Island Flame Part 5

"Good morning,Petersham . I'm starving. What have you brought me to eat?"

Petershamset the meal before her, still in something of a daze. To his knowledge, the captain had never before had any qualms about bestowing a hearty buffet upon a female if he felt it was deserved. And if one had scarred him up the way Miss Cathy had, well, knowing Master Jon he would have expected him at the very least to give as good as he got. He was soft where this girl was concerned.Petersham puzzled over it, but rejected the only solution that occurred to him as ridiculous.

"Petersham."Cathy called out, as he turned to leave her to eat her breakfast in privacy. "I'd like my other trunks, please. I'm being allowed up for air at last." She smiledsunnily as she spoke.

"Certainly, miss,"Petersham replied, his thoughts ina turmoil . "I'll have them brought to you.Uh . . . with the Captain's permission, of course."

"Of course," Cathyagreed, her voice sugary. If all went well, the captain would soon be agreeing to anything she wished. How she'd love that! And how she'd make him grovel!

The same two sailors who had carried in her bath the night before brought her trunks. They were carefully respectful, but, as she thanked them, Cathy was taken aback by the knowing grins they turned on her. What was so funny, she wondered confusedly, looking down at herself to make sure that she was adequately covered. She was. Cathy shook her head, dismissing the matter. Men were strange creatures at best.

She spent the next hour sorting through her clothes. Her underwear wasneady folded and tucked away in the wardrobe. Some of Jon's shirts had to be removed to make room, but as Cathy stuffed them into a sea chest she shrugged.He wouldn't object, she was sure. He was not overly picky about his clothes. A few of her dresses that were not too badly wrinkled were also hung in the wardrobe. The rest were thrown across the foot of the bed until they could be pressed-if the "Margarita" carried anything so civilized as an iron. . . . All Jonappar-ently asked of his garments was that theybe clean, and sometimes he was not even too concerned about that.

A white, muslin day dress sprigged with tiny, mint greenleaves was the least crushed of the lot, and Cathy decided that it would suit her purpose nicely. It was wrapped about the waist with a green silk sash that tied in the back in an enormous bow, and had little green slippers and a small flat hat to match. The hat added just the right touch, she thought, turning this way and that as she admired her reflection in the long mirror that hung inside the wardrobe door. Its light green color set off her golden hair and made her eyes look evenmore blue . The simple style of the dress called attention to her tiny waist and the rounded curves above and below it. Jon could not fail to be bowled over, she decided. And bowling him over was a necessary part of her plan.

He had taken her twice more during the night. And if she was honest, she would have to admit that he was right: it got better as one went along.Still, the knowledge that he could use her body whether she liked it or not rankled. Her pride demanded that he be brought to his knees, and making him fall in love with her was the best way she knew how to do it.

It was past noon when Cathy ventured out on deck, and the sun was floating almost directly overhead. Its brightness made her close her eyes momentarily, and then she lifted her face to the heat, enjoying its fierceness against her skin. She opened her eyes to a cerulean sky with small, white cloudsscutding across its surface like sheep. A sharp sea breeze cooled the air. The "Margarita" rocked up and down gently like a baby's cradle, rigging snapping in the wind, timbers creaking. Cathy felt suddenly marvelous. It was good to be out in the hustle and bustle of fife again!

"Lady Catherine."

Cathy turned to find the young man who had refused to help her when she was first brought on board behind her. Harry, she'd heard Jon call him. Her good mood cooled somewhat. His presence was a nagging reminder that she was, after all, still a prisoner on this ship, subject to the captain's orders and good will. At the thought she tossed her head, blue eyes flashing. Not for long, she vowed.

"Ma'am, Captain's compliments and all that, and would you please join him on the quarterdeck.He says the air up there is healthier for a young lady."

Cathy looked down her nose at him. He hadn't been nearly so concerned about her well-being the last time he had spoken to her. In fact, he had delivered her straight into the jaws of the proverbial lion! But she had since learned that the Hon, though fierce, was not greatly to be feared. And the lion's protection allowed her to ignore the baying of lesser beasts, such as the man before her.

She turned studiedly away as if suddenly afflicted with acute deafness. Her eyes wandered with determined casualness around the deck. The men had all stopped their various tasks and were staring at her as a pack of dogs would stare at a particularly juicy bone. Cathy shivered under the regard of so many lascivious eyes. There was little doubt about what was in their minds! If Jon had not afforded her his protection, she guessed that they would have pa.s.sed her around like candy. Compared to what might have been,her fate suddenly seemed almost bearable.

