Chapter 5
“Oh, my sweet, bewitching Rosetta,” Pierre called as she walked down the boardwalk by herself.
“You’re a vision as always, my dear.” He bowed to her like a gentleman, taking her hand to kiss the back of it.
“You are so beautiful, even the moon seems to shine less brightly against your decadent radiance.”
She ripped her hand from him and held it in the air like she was about to backhand him. “It’s as if you just want me to hit you.”
He wiggled his blond brows at her, his green eyes shining with a mischievous glint. “I might enjoy that.” When she lifted her hand higher, he flinched. “Wait, no. Please don’t.”
She broke into a near-silent giggle while letting her hand fall. Then she turned to Alister with a bright smile, her heart swelling.
He gave her a nodding grunt. “Let’s go.”
Her smile fell, and a sigh fluttered from her when he turned to walk off.
“Don’t worry, I think you look beautiful,” Pierre commented once more, eyeing her and the yellow dress she wore with appreciation.
She raised her chin as she picked up the skirt of her dress so she could walk. “I don’t particularly care if anyone finds me beautiful.”
But she’d kind of been hoping for more than that from Alister. The last time she’d worn a dress in front of him had been the day she’d first met him.
Perhaps it was a silly notion, but she’d been hoping he’d appreciate it, especially since she’d worked on untangling her hair and pinning it back into an elegant bun. She’d even worn her red lipstick and a touch of blush.
I guess it doesn’t matter.
Some of his men, those she knew were closer to him than others, were walking with them. Her men were at the mansion waiting for Rosetta. She’d organised for Madame Lillian to keep the gate closed until she arrived so she could speak to them. She also needed to pay first.
After splitting up the profits of the day and getting Alister to help her count it all out, she knew she had enough.
Unfortunately, it was going to leave her with very little for herself after expenses. But I don’t need much. Just enough to get her through their stay in Tortaya and have as much fun as she wanted. She could get more later when they sailed again.
She eventually let the skirt of her dress go and walked with her fingers caressing her lips, deep in thought.
Booze and food. Maybe even something small for myself. Rosetta hadn’t bought herself much since she’d left her home three years ago. I was hoping to buy a new dress.
She’d been gifted this pale-yellow one the last time she’d come to Tortaya by one of Lillian’s girls. When she was in port, any port, Rosetta liked to feel like a woman. As much as she enjoyed being captain of a ship, she missed being feminine.
Wearing a dress also had its uses.
It hid a pistol and a sword underneath. She’d cut openings into the sides of it so she could reach in at a moment’s notice. It also hid the hefty coin purse she strapped to her for Madame Lillian, and the smaller one with her spending money.
Alister stopped after choosing the tavern he apparently wanted to be in for the night. When Rosetta kept walking, he grabbed her wrist.
“And just where are you going?”
“For a walk.” She looked up at the sign of the tavern called The Drunken Sailor before turning her gaze back to him. “I won’t be long.”
“By yourself?” His eye roamed over space on either side of her, emphasising the fact that she was no longer surrounded by anyone, since his men had gone inside. “Where is your crew?”
“You’re so protective it’s almost sickening.” She gripped his jaw and shook his head gently. “I’ll be fine. Got a loaded gun and my sword under this frock.”
“You do?” He came closer to pat her sides, feeling them for himself. “The fact that I never felt these on you that first day still amazes me.” He gripped her weapons, jiggling them with a grin. “Aye, I feel better knowing you’ve got these on you.”
“Exactly. I won’t be gone long, and I won’t be far.”
His grin faded as he examined her, and her outfit, carefully. “The degenerates come out at night in these parts, lass.”
“I’m meeting up with my crew. They’re off at another location and I want to check on them.” She gestured to the front door and the lack of porch this place had. This building had a small alley down each side, leading to another street. “Go, drink; I’ll be back shortly.”
Clearly realising she wasn’t going to listen, he rolled his eye and turned to walk inside. She was still surprised at how easy their arguments seemed to be lately. Even in port, he was calmer.
