Blackhearts (7 page)

“We still have unfinished business to discuss.”

“You should concentrate on Miss Patience,” Anne said.

“Just like fair Eve in
Paradise Lost
, she is the one searching for knowledge. Not I.”

Teach was surprised that Anne knew the details of the

poem, but he kept his features guarded. “Are you saying you’re

above temptation?”

Relief washed over Anne’s face when she saw something

over Teach’s shoulder. “I’m saying I don’t have to partake of the fruit to understand the difference between good and evil.”

Teach glanced at the room behind him, annoyed when he

saw who it was. The scowl on Patience’s face no doubt matched

his. “This isn’t finished between you and me,” he whispered

through clenched teeth.

As if emboldened by Patience’s presence, Anne scooted

beneath his arm and backed out through the door, her eyes

flashing defiance. “In that case I’ll be sure to keep my pail

handy.”

5 2

C H A P T E R 6

Teach

The sun was warm overhead. Too warm, and Teach felt sick to

his stomach. He leaned against the rough wood of the garden-

er’s shed, fingering the large red bloom in his hand. He’d never cared much for roses but knew Patience liked them.

He moved impatiently from one foot to the other, wishing

he’d chosen a different spot to rendezvous with his fiancée. The rose garden had been her idea. Not very original, but after two

hours of interruptions by both Drummond and Lady Hervey,

he was willing to go just about anywhere to get some time alone

with her.

Twirling the flower in his hands, he wrinkled his nose at

the scent. It was heavy and cloying, so very different from

his mother’s favorite blossom. He remembered how she used

to decorate the house with delicate snowdrops, their light

5 3

perfume filling the rooms. When they bloomed, it was like a blanket of white, signaling the arrival of spring.

After her death five years ago from a prolonged illness, his

father had ripped up that section of the estate, letting the entire staff go. For several months Drummond had lived in seclusion,

allowing the house and grounds to deteriorate. Teach had been

off at school at Eton but had come home and managed to talk

his father into rehiring the gardener and acquiring new staff.

He’d pointed out that his mother would have been appalled at

the estate’s condition, and it hadn’t taken long for the neglect to be repaired.

Now there were stone figures standing as sentinels through-

out the gardens, much like the stone wall around Drummond’s

heart.

At length Teach heard Patience’s voice, and he straightened,

anticipation coursing through his veins. It had been too long

since their last tryst. Although he didn’t feel well, he was sure Patience could renew his spirits.

As long as she didn’t say much.

Except she wasn’t alone. Walking beside her was a young

girl, her ear held in a painful grip by a tight-lipped Patience.

“Where is he?” Patience demanded.

“I told you, my grandfather isn’t here,” the girl wailed, lean-

ing her head to the side in an effort to lessen the pain.

Teach took a step forward. “What’s going on?” he asked,

uncomfortable at the sight of Patience using unnecessary force.

5 4

The girl’s ear was bright red, and she had tears in her eyes. “What’s your name?”

“Ruth, sir.”

“Let her go,” he said.

Patience’s mouth dropped open. “Why?”

“Because you’re hurting her.”

“I asked her where her grandfather, the gardener, was,

because I wanted to speak with him,” Patience said.

“Please, sir. He’s worked here for several years and won’t

work for anyone else,” Ruth said, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

“But when Edward and I are married, he would still be

working for a Drummond.” Patience turned on Teach. “Tell

her. Convince her that her grandfather could make more money

if he came to work for us.”

Teach didn’t appreciate the fact that Patience was already

planning to take one of his father’s staff with her when they

married. And he didn’t like her talking about their upcoming

nuptials so soon. He’d arrived only a few hours ago. “You heard

her. Her grandfather enjoys working here. Now let her go.”

“She merely said he’s worked here for several years,” Patience

insisted.

“But she also said her grandfather won’t work for anyone

else.”

“But my father is a
baron
.”

There it was, the insidious reference to the aristocracy. Teach

5 5

recognized the disapproval in her voice. He’d heard enough at school to recognize it. William was the only aristocrat who

didn’t seem to mind Master Drummond’s low birth.

“Excuse me, sir, but Master Drummond would like to see

you.” The voice came from behind them.

The three turned and saw Anne standing there, a cross look

on her face. Patience released Ruth’s ear, and Ruth ran to Anne’s side, her small hand finding Anne’s.

“How dare you,” Patience said, her eyes narrowing.

Anne ignored her and nodded to Teach. “Your father would

like to see you in the library, sir.”

Frustrated, it was all Teach could do not to yell at the sky.

He swore his father planned his interruptions. “Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

Anne pursed her lips. “He thought you might say that. He

said you are to come immediately. It is important and has some-

thing to do with the
Deliverance
.” Her message delivered, she turned on her heel and returned to the house, Ruth stuck to

her side.

“Are you going to let her talk to you like that?” Patience

demanded, her hands on her hips. “If she were my maid, I’d

have her dismissed at once, with no severance and no recom-

mendation for another situation. Who does she think she is,

the little . . .”

Patience’s voice droned on and on, but Teach paid her no

attention. Anne had been quite discourteous, but he would

5 6

have been more surprised if she’d been civil. She didn’t bother hiding her dislike, and would need to be reprimanded at some

point.

But his mind was occupied with more pressing matters.

Like what his father wished to discuss with him. Teach had

often hinted that he would like to captain one of his father’s

ships, but his father had never taken him seriously.

Perhaps he’d had a change of heart.

Teach dismissed himself from Patience and followed after

Anne, vaguely aware of Patience hurrying after him.

“If I didn’t know better, I might begin to think you didn’t

want to spend time with me,” Patience said.

