A cannonball landed inches from my feet, but the fuse must have been bad as itblew through without exploding. I stared at the hole even as the cries of the pirates filledmy ears. Swords and pistols drawn, the crew rushed around me toward the men spillingover the side of the boat. A cargo ship, the Mariette had not one cannon on board.Seemed stupid in pirate-filled waters. Even a non-sailor like me had wondered why myhusband had not outfitted it with such. Blood started to flow over the deck towards me asthe ship listed. I could smell its coppery tang. One body floated lifeless in the water,turning it red, and ominous fins slowly gathered in the distance. Then everything wentblack.Someone was trying to throw an old sail over me when I woke, head pounding.The attack on the Mariette came flooding back and I screamed, knowing where I had tobe. The face staring down at me looked to be little more than that of a kid. The lowliestof Jack Lott's crew didn't think of gagging me or binding my hands. A bellow came asthe door flew open."We don't take prisoners, damn it! How many times have I said it?""Captain Lott," the boy stammered.Then the captain got a look at me."I don't blame you, Johnny boy. Two hundred sovereigns from my share in thecrew's take for the woman. Buy you lots more than one woman in Tortuga. You will notbe a lad anymore, I will take you to my favorite woman. No one hasn't had a good time when they're with Maggie." Long dark hair and deep set brown eyes. Thin nose and fullmouth, the corner of which twitched when I was trying to keep from smiling. Oh, andsuch an enchanting smile. I had been told often enough how beautiful I was. I knew whatthe value was for. They were stuck with me, but I was no burden.The boy beamed as Jack Lott hauled me to my feet. Before I knew what washappening, my dressed was ripped from me and thrown overboard. A ship full of piratesleered as if I was the last woman on earth as I was pushed past in a ripped shift barelycovering anything. All were armed to the teeth and covered in blood, blood of the menwho had worked for my husband.* * * * He called it courting, though I was forced to be the whore of the man robbingmy husband. That I had slept with a pirate caused me no great duress. After all, for years,I had slept with François and he was little more than a stranger even if we shared thesame name. He might as well have thought me the cleaning lady for all the affection hehad showed.I sat up in bed and appraised the man, the pirate. Looking over at a sleeping formnot my husband's was a little odd. This pirate was the opposite of everything my life hadstood for, a dark, large man lacking any refinement or attractive qualities to even thesmallest degree. So this was Captain Jack Lott, the man François was alwayscomplaining about stealing his wares and keeping me from having all the things thewives of the men he did business with flaunted.Many might have envied my place. My former life, that is, not waking in a bedwith a pirate. François Le Vasseur was a middle class merchant who gave me decent clothes and a nice house, even if the luxuries others in the same trade had were missing.A life that lacked for nothing...well, nothing except affection and freedom. I could notleave the house without François's permission, not even to go to the market. The servantswould stop me if I tried. Then my mother had gotten sick and begged me to come andtend to her as if we were living in Paris instead of St. Christopher. Somehow, her wordsrang in his ears the way mine never did, and he let me go. Let me go only to be set uponby pirates and the cargo he worried so much about laid out on the deck to be split amongthe crew.I will never admit I was greedy, just envious of women whose husbands shouldnot have been able to best my own. They were in the same business. They were notrobbed as soon as their backs were turned. At least that was what I had been told. It wasnot cloth that lay there as I had always heard the ranting about being stolen. It was gold,Spanish gold. Enough to have bought all of St. Christopher. François had never evengiven me a wedding ring the day he promised to take care of me till death do us part.François only talked of perhaps one ship a year taken out of five or six. If they all carriedthe same, where did all that gold go? It surely was not into my household. He was gonea lot, on business, he always said. Now I have to wonder where he really was, who hewas with. There was enough there to buy himself many mistresses. Was that why I wasnot allowed out; he was out with them all the time and someone might let me in on hissecret? Did she get all the gold I would have given anything to possess not so long ago?Sad though it may sound, possess as some sort of proof that my husband had actuallymarried me for more than my father's land in St. Christopher. I wonder if all the ships that he owns are named after his mistresses. There is nota Delphine out there. He had told me it would be bad luck. Now they think I am dead oras good as dead and my children will get some new mother, and my husband will take anew mistress or three.* * * *Jack woke and found me sitting naked as a jay barely covered with a filthy sheet.Like I had any choice. There were only two things he had any experience with; one wasfighting and the other, well, a woman of polite society does not speak those words aloud.He grinned as if he thought I was there to entice him. It didn't take one of the prostituteshe was used to dealing with to know how he had gotten that impression. I made noisesFrançois never got out of me. Something else it seems he had denied me in six years ofmarriage.He smiled at me with disgusting teeth showing. "Care for breakfast, love? I willmake you scream some more once I have had some provisions for the long haul."Damn the man. How could he forget he had me trapped on board surrounded byfifty men who would slit my throat if I said no. He didn't have to hold the knife to mythroat himself. I knew I would die if I made one wrong move or, worse yet, be left to thecrew to have their fun with first. There was no way I could stay. Even Jack's smile mademy skin crawl but now that I was away, I didn't think I could go back either."So what's your name? Anyone out there who would care to pay good money foryour ransom?" He pulled away the sheet that covered me. "Not that I'm in a mind togive you back anytime soon.""Delphine le Vasseur." I saw his eyebrow rise faintly. "It seems your husband has paid more than his fairshare giving you up. What would you think you would be worth should I send him yourprice, so he knows I appreciated the gift? Each thigh is surely worth five hundred francsand such breasts as I have ever seen, I would gladly pay a thousand francs apiece forthose in my bed. Do you think he would appreciate my throwing in an extra five hundredjust for that noise you made last night? It does a man's heart good to know he can makea woman do that."The porthole was open and I tried to breathe in the salt-filled air to keep myselffrom gagging.