Is he losing interest? She pondered the question as she made her way down the street and once more climbed the sharp incline.
The brothel was built on the top of this hill for that very reason: they didn’t want stumbling drunks making their way inside.
They wanted determined men with heavy pockets of coin.
If he is losing interest, then why would he make port with me? Furthermore, why would he get more supplies if he was planning on cutting ties soon? It didn’t seem to fit.
Seeing her men loitering outside the front of the gates stole her attention, and she put her thoughts to the side. Looking at the collection of them, she was rather thankful she hadn’t walked with them through the street. They’d all made their way here on their own.
I’m sure a crowd this big would have been odd.
The gates opened when she arrived, and they followed in behind her. Madame Lillian came to the front porch, standing at the top steps with her hands clasped behind her back. Rosetta stood next to her so she could speak to her men.
Leaning closer to quieten her voice, Rosetta asked, “Is everything organised?”
“Yes. I somehow managed to wrangle up the number of women you need.”
Rosetta doubted it was Lillian herself who rounded up the street whores. She probably sent one of her own girls to collect them, so she didn’t have to leave the mansion.
She nodded her head in understanding.
“Alright, boys. This is how it’s going to be.” She eyed them as she boomed her instructions. “The girls are going to come out and pick their man for the night. Each one will lead you to a room, and you filthy, disgusting lot will bathe. Your girl will then attend to you in any way you see fit.”
A bustle of chatter began. She noticed some of the men elbowing each other, like they were exchanging teasing, offensive comments.
“There are some rules.” She stepped forward to point her finger at them.
“These are high-class whores and I’ve paid a pretty penny for them.
If you even so much as dare lay a harmful hand on them, you will lose said hands.
Speak nasty words, you will lose your tongue.
If one of you so much as dares to make a mistake that could lead to an increase in the population, you will be boarding my ship as a eunuch. Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye!” was the answer she received from them all.
“There will be no brawling, but you are allowed to wander the halls and be rowdy. Have fun with your women, even swap them if they allow it. If you want to drink or eat, you will be paying for it yourselves, and they only sell the best here, so expect your pockets to leave lighter.”
When they confirmed that they understood, the women came out to grab their men. Each was taken inside with a giggling whore on his arm, a pretty woman who would make sure these men felt loved and desired for a night.
“Thank you for this, Lillian.” Rosetta sighed when they were all gone, taking the hefty purse of coin from her dress.
Lillian took it, knowing Rosetta would’ve made sure every single coin was accounted for.
“I think you owe me now,” the woman said with a shrewd gaze, before giving her a smile. “Where are Naeem and John? I didn’t see either of them in the crowd. I expected Naeem at the very front, whistling like the naughty boy he is. He’s always the loudest.”
Rosetta laughed, knowing she was right.
“Naeem is guarding the ship. He’ll be here tomorrow night.
I plan for him to pick his woman, or three, if he so chooses.
” He’d told her he was happy to pay for it himself when he learned of how much this was costing her.
Rosetta’s smile fell away and her gaze lowered as she said, “But Lillian... I have terrible news about Mr Smith.”
The wrinkled corners of her eyes bowed as Lillian bit the inside of her lips. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”
Taking a deep breath to steady her own heartache, Rosetta nodded slowly. “He took a bullet for me when I was mutinied against. It’s one of the reasons I’ve chosen to do this.”
Lillian raised her fingertips to her lips to stifle any noise. She couldn’t stop the welling of tears, and she quickly tried to blink them away. Like they were contagious, stinging tears tried to rise in Rosetta’s own eyes, but she was much better at being able to shove them down.
“He was such a nice man. A true gentleman.” She cleared her throat. “He was one of the few I would lie with when he came here.”
Rosetta already knew this. Lillian rarely sold her body to men anymore, only to those she wanted to, not because she had to. There was usually mutual desire between them.
Apparently, even some younger men came to her, desired her for the beautiful woman she still was at her age and the sexual prowess she had in the bedroom. Rosetta was sure they compared every subsequent woman they met against her.
