Chapter 6
Six
WILLIAM
The first few days on the pirate ship were tense.
The pirates didn’t like me, and I didn’t like them.
I did whatever work that was assigned to me while keeping a watchful eye on the cabin the girls were kept in.
I had no more run-ins with the assholes who were tormenting me, but I got plenty of dirty looks and sneers.
I ignored them all, focused solely on my tasks and kept my head down.
The monotony kept my mind clear and gave me a chance to plan my escape once the girls were safe.
I doubted the captain would give up his servant along with them.
I could swim well enough, jumping overboard before we got too far from port would be an option, but I wasn’t sure if that would be helpful.
I’d end up right back under Davenport’s rule, and with no money to support myself, I’d be forced back into his service.
Sneaking off at another port was an option, but it begged to question if the captain would ever trust me enough to let me go on shore. I snuck a glance at him, sucking in a breath when I found him staring at me. Again. I whipped my head away, staring at the rag as I scrubbed at the deck.
I found him watching me far too often. I wasn’t doing anything suspicious. It wasn’t like I could run away while we were in the middle of the ocean. I felt that stare no matter where I stood, and my heart beat a little faster whenever I took notice of it.
I would never admit out loud that a part of me was curious. I’d never garnered that kind of attention before. It didn’t feel menacing. He didn’t glare. He just watched me. It almost felt like… interest.
Banishing the thought, I scrubbed harder.
That wasn’t possible. Men weren’t interested in other men.
At least… I’d never met any who were. And I buried my own feelings on the matter years before.
I didn’t have time to explore anyway. What was the point?
If I was gone more than a few minutes, Henry would throw a fit.
I would remain single and a virgin until I was finally free of that little shit.
Speaking of, I heard the pound of Henry’s fist on the cabin door, his complaints loud enough for the entire deck to hear him.
With an exasperated sigh, I shoved to my feet, tossing the rag into the bucket.
Even on a pirate ship, I still had to cater to him.
I almost wished I would’ve kept that little gem about him being important to myself.
I would’ve enjoyed watching him being thrown overboard.
I dreamed of it some nights on the journey here.
Stopping outside the door, I waited for a pause in his caterwauling to speak. “What do you want, Henry?”
“I want to not be trapped in this tiny room! This is cruel and unusual punishment! If I’m worth so much, I should be treated like it!”
I rolled my eyes, leaning my shoulder against the wall by the door, my arms crossed. “You are. You get three meals a day delivered to you, a bed, and you aren’t required to work. What more do you want?”
“Oh, fuck off, William! That’s common decency. As is fresh air! Get them to let me out of here!”
“No.”
Oooh… That felt really good. I bit back a grin, revelling in it for a second.
Henry was quiet for a moment before he growled out, “Excuse me?”
“I said no. I already put my ass on the line to keep you and the girls safe. I’m not pissing them off by demanding you get more special treatment. Sitting on your ass all day is special treatment. Be thankful for it.”
The door rattled as he slapped his palm against it in his agitation. He was going to throw a fit, and I was going to be the one to face the consequences. I almost wanted to knock him out just to garner a few more moments of peace.
“This is not special treatment, William! It’s been days! I want out! I want to be able to move about and–”
I hadn’t noticed the captain approach until he brushed past me, ripping open the door to the cabin.
Henry stumbled from where he’d been leaning against the door to talk to me, his expression bewildered.
The girls were sitting on the small bed they shared, reading a book.
At least their trunks had been delivered to the tiny room after a thorough search.
Henry had plenty to do if he just stopped complaining long enough.
With the captain towering over him, Henry was at least smart enough not to continue his rant.
He didn’t back down, though, his stance rigid and his chin lifted defiantly.
I scowled at him, wishing I could kick him in the leg to get him to drop his gaze.
I couldn’t even count anymore how many lashings I’d taken over the years when Henry acted like a spoiled brat like this.
“Are your accommodations not to your liking, little lord?” Captain Damon growled. There was a warning in his tone, daring Henry to say another word. Of course, Henry was too stupid to notice.
“In a manner of speaking, yes,” he sniffed haughtily. “We’re already prisoners on your ship. Why the hell should I be locked in here all day while you all get to enjoy the fresh air and sun?”
I couldn’t help it. I rolled my eyes so hard, I almost gave myself a headache. “We aren’t standing around enjoying the sun. We’re working–”
“Quiet,” Damon snapped. He shot me a look that said there would be severe consequences if I spoke again, and I smartly kept my mouth shut.
He hadn’t hurt me yet, aside from the time he grabbed me by my hair, and I wasn’t about to push him to that point just to get in another jab on Henry. He wasn’t worth it.
His gaze returned to Henry, who wasn’t smart enough to see the warning there, continuing his tantrum without noticing the irritation on the captain’s face.
“You plan on using me to get money from my father. I can tell him to withhold that if you don’t treat me well. I want out of this stuffy room, and I want my manservant back. He’s mine, not yours.”
I wrinkled my nose at the proclamation. Henry’s possessiveness wasn’t new, but his tone almost made it sound like we were lovers. Damon latched onto it as well, his tone becoming more sly.
