Alinar Publishing
www.alinarpublishing.com

Copyright ©2007 by Felicity Heaton

First published in 2006, 2007

NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

The Merciless:

Vengeance

Felicity Heaton

Copyright © 2007 Felicity Heaton

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

The right of Felicity Heaton to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First Published March 2006

Second Edition October 2007

All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Edited by Felicity Heaton

Cover by Felicity Heaton

ISBN

1-906023-37-9

978-1-906023-37-9

Chapter 1

The sea is a vast, treacherous place, peppered with islands of all shapes and sizes. The isles of the Caribbean are the haunt of pirates, marauders and thieves. Their flags strike fear into the hearts of merchant and navy alike. Their captains are fierce, dangerous men. Their crews are as black hearted as the men they follow.

Their ships are deadly.

The Merciless had ranked amongst the deadliest the navy had known, but her captain had accepted the heart of a good woman and the offer to become a privateer.

Now it was time for the pirates to learn to fear her.

* * * *

Marlin stared at the wooden ceiling of his cabin, his eyes lazily traversing it as he listened to the gentle noises of the sea outside the window and the distant calls of his men as they went about their work. Wrapping his arm a little tighter around Elizabeth, he smiled as she snuggled closer to him, her warm body heating his through.

He pressed a kiss to her golden hair and heard her sigh in her sleep.

It had been two days since they had left the Pegasus and their old lives behind. He'd fought his battle with his past, and he had won. Having sent Charles to a watery grave, he could now move forward with his life with Elizabeth at his side, safe in the knowledge that no one was out to take her from him. He smiled as he looked at her. He could still remember when he'd first laid eyes on her, could remember the moment he'd realised that his crew had kidnapped the wrong girl, and could remember her defiance of him. It had drawn him in like a moth to a flame. He'd been powerless to resist her.

His gaze returned to the ceiling and he tried to recall if they had spent any time apart since he'd claimed her back from her father and the navy. She had joined him on every night watch, assisting him as he went about his duties, and allowing her sister, Dawn, time to sleep in their bed. Dawn seemed to have settled into life onboard a ship as easily as her sister had. She had taken to following Alexander, his first mate, asking him question after question about the ship and how they ran it. For this Marlin was thankful, as it meant that he didn't have to deal with them himself.

It meant he was able to spend as much time as possible with his girl.

Leaning his head to one side, he looked down at her where she was sleeping soundly with her head resting on his chest. He felt as though they were clinging to each other, that for the past two days they had seen only each other's faces and heard only each other's words. Now it was time to emerge from their world. They were drawing closer to Freeport and closer to their wedding day. It was all he dreamed about since he'd promised he'd marry her, and the nearer they got, the more impatient he became.

She'd asked him a million questions since he'd asked her that one.

She wanted to know what Freeport was like, wanted to know how long it would take to get there and where they would marry. Each time she'd asked him one, he'd answered her truthfully. Freeport was beautiful, just like she was. He knew she would love it there, just like he did. It was the one place where he could find peace. The people of Freeport were fiercely independent in their views. They were a mixed colony of different nationalities that often preferred the company of merchants to that of the navy. They didn't fall under one flag, and to Marlin that meant it was a safe town, often safer than Beggars Haven.

"What time is it?” Elizabeth murmured against his chest and his thoughts of Freeport disappeared as he heard her voice.

"I do not know,” he replied and smiled at her as she looked up at him with sleepy eyes.

"It feels late.” Elizabeth raised herself up and peered out of the window. Unable to glean anything from the blank horizon, she lay back down again and her attention returned to Marlin. She stared into his clear blue eyes and smiled at how warm and loved they made her feel. “Are we not there yet?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you are incredibly impatient?” he asked with a wide smile.

She was about to answer when there was a shout from the deck and someone banged on the cabin doors. She slipped out of bed at the same time Marlin did, hurriedly throwing her red dress on and fastening it. Not bothering to slip on her shoes, she followed him out onto deck as she ran her fingers through her golden hair, trying to brush out the tangles.

"Something terrible has happened.” Dawn greeted her with a twinkle of excitement in her eyes.

Marlin moved through his men and hurried up the steps that led onto the deck above the forecastle. He found Alexander looking out to the horizon, and his eyes settled there.

Black smoke loomed ahead of them, the unmistakeable sign of a battle.

"Whereabouts are we?” he asked as he took the telescope from Alexander and brought it up to his eye, scanning the distance in the hope of making out what was happening up ahead of them.

"We're a fair distance off Beggars Haven, but not too far out ... just before the reef,” Alexander replied.

As Elizabeth approached with her sister, Alexander turned and nodded a greeting.

"What's happening?” Elizabeth asked the moment she saw the smoke in the distance and remembered the last time she'd seen something like that. She didn't want to think about the terrible acts of murder she had witnessed, and deep inside she hoped it wouldn't be what happened this time.

"It could be a merchant ship. They carry too much powder and not enough weapons. Easy prey for a pirate,” Marlin replied and handed her the scope. A frown crossed his face as he took in their surroundings. He watched a piece of wreckage bump against the bow of The Merciless and then drift away. “This is terribly familiar."

"Shall we set course to keep a good distance between us?” Alexander said.

"Keep her steady."

"But, Captain, we would be heading straight for—” Alexander started and then stopped when Marlin gave him a dark look.

"I can see that. Now do as you are told and hold her steady. Be ready to make manoeuvres if necessary.” Marlin held his first mate's gaze, and then returned his attention to the smoke.

Elizabeth offered Alexander a little smile as he passed her near the steps to the main deck. Turning to her sister, she intimated that it would be best if she went with Alexander and left her alone with Marlin.

Dawn nodded and walked quietly down the steps. Elizabeth slowly approached Marlin and swallowed hard as she saw his shoulders tense. She stifled her nerves and moved to stand behind him. She knew there was something wrong. The second he'd said there was something familiar about this whole thing, she'd seen in his expression that he wasn't happy.

Running her hand slowly up his back, she let it rest on his shoulder as she came to stand next to him and smiled as he turned to look at her.

"What is the matter?” she asked in a quiet voice, hoping to soothe him and make him talk. He looked troubled, as though what they were heading towards was nothing but bad.

"We are not far off the reef.” His eyes found their way back to the horizon and he pointed in the direction of the reef. “We were not far from it when we met the Endeavour."

She frowned at first and then her eyes widened as she realised why he looked so sad. “The Fearless? But it could not be possible. You told Admiral Forrest that you had captured the Endeavour. You told me that Charles was dead."

He closed his eyes and sighed as he leant forwards, his head hung. “And I sincerely hope that he is."

Her hand trailed down his arm and covered his where it gripped the balustrade.

Taking comfort from the feeling of her warm hand on his, Marlin voiced his thoughts and fears. “I left Clancy to take care of the Endeavour. I should not have. I should have stayed to make sure that we had her and that everything was settled."

"But you did not ... you came for me. This is all my fault."

The quietness and solemnity of her voice made his heart ache.

"No, it is not your fault and do not for one second think that it is. The Endeavour was done for. We had her. All Clancy had to do was board her. She was practically a ghost ship."

"Then how did this happen?” She looked at the pieces of wreckage as they floated past and then up at the looming cloud of smoke.

"Stay here.” Marlin slipped his hand free from hers and walked down the steps to the main deck. Leaning over the edge, he watched piece after piece of ship float past. It didn't look as though it came from just one ship. Whatever had happened to The Fearless, they'd put up a good fight.

Raising his eyes to the smoke as they entered it, he held his breath and listened as eerie silence surrounded him. He looped a rope from the rigging around his hand and stood up on the balustrade, leaning out to sea as he tried to get a closer look at what was happening.

As the shape of a ship appeared in the mist, he let out his breath.

"Clancy!"

Elizabeth listened to him calling out to the other ship and silently prayed that his friend would still be alive.

Focusing on the ship, she squinted as she tried to make out what had happened, and then almost jumped when Marlin appeared beside her. He ran his fingers through his hair, giving her a shaky smile that she knew was hiding his nerves, and then looked back out to sea.

As the smoke began to clear, Marlin called out his friend's name again, causing her to flinch.

The ship eased through the smoke and closed in on the other vessel. She hoped that Marlin wasn't going to shout for manoeuvres at this close a distance because there wasn't enough room to make any and no matter how good a pilot Alexander was, he'd never easily get them out of this.

When the outline of the ship became clearer, Elizabeth gripped Marlin's hand and furrowed her brows as she looked at him.

It was The Fearless.

And it was in a terrible state.

She couldn't see how it was holding together, let alone still floating. There were holes peppering her hull where cannon balls had struck and the foremast lay broken in the water, the rigging the only thing keeping it attached to the ship. The deck was empty of life. Broken bodies littered it, both pirate and naval. She frowned as she searched the ship for survivors. When she found none, she looked at Marlin and was stunned to find him not looking at all like she expected.

He smiled and she could see relief in his eyes. Giving him a questioning look, she continued to frown as he stepped up onto the balustrade, holding onto the rigging rope in order to keep his balance.

"Clancy!” he called out again.

She waited with baited breath to see if his old friend would respond this time.

The Fearless looked to have sustained heavy damage in whatever had occurred, but she had seen no sign of his Clancy in amongst the dead on the deck, so hope remained with her.

"Clancy, you old scoundrel, show your face!"

There was a creaking of wood and the trapdoor to the hold opened. Marlin grinned as a familiar face appeared.

"Had a little trouble?"

"Thought you were the Endeavour, come to finish us off. She did a fine job of springing a trap, but you can see that.” Clancy pulled himself out of the hold and walked over to the edge of the main deck.

"Move us closer and drop anchor!” Marlin called to his crew.

The Merciless neared her sister ship and when she was close enough for a boarding plank to be placed between them, Elizabeth heard the sound of the anchors as they hit the water.

Elizabeth couldn't take her eyes off The Fearless as she followed Marlin down to the main deck. It was in such a state that she couldn't see how they were going to repair it. She raised her eyes to the sky and was thankful the weather looked clear. It wouldn't take very rough seas to sink the ship, not with that many holes in her, and so near to the water, too. She kept close to Marlin as he waited for his friend to come aboard and tell them what had happened.

Marlin grabbed Clancy's arm as he set foot on deck and clapped him hard across the shoulder. “I thought we had lost you for a moment, old man."

"Would take more than the British navy to do me in,” Clancy replied with a smile and then scratched the back of his neck as he looked down at his ship. “They did their best, though. She won't be easy to set right."

"What happened?” Elizabeth asked as she stepped forwards and both captains turned to look at her.

"You remember Elizabeth?” Marlin said with a smile.

"As pretty as always, my lady.” Clancy grinned as he mock bowed, and she blushed.

"I thought I told you it that was finders, keepers.” Marlin placed his arm about her shoulder and sucked his cheeks into his smile.

"Aye, finders, keepers. I would not dream of stealing your lady. Now, I believe the young lady asked me a question, but I am mightily parched, a little too parched to be relating what happened.” Clancy gave Marlin a wicked smile.

"Tell your crew they are welcome to come aboard and share our company. Night will close in soon, and we should be safe enough. I wish to know as much as Elizabeth what happened between yourself and the Endeavour,” Marlin said.

She noted the nervous look that Clancy gave Marlin and saw her captain's jaw clench as he watched Clancy walk back down to his ship, calling out to his crew as he did so.

Elizabeth spoke his thoughts for him.

"This is not good,” she said.

"Not good at all,” he agreed, and began leading her to the cabin. “The Endeavour sprang a trap. She must have been holding crew back, waiting for a sign or signal of some sort."

Looking up at his profile, she knew what he was thinking.

"It does not necessarily mean that Charles is alive. You said yourself that you sent him to a watery grave."

"I shot him practically point blank, Elizabeth. My aim was true. If he survived ... God knows how ... he will not be in any condition to lead a crew ... at least not for long."

She could hear the disbelief in his voice, could see in his eyes that he wasn't able to bring himself to believe that Charles could have survived the battle. She'd seen Marlin shoot people and she knew he had a true aim and was skilled with his pistols. Charles couldn't have survived unscathed.

"We shall know soon enough,” she said solemnly as she looped her arm through his. “Clancy will tell us all we need to know."

Marlin nodded, and then frowned as he stared out to sea.

He'd shot Charles in the chest at close quarters. There was no way he could have survived that. Even if he had, the sharks waiting in the depths below would have been quick to attack and finish him off once they'd caught the scent of his blood.

He couldn't be alive.

Chapter 2

"He's alive,” Clancy announced after swigging his wine and setting the glass back down on the table.

"How?” Marlin looked less than impressed. His tone was as hard as his expression.

"Lord knows. He was bleeding badly and sodden when I saw him, but he was alive. The moment you left the battle to go after the Pegasus, we engaged the Endeavour. We fought the remainder of the crew, what little there was, and then it happened. We weren't thirty foot off her when she opened fire on us. The foremast went immediately, split in two like a toothpick. They turned the cannons to the hull then, tearing her to shreds and leaving us for dead."

"How?” Marlin repeated as he held Clancy's gaze.

"They must have kept some crew at the guns, waiting for us to look vulnerable."

"Charles would not fire on a naval ship,” Elizabeth interjected and Marlin's look turned cynical.

"He would not fire on a naval ship that had you onboard, or him.” He took a mouthful of wine and then stared at the liquid as he thought. “No ... Charles would fire on a ship that had been taken by pirates, or at least pirates he did not wish to kill personally."

