Chapter 24
Hawke sat against the wall of the cavern beside the opening to the passage. How many hours had passed since Belle had entered it? Perhaps five? Perhaps longer. His perception of time had become distorted. The darkness around him was so complete that he imagined he could feel it, thick like smoke.
Courtney had remained in the cavern with Hawke while the other two had continued searching for an exit until the last torch finally flickered out.
Shadbolt had already secured Blackham’s bonds to a ring in the wall.
None of them had wanted to be in the dark with the man without knowing exactly where he was.
Hawke and Courtney sat in silence. Hawke strained his ears for the slightest breath of sound from the passage, and he thought the older man must be doing the same.
Hawke’s mind spun with scenarios, each one worse than the last, as he imagined what might have befallen Belle.
There could have been a cave-in, or the air could have turned foul.
She may have become trapped. Just the thought of her alone and afraid in a small dark tunnel made his heart beat hard enough to explode.
“I should have never let her go,” Hawke said. His voice was raspy from lack of water. “I should have kept her safe.
Courtney shifted. “For the months that I was Blackham’s prisoner, I prayed Belle would not come for me.
Blackham was so certain she would, but I hoped .
. . I hoped she would remain safely at home.
” He gave a wry chuckle. “But of course, deep down I knew she was going to mount a rescue. She is Belle. She is headstrong and brave and determined. And although I wish for her safety, I would not change who she is.”
Hawke considered the man’s words. He’d worried about Belle constantly since the encounter with the scoundrels in Tortuga.
His instinct was to hide her away and keep her far from any situation where she might be harmed, or even frightened.
But he’d followed as she’d endured a strenuous trek through the jungle, seen her confidence as she defended herself against Blackham, and even watched her push aside her fear and climb into a dark hole in order to free her friends.
Hiding Belle away, not permitting her the opportunity to try . . . it would diminish her.
“That girl,” Courtney said affectionately.
“I loved her from the first moment I saw her.” He was quiet for a moment before continuing.
“I have no family. Hadn’t ever wished for one.
But Belle . . . She filled something inside me that I did not know was empty.
Even though we are not related by blood, she has been every bit my daughter, and I have never adored anyone more.
” He swallowed. “The crew feel the same. Some are to her a dear elder brother, some a doting grandfather or an affectionate uncle. We all love her in our way. As do you, I believe.”
Courtney’s voice was quieter as he spoke the last sentence, and even though the cavern was pitch-dark, Hawke felt as if the elder man saw him perfectly. He didn’t know how to respond, and so he remained silent.
“I know Belle,” Courtney said. “I see how she looks at you, how her eyes stray to you, how they shine. She is in love with you.”
Without seeing his expression, Hawke did not know whether the man was reprimanding him or simply pointing out an observation. “I should not have allowed it.”
“Love is not something one can control,” Courtney told him.
“I still could . . . I should have . . . stopped it.” Hawke’s voice was nearly a whisper.
“There can be no future for Belle and me.” He could not imagine Belle plundering a ship, nor would she be happy to stay behind while he went to sea.
The life of a pirate was not conducive to maintaining familial ties.
Hawke knew that. He knew allowing affections between the two of them to grow would only lead to heartache in the future.
So, why had he kissed her?
He pushed his hands through his hair. The prospect of impending doom obviously shifted a man’s perspective.
When he believed them destined to die in this cavern, the need to hold back, to conceal his feelings, became irrelevant.
Their difference in status hadn’t mattered any longer.
And in truth, he’d never wanted anything more than to kiss her.
His chest ached. Even if they were rescued, a life with Belle would never be.
Love was not enough to bridge the gap between social classes.
“I will treasure the summers with Belle as the best parts of a life that was in most aspects dishonorable,” Courtney said.
“She brought such joy into my life.” His voice dropped and let out a ragged sigh.
“But I know it must end. I’ve known all along.
Belle is a woman now. A nobleman’s daughter.
And she will live the life her blue blood demands.
And it is a life none of us has any right to be a part of. ”
Hawke’s eyes burned. He would do anything for Belle, sail across every sea, climb every mountain, defeat any person or beast in his way. But the one obstacle he could not overcome was his own low birth.
As time dragged on, Hawke drifted in and out of sleep. His thoughts were slowed by thirst and muddled with dream. He imagined he heard the click of the iron door’s lock followed by the hinge’s creak.
