Black Sam - Prince of Pirates

Fifty-Five - A NEW LIFE

Fifty - Five - A NEW LIFE

July 1717

The carriage ride seemed to take all day to Maria. She had been anticipating this date since Cade first proposed to her. At first, she did not let herself get too excited, after all, the official proposal was in front of her parents, and she had to keep up appearances if this was going to work. She wished that she did not have to play this game, but it was the only way to appease her parents. She didn’t play the game with Sam, and that failed horribly. However, today she was going to be alone with Cade, there would be no pretenses or appearances necessary.

Cade’s mansion sat at the end of a long road lined with trees. It was large and gaudy; a home that did not fit the man she had grown to know and love, but he too had to play the game. He once told her “money wasn’t enough; you had to look, act, talk, and even smell the part”. She understood this now more than ever.

Her mother raised her as a debutant, and she acted the part for years until she rebelled against it. However, no amount of resistance against what she called, the “New England Aristocracy” could have saved her relationship with Sam Bellamy. Her thoughts turned to the ocean. She wondered what happened to Sam out there. Opening her hand, she looked once more at the Spanish gold piece Sam’s father fashioned to a strap of leather. Instead of crying as she always did, a smile appeared on her face. Of course she missed Sam, but that really didn’t matter anymore; her love was now just minutes away.

***

A man opened the coach door and helped Maria down to the cobblestone drive way. She looked around at the lavish lawn and marble statues. The two large doors opened and a man greeted her with an accent she could not quite place. He gave her a bow and a smile.

“Mademoiselle, welcome to Ouida Estates.” The man motioned for her to enter. Inside, she felt overwhelmed by the gold and marble that adorned the interior. The chandelier alone must have cost a fortune.

“The baron will be down in a moment,” the man said and walked away.

Baron? She smiled and rolled her eyes, then walked around the parlor looking at paintings hanging high and low. One in particular caught her eye. It was a ship caught in a storm.

Sitting on a stand in the corner was what looked like the wheel from a ship. Maria ran her hand over the worn wood. She gripped the handles and imagined herself at the helm of a large ship. The wood was smooth, worn by men in a constant struggle with the sea. The darker color of the handles was a lasting image. It was layers of sweat, seeped deep into the grain. She wondered about the stories hidden with each layer.

“Good afternoon, Miss Hallet.” Cade’s accent was particularly heavy.

Maria smiled. “I always thought that accent was a bit much,” she said as she turned to face him.

He stood in the doorway just looking at her. “Well then, I shall spare you from it,” he said, now free from his Scottish accent. He took a step closer to her. “And I suppose I don’t need this either.” He removed his white wig and tossed it to the floor. He rubbed his short black hair and took a step closer.

Maria put her hand on the side of his face. “I remember you.” She ruffled his hair. “I like it short.”

“I’m still getting used to it,” he said.

She gazed in his dark eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek. “Oh Sam—”

The kiss seemed new and exciting. She had kissed him as Cade when occasion would allow, but this was not Cade. For the first time since he came back to her, she was kissing Sam Bellamy. He had not taken off his wig once in front of her; he had to keep up appearances after all, and this was the first time they had been alone together where he felt safe being Sam.