Capturing the Pirate's Heart (The Emerald Quest Book 1) Read online

  An innocent…and a virgin. He was sure of that.

  What had she been going to say? Perhaps we can explore what? Maybe she was not as innocent as he thought? All he knew was that whenever he was near her, he could not think with a clear head.

  “Captain.” Jake opened the door and carefully held out a pitcher of water and then awaited instructions from the captain.

  “I am sure Mr. Abrahams is in need of help now that we have lost some of our crew.” He walked to the door to Jake and lowered his voice. “Please tell Mr. Abrahams that I will be resting. . .and Jake?”

  “Yes, Captain?

  “Please ask him to keep a close eye on the new crew members. I may be wrong but I suspect that they may be in league with the man who attacked Miss Madeleine the other day.”

  “Yes, sir. Is there anything else?”

  “No, Jake…I will call you if I need anything else.” The lad looked up at him and then across at Madeleine who was sitting up on the bed, her foot hanging over the edge.

  “Is Miss Madeleine all right?”

  “Yes, lad, that she is and I thank you for your loyalty. You shall be rewarded once we get to shore.”

  Jake shook his head as he stepped to the door. “There is no need for reward, sir. It is a part of my duty…and a part of my friendship with Miss Madeleine.

  “Then you are a true friend indeed.”

  Sébastien closed the door and dropped the latch before he turned slowly to face Madeleine, his gut churning with uncertainty. How could a mere slip of a girl create these feelings of confusion? Anger flared in his chest.

  By God, I’m the captain of this vessel and I will begin to act like one, not like some love struck young fool. Not again.

  ***

  Sébastien stood by the door holding the pitcher of water that Jake had delivered, and sympathy shot through Madeleine when she saw his grim expression. As he caught her eye, he dropped his eyes, avoiding her intent examination.

  Confidence and trust filled her as she watched him but he walked across to the table and put the pitcher down without looking back at her. He straightened his shoulders and looked at her, his face unsmiling.

  “I will attend to your foot and then we will talk about what happened.”

  “When Jake interrupted?”

  “No.” His jaw was set and his voice terse. He shot her a glance as he dipped one of the cloths into the pitcher of water before walking over to where she sat.

  He looked at the bed as though it were a snake about to strike him and Madeleine smothered a smile as a surge of feminine power filled her chest. Despite keeping his face set, he was not in control; even with her lack of experience she knew that. A pulse ticked in his cheek and her instinct told her he was as unsettled in her company as she was in his.

  “We will talk about what happened before you hid in the privy.”

  How much can I tell him? Madeleine knew only too well what those two crewmen had been searching for, but still she was unsure of how much to tell Sébastien.

  Can I trust him? Can I tell him why I need to find Aunt Josephine’s house? Or is he not really who I think he is? She swallowed and decided to tell him the bare bones of her story if he asked again.

  “Hold this.” Sébastien held out the damp cloth to her. He crouched in front of her and gently lifted her foot, cradling it in his hand as he examined it. She turned her ankle slightly so he could see the cut, and drew in her breath as his gentle fingers probed along the arch of her foot.

  “Ow.” Madeleine jerked her leg back. “That hurts.”

  Triumphantly, he held up a small piece of porcelain. “I believe this is the culprit.” He pulled her foot to him again before holding his hand out for the cloth. His head bowed in concentration as he gently pressed the cloth against the cut on her foot.

  “So, begin with what happened and tell me what you heard.” Finally, he lifted his head and looked at her. Madeleine put her hand to her mouth and her mind ticked over as she observed him. Was she being naïve just because her body ran rampant every time Sébastien was close? She would swear if he kissed her again, she would probably faint with the delight of it.

  God forbid, if he touched her again.

  His eyes were kind as she took his measure. Usually dark and glittering, she stared into his pupils and leaned closer to Sébastien. Today his eyes were of a warm, dark brown and the flecks in his irises matched the golden skin of his bare chest. She leaned closer and the heat of him seemed to warm her even with distance between them. With a stifled groan he took her hands and held them tightly in his grip.

  “Do you realize how you look at me?” His voice was husky. “It does not befit a single young woman in mourning.”

  Madeleine allowed a slow smile to cross her face while she held his gaze steadily. Then she dropped her eyes to her chest and gestured with a casual flick of her hand to her attire. “Does it befit a pirate’s wench?”

  “Enough.” He dropped her hands and rose swiftly to his feet and strode across the cabin to the table. “Come away from the bed, and sit with me here before you entice me to actions I will long regret. You are an innocent, Madeleine, and you do not know the power of your charm. You are playing with fire and you will get hurt.” He pulled out one of the chairs and waited for her. “Are you able to walk on your injured foot?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was sulky as she crossed to the table. Who was he to tell her she would get hurt? He knew nothing about her and even if his assumptions about her innocence may have been correct, he did not need to know that. If he believed her to be more experienced than she was, he may trust her enough to let her go ashore alone when they berthed in New Orleans.

  ***

  “Who was in my cabin? Tell me what was said.”

