The Pirate Captain by Kerry Lynne

Author:Kerry Lynne
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: 18th Century, Caribbean, Pirates, Fiction
ISBN: 1480200158
Publisher: By the Board Publishing
Published: 2012-09-14T04:00:00+00:00

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Feeling quite drained, Cate sat in a chair, staring out the balcony doors. The sun arched its path. The porcelain clock chimed the hours. The hall bell rang: time for everyone to shift their clothes for supper. Almost physically ill at the thought of facing anyone, Cate sent Sally to deliver her compliments and regrets, pleading a headache. The little chambermaid brought a tray. It was untouched when she returned to retrieve it and light the sconces.

The hour grew late, the house quiet. Cate remained at the window. The eerie, mournful call of a screech owl recalled Artemis’ hunched shape in the topgallant yards.

At last, she was alone. Peace.

Voices at the door stirred Cate from her torpor. She groaned aloud.

“…her some dinner. The poor child didn’t eat, so I’ve brought a tray,” came Sally’s voice. “Pray pull the door? Just so. Thank you,” she called over shoulder to the guards.

Still seated, Cate tracked Sally’s path through the room by the clatter of china and silver on the tray.

“I appreciate the thought, but you didn’t…” Cate rose stiffly and stopped as Sally set the tray down and press a finger to her lips.

“‘Twas but a ruse,” Sally hissed, creeping closer. “I’ve come with word: he’s waiting for you.”

“Who’s what?” Cate flared, thinking it was Harte.

“Your pirate, he’s outside.”

Cate watched dumbfounded as the bed’s coverlet was thrown back and, in a few economic jerks, the sheets pulled free.

“I told him you would come directly.” The maid dragged sheets toward the window and set to knotting the ends.

“What are you about?”

“Shh!” Sally flinched at her own volume then gave Cate a meaningful glare to remind her—as if she could ever forget—of the guards outside the door. “He desired you to meet him at the same place. Does that answer?”

Cate nodded, though thoroughly confused. This had to be a dream. If this was a jest, it was entirely too cruel.

“I understand now what you see in him. He certainly knows how to please a woman,” Sally said, with a dreamy roll of the eyes.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

Peering into the darkness to check the garden, Sally went out onto the balcony and knelt to secure the sheet to a spindle. “After you said you loved him, and then when he—well anyway, I couldn’t help myself.”

She stood, flushed with excitement. “So, on your way!”

Cate gawked from Sally to the garden and back. This had to be Harte’s doing, or nothing but a rude jest. In spite of that, the lure of Nathan waiting was too strong.

Sally seized her by the arm and prodded her toward the rail. “Go!”

Heart racing, Cate swung a leg over, pausing to say, “Thank you.” It seemed grossly inadequate, but so very necessary to say.

“Have a care!” Sally’s eyes rounded with import. “The guard should be busy for a bit longer, but several more are roaming. Now be away, and take care of that man.”

Casting an uncertain eye toward the ground below, Cate worked around until she could grasp the sheet.

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