savages. My father and men like him take silver from the mines, but to live there…I am not sure…’

‘At first our people, men like your father, sought to conquer and take only silver and gold, but other people have begun to settle further to the north. Higgins has heard from men who have taken settlers to the New World. The savages are called Red Indians, because of the colour of their skins, and it is thought that there are many tribes. Some of them are thought to be friendly to the white man.’

‘It sounds dangerous and the living will be primitive at first,’ Maribel said, but she felt a tingle of excitement at the nape of her neck. ‘Even here on the island there are often shortages of food, which is why Justin sent the Defiance to bring pigs and chickens here from one of the larger islands.’

‘In the New World they say there is an abundance of game. Ships taking settlers to a new life will carry seed corn and other supplies to tide them over. A ship bringing in fresh supplies to be sold at a trading station could do well.’

‘Yes, I see.’ Maribel nodded. ‘You would set up your trading station there instead of on the island as you planned, but—’ She had questions concerning such trading, but she broke off as she saw a man coming towards them. Chills ran down her spine as she saw the look of hatred on his face. ‘Go inside, Anna.’

‘And leave you alone with that pig? I shall stay with you.’

Maribel faced the pirate. One hand moved to the place in her skirts where she had created a pouch to keep the knife that Peg had given her. Her heart was pounding wildly as he came closer.

‘Why have you come here?’ she asked. ‘You tried to have Sylvester murdered. You are not wanted here.’

Pike’s eyes narrowed to menacing slits, his mouth curved back in a sneer. ‘I came only to tell you that the Defiance is back in the harbour. People are demanding that you leave immediately. I have some business with Sylvester that he might want to hear.’

‘Do you imagine I shall let you near him after what you tried to do?’

‘You?’ He laughed harshly. ‘What will you do, my lady? Kick me, perhaps, or scratch my eyes out—if you can?’

‘Go away. If you have business, you may return when Higgins is here…’ Maribel gasped because she had revealed their vulnerability.

Pike grinned evilly. ‘Oh, do not distress yourself for betraying your weakness. I saw Higgins on the waterfront not twenty minutes ago. I know he is not around to save you or your precious Sylvester, whore.’

‘I am no man’s whore.’ Maribel flashed.

‘Are you not? Then I might as well amuse myself a little before I complete my business with…’

Maribel moved back a step as he came towards her. Then she stopped, determined to stand her ground. If she ran or showed fear, he would have the advantage. She could not let him into the house because Justin was not yet strong enough to fight him off.

Pike laughed mockingly and reached out to grab her. Whipping her knife out, Maribel struck his right arm, making him yell out in shock. His left hand moved to cover his wound. He stared in disbelief at the blood running between his fingers.

‘You bitch! I’ll teach you a lesson—and then I’ll pay your lover a visit.’

‘You will have to get past me first.’

Maribel held her knife in front of her the way Peg had taught her. She circled him warily, her eyes never leaving his face. He made a move to grab her once more and she flicked her wrist, stabbing him swiftly on his hand and darting back. He swore, looking at his hand as if he did not know what had happened.

‘You asked for this,’ he grunted and drew his cutlass. The sunlight glinted on the wicked blade as he advanced on her. ‘I thought to have a little fun before you died, but it is not worth the bother. I’ll be rid of you once and for all!’

Maribel held the knife in front of her, but she knew a knife could not compete with a cutlass. Peg had told her to keep the knife secret and wait until her target was close enough to stab him in the stomach, but she had struck too soon, inflicting only superficial wounds. The element of surprise had gone. She had wounded him, but not sufficiently to stop him. He would kill her and then Justin.

Maribel was vaguely aware that Anna had run into the house. She retreated slowly towards the house, her gaze holding his as he advanced on her, knowing that it was only a matter of time before he killed her.

‘Stay away from her!’

Hearing Anna’s voice, Maribel glanced round. Even as she saw the pistol in her hand, Anna fired. Her shot hit Pike in the chest and he fell, clutching himself. For what seemed like an eternity, he writhed in agony on the ground, his eyes wide and staring at them. Anna came towards them, her hand shaking. She looked sick and shaken as she watched the man twitching on the ground.

‘Have I killed him?’

The twitching had stopped at last. Pike lay still. ‘Yes, I think so,’ Maribel said. Anna dropped the pistol. She was shaking, clearly upset by what she had done. ‘Do not look so guilty. You had no choice. If you had not shot him, he would have killed us all.’

‘I meant to stop him, not to kill him.’ Anna looked frightened. She turned away to vomit on the ground, then wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. ‘Will they hang me?’

‘No, they won’t hang you.’ Justin’s voice spoke from the doorway. ‘It was in self-defence, Anna—but no one will know, because we shall bury him out there.’ He jerked his head towards the back of the house. ‘I can’t do much to help you. There is a spade in the lean-to at the rear. You will have to drag him there between you. I’ll help to dig the hole.’