* * * *It was close to a week before I was allowed to leave the captain's cabin withnothing more than my torn shift to wear. The weather was calm and the smell of cookingfilled the air, unfortunately hiding all freshness the sea breeze could bring to my nose.The cook still used the provisions the Mariette had laid in for my journey home, and nowused for abominations in the cooking arts. I had to hold my nose and close my eyes toget it down."We reach Tortuga in a few days, just keep your pants on until then. Do you wantto be marooned if you are lucky or shot for stealing booty?" I heard one of the men ask."Why can she not put some damned clothes on then?" They were hidden fromview so I would imagine they didn't know I was there. Then again, pirates probablywould say anything in front of anyone.I fled back to the cabin and didn't come out again. I decided not to roam outsideanymore. I had to lay plans to escape when we hit Tortuga. St. Christopher had enough sailors stop in port; I knew what that night would be like. There would be confusionenough in which to escape.* * * *Tortuga is a dunghill. Already in its short history French, Spanish, and Englishcolonists have run it. Since 1633, some thirty years so far, privateers and pirates haveused it as a base. Every so often the Spanish or the French attack and for a time it ispeaceful, but the pirates always seem to come back. The only things well organized arethe fortifications and the pirates using them. It didn't help that the French governor in1650 imported several hundred prostitutes--the impetus to our heading there now sincethere was gold to spend on them.It was the dead of night and silent when I slipped on a set of Jack's clothes. Along black coat over loose linen shirt, black britches, high black boots that covered myknees. I did look the part of a pirate even if my skin crawled, literally this time from allthe vermin that lived in the man's clothing. It always surprised me he left the gun in thecabin with me. I slipped it in the waistband along with a knife I had hidden duringdinner. I guess when I didn't fight that first night, he figured me for a docile he didn'thave to worry about.Slowly in the dark, the docile crawled through the hatch to find a crescent strip ofwhite beach backed by sea grapes, but not too far off were boulders littering the coast. Icould smell the tobacco of the men left aboard to guard the rest of the treasure. Theyexpected no trouble and congregated at the bow of the ship sharing a bottle I had set outjust after the ship had cleared. I just walked off the ship even if I was crouched down to do it. When my foot hit the sand so soft beneath me that I sank into it deeply, I ran. Ilistened to their voices fade, knowing they never even notice I was no longer there.Palm trees surrounded by blue plumbago, pink and white oleander, purple and redbougainvillea, Easter lilies, yellow, peach, red, pink, and white hibiscus, and cedar treesall perfumed the air as I ran to where; frankly I didn't know. It was only a quarter moonand I had never been to Tortuga; few proper women had. When I fell, tripping over aroot, I just lay there for a moment. Breathing heavily, I almost missed the sound ofvoices in the distance. Hoping any sound I made might be thought an animal, I followedthem. Heading away from the ship was all I cared about.Dunghill was incorrect, Tortuga was worse. Jack Lott's ship wasn't the only shipin port and people swarmed about me like ants all drawn by an invisible pull toward rum.Mud sucked at the oversized borrowed boots as I tried to keep my head down. Toomany, it felt like, were giving me odd looks. There were few enough women; I was notfooling anyone with the clothes I wore, but at least it was not the torn shift. It was odd tosee the trappings of the life I had only a few weeks ago. Men in gold lace and long wigsseemed so out of place here. I went into the first place that looked respectable. I neverfelt so embarrassed in my life as when I stood there dressed in men's clothes asking for aroom. "And a bath just as hot as you can make it." I had to wash the feel of him off me,not to mention the stench of the ship."It is rather late for that, do you not think?" the innkeeper protested."I can pay well for it." There were only a few in the dining room as the innkeeperleft to get things ready. I could not look them in the eyes. They had to know what I haddone to keep from getting my throat cut. The memory of that pirate's hands made my skin crawl. If it had just been that once, I don't think I would have regretted it much, buthe was a bastard and kept rubbing that scream in. Even if it was to save my life, I feltdirty. I had committed adultery. I opened my hand slowly and stared dazed at my palm.In it lay a gold ring I had taken from the treasure that sat in the cabin, the ring Françoishad denied me. How could I go back? Even if I wanted to, François would assume whathad happened. I would be the marked woman even if he had slept with dozens of otherwomen.Suddenly a man's face was mere inches from mine. He was a large portly fellowwith heavy jowls half hidden under his enormous wig that stood some five inches highand fell to near his waist. His pale green outfit was covered in silver embroidery andsilver lace