swore none of your men would lay a hand on me,’ she said and even as she spoke saw his frown and regretted that her words broke the tiny thread that had held them.
‘Aye, I did—but I said nothing of myself.’ Justin glared at her. ‘’Pon my soul, lady, you could do with a lesson in manners—and I’ve a mind to give it! Think yourself fortunate that I have much to do on deck.’
He went out, letting the cabin door close behind him with a bang. Maribel caught her breath—she knew that she had pushed him hard. If he lost patience with her, he could make her very sorry for daring to challenge him. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her thoughts whirling in confusion. Her upbringing had taught her that men of his kind were not to be trusted, and yet her instincts told her that he was a man she could turn to in times of trouble. There was no reason why he should help her, and yet a little voice in her head told her that if she asked for help he might give it.
Maribel knew that the ship was no longer moving. She could see the coast of an island a short distance away and understood that they had anchored in the bay. Although she had never been there, she believed they were close to the island of Mallorca. Don Sabatini had estates here, brought to him by his second wife Juanita, who had come from the island. Maribel wondered if there might be cousins or relatives of her stepmother living here. Would they know her if she managed to get ashore? Would they help her to escape from the pirates who had captured her?
Yet if she did escape, what would happen to her? Would her father still force her to marry Lord Roberts? She doubted that he would believe her if she told him that the man was a disease-ridden monster. He would never take the word of a pirate captain, and perhaps she should ignore it—and yet why should Captain Sylvester lie about such a thing? How could it benefit him?
Maribel jumped as the cabin door opened. She swung round, half-expecting another visit from the captain since she had ignored his advice to go on deck, but it was only Anna.
‘We are to go ashore this evening,’ Anna told her. ‘The pirates will provision the ship ready for the voyage to Cyprus and it is the last chance for us to go ashore before we reach our destination.’
‘We must try to escape,’ Maribel said. ‘Juanita came from Mallorca. My father has estates here. If we could reach them…’
‘I have given my promise not to try to escape in return for being allowed ashore, and you must do the same. It is the only way, my lady.’
‘A promise to a pirate? Would you put that above your duty to me?’ Maribel asked, feeling piqued that her maid had seemingly given her allegiance to the enemy.
Anna looked uncomfortable. ‘Please do not ask me to break my word. I swore that you would not try to run off, my lady. I think they would punish us both if you did—I might be beaten…’
‘No! I should not allow that,’ Maribel said. ‘If we were caught, I should take the blame.’
‘We have not been treated ill, my lady. Why do you not simply wait for the ransom? It might be dangerous to escape. We could fare worse at the hands of others. Remember we have no money to buy a passage home.’
‘I am not sure I wish my father to ransom me.’ Maribel frowned. ‘If my stepmother’s relatives would take me in, I might recover control of my fortune—and then I should not have to obey my father. I could marry when I chose.’
‘Do you think Don Sabatini would allow that? Do you not know why he is sending you to England?’
‘What do you mean?’ Maribel’s gaze narrowed.
‘Your father covets Don Pablo’s estates. It was the reason he allowed you to marry him. I have heard it whispered that it is the reason your husband was killed.’
‘That was bandits…’ Maribel felt sick and shaken. She moved her head negatively. ‘No! You cannot believe that my father…would have had Pablo killed.’
‘I do not know, my lady. I have heard these whispers. But why would he send you to such a man if it were not so? Perhaps he anticipates your death…’
Maribel turned away from her, unable to look into her servant’s face. She thought of her sweet young husband. She had always believed he was killed by bandits, but if her father…No, she could not believe that of him, even though he had disregarded her wishes in the matter of her marriage. Yet if the servants were talking of these things, there must be some truth in them. Her determination to escape hardened. If she could reach Juanita’s family, they would surely take her in and help her…
‘I am pleased that you have decided to be sensible,’ Justin said, a wry smile playing about his mouth as she came on deck later that day. ‘We shall sleep under the stars this night, lady, but a bed shall be prepared for you so that you may lie comfortably.’
‘How long do you intend to remain here?’
‘A day or two to replenish the supplies of fresh fruit and wine, also meat and water. We have taken on supplies here before and the people are friendly. They do not condemn us, as your people do, as heretics and pirates, but trade with us for gold and silver.’
‘When will you send word to my father that you wish to ransom me?’
‘Captain Hynes will have carried the tale to him. I said that he might arrange a meeting through an agent in Cyprus. We shall do the exchange there…if one is made…’
‘What do you mean—if?’ Maribel studied his face, trying to read what was in his mind. She was not sure why his nearness made her feel so odd, as if her chest was constricted and she could scarcely breathe. She drew away, suppressing her feelings. She must not begin to like him. If she once let down her guard…Impossible thoughts filled her mind but she banished them.
‘I thought you might prefer your freedom?’
‘You would let me go without ransom?’
‘I might take the ransom and still keep you.’ Justin’s teeth flashed white as he smiled in the moonlight.
‘You do not mean it?’ She was not sure if he was teasing her.
‘Would you prefer me to hand you over to a man who would sell you to the devil?’
‘I should prefer it if—’ Maribel stopped. She had been about to tell him of her stepmother’s family and beg him to let her go to them, but something held her tongue. He was persuasive, but she must not trust him. She had only his word that Lord Roberts was diseased and evil, though she could see no reason why he should lie to her.
‘What would you prefer, lady? Tell me. Perhaps I might grant your wish.’
Maribel hesitated. His voice was soft; it seemed to promise much and a part of her longed to confide in him. He was so strong and she wanted someone to help and protect her from the things she feared, but he was a pirate. How could she believe the man who had abducted her? Her mind told her it would be foolish and yet her instincts were telling her something very different. Despite herself she was beginning to like him.
‘No…’ She shook her head, because she could not be sure he would help her. ‘I should prefer it if you had never taken me captive.’
‘Would you,
