Confessions of a Pirate's Heart

Chapter Six

The rest of the evening progressed quietly. Remembering her place as his guest, Scarlett backed down and the discussion fizzled out to an awkward end. Her and the Commander's disagreement, however, weighed heavily in the air. But ever conscious of reputation and representing his King, Commander Hughes stood gracefully and respectfully, though curt, and bowed to Scarlett and William when it was time to retire to their sleeping quarters.

Once under deck and safely in their room with the door shut, Scarlett collapsed on the edge of her bed. William carefully crawled onto the cot across from her, holding his breath hesitantly. She didn't dare look at the worry on his face in the warm glow of the candle beside them.

"Scarlett," William said, in a slow, quiet voice. "What was that back there?"

"It was nothing."

"Yelling at a commander of the Royal Navy is not 'nothing.'"

"I didn't yell at him," she said, defensively. "Now go to bed. We need to get some sleep."

"Stop avoiding it, okay? That's all you've done ever since your return home." William paused, collecting his frustration to speak calmly. "What happened when you were with those pirates?"

"You're just like those men up there, aren't you? You're wondering why I opened my bloody mouth and said all those stupid things." She closed her eyes, tears sliding down her cheeks. "You might as well know. You're the only person I can talk to now, anyway. I fell in love."

William nodded slowly. "With Captain Jones."

"Yes--so quickly that I didn't realize what was happening."

"Is that why you've been sad?"

She scoffed. "Is it that noticeable?"

"We've all noticed--Mother and Father, even Joseph knows you're not the same."

"Oh, Mother." Scarlett placed her face in her hand. "I couldn't even tell her. When she gave me Grace's letter, she asked about Alexander and what he's like. Then she asked me if he mistreated me. I wanted to tell her everything but I couldn't gather the courage."

"Wait--did he mistreat you?"

Telling by the concern on her brother's face, she knew she owed him the truth. "At first, yes. I even tried to escape a couple times. Once, I got far and stayed with this lovely family, Edmund and Claire--in Ireland."

William raised his eyebrows and his mouth gaped open but he didn't speak.

"Anyway, he found me and then things became worse. He had his men beat me, threw me in the brig and then almost killed the cabin boy, who helped me escape. But I stopped him. I got between him and the Captain's cutlass. That's when he changed. He told me everything about our sister, how I reminded him of her and then he confessed his feelings."

"Scarlett, why didn't you tell me?"

"Do you think it's easy? No one would understand."

"But he's a pirate! A man who is infamous for terrorizing whole towns--a man who has killed people and Heaven knows what else. Plus, he has treated you this way just to get to our sister. And you're in love with him?"

"I know, Wiliam, you don't need to tell me." She wiped her tears furiously. "Now you see what's been bothering me?"

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I can take care of myself."

William smiled sadly. "Do you wish to see him again?"

She peered at her brother. "I do. Every day. But it doesn't matter because it won't happen. He's moved on."