“Is that right?”
The back of my neck burned at the insinuation. I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t disobey orders by opening my mouth. It was my job to protect the girls. Following orders was part of that.
The captain surprised the both of us when he took a step back. He gestured to the deck, an easy smirk on his face. “Go on, then.”
Henry had the smarts to be suspicious, narrowing his eyes at the captain.
I didn’t know where he was going with this either, and if it had been me, I would’ve refused.
Henry wasn’t used to things not going his way, though.
He saw the acquiescence as a victory and strode out of the cabin, his chin lifted high.
I frowned as he went, and when I glanced back at the captain, his attention turned toward the girls, gesturing with a tip of his head for them to follow their brother.
“Wha–”
He shot me a dirty look. “Keep your mouth shut, whelp, and get back to work.”
There was no arguing with him and I beckoned the girls to follow me and led them outside.
They looked terrified, but I figured since I was still cleaning the deck, I would be close by.
If the captain went against his word to me, I’d kill him.
I didn’t have any weapons, but a well-timed shove when he was close to the rail was my current plan to handle him or anyone else who threatened the girls.
The girls hovered near my back, smart enough not to leave my side as we stepped onto the main deck. I returned to where I had been working, but didn’t kneel or reach for the rag. I waited for what happened next instead. I doubted the captain was going to just let Henry’s demands pass.
In the time it took for me to get the girls to follow me, Henry had found a place to lounge on some crates the crew sometimes used as a table for card games. He put his arms behind his head, a smug smile on his face, his eyes closed.
The captain didn’t even speak. He snapped his fingers, and the crew closest to Henry hauled him up and tossed him on his ass.
Jane and Daisy gasped at the sound he made when he landed with a thump on the deck.
I was less surprised, and I had to roll my lips between my teeth to hide how much I enjoyed him taking his own punishment for once.
“What the hell?” Henry growled, launching to his feet.
“You wanted to join us so badly, then you’re going to do exactly that. Quartermaster, put the children to work.”
Lockhart came to me first, grabbing the rag I’d been using from the bucket.
He didn’t even wring it out first, slapping the sopping dirty rag against Henry’s chest with so much force that he stumbled.
When the quartermaster turned back to me, I was quick to offer suggestions for the girls.
I didn’t want them scrubbing the deck and getting burned in the sun.
“They can sew, mend things, and prepare food with some instruction.”
He considered me before nodding once. “Anyone with clothes needing mending, bring it to the ladies. They’ll earn their keep same as everyone else.”
The girls both looked relieved, and Lockhart and Darrow set them up in the shade of the stairs to work, a stack of clothing to be mended piled at their feet.
Another crew mate, Salty, tossed me another rag, though his attention was on Henry who still looked shellshocked at the captain’s treatment.
I had just kneeled to get back to work when the shock finally wore off and he threw a fit.
“There is no way in hell that I’ll be scrubbing the decks! I am Governor Davenport’s son, not a servant! That work is beneath me!”
“You were the one who wanted to join us so badly,” Damon drawled, a smug grin on his face. “Now get to work. The deck isn’t going to scrub itself.”
That wasn’t going to work on Henry. He didn't follow orders unless they were given to him by his father. He threw the rag to the deck and crossed his arms, glaring at the crew, looking on the verge of a full blown tantrum.
“This wasn’t what I meant! I am not a servant, and I will not be treated as one! Neither will my sisters! Put that down this instant!” he barked at them.
“Henry–” Jane protested. She recognized the stupidity of his actions and was reluctant to follow his orders. He’d make her life miserable if she didn’t, but their safety was on the line.
I wasn’t going to let him drag the girls down with his idiocy, so I shoved to my feet and marched over to where Henry stood, hissing low in his ear. “You asked for this. Don’t drag them into your mess. Do as you’re told or he’ll hurt you.”
“Fuck off,” he growled back. “I’m not a servant or a coward like you. I’m not going to let them cow me into getting on my knees.”
“I’m not going down for this,” I snapped. “If you want to push them, then expect to face the consequences on your own. My job is to protect them, not you.” I jabbed my finger at the girls in emphasis before turning to walk away.
“You’ll do what you’re told,” Henry sneered.
“You belong to me. I’m the one who keeps you gainfully employed.
I keep you from being out on the streets like a rat.
My father wanted to get rid of you years ago.
I kept you because I like how well you follow orders.
You’ll take whatever punishment I order you to. ”
Indignation burned in my middle, and my fists clenched automatically. I was so pissed, I didn’t notice Lockhart stepping up beside me until he stood at my side. He raised his eyebrows, gesturing toward Henry. “You gonna take that?”
I blinked in surprise, shocked still for a moment.
I’d never been allowed to fight back. I would’ve been hanged if I even left a bruise on Henry’s skin.
I dreamed of it plenty, but I never actually thought I’d get the chance.
I studied Lockhart’s expression, almost expecting to see a smirk or do something to give away that he was lying to get me into trouble. He just gave me a significant look.
“No one is stoppin’ you, boy. The choice is yours.”