Читать книгу Seducer - Kayla Gray - Страница 9

“Ho, Cap’n Angel, thirty degrees, port side!”

Kane Graham lifted his spyglass and looked across the brilliant aqua water of the Caribbean Atlantic. Sure enough, right on schedule, the Oxford. A trusted friend had supplied him with the information on the British merchantman a short week before. Kane had just arrived in Charleston on private business, but news of the English ship’s departure had forced him to end his visit early. Once at sea, a few minor alterations to his ship enabled him to assume his alter identity, Captain Angel. He’d sailed the Sea Ghost swiftly to make it to one of their many hiding spots in the Caribbean. They waited for the Oxford to arrive, load up and then depart from Barbuda. And now she was sailing into their trap. As a privateer, it was Kane’s job, as Captain Angel, to relieve the Oxford and any other British merchantmen of their goods, interrupting English trade and sending King George a powerful message from the Colonials.

“Davey! Set a course northeast of Graveyard Cay. I want to catch her as close to the reef as possible,” Kane instructed the man at the helm.

“Aye, sir.”

“Haul wind, Mr. Caldwell. Let’s take advantage of this fine breeze.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” the lanky man replied, proceeding to adjust the ship’s course.

“You think she’s really carrying cannon?” Keith McKinney asked.

Kane turned to his first mate, handing him the long brass telescope for a look at their unsuspecting prey. “Jax is the best. He’s never given me bad information. I fully expect to find weapons and powder when we board the Oxford.”

“Hell of a bonus, eh, Captain?” McKinney rubbed his hands together and shook his wild mane of red hair in anticipation of the conquest.

Kane grinned at the young man’s enthusiasm. “The weapons will be a welcome sight to our Sons of Liberty in Virginia. Who knows how much time we have to stockpile before a real war breaks out. The Oxford is a boon, to be sure.”

“And we’ll make a tidy sum on her merchandise as well. I’d love to see ol’ Georgie’s face when he hears the Angel plundered another one of his favorite cargoes of sugar.”

“A bit early to celebrate, Keith. Keep a watch for our target and let me know when we’re ready.”

“Aye, sir.”

Madelaine and Olivia strolled along the deck, watching the shores of Barbuda disappear as they headed north. Olivia tugged Madelaine’s sleeve and pointed out dolphins swimming and leaping in arcs off the bow.

But Madelaine’s attention was drawn by a ship off the starboard side that seemed to have come out of nowhere. Before she could say anything, one of the sailors shouted out a warning to all hands.

Captain O’Brian appeared on deck, and after speaking to his men, he quickly approached the women.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to go below, ladies.”

“What’s the matter, Captain?” Olivia asked, with a worried frown.

“Just a little weather ahead. Nothing you need to worry your pretty head about,” he replied.

Madelaine studied the crystal blue horizon in confusion. Looking back at the captain, she noticed the heavy coating of sweat that had appeared on his forehead.

“Does this have anything to do with that ship out there, Captain?” she asked, pointing off the starboard side. At his surprised expression, she continued, “We may be women, Captain, but we have eyes.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” he sighed. “I wished to save you any worry, but there’s a chance we’re going to have some trouble. That ship is flying Colonial colors.”

“But so are we….” Madelaine said, looking up at the sails. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of the British flag flying high on the main mast. “The Oxford had a different flag when we left Charleston. I saw it.”

“Uh, yes, but we picked up cargo from a British-held island. Therefore, to be safe—”

Madelaine said, her anger and fear rising, “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t lower the British flag once we left Barbuda? What if we are attacked?”

“Oh, Madelaine, don’t say such things. We aren’t going to be attacked, are we, Captain?” Olivia fretted.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you both. We’re armed and my men have combat experience. If the pirates challenge us, we’ll come out the victor. Now, please, ladies, you must go below.”

“Pirates?” Olivia said, her voice cracking with emotion.

“No, Olivia, Colonials aren’t pirates,” Madelaine said defensively.