"My lady," Harry began with desperation, only to be cut off by an angry bellow from the quarterdeck.

"Harry! Quit yourlallygagging and get her up here. And the rest of you men get back to work! You'll have plenty of time to do yourwenching when we make port!"

"Aye,Cap'n , we will, but the question is will we be able to findapiece so lively! Beddingashe-tiger beats the h.e.l.l out of lying with a tame cat-ain'tthat right, boys?"

Hoots and guffaws followed this sally. Even Jon laughed, Cathy noted irritably as she turned her hot face up to where he stood braced on the quarterdeck. Vile, obscene animals, all of them! Their crudity was enough to make her sick! Obviously the crew had correctly guessed the cause of the marks on Jon's face, and had been making lewd jokes about it for some time. Well, they could think what they liked! She was not about to feel ashamed before aragtail bunch of pirates!

Jon frowned suddenly as he took in the full glory of her low-cut, thin-as-air dress, and Cathy scowled right back at him. How dare he let his men make her the object of their lewd jests! She stared at him haughtily as she ascended the wooden steps. He looked hard and fierce as he watched her approach, legs straddled to keep him upright against the intermittent roll of the ship, hands clenched over the rail. The breeze had blown his dark hair into raffish disorder. Sunlight glinted along the blue-black stubble which shadowed his cheeks. He wore a white shirt, torn in places, open to the waist to expose his sweat-dampened chest to the breeze. Pistols and a long knife were thrust into a sash which bound his trim waist, and his powerful legs were encased in snug black breeches. Cathy privately thanked G.o.d that he had not looked so fearsome when he had taken her from the "Anna Greer." She would have been frightened witless!

"You look like a pirate," she accused as she joined him on die quarterdeck.

"I am," he answered shortly."A fact which you would do well to remember, sweet, lestI be forced to remind you.

Cathy was taken aback at the curt warning. After his gentleness with her that morning and his impa.s.sioned lovemaking of the night before, she had been confident that she would soon have him eating out of her hand. Suddenly she was not quite so sure. He had experienced many women; was her woefully ignorant body strong enough to give her the upper hand in their relationship? She didn't know. But it was the only trump card she held, and she had no choice but to play it.

Looking up at him coquettishly, she was piqued to find his attention fixed not on her, but on some far distant spot on the horizon.

"Looking for my rescuers?" she needled.

He glanced at her briefly, expressionlessly,then looked away.

"Your rescuers, as you call them, lost us in the storm. There's been no sign of them for some days. And as the "Margarita" is now sailing a totally different course than she was when they last set eyes on us, I have no expectation of ridding myself of you in such a satisfactory way."

"If you were so anxious to be rid of me, why didn't you put me adrift in one of those little boats that first night? I'm sure the Royal Navy would have been delighted to pick me up."

"Ahh, but I had a use for you that first night." The wicked glance he sent her way left Cathy in no doubt as to his meaning. Cheeks flushing, she glanced quickly around to see if anyone besides herself was within hearing distance. Only Harry and an older, heavy-set sailor were near, and they were both stolidly concentrating on the tasks they had to hand. But something in their expression made Cathy certain that they listened to what she and Jon had to say with great interest.

"I notice that you express no concern over the fate of your fellow captives."

Jon's words brought her eyes swinging back around to him.

"I-why, of course I'm concerned," she said mendaciously. To tell the truth, she had been far too concernedover her own safety to worry unduly about three relative strangers. But Jon didn't have to know that."Imerely a.s.sumed that, since you stand to make a great deal of money from their ransoms, your own self-interest would a.s.sure that they were kept safe. Was I wrong?"

"Not wrong, my cat," he murmured."Just a little too sharp-tongued.A fault which a bout with another cat would soon remedy."

Cathy was disconcerted by his inexplicable change of manner toward her. What ailed him? They hadn't quarreled. Was he angry with her for some unknown reason? Well, she would endure twenty cat-o'-nine-tails before she would beg for quarter from him! He could do his worst!

"Do what you deem necessary, Captain," she said coldly."Iwas always told that pirates should be feared as a cruel, bloodthirsty lot!"

"And were you never told that pridegoeth before a fall, my lady?" His voice was hard. "A single stroke with the cat on your bare back would have you crawling on your knees to me for mercy."