"So he is alive then ... and the Endeavour is still out there?” Elizabeth said to herself as she stared at the table. She didn't want to think about the danger they were in now. She got the feeling that if they were to come up against the Endeavour again, Charles wouldn't go for a boarding procedure. He'd tear the ship apart with the long nines, not realising that she was onboard.

"She sustained damage?” Marlin asked in a hopeful tone as Clancy pushed his empty plate aside and leant back in his chair.

"Not as heavy as ours. We do not have enough cannons to blow her out of the water, but we did our best. She will be slower now, at least until they repair her."

"Where did they go?"

"They looked to be heading east, going for Red Point or maybe the little harbour town south of there. People there are friendly to the navy. They will give them what they need for a fast turnaround. Shame I cannot say the same for The Fearless."

"Ridiculous!” Marlin exclaimed and smiled at his friend as he raised his eyes to look at him. “I would strip the boards from The Merciless if it meant her sister was equal to her again."

"I wouldn't allow it.” Clancy gulped down the remains of his wine and poured himself another glass. “All I ask is that you lend me spare canvas and planks so we can patch her up and limp gallantly to Beggars Haven. We can scrounge a new foremast from there, but we need more material to fix her up."

"Then you shall have all we can spare ... and half the provisions we are carrying. We shall have her ready to sail before you know it.” Marlin helped himself to another glass of wine and then topped Elizabeth's up as she slowly stood and walked to the rear windows. He frowned as he watched her standing there with her back facing him, her focus on the world outside. He wondered what she was thinking. His heart answered by telling him it was the same thoughts that were lingering at the back of his mind. What happened now that Charles was still alive?

"No. Go to Freeport. It is not wise to keep a lady waiting.” Clancy gave Elizabeth a warm smile as she looked over her shoulder at him. “We'll meet at Beggars Haven. Staying here will only lure the Endeavour back and we are in no fit state to be fighting her."

Marlin stood at the same time Clancy did. Following him to the cabin doors, he turned back and looked at Elizabeth. “Will you join us?"

Elizabeth sighed as she looked at him, and tried to push away her heavy thoughts. “I think I shall go and find Dawn. She is most likely harassing Alexander."

She smiled as he nodded and walked out onto the deck with his friend. They had important business to discuss and the last thing she wanted was to hear things that would only make her worry more. The thought that Charles would be coming after them again made her stomach flip and tense with nerves. Pressing her hand to it, she looked down and frowned.

If there was a battle between The Merciless and the Endeavour, she planned to be a part of it this time. She wouldn't let Marlin order her to remain tucked safely away in his cabin, she would be on deck by his side, fighting to protect him.

She'd be exactly where she belonged.

* * * *

Dawn pulled an innocent face, her hands dropping away from the ship's wheel and settling behind her back as Elizabeth gave her a reprimanding look.

"Neither Alexander nor Marlin would be very impressed if they caught you doing that.” Elizabeth smiled as she stopped just in front of her sister where she stood on the quarterdeck.

"It shall not do any harm. We are soundly anchored,” Dawn retorted quietly and wandered to the back of the ship.

Elizabeth ran her fingers lightly over the wheel and felt the smoothness of the wood under them. She wondered what it would be like to steer a ship, imagining it wouldn't be as easy as it appeared to be. It wasn't just steering that you had to do; you had to navigate the waters, too. She remembered Marlin mentioning the reef that was nearby, and she couldn't help thinking about the damage it could do to a ship. She'd heard ghost tales of ships that had run aground on reefs and been wrecked on rocks hidden just below the surface of the ocean. No one ever survived.

"Marlin will not be impressed.” Her sister's voice cut into her thoughts and she let go of the wheel.

"I was not steering as you were,” Elizabeth said in her defence as she joined her sister at the back of the ship.

"It is dark out here.” Dawn rested her chin rest on her hands.

Elizabeth out into the inky blackness that was barely illuminated by the weak moon overhead.

"That is because Marlin will not light the ship for fear of drawing attention to her, and with good reason, too. We are close to Beggars Haven, a place of pirates and thieves. Sailing on these waters are two deadly ships captained by two fierce pirates.” She kept her tone disinterested as she spoke the words, letting her sister hang on each one and pretending she hadn't noticed in the slightest.

"Really?” Dawn breathed in amazement, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"They call them Chaos and The Seven Stars. Their captains are the bloodthirsty Raine and Morgan. I have witnessed what they do first hand, have watched them.” Elizabeth kept her face straight as she watched Marlin sneaking up on Dawn, a smile on his lips.

Dawn swallowed noisily, clearly picturing the kinds of things deadly pirates could do to ships and their passengers.

"Really?” she squeaked out, her voice tight with fear.

Marlin leant in close behind her and breathed, “Really."

Elizabeth laughed as Dawn shrieked and dashed towards her, hiding behind her skirt as though Marlin was one of the pirates in question.

Dawn scowled at him when she realised he wasn't.

"Is it wise to be telling your sister horror stories about real pirates?” Marlin asked as he leant against the railings and looked at them both.

Elizabeth looked at Dawn as she smoothed her dress down, pretending nothing had happened.

"Possibly not,” she replied and then looked up into his eyes as she stepped up to him. “Where is Clancy?"

"He has called it a night."

"Are we on night watch?” she asked and slipped her arms around his waist.

"We certainly are.” Marlin kissed her cheek and ignored the disgusted look that her sister gave him. He arched a brow at her and then glanced at the ships wheel, letting her know that he'd seen her playing with it.

"I think I shall retire now also,” Dawn said hurriedly.

"We shall wake you when our watch is over.” Elizabeth turned in Marlin's embrace and looked at her sister. “Then tomorrow we really should see about getting you your own quarters."

Dawn's lips broke into a smile. Elizabeth smiled and knew why her sister looked so happy. As comfortable as sleeping in the captain's bed was, her sister longed to have her own part of the ship where she could set things to her liking and not have to worry about people walking in on her.

"There is a fine place in the hold ... not very private though, and the metal bars tend to get cold at night,” Marlin teased her and grinned.

Dawn's eyes widened.

"I am not sleeping in the hold!"

"Starting to sound like your sister.” He gave Dawn a mischievous smile, then let go of Elizabeth's waist and walked over to the boom to inspect it.

The Fearless wasn't the only ship to sustain damage during a recent battle. The Merciless needed new sails for the boom and the bowsprit. The old ones were littered with bullet holes and gashes from swords. The damage looked minimal right now, but rough weather would tear the canvas right off the mast. Maybe Elizabeth and Dawn could sew them so they would stand a better chance if they were to hit a storm.

Elizabeth saw that Marlin hadn't heard the comment Dawn had made after he'd spoken. He seemed absorbed in what he was doing, his fingers running over the damaged canvas in front of him. She could see how concerned he was about the state of his ship, and she couldn't blame him. After seeing the damage The Fearless had sustained, she wanted The Merciless in top shape too. If they met the Endeavour, she needed to know they could outrun her.

She smiled at her sister as she realised she was leaving for bed, and then let her gaze go back to resting on him.

"It troubles you, does it not?” she said.

He nodded, answering her question without needing to ask what she was talking about.

"How much damage is there?” she asked as she came to stand beside him and looked up at the mizzenmast and the mainmast.

Marlin looked there also. “Enough for a rough ride if we hit a storm. She needs a loving touch until we can get her to a safe port and buy new canvas."

"Because you are giving all you can spare to Clancy ... what can I do?” She looked into his eyes and hoped he could see that she was willing to do her share of the work, was willing to be a part of his crew rather than merely a passenger.

He brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek and smiled as he watched them caressing her. “Give her a loving touch."

She blushed slightly. The ship wasn't the only one that needed a loving touch. Stepping forwards, she let her arms encircle his neck and leant her head backwards in an invitation to him.

"Aye aye, Captain.” She smiled up at him and giggled as he grabbed hold of her waist, his lips smashing against hers in a passionate kiss.

Breaking the kiss a few seconds later, he stroked her hair affectionately and then looked around the ship. Elizabeth did the same. They were still tethered to The Fearless, and she could hear that work was already being done to repair her. Half of the remaining crew of both ships were working on fixing her so she would be ready to set sail for Beggars Haven as quickly as possible. She watched Marlin as he walked over to the ship's wheel and took out his compass.

Walking quietly over to him, she looked at his hand where it rested on the wheel and then at his face as he frowned at the compass.

"Is it difficult?” she asked, and he turned his frown on her.

"Difficult?” He looked confused.

"To steer the ship.” Her hand automatically reached out and came to rest on the wheel.

"It all depends on the terrain below the surface. On open sea, it is not hard to steer the ship, but navigating becomes difficult, and you are more likely to hit rough weather. On terrain like this, steering her takes skill and good observation. You make one mistake on water with shallows and reefs like this, and you are down a ship, a crew and possibly your life."

Marlin put his compass away as an idea crossed his mind.

Reaching out, he let one hand slide around her waist and tugged her close to him. He nuzzled her neck when she came to stand in front of him with her back against his chest, and closed his eyes as he felt her place her hand over his where it rested against her stomach.

"Want me to show you?” he breathed into her ear and felt her shiver with it.

Elizabeth nodded and immediately placed her hands on top of the wheel.

Marlin moved them so they were further apart and kept his hands over them.

"She's not a hard ship to work ... you simply have to treat her with respect. You have to show her that you love her, and she will behave herself.” He looked down at her profile as she stared at his hands and smiled.

Elizabeth remembered the night they had gone into Beggars Haven shortly after he'd taken her captive and wondered if he was talking about her again, rather than talking about the ship. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled shyly when she found herself looking straight into his eyes. It all seemed so crazy still. He'd kidnapped her, forced her to endure terrible things, and she'd risen to the challenge and defied him at every turn, treating him as badly as he was treating her. Love was a funny thing. It wasn't hearts and flowers like the poems and stories told her. It was hard, it was difficult, but it was worth it, if only to feel like she did right at that moment.

Warm and safe in the arms of the man who loved her, a man who would die to protect her.

And she in turn would die to protect him.

Let Charles come. Let him try with all his might to break them apart. She wasn't going to let him succeed.

"Are you even listening to me?"

She blinked and gave Marlin an apologetic look as she realised that he'd been talking while she was heavy in thought. “I am sorry ... it is just..."

"I know. He is playing on my mind too, sweetheart.” Marlin ran his fingers lightly over her hair as he looked at her and thought about what could happen if they came up against the Endeavour again. It had been bad enough the last time, and that had only ended with her being taken from him. This time it could be so much worse. Shaking his head to clear it of such melancholy thoughts, he placed her hands back on the ship's wheel.

Elizabeth leant her back into him and closed her eyes briefly at the warm feeling she got from the sensation of him surrounding her. Thoughts of Charles drifted away and there was only Marlin, standing protectively behind her, holding her as if he'd never let her go.

"Now, which would be easier to steer, The Merciless or the Endeavour?” Marlin let his cheek rest against hers and listened to the sounds of silence as she thought over his question.

He absorbed how good it felt to have her so close to him, her body resting lightly against his. It felt as though this was how it had always been, that there had never been a time when they weren't together.

"I do not know.” Came her unsure reply.

"Neither, in reality. Where the Endeavour would be easier to steer because of her weight, her size makes her difficult. The Merciless on the other hand is a perfect size, but she is light in the water and therefore easily swayed by the current.” He let his thumbs gently stroke hers.

She thought about what he'd said and realised that it made sense. The weight of the Endeavour would make her an easier ship to steer, but her size would cause difficulty in waters where there were reefs and rocks. She would be slow to manoeuvre if they ran into trouble. The Merciless was swift and light, making her perfect for navigating the islands, but the wind and current could play havoc with her because of her build.

"Which would you prefer to steer?” she asked, and his look turned thoughtful.

"This beauty.” He squeezed her waist and a smile curved her lips.

"I really do not think you are concentrating,” she said as he turned her slowly to face him and she ran her hands up his arms, letting them come to rest on his shoulders.

"I can never concentrate when you are near me,” he breathed as he lowered his head, kissing her collarbones and then following the curve of her throat to her jaw.

Elizabeth sighed and closed her eyes as she felt him kiss along her jaw. As his lips pressed against hers, she kissed him gently, her mouth barely brushing against his as she thought about how many night watches they had passed like this. He would steer the ship for a while and then would gather her up into his arms, kissing her and holding her while he kept one eye on their course. He wouldn't let her go until the sun broke the horizon and Alexander came to claim their place at the wheel, allowing them to go down into his cabin.

Every night watch went the same way. Every time he was on deck, and she was too.

He'd really meant it when he said he couldn't concentrate when she was nearby.

And she felt exactly the same way about him.

Chapter 3

Elizabeth leant against the rails, her eyes fixed on The Fearless as it gradually drifted into the distance. The midday sun was beating down mercilessly. It had burnt away the morning mist that had kept the two ships hidden from the world, and was now scorching them. The lack of wind offered no relief from the heat and no speed to the sails. She looked up at them where they hung limp, flapping occasionally like dying fish as they tried to catch what little breeze there was.

Freeport seemed like a million miles away.

A million miles in which anything could happen, in which they could encounter the Endeavour.

Walking down to the cabin, she opened the doors and smiled at Marlin as she passed him and went into the bedroom. Unbuttoning her red dress, she let the silk pool around her feet and then fanned herself with her hand as she walked over to her cream dress where it hung. Taking it down, she slipped into it, hoping the paleness of the material would help reflect the relentless heat of day.