Light came from the tunnel.
Hawke shook himself, trying to determine whether he was awake or dreaming.
“Captains!” Grieg ran into the room with a lantern. “It’s Belle!” His voice was high and excited. “Belle’s come for us.”
Hawke held up his hand against the light. He looked at Courtney.
The older man was grinning. “She did it.” He rasped the words in a dry voice.
Hawke snatched up his hat and Belle’s sword. He and Grieg helped Courtney to his feet, and the three followed the tunnel back to the main cavern.
“Where is she?” Hawke asked.
“Here.” Belle’s voice came from the doorway.
“She will not come inside,” Shadbolt said. “Lest the door closes again.”
The lantern light reached the doorway, and Hawke’s heart caught at the sight of her. She was still mostly in shadow, but it was her. She was real. Seeing her alive and safe filled him with such relief that he could have embraced the skeleton pinned to the tunnel wall.
“Belle,” Courtney said. “Belle, my girl. You’ve done it.”
“I brought water,” Belle said. “And food.”
The three stepped into the passageway, and Courtney pulled Belle into an embrace.
She was soaked, her skin and hair shining in the lantern light. She met Hawke’s gaze, giving a tired smile.
He fought against the impulse—the need—to pull her into his arms.
She handed a waterskin to Courtney, bidding him to drink slowly lest he become ill, then she offered it to Hawke. The cool water felt like a balm to his parched lips.
The door’s hinges creaked as it began to swing shut.
“Wait!” Blackham yelled from inside. “Do not leave me here!”
Belle stopped the door, leaning against it to keep it from closing. “We cannot abandon him.”
“Blackham?” Grieg snorted. “We certainly can. And in good conscience.”
Blackham continued to scream from within the cavern.
Belle shook her head, her gaze solemn in the lantern light. “Not alone in the darkness.” A shudder went over her. “Not even him.”
Hawke saw the horror in her face. The journey through the tunnel had affected her more than she let on. “We’ll bring the bilge-sucking rat along,” he said.
“Very well,” Grieg said. “But I’m keeping his hat.”
Shadbolt fetched the prisoner, and Belle led the men back through the tunnels.
Once they’d exited through the waterfall and into the sunlight, Hawke was able to get a better look at Belle. There was a swollen gash on her forehead, and her cheeks were scraped. Both of her sleeves were torn, and the knees of her breeches worn through, the skin beneath bloody and bruised.
“Belle.” He couldn’t stop himself. He caught her arms, turning her toward him to inspect her injuries more closely. She looked exhausted and battered. “You should sit,” he said.
Belle winced as he touched her shoulder. “I’m all right,” she said. “I truly am.”
Grieg brought a shabby piece of cloth from a pocket, folded it, and pressed it gently to her forehead. Water dripped from the feather in his hat.
“Stop fussing,” she said, swatting the men away. “Nothing is damaged that won’t heal.”
Hawke stepped back, reminding himself to maintain an appropriate distance. But such a thing was much easier to remember when she wasn’t so near. He ached to hold her, but instead, he knelt and rubbed water from the pool onto his face.
Courtney eased himself down onto a rock beside him, cupping his hand and drinking. “Belle,” he said, “tell us what happened after you entered the passageway.”
Belle’s eyes took on a haunted look, and she turned away quickly.
“Not yet,” she said in a quiet voice. “I will tell you another time.” She retrieved a sack near the cave’s entrance and distributed fruit and soft flatbread from it.
She even brought out a hunk of greasy meat wrapped in leaves.
Shadbolt stayed near Blackham, watching the man carefully as he ate.
“How did you come by all this?” Grieg asked through a mouthful of bread. “And the lantern. You must have gone to the camp.”
Belle held the cloth to her head, sitting on a rock as the men ate. “The kitchen tent was unattended.”
“Did you see the crew?” Shadbolt asked.
“No.” She frowned. “I did not dare to linger. There was a commotion, shouting . . . I seized the supplies and hurried away before I was spotted.”
Hawke considered what might be taking place at the camp. Belle may well have heard the yells of sick men, but with Wilkes and Falco, and the treasure involved, he wondered if something more was transpiring.
“You did the right thing,” Courtney said. “We will find them together.”