"But then you'd cheat yourself of your pleasure, wouldn't you, Captain?" Cathy smiled triumphantly, knowing that she had him there. He would not whip her for the simple reason that he would then no longer be able to bed her. The rogue's own selfishness and l.u.s.t were her protection.

"Would I?" He smiled slowly down into her eyes. "Your being whipped would not hamper my lovemaking particularly. True, you might find it painful, but pirates are notoriously unconcerned with the comfort of their prisoners."

"You . . ." Cathy began hotly, only to stop short as Harry came to join them at the rail. Jon glanced at him impatiently. Harry looked uncomfortable.

"".Begging your pardon,Cap'n , but it's time for the prisoners to be brought up for exercise. Shall I see to it?"

"Aye," Jon answered brusquely, then swung away so that his broad back was facing Cathy.

She stood, biting her lip, as her companions in misfortune were brought up from the hold. She only glanced their way as they came stumbling up the stairs by the forecastle, her mind more concerned with Jon's strange behavior than their plight. Then she looked again. All three of them were blinking against the bright sunlight, their faces pale and thin,their clothes dirty and crumpled. They looked as if they hadn't had a square meal or a wash since being brought on board the "Margarita" almost a week before. Cathy's mouth formed a little "oh" of shocked amazement. If she had thought about her fellow captives at all, she had a.s.sumed that they were being fed and housed much the same as she was, the only difference being that they were not forced to share anyone's bed. She now saw her mistake. Except for one detail, her fate had plainly been far better than theirs! She felt a sharp stab of indignation at Jon that he should treat them so inhumanely.

Head high, back stiffened angrily, she gathered her skirts in her hand and began to regally descend from the quarterdeck. Jon called after her peremptorily, but she ignored him with a defiant toss of her head. After all, what could he do to her that he hadn't already done? His remark about a bout with the cat crossed her mind, but she shrugged it aside. He would find that she was not so easily cowed!

"YourGrace?" Cathy had crossed the planked deck quickly and was at the d.u.c.h.ess's side. The old woman turned her head at Cathy's words and then, as she saw who it was that had addressedher, a slight smile broke through the strain that etched her face.

"Lady Catherine! It's good to see you looking so wellI had begun to fear for your safety, when you did not join us."

"She was obviously offered a warmer berth," the merchant's wife, notso fat as she had once been, put in snidely, looking Cathy up and down as if the girl had just crawled out from under a rock. "I see they gave you at least a change of clothes, my lady. But then, the d.u.c.h.ess and I didn't share our favors with them."

"You will kindly be silent, Mistress Grady," the d.u.c.h.ess said, speaking with the authority to which her high rank had accustomed her. "If Lady Catherine has fared better thanourselves , then I am sure it is through no fault of hers. If not . . . well, I'm sure that was through no fault of hers either."

Chastened, Miss Grady turned sullenly away. The d.u.c.h.ess looked keenly at Cathy.

"Have you been ill-treated?" she asked in a low voice.

Cathy could feel color rushing to her cheeks, but she answered as calmly as she could. "No,your Grace. Not- not really."

As a general rule Cathy scorned lies and liars, but she knew, with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, that her whole future depended upon not allowing anyone to guess what she had actually suffered. The stigma of rape was all pervading. Once it had attached itself to her, her hopes for a brilliant marriage, or indeed any marriage at all, would be gone forever. In Victoria's England, an unchaste, unmarried female was automatically labeled a wh.o.r.e; the circ.u.mstances under which that female had become unchaste made not a particle of difference.

"I see." The old woman's eyes scanned Cathy's face thoroughly, but there was nothing in her expression to indicate disbelief. Cathy heaved an inward sigh of relief."Where have they put you, child?"

"I-I-the captain has been kind enough to let me have the use of his cabin."Which was certainly true. She did have the use ofJon'scabin. It was no businessofanyone'swhat price he exacted from her for the privilege.

"That was gentlemanly of him. I must confess that I'msurprised. Most likely you remind him ofayoung sister, or evenadaughter. Even cutthroats have their soft spots, I suppose."

"Yes. Yes, I'msure that'sit." Cathy was feeling more and more uncomfortable. She felt that her shame must be brandedintothe soft fleshofher forehead.Quicklyshe changed the subject. "Tellme,your Grace, how goes itwith you and-um-Mister and Mistress Grady?"

The d.u.c.h.ess looked ruefullydownat the stained dress that hung on her now bony frame. "Thingshavenot been too well with us, as you can see. But atleast weare alive, and I suppose we must thank G.o.d for it. Thesepirates usually think nothing of murdering innocent people outofhand. They areabrutal, lawless bunch."