  The petulant set to Madeleine’s lips reminded Sébastien of Lisette when she wanted her own way. It amused Sébastien but he would not give in to her. It took his attention momentarily from the pressure in his breeches. Sitting beside her on his bed had brought all manner of tempting—and inappropriate—thoughts to his mind. “Did they say what they were looking for? Or God forbid, do you believe they were looking for you?”

  It seemed peculiar to him that the assailants would choose that time to go looking for a woman…and the woman who was known as the pirate's woman. They were sure to know that they would end up overboard when he discovered them with her. It made no sense.

  “They were looking for something that I do not have.” Madeleine crossed her arms in front of her chest and her loose chemise dropped from one shoulder exposing her bare, white skin.

  Holy Mother of Christ. Sébastien closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “So if you do not have it, how did they know what they sought?”

  “The other man—the one who is locked up— heard me telling a…story…to Jake. He—that man— must have told them.”

  “What sort of story?” He had not known her long but he knew her well enough to know when she was lying…or avoiding the truth. She dropped her gaze to her folded arms.

  “Madeleine?”

  “A story about something that I would like to have one day. Something that by rights belongs to me.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “I can’t.” Her voice was firm.

  “You can tell Jake about it? But not me?” A tinge of jealousy shot through Sébastien before he realized it was ridiculous to be jealous of her friendship with the young lad. “Why not me, Madeleine? You can trust me with your secret.”

  “Can I, Sébastien?” Her gaze was steadfast as she stared at him. “You? A pirate who is after booty and fortune?”

  Unease roiled in his stomach. Was that how this beautiful young woman thought of him? For the first time in many years, it mattered to him that he was not thought to be a dishonest and self-serving man. It had suited his purposes while he earned enough to leave this all behind, but he did not want Madeleine to think poorly of him. Why that bothered him, he did not know.

  He r
eached across the table, picked up her small white hand and entwined her fingers in his. She did not pull away and a measure of satisfaction shot through him.

  God help me. Even the touch of her fingers in his sent fire racing through his veins.

  “I am an honest man, Madeleine. I am not a pirate.” Her wide green eyes held his and in that instant he decided to tell her everything. “I will trust you. Because I want you to know. What I will tell you no one else knows. Only the Spanish governor.”

  “The governor? He approves of what you do?

  Sébastien nodded slowly. “Not only does he approve, he sends me on these missions. For the past two years, I have earned enough freeing slaves from slave traders’ vessels that I can now leave.”

  “Leave where?” Her face was alight with curiosity and he was pleased she was interested in his story.

  “When we dock in New Orleans, I will leave the Maiden under the command of Mr. Abrahams. I will not return to the sea.”

  Madeleine’s brow furrowed. “Haven’t you always been a sea captain? What will you do?”

  Sébastien turned her hand over and gently traced the lines on her palm as he reminisced. “I grew up on a beautiful island. A lush, green island where soft breezes blew and the smell of the sea was always around. Not far from where we sail now. My grandfather owned a sugar plantation on San Domingo and I learned all there was to know about growing sugar as I worked by his side.”

  “So you will go back to this island you speak of?” She tipped her head to the side as she waited for his answer.

  He lifted his chin and stared past her. “No, there are other islands far from here where I shall make a new beginning.” The memories on San Domingo were memories he did not want to keep. His mother and Lisette were both buried in the town and the family plantation had been sold to fund Jean-Luc’s gambling debts.

  No, Sébastien wanted to be far from all of that.

  “The Hawaiian Islands. That is where my future lies.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Madeleine could see the longing on Sébastien’s face as he spoke of a new beginning and a new life. For the first time since she had left home, her determination began to waver. The importance of finding the necklace and returning to England with her grand plan to restore the family estate had lessened. The ways in the New World seemed to be very different to the way of life she was well used to on the estate in Derbyshire. Sébastien spent his days freeing slaves from a life of servitude, while she was trying to find the necklace so she could bring the people from her village back to work on the family estate. Jake’s thoughts about servants the other day had made her think deeply about what she was doing and she began to wonder whether her motives were selfish.

  Perhaps it is not so different from the slavery over here in the New World? But it was all she had ever known. A small sound of distress escaped her lips as her thoughts whirled around in confusion.

  “What’s wrong?” Sébastien squeezed her fingers gently. “I did not mean to upset you.”

  Madeleine lifted her head. His expression was kind and she imagined for a brief moment that perhaps it was more than concern for her well-being that brought that softness to his face. She held his gaze and the light caught the golden flecks in his deep brown eyes.

  “There were two men.” Taking a deep breath, she rushed on before she changed her mind. She would trust him. “They were looking for a diary that belonged to my…family.”

  “A diary? Is it here in my cabin?” Sébastien frowned and looked around as though he expected to see it lying out in full view.

  “No. No, it is in England. It is in the library at Bellerose Hall—my home.” She shook her head and hitched a sob. “Or rather, what used to be my home.”

  Sébastien let go of her hand and stood, before walking around slowly to where she sat at the table. He kept his gaze on her as he crouched beside her. “I think you had better start at the beginning and tell me your whole story.”

  The words poured from Madeleine as she told him of leaving her home with Uncle Titus after he had stripped it bare, of the planned marriage and how she had been determined to escape him. She fought the tears that pressed at the back of her eyes as she described her home to Sébastien and explained how her parents and brother had been killed, and how Uncle Titus had taken over her life.

