The Pirate's Willing Captive by Anne Herries Page A

gentleman?’
    ‘Oh, no, believe me, I should not,’ Justin said, his mouth grim. ‘I am well aware that I forfeited all right to call myself by that title long ago. Yet still I have some honour. My word is my bond and you may rely on it.’
    ‘I know and I do trust your word.’ She lay a hand on his arm, feeling the hardness and strength of muscle and bone through the thin shirt he wore. He was a powerful man, and could, if he wished, break her with his hands. Yet she sensed that somewhere deep inside there was a different man, a man who knew how to be gentle and generous. It was that man she longed to see, that man she caught glimpses of now and then. ‘Forgive me if I have offended you, sir. It was an idle question and not my business.’
    ‘No, it was not your business—yet I shall tell you. Iled a mutiny against a man of such brutality that he drove his crew beyond all limits. After that, there was nothing for us but to make a living from piracy. For myself, I intend to pursue the career only until I can make a new life elsewhere.’
    ‘Shall you return to England and your home one day?’
    ‘I think not.’ Justin’s eyes were shadowed, giving no indication of his feelings. ‘Enough questions, lady.’ Tis time to go ashore. Higgins will look after you and Anna. He will find transport and take you to Peg’s, where you will stay until I come. Under no circumstances are you to venture on to the waterfront unless I am with you. Do I make myself clear?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’ Maribel was silenced. Why did he think it necessary to give her orders? Was he punishing her for what she had said? It was not necessary, she was not a child nor would she dream of straying to the port alone. ‘I shall obey you, for I have no wish to mix with pirates or their whores!’
    Justin gave her a searing look. ‘Have a care, lady! Such language will earn you no friends on shore. Pride is all very well, but for the moment you are a guest in company that you may despise but should fear. I can command my own crew, but there are men on shore who would rape and hurt you if they found you wandering alone. You have been warned, so take care! I cannot always be there to protect you.’
    ‘Then why have you brought me to such a place?’ Maribel demanded, provoked by his attitude into retaliation.
    Justin looked at her, seeing the pride but underneath the vulnerability. She was trying to hold on to her dignity but she was out of her depth and afraid of things she did not understand. She might no longer have her hair dressed in ringlets and she had left off her heavy panniers, but the pride of a high-born Spanish lady remained. ‘You are asking a question I have asked myself a thousand times on the journey, lady. I should have sent most of the crew here and taken the Defiance to England—you are a burden we could do without and the sooner we are rid of you the better!’
    Maribel felt the cut of his words like the lash of a whip. He was angry with her and it was her own fault. Captain Sylvester had proved himself a man of his word and yet she had done nothing but provoke him—and she did not know why.
    Tears stung behind her eyes as she was assisted into the boat taking her and Anna ashore. What a fool she was to quarrel with the only man who could help her. She knew that he had been forced to keep his promise to his crew and sail them here. She was stupid to make so much fuss about being brought to this place. Captain Sylvester had done his best for her and she must endure whatever discomfort there was until he took her to England. She could only hope that she had not pushed him too far, for she shuddered to think what life would be like for her here if he abandoned her.
    * * *
    ‘So Sylvester sent you to me, did he?’ Peg stood with her hands on her hips and looked Maribel over.‘Yer a lady, ain’t yer? What are yer doin’ in a place like this?’
    ‘It is a long story. Captain Sylvester has agreed to take me to my family in