LITMIR.BIZ

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could not see, but the look-out said it was named the Defiance. I was told that we were forced to surrender to these pirates before. The men are nervous and talking of surrender; they fear what may happen if they resist after what was done at the island.’

      Maribel’s heart raced as the lad went away. She felt the shudder as the two ships came together and heard the shouting and noise on deck as the pirates boarded. However, she could not hear sounds of fighting and she realised that the crew must have surrendered immediately, hoping that they would be allowed to go free, as they had been once before. She did not know if there was a cargo on board—she had remained in her cabin while they were in port and had no idea what had been loaded in the holds.

      She sat on the edge of her bed and waited, and after a little while Pedro came to her. He grinned at her and she realised that he was no longer frightened.

      ‘Is all well?’ she asked.

      ‘I was asked if a lady was on board and told to fetch you. The pirates have given quarter to all who surrender and will sail with them; the captain and those who refuse are to be put into a boat with food and water for six days and set adrift. If they return to Gibraltar, they will make land soon enough.’

      ‘So the ship is not to be returned to its master?’

      ‘Not this time. It has been taken as a prize and all those who sail with Captain Sylvester will receive their share.’

      Maribel nodded. The crew set adrift in a longboat should make shore within the day, for they were not many hours out of Gibraltar. She followed the cabin boy on deck and discovered that some trunks were being taken aboard the Defiance, though it seemed there was no cargo, which was perhaps why the ship was being kept as their prize. She could see no sign of Justin or Captain Hynes, but Higgins was directing the transfer of trunks and men. He smiled as he saw her and came towards her.

      ‘We were on our way to look for you at Don Sabatini’s house, lady. It was touch and go whether we attacked the ship. I think Providence must have been watching over us.’

      ‘Yes, I believe you are right.’ Maribel felt her eyes sting with tears. ‘Thank you for rescuing me once more. I am truly grateful—and I am sorry if I have caused you more trouble.’

      ‘The captain will be glad to get you back,’ Higgins told her with a gentle smile. ‘Just don’t expect him to admit it. He thought you might have run away.’

      ‘With Captain Hynes?’ Maribel shuddered. ‘I would rather die than live as that man’s whore!’

      ‘Go below to your own cabin, lady. Anna is waiting for you. She has been worried sick.’

      ‘Welcome back, lady,’ Anna said as Maribel went to her cabin. ‘I was worried about you. Captain Sylvester was so angry. He thought that you had run away, until Higgins told him you had been kidnapped. I told him you would not run away, but he would not listen to me.’

      ‘It was so hot in my room and I was restless. I could not sleep and I went outside to get some air. Someone—I think there was more than one—crept up behind me and threw a blanket over me. I struggled and tried to escape, but they were too strong for me.’

      ‘Have you been harmed?’ Anna looked at her oddly. ‘You were taken captive some days ago…’

      ‘If you are asking if I was raped, the answer is that Hynes had it in mind to force me, but I defended myself with the knife Peg gave me. I have a bruise on my back where he hit me and I fell.’

      ‘Let me see. Take off that gown. You will need to wash and change into fresh clothes. I shall—’ She broke off, giving a cry of distress as she saw the bruise on Maribel’s back. ‘Oh, my lady, that looks so sore. That brute deserves to hang for what he has done to you! If Captain Sylvester knew…’

      ‘You will please not tell him,’ Maribel said. ‘I do not want Hynes’s death on my conscience.’ She saw Anna’s face pale and reached out to her. ‘I did not mean to remind you, my good friend. I shall never forget what you did for me on the island.’

      ‘I shall fetch you some water,’ Anna said. ‘It may be best to use salt water for that will ease the sting from your bruises.’

      Maribel sighed as Anna went away. She felt tired and anxious and her eyes were gritty with the tears she was trying not to shed.

      After she had washed all over in the salty water, Maribel rubbed a little of the salve into her back. Her cheek felt tender where Hynes had struck her when she fell and Anna had told her she had a bruise there as well.

      She was still in her shift when the cabin door opened abruptly. Giving a little cry, she grabbed her shawl and held it against her as the man came in.

      ‘Oh…it is you…’ She stared at Justin, feeling vulnerable and unsure of him. She had been told he was very angry with her. ‘I was just about to dress.’

      ‘Your pardon, Madonna.’ Justin’s eyes were on her bare arms. Her soft olive-toned flesh was firm and sweet, her hair loose on her shoulders. He felt a rush of desire and it took all his strength of will not to grab her and take her to the bed. ‘I did not think…forgive me. I shall turn my back while you put on your gown.’

      ‘Thank you.’ Maribel reached for a loose wrapping gown, tying the sash about her waist. Her heart was racing wildly, her head raised proudly. ‘I am decent now, sir.’

      Justin turned and looked at her. ‘I came to see if you had all you needed. We have a long voyage ahead of us. I believe all your things were brought across from the island, but you must tell me if something is missing—it may be in the hold.’

      ‘I have not looked, but I believe I have all I need, thank you,’ Maribel said. She frowned. ‘You took the ship captive this time and set her captain adrift?’

      ‘The ship is the price for the crew’s freedom, lady. My men were angry because of what happened on the island. I persuaded them to let Hynes and his officers go, but it went against the grain with some of them. I have given Hynes a message for your father.’

      ‘Yes, of course. I understand. What happened on the island was wicked and unpardonable. I regret that I was the cause of so much pain and suffering.’

      ‘It was not your fault, Maribel. I told you of the treasure map?’ She nodded, looking at him enquiringly. ‘I have destroyed it. Hynes told me that your father threatened to hang Hendry unless he led your father’s ships to the island. But the Defiance was not there and he thought I was with the ship, so he destroyed what he could in revenge for what I had stolen from him.’

      ‘Then it was for the map. Do you think it was the only one in existence?’

      ‘I thought at first that there must be other copies. However, when we were at Mallorca, your father sent word that he would trade for the map…’ Justin frowned. ‘Hendry did not know where I intended to go next. He thought I might head for Cyprus. When I told him to rendezvous at the island I gave away my plans…and that was what your father wanted all the time…the map and revenge.’

      ‘Yes, he wanted revenge.’ Maribel shuddered, her throat tight. ‘I know now that he never cared what became of me. He told Captain Hynes he could have me and do as he would with me. I think he hoped for my death, but…Hynes wanted to marry me for my fortune. He…would have raped me, but I managed to stop him…’ She caught back a sob.

      ‘The brute. Had I known, I would have hanged him from the yard-arm!’ He moved towards her, stopping as she flinched. ‘What did he do to you? You did not leave with him willingly?’

      ‘No! How could you even think it?’ Maribel hesitated, then untied her wrap and drew it back, lifting her bodice to show him the purple bruise on her back. ‘This is what he did to me when I refused him; there are other smaller bruises on my arms.’

      ‘And on your cheek, I think…’ Justin took her chin in his hand, turning her face to look at the swelling that had begun to turn dark red. ‘Had I known of

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