making him outshine the candles. It didn't, however, do anything to hide hisbulk or improve his looks. I could smell his stale breath spiked with alcohol and felt likegagging. Then he lowered his eyes and gazed down my shirtfront before raising themonce again with a grin.I pulled out the pistol I had stolen from Jack Lott. "The dogs will be eating yourliver for dinner if you lay one finger on me." As if to add menace to the threat, the dogsoutside started barking loudly at another's approach. He looked at me warily and backedaway slowly.My father was a merchant who did a lot of business with England. I could speakthe language well enough. "They will find you here," a voice said quietly behind me."I have no clue what you are talking about," I said, trying to sound confident. "I saw them when they came into town. Captain Lott is crowing about the womanhe has in his cabin. My ship is preparing to sail with the tide in an hour. I would suggestyou come aboard if you truly wish to leave them behind.""Where are you bound for?""Boston, with a cargo of rum.""If you take me there, I will take your offer." I still could not turn to look at him."Very well," he murmured after a moment. "Percy, forget the bath. I talked herinto letting you have your sleep," he called to the back."Thanks to you, Quinn!""I will have the bath drawn for you aboard ship to clean him away."My eyes closed. "Why are you doing this?" I whispered."It was common knowledge, here anyway, that the Mariette was going to beattacked. I know of your husband. You were supposed to have been killed, not captured,and surely not escape. Jack Lott isn't known for taking prisoners even when they arebeautiful women." His hand fell on my shoulder. "We best get you out of here beforeanyone sees you." He led me out into the dark, me stumbling all the way. I could notopen my eyes at the thought François wanted me dead. The tears would start falling if Idid. Till death do us part indeed.* * * *The water was close to boiling, but I still didn't seem to notice as I sat on anothercreaking boat. I just had them keep pouring the kettles in the half barrel. Nothing largercould be offered. Men all of them, but while they looked, not one made a move towardme and the pistol I kept close. I scrubbed and scrubbed, but as the water cooled, it could not keep the tears from falling down my face. The cool night air disturbed the warmth ofthe room and I knew someone was there even before I lifted my red eyes to the door. Itwas the first time I really looked at the man who had taken me from the inn. Somehow, Ihad the feeling deep inside my gut that I had been delivered from one pirate to another.He was far better looking, a tall muscular man and more refined, but there was a hardnessto his eyes not of a regular sea captain. He had long dark hair, but it was dark hair thatcurled naturally as he wore no wig to cover it. He had a strong angular face but he woreno face powder. Unshaven, his dark skin was proof that he worked on the ships and notin some governor's palace."Is it your turn now I am clean of him?" I asked as he watched me sitting therenaked in the barrel.He smiled faintly. "I can see his reasons for breaking with tradition and notkilling you." There was something in his grin that made me want to smile through thetears even if it was only the tiniest of changes in my countenance. "Quinn MacDermottand I am captain of the Revenge. In another place, in other clothes, I am a Captain of theRoyal Navy and my orders are to rid these waters of Jack Lott and others like him."My smile fell from my face. Pirate hunters had to be hard men too. "And whatdo you want of me?""To make sure you get away."Frankly, it was a dilemma I had not thought of until then. I had taken some piecesof eight to pay for a berth away from Tortuga, but after that, there was nothing. I saidmore to convince myself than him. "I will not go back to my husband." Quinn poured two glasses of wine and handed me one. "After finding out hewanted you dead, I would think not. Your parents, perhaps?""My father is dead, my mother sick. This passage was to take me to nurse her.She is possibly dead herself. She is not the problem, though. François's family is herneighbor. I am sure word has been sent saying he is a widower by now, perhaps even anew engagement. It will reach there before me. If I go to her now, how long will I liveonce they let him know his wife still lives?""Did you not even love him a little?"I looked at him, surprised that a pirate hunter would ask such a question. I slidback into the barrel as much as I could to garner the last bit of warmth it had to give. "Iwas sold for my dowry and a piece of land on St. Christopher. François used it to set uphis business there. For six years I thought he was importing cloth.""Pirates do not usually attack ships bearing cloth.""You hunt pirates. Where would a good French merchant get a hold full ofSpanish gold? Is that why you took such an interest when you realized who walked in onyour supper?" I saw his back straighten and knew I was right before he ever spoke a word."François le Vasseur never drew a sword in his life that I have proof of, but if it was yourdowry that started his enterprise, he used it to build a fleet of ships. We have no proofbut it's trying to be kept secret that your husband is behind all of the trouble in thesewaters." My head fell onto my knees. "Turn around," I finally snapped. He was a truegentleman. His head never wavered until I told him he could turn back around as Iclimbed out. "Take me to St. Christopher."He must have expected it. There was no movement that conveyed surprise. Hisanswer was far too prepared. "If Mousier Le Vasseur is found dead, I will arrest you forhis murder. I cannot play a part in it.""He has my children. He might have all but imprisoned me, but he dotes on them.Leaving them with a pirate is another thing altogether."I saw the spark in his eyes, but he still shot me down. "It would be kidnapping."Aghhhh! "He is a pirate. You said so yourself.""I have no proof of that. Only what I have heard."I felt like crying again. Men were such idiots. "Would a hold full of gold beproof enough? I