she was once more on her way to England?
She did not want to marry the English lord her father had found for her! Even if she discarded what Captain Sylvester had told her, she would not wish to marry a man she did not know. If the story of his wickedness were true…she could not bear that her father would send her to such a man. Tears trickled down her cheeks. She dashed them away and began to walk slowly back towards the pirate camp. When she saw Captain Sylvester coming towards her, she hesitated, wanting to run away again but knowing she could not avoid him for long.
‘I am sorry if I made you cry,’ he apologised as he came up to her. ‘Forgive me, Madonna. I shall send word that you are not to be ransomed and there will be no truce. The men would be against it—some of the crew have served aboard his ships and they hate him.’ His hand reached out to her, wiping her face with his fingertips. ‘Will you forgive me?’
‘I do not know what to do.’ Maribel faltered, her heart pounding as he moved closer. He was so strong and handsome and powerful, his mouth sensuous and strangely compelling. She felt the pull of his magnetism, but still struggled against it. ‘If what you told me is true, I can never return to my home. My father controls my fortune. I have nothing but the things I took with me when I left for England.’
‘Have you no friends or relatives who would help you?’
‘There is only Don Mendoza…and you say he cannot be trusted.’
‘What of your own mother’s family?’
‘She was English and died when I was small. I know my uncle’s name but I do not know if they would take me in.’
Justin cupped her chin in his hand, looking down into her face. ‘If you will trust me, I shall try to find where your mother’s family live—and if any are still alive I will make sure you get safely to them.’
‘You would do that for me?’ Maribel’s eyes widened, her mouth parting slightly. Before she knew what was happening, she swayed towards him and he caught her against him, kissing her softly on the lips. For a moment she tensed, then allowed herself to melt into his body, giving herself up to the unexpected pleasure that flooded through her. For a few moments she floated away in a cloud of sheer ecstasy ‘Oh…that was nice…’ she said as he let her go.
Justin chuckled deep in his throat. ‘Sweet lady, you tempt me to sweep you up and run off to a place where no one will ever find us, but I have given my word. I shall make every effort to find your English family and return you to them.’
‘But how will you discover them? I can only tell you my uncle’s name.’
‘And that is?’
‘Fildene…I think that is right. Juanita mentioned my uncle once—Sir Henry Fildene.’ She saw his eyes gleam. ‘What? Do you know him?’
‘I have not met the gentleman personally, but I believe I may know where to find him—and, since my father purchased wine from him, I believe he must be honest.’ He smiled at her in a way that made her feel safe and protected. ‘There should be no difficulty finding your family, Maribel.’
‘I do not have words to thank you.’ She lifted her eyes to his. ‘Where shall we go next? To Cyprus as you planned?’
‘We shall go to our island so that the spoils of previous journeys may be divided between us. I shall ignore your father’s request to return his property and forget the truce.’
‘Supposing my father sends his ships to attack you?’
‘I do not fear Don Sabatini or any other man.’
‘But…I do not wish to cause trouble for you.’
Justin touched her mouth with his fingertips. ‘Your father and I were born to be enemies, for he is all that I despise. Whatever may happen in the future it will not be your fault, Madonna.’
He smiled down at her, making her heart beat like a drum. When he smiled like that she felt that nothing could ever harm her again.
Maribel stood on deck watching as the ship sailed away from the island of Mallorca. She had come on board willingly this time, though she was still apprehensive about her future.
She turned her head to smile as Captain Sylvester came to stand by her at the rails.
‘You look pensive. Are you thinking of your home—or your husband?’
‘My husband was kind to me. We were childhood friends. Pablo always told me that he would marry me one day. For a short time we were happy in our way. I think we were still children and thought like children, but we could not have stayed that way for ever.’
‘I am not sure I understand you?’ Justin lifted his brows.
‘Pablo was killed riding in the hills soon after our marriage—I was told by bandits, but I wonder now if my father had something to do with his death. Pablo was young to inherit such rich estates and he would never suspect my father of playing him false.’
‘You think your father coveted his wealth even then?’
‘Yes, perhaps. I did not suspect it then and when he asked me to return home after my husband died I was lonely and wanted the comfort of being with my stepmother. Juanita loved me. My father was much kinder to me while she lived.’
‘He controlled your fortune. Perhaps he had no reason to be unkind.’
‘My father is not a poor man. I do not understand, why would he seek to steal what belonged to Pablo?’
‘Wealth is power and some men will do anything for power. There are men driven by sheer greed; he may be one of those men.’
‘Supposing he tries to take me back by force?’
‘He did not demand your return. There was something he wanted more.’
‘Something he wants more than his own daughter?’ Maribel was intrigued.
‘I suspect that I have the only copy of the map leading to his silver mines in the New World.’ Justin’s eyes were on her face. ‘It was the map he demanded in return for a ransom.’
‘A map that reveals the location of rich silver mines?’ Maribel was stunned. ‘How did you come by such a thing?’
‘It was in a small chest I took from the captain of the Juanita. No one but me knows of its existence. If my men learned of such a map, they might wish to exploit it, for there is a fortune to be made from these mines.’
‘You could be rich beyond your wildest dreams.’ She saw his smile and bit her lip. ‘Is that why you refused his truce?’
‘You must know it was not my main reason for refusing?’ Justin laughed softly as her eyes widened. ‘Wealth is not my driving ambition. I am not sure what should happen to the map, but I was not willing to send you back to him once I understood what he intended for you.’
‘Oh…’ Her breath came faster as she gazed into his eyes. Was he telling her that she was more important than the treasure map? ‘Will you keep the map?’
‘Perhaps…’ Justin’s