‘No, you will not,’ Maribel spoke decisively. ‘You have told us what to do. Go back to your room and rest. We can do this between us.’

Justin set his mouth stubbornly. He took a step towards them, then hesitated, his face white.

‘Go on, then. I will make sure there is no sign of the blood here—and I’ll keep watch and warn you if anyone comes.’

‘Yes,’ Maribel agreed, because she knew that he would only follow them if she refused his help. ‘As soon as it is done you must go back to bed and rest. Pike told us that the Defiance is in the harbour. When it is provisioned we shall leave as intended.’

Justin nodded, his mouth set in a grim line.

‘Come, Anna,’ Maribel said. ‘You have to help me drag him. I can’t do it alone. Take one leg and I’ll take the other.’

Anna shuddered, then did as she was told. Pike was heavy and it took both of them to drag his body across the front yard and out behind the house.

Maribel chose a spot where the earth looked softer. A tree had been cleared to supply timber for the house and the earth had been disturbed, making it easier to dig. When Anna fetched the spade, Maribel started the digging. She dug out an oblong large enough to hide the body. After the first few cuts were made, Anna went to the lean-to and came back with a chopper. She used it to dig down into the earth and then scraped the dry earth out with her hands.

The women worked in silence for what seemed like an eternity. At last the hole was deep enough and between them they placed Pike in his grave and then started to scrape the earth over him. When they had finished Maribel looked at Anna.

‘He was a wicked man, but I think we should say a prayer for him.’

‘Yes…’ Anna was pale and penitent. ‘You are right, Maribel. I did not mean to murder him, only to stop him.’

‘You did what you had to do—we both did,’ Maribel said. She felt sick and a little faint, but forced herself to continue. ‘God keep and forgive this man. He was not a good man, but we pray that his soul will find peace.’

‘You can see the earth has been disturbed,’ Anna said when the prayer was done. ‘We should lay branches over it to hide it for a while. The grave may be found, but it will not matter once we are gone.’

‘You will not be able to return here now.’ Maribel remarked as they finished their work and returned to the house. ‘But you should not feel guilty, Anna. You saved my life—and Captain Sylvester’s.’

‘And my own. He would not have let me live to tell the tale.’

‘No, he could not have risked it, for Higgins would have demanded justice.’ Maribel saw that Anna was still pale, still shocked by what she had done. She reached out and kissed her cheek. ‘Forget what happened, Anna. You must put it behind you.’

‘He was a bad man.’ Anna met her eyes, seeking reassurance. ‘I do not believe I shall burn in hell for what I did, do you?’

‘No, of course not. It was the only way,’ Maribel replied. ‘I shall never forget that you saved my life, Anna.’

‘I could not let him kill you.’ Anna smiled, oddly shy and uncertain. ‘We have something in common now, Maribel. We share a bond that can never be broken—it is a secret we must keep to the grave.’

‘Yes, it is.’ Maribel took her hand. ‘We are friends, Anna, truly friends. What has happened here has changed us both for ever. I am no longer the lady you served. I am different and I can never go back to what I once was.’

‘We both need to wash and change our gowns,’ Anna said, looking at the dirt beneath her fingernails. ‘You should speak to Captain Sylvester, ask when we are leaving.’

‘Yes, I shall.’

Maribel pushed her hair back from her eyes. She was damp with sweat, her clothes sticking to her. There were blisters on her hands and her back ached. The hard labour had exhausted her, but she had a feeling of satisfaction, because she would never have believed herself capable of doing what she had just done.

A part of her felt ill at ease because a man’s life had been lost, but Pike was evil. He had tried to have Justin killed and would have succeeded this time if Anna had not stopped him. Maribel knew that she would not have known how to shoot the pistol. Anna must have learned it from Higgins, just as she had learned to use a knife from Peg. So although she felt uneasy that a man’s life had been taken, she believed it was inevitable. Pike had been their enemy from the beginning. It was always his life or theirs.

She went into the house, then knocked at Justin’s door. He was sitting on the bed. He invited her to enter, looking at her face as she did so.

‘Is it done?’

‘Yes. We put branches over the grave. It is not deep enough and it will be found, but perhaps not just yet.’

‘We shall leave in the morning with the tide. Higgins has instructions to see the ship provisioned immediately. ’

‘Anna had no choice but to shoot him. He would have murdered us all.’

‘I should have seen to it before it got this far,’ Justin said. ‘You both did what you had to do, Maribel. Put all this from your mind.’

‘I shall try.’ She brushed the damp hair from her brow. ‘Your shirt has blood on it. I think your wound has opened,’ she scolded. ‘You have done too much. I saw that you brushed away the marks we left when we dragged Pike into the woods.’