  Sébastien stood and took her hands, pulling her up to her feet before his arms encircled her. Madeleine sighed as he held her close and she rested her head on his shoulder. His chest vibrated against her as he spoke.

  “I knew you were brave but I did not realize how truly courageous you are.”

  “That’s not all. Uncle Titus took me ashore and I met a man who I was supposed to marry. A man who seemed more interested in where my aunt lived, than taking a wife.”

  She lifted her head and raised her hand to his shoulder. His skin was wet from her tears and she trailed her fingers over his chest as he looked down at her.

  “I thought if I came here and found—“

  She broke off and swallowed as he waited for her to finish.

  “Found what, Madeleine?”

  “Found the heirloom that was in the diary, I thought I could go back to my home and everything would be the way it was. But now, I don’t know if it is the right course of action.” Lifting her chin she held his gaze. “My father’s aunt lived here and she hid a necklace in her house. She wrote of it in her diary—I am the only relative left, other than Uncle Titus, that is. I spoke to Jake of the diary and the necklace and we were overheard.” She felt herself tremble as fear spiked through her. “It seems that others know of the diary…or the necklace. Foolishly, I thought I would just come to New Orleans, find Aunt Josephine’s house, collect it, and all would be well.

  “I will deal with the men who were in my cabin when we get to New Orleans. If I lock more men up, the crew will be uneasy.” His voice was soft. “But you must forget all about finding this treasure you seek. It is too dangerous for a young woman such as you to be embarking on such a quest.”

  “I do not agree. Why would you say that?” A weight settled on Madeleine’s shoulders; yet another impediment to block her path. She folded her arms and lifted her chin.

  “I will help you before I seek passage to the islands. But only to see you safely on your way to England before I depart. You must forget all about this necklace. You have my word I will help you go home.”

  “No.” Madeleine stood on her toes and softly kissed Sébastien’s cheek to soften her words. The stubble of his cheek was rough beneath her lips and his soft groan sent a pleasurable ripple through her. “I may take your offer of assistance after I succeed in finding my family’s heirloom.”

  “You cannot follow this foolish idea of yours. Trust me when I say it is too dangerous.”

  “I must.”

  “Why must you?”

  “I’ve already told you.” Madeleine tried to keep the conviction in her voice. “I must get the necklace to help them all back home in Derbyshire.”

  Sébastien held her arms and shook his head. “You must forget that foolish idea. You are a most frustrating young woman. I promised to keep you safe but I think you may be more at risk of harm from me when you look at me with your emerald eyes.”

  She shook her head at the frown that crossed his brow, even as his touch sent thrills coursing through her blood. “You are truly a good man. I am sorry I doubted your motives.” For a moment, her frustration with Sébastien for dismissing her determination to find the necklace was overshadowed by the thought of saying good bye to him at the end of the voyage. “But I cannot agree with you…about the necklace.”

  “Madeleine, you do not know what you do to me.” Sébastien stared at her and a rush of warmth filled her belly and as it travelled lower, her legs trembled.

  Even when she had thought him to be a pirate, this man had fascinated her. And now that she knew the truth of Sébastien, it would be so hard to leave him. She could not ignore the pleasurable
feelings that coursed through her body when he was near her. The pleasure of simply being in his company would stay with her for a long time. She raised her hand to her lips where the taste of his skin still lingered.

  “And you to me, Sébastien.” The words that were in her head left her lips before she could hold them back. “I want you.”

  ***

  Sébastien’s gaze trailed down past Madeleine’s bare shoulders to the soft swell of her breasts. Courageous and determined, she was beautiful; the strongest woman he had ever met. There was no doubt of her fair-skinned beauty, but for Sébastien it was Madeleine’s inner beauty that shone through. She knew what she wanted and she had held onto her convictions, no matter what danger she was in. And he had tried hard to dissuade her from this foolish and dangerous quest.

  I want you. Her words filled his head; but his desire overcame his attempt to rationalize the foolishness of touching her, to resist taking her innocence. Sébastien was helpless beneath the sway of her emerald gaze. She leaned her head back as his fingers lifted her heavy auburn tresses from her neck, and bared her neck to his lips. His other hand slipped through the folds of her skirt and ran slowly up the outside of her bare thigh and when she let out a soft groan Sébastien was lost.

  Her skin was soft and warm, and he stayed his hand before it reached the top of her leg. He slid his lips up her graceful neck and lightly licked her skin. Her skin tasted of the sweet fragrance that came from her hair—like the roses his mother had picked from her garden when he was a child. The memory of home flitted though his mind and he pulled back.

  What the hell am I doing? I should be keeping her safe. He pulled back, slowly shaking his head and pulled his hand away from her bare thigh, but Madeleine dropped her hand over his and pressed it against her leg.

  “Please. It is all right. I want you to touch me.” Her slumberous eyes looked up at him and Sébastien was torn. Despite her request, he could see the nervousness in her beautiful emerald eyes. Did she know that her needs were the same as his? But she was untouched and innocent and he should not be thinking these thoughts.