know where Lott's ship is hiding in the shallows. There are only twoguards and they are half drunk." Now the wheels in his head were turning. It was not thequestion I was expecting, though, after seeing that look."How would that prove it was your husband who was in charge of the ship thatwas attacked? I understand your dilemma, but I have jurisdiction only on pirates. Wecan go and take Lott's ship while it is lying at anchor. Your word and the hold of goldare proof enough of his actions and would have been for the Mariette. Your husband,though, would only have to claim his captain turned from his service after he last left hissight.""Get Lott's ship and then take me to St. Christopher. Sunday week, they will allbe at church. You want proof. I can get you proof." "Now you wish me to condone robbery?" I could have screamed then and there.The man I thought so hard was balking over a little robbery."It is my money that built that house. In fact, he keeps his lock box in my room.If it is true, his records will be in there. Is it robbery if it is in my room?"Proof, it seemed, spoke volumes. "Then let's go."* * * *He made up his impression to me when I had to stay below when Lott's ship wastaken. He truly was a hard man. Several of Lott's crew had returned, but all were in asimilar state, in their cups. Captain MacDermott didn't have any qualms about slittingthe throat of the first man who stood up to him. It was not much of a fight. It was closeto dawn and they had been swigging rum since four the afternoon before. I hardly evenheard the sound of cutlasses clashing, they were so drunk. Most were taken without afight. With the gold in hand and a witness to bear against them, the crew sailed back tothe main port to arrest Jack Lott and his crew.I had been told to stay on the ship, but I could not do it. I expected I would wantto throw Lott a kiss goodbye to let him know I had not just lain there out of the kindnessof my heart, that I was not the wanton hussy he must have thought I was. I slipped in thedoor of the tavern where women lay about naked, as I had been kept not so long ago. Icaught sight of the cabin boy who had brought me on board passed out with his headbetween the very large breasts of a redhead. He was guarded even if he could not moveif they ordered him to. Having him glare at me with those dark murderous eyes of his, I knew Lott didn'thave to guess who had turned on him. "Bitch," he snarled, straining against the men whoheld him tight."And here I thought you had grown fond of me, or is it that you grew fond offucking the wife of your partner behind his back? Took extra pleasure in the task afteryou found out who I was, did you not?" I taunted. In his rage, he broke free and came for me. No one expected it and they juststood there for a moment as he charged. I raised the pistol and fired when he was onlyfeet away. I watched those dark eyes fade as the bullet to his head took its revenge forme. A bullet from his own gun."I told you to stay on board," MacDermott roared as the smoke still hung in theair."I was not going to leave it up to the likes of a bunch of ragged sailors to mess up.You are not the only one who wanted the bastard." I had to endure the captain'smurderous glare. I took it head on and he finally roared to the men to take Lott'screwmen away.* * * *Hands held me down, the stench of foul breath filled my nose, but the part of thedream that had brought me bolt upright drenched in sweat was the feel of that bastard. Iwas not sure which one. As I sat there, the man in my dreams had changed from Lott toFrançois time and again until they had merged into one. The door burst open. "Delphine, are you all right?" Quinn asked, out of breath. Itake it I screamed as I woke even though I could not remember doing so. Another manwas the last thing I felt like staring at right then.I flung myself back down, face to the wall. "Go, please." I know I said he washard, did I mention stubborn? His weight on the small bed made me roll toward him. Agentle hand pushed the curly black hair from my face."Killing the man isn't what you thought it would be like, is it?""I would kill the bastard again," I hissed, unable to keep the anger in check withthe visions of my dreams yet to vanish with the light of day."Then what haunts your dreams?"My eyes closed again, I could not look him in the face. "Are you as hard as Ithink you are that you believe all women whores?""I saw you scrub yourself raw. I know how you survived. This is the first timeyou've dreamed of it, though."Dreams, it seemed so long ago since I had them. Most of them had died the firstmonths of marriage when I was all but forbidden from leaving the house. The childrenwere my only reason to live even before I was taken captive. "Six years I was married toFrançois and I dream of him as much as I do Lott. What does that make me? I couldhave walked out of that room any moment.""It makes you a survivor. I interrogated those serving on Lott's ship. You wouldnot have died prettily if you had denied him anything."I rolled over facing the wall once more. "I might as well get the dreams out of theway. No decent man will have me now. Marriage to another as bad as François if I can find even that." The weight from the bed lifted and I heard the door open. He didn'tleave, though; a moment later, the weight was back on the bed."Sit up and drink," he ordered, not sounding particularly pleasant."Why?""Please." That was a request and I rolled over."Why?"His jaw was set as if waiting for the axe to fall. "I don't exactly think you want topossibly carry his child."Oh, God. I had spent close to two weeks on that ship and it had never occurred tome that it could happen. All I could think of was escape. That had to be the reason theidea never came to mind."Sanders saw a woman with child at the tavern where we found Lott and his menand bought this from the native woman acting midwife to her. He is too scared to cometo you with the idea. You did just shoot the pirate in the head. You have a reputation tolive up to now."I took the cup slowly and drank the concoction, trying not to gag as I lay backdown."Why do you seem to care what happens to me? Do you do this for all yourwomen passengers?""You're the first we've ever had around. Having a woman on board is bad luck,so the superstition goes. Shouldn't be too much of a distraction for the crew now thatyou have proven you can shoot to kill. Don't think we'll befall too much bad luck."No straight answer. I knew he meant he needed a witness and I was it. "Not all men are as bad as those you have had to deal with," Quinn whispered justbefore he closed the door.