‘I wish I could have done it all.’ He reached up to trail his fingers over her cheek as she sat beside him. ‘You have dirt on your face and your gown is muddy. You must wash and change it for another.’ He took her hands and looked at them. ‘Rub some ointment into your hands; they will be sore for some days.’

‘Let me tend your shoulder first.’

‘No!’ He caught her hand as she attempted to push his shirt back. ‘I can manage for myself. Wash and rest, Maribel. You should drink a little rum or some wine. You have had a shock.’

‘We buried a man,’ Maribel said. ‘Anna is feeling guilty. It will take time to forget.’

‘I know. It is something you learn to live with. I’ve never been able to accept it, which is why I didn’t just kill Pike at the start—but it might have been better if I had.’

‘Yes, perhaps.’

Maribel turned away. She needed to wash and change. The dress she was wearing would be discarded, because she could never wear it again without remembering.

She had told Anna to forget what had happened, because to dwell on Pike’s death would cast a shadow over their lives. She shuddered, because she knew it was something she might never forget. They had done what was necessary and they must put it behind them and move on.

Maribel could not sleep. The night was hot and stuffy and in the morning they were to leave the island for ever. In a few short weeks they would be in England and she would be with her mother’s family. She might never see Justin again.

Rising from her bed, she dressed in a thin gown, pushed her feet into light slippers and went through to the main room and then outside. Here it was a little cooler. Maribel knew that she was taking a risk to leave the house, but Pike was dead and she did not think anyone else was likely to come looking for her. Most of the men on the island respected Justin, even if they blamed her for what had happened here.

Was it her fault? She had done nothing wrong and yet it might be because of her that the island had been attacked. She tried to put all the terrible happenings of the past few days from her mind. Soon now she would leave this place and perhaps…

Maribel heard a twig snap behind her, but before she could turn something thick and heavy was thrown over her head. She screamed, but the sound was muffled and the blanket filled her mouth, making her gag on the coarse wool. Fighting and kicking, she felt herself being tossed over someone’s shoulder. She was being carried away. As she realised that she had been kidnapped, panic swept over her.

Justin would think she had run away! He would think she did not care. He would never know that she loved him. She might never see him again; it would break her heart, but she was just another woman to him. He would find someone else and forget her.

It was unbearable beneath the blanket. She found it difficult to breathe and after a while she ceased to struggle because she no longer had the strength to fight. She could only wonder who had captured her and where she was being taken.

After a while, Maribel heard the sound of the sea. She knew that she was in a rowing boat and that she was being taken to a ship. Was it her father’s ship? It was the only explanation that occurred to her, because surely no one else would have come to the island to kidnap her. Her father must have sent someone to steal her back. He had sent Captain Hendry to bring the information they needed so that he knew where to find her and now she was a prisoner.

What was going to happen to her now? Justin was angry with her. He would not rescue her a second time—why should he?

When Maribel opened her eyes again she found that she was lying on a bunk. Her mouth tasted dry and she knew that at some time after being brought to this cabin she had fainted. As yet she did not know whose ship she was on or who had captured her.

Hearing a key in the lock, she looked fearfully at the door, her heart pounding. It opened slowly and she saw a man standing in the opening looking at her. When she saw the man’s face she shrank back, feeling frightened, but determined not to show it.

‘Why have you brought me here?’ she demanded. ‘Are you taking me to my father?’

‘Your father has no more use for you, Donna Sanchez. He has given you to me in return for a contract for his wines—and favours rendered.’ An unpleasant smile touched his mouth.

‘What do you mean he has given me to you? I was to marry your cousin.’

Samuel Hynes looked at her triumphantly. ‘Sadly, news reached us that my cousin is dead. All that he once owned is mine—and that includes you. I knew that he might not live to see his wedding day. Why else do you imagine I agreed to fetch you? I wanted to make sure I had you fast before the news of his death reached your father.’

‘I shall never marry you. Never! I would rather die.’

‘You speak wildly, Madonna.’ His mouth hardened. ‘Have I said that I wished to wed you? I might simply use you for my pleasure.’

‘I shall fight you. You may force me, but you will never truly have me.’

‘I think you will learn to obey me in time,’ Hynes said. ‘You are too proud. I shall enjoy teaching you your manners, Maribel. However, it will suit me better to have you as a wife. Your father thinks to cheat us both of your fortune, but he has met his match in me. I shall have you and then I shall claim what belongs to me.’

Maribel stared at him, feeling sick and miserable. ‘I wish that Pablo had never left me his fortune,’ she said. ‘It seems that no one cares what I want. No one cares for me. You all want my husband’s estates.’

