Other Oceans: Book Two of the Hook & Jill Saga (29 page)

“When?”

With a coy look, LeCorbeau answered, “Well, eh, certainly not until all desirable parties are safely aboard
L’Ormonde
.”

Hanover sat silent.

“So, the sooner you can bring yourself to ‘join’ Hook’s company, the sooner you will leave it.” The Frenchman strutted to the bunk. Jingling the chain there, he trilled, “Ah, which of us does not love to see a wedding! I am sure the occasion will bring the tears of joy to my eyes. Come, Guillaume. It is time to begin sneezing again.” The shackles thudded onto the mattress and LeCorbeau gathered up the blanket. The cocky little captain draped it over Guillaume, and linked the young man’s arm in his own. At the door, he turned.

“But I should hate to see the so-innocent bridesmaid left behind, shrinking hopelessly into the distance. The only female on a ship full of pirates, never to be seen again.” In a helpless gesture, he lifted his shoulders. “Abandoned by the father who saw fit to give her— body and soul— to the one man in this world he judges most immoral.”

Hanover stared, unseeing, at his desktop, his right hand clutching and releasing his watch.

“Or, Doctor, shall we instead more pleasantly plan the honeymoon? A nice leisurely voyage, perhaps— to Alexandria? I understand that the lotus blooms there.”

§ § §

Liza discovered she had underestimated her mistress. It was a mistake she wouldn’t make again.

Kneeling in front of her, despairing, the girl stared at the design of the carpet. Its colors swirled before her eyes, illuminated by morning sunshine. Liza smarted as if she’d just been whipped, but the punishment she was to receive was worse.

The lady stood cool and calm. “I warned you at the start to stay out of the captain’s way. Until you learn your place, you will serve me only when I am alone.”

A spasm ran down Liza’s spine.

“Mr. Smee will come for you in the mornings, and after your duties here and your lessons, you will be confined to quarters.”

In her relief, Liza almost relaxed. She could still slip away to the empty cabin, when he was there—

“In the shackles I so wisely advised the captain to install.”

Liza didn’t move. The shackles! And they had been Jill’s idea?

“I trust I have made myself clear.”

Smee prodded, but only with his voice. “Answer your mistress, girl.”

Sulking, Liza nodded.

“No, Miss, you can do better than that.”

She inhaled, and looked up at the pirate queen. The bloody drops on her throat, Liza reminded herself, were only rubies.

“One more lapse will land you in the brig. But of course, you won’t have to stay there long.” Jill tilted her head. “There are quite a few empty islands in these waters.”

Panic mounting, the girl shook her head. Jill smiled.

“I am so glad you understand. It will make the rest of your service more pleasant for everyone. Mr. Smee, remove this creature to her quarters.” Turning away, Jill headed toward her writing desk. But before she progressed more than a few steps, she heard a muffled thump. She halted and whirled.

Her eyes widened. Liza had collapsed on the rug. As the girl scrambled to her feet, she clutched at the hem of her dress, tugging it down to hide a ghastly discoloration of her flesh.

Indignant, Jill exchanged a glance with Smee. His jaw had fallen open, and now he gave a curt shake of his head. Liza lurched toward the door, limping, but in one stride Smee blocked her exit. Jill bridled her temper and closed in to confront the girl.

“Liza. How did this happen?”

Still forcing her skirt down, Liza shook her head.

“Never mind! I know how. No one but the captain and I hold the authority to touch you.” Jill lifted her chin. “Who dared to beat you?”

The obvious answer begged to give itself, but something loyal in Liza refused to convey it— and Jill would never believe Captain Hook had done it. The girl’s eyes darted wildly as she thought. Smee? No, the look of surprise on the man’s face was too genuine. Everyone knew Yulunga was vicious enough, but why would he bother? Cecco had never so much as looked at her. Only one choice remained.

As Jill and Smee stared, Liza stood as straight as she was able. Slowly, her hands reached down to gather her skirts, and she raised the mauve material above her knees. Smee watched her frozen face. Jill’s lip curled as she beheld the bruises— long, purple-black stripes on the thighs of both slender legs.

“Ma’am?”

“Yes, Mr. Smee. I want you to see this.”

Smee’s gaze shifted toward the girl’s legs. His eyes narrowed behind his spectacles, and then he watched the mistress.

