The Charlotte Series: Book 1: The Pirate's Treasure

Chapter 39

"I settled my affairs there and made preparations to follow her and bring her back. Before I left, word came that her ship had been lost at sea with but three survivors. She and her lover were lost to a watery grave." A long sad sigh passed his lips and a weight was lifted from his heart. "I sent word to my father that she had left with the babe to visit England and her ship was lost at sea."

"I am sorry, James." She whispered as her tears fell down her cheeks. "But why did your father think you were dead?"

"I couldn't go back, Millicent. I couldn't face the TON with all of their false pity and their whispering. I took the coward's route. I went to the docks and hired on as a common sailor under the name of Smith. I sailed on the Charlotte under Captain Martin. In all the time after I never once wrote home. Not until I wrote to tell him I was married and had a family."

"James!" she tried to lift her head but he held it in place. "James? There's something I don't understand. You said once that Blakeney took your ship and you were forced to become pirates. Having met Blakeney I can believe that. But I saw him when he met with my father. He never...Well, he never looked like a pirate!"

"Blakeney was a pirate. He wasn't much better than Sutherland. Except with Blakeney he would never spare a woman anything. His ship had grown too small. He wanted another. So he found one he liked and he took it. But most of the time we weren't pirates in the true sense. We smuggled stolen merchandise out of England and sold it abroad as merchants."

"Smugglers. And my father?"

"He helped us to acquire the stolen merchandise. He arranged for shipments to be diverted to us. The merchants were robbed and collected interest on the goods. Your father got a cut. We then sold the goods and he got another cut. It was quite a lucrative enterprise." James sighed. "But it wasn't easy knowing that men died for each shipment we got."

"You must have been planning the mutiny for a long time."

"Aye. From the beginning. When Blakeney brought you aboard it was the impetus that we needed. Even his loyal men balked at such a move. When Blakeney first took the Charlotte I became Martin Smith and swore to avenge Captain Martin. It took us five years but finally Blakeney got his due. I have been Captain Martin Smith since."

There was a long silence. Millicent did not wish to intrude on his thoughts. Part of her wished he had told her this before they wed. Then again, at the time he had nothing to hold him to that other life. She could well understand his desire to be rid of it.

"I intended to visit my Father. I hoped maybe he would give me a position or maybe give me Bombay back. We could have stayed on the Charlotte. But things have changed. I must return now. Will you come with me? You will make a fine Marchioness. You have a strong sense of fairness and duty. Our tenants will benefit from such a kind and competent Mistress."

"I will gladly go with you, Winterton." She smiled. "It'll take me a little while to get use to your new name."

"I don't think so but you may call me anything you wish when we are alone, dearest."

Millicent felt his arms tighten around her and leaned in. She rested her cheek against his chest and heard his heart thumping. She felt a wave on dizziness and suddenly she couldn't breathe. She struggled to push away. James lowered her to the pillows and shouted for Bailey. Bailey was just outside the door. He rushed in and stopped suddenly as he saw her struggling to breathe.

"I'm going for the surgeon." He shouted as he turned and ran out.

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"Doc?" James asked as the man shut the cabin door behind him.