‘Beautiful women are easy to find,’ Hynes told her with a sneer. ‘However, a beautiful rich woman is another matter. I shall leave you to rest and think carefully, Maribel. We could be married almost immediately on board ship and I should treat you fairly—but defy me and you will learn to regret it at your leisure.’

Maribel lay back against the pillows as he left her. Her head was aching and her heart felt as if it had been torn apart. Tears trickled down her cheeks. She had not known how fortunate she was when Justin took her captive. She had called him a pirate and accused him of being a rogue, but he was a true gentleman—and she loved him. The time spent at the island had taught her many lessons and she knew that she had been offered something true and special.

The tears fell faster as she realised that she would probably never see him again. She was now at the mercy of a ruthless devil; if she lived, her life would be unbearable.

‘Do you know where Maribel is?’ Justin demanded of Anna when he realised that she had gone that morning. ‘Has she taken anything with her?’

‘Only the gown she meant to wear today.’ Anna looked at him tearfully. ‘Surely she would not run away? She had nowhere to go.’

‘She must be somewhere.’

Justin strode into Maribel’s room, looking for evidence that she had taken something with her. Her combs and perfume bottles were still there, as were her jewels. He whirled round as he heard a step behind him.

‘Maribel…’ Seeing Higgins, he frowned. ‘What is it? Have you found her?’

‘I have found signs of a struggle. What looks like the marks of several pairs of boots in the dust outside the house—and I have heard that a strange ship was seen at anchor outside the reef.’

‘You think someone snatched her last night?’

‘I’ve never trusted Hendry,’ Higgins said sourly. ‘Did you not wonder why Sabatini let him return? Or why he bothered to come back at all? He already had the ship. Why should he have come back to the island merely to bring you another message?’

‘You believe Hendry brought Sabatini’s ships here in return for his freedom? That the intention was to snatch Maribel all the time?’ Justin frowned. ‘There was a map that showed the way to some silver mines…I destroyed it because a man like that should not be allowed to have such power. He is evil.’

‘You destroyed a map showing the location of silver mines?’ Higgins looked at him intently. ‘Those mines are worth a king’s ransom.’

‘I considered trying to find the mine, but decided it was cursed.’

‘Sabatini must think you still have the map. Do you think that is why he has snatched her?’

‘If it is, then I am at fault,’ Justin said. ‘I do not know where they are taking her—but we must try to find them. I shall go to her father. He may hate me and he may take my life, but, it is the risk I must take.’

‘Do you think that is wise?’

‘I do not care whether or not it is wise,’ Justin replied. ‘I shall not ask anyone else to risk their life for me. You will drop me on shore and then go back to sea. I will meet you on the beach at midnight. If I am not there, come again the next night, but after that you must go and leave me to my fate.’

‘Let me go in your stead?’

‘No. You have been a good friend to me, but if I do not come the second night leave me and seek your own fortune.’

‘Will you not take the air on deck, Madonna?’ Samuel Hynes looked at her, his eyes narrowed. ‘We are forced to put into port for repairs to the mainmast and it may be some weeks before we reach England.’

Maribel sighed. It was hot in the cabin and since the third night after leaving the island, when a storm had badly damaged their mainmast, they had been forced to drift aimlessly. Now that the ship had at last managed to limp to the nearest port, which was Gibraltar, the carpenters could make repairs while the stores were replenished. Under Moorish domination for many years, Gibraltar had briefly achieved independent status until the beginning of the century, when it was taken under Spanish rule. Although in no hurry to reach England, Maribel did not wish to spend more time than need be on board ship with this man. The looks he gave her made her skin creep and the thought of being his wife filled her with revulsion. Perhaps if she reached England she might find a way to escape him.

‘You do not answer.’ His face clouded with anger. ‘Your father warned me of your pride and stubbornness, lady.’ He moved closer, menacing, angry. ‘He told me you are mine, and I would have you as my wife, but I have a mind not to wait. You are here and there is nothing to stop me taking my pleasure of you.’

‘If you touch me, I shall kill myself.’

‘Damn you!’ He struck her once across the face and she fell backwards against a table, hurting her back, but she gave no sign of her pain. Lifting her head, she looked at him defiantly.

‘If you force me, I shall never reach England alive.’

Samuel looked at her and hesitated. He wanted the girl, had wanted her since the first time he saw her. But he wanted the money as much or more. His cousin’s estate was heavily encumbered, leaving him little but an empty house. He needed a fortune to restore it to the great house it had once been, and this girl was his means of achieving his aim. Her threat to take her own life had given him pause for thought. If he forced her to yield, she might find a way to kill herself and he would lose the rich prize that could be his for the taking.

He must be patient and wait a little longer. A shipboard marriage might be contested. It would be better to wait until they were in England and he could be certain of her. Once the repairs were made, the ship would get under way once more and he could be sure that that damned pirate was not lurking somewhere in these waters!