“This Colonial is,” the captain replied sourly. “Angel is known for his brutal tactics at sea. He’s a thief and cold-blooded killer. I’ve seen firsthand the mutilation he leaves in his wake, and—”

“That’s enough, Captain!” Madelaine scolded. She could see how upset Olivia was at the captain’s blunt words and could have strangled the insensitive man. But seeing the fear in his own eyes made her understand his loose tongue. He was terrified, and knowing that sent chills of dread down Madelaine’s spine.

“Oh, Lord. Come, Madelaine, hurry,” Olivia said, tugging her by the sleeve.

Madelaine looked at the approaching ship one last time before following Olivia below. Captain Angel. He was the devil those sailors had been talking about. Was he really capable of the vast cruelty he was accused of? If he captured the ship, what would he do with her and Olivia? Would it even matter that her loyalties were to the Colonies?

Olivia paced the small cabin, periodically looking out the porthole. Madelaine’s heart went out to the girl, most likely a year or two her junior. Olivia had probably never been in a dangerous situation in her life and she didn’t know the first thing about what to do. Madelaine vaguely remembered what it was like to feel safe, and at times she longed for those days of innocence. But the last threads of that sweet innocence had been lost just last night, when she’d murdered a man.

Now she feared her bid for escape might be compromised due to whatever shady dealings in which Captain O’Brian was involved. She was beginning to wonder if there was any situation in which a man didn’t complicate matters beyond reason.

But things could be different for Olivia. She still retained her naïve innocence about life, and Madelaine wanted her to be able to keep that lovely shield for as long as possible. Thanks to her life in a seaport, Madelaine had learned the basics about piracy, and she was going to make sure Olivia knew what to expect if the ship was taken. Knowledge could lessen her fear a little bit.

“Olivia, if we are attacked, they’ll not want to harm us. This is between the men. But they may want to ransom you.”

Olivia’s brown eyes went wide. “But…you’ll be with me, won’t you?”

Madelaine glanced down at her dress and lifted a lock of loose hair off her shoulder. “They’ll know by looking at this old dress that I don’t have money. They won’t want me.”

“What will they do with you?” Olivia asked, her voice shaking.

“They will probably let me go. I am no threat to them,” she said, fairly certain she was speaking the truth. “They won’t hurt you. It’s the money they’ll want.”

“No, I’m too afraid. I can’t face this alone. I’m so sorry, Madelaine. I’m such a coward, but I just know I won’t get through this without you. You mustn’t leave me,” Olivia cried. She bit at the fingertips of her gloves, her face contorted with fear.

Madelaine’s heart ached. What could she do? It would take a headstrong woman to convince a shipload of pirates to keep a lady and her penniless companion together. She doubted Olivia was up to the challenge. If only they were in opposite positions.

If only they were in opposite positions.

“I have an idea,” Madelaine said. “It might be a bit risky, though. I’m not sure….”

“What is it?” Olivia asked, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. “Please! Tell me,” she begged, trembling.

“You will have to switch clothes with me.”

“What are you thinking, Madelaine?”

“I’ll become you and you will become me—until the Oxford is out of danger. That way, if the pirates take someone for ransom, it will be me. You’ll be left on the Oxford and Captain O’Brian will take you home.”

“But then what will happen to you? No, I don’t think we should be separated.”

“When they realize they have the wrong captive, they will have to let me go.”

“Are you sure? Don’t you think we should stay together?”

“Of course, that would be best. But it’s doubtful they’ll allow it. Let’s prepare for the worst and then we’ll both be able to face whatever happens,” Madelaine answered, turning away to look out the porthole.

She couldn’t face Olivia after the lie she’d just told. The ransom part was likely true, but the rest of it…Madelaine had no idea what they would do when they found out she would bring no ransom. She wasn’t even certain that this charade would work. If this Captain Angel was as bloodthirsty as they said, he would kill them all, ransom or not.