to the room where Lady Devere prepared all the preserves that ensured they had jams and fruit in the winter, also creams and lotions that she used to cure the ills of the people who served her. He paused outside, almost fearing to enter, and knocked at the door.
‘Come in,’ her voice called and he opened the door. Lady Devere stood at a bench made of a scrubbed wood board and trestles. In front of her were bundles of leaves, dried herbs and berries, as well as stone jars and pots with squares of cloth, wax and string for sealing them. ‘Yes, Lizzie, what is it?’
‘It is not Lizzie…’ Justin said and saw her shoulders stiffen. She turned slowly with a jar in her hand. When she saw him her eyes widened, she gave a little cry and swayed, dropping the jar she was holding so that it clattered onto the floor. ‘Mother…forgive me…’ He darted to support her, holding her close until she recovered. She straightened and pushed him away. Her eyes were filled with tears of love and forgiveness as she reached out to touch his face. ‘I am so sorry, Mother…so very sorry for distressing you.’
‘I thought you must be dead. Justin…my dearest son…’ Lady Devere caught back a sob. ‘Your father received a visit from a man called Captain Bolton. He told him that you had booked a passage with him to France, but failed to board, though your horse was lodged at the hostelry he told you of. It was months before he came to tell us, because he had been at sea. We were led to believe that you were somehow taken aboard another ship against your will.’
‘Yes, that is what happened, Mother. I was shanghaied and forced to work for a cruel master who treated his crew ill. What happened after that is a long story. I had best wait until my father is here, for I would tell you both at the same time. I am not the man I was when I left my home—I have done things you may find impossible to forgive.’
‘You could never do anything so wicked that I would not love and forgive you,’ Lady Devere said. She put her arms about him, kissing him on the forehead. ‘You look well, my son. I am glad to have you home. I care only that you are alive and well.’
‘I thank you for your love, Mother. I regret that I did not let you know I was alive sooner, but…’ He shook his head. ‘I shall wait until Father is here. He should hear my story at the same time, for I would not seek advantage and I know he may not forgive as easily as you.’
‘Maribel, my dear. May I speak with you for a moment, please?’
‘Yes, Aunt? Did you need me?’
Maribel had been walking in the walled garden at the back of the house. Behind the high walls that protected them from the full force of the sea was a sheer drop to the beach below. To reach the cove, you had to walk a little distance along the cliff until you came to a path cut into the rock by some ancient mariners. Maribel had been considering whether to walk down to the beach, but as yet the weather had been too cool to entice her. She turned at the sound of her hostess’s voice and walked back to meet her.
‘There will be a fair in the village tomorrow, Maribel,’ Lady Fildene said as the girl came up to her. ‘We may purchase silks and materials for new gowns—and many trinkets that may please us perhaps.’
‘I have little money to spare—most of what I have is still with the ship. Captain S…Justin said that he would arrange for my trunks to be sent on, but I have only what was brought on the pack horses thus far.’
‘Which is why I thought we should visit the fair to buy silks from the merchants. We can sew some gowns for you between us, Maribel. What you have is charming, but the Spanish style is heavier than the English fashion. I believe you would feel more comfortable in something new.’
‘I am sure I would. Justin—’ Maribel broke off. It was difficult to remember that she must not mention her time on the island. ‘I do have some simpler gowns in my trunks, but it would be pleasant to make a new gown.’
‘Your uncle would be happy to make you a gift of the gowns,’ her aunt told her. ‘It has given us such pleasure to have you here, my dear. I hope you will visit us again when you are married to Captain Devere?’
‘Yes, I am certain we shall,’ Maribel told her. ‘You and my uncle are both so kind to me.’
‘We love you as your mother’s child—and as the daughter we never had.’
Maribel’s cheeks felt warm, for she felt uneasy at deceiving these good people. What would they think if they knew the truth? She would feel terrible if her aunt ever discovered that she had been so indiscreet as to become a pirate’s mistress, for that was what she was until Justin married her.
Justin would return soon and marry her. Her aunt and uncle need never know the truth! She thrust the uneasy thoughts from her mind.
‘Then I should love to visit the fair with you tomorrow, Aunt.’
‘Justin!’ John Devere came rushing into the parlour where his son and wife sat together. ‘I could scarcely believe it when they told me you were here! I thought you lost to us for good.’
Justin stood up. He held out his hand, but his father smiled and embraced him.
‘Welcome home, my son. This is a wonderful day!’
‘Perhaps you should hear my story first, Father. You may not be so pleased once you know what happened—what I have done.’
John moved back, his gaze narrowed and questing. ‘Should this be said before your mother?’
‘I would wish Mother to hear it all. I have done things that may shame you, Father—but I ask for your understanding.’
‘You mean the mutiny? I have heard that there was a possibility that you led a mutiny against a cruel master—namely Captain Smythe?’
‘You knew that and yet you welcomed me home?’
‘I heard from Captain Bolton that you might have been shanghaied aboard Smythe’s ship. He visited us concerning a horse and told me what conditions aboard such a ship would be like and that he had heard the captain’s life had been saved by one of the mutineers. Apparently, the leader forced the others to put the captain and his officers ashore at Venice rather than hanging them as others wanted. Was that what happened, Justin?’
‘Yes, Father. I must explain what happened. When a young lad who had done little wrong was beaten half to death I could no longer hold out against the crew. They would have killed Smythe, his officers and me if I had not taken charge. I did not think I had a choice.’
‘You did what you had to do,’ Sir John agreed. ‘Mutiny is a serious offence, but I must tell you that some of Smythe’s officers reported him for gross misconduct, blaming him for losing the ship and putting their lives at risk. He has lost his master’s ticket and will not sail as the captain of a ship again.’
‘I am glad to hear it, sir. It is time that men like Smythe were shown for the bullies they are. However, that is not the end of my story. I fear there is worse to come. Something for which I may not be so easily acquitted. ’
‘You had best tell us then, Justin.’
‘When we took the ship and set the captain ashore, I became its captain in his stead, but we sailed by the rules of the brethren, which make all men equal.’
‘Brethren—you mean pirates?’ John’s eyes narrowed. ‘You became a pirate? You preyed
