The Pirate's Lover #Watty's 2015

Chapter One

Even though Ember Trent wasn't technically heir to her father's dukedom, seeing as how her brother James would eventually take over, she was still required to marry. Which brings us to the ball the Duke and Duchess of Dover was hosting for tonight. She had been dreading this for a whole fortnight, this was the ball to "celebrate" Her most recent engagement. Lord Henry Strongberg of York had asked her father for her hand in marriage. There was only one problem, the thought of Lord Henry made Embers stomach churn. He was a backstabbing snake who stopped at nothing to get what he wanted, there were even rumors saying he had poisoned his elder brother for their inheritance. She didn't trust his intentions in the least bit but her father had left little room for discussion.

A knock on the door brought Ember out of her thoughts, it was only her maid Mary coming in to start preparing her. Ember watched as Mary laid her deep purple dress across her bed.

"Lady Ember let's put your dress on so we can present you to your mother," Said Mary "she's getting rather antsy."

"Oh I suppose we might as well." Ember said disengaged.

"Lady Ember I do wish you would perk up. Marriage is supposed to be a happy occasion." Mary says with a small encouraging smile.

"It is supposed to be a happy occasion but Lord Henry makes my skin crawl. I wish my father would rethink things." Ember replied stepping into the dress Mary was holding out.

"He may not be all that bad Miss, some men surprise you." Mary said, her tone allowing the subject to drop. "The dress looks absolutely stunning on you My Lady!"

Ember turned to look in the full length mirror, the low cut front peeked down dangerously low with its edge trimmed in white lace calling a considerable amount of attention to her cleavage. The sleeves were made entirely of white lace that ended at her wrist, while the rest of the dress flowed down her body and ended with another trip of lace. There was no other dress like it considering she had personally designed it all herself. Ember chose not to respond, too withdrawn with dread for the upcoming night. Instead she just sat down and allowed Mary to pin her hair up in a braided style. Once that was completed she adorned her pearl necklace and earrings and said a quick thank you to Mary before going to find her mother.
Here goes nothing. Ember thought to herself.

***************

The Duchess of Dover was directing the maids and manservant in setting up the grand ballroom. She turned her head just as her daughter Ember entered.

"You look lovely dear." The Duchess gushed at her daughter.

"Thank you mother, you asked to see me?" Ember asked trying to remain respectful.

"Yes I did, I wanted to see how you were feeling. I know when me and your father announced our engagement my nerves were a jittery mess." Lady Isabelle said wistfully.

"I imagine you and father were actually happy with your engagement." Ember replied, wanting her mother to understand and side with her.

"Ember Trent, Lord Henry is a respectable man and a good match for you. I expect you remember this and stop being so harsh." Her mother scolded with a firm tone "Not one more word of this nonsense. You're dismissed now."

Ember turned around with a huff and walked out to the only place that could calm her, the dock. Something about how the waves rolled in and back out and the smell of the sea always called to her. The waves taunted her today as if offering her an escape, but she knew that wasn't possible. She closed her eyes and inhaled the smell of the sea and instantly felt herself relax. That is until a blade found its way against her neck and a hand clasped over her mouth silencing the scream about to surface. Ember grabbed the hand holding her as if trying to pry it off while her breathing became irractic.

"I'm going to remove my hand, if you scream I'll have to cut that pretty throat of yours." An earily calm voice spoke way to close to her ear.

The man removed his hand and helped her into a standing position.

"What do you want from me?" Ember spoke on the verge of hysteria.

"Well sweetheart, all I want from you right now is just simply you." He whispered huskily as he started pushing her back towards the beginning of the dock where it connected with the beach.

The man paused momentarily and Ember took her opportunity and jerked her arm free and made a run for the safety of her home. Only to get tackled by this mysterious man after just barely getting out of her shoes.

"Your going to wish you hadn't done that." He said tauntingly as he hauled her back to her fallen shoes.

Instead of picking them up he dropped a piece of parchment paper on top of them and proceeded to drag her down the beach. Ember took this opportunity to study the back of him in an attempt to place him from somewhere. He had shoulder length black hair, a black leather coat that ended at his thigh and black cloth pants tucked into a pair of boots. She didn't recognize his voice and was pretty sure she had never seen him before. Why did he want her? We she going to ransom her back to her father? Or worse? Who was this man?

Embers last question was at least partly answered when a hauntingly beautiful ship with a mermaid on the bow frozen in a scream came into her view. Along with this ship came a row boat conveniently pulled up on the beach with five rough looking men all awaiting their arrival.

This man was a pirate.