"Indeed, ma'am, you are right. We are both brutal and lawless."

Cathy jumped asJon's hands bit hard into the thinly-covered flesh of her shoulders. She should have guessed that he would come after her. His arrogant pride would not allow himtolet her get by with ignoring his commands in frontofhis crew. The questionwas,would he give her away? She threwan unconsciously pleading look over her shoulderathim, trying very casually to shrug free of his touch.Toher surprise, he let her go.

"I'm glad you realize it, young man. If you keep to your present way of life, you will surely hang." The d.u.c.h.ess's voice was scornful.Jon's mouth tightened, and Cathy suddenly feared for the old woman. He was in no mood to take impertinence lightly.

"Undoubtedly, ma'am."Cathy relaxed as Jon replied with only a slight impatience. "But my men and I infinitely prefer hanging to starving."

The d.u.c.h.ess stared at Jon icily. She was an old woman, her life almost over. She did not fear death, but neither did she intend to invite it prematurely. This man was a pirate, and by definition murder was his trade. She modified the harshness of her tone.

"Lady Catherine tells me that her accommodations have been somewhat better than ours. For that I am grateful. She is still very young, and it would be an abomination if she were to be misused." Her words conveyed anunmistakeable warning to Jon. Cathy swallowed convulsively. Surely he would not expose her! After all, he would gain nothing from her disgrace.

"As you say, she is very young," Jon replied slowly, his face expressionless. "I thought it best to put her where she would be out of harm's way. As for the lack in your accommodations, for that I am truly sorry. But you must realize that the 'Margarita' is not a luxury vessel."

"That's quite obvious, young man. When may we expect to be released?"

"Arrangements will be made, as soon as possible, after the 'Margarita' makes port. Possibly some ten days from now."

"I a.s.sure you,Captain, that you cannot move too quickly for any of us."

"I am sure I cannot. And now, ma'am, my men have other duties which call them. If you are ready, they will escort you below."

"Ah, certainly.It never does to pull a tiger's tail, does it?" the d.u.c.h.ess said grimly, and, without waiting for a reply, turned to go below.

A sailor who has been looselylooselyguarding toe prisoners caught the old woman's arm none too gently. Another shooed theGradys before him like a pair of squawking geese. Cathy, watching the d.u.c.h.ess's gaunt face as it set intoanexpression of tired endurance, felt an almost physical pang of pity. She had to do what she could to help. Her conscience would never let her rest, otherwise.

'Wait!" she cried impulsively. Then, to Jon, "You cannot continue to treat them in such a barbarous fashion! It's cruel, inhuman! If they are to be treated so unkindly, then I insist on suffering with them!"

Jon looked her over from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Cathy felt chilled by that hard look, but she proudly stood her ground. It was possible that he would take her at her word, and order her to be taken below. If so, then she would have exchanged good food and a soft bed for the return of her honor, slightly tarnished. If not, if he refused to deny himself the comforts of her body for the sake of teaching her a lesson, then she could likewise refuse to submit to him unless the other prisoners were decently fed and housed. Of course, he could always resort to brute force. But she was beginning to suspect that he might find that highly unsatisfactory. Or so she hoped.

"What did you say?" His voice was softy threatening, meant for her ears alone. Cathy's eyes flashed defiantly.

"I demand that you treat the other prisoners decently. It's brutal of you to abuse them in such a way! If they are to be starved and kept locked up, then so shall I be!"

"My sweet, if you insist on being starved and locked up, then I have no objection. But it will be done on my orders, not yours."

His voice was still low. Cathy hoped that the others had not heard the casual endearment with which he had preceded his words. Common sense told her to back off while she could still do it gracefully. Pride refused to let her.

"We should all be treated the same way," she argued recklessly. "If I am to be well-fed and housed then they should be, too."

Jon shook his head at her. "You don't learn very quickly, do you, little cat? I am captain of this ship, and I give the orders. Don't think that just because you share my bed that you can tell me what to do!"

Cathy gasped, looking quickly over her shoulder, praying that his crude words had not been overheard. Her hopes were in vain. Mister and Mistress Grady were eyeing her with shocked avidity while the d.u.c.h.ess's eyes were sorrowing. Cathy turned fiery red. Though she had brought this publicity of her disgrace upon herself, she refused to admit it. She felt that she hated Jon almost more for betraying her shame than for causing it. She would never forgive him, never!