* * * *The liquid in my glass started to tilt as the ship took a hard turn. The sailssnapped as we caught the wind and changed course."Can you make out the ship, Ned?" I heard Quinn yelling above."It's the Sabine," came a faint cry.I ran. Captain MacDermott stared at me as if I was crazy as I stood there halfdressed.Every crew member seemed to be thanking me, though. "François was worriedabout his ship, the Sabine, just before I set sail. It is coming from Maracaibo.""Spanish gold," Quinn muttered."Do we attack?" the first mate asked."Any passengers aboard, do you know?"I shook my head quickly. "Passenger berths would cut down on the space hecould fill with cargo, he always said."That grin worried me. "No, keep it in your sights and we follow it. If we arelucky, we can catch Monsieur Le Vasseur red-handed."* * * *The sea was strong enough; salty spray rolled over the edge of the deck andsoaked me as I sat at the bow. No one said a word to me. I was Jack Lott's killer and toa crew of pirate hunters that seemed more fearsome than the pirate himself. I was neitherproper lady anymore, nor was I a prostitute. I felt as if I was alone in the world. Sailorsdidn't know what I was and somehow I was not so sure I did either. "What is your husband like?" Quinn asked behind me."I thought he was just a man driven to succeed, forsaking all else. I am not surewhat he is anymore." Everything seemed a lie now. François had lied about everything.He was not too busy to spend time with me, he wasn't too poor to buy even the smallesttoken to show he cared. He was not even just a middle class businessman who importedcloth. "You want to get information to use against him, don't you?""I'm wondering more how he could ignore a wife such as you in his bed. I thinkthat is his biggest crime; I can't understand."I laughed when I had not felt like it in some time. "You have never been married,with words like those.""This life leaves little time for it. How many women would sit around waitingwhile I have been on the seas for nine years? I've been after Lott and François for a longtime, four years of that.""If a man was there with me as long as he was on land, I could live with himbeing gone years. Of him never even caring when we stared at each other across thetable, that's worse than him being gone."Quinn smiled. "Pity you're married, then. I wouldn't mind at all having youwaiting for me."I turned and stared. "Odd sentiments from the man who wants to see my husbandhanged.""Sentiments every man on this ship would agree with, even if they had neverheard of François le Vasseur. Your husband is blind.""Pity Lott was not," I muttered. "None of that talk. I refuse to let a woman feel sorry for herself when I'm tryingto seduce her." I raised an eyebrow very high and his smile grew. "The crew seems toabhor the idea of you sitting here sullen and they actually voted on who should comecheer you up. I was informed I was the man and I was to seduce you."The sea rolled over the sides again and washed over my feet. "They see that asfitting for a woman who spent two weeks with a pirate. A mother of two and a wife."His booming laugh filled the air, his eyes sparkled in the sun that warmed methrough. "They are good sailors and soldiers. I never said they were gentlemen."Yet a small part of me wanted him to do just that. Odd to hear, I know, but afterthe last week of dreams since killing Lott, I had wondered if the feel of another man wasthe only way to rid my mind of it. To give freely what there had been no choice aboutbefore, to Lott or François. Trust me, only the fact that the idea made me sick right nowstopped me from taking his hand and leading him to his cabin. A month earlier, I wouldhave gladly taken an affair with Captain Quinn MacDermott as an escape from theboredom. Today I was a different woman. Though I had not escaped boredom, I hadescaped pirates. Then his voice was right in my ear."Delphine, I'm asking for a kiss. The look in your eyes is answer enough. Themen will think I never even tried if they don't see it. If you clearly turn me down,though, the matter will be at an end."Why did the thought enter my head François had never kissed me, not in six yearsof marriage. The peck at the marriage ceremony, and he took me to bed for heirs, but hehad never actually kissed me. Pirates do not kiss, either. "François never kissed me." Ihad to force out the thought. "He should be arrested for that alone." Was I dreaming that those words didn'tsound just like some game he was playing to keep the crew at bay? I had not kissed aman since I was sixteen...just a boy, only a year before I was married. My stomach wasjust about as nervous had it had been then. He said nothing more, not asking if I wouldallow it. I only had to turn my head and his mouth was against mine. Fingers clenchedin my hair not letting me move away, but only after a gentle hand grazed the sensitiveskin on the underside of my breast did my mouth open in surprise and his tongue slippedin. I may never have wanted a man in my bed again right then, but I could have spent therest of the year like that. Quinn was in no haste to leave me like François and there wasnothing to make me feel ashamed like Lott. He pulled away to let me breathe. I seemedto have forgotten that tidbit in the years that had passed."Slapping me would probably work best," he whispered.The tears started falling down my cheeks and I backed away from him, runningback to my berth. How could I slap him? He showed more affection in a sham than Ihad been given in years.The knock on the cabin door was soft before it opened. "If I had known it wouldmake you cry, I never would have done it. The rest of the crew would have startedtrying, though."Men can be so dense sometimes. "That is just it. You do not even care for meand you showed more affection than my own husband has given me. Every damn manon this ship would show me more than François did. He didn't marry DelphineChevignard, he married a plantation in St. Christopher and the money to build pirate ships. Does it make me even worse that if not for Lott, I would gladly let you seduce mejust to feel something?"He opened his mouth to answer but the first mate called, "Land, St. Christopher,"and the Sabine was busy setting anchor in the shallows. It was time to get my husband.