Drawing her hair away from her neck, she twirled it into a tight knot and pinned it up on top of her head.

As she passed through the main cabin on the way back to the deck, she found Marlin staring at her with some concern and couldn't help stopping.

"Wait a while ... the heat will break,” he said as he looked at her.

She wiped away the fine sheen of sweat on her brow.

"The sails will break too if we get any rough weather,” she answered quickly and went to leave, but found she couldn't when he looked so worried. Walking over to him, she placed her hand over his where it rested on the maps and smiled. “I shall be fine out there."

"Just stay in the shade if you can.” He squeezed her hand and then brought it up to his lips, pressing a long kiss to it. “I'll be out shortly. I just need to finish plotting the safest course."

"How far now?” She peered over his shoulder at the maps and frowned as she saw the distance between them and Freeport.

"Two days I reckon, but with weather like this it could be three."

"Then we shall pray for better weather, and better weather we shall have.” She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair, tousling it.

"Be off with you ... earn your keep.” Marlin patted her backside as she went to move away and she shot him a playful scowl.

Walking back out onto the deck, she flinched as the stifling heat hit her. She crossed the deck quickly, heading straight for the forecastle and the crew's quarters. Stepping through the door, she nodded to each crewman she passed, keeping her eyes fixed on their faces so she didn't have to see their state of undress. She hurried down to the lower deck, moving past the cannons and down into the hold.

Her eyes scanned the rows of empty cells and the cargo The Merciless was carrying. It was pleasantly cool in the darkness of the hold and she wished she could remain there. Heaving a sigh, she began searching for the spare canvas and sewing equipment that she needed in order to repair the sails. It didn't take her long to find it. It was stored right at the back of the ship, somewhere below the captain's cabin. She arched a brow at the set of steps that led back up to the main deck. She got the feeling that she needed to explore the ship more and get to know it better if she was going to spend her life onboard.

A noise caught her attention, and she frowned when she saw Dawn at the foot of the steps.

"I have been looking everywhere for you.” Elizabeth handed her the smaller pieces of canvas that she'd managed to find and then grabbed the sewing kits she'd made. “Have a present."

Dawn looked down at the material and frowned. “What am I supposed to do with this?"

"We are going to do running repairs to the sails,” she said as she walked past her and began ascending the steps.

"We are?” Dawn looked incredulous and followed her. “But it is positively boiling out there ... we will die."

"It is not that hot. You should try being strapped to the mast for seven hours,” she said, her tone matter of fact as she stepped out onto the deck. She gasped when she nearly walked straight into Marlin.

He arched a brow at her, his eyes darkening into a look that clearly expressed how angry he'd made her by bringing that up.

"She said that she would die from the heat,” Elizabeth quickly explained.

"I see...” His expression remained dark as he looked into her eyes, and then it softened slightly. “I would never have let you die."

She dropped her eyes away from his as she saw the hurt flicker in them and she nodded, knowing that what he'd said was true—even back then he wouldn't have let it go that far.

"I am...” she started but he pressed a finger to her lips.

"No apologies, remember?” He smiled down at her and then sighed. “I have to take stock of the crew and provisions. If it gets too hot, go back to the cabin and wait for evening."

She watched him as he walked across the deck to the forecastle, his boots heavy on the wooden floor. Part of her wished she could lay their past to rest, but it was impossible. It would always remain with her.

Heading in the opposite direction from him, she walked up the steps to the quarterdeck and gave Alexander a brief smile before setting about her work. She let her eyes run over the sail, inspecting it for damage.

"Can we lower that?” she asked a crewman as he passed, and was surprised when he actually smiled at her and nodded. Something told her that Marlin had had words with the crew about their behaviour towards her and her sister.

Dawn stood beside her. Elizabeth watched the man tug on the ropes, unlashing them and allowing the sail to crumple into a heap on the boom.

"Thank you.” Elizabeth gave him a grateful smile as he secured the boom to the rail so it wouldn't swing around and hit anyone. Stepping up to it, she positioned herself at one end, while Dawn took the other and began sewing all the small holes shut and patching up the larger ones.

* * * *

Wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, Elizabeth heaved a sigh. She pressed her hands into the small of her back as she straightened up, and glanced at her sister where she was fanning herself with her hand.

"I am afraid that will have to do for now. Go down to the cabin and have some water. There should be food waiting for us,” she said, and watched her sister descend the steps to the main deck.

Untying the boom, Elizabeth ducked as it swung around and smiled at Alexander as he did the same.

"Need a hand, miss?” he asked as she walked over to the assortment of ropes and gave them a confused look.

"A little instruction would not go amiss.” She smiled at him as she picked up a selection of ropes.

"The rope on your left. Pull with all your might and then tie it off again. Boom sail is an easy one to raise."

"Then it is a fine one to start with.” She took hold of the rope and drew a deep breath. Readying herself, she flexed her fingers around it and gripped it tightly.

Tugging on it as hard as she could, she struggled to keep hold of it as it tried to slip through her sweat-dampened palms. She gritted her teeth and clenched her jaw, bracing her foot against the nearest solid object as she heaved on the rope.

Marlin stepped out into the sun from the shade of the forecastle and stopped dead when he saw the spectacle in front of him. His lips broke into a wide grin as he watched Elizabeth wrestling with the heavy boom sail, her slight build making it appear as though she would lose the fight. He knew better. She had strength in her that was masked by her slim frame. She would win.

Weaving through the men as they went about their duties, he continued to smile, pleased to see her so eager to learn about the ship. He hadn't thought she would take things so far as to want to become part of the crew, but from where he was standing, she would do a fine job of it if she wanted to.

Elizabeth panted hard while she tied the sail off, winding the rope around and around the hooks and hoping it would hold. She'd thought that such a small looking sail would be as easy to raise as Alexander had made it sound, but she had been wrong. The breeze had decided to pick up during raising it, working against her as she attempted to keep hold of the rope and not lose any of the ground she had gained.

"That was quite a sight.” Marlin placed one foot up on the steps and leant against his leg as he looked up at her.

Elizabeth curtseyed. “Why thank you. I did not realise that I had an audience."

He smiled and walked up the steps. Closing the gap between them, he caught hold of her. “You always have an audience when I am around. I cannot take my eyes off you."

She blushed and lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze but he cupped her cheek and raised her head back up.

He knit his brows as he looked at her tanned face. “You have been out too long. Go join your sister below and get some rest."

She placed her hands against his chest and smiled into his eyes. “You need rest, too. You have not slept since yesterday morning."

"Giving me orders now?” Marlin raised his brows at her and her look turned awkward. He mock saluted her. “Aye, Captain ... I shall get some rest before it is time for the night watch."

Letting go of her, his eyes followed her as she walked down the steps and disappeared into the cabin. Turning to Alexander, he placed the maps down beside him.

"The wind is against us. Set a new course. We will round the islands and come into Freeport the back way."

* * * *

Elizabeth sagged into the small couch and closed her eyes as she leant her head back. She let her whole body go limp as she lounged in the chair and tried to soothe her aching muscles.

"Can we fix my room now?” Dawn said through a mouthful of food and Elizabeth groaned.

"Cannot it wait an hour or two?” she responded as she sat up, looking at her sister with tired eyes and trying to express to her that she couldn't cope with arranging her room yet.

Dawn just shrugged and went back to eating.

Taking her gesture as a yes, Elizabeth moved to the table and sat opposite her. She poured herself a large glass of water, drank it down swiftly and then poured herself another. Supporting her chin on her upturned palm, she closed her eyes and imagined herself stretched out on the bed under a cool white sheet.

"No rest for the wicked.” Marlin nudged Elizabeth and her eyes shot open. Sitting down beside her, he smiled as her head came to rest on his shoulder and he brushed the loose strands of hair from her face. “And you tell me to get some sleep? You are practically passing out on me."

She mumbled something in response.

He looked to her sister, hoping she'd understood what Elizabeth had said.

"Do not expect me to have understood that.” Dawn stuffed another forkful of food into her mouth and sipped her water.

He nudged Elizabeth again as she began to doze off on him, and smiled as she raised her tired eyes to meet his. “What did you say?"

"I said ... ship life did not seem like such hard work a few days ago."

"Would you prefer to be locked in my cabin then? Forced to remain in this little room with no one for company, and just my old books to keep you entertained?” He watched her shake her head. “I did not think so. No one is expecting you to work, Elizabeth. I think that you like it and that is why you feel compelled to help."

"I wish to earn my keep."

He patted her knee. “Then earn it you shall ... but on my terms. If you are tired, then you rest. A tired sailor is of little use to me. Take your time and get acquainted with the ship, and her captain."

She smiled and he gave her a mischievous grin.

"I was about to do just that by finding Dawn quarters that she could call her own."

"There are officers quarters below deck, beneath us.” He grabbed a portion of bread from the platter and stood. “There are no windows, but the hull is thick there, good protection if we run into trouble, and she will not be disturbed by the noise of the crew."

"Thank you.” Dawn smiled shakily.

He gave her a surprised look, as though he hadn't expected her to speak, let alone show him gratitude for offering her a safe place to sleep.

He smiled in return and then glanced at Elizabeth, favouring her with a warm look before heading back out through the doors.

Elizabeth looked at her sister and smiled.

"What is it?” Dawn asked, looking a little uncertain.

"Sometimes ... you are so grown up for your age.” Elizabeth stood and let her smile widen as she held her hand out to her sister. “Come now, we shall go and see your new quarters."

Dawn slipped her hand into hers. She led her out of the cabin and down the steps that wound down into the belly of The Merciless. She stepped back against the wall with Dawn as several young boys passed them carrying small barrels. Elizabeth presumed they were full of powder for the cannons. She watched them for a few seconds more as they walked in the direction of the bow and then turned to look at the rooms Marlin had mentioned.

There were two of them. They were right below the captain's quarters, just like Marlin had said they would be. Peering in through the window in the door, she could see they were as dark as he'd said, and she wondered how Dawn would take to spending time down here. She supposed that her sister wouldn't really be spending a long time each day in her room and it was mostly a place to sleep she was after, a place where she could dress without fear of Marlin walking in on her.

"Perfect,” Dawn announced as she looked into the room.

Pushing the door open, Elizabeth watched Dawn walk around her new quarters. The walls were barely ten feet apart, but it didn't seem to bother her sister. Dawn pushed some boxes out of the way and cleared a path to the hammock. Frowning at it, she tested its strength by pressing down on it with her hands and seemed quite satisfied when it didn't give way.

"Perfect?” Elizabeth couldn't help comparing the dreary little room to the light and airy cabin she occupied upstairs.

"It is not as if I plan to spend much time down here. I shall be up on deck mostly, or in the captain's quarters with you and Marlin.” Dawn picked up a small box, walked back out of the door and carried it into the other room.

"Up on deck?” Elizabeth frowned. “You seem to be spending an extraordinary amount of time with Alexander."

Dawn shrugged and moved another box. “He tells me things about the ship and stories about the others that he has sailed on, and the naval ships that The Merciless has sunk."

"And?” Elizabeth gave her a look that said she didn't believe that was all there was to it.

"I happen to like him,” she said in a small voice.

"Dawn! He is nineteen ... you are barely thirteen,” Elizabeth hissed at her, unable to raise her voice for fear of drawing the attention of the crew that were working on the cannons.

"You are nineteen ... and Marlin is ... I do not know how old he is, but I do not believe that he is under thirty."

"He is thirty-two,” Elizabeth informed her. “But that does not change anything. You are too young for Alexander. You are too young for anyone."

"I like him ... it does not mean that I intend to marry him ... just, I think he would make a good friend, and if I am to remain onboard this ship, I am going to need friends.” Dawn folded her arms across her chest and scowled at her. It was perfectly clear that she wasn't going to change her mind.

"Fine ... friends I can cope with, but nothing more ... at least not until you are sixteen.” Elizabeth picked up one of the boxes cluttering Dawn's new quarters and carried it into the other room next to it. Coming out again, she found her sister still stood in the same position with her arms still folded. “Please? Mother would—"

"I know,” Dawn said quietly, and her arms dropped to her sides. “We are just friends."

"Thank you.” Elizabeth hugged her tightly, and then pulled back and smiled wide. “Besides, I do not think that Marlin would be able to cope with having two wives onboard."

"You think he does not want to marry you?” Dawn looked aghast.

"Oh, he does ... but I think he would prefer it if it nothing changed between us ... I think he would rather we remained very much as we are now, rather than becoming old married types."

"And what do you think?” Dawn took hold of another box and followed her.

Elizabeth smiled as she thought about the love she and Marlin shared, and what they had been through together. She craved the adventure as much as he did. She needed to feel the thrill of wind in the ship's sails and the excitement of seeing another ship on the horizon. She needed the freedom the ocean offered her, the chance to do as she pleased and not be bound by the rules of society. Most of all, she needed her pirate captain, needed Marlin as much as he needed her, and by marrying him she would know his heart was hers forever.

Her smile became shy as she looked at her sister, her stomach and chest heating through from her thoughts of Marlin and their future life together.

"I feel exactly the same way."

Chapter 4

Marlin kept a tight hold of the rigging as he watched the distant island gradually drawing closer. He leant forwards as though trying to reach it quicker, silently hurrying his ship on and looking up at the sails as he pleaded with the wind to favour him this once. Bracing one foot against the bowsprit, he glanced down at the rich cobalt water below him, its stillness broken by the bow of The Merciless as she sliced through it, bringing him ever closer to his destination.