“That’s not true. I’ll come find you later.” Teach felt a twinge of guilt for dismissing Patience so quickly. He would make it up to her, he assured himself, but refused to dwell on the matter. It didn’t take much for Patience to get upset. Then again, it didn’t take much to make her forget her anger.

At the door to the library, Teach paused and took a deep

breath. Lifting his hand, he rapped three times with his knuckles.

“Come in.”

Teach stepped inside the book-filled room, inhaling the

familiar odor of leather and the clean, sharp scent of linseed

oil. The dark wood paneling gleamed in the afternoon sunlight

streaming through the windows. Drummond sat in his favorite

leather armchair decorated with brass studs. In his hands he

held his worn, dog-eared copy of the Bible.

5 7

Ever since Teach had been little, his father had retired to his library at this time in the afternoon to read several chapters and drink his favorite tea. He must have just gotten settled, because the tea tray was noticeably absent.

“You wanted to see me?” Teach said, wishing his voice

hadn’t broken on the last word. At forty-three, his father was

still a formidable figure.

Drummond held up a finger and continued reading. When

he was finished with the last verse, he closed the book and set

it on the table beside him. “Yes. I wanted to ask you to keep an eye out for me.”

“An eye out for what?” Teach asked, puzzled. What did this

have to do with the
Deliverance
?

“I believe some things in the house have gone missing, and I

would like you to see if you notice any of the staff acting oddly.”

“Acting oddly,” Teach repeated.

“Yes. I’ve checked each of their rooms numerous times, but

I haven’t been able to find anything.”

“Father, you didn’t.”

Drummond raised his chin. “I most certainly did. This is

my house, and those are my things. Nobody steals from me and

gets away with it.”

“Have you asked Margery?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. She might be the one doing it.”

“But are you sure they’re missing? Perhaps you are mistak—”

“Do not insult me. I know what I’m talking about. A goblet

5 8

is gone, one that I gave your mother that she admired. And I cannot find my favorite spyglass, the one with the silver-and-gold inlay. Someone in this house has taken them, and I intend to find out who it is. If you can’t assist me with that simple request, then you’re not the young man I raised you to be.” Despite the cutting edge to his words, fatigue showed in Drummond’s hollowed

cheeks, and Teach felt a stab of compassion for him.

“All right, Father. I will keep an eye out for the thief.” Teach didn’t think anything would come of it, but it wouldn’t hurt to

make sure nothing was amiss. It would also give him an excuse

to watch Anne more closely.

“Good. Thank you. Now I wish to discuss something else

with you. As you know, I’ve spent quite a bit of time working

on the
Deliverance
’s completion. Nearly two years of my life.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Now that its launch is almost here, I find myself looking

toward the future.”

Teach’s pulse accelerated, but he knew better than to say

anything. He remained motionless, his hands locked behind

his back

“I’ve decided to step down as the head of the company and

leave its maintenance to my solicitors.”

This was not the conversation Teach had expected. “But

they know nothing about seafaring,” Teach blurted out.

“True, but then, neither did I when I began. Knowledge

can be acquired.”

5 9

Teach should have stayed with Patience. Preparing for an argument, he drew himself up to his full height. “Knowledge

doesn’t need to be
acquired
when I’m fully capable of running things myself. I’ve just returned from a year at sea and would be more than qualified to take over for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I know what it takes to be a merchant. From the

office work you taught me before I left, to the running of the

ship itself. I can help you if you would let me.”

“Are you saying you want to become a captain?” Drummond

asked, clearly horrified.

“Why not? I’m as capable as the next person.”

“But you’re going to marry Miss Patience. Does she know

you want to command a ship?”

Teach shrugged. “Well, no, not yet—”

“Good. She never will.”

“Your father never stood in your way.”

“Because my father could not afford to give me a better life.

If I’d stayed home instead of joining that merchant crew, my

mother would have died. I could not stand by and watch her

starve to death.” It was rare that Drummond showed any emo-

tion other than anger or disdain, but whenever he mentioned

his mother and how she’d always given him her portion of their

meager meals when he was a small boy, the look in his eyes soft-

ened and the lines in his face were not as pronounced.

Teach was filled with a mixture of sympathy and frustra-

6 0

tion. It was truly amazing what his father had accomplished in thirty years. At the same time, it was maddening that he refused to let Teach determine his own future.

A knock at the door prevented further discussion.

“Yes?” Teach and his father called out simultaneously. Anne

entered the room with Drummond’s tea. She walked to the

small table situated between them and set it down.

“I don’t wish to have this conversation again,” Drummond

said, his mouth tightening.

Teach shot Anne a dark look. He didn’t want to have it in

front of
her
, but his father never noticed his staff. The only time he paid any attention to them was if they did something wrong.

Like stealing silver from him.

“Father, please—”

“You will not set foot on the
Deliverance
. Is that understood?” Drummond fairly boomed.

The full teacup dropped to the tray, and Anne, clearly

startled by the outburst, bit her lip as the scalding water

splashed over her hand. Teach cringed and moved to help her,

but Drummond waved them both away. “Go. I’ll pour my

own tea. I don’t wish to discuss this any further.”

Teach practically wrenched the knob from the door in his

haste to exit the room. Outside, he whirled on Anne the minute

the door was closed behind them.

“Are you all right?”

“Excuse me?” she asked, wide-eyed.

61

“Let me see your hand.”

She held it behind her back. “It’s nothing.”

“It is not. That water was hot enough to boil an egg. Now,

show me your hand.”

With obvious reluctance she held it out to him. The skin