* * * *I stared through the glass for minutes, carefully studying the faces of the men asthe ship's hold was unloaded. We were not in Basseterre, the main port, which wastelling enough. A group of men had been offloaded further down the coast to work theirway around. When I finally shook my head that François was nowhere to be seen, asignal was given. First, the cannons opened fire until the Sabine took a ball below thewater line. Quickly it settled in the shallows. When the cannons stopped, the men cameout of the trees to keep the Sabine's crew from fleeing. As I came ashore on sand stainedwith blood, Quinn looked worried. Chest after chest was filled with cloth, five at least.Then, finally, a cry went up as gold was found. Three chests full, in fact. I just stared inone at the huge cross, rosary beads, candlesticks. My husband had financed the attack ona ship filled with priests. Tears fell down my face. He had wanted me dead, but to knowhe had killed so many others was the last thing I could take. Lott had left no survivorsfrom the Mariette. If all of the crews he worked with did the same, he had the blood ofhundreds on his hands. One gold ring still had the finger attached. I vomited.* * * *A neoclassical house of white covered in bougainvillea, my favorite flower, withblack shutters that opened at the bottom to withstand the winds that plagued the island.Out back was the cistern that caught the rainwater that collected on the roof. There was no sign of anyone in sight. The house was filled with the finest furniture available fromevery country of Europe, with a dark stained open beam ceiling to frame it all. Thefurniture was without a doubt expensive and tasteful, but it lacked the ostentatious flair ofLondon and even the Governor's palace. It was more like a grand country home, old andcomfortable. None of it had been in the house when I had left it a few weeks earlier. Allof it goods I would have loved to spend the time picking out.There was one flighty buxom maid left at the house who entered while I looked atall the changes that had happened so quickly. She fainted dead away, thinking I was aghost. Not unthinkable, since I wore the same dress of dark burgundy brocadehighlighted with Venetian lace, my hair arranged to highlight large ruby earrings. I worethe clothing in the painting that hung on the wall. All had been found in the hold of theship.I carried out the strongbox and Quinn shot open the lock. There for all to seewere the records of the pirate escapades of Jack Lott mentioned by name, half a dozenother pirate captains as well, every man in his employment, every ship ever taken, everypiece of cargo. It seemed the one ship a year François had ranted about so much was thepayment for the rest of the year. He had literally turned piracy into a business. Theships' cargoes were brought intact to him and sorted. Two shares were formed, one forLott and one for François. After a year, a ship was loaded with the pirate's share in goldor money made from the selling of the other cargo and attacked like so many others. Iwas just to be thrown in to the bargain. Lott never even knew whose wife I was. Notuntil I told him. "Now, shall we go take my husband's treasure back to him? I should like to bethere for that." MacDermott looked up at my words. He was worried after my actions atthe tavern. I could see it even before he spoke."He needs to be taken for trial. Catching pirates is one thing, catching the manwho was financing them from the shadows to keep his name clear is another. He has tobe made an example of to the others who might be doing the same thing. Do I have tosearch you for a pistol or can you do this on your honor?""What honor? It was taken from me," I hissed. I might have been part of somebucolic painting as I sat there on a rock outside in full dress, if not for the topic ofconversation. The men around looked away when he picked up my chin, forcing me tolook at him. I suppose they thought he would kiss me again. Obviously, none could hearhim or see the look in his eyes. Kissing me was the last thing on his mind."I will put you in chains until this is over if you cannot understand your revengehas to come second. I need your husband alive to stand trial. Now what is your answer?""You have my word I will do nothing to harm him physically. I might yell.""Expected." He was very quiet for a moment. "What are you going to do afterthis? These records show this house was actually built with the proceeds from the firstship they attacked, not from your dowry. It will most likely be confiscated." That I wasnot expecting and it hit me like a bullet to the heart."When my husband is hanged, I will worry about it."