He smiled as he heard the sails flap in the breeze as it picked up, and saw them billowing until they caught the wind and smoothed into perfection, pulling taut against the ropes that held them and reminding him of the models of ships he'd seen as a child.

Only this was his ship, and she was as real as the girl he was about to marry. If his father could have seen him now, he would have been proud. He'd always told him to go to the new world and make something of himself, pressing him into service and making him follow the family line of naval officers. He wondered if Admiral Forrest had sent word to his father to tell him that he was alive, well and a privateer. He couldn't imagine how he must have felt upon hearing that his only son had become a pirate.

He wasn't a pirate at heart. A pirate was the mask he wore, the face he put on when he had to. Elizabeth had seen straight through his façade and into his heart quicker than anyone. In fact, she was the only person who had done so.

Glancing over his shoulder, he caught sight of her as she leant against the railings on the starboard side of the ship, watching Freeport as it edged ever closer.

He smiled as she looked up at him.

Elizabeth's face softened into an affectionate look as she saw him standing at the bow of the ship and welcoming the sight of the town.

She watched him as he turned his attention back to the approaching harbour and smiled to herself. She couldn't believe she was about to marry him. Part of her wished her father were here so he could see he had been wrong about Marlin. She'd always known Marlin would make an honest woman of her, even if he was making her dishonest at the same time. She was aligning herself with a good man, but a man who was a captain of a privateer ship, and she couldn't fool herself into believing he wasn't going to attack other vessels anymore. In part, she wanted him to remain the same pirate she had first met. Her heart told her that he wasn't going to change. He was just going to attack other naval vessels now, ones that weren't British.

He was an outlaw in the eyes of most countries.

Did that make her an outlaw, too?

A thrill ran up her spine as she realised that she was. She was part of his crew now, part of his life, and was soon to be married to him. She was without question an outlaw. She was a pirate.

Her eyes followed a small boat as it approached them on its way out of the harbour. She watched as it gave them a wide berth, the crew on its deck staring at them as they drew level and then parted. She let her eyes remain fixed on it as it drifted away. Once it was lost from sight behind The Merciless, her gaze moved back to the town.

They were entering the harbour, moving between its defensive walls. She jumped as a shout came from the bow of the ship and she saw Marlin calling commands to his crew. The men all rushed around her, dropping the sails so the ship began to slow.

Weaving through them as they scurried about the deck, she crossed it to the port side and leant against the balustrade as her eyes searched out the small church that Marlin had told her about.

Her stomach flipped with nerves and excitement as she saw it in the distance. It looked exactly like he had told her it would—a small grey stone church standing proud on a spit of land just outside the town. Glancing at Marlin, she caught him looking at her and gave him a wide smile when her insides felt suddenly weightless.

She was getting married.

She was getting married to a man she loved, a man she could respect.

Looking up at the sky, she ran her fingers over the cross around her neck and smiled as she thought about her mother. Her father may have disowned her, but she knew her mother would be smiling down at her, giving her a blessing for having the courage to defy the rules set out by society and marry the man who had captured her heart.

"We are here!” Dawn's voice was laced with excitement as she appeared next to her.

Elizabeth pressed her hand to her stomach and swallowed the sticky lump in her throat.

"Oh God ... we are here,” she said as it all sunk in and her nerves spiralled out of control inside her. It had all felt like some incredible dream rather than something that was actually going to happen, and now that it was, she felt as though she couldn't breathe.

"Get that bloody anchor down!” Marlin's voice boomed out across deck as the ship banked harshly, causing everyone to grab hold of something in order to stop themselves from falling over. He frowned at the men responsible as they finally managed to free the port anchor, and then walked down from the forecastle to the main deck.

Elizabeth felt like being sick as she clung for dear life to the balustrade. The nerves in her stomach had been enough to make her ill without the help of The Merciless lurching.

"Not our finest entrance,” Marlin said as he stopped next to her and then noticed how deathly white she was, all the colour drawn from her face until she was paler than her cream dress. Ducking his head, he looked up into her eyes as she drew in slow, deep breaths. “Are you all right?"

"A little nervous ... too much excitement,” she said in between breaths. “I do not think the entrance helped."

"Blithering idiots did not drop the anchors in unison. The port side was refusing to budge,” Marlin explained. He placed his hand over hers where it rested on the banister. Curling his fingers around, he took hold of it and brought it to him, forcing her to turn to face him. He nodded at the nearby town. “But look ... it was all worth it, because here we are."

Elizabeth couldn't help smiling when she saw the twinkle in his eyes, the happiness he was feeling shining through them and allowing her to bathe in it.

"Here we are,” she echoed, and stepped into his embrace, resting her head against his chest as his arms encircled her shoulders and held her protectively. Her eyes came to rest on the distant church.

She sighed as she felt suddenly filled with calm.

There was nothing to be afraid of, or nervous about. She was marrying the man she loved, and for once in her life, she felt sure about something. She felt sure about him. He was her destiny.

She closed her eyes as he pressed a kiss to her hair and then squeezed him a little tighter, smiling when he responded by squeezing her back.

"She's all set, Captain.” Alexander's voice broke into her quiet thoughts and she raised her head to look at Marlin.

"Then set about getting supplies and replenishing the stores. I will go see about the church...” Marlin held his hand out to Alexander and gave him a grateful look when Alexander placed a bag of coins into it. Elizabeth was surprised when Marlin turned to her and offered her the purse. “And you shall go see about getting yourself something to wear that fits the occasion."

Elizabeth stared at the brown bag he was holding out to her and then looked into his eyes. She didn't know what to say as he took hold of her hand. He turned it over, placed the sack of coins into it and closed her fingers around it so she didn't drop it when he let go of her.

She blinked as he brushed his fingers against her cheek and narrowed his eyes tenderly on hers.

"It is a safe town. Take your sister and purchase yourself the things you think you shall need for life onboard this ship. There should be enough money to buy you both what you want. If there is not, let me know and we shall go back to town before we set sail again."

"There will be enough,” she answered as she found her voice, and smiled up at him. “I do not need fine jewels and pretty clothes to make me happy. I just need you."

He smiled broadly as she pressed a kiss to his cheek, and then scowled at his crew when he found them watching him.

"Get to bloody work!” he shouted. When Alexander moved to leave, he caught hold of his arm. “Ready the boat. We shall go into town together."

Elizabeth watched Marlin adjust the guns on his belt. Her eyes followed him as he moved about the ship, checking on his crew and issuing orders.

Walking to their cabin, she stared at the pistol that was resting on the table and picked it up. She frowned as she extended her arm and squinted down the barrel, aiming at the naval plaque that hung on the rear wall of the ship.

"Whatever are you doing?” Dawn asked as she walked in.

Elizabeth lowered her arm, and stared first at the gun in her hand and then at her sister.

"I need to learn to use this thing properly,” she said in a distant voice as she thought about the inevitable battle that would one day happen between The Merciless and the Endeavour. When the time came, she wanted to know that she had the skill to fight alongside her husband.

Marlin watched in curiosity as his future wife stood just inside their cabin, staring at the gun in her hand. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he thought about something and he decided that he'd need to go into Freeport after going to the church.

* * * *

Elizabeth took in the sight of the town as they drew closer. It was so different from Beggars Haven. The small buildings were all neat and perfect. It reminded her more of a painting rather than a real town. She watched the people as they milled around the harbour, the small boats going to and from the other ships that were docked there. Glancing back at The Merciless, she noted that no one approached it. All the ships heading out to sea or into port avoided her. She wondered if this town was as friendly to pirates as Marlin had said it was.

If it was so friendly, why did Marlin feel the need to wear his guns and his sword?

Maybe he had armed himself out of habit, but deep in her heart a tiny voice said it was more than that. He was worried about the Endeavour and Charles. He was worried about their safety.

She had seen firsthand that he didn't like to leave his ship. In Beggars Haven, he had been surrounded by other pirates and lawless men, but he had seemed uncomfortable about being around them. He had been anxious to return to his ship.

He'd admitted that he didn't like to leave The Merciless, that he always preferred to remain onboard when the ship put into port, and now she could see that was true.

After all, he'd sent his men to Liberty to kidnap her maid. She was thankful for the fact that he always wanted to stay onboard The Merciless. If he had left the ship that day, he would have successfully kidnapped the right girl and she would have never met him.

She probably would have been marrying Charles today.

Coming out of her thoughts, she pushed away from them, and looked at Marlin. He was staring at the other ships, watching their crews and the people standing on the quayside with the cargo.

"You do not trust these people, do you?” she whispered across at him. He just looked at her and then nodded almost imperceptibly. She gave him a reassuring smile and placed her hand over his where it rested on his knee. Her eyes came to rest on Alexander.

He was doing an admirable job of rowing all four of them to the town, and she gave him a grateful look when his eyes met hers. Patting her sister's knee as they approached a landing place, she drew her attention away from the other ships and gave her a smile.

"Ready?” she asked.

Dawn nodded.

Marlin leapt from the boat as it neared the jetty and landed soundly on the wooden planks. Catching the rope that Alexander threw to him, he secured the boat and then held his hand out to the two girls as they stood.

Dawn placed her hand into his and gave the tiny gap between the boat and the jetty a fearful look. Every time she moved, the boat moved, and the gap either got bigger or smaller. Squeezing his hand tightly, she put her foot out and closed her eyes, and made the leap. His grip on her hand tightened as he hauled her onto the jetty and set her down.

"Thank you,” she mumbled the words, and gave him a little smile when he grinned at her.

"Not a problem.” He nodded and then turned his smile on Elizabeth as she held her hand up to him. Grasping her arm, he lifted her out of the boat and chuckled as she squealed. Setting her on her feet, he kept hold of her arm and looked deep into her eyes. Her cheeks coloured a vivid shade of rose.

Walking along the jetty with his hand firmly holding hers, he nodded to each sailor as he passed them, meeting their eyes and making sure they knew not to try anything. He didn't think they would, but he couldn't be sure that Charles hadn't been here first.

The people of the town had been good to him when the crew of The Merciless had mutinied, and since then, they had always been hospitable to his ship and his men. But times change as quickly as the weather and he couldn't presume that things were still the same now.

Stopping where the wooden jetty met the solid stone roadway, he looked back at The Merciless where she was anchored away from the other ships. It seemed like a lifetime since he'd been a naval officer, since he'd been known on these waters as James Worthington rather than Marlin. The Merciless was still as beautiful as the day he'd first seen her in Plymouth, if not more so now, and he no longer regretted the events that had led to him becoming a pirate.

His eyes moved to rest on Elizabeth where she stood talking to her sister. She was more beautiful than when he'd first seen her. Her time onboard The Merciless had given her space to bloom and discover herself, and she was as perfect now as ever.

"Be back at the ship by nightfall ... there will be someone here to row you back.” He gave her a concerned look and felt more relaxed when she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “And be careful."

"You, too.” Elizabeth ran her fingers through his light brown hair, brushing it back so he looked more presentable, and then let go of his hand.

Watching the two men walk away in the direction of the church, she toyed with the bag of coins and looked at her sister.

"Ready?” Dawn asked as she nodded towards the town.

Elizabeth looked at the rows of buildings and then over her shoulder at Marlin as he walked into the distance.

She smiled.

"As I will ever be."

Chapter 5

Marlin listened to the echo of his heavy footsteps as he paced back and forth in front of the altar, his hands clasped behind his back. The sound of his boots seemed to make an odd tune in his head as they were met by the noise of his heart hammering hard against his chest. He turned sharply, breathing steadily through his nose and trying to maintain a façade of calm even when he was falling apart on the inside.

His eyes crept towards the closed wooden doors again, and he sighed as he waited, his patience wearing thin as another minute passed and she still didn't appear.

Maybe she was having second thoughts. Last night she'd seemed fine, a little overexcited maybe, but happy about what tomorrow held for them.

He smiled crookedly at the clergyman as he looked at him.

"Patience, my son,” the man said in a gentle voice that Marlin knew was supposed to soothe and comfort him, but it only made him more agitated.

How could he be patient when he was on the verge of marrying the most perfect woman he'd ever met, the woman he loved?

* * * *

Elizabeth smoothed her dress down again and sighed out her breath heavily as she tried to calm herself. She smiled at Dawn as her sister handed her a small bouquet of white flowers and then took another deep breath. Her heart was all over the place, making her head spin as she tried to breathe in spite of her tight corset.

Pressing her hand into her side and then her stomach, she looked down at her apparel and then at Dawn. Her sister looked beautiful. They had wound her rich brown locks up into a knot and had curled it, allowing two of the ringlets to frame her face.

Hearing the town clock chime out the hour, Elizabeth realised that there was no more time left. This was it.

She nodded to Alexander to show she was ready and then took another deep breath and told herself that she could do this.

* * * *

Marlin's head shot up as the doors opened and he saw Alexander securing them in place. His eyes followed him as he walked hurriedly down the aisle to where he was standing and nodded at him.

As the light streaming in from outside faltered slightly, Marlin looked at the door. His breath left him as he saw her. She was stunning. Her long blonde hair had been curled slightly and flowed freely around her shoulders. It drew his eyes down to her dress. He was taken aback when he saw that she wasn't wearing what he had expected.

In place of a pale wedding dress, was the red Chinese silk one that he had given her. He arched a brow at it and watched her as she smiled shyly, her cheeks tinting pink.

