The Jackdaw

Chapter 16: Pirates

Edward accompanied you back to the home and he must have sensed your nervousness because he slipped an arm around your waist, pulling you close against him. He muttered under his breath, "Think of these rich gits not as your parents but targets we might like to steal from."

You chuckled, rolling your eyes out towards the lavish gardens that surrounded the base of the mansion. "Steal? You mean lighten their excessive and unnecessary items."

"Those of which they'd not even notice was gone," he agreed with too wide of a smile.

You leaned your head against his chest, eyes drooping closed as you reached the stairs. The door swung open. You were suddenly alert, remembering that these people were both strangers and dangerous. You raised a brow as your mother greeted you both all too gleefully.

"I can not express how delighted I am to see you both again." She held out her hands and when you both made no efforts to move, she scooped up a hand from each of you and squeezed. "Come inside. The food is ready to be served and the table has been set."

Edward flashed a charming smile, squeezing her hand in turn, and glanced down at you with a wink. "Course, mum. Wouldn't want to miss that for all the rum on the islands."

Your mother's smile quivered weakly. She was unsettled about being called 'mum' by a lowly sailor. Perhaps even hearing him talk of rum made her cringe. But she easily replaced her moment of weakness with delight. She began walking into the home, glancing over her shoulder as she spoke sweetly, "We've readied a room upstairs for the two of you should you wish to stay."

"No," you spoke up quickly, "Truly, we must leave in the morning."

She spun on her heel, features distorted with dramatic sorrow. "Oh, please, darling! Surely you could spend the evening and night here. We shall have breakfast waiting before you wake. A night here surely will have you better rested than..." She raised a brow as if he couldn't lower herself to speak the words.

"A ship," you muttered bluntly.

Edward chuckled and pecked a slow kiss on your cheek, wanting her to clearly see it. "Love, why don't we stay? The lavish bed upstairs beats mine in the cabin any day."

You took down a slow breath, noting the mischief in his eyes. He seemed hell-bent on stealing something, anything, even if it was just a good night's sleep. "You're right, love. We'll stay."

Edward swept his giddy gaze back to your mother who was a bit flustered. She twirled away and slowly, if not slightly irritably, walked through the halls towards the large dining room. A long table stretched across the space, your father sitting at the head of the table with a book in hand.

"Darling," your mother cooed, "I've the greatest news."

He grumbled, barely removing his eyes from the page.

"They're going to stay the night with us. Oh, it'll be lovely." Your mother gracefully took her seat adjacent to your father. "I would just adore showing you around the home. It's been such a long time. So much has changed since then."

You almost snorted at that. It hadn't changed much at all. You glowered at Edward but took your seat once he pulled it back from the table with a cheeky grin. You stiffly pressed your spine into the chair, barely breathing until he joined you.

"Edward, dear." Your mother leaned forward. "You might be interested in seeing the family gun collection after we dine."

He patted the pistols at his chest, the leather and metal rustling from the motion. "I do fancy my pistols, aye."

Your father finally tossed aside the book but his gaze never really reached anyone. "I wager you encounter many dangers out at sea. Especially with the pirates these days. Witless cravens that they are."