* * * *I stood in the dining room where I knew they would be coming after they returnedfrom church. François looked to be having a feast by the dishes that lay on the table. The occasion for such delicacies ran through my head. Was he marrying already? Quinnand half dozen men stood in the window wells. They were not hiding, but they kept theroom surrounded and were unobtrusive enough that he would come fully into the room.François entered, dressed in bright pastel blue clothes edged in gold lace, his facepowdered, his wig heavy, and patches on his face. Indeed, there was a woman at his side.I truly did look closely to see why I was neglected for another. Not that I wantedto be married to the man knowing all I did, but six years of my life and for what? Shewas actually rather plain, though it was hard to tell through the dress and powder. Wasshe rich then? Did she let him do things to her I never would dream of?"Mama!" my children cried upon seeing me. They ran and clutched my legs. Atleast someone had missed me. The woman turned the most awful shade of green. Iwondered if her name was Mariette or was it Sabine?Then he caught sight of me. "You are supposed to be dead," François hissed."Yes, well, they were pirates. Did you expect them to keep a deal? Bad enoughLott took me to his bed until I could escape, but then after bed with you, I could endureanything. The worst thing, I think, was that a damned pirate made me scream as he did.Made me wonder all this time how little regard you had for your wife if you didn't evencare to take so little effort to keep me happy." There was a sniff from the corner whereFrançois's new whore was cowering, but its meaning was clear. I was not the only oneleft lacking when it came to my husband. The woman was just attracted to the jewels hehad wooed her with. "The British Navy has the gold, François. Lott's dead, crew's dead,your ship is confiscated, and they have your records you kept in my room as aprecaution." He pulled the sword from his belt. Quinn's sword stopped it from piercing mychest just in time."Ggggrrrrrrr!" François yelled in frustration as he turned on him like a madman.It was rather funny to watch, really. Captain MacDermott looked far more pirate thanFrançois did. Now I only had to wonder if Quinn was as schooled in the art as myhusband. He had taken years of lessons before our marriage. Anger made the attackworse as he thrust and slashed his way across, driving Quinn back. He had yet to lookaround and see he was surrounded. The Captain only had to say the word and they wouldhave surrounded François, but he never acted as if he was not in control. Steel clashed inthe air as he always caught François' blade, never failing to anticipate the next move. Asthey danced about, I suddenly realized Quinn didn't want to kill the bastard.The men with him tried to grab me, but I was across the room before they realizedI was moving. The pistol at the base of François's neck stopped the dance."Delphine, you promised you would not kill him like you did Lott." Quinngrowled, hardly out of breath.François's eyes went wide when he heard the man's words. A pirate hunter didn'tseem to worry him but a wronged wife did, even worse, a wronged wife who had alreadykilled. Quinn was reaching for the gun when I yanked François down to mouth level. Noone but the three of us heard my whisper."You are a pirate, husband, even if you never sailed with them. You will hang asone. Do not worry. I will be there by your side when they let you fall. Till death us dopart."* * * * * I sold the land for as much as I could. There was no house and very little inincome to build one. It was my only asset. I stood there and watched the hangman'sgallows in London as they were prepared to stretch the neck of my husband. My childrenwere safe, but Captain MacDermott had been right, everything gained from the attackswas confiscated. I was left with only the land my father had given me as a dowry. Theywould return or repay what they could to those it was stolen from, but me, they could notreturn what had been taken from me. I had no house, no money. I only had what I didthrough Quinn's words that I had helped bring Lott and his men to justice. He tried tofight for more, but the judges were more interested in making an example of Françoisthan Quinn had been. My clothes and furniture were all I had and even those were onlywhat I had before the wedding. I had my children, but six years of my life were gone. Icould never get them back. I was a twenty-six year-old widow to a pirate who mostdidn't believe I could ever have known about. They didn't seem to realize just how littlethey share with us women. Before that fateful day I set foot on the Mariette, my onlyactivity was meeting with a very small group of women that François allowed. It was myonly contact really and I always pried as much information as I could out of them in mygiven time. They never knew much of what their husbands did, how much they made, aslong as it was enough for them to spend it on what they wanted. We were all clueless,and now they were persecuting me for it."Whore." The words made me spin to find myself face to face with a womanfinely dressed. I didn't know her, but I had seen her sitting in the courtroom as myhusband was tried, listening as I described how I had survived his attempt to have mekilled. I had expected it from his family, those on St. Christopher perhaps, but this was just some random English woman with a rather odd fetish for seeing pirates hanged.Captain MacDermott stepped in front of me, blocking our view of each other. He wasnot looking at me, though. He leaned over and muttered something in the woman's ear.When he turned back to take my arm once more, the woman was gone.We had walked a ways before he looked down at me smiling faintly. "Sometimesone has to be reminded of who they sleep with.""What?""She's had lovers for years, almost as long as she's been married."I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing. "Why do I think I can guess whatyou said? He who casts the first stone, perhaps. I thought you hard once; now you arequoting from the Bible.""I didn't have to quote the Bible. I know her husband well and he doesn't know ofher activities.""You keep her secret the way it was kept from me for all those years."He leaned his head near mine. "Are you saying that if you should marry again,the man would be bound to you alone? You will surely find it hard to catch a man withthat requirement."I felt like laughing, but I just could not do it. Walking down the street it felt somuch like we were flirting youths without a care in the world. Only this time the youthswere walking from the hanging of a pirate--the father of my children. It seemed like itwas all over so long ago. The day I pulled the gun on him, it had ended for me. For thetrial and hanging I was there because it was required of me. "Shooting a man, I think,limits it far more." "You might have a point there. Although an enemy of Lott's or François's mightfind you quite the catch. You never know what offers you might get."I laughed down the street, but I knew it was nothing more than a dream.