* * * *

Elizabeth walked steadily towards him, her eyes remaining fixed on his. She tried to resist her desire to look around her at the small church, but her eyes betrayed her. The candles burned brightly, struggling to light it even in the day. The rows of pews were practically empty. The only people present were a handful of the crew and Alexander. She supposed the rest had to keep watch over the ship and continue the repairs.

Letting her concentration return to Marlin, she smiled at him as she approached. He had cleaned himself up again, his neat black breeches matching his crisp white shirt and polished boots, and she noticed he wasn't wearing his pistols, only his sword. She raised her eyes to meet his again and he cocked his head to one side, looking at her with so much love that she felt compelled to look away, feeling as though she'd done nothing worthy of such deep affection.

Coming to a halt beside him, she handed the bouquet of flowers to her sister and gave Marlin a shy smile.

She listened to the clergyman as he began explaining the solemnity the vows they were about to undertake, but he faded into the background as Marlin leant towards her and spoke.

"I thought I gave you money to purchase a wedding dress,” he whispered.

"You did,” she answered out of the corner of her mouth.

"So why are you wearing that?” He intimated the red dress.

She smiled at him. “Because you gave it to me, and I fell in love with you while wearing it ... and I wanted to marry you in it."

He smiled at her, and she blushed.

"May we begin?” The clergyman gave them a reprimanding look and they straightened up, both nodding.

The whole ceremony seemed to pass like a blur, nothing more than a few seconds in which Elizabeth kept her eyes locked with Marlin's and tried to memorise how he looked. His eyes held so much love for her that she felt as though she was drowning in them, and she didn't care if she did.

She bit her lower lip as he slid the heavy gold band onto her finger. Her smile showed through her eyes as she reciprocated the token of affection.

Marlin looked down at the ring on his finger and then gave a sideward glance to the clergyman as he pronounced them man and wife.

Tugging Elizabeth towards him, he sucked his cheeks into a wide smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed her deeply. He shut out the sound of his crew as they jeered, all of them applauding and calling out comments to him as his lips played passionately against hers.

Breaking the kiss, he scooped up Elizabeth into his arms and grinned as she made a small squeaking noise and clung to him. Carrying her down the aisle, he stepped out into the early afternoon sun and stopped when he caught sight of The Merciless and the distant ocean.

Elizabeth looked at the ship and then at him. She closed her eyes and craned her neck, kissing him tenderly as his grip on her tightened.

"Shall we go home?” he asked as she looked up at him, her fingers toying with his hair.

"Home,” she said as the warmth of that word spread through her, and giggled as he carried her back towards the ship.

* * * *

Elizabeth looked down at the heavy band of gold encircling her ring finger and a serene smile played on her lips. She watched the torchlight flickering on it as she stood on the quarterdeck facing out to sea and brushed her finger over the ring, her smile widening as it shone brightly in the warm light.

"I was wondering where you'd run off to. I should have guessed that I would find you out here.” Marlin ran his hands around her waist as he came to stand behind her. He'd known straight away that she would be on the quarterdeck staring at the ring he'd placed on her finger not six hours ago.

He smiled and ran his hands along her arms, letting them come to rest beside hers on the balustrade.

"I needed a little air,” she said as she leaned back against his chest and closed her eyes briefly, relishing the way his right arm wrapped around her waist and held her tight against him.

"It is a nice night for a little air,” he mused as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

She just smiled as she looked at the distant lights of the town, nothing more than pale yellow pin pricks floating above the sea. She pressed her cheek against her husband's as she thought about what he'd said.

"It is. A nice night following a wonderful day,” she sighed and craned her neck to look at him over her shoulder. He was framed beautifully by the expanse of stars twinkling in the heavens above them. His face looked soft in the torchlight, his eyes dark and his skin warm.

Bringing her hand up, she ran one fingertip lightly down his cheek and then closed her eyes when he brushed the hair away from her neck and kissed it. She smiled and sighed as he pressed a trail of kisses up her throat, and she turned in his arms.

Catching the look of desire in his eyes, she dropped hers to rest on his chest and gently fingered the material of his shirt. She knew what came next, wanted it as much as he did, but it didn't stop the nerves from welling up in her stomach.

She breathed in sharply as he took hold of her hand and led her down the steps. Following him silently, she listened to her heart as it pounded hard against her chest and kept her eyes fixed on him. She could hear the distant noise of the crew celebrating without them in the forecastle, and knew her sister would be safely tucked up in bed by now.

She stood stock still when he let go of her hand and watched him as he closed the cabin doors, locking them tightly and drawing the curtains. Her stomach flipped as he held his hand out to her and she placed hers shakily into it.

She gave him a small smile as he looked back at her and led her into the bedroom.

Sitting down on the bed, she watched him as he moved over to the door and locked it before coming back to her. She felt nervous as he approached. There was something different about the desire she could see in his eyes this time. Their previous times together had been passionate, consuming, as though they were nothing more than slaves to their desire. Her heart told her that tonight it wasn't going to be about acting on a burning need to be with each other physically. This time was going to be slower, tender, something which she hadn't experienced before and her nerves seemed to be overtaking her desire.

"Just relax,” Marlin said as he saw her eyes full of unease. “I promise we will go slow. We have the whole night ahead of us, and the rest of our lives after that."

He kicked his boots off and then bent to remove hers. He kept his eyes fixed on hers as she watched him slip them from her feet and toss them to one side.

Elizabeth sat mute on the edge of the bed, her heart thundering against her chest and her breath refusing to come. She swallowed hard as he stood again and pulled her up with him.

"I think we should perhaps get a little more comfortable."

He slowly removed her red dress and her corset, laying them neatly on the side table, and then stepped up onto the bed and smiled as she did the same. Lying down, he waited for her to come to rest beside him and then looked her over. There was something enthralling about how innocent she looked, so scared about what they were going to do.

Tonight was about affirming and reaffirming their feelings, about showing her just who he was inside and how good their lives were going to be together.

It was all about her, about making love.

He smiled as she lay on the bed beside him, her fingers toying with his.

"No need to be nervous.” Marlin listened to her sigh as he planted wet kisses down the column of her throat.

Elizabeth frowned as the atmosphere in the room grew heavy and then watched his hand as he ran two fingers down over her top and around the underside of her breast.

"This time is all about you...” He ran his fingers in an ever-decreasing circle around her breast as she rolled her eyes closed and arched into his touch. When he reached the peak of her breast, he brushed his thumb over her concealed nipple. “...and just about you."

She kept her eyes closed for a moment as she realised he was undoing her under dress and then found the courage to open them. She wanted to see what this meant to him, wanted to read in his eyes that it was as much as it meant to her.

Marlin met her eyes as he undid the last of the ties and pulled the dress down her arms so it pooled around her waist. He parted his lips as he looked down at her body below him, her taut stomach flattened further by laying on her back, the gentle swell of her breasts, and the way he could see her heart beating hard against her chest.

Dipping his head, he weaved a line of kisses up from her bellybutton to her neck and buried his face there, nipping at her with his blunt teeth and grinning as he elicited a quiet moan from her.

She whimpered as he continued and then dug her nails into his shoulders.

He frowned and wondered if she realised what she was doing to him. Working his hands underneath her, he continued to kiss and suck at her neck as she arched her back into him.

She caught his mouth as he pulled back in order to give himself the room he needed to push her dress further down her body. She kissed him deeply as he undressed her and he raised his brows when she tugged at the hem of his shirt.

He smiled and slipped off the bed, peeling his white shirt off for her. He paused and waited to see if she wanted his trousers gone too, and when her eyes dropped to them and she licked her lips, he took it as a yes.

Elizabeth watched with ever widening eyes as he stripped in front of her. Her gaze was arrested when she swept it back up his body, and a prickly heat flushed over her skin as she stared unabashedly at his erection. The familiar burn of desire flooded her veins.

He crawled onto the bed beside her and ran his fingers across her waist, letting his hands meet in the middle.

He slowly gathered up the material of her under dress and smiled when she raised her hips, assisting him. Sliding the garment off her legs, he ran his eyes up the length of them.

She bit her lip as his eyes came back to rest on her top half and she looked down at herself. Her torso was naked, and the only clothing remaining in place was her stockings.

He moved back up her body, pulling her to him and wrapping his lips hungrily around one of her nipples while his fingers teased the other into hardness.

She flung back her head and gasped when heat swept through her. She ran her hands over his back as he moved above her, his sinewy hard body pressing into her soft one as he continued his ministrations on her breasts.

She closed her eyes as she ran her hand down as far as she could reach and cupped the firm globe of his backside.

Before she could think of anything to say about it, his mouth had descended on hers in a kiss so passionate that her ability to breathe, let alone speak, was lost to her.

Elizabeth shot her eyes open as she felt his fingers trailing down her thigh and a new flood of desire filled her. She raised her knee up and spread her legs slightly in invitation when he neared the apex of her thighs. Her kisses grew more desperate, to the point that she no longer cared that her teeth clashed against his.

Marlin fought for restraint all the way up to the moment she moaned into his mouth, and then it flew out the window. His fingers moved without consent to trail over her mound, moving up and down as he revelled in how damp she was because of him. He ground his erection against her hip when she moaned in supplication and raised her pelvis into his fingers.

Breaking the kiss, she mewled and arched her breasts into his chest as his fingers brushed against her exposed arousal.

He watched her closely as she knit her brows, her mouth forming a pretty ‘o’ as he teased her. It all seemed overwhelming, and he wanted nothing more than to sink his cock into her heated depths and lose himself there.

His thumb running in circles around her clit, Marlin slid one long finger up into her and found that this time it was him moaning. He rolled his eyes closed as she tensed around his finger and giggled quietly.

He was fascinated with the velvety hot feel of her as he pumped one finger in and out. He rubbed his length against her thigh and then gasped when she pushed him backwards slightly and took hold of him, her small hand wrapping itself almost expertly around his length and squeezing him tightly.

"God!” Marlin ground out, and he realised that making love was going to rapidly fly out the window along with his restraint if he didn't do something about it fast.

Pressing a trail of kisses down her stomach, he stopped as he reached her curly mound and pressed a solitary kiss to it in a way of asking permission.

Elizabeth's heart beat a little faster when she realised what he was going to do.

She closed her eyes when he began to slowly peel the stockings from her legs, following them with a trail of kisses that started at her thigh and ended at her ankle. She bit her lip as he did the same to her other leg and then kissed back up to the apex of her thighs.

She spread her legs wide for him, giving him all the invitation he needed.

She grasped handfuls of the sheets as his tongue flicked against her arousal and his fingers slid into her core again. Panting hard, she arched her back and moaned her appreciation at the ceiling as he licked and suckled her clit, his fingers pumping faster and faster as he moved her towards climax.

He was awed by how aroused she was. Her small nub stood pertly in his mouth as he ran his tongue around it in circles, and her muscles clenched his fingers. He felt her thighs trembling against him and listened to her moaning his name.

Elizabeth opened her eyes. Her mouth went wide and she flung her head back, her muscles clamping down on his fingers as she came.

He panted as he kissed a path back up her stomach, stopping occasionally to nip playfully at her flesh.

She opened her eyes and found him above her, his legs nestled in between hers and his eyes sparkling as he watched her.

"Good?” He grinned as she continued to breathe heavily.

She answered him by grabbing him around the back of his head and dragging him down to her, her lips smashing against his as she kissed him feverishly.

Marlin took it as a yes.

He kissed her back with as much passion as she was showing him, letting her guide him on just how rough he could be with her as she ran her nails up the length of his back.

Then he remembered what he had decided this would be.

Making love.

He pulled back and found her still trying to kiss him even when his mouth was gone.

"Elizabeth...” he said in a serious tone that cut through her lust-fuelled haze.

"James?” Elizabeth gave him a confused look, using his given name.

He looked down at their hips and she gave him a knowing smile.

"So what are you waiting for?” She gave him a smile that made his heart skip a beat, and he could see in her eyes that all her nerves over making love had disappeared.

Kissing her, he poured out his passion, and then turned his attention to her neck when she rolled her head to one side.

He reached a hand down in between their bodies and took hold of himself. Poised at her entrance, he pulled back and looked into her eyes, determined to see what she was feeling.

She gave him a wide reassuring smile, and twirled the hair on the back of his head around her fingers.

"Make love to me,” she whispered up at him and he could have sworn his heart melted.

Sliding deep into her heated core, he kept his eyes locked with hers as he buried himself to the hilt.

Elizabeth smiled even as the breath was torn from her throat and he smiled back at her. She brushed her fingers against his cheek and looked deep into his eyes as he pulled out and thrust into her again in one slick movement. She felt lost in their blue depths as he continued to thrust into her and part of her wondered where his feelings ended and hers began. It was as though they were joined so completely as he moved inside her, gentle thrusts that caused her body to hum and buzz around him, and she knew he was feeling the same way she was.

Enthralled.

Euphoric.

Enraptured.

Ecstatic.

Marlin found a declaration of his love waiting to tumble from his lips as he moved against her and it was all he could do to stop the words from falling and pulling him down with them. He couldn't let them go yet, had to hold onto them just a little longer until he found that perfect moment that would make this a night to remember forever.

He was sure it would come.

As he made love to the precious, beautiful girl that was watching him with such a devastatingly adoring look, he knew he was sure.

But he was scared.

Afraid of being so vulnerable, both to her and to the things that could happen in their future when they eventually met the Endeavour again.

He pushed the thought from his mind and concentrated on how he felt. It was as though he could feel her, like he was inside her in more than one way and was falling for her all over again.