"I hate you!" she whispered fiercely as he motioned the grinning sailors to take the other three prisoners below. He caught Cathy roughly by the arm, dragging her after him as he strode toward his cabin.

"Save your tantrums until we are alone, if you please," he said crisply. "Otherwise I'll be obliged to quell them in an equally public way!"

"You didn't have to say what you did! Isn't it bad enough what you've done to me, without telling the world? Are you so vain about your conquests,Captain, that you must make certain that everyone knows of them?"

"I said shut up!" The barely restrained savagery of his tone got through to her. She wisely did as she was told, but her chin jutted mutinously as he half-shoved her before him into the cabin.

"You did that deliberately," Cathy charged in a shaking voice as he kicked the door shut after them.

"I didn't have to." Jon's reply was calm as he leaned back against the door, arms crossed over his chest. He showed no trace of the anger he had exhibited just seconds ago. "They knew anyway. Do you think they're fools?"

"They didn't know for sure until you came right out and told them," Cathy hissed. "Do you have any conception of what you've done? You're ruined my whole life, that's what. No one will want to marry me now! No gentleman would want the-the leavings of a pirate!"

"But you're not leavings-yet." Jon grinned suddenly, eyes dancing wickedly. "And who knows, you might get lucky: I might decide to keep you for a pet. You purr very satisfactorily at times, my cat."

Cathy caught her breath furiously. "You filthy swine, do you think that my father won't come looking for me? He will-and he'll find me. Your only hope is to let me go as soon as we reach land. My father is a powerful man. He'll hang you twenty times over for what you've done to me!"

She was so angry that she barely knew what she was saying. Jon's grin turned derisive.

"He has to catch me first, little cat, and that's hard to do. Men have been trying for years, yet here I still stand. What makes you think that your almighty father will succeed where so many others have failed?"

"He justwill , that's all," was all Cathy could think of to reply. She spat the words through gritted teeth to make up for theirinaneness .

"He might not even try, if you were to send him word you had decided to stay with me of your own free will." It was said in an offhand manner, but Jon's eyes were suddenly intent on Cathy's flushed face. She was too angry to notice.

"Stay with you?" She laughed scornfully. "You can't be serious! Do you think that I'd give up my whole future, my family and friends, to stay with a man who thinks nothing of raping an innocent young girl, a man who murders and steals, who would starve a helpless old woman? You must think highly of your abilities in bed, Captain. Speaking for myself, I disagree."

'You're a conceited little cat, aren't you, sweet?" Jon drawled, his eyes glittering strangely. "What makes you think I'd have you? I was just mentioning a possibility. Once we reach port, there will be plenty of women eager to warm my bed. Women much better at pleasuring a man than you, I'm glad to say. You'll become redundant."

Cathy glared at him, too incensed at this cavalier dismissal of her importance to be able to frame any kind of a reply. "And," Jon continued coldly, "asfor the rest of your remarks, I'll take them point by point. First, I thought we'd already agreed that no rape occurred. Second, I steal to survive. If you'd ever gone hungry you'd be more sympathetic. Third, if I don't kill my opponents, they'll kill me. And I prefer to live, thank you. And finally, as to starving those pudding-bags, let me inform you that the 'Margarita's' rations are carefully calculated before each voyage so that there's enough to get us where we're going and back-no more. We have no room for extra stores. When we took the Anna Greer," our food supplies were already low. We had followed her for some days longer than I had originally planned, you see. If your three friends were allowed to gorge themselves, then I or my men would have to go without sufficient food to make up the difference. And the prisoners are not needed to sail this ship. They get enough to keepbody and soul together, andwe'll reachport before they suffer any real ill-effects. You should be grateful that I wa.s.sufficienyly taken with your soft curves to want to keep them that way."

"I despise and detest you," Cathy said slowly after a long moment. "You have the hardest heart of anyone I've ever met.If you even have a heart, which I'm beginning to doubt."

"I have one, never fear." His long lashes dropped to mask his eyes. "But I also have sense enough to realize that if I don't take care of me and mine, no one else gives a d.a.m.n. Something you'll doubtless realize as you grow older, my child."

"I'm not a child any more, thanks to you," Cathy replied bitterly. 'You've seen to it that I've grown up fast."

"And I've enjoyed every minute of your education." The mocking light was back in his eyes.

Cathy abruptly turned her back, too sick at heart to argue further. She crossed to the window to stare pointedly out.

"Would you please leave? I'd like to be alone for a while." Her voice was icy.