“Enough, Liza.”

The girl dropped her skirts.

All the power of the pirate queen condensed into Jill’s one word. “Who?”

Drawing the muscles of her face together, Liza expressed regret.

“I promised you the protection of the captain. You shall have it.”

Liza’s gray eyes opened wide, trusting. Then, resolutely, her little hand with its pearly ring rose. Her finger pointed. She rested it on her temple, and gradually traced a line— to her eyebrow. The exact path of a new scar among the crewmen. A well-discussed scar. Her finger lingered there for a moment, then her hand dropped.

When the lady spoke at last, her tone was icy.

“Tom.”

Liza bowed her head.

Smee restrained himself from wrapping his arms around the lady, to buoy her. She wouldn’t want the girl to witness any sign of weakness. Sharply, he turned to Liza. “Get out!”

Only after the door closed behind her did Liza let loose the smile. It seemed she herself had been underestimated. Maybe the master wouldn’t see her for a few days, but she had arranged it so he would have to think about her.

Fair enough. Liza had thought of him under every one of that ‘gentleman’s’ excruciating strokes. And wouldn’t the gentleman be grateful she’d had the intelligence to lie for him? Jill would never have to know— until it was far too late.

§ § §

“She’s lying, Sir. I swear it.”

Hook regarded Tom Tootles with a chilly stare. Starkey sat uncomfortable before the desk, surveying the stick laid to rest upon its surface, the gift of ebony from the privateer. The tutor was loathe to call the captain’s notice, but now he spoke up, running a finger around his collar.

“I don’t know when the lad could have done it, Captain,” Starkey said. “I’ve been working him hard, and as far as I can tell, he’s not been near that girl since his thrashing.”

“The fact remains,” Hook stated. “The girl was beaten, and by someone aboard my ship.”

Tom opened his mouth, but before he could think what to say in his defense, the hook cut a swath in the air, silencing him. The captain continued. “Now that this matter has come to light, we shall settle it logically, and unpleasant as it may be for some of the present company, all of you will understand the truth.” His gaze fell upon Smee, who, with a grim determination, forged ahead.

“Captain, the marks have the look of a rod.”

“A rod. Yes.”

“And it’s not the child’s first set of bruises. Some older ones lie beneath.”

With gathering distress, Jill nodded. “Yes…I’ve seen her limping before this. I didn’t understand. And she made a point of hiding her legs from me the day she lengthened her skirt. That was the morning you were so displeased to find your shirt missing, Captain.”

“Yet she has never made any reference to the subject?”

“Not to me.”

“So. Unless Mr. Tootles is indeed guilty, the girl is protecting her assailant. One presumes, out of fear.”

“Maybe not. Maybe he is someone for whom she cares.” Jill’s expression was doubtful. “But I know of no one, other than Tom, who has spent any time with her at all.”

“Ma’am, she pulled a dirty trick on me, but I wouldn’t—”

“Mr. Tootles,” Hook interrupted, “Since you are determined to speak, tell me what you surmise about the girl’s relations with other members of ship’s company.”

“Well, Sir…Mr. Yulunga used to tease her, but he’s stopped that since— since I got in trouble. And Nibs and Bill Jukes and all the men, really, watched her, same as me. But as far as I know, Sir, no one but me was ever idiot enough to touch her.”

Still cold, Hook’s regard shifted from the scar on Tom’s temple to Smee. “And when would you estimate this beating took place?”

“Recently, by the looks of it. Last night, Sir.”

“Ah! Then our only hope to deflect culpability depends upon last night’s boarding party. What of LeCorbeau’s men?”

Considering, Smee slowly shook his head. “No, Sir, she was never alone with any of that lot.”

“You are sure of this?”

“Aye. I shut her in your quarters myself immediately after she angered you, and shooed her in again when she slipped out later. After that I watched closer than ever, but she stayed put. You saw her here, yourself—” Smee stopped abruptly. His ruddy face paled as he realized exactly what he had been on the verge of saying. But already, it was too late.

Hook raised an eyebrow. Perversely, he prompted his bo’sun to continue. “You are performing admirably, Mr. Smee. Pray go on with your deduction. You were saying?”

Smee’s stomach pitched in a sickly fashion as he finished his sentence, his voice fading to a murmur. “I was saying, Sir, that you saw her here, yourself. When you fetched the lady’s cloak.”