Elizabeth let a moan escape her lips as she tensed her muscles around him and his cock hit deeper inside her. She furrowed her brows as tingling sensations swept through her and the ache in her belly seemed to stretch tighter than she had ever imagined possible.

Focusing on the mingling waves of emotions and pleasure, she wondered just when she'd fallen in love with him. She realised that the moment she'd seen him all those weeks ago, she had known there was going to be something between them. She just hadn't expected it to be this.

But it seemed so right as he thrust into her, so perfect that it had to be destiny that had used its guiding hand to bring them together in this moment.

And this moment was divine.

It felt as if they were racing towards a precipice together and were going to dive over some ledge into unimaginable bliss.

It felt as though he'd reached deep inside her and touched her soul as he murmured words of adoration in her ear and she found herself in the arms of a poet.

Her eyes drifted closed as she inhaled deeply, her head full of his tender, loving words and her body full of raw emotions.

Screwing her face up, she clung to him as they fell over her imaginary precipice and into the depths of ecstasy together. She held him tightly as he breathed short, hot breaths into her ear and trembled against her.

A smile of contentment settled on her lips and she released a sigh of euphoria into the still night air.

"I love you."

Marlin smiled as he heard it, uttered on her lips as though it was the moment she'd been waiting for.

A perfect moment.

"I love you, too, Elizabeth."

He relaxed into her embrace as she drew patterns on his back and then smiled against her throat.

Elizabeth continued to smile as she felt awed by those words, and everything that had happened today.

It had been a perfect day.

She wondered what tomorrow held.

Chapter 6

The sound of the gulls drifted into the distance as The Merciless made her way out to sea. Elizabeth smoothed down her clothes and then frowned as she noticed a box on the table in the cabin. Marlin had breakfasted before her this morning, eager to get the ship out of Freeport and on its way to Beggars Haven. He felt as though the two days they had spent in Freeport were two days too many and now that the ship had been repaired, there was no reason to remain there.

This was fine by Elizabeth. She felt as apprehensive about remaining in port as Marlin did and she was glad to be heading back out to sea. Her time on land had made her feel nauseous and he'd told her it was perfectly natural to start feeling land-sick after spending a few weeks at sea.

Pulling the wooden box towards her, she ran her fingers over its fine ivory marquetry and then looked at the folded paper that had been laid beside it. Taking it up, she saw her name on the front, written in her husband's familiar handwriting.

She opened it and read the note.

Sweetest Elizabeth,

I told you once that I never take my eyes off you. On seeing you the other day, I thought these would make a fitting wedding present.

Love, James

Undoing the latch on the box, she pulled the lid up.

Her lips broke into a smile when she saw the twin pistols sitting snugly in their plush mahogany coloured velvet bed. Taking one of them out, she ran her fingers over its cool metal and inspected it. They were the finest pair of pistols she'd ever seen, even finer than Marlin's, and she realised that they must have cost him dearly.

"Do you like them?” A voice stole into her thoughts, and she turned to see him standing by the cabin doors.

"Very much so,” she answered honestly, placing the pistol back into the box.

Marlin arched a brow as he let his eyes run over her, taking in the neat white shirt that was tucked into the rich brown breeches, and her polished leather boots. She had tied her hair back, letting only a fraction of it hang around her face. He couldn't get over how different she looked.

And how different she didn't look at the same time.

She was still as beautiful and as radiant as ever. When he looked at her, he didn't really notice that she was no longer dressed like a woman—he just saw her.

"What happened to Elizabeth?” he asked as he walked towards her.

She blushed.

"Dawn and I agreed that dresses were not made for life onboard a ship, or at least not a very active life. We chose to spend the money you gave me for a wedding dress on clothes more suited to our new lives,” she explained, and smiled when he looked her over again. “Am I much changed?"

"Not changed at all, not one jot. You are exactly the same woman you were when I left you in bed this morning.” He walked around her, his eyes still taking in her new clothes. They fitted her perfectly, moulded snugly to her body and accentuating her shape. She looked so small, so slim in them. “I cannot believe I still find you attractive when you are wearing men's clothing."

Elizabeth listened to the timbre of his laugh as he walked back around to stand in front of her and she found herself laughing along with him. He looked so fascinated by her change.

"Will I make a good pirate?” she said as she held her hands out by her sides and looked at him.

He pulled a thoughtful face, frowning as though he was scrutinising her.

"There is something missing,” he said and she watched as he pulled the box holding the pistols towards him and took out the belt.

Keeping her arms out by her sides, her eyes followed his hands as he looped the belt around her waist and fastened it. She raised her brows as he placed the guns into their holders and then stepped away from her.

"Now you are a pirate.” He smiled at her.

She looked down at herself and then grinned up at him.

"Thank you, Marlin.” She threw her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek as he held her close.

"Are you ever going to start calling me James all the time rather than Marlin?” He looked down at her.

She pulled away from him slightly and looked at him, her hands still locked tightly behind his head.

"Everyone calls you Marlin ... why should not I?"

"Because you are not everyone, you are my wife. Mrs Elizabeth Worthington.” He watched her as she giggled on hearing her new name. It seemed strange to hear it himself. She was no longer Elizabeth Miller; she was his wife, she was Elizabeth Worthington. “So, will you ever call me by my given name?"

"I will...” She pressed a kiss to his lips and smiled, her voice lowering into a seductive tone. “Sometimes ... under certain circumstances."

He sighed as he watched her walk out of the cabin and onto the deck. He couldn't get over what she was wearing, or how she was still irresistible even when dressed like a man.

Following her out into the sunshine, his eyes remained fixed on her as she walked up the steps to the forecastle and joined her sister there. He saw that Dawn was dressed like Elizabeth, and decided it was probably a good thing. If they ran into trouble, they wouldn't draw as much attention to themselves if they were dressed like another member of the crew rather than wearing their dresses. If they were spotted as women during a battle, the other side would most likely take them hostage, and that was the last thing he wanted to happen. Elizabeth had been taken from him once already when Charles and the navy had caught up with them, and he wasn't going to let it happen again. She had chosen to be with him when he'd rescued her from the Pegasus, and with him is where she would remain.

Nothing would change that. Not her father, and certainly not Charles.

Walking up to the quarterdeck, he pulled out his compass and looked at the horizon and then at his surroundings. They were a few hours outside Freeport. The breeze was stiff enough to grant them a quick journey to Beggars Haven and there wasn't a ship to be seen.

"Looks good, Captain.” Alexander pushed his dark locks out of his eyes and turned the ships wheel a few degrees starboard to take her out onto deeper water.

Marlin nodded in agreement. “Should see Beggars Haven in no time at all if the weather stays with us."

Clapping Alexander on the shoulder, he gave him a smile and then set about overseeing the crew. He frowned as he watched them, all busy with their duties and doing their best to keep the ship moving at a good pace. He knew they were doing all they could, but if they met an unfriendly ship even their best might not be good enough.

The fight with the Endeavour had left him with little over half a crew and it was slowing their progress. The men that had survived weren't able to keep the ship running as swiftly and as tightly as she should be. If they ran into trouble, they wouldn't have enough hands to fight. The last thing he wanted to have to do was run, but under the circumstances, they would have no other choice.

Elizabeth watched the men as they went about their business. She focused on each one in turn, seeing what he was doing and trying to remember it so she would know more about how to run the ship. She idly played with her pistols as her eyes fell to rest on Marlin where he was moving amongst his crew, and she cocked her head to one side.

She wondered what it took to be a captain. Intimate knowledge of ships and their capabilities was probably high on the list, along with natural leadership skills. Two things she definitely didn't have. He seemed to know all of his crew intimately, could laugh with any of them and they genuinely liked him. She decided that a large part of being a captain was being a good person, a person who makes the right decisions and makes them based on what is best for everyone.

He also seemed to have a natural propensity for seeing when something was going badly, or was about to go badly. His instincts were as good as hers.

She could sense the crew was tired. The men had snatched little rest in Freeport and there weren't enough of them to run the ship efficiently. Most of them were getting less than four hours rest a day and she knew they couldn't go on much longer at this pace. Marlin was doing his best to keep their spirits up, but even he was beginning to tire from the long shifts. There was only one solution.

They had to get more crew members, and they had to get them soon.

"Anyone home?” Marlin asked as he looked at Elizabeth where she stood staring into the distance, her fingers toying absently with her pistols.

She shook her head as though trying to clear it, and then smiled at him.

"I was just thinking,” she said.

He watched Dawn crossing the deck, weaving carefully through the men as though they were going to bite her.

"About?” Marlin asked as he came to stand next to her and watched his crew.

"Them,” she nodded towards the men.

"Same here.” He didn't hide the worry in his voice as he sighed. “We need more crew. The ship cannot sail herself, and the lack of manpower is slowing us down."

Elizabeth stared into the distance, a frown knitting her brows as she looked past the back of The Merciless.

"Uh huh,” she said distractedly as she squinted. The heat haze caused the horizon to shimmer and she wondered if she was dreaming.

"We shall be in Beggars Haven within a few days and we may be able to scrounge up at least thirty men there."

"Mhmm.” Her frown intensified as the dark blob grew into a shape and she realised that she wasn't seeing things.

When the shape became clearer, she looked up at Marlin.

"Why wait?” she said.

His look turned to one of confusion.

Facing the crew, she raised her hand to her mouth and shouted, “Ship on the horizon!"

She smiled as the crew immediately sprang into action, one of the boys hurrying up the rigging of the mainmast in order to get a better view.

Marlin peered into the distance, and then ran down the steps to the main deck and back up the other side to the quarterdeck.

"Who is it?” he asked Alexander, who stood at the back of the ship with the telescope pressed to his eye.

"Not good, Captain.” He quickly handed him the scope and stepped to one side.

Elizabeth almost ran into the rail.

"Who?” she said, forcing the word out between breaths.

Marlin shook his head.

"Get those damn sails open. Now!” He turned and shouted at the crew and then looked back at Alexander. “All the speed we can muster, and pray God is on our side today."

"Who is it?” Elizabeth asked again, trying desperately to get Marlin's attention. He answered her by handing her the telescope.

"See for yourself.” His words struck fear into her heart and, for a moment, she thought the Endeavour had found them again. Raising the glass to her eye, she closed her other one and scanned along the horizon until she found the dark billowing sails of their pursuer. She breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't carrying the white sails of a navy ship.

She looked at Marlin.

"The Seven Stars.” He told her without any emotion. “Go below deck. Tell Dawn to keep down. We shall do our best to lose her on the reef."

"No.” Elizabeth shook her head and looked through the glass again, trying to make out the size of the ship.

"No?” Marlin looked incredulous.

"No,” she repeated and handed him the scope, “Turn to face her."

"Are you insane?” His look turned to utter disbelief. She knew she sounded crazed, standing in front of him telling him to attack The Seven Stars. “Do you not remember what I told you about her?"

"I know. She sails with Chaos, but this is open water and there is not another ship to be seen.” Her heart pounded erratically as she thought about what she was proposing.

Marlin looked all around them and realised that she was telling the truth. There wasn't a vessel to be seen other than The Seven Stars. His eyes came back to meet hers. “Your point?"

"Take her now while she is vulnerable. There are people being held captive onboard her, good people, people who used to crew merchant and navy ships.” She sighed and her eyes settled on the distant ship. “We cannot leave them there. Some of them would surely be willing to join us if we rescued them?"

Marlin couldn't bring himself to believe that sailors from merchant ships would align themselves with privateers purely because they had been rescued by them, but he could see she wasn't going to take no for an answer. He had seen The Seven Stars from a close enough distance in the near past to know that she ran light, and it wasn't from lack of crew. She was always the back up to Chaos and didn't need heavy firepower because of the number of cannons her sister ship carried. If they could broadside her and luck was on their side, they could be in with a chance of winning.

He couldn't believe he was considering this.

Looking down at the face of his wife as she smiled wickedly, her eyes sparkling with excitement, he realised she was right. She did make a good pirate. She was a good pirate with a good idea.

But it wasn't going to be the captives they rescued that would get the offer of a chance to become a part of his crew.

It was going to be the crew of The Seven Stars itself.

Marlin grinned wickedly and watched the distant ship as it charged at them. Looking over his shoulder to his waiting crew, he shouted a single order.

"Move to intercept!"

Chapter 7

Alexander turned the wheel as fast as he could to starboard, causing The Merciless to bank harshly as she came about. Marlin watched the sails fall flat and then smiled when they caught a breeze again. Watching the bowsprit of the ship, Alexander waited until it was directly in line with The Seven Stars and then straightened the wheel out.

Marlin took a deep breath and prayed the fight would go well. He'd just had the ship repaired and he didn't need to be going into battle only a few days after his wedding. He shot a sideways glance at Elizabeth where she was frantically loading her pistols.

He smiled.

She really did make a good pirate, but pistols alone weren't going to keep her alive.

Taking up one of the swords from the base of the mizzenmast, he handed it to her while giving her a look that said to be careful.

She nodded as she took the weapon from him and slid it into her belt.

"Ready cannons, port side first. Load forecastle guns,” he shouted as he walked down to the main deck and looked up at the sails again, smiling as he saw they were catching a steady breeze.

Half of the crew disappeared below deck. He didn't have enough men to cover all the guns and be ready on deck at the same time, but he had a plan. If they moved to broadside The Seven Stars, then only one set of cannons would be in use at one time. The Merciless’ port side had the most long-nines, ten of the sixteen guns, and the others were twelve pounds.

