Cloud dropped the message into the hearth and watched the flames lick at the paper until after a sudden burst of heat and light it crumbled into ashes. He knew the answer. They would never permit him to take her without a fight, and she was the only one who could prevent it. Alex, he thought, must there always be this battle, always something to stand in our way?
In rebellion against the turn his thoughts were taking he allowed his mind to drift to a point in the future when everything was settled between them. He permitted himself to think about a time when he would not have to concern himself with keeping her, because she would stay with him willingly, even eagerly.
He imagined he heard her laugh, more precious to him because it had been so infrequent while on boardHamilton.He imagined he felt its lightness against his skin while she uninhibitedly enjoyed the tender tickling forays his fingers made across her abdomen or down her spine. He liked to think that she would curl into him, rubbing against him to ease the tingling of her flesh, and discover anew the taut smoothness of his body as well as the rigid warmth of his erection. She would stop laughing once she felt him seeking entrance at her thighs, but she would smile, a lovely, womanly, knowing smile, and she would open to receive him, open to embrace him, and she would rock with him, loving him with her hands and mouth, holding him tightly with her slender arms and legs, holding him tightly inside her, seeking the same end he sought. And they would find it together, clinging and soaring, living and dying in the same moment. Above all, she would say that she loved him and when he told her the same he would no longer cause her pain.
Alexis stood, her feet planted firmly apart, on the deck of theDiamond Maria.Her hands were clasped behind her back and her head was tilted toward the upper reaches of the mainmast, where some of the men were busily repairing the main topsail yard after damages incurred by a late spring storm. She dropped her head when she saw Jordan approaching.
“Captain Danty, some of the men wanted to know if we are still going to stop in Roadtown.”
“No, we’re not. We’ve been blown far enough off course without losing time on Tortola. We are on Travers’s stern now. I do not intend to lose him after coming this close.”
He smiled. “That’s what we were hoping you would say. Do you anticipate any trouble with Lafitte in these waters?”
Alexis laughed. “Hasn’t anyone ever informed you about Lafitte, Mr. Jordan?”
He shook his head and listened with mild amusement to her story. “I suppose he is a fine man to have on your side, Captain.”
“That’s what I don’t understand,” she replied. “When I left him there was certainly no agreement between us that he would leave my ships alone and yet from the reports I’ve received, especially the one in London, it seems he has made Quinton Shipping exempt from his activities. Even our cargo from Spain is safe. It pleases Mr. Grendon to no end but it makes me uneasy.”
“Perhaps it simply amuses him.”
She recalled that mocking smile. “Perhaps.” She dismissed the subject with a wave of her hand as she also recalled he had named her an exception. “What is the extent of the damage?”
“Minimal. We’ll have her at ten knots in no time at all, providing the wind holds up. Within a week we’ll be close enough to New Orleans to begin taking a close look for Travers.”
“It’s almost too good to be true. Wilkes certainly brought back good news from the Admiralty.” She turned to face the water, fascinated as it turned to white foam when it hit the side of the ship. Smiling, she turned back to Jordan. “It won’t be long now,” she said with sudden fierceness, then more softly, “what are you and the others going to do once it’s over?”
“I suspect once war has been declared most of us will join up,” Jordan answered.
“I want you to tell the other Americans aboard that once the United States issues a declaration your ties to this ship are at an end. That goes for whether we have Travers by then or not.” Her tone was so serious Jordan was taken back.
“We have already discussed it among ourselves, Captain Danty. Knowing how you think, we figured you would say that. None of us has any intention of going until we see this through.” In her face he saw reluctant agreement, and in his own he knew she saw there was no changing their minds.
As Alexis walked away, Jordan watched her. If anyone had told him he would serve a woman captain he would have probably responded that he would rather serve the British. Now that he had tasted both he knew that the former was infinitely preferable to the latter. There was not one of them who could consider leaving her. Even if they did not achieve their end soon he knew everyone would still choose to stay.
He had been pledged himself to follow her since she’d invited him aboard theDark Lady.Though it had surprised him, discovering she was a woman, that had not made him waver in his pledge. She was proof that skills, knowledge, ability were everything. He supposed at one time or another there was not a man aboard who had not fancied himself in love with her. But the way she carried herself, the way she was always in command, the way she handled her responsibilities, told them all it was futile to pursue a personal relationship. Jordan was sure there was only one man in her life at the moment and that man was Travers.
Ten days later he discovered he was wrong. Much later he decided he was not unhappy about it.
At the first sign of the British frigate, its sides painted Nelson style in black and yellow, Alexis issued orders that set the deception in motion. Afterward she hurried to her quarters and discarded her trousers and shirt, replacing them with the black silk uniform. Having secured her hair in place under the bandanna she tied the red sash about her waist and hung her sword from her side. As she walked out of her cabin she caught sight of herself in the mirror and paused for a moment, pulling on her gloves. So this is what they saw, she thought. Then she realized it was not precisely what any of her victims saw at all. Without the mask pulled over her face there was no denying she was a woman. The midnight outfit was suddenly very striking. The trousers were not tight enough to reveal her curves and yet they clung to her legs, showing a smooth, muscular power. Her shirt was loose enough to conceal her breasts with the aid of a binder, but there was something about the open neckline that seemed to scream farce. She changed her stance and her reflection obliged. The woman was gone for a moment, replaced by a swaggering, arrogant figure. She laughed at the change, marveling that one movement could so easily fool the eye. She looked at her face and the woman returned. She pursed her lips, attempting a grimace, but it was a young woman in false pain who returned her gaze. The mask was everything. She quickly pulled it on. Now the mysterious Captain Danty stared back with fierceness in his amber eyes. His smile, however, was well concealed.
Alexis strode on deck and watched the activity with satisfaction. It was hardly necessary to say anything for the men were all drilled in what was about to happen. A distress signal had already been sent and the Union Jack was whipping high above the ship on the signal gaff.
“Is it Captain Travers?” Alexis asked Jordan.
“Randall seems to think so. She is still too far away to be sure. He can’t make her name yet.”
As if Randall had heard his captain’s sigh of disappointment he called down from the mizzen cap. “It’s the HMSFollansbee,Captain Danty! And she’s seen us! She’s coming this way!”
The low rumble of approval at the approach of Travers’s vessel would have erupted into pandemonium if Alexis had not quickly issued orders that returned things to normal and quenched some of the excitement. The crew returned to their stations and attacked their work with a new vengeance. As the ship continued to approach,Diamond Mariaremained almost motionless in the water. Her sails were caught but ready to be unfurled at a moment’s notice if Travers should see their ruse. Men were dropping empty crates over the side to give the impression their heavy load was in part responsible for their floundering. The hurried, frantic movement of the crew was only for illusion.Diamond Mariawas a sound vessel.
“Mr. Jordan, give the order to stand by stations and ready the guns. It won’t be much longer.” Alexis watched Travers’s ship with the intensity a spider views a nearing fly.
“Thought you might like to take a look, Captain,” Randall said, handing her the scope. He had abandoned his position in the cap to carry on his duties at the guns. It was part of the procedure. All hands were needed now.
“Thank you,” Alexis said. She glanced through the instrument and felt a chill pass through her as she made out the familiar form of Travers at the helm. She handed the scope back to Randall, neither of them realizing this transaction signified the only error Captain Danty had made. If Randall had still been in the cap he would have seen another ship approaching in the distance. The name would have meant nothing to him. But the Stars and Stripes on the gaff above theConcordwould have given him sufficient warning.
“You make her yet?” Cloud shouted to Frank Springer in the cap.
