Chapter 8 #2
“I’ve sat where you are,” he said, his voice low.
“I wanted a life of adventure, but I had no idea of the price I would pay in searching it out.” He paused, and she imagined she could see the weight of truth in his expression, a wistful tone behind his words.
“I lost everything,” he added, and then his eyes began to sparkle, and he smiled at her.
“But I gained my freedom. And truly, I have no regrets.”
She observed him carefully, she didn’t entirely believe him, at least not about having no regrets. But she could believe he had lost as much as she had.
“Perhaps,” she conceded. “The difference is that you’re a man. You can command a ship, you can command respect; no one can own you,” she spat the last words out, as all the old frustrations tumbled down on top of her again.
The captain frowned at her and for once, after having spoken in such a way in front of a man, she felt it wasn’t because he disagreed with her words. She had frightened away too many suitors with her plain speaking, so it was at least refreshing that she hadn’t shocked him.
“Oh, I assure you they could,” he said, his tone dark and then, after a pause. “Why not?”
“What?” It was her turn to frown now, perplexed. What on earth was he talking about?
She watched as he got to his knees on the bed turning to face her. “There have been women pirates before. I see no reason why you could not do the same.”
She blinked, astonished by his words. “You’re not serious?” She said as he shrugged, his fingertips rasping at his stubble once more as he considered.
“I don’t see why not,” he said eventually.
She snorted in disbelief and shook her head. “You’re insane.”
“Why? Don’t you think you’re capable?” he said, with a smile tugging at his mouth. “I could teach you all you need know.”
Henri gaped at him, truly astonished. “Why?” she demanded. “Why would you help me? Why would you even suggest such a thing?”
He smiled, that slow, confident smile, and once again she was struck by just how handsome this man was.
“Truthfully, I don’t know.” He shrugged, as though he was as bewildered as she was.
But then he looked back at her, and she felt there was something honest in his eyes.
“Except ... I feel we are kindred spirits, you and I.” The look was just as quickly gone to be replaced by a sardonic smile “And besides, I told you I like a challenge. Teaching you to be a pirate? Now that’s got to be a challenge. ”
Henri took a deep breath, unsure of what she was feeling. This was madness, surely? And yet ...
She couldn’t trust this man, couldn’t trust any of his crew. The chances of her arriving at whatever destination he had in mind must be ludicrously low. Yet, he was offering to help her. What other choice did she have? At the very least, she should learn to defend herself.
“Well then?”
She looked back and found he was watching her expectantly, his eyes glittering with excitement.
He was serious. He had every intention of teaching her to be a pirate.
In truth she had no idea what that actually meant.
But she knew it had to mean learning how to use a pistol.
That was something she felt an urgent need to understand. He held out his hand to her.
“Do we have a deal?”
She frowned as another idea presented itself and wondered how, considering the mess she was in, she could have been so na?ve. Folding her arms, she stared at him, eyes narrowed. “What, exactly do you get out of this?”
He grinned and held his hands out, as if he had nothing to hide. “You’ll work aboard my ship the same as the rest of the crew. We’re a little short-handed right now, so every man - or woman - helps.”
She didn’t believe a word of it. “And that’s all?” she said, one eyebrow raised.
He chuckled again and leant forward on the bed.
Henri pressed herself back against the wall as if she hoped to slide between the planks as he moved towards her.
He didn’t stop until his face was so close, she could feel his warm breath against her skin once more and wished he would keep his distance.
“Well now, Miss Morton,” he whispered, his words raising goose bumps. “I think we both know what I would take as my prize for helping you with this endeavour.”
She opened her mouth to curse him, but he cut her off, pressing a finger against her lips.
“I will teach you everything you need to know. I will teach you the workings of the ship, how to command men and gain their respect. I will teach you to defend yourself, and to attack another should the need arise. I will teach you everything you need to know to be considered as a man,” he said, the promise in his words only illustrating a fraction of the guarantee in his voice.
That voice promised so much more. “And if the men truly accept you as one of them, then I will teach you all the reasons you should not despise being a woman.”
She smacked his hand away.
“I thought as much,” she said with disgust.
Shifting her position, Henri drew up one knee, planted her foot against his chest, and pushed hard. The captain flew backwards and landed with a heavy thud, sprawled on the floor of the cabin.