"Chain shot, aim for her masts,” he called out the command and then looked at the crew that had remained on deck. “Grappling hooks ready. Load rifles, pistols. Let's make this quick."

A plume of white smoke appeared by The Seven Stars. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Dawn cover her ears and duck as a cannon ball whistled by, landing with a heavy splash in the water off the starboard side.

"Evasive manoeuvres,” Marlin said to Alexander as he walked past him. He grabbed hold of Dawn's arm. “Come with me."

Elizabeth gave him a thankful smile as he dragged Dawn down the steps and pushed her into his cabin. She wondered if he was about to do the same with her as he walked up to the quarterdeck, but he just stood beside her and watched the approaching ship.

"Are you ready?” He looked down at her and saw she was doing an admirable job of looking calm. When she raised her eyes to meet his, he could see how unsure she was, and how scared. Cupping her cheek, he sighed at her. “Stay close to me, or to the men, they will protect you if you need it. We shall go straight for the captain. Once he has been dealt with, the crew will soon throw down their arms."

Elizabeth nodded and hoped he was telling the truth. He'd boarded enough vessels to know what would happen, but his previous battles had been with naval ships. Surely pirates would continue to fight without their captain to lead them?

She watched as The Seven Stars drew closer.

Marlin signalled to the men manning the forecastle guns. “Fire!"

She flinched as the both cannons boomed, sending white smoke up into the air. She followed the progress of the cannonballs until they disappeared from her field of vision.

She saw a splash as one of them landed in the water, and heard a cracking noise as the other struck its target and buried itself into the bow of the ship.

"Reload and be ready!” Marlin called to the men and then turned to Alexander. “On my mark, turn her forty-five degrees starboard."

Alexander nodded.

Elizabeth's heart pounded hard against her chest as the gap between the two ships began to shrink and she wondered if it was too late to change her mind.

She was just about to open her mouth when the boat lurched to starboard and Marlin shouted.

"Fire!"

There was another series of ear splitting bangs and then a whistling noise as the chain shots flew towards The Seven Stars. She pressed her hands to her ears and watched them tear through the rigging and the sails. One of the shots ripped straight through the main topmast and it fell to the deck. The distant sound of screams told Elizabeth that the first round of fire had done its job of lessening the number of crew they would have to fight and she stared blankly at the other ship as Marlin continued to shout orders.

The next thing she knew she was being thrown to the deck, her captain laying on top of her as a cannonball tore through the railing just a few feet from them.

"Keep your bloody eyes open. I will not lose you out here!” he shouted as he helped her back onto her feet.

She looked dazed.

She blinked up at him, not really hearing his words as she thought about what had just happened. Maybe she had been wrong. Maybe she wasn't strong enough for this.

"Elizabeth? Elizabeth!” He shook her and her eyes met his. “Where is that fire that I used to see in your eyes? Innocent people are trapped on that ship, are they not?"

She nodded dumbly and then flinched as he shouted over her head.

"Fire cannons!"

There was a sound of wood splintering as several of the cannonballs hit their target and The Seven Stars returned fire.

Looking down at Elizabeth, he sighed.

"Then it is our duty to help them, but I cannot do this alone. Someone needs to get them out of there while I take care of the captain.” He brushed the hair from her face and smiled at her.

She thought about the women and children who were trapped onboard The Seven Stars, and about the innocent men being forced to work for Captain Morgan.

She nodded.

"I can do this,” she ground the words out and drew one of her pistols, “I can."

"I know you can. Promise me you will stick with the men ... do not get separated.” Marlin tried to stifle the worry as he looked at her. He knew she was strong enough to handle herself, but it still didn't stop him from thinking about how badly this could go. He couldn't lose her.

"Promise,” she said. Her eyes widened as the ship lurched. They were closing in on The Seven Stars.

"Ready hooks. Away!” Marlin shouted as he took hold of Elizabeth's hand and grabbed one of the ropes from the mainmast. Looking into her eyes, he smiled before pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Don't let go."

Elizabeth looked confused and then clung to him for dear life as he put his arm about her waist and swung across to the other ship with her. When she landed, she took a few seconds to steady herself, and then drew her sword and one of her pistols. Firing a shot at the man nearest her, she kept her back against Marlin's. He signalled his crew to follow and began to attack the other crew as they closed in on them.

Suddenly the ship was swarming with men. The cannons had stopped and all around her were the sounds of small arms fire. She fought her way through the men, slashing and stabbing them as they attacked her.

Working her way with Marlin towards the rear of the ship, she tried to stay as close to him as possible. She paused to look at him as he let out a mumbled cry of pain and saw that the man he was fighting had managed to make a small gash on his cheek. She frowned and launched herself into the fray, intent on getting revenge for her husband. Battling against the man, she didn't feel the pain as his sword made contact with her arm, she just ran him through with hers.

"You are hurt.” She turned to Marlin.

He wiped the blood off his cheek with his thumb.

"Just a scratch,” he said with a smile and then knit his brows as he saw the blood on her shirt. Taking hold of her wrist, he looked at the long gash on her upper arm. “You are hurt."

Elizabeth looked at it and then up at him as she swallowed down the feeling of sickness the sight of it had given her.

"Just a scratch.” She repeated his words and then brought her sword up quickly to block an attack.

Grabbing one of the fallen swords on the deck, Marlin handed it to her so she could attack while defending herself and then turned his attention back to the battle.

He slashed the man nearest him across the chest, and then ran another through the stomach and kicked him off the side of the ship as he continued to make his way towards the quarterdeck. He could see the captain on there fighting against his men and hurried to meet him.

Elizabeth found herself flanked by two of Marlin's crew as she fought, and realised that her captain had left her side. Fighting ferociously, she scanned the ship as best she could for a sign of him and saw him as he ascended the steps to the rear deck.

Marlin grinned as he came face to face with Morgan and then nodded.

"So nice to finally meet you, Captain Marlin.” Morgan greeted him with a sly smile, the movement of his dark beard the only sign of it on his face.

Marlin circled him, weighing up his swords and the upcoming fight. Morgan wasn't a small man. He was taller in stature and broader around the middle. His black hair hung in curls around his face and his skin was almost as dark.

As Morgan went to strike at him, Marlin brought his sword up, blocking the attack and slashing at his waist with his other sword. Morgan dodged it and attacked, bringing his sword down in a swift arc to knock Marlin's away.

Elizabeth kept half her concentration on Marlin and continued fighting the men swarming around her. Her ears were filled with cries of anguish and death. She allowed herself to get lost in the fight, gradually working her way towards the quarterdeck and Marlin.

Raising her eyes again, she frowned as she saw Morgan strike Marlin hard across the jaw with his fist and her captain fell to the deck.

Marlin shook his head as he tried to clear it. The force of Morgan's blow had caused it to spin and he struggled to get to his feet. Turning, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as he saw Morgan's sword coming down in a perfect arc straight for him.

He tried to move to block the attack, knowing there wasn't time but attempting it anyway, and then frowned when he heard a distant bang.

Morgan dropped the sword.

The world sped up again.

Marlin panted, his heart hammering against his chest as he watched Morgan's sword fall to the deck and heard him cry out in pain. He looked at Morgan where he stood clutching his bleeding arm. Taking the opportunity presented to him, Marlin grabbed his sword and rammed it as hard as he could into Morgan's stomach, forcing it up into his chest. As the man let out his final gasping breath, he let him fall to the floor and breathed heavily, trying to clear his head and understand what had happened.

Looking around him, he was stunned to see Elizabeth leaning against the railing at the top of the stairs holding a smoking pistol.

He smiled and nodded, silently thanking her.

She smiled in return and then ran down the steps again.

"You, you ... and you, with me.” She signalled some of The Merciless’ crew to follow her as she ran down to the steps into the hold, passing the other men as they fought on the gun deck.

Battling through the few men that had remained below decks, she worked her way through the stores to the hold and then stopped dead when she saw the metal cages full of people. As a man appeared between them, she grabbed a pistol off the dead man nearest to her and shot him in the chest. She waited for him to slump to the floor, watching him for a few seconds to make sure he was dead, and then started towards him.

Approaching the cages slowly, she tossed the pistol to one side and put her sword into her belt.

"It is all right.” She smiled warmly at the people as they stared at her, fear shining in their eyes. Picking up the key the dead man had dropped, she unlocked the first of the cages. “We are here to rescue you."

The people looked wary as they filed out of the metal cell and kept their distance from her as she unlocked the other door.

Turning around, Elizabeth felt her heart sink as she looked into the last cage and saw two girls huddled in the corner, their faces and clothes dirty, their eyes wide with fear.

"It is all right,” she said as she quietly unlocked the door and opened it slowly, trying not to make them even more frightened than they already were. “My name is Elizabeth. I am here with The Merciless and we have come to set you free."

She held her hand out to them and smiled shakily as she hoped they would realise that she wasn't there to hurt them. When they slowly stood and walked towards her, still clinging to one another, she stepped out of the way and let them pass.

Looking at the twenty or so people she'd rescued, she realised they weren't going to make a very good crew. She didn't want to think about what Marlin would say when he saw them. After all, this had been her idea.

"Follow me,” she said resignedly and clutched her arm as it throbbed madly, making her feel sick.

Leading them up to the main deck, she squinted as the sun shone in her eyes, the brightness of it causing her head to ache after being in the dark belly of the ship.

"Do we have an accord then, gentlemen?” She heard Marlin's voice break the silence and looked up to see him stood by the railing of the quarterdeck looking down at the men gathered on the main deck.

There was a murmur of voices and her eyes drifted to rest on the men. They were the crew of The Seven Stars, surrounded by the crew of The Merciless.

As her head spun again, she pressed her hand to it and watched the people in front of her as they twisted and became distorted.

Raising her eyes back up to Marlin, she opened her mouth to speak but found no words came out. He gave her a concerned look and then seemed to drift into a sea of black. She wobbled on her feet. Removing her hand from her head, she saw it was covered with blood. Her eyes dropped to her arm as it burned with pain, her eyes struggling to focus when she saw the wound.

The world closed in around her. Her knees gave way.

She welcomed the peaceful darkness.

Chapter 8

Marlin carried Elizabeth carefully across the plank to The Merciless. Watching her face the whole time, he silently pleaded with God that she would be okay. Carrying her down the steps to the small room that was used as a sickbay, he placed her down on the wooden bench and cleared the hair from her face.

She was feverish.

He frowned at her, his hand automatically seeking hers and holding it tightly as he kept his eyes fixed on her face.

"Come on, sweetheart, do not do this to me. You are strong ... it is merely a scratch ... you said it yourself.” He looked at the scratch in question and felt sick to his stomach. The entire sleeve of her shirt was drenched in crimson. He swallowed hard.

The sound of someone entering the sick bay caught his attention. He raised his eyes, expecting to find a frantic Dawn watching him. Instead, he found two girls. Both of them looked to be about the same age, if not a fraction younger, as Elizabeth. One of them had dark hair that was pulled back into a messy bun and the other had sandy brown hair that flowed loosely around her shoulders.

He stood aside as they moved towards Elizabeth and then looked around the room.

"Grab everything you can, Kitty, it is going to be a long night.” The dark haired girl said to the other one.

Marlin watched her as she moved about the room searching for supplies.

As more wounded crew were brought in, Marlin remained near Elizabeth. He didn't take his eyes off her as the dark haired girl inspected her arm.

"We will need to sew this,” she said, and he realised that she was talking to him.

He nodded and wondered if God had sent down two angels to look after his girl. He stared blankly at Elizabeth as she moaned and tried to move.

"Elizabeth?” Dawn came rushing in and stopped dead in the doorway. She gasped as she saw her sister lying on the table and ran straight to her.

Marlin caught her shoulders and held her back. “It will be fine ... we need you to help. Can you do that?"

Dawn nodded dumbly and stared past him at her sister.

"Get her corset. We shall need to remove her shirt and I do not think she would like being exposed to this many eyes,” he explained and then shook her slightly when she didn't respond. “Are you listening, Dawn?"

"She is already wearing it,” Dawn said distantly.

The dark haired girl peered down Elizabeth's shirt and nodded.

"Right. Go to the store. We took on supplies at Freeport. Find where the medical things are that we bought and bring them here.” He watched her go, dodging the wounded as they were brought in.

He sighed and looked down at Elizabeth where she was laying unconscious. Unnerved by her pallor, he drew his eyes away and looked at the girl who was tending to her. “You have a name?"

"Susannah.” She smiled at him and continued to thread the needle she was holding. “I was kidnapped from Freeport one month ago. I was an assistant to the medic there."

She finished threading the needle and handed Marlin a square of cloth. “Wet this and press it to her forehead while I clean the cut."

"That should be seen to.” A voice near him drew his attention away from Elizabeth and he looked down into the eyes of the other girl. She was shorter than Elizabeth, and her figure was so slim that it was obvious she'd been onboard The Seven Stars for a lot longer than Susannah.

He brushed his thumb over the wound on his cheek and looked down at the trace of blood on it.

"It does not matter.” He nodded towards Elizabeth. “Just see to it that she is tended to and my crew live."

The girl nodded and disappeared into the throng of people.

He turned back to face Susannah.

"That was Kitty,” she said as she crouched down and cleaned the deep gash on Elizabeth's arm. “She was onboard when I was captured. The captain took her when she was travelling to the new world on the Pioneer. She was the only survivor. Her entire family were killed."