* * * *When you have nothing, you return to your parents. Quinn took the children andme to Dover for the trip to France. It pained me to have to return as destitute as I was.My father had decided on François and now I had to inform my mother how much theirchoice had ruined me. I stared at the quiet waters of the Channel hoping it held for thecrossing. I could not stand to sink after all I had been through."Would you think me terribly forward if I asked to call on you?" Quinn saidquietly as he stood beside me. I held my two children's hands, having a time keepingthem still."I think I would be very disappointed if you didn't. I would like to hear howthings go with you." He reached over, took the hand of Sophie, and placed something inmy free hand. I opened the cloth slowly while Captain MacDermott stood there just ascalm as could be. Before me lay part of the gold that had once lain on the deck of Lott'sship. It was a gold bodice ornament shaped like a bow and covered with rubies and rosecut diamonds with a large ruby drop and earrings to match. So that is what a quail's egglooked like. "Because of you, St. Christopher and the surrounding waters are far safer. Ireceived a promotion and you are left without a franc to your name. That does not soundvery fair to me." "It is a pretty gift, but it will not go with what I shall have to wear now that I havenothing left. You should take it back to its owner before I think you have gone pirate,too.""Has it been so long since anyone has shown interest?" My mouth openedslightly at what he said. It had never occurred to me. "Not many can show such strengthwhen they are shown adversity, nor in court admit how they kept themselves alive untilthey could escape pirates. I thought its price would build a fine house and you would nothave to live on your parents' charity.""Why would you do such a thing? You could get thrown in jail for this."He smiled at my innocence. "I have been finding the owners of the goods. Thereare a few we can find no trace of. One will perhaps help to make up for your trouble.More than that and I would probably get caught. When these memories have dimmedand a suitable time has passed that tongues will not wag, I would like to be allowed to trymy hand at convincing a rare soul to marry me, to give her children a father. Once she'sover this thinking I would only take her to give her something to feel and realizes I amserious."Oh God. I bit my lip; it was all I could do to keep from gaping. In all the time Ihad known Quinn, he had never made any mention that such words might come from hismouth. He must be a rare man that he had no concern over a woman who spent twoweeks at the hands of a pirate and could still speak of marriage. Staring at his hard greeneyes, I remembered the words he whispered before he left me one night, and the wordflirting took on a completely new meaning. Maybe it should not have been sounexpected. "That kiss, did the men really draw lots?" "Do you think I would lie about something as idiotic as that? If I want to kiss awoman, I can find a far better way to get her in my arms than that."My grin grew with each word out of his mouth. The wheels started turning in myhead, a decision obviously made without even having to think about it. "The French haveislands in the Indian Ocean. I should have no worry of this story reaching there and theyraise similar crops. I would have more experience there than in the Americas orremaining in France where the gossip will surely kill me. Perhaps in the spring when theweather is favorable, you might come see me and we will see how I have recovered. Iwill need a ship to help me reach there and I could use some help obtaining passage.Perhaps you could give me the name of a reliable ship's captain.""I will be there." It was all he said before he took us to the ship to make thecrossing.* * * * *Springtime in Paris. The grass was green, the trees in bloom, the stench of piratesthat still seemed to always linger in my nose was washed away with the latest rain. Mymother had died only weeks after I arrived. I was there for her at the end, at least. Everyday I walked out having to stare at François's parents' house. Every time they caughtsight of me, I heard the curses. 'Whore' seemed to be the favorite."Well, I would say you have not changed your mind about leaving, at any rate."Quinn's voice was soft in my ear as I packed. The house was sold, the things Ididn't want were already gone. I would have sworn it was a dream, the words he hadspoken at the docks, but then I felt his hand gently tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "I found you a first rate captain, good sound ship, two berths, one for you and one for thechildren.""It is not Villanche, is it? He has the worst reputation."Quinn turned me around so I actually looked at him. "No; new man to the route.Though you might have heard of him as well. Captain Quinn MacDermott, he just retiredfrom the Navy; a pirate hunter, so you should be good and safe from attack on the wayout.""You retired because of what I said?""I retired because it took me four years to catch Lott. I could not see myselftaking on another pirate and hunting him for years. Now, using my bounty to buy a shipto sail to the Indian Ocean, well, it was a damn good excuse to be close to you for monthsto come."* * * *Several days later, children in hand, Quinn took us to the docks. I could onlystare at the ship as the children rushed ahead. It was named the Delphine."I thought it was bad luck...""To name a boat after the woman who killed Jack Lott? Might be bad luck not toname it after you." He pointed to the ship's head and it looked suspiciously like me,curly long black hair flying, dressed in a tight torn shift, arm raised, bearing a pistol. "Ihad no part in it being made, but just could not turn down the gift when it was therebefore me. Best looking ship's head I have ever seen. I like the model even better still."Quinn's grin stopped anything else from coming to mind.I have a good feeling about the voyage already.