“Anyway, he was a sailor, and he knew the risks,” Lillian said, dismissing the heavy conversation.
She pulled on the skirt of Rosetta’s dress.
“Well, don’t you look splendid tonight! I’ve always hated you in that little pirate outfit of yours.
You said you sailed here with a man. How did your ‘Jolly Sailor Bold’ take your outfit change? ”
She gave a grand smile. “He said I looked dashing.”
“You’re a no-good, two-timing liar, Rosie.” Her lips thinned into a disappointed, motherly pout. “He didn’t even notice, did he? Argh! Men! They’re so stupid.”
Rosetta gave a laugh, a genuine one despite being caught in her lie.
“I don’t care what he thinks.” She ripped the skirt from Lillian’s hands. “I didn’t wear it for him, I wore it for me. Naeem told me I look like the fairest maiden in the world and that’s all that matters.”
“He’s a good boy, that one. He’s always looked out for you.”
Rosetta gave her a warm smile.
“He has, hasn’t he?” She didn’t know why Naeem had chosen to follow her, but she knew it wasn’t for love. He had no interest in her like that, but he had been with her every step of the way. “He’s the one person I don’t want to lose.”
“You won’t.” Lillian reached up to pat her cheek gently, comfortingly.
“He cares for you. Just feed him well and watch his back as he watches yours, and you’ll both live forever.
” Then she clapped her hands before intertwining them and bringing them under her chin with a warm smile.
“Now, are you going to come in for a finger of whiskey?”
Rosetta shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m going into town.”
“By yourself?” Her eyes filled with worry.
“You’re the second person to ask me that question tonight,” she said with a snort and a shake of her head. “But no. I will have company.”
“Don’t do anything stupid.” She folded her arms across her large chest, shadowing her cleavage from the light spilling out of the open door next to which they stood. “You’re a rare woman, Rosetta. Don’t you dare let any man hurt you because of their own foolishness.”
“Yes, Mother,” she sneered jokingly.
“I am thankful every day I am not your mother!” Oh, Lillian definitely cared for her. Rosetta knew it was because of everything she had done when she first came to this island.
Lillian had taken Rosetta under her wing when she’d discovered why she fled Theodore, and she’d housed both Naeem and Rosetta until they were able to get firmly on their feet. They’d formed a close bond and never seemed to have lost it.
“Now, off you go.” She shooed her hands forward. “Quickly, before I put you to work.”
Rosetta did just that, heading back to town.
That woman always gets under my skin. Rosetta didn’t need her pushing doubt into her mind like that.
Even though she’d been beneath many men, Lillian wasn’t very fond of them. She often pushed her opinions and distrust onto those who worked for her. It was her own way of caring and trying to help shelter their hearts, but it could often be upsetting.
I wouldn’t let Alister hurt me, right? She liked the man, that much was obvious, but she wasn’t in love with him.
Her forehead crinkled into worried lines as she nibbled on her bottom lip. How could he possibly hurt me anyway?
What they had was a mutually beneficial agreement, but nothing more. He shared her bed, she shared her body, and they shared their loot, but there was nothing between them past desire.
Am I being silly? Was Lillian right? Was Rosetta making a terrible decision getting caught up in a man like him, a pirate? One more vicious than any other she had met.
But he’s not like Theodore... He’d never struck her or spoken terribly to her. She would’ve gutted him the moment he tried. He’d put her down for being a woman, but she often thought that came from a deep place of caring for her wellbeing. He’s stopped doing that, though. Why?
She let out a groan, her head falling back in annoyance as she walked. Damn you, Lillian! She hadn’t been confused until now.
She was pondering these harsh questions all the way to The Drunken Sailor, but they faded the moment she saw him sitting with his crew.
He was pointing his finger at one of his men with a grin, making the entire table chuckle. The warm light from the candle on the table in front of him made his scarred yet handsome face glow, despite the shadow of his short beard.
A smile crept onto her face before a laugh hit her. She even shook her head. Why was I worried? She walked further into the tavern, feeling rather light-hearted.