Marlin could easily believe that.

"She shall need something to wear. She cannot be seen like this.” Susannah removed Elizabeth's ruined and let it drop to the floor. Her eyes shot wide open when he removed his shirt and placed it over Elizabeth's corseted body, hiding it from the prying eyes of the crew that were helping the wounded. Her gaze fell to rest on the long scar on his forearm and she frowned.

"She did it,” he said as way of an explanation and nodded at Elizabeth. He smiled. “Fiery little thing."

"Captain?” Alexander breathed heavily as he pushed his way through the people and appeared beside him. “Dear Lord."

"She will be fine.” Marlin assured him with a wide smile and then watched Susannah set about sewing the wound.

Alexander looked confused, as though he was trying to figure out where she'd come from. He looked up at Marlin. “What shall we do with The Seven Stars?"

"Any crewman who did not agree to join us will travel to Beggars Haven in our hold.” Marlin's face darkened as he looked down at Elizabeth and then at Alexander. He sneered. “Burn the ship."

"Aye, Captain.” Alexander nodded and walked out of the room just as Dawn came back with the supplies.

"This is everything that I could find.” She walked over to the side table and let it all fall out of her arms. “How is she doing?"

Marlin pressed the cool damp cloth against Elizabeth's forehead and sighed. “She is doing well, but she has lost a lot of blood."

"Done.” Susannah straightened and smiled at Marlin. “She is all yours, Captain."

He nodded and lifted Elizabeth up into a sitting position so he could get his shirt on her. He gave Dawn a grateful smile when she noticed what he was trying to do and moved towards him. She took hold of Elizabeth's arm and slipped the dirty white shirt onto it and pulled it closed around her.

"We will take her to the cabin and clear you a little space. Thank you.” He nodded at Susannah and Kitty and then carefully picked Elizabeth up.

"Thank you,” Susannah whispered as she watched him go and then looked at Kitty.

Throwing herself into her work, she decided this was a good ship and that she would be happy to remain onboard and serve the woman who had so bravely rescued her.

* * * *

Elizabeth frowned as she came around, her head aching and her body sticky with sweat. Weakly pushing the covers off her, she looked at her surroundings and tried to remember what had happened.

She sighed as she looked at the bandage wrapped tightly around her upper arm and realised she'd passed out.

"There she is,” a familiar voice wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. She looked at Marlin where he was leant against the door, smiling at her. “Are you feeling better?"

She smiled and tried to swallow the sticky lump in her dry throat as he walked towards her. Trying to sit up, she winced when she put her weight on her arm. Suddenly, she found strong hands assisting her.

Her brows furrowed as Marlin sat down beside her, and she noticed that the cut on his cheek hadn't been attended to.

He handed her a glass of water and watched her as she drank it all down. She smiled again when he filled it up for her.

"Was I out long?” she asked as she finally found her voice .

He looked pensively at the window.

"Nigh on two days. The fever had you, and you had lost a lot of blood."

"Does this mean I am no longer allowed to fight?” She dropped her gaze to rest on the bed covers as he looked at her and frowned.

"No.” He pushed the hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “It means that you will be given a few lessons on how to fight and, more importantly, how to defend yourself."

She smiled and placed the glass down on the side table. Looking at her arm, she moved it slightly and ran her fingers over the bandage.

"Did you do this?” She raised her eyes to his, seeking the answer in them.

He shook his head. “Susannah did it."

A small pang of jealousy lanced through her on hearing the unfamiliar girl's name. She frowned.

Marlin smiled as he saw the look in her eyes and moved closer to her. Pressing a light kiss to her lips, he took hold of her hand and drew back.

"She is one of the girls that you rescued. The other is Kitty. They have agreed to stay and make up our medical crew.” He noticed that the look in her eyes wasn't going away, and he sighed. “You know you are the only girl for me ... no one else has enough spirit..."

Elizabeth just looked at him and then dropped her gaze when she felt him run his thumb over the ring on her finger. She watched it as it stroked the gold band, caressing it and making her realise that she really was the only girl for him.

He moved to lie beside her on the bed, his back resting against the wall, and his arm out by his side in an invitation to her. She wrapped her fingers around his and smiled as her head came to rest against his chest.

"Are we far off Beggars Haven?” She craned her neck and looked up at him.

He kept a firm hold on her hand.

"Not far. Another day at most.” His arm wrapped around her shoulders and his fingers toyed with the bandage on her arm.

Elizabeth saw the mixed emotions in his eyes as he watched it. “Were you much scared?"

"Near to death,” he said without even pausing to think.

She smiled at his honest answer. It was nice to know how much she meant to him.

"It was worth it though, was it not? We have a crew, do we not?” Her fingers played against his stomach as he let go of her hand and placed his arm behind his head.

"We have a crew, and we have enough gold from The Seven Stars to get us provisions for the coming months."

"We need to repair The Merciless again,” her tone was distant as she remembered the battle and the damage that had been done to both ships. “What happened to The Seven Stars?"

"I sent her to her grave.” He gazed out of the window at the fading light and heaved along sigh. “I have to go."

"No.” She clung to him and gritted her teeth as her arm ached. “Stay?"

"I cannot.” He sighed and looked down into her large eyes as she silently pleaded with him. “How are you feeling?"

"As strong as ever.” She watched him shake his head, clearly seeing straight through her words.

"Strong enough to join me on the night watch for an hour or two?"

She nodded.

"If you get tired, you are to come straight back to bed, understand?"

Elizabeth nodded again. Her gaze followed him as he stood and handed her a shirt. Slipping into it, she rolled the long sleeves up and then tucked it into her breeches. She took hold of her corset and placed it over her shirt.

"Would you be so kind?” She turned her back to Marlin.

Marlin arched a brow at the corset, and then took hold of the two pieces of string. If he could undo one of these contraptions, he could surely do it up. Pulling the twin cords towards him, he gave Elizabeth an apologetic look as she gasped for air. He let them out a little again.

"I do have to breathe,” she reminded him with a slight smile as he finished tying it up.

"There.” He ran his hands down her sides and pressed a series of small kisses to the back of her neck, gradually working his way around to her front and finishing by lightly brushing his lips against hers. “All done."

Elizabeth looked down at her new outfit and smiled. She would have to get some more clothes at Beggars Haven, but she was sure Marlin wouldn't mind. He was looking at her with such a passionate glint in his eyes that she could tell without asking that he approved of her outfit.

Slipping her hand into his, she smiled up at him. “Shall we?"

"Certainly,” he answered her and led the way out of the cabin.

She breathed in deeply as the cool evening air washed over her and she felt so much better for just being out of the cabin. Following Marlin up to the quarterdeck, she smiled as her sister came forward and embraced her as tightly as she could without hurting her.

"You are awake.” Dawn pressed her cheek against hers and then pulled back. “I was so frightened."

"She is strong.” Marlin patted Elizabeth's hand and then let go of it as he moved to relieve Alexander at the wheel.

"You look tired.” Elizabeth frowned as she looked at her sister and saw the dark rings beneath her eyes.

"I could not sleep...” Her sister smiled and embraced her again. “I will now though."

She rubbed Dawn's back gently and then sighed as she let her go. “Get some rest. You will need it."

Dawn nodded. Elizabeth smiled as Dawn gave her one last look before walking down the steps to her room.

Alexander gave Elizabeth a smile that spoke volumes and she knew what he was trying to silently tell her. He was glad she was all right, too.

As the quarterdeck cleared of people, she took another deep breath of fresh air and looked out to sea. Her eyes fixed on the sun where it was slowly sinking into the ocean, burning the sky with fire as it began to disappear. Looking up, she noted there was no sign of the moon and then turned around to see it rising behind her. It was as big as the sun, glowing pale in the sky but getting more defined as the sky gradually darkened.

She moved her gaze to the sails and saw they were again in need of repair. The balustrade on the quarterdeck had been fixed as best as possible with the supplies they had, and other places on the decks had temporary patches of wood in place.

"Is it bad?” she asked as she looked at Marlin.

He shook his head.

"It is nothing more than a few holes to repair in the hull, a bit of railing and some of the deck. We are taking on a little water, but the weather is being kind. The masts are intact but the sails all need seeing to.” His eyes ran over the ship, and then her. “Most damage was done to the crew. Those two girls you found are a godsend though. They managed to save most of the injured, including you."

Elizabeth noticed the solemn note his voice picked up when he spoke the last two words and she felt a twinge of guilt in her stomach. He was right. She needed lessons in how to attack and defend herself. She had been foolish for thinking she was ready to board another ship and fight beside him. If she'd passed out during the battle, she would have proved a distraction for him and he might have ended up dead.

"I am sorry,” she said as she stepped towards the railing above the main deck and kept her back to him.

She heard him sigh and then smiled when he spoke. “It was worth it through, was it not? We have a full compliment now, including medical."

Elizabeth scanned the unfamiliar faces of the men working below her. She frowned as she looked at them and felt uncomfortable as they began looking back at her, their eyes dark in the fading light. Nerves rose in her stomach as the men stopped working, their faces full of intrigue as she stood above them.

There was something about them that she didn't like. They reminded her of how the crew had acted towards her when she'd first come onboard and she didn't want to have to go through that again.

Looking over her shoulder at Marlin, she tried to keep the fear from her eyes, but as he stepped away from the wheel, she knew he had seen it. She walked past him, away from the railing and the crew, and went to the wheel, holding it steady as Marlin looked over the men.

"Do we have a problem, gentlemen?” Marlin addressed them as cordially as he could, keeping all the venom out of his voice even though it was pushing hard to break through.

There was a murmur of conversation and they all looked at him again.

"We were just noting you have a lot of women aboard.” One man stepped forward and took his hat off, toying with it as he looked up at Marlin.

Marlin's eyes narrowed into dark slits and he gripped the balustrade.

"That I do. Is that a problem? Does my wife scare you?” He kept his expression hard as another murmur ran through the men gathered below him. He knew what they were talking about. Elizabeth. His wife.

"No ... not at all, Captain.” The man was pushed forward again by the others, his voice shaky as he stood before Marlin.

"I hear one word from my lady, or the others, that any of you have been less than gentlemanly ... you will be meeting with a bullet.” Marlin sneered at them and then clenched his jaw. “Back to work or I will tie a long line to you and drop you in the ocean from the back of this ship!"

When he turned around, he heard the clatter of boots and the mumbled words of the men as they rushed back to their work. He smiled as Elizabeth smiled at him and shook her head.

Elizabeth had expected him to say something, but she hadn't expected that. It was strange to hear him calling her his wife. As Marlin stepped up behind her, she leant her back against his chest and watched his hands as they came to rest over hers.

"Now, I believe I once promised you a lesson in navigating."

Chapter 9

Elizabeth slipped the sword into her belt as she finished dressing. She listened to the chatter outside on deck and the sound of the anchors as they dropped into the depths of the bay of Beggars Haven. As the ship drew to a stop, she pulled on her boots and walked through the cabin.

Closing the doors, she turned to see Dawn right behind her. She jumped.

"Dawn!” Elizabeth berated her, and then sighed. “Stay on the ship. This town is no place for you to go wandering."

Dawn just looked at her.

"I am being serious. The men here would happily snatch you if they saw you walking about town. Stay with Alexander and the others. I shall not be very long.” Elizabeth squeezed her sister's shoulder affectionately and saw in her eyes that she wasn't going to argue.

As she went to walk to the railings, she found Marlin blocking her path.

"And where do you think you are going?” He frowned at her.

She put her hands on her hips, gritting her teeth as the movement caused the wound on her arm to throb.

"With you, that is where.” She set her jaw and kept her eyes locked with his, showing him that she wasn't going to back down.

He held her gaze for a few seconds, and then relented. “Fine. Just stay close."

She nodded as she remembered the last time she'd been here and how hard it had been to keep close to him. This time she wasn't going to let anything separate her from Marlin. If anyone touched her, they were going to lose a body part.

As Marlin held his hand out, she looked over the side of the ship to the waiting boat below. Last time he had carried her down over his shoulder, and she'd feared for her life as she'd stared at the black sea directly below her and the small row boat as it had bobbed against the side.

Putting one foot onto the rope ladder, she decided this was a much better way of getting down to the boat.

Marlin watched her carefully descend the ladder and then started to follow her. He paused near the top and looked up at Alexander.

"If we do not return within three hours ... come and rescue us.” He grinned.

Alexander smiled wide. “Aye, Captain."

Stepping into the boat, Marlin smiled at Elizabeth where she was sitting patiently in the seat she'd occupied with him last time they had gone into Beggars Haven. Taking up the oars, he pushed off from the ship and began to steadily row them towards the distant lights.

Elizabeth found her eyes following the same path as they had last time. She looked up at the boats that creaked and moaned either side of her as they rowed into the port. Marlin was right to anchor The Merciless away from these ships. They were as black as midnight and battle-scarred, all of them below her notice and more likely to be a foe than a friend.

As they cleared one of the ships, her eyes settled on a distant ship and she smiled.

Marlin followed Elizabeth's gaze and saw The Fearless. She was looking a lot better now, but he could see she still required more repairs before she was ready to set out to sea again.

Approaching the jetty, he let the boat glide towards it and then hooked a rope over one of the supports as they passed it. Elizabeth squeaked when she almost slipped off her seat as the boat came to a dead stop. He smiled as he handed her the other rope and watched her do her best to tie it around the support strut nearest her.

Stepping up onto the jetty, he held out his hand and