With an elegant formality, the captain inclined his head. “I did, indeed. She was all by herself, serving penance for drawing my attention to her. And, Mr. Smee, how long would you say I lingered here, alone with the ‘child?’ ”

In an agony of discomfort, Smee cast his eyes down. “Not more than five minutes. Sir.”

“Five minutes. Yes.”

Jill scanned the company’s faces, but the men avoided her eyes. As Hook addressed her, she returned his look with one of disbelief.

“Jill, my love. What was it you said when I offered to bring your wrap? Remind me.”

“Captain, I don’t recall—”

“Of course you do. You have a very sharp memory. Like my own.”

“I believe I remarked that I would fetch the cloak myself rather than risk a further affront to you from Liza.”

“Yet I did the gentlemanly thing. Well, then. Now we all know the facts surrounding the incident.” Deliberately, he picked up his ebony baton, weighed it, and rolled it in his fingers. “And knowing my character as you do, there is only one possible answer. Isn’t there?” Hook’s face hardened to a wintry satisfaction. “The girl misbehaved, and she was punished. By the one man who has not been prohibited from touching her.” He looked each sailor in the eye. “There will be no further discussion of this incident.”

“Sir?”

“No, Madam. You will not mention it again, even to the girl.”

“Captain…I promised her your protection!”

Answering, his velvet voice fell smooth. “From my men. And none of them has harmed her.”

As she looked into his eyes, the full implication of his words struck her. Her mouth opened and her heart began to pound. She abandoned questioning. Just this one time, she didn’t want to be told the truth.

Her words nearly choked her. “Aye, Sir.”

“Leave us.”

Smee, Starkey, and Tom rose quickly, disguising their surprise. Glancing at the captain, Tom felt considerable relief that Hook didn’t blame him this time. But Tom wasn’t quite sure who he did blame. Turning to leave, he saw Starkey exchanging a puzzled look with Smee who, still preoccupied with the ramifications of Hook’s conclusion, hastily waved Tom and his tutor away.

Pausing by the door, Mr. Smee awaited further orders. There were none, just a lethal glint in the captain’s eye. Still worried, Smee stepped out of the cabin and its tension, leaving the master and mistress to speak alone.

“Madam. Are you not aware that you have been flirting with danger?”

Unable to help himself, Smee loitered outside the door to hear just a bit more.

“Sir, I am not afraid.”

“Jealousy can be a powerful monster.”

“I trust that you would never allow
me
to come to harm.”

A chair scraped on the boards, and the stick slammed onto the desk. She gasped then, and the bo’sun regretted his eavesdropping.

Mr. Smee would protect her as far as possible, but in the end, the lady made her own choices.

She’d just have to live with this one.

Chapter 13

The End of the Game

M
r. Nibs rested his chin in his hand, oddly serious among the other off-duty men in the galley. The gunports gaped open, but he had an uncomfortable feeling that the walls were closing in on him. He’d never felt that way on the
Roger
before, but now he itched to kick off from her deck and soar over the waves. It was suddenly taxing to be confined, even in such a beautiful ship, and today, with a test of skill awaiting him, Nibs wished only for the companionship of his brother, and an open sky between them.

But Tom was below, polishing their cutlasses and busy avoiding doctor and daughter. Here in the galley, observed by a loose crowd of onlookers, Mr. Yulunga and several others hunkered near the floor, playing a dice game at which Yulunga was winning in spite of his losing tosses. The African king had a way with dice no one cared to dispute. In Tom’s usual place by Nibs stood Mr. Cecco, relaxing against Nibs’ barrel with a mug of grog in his hand. Leaning toward the younger sailor, Cecco spoke confidentially under the skittering of the dice and the exclamations of the sailors.

“You are wise to refuse the play, Mr. Nibs. Although my fearsome mate and I share much between us, in order to retain our friendship I long ago stopped engaging in all such games with him. It seems he cannot be beaten.”

“I noticed that. But I’m not in a mood for games, anyway.”

“So I see. Tell me, besides your challenge today, what is your ailment? You and your brother seem at odds these days.”

Nibs shook his head. “We’re not at odds. Tom’s just not over what that girl did to him. I thought he was all right for a while, especially after we disabled the Dutch ship and earned the captain’s approval again, but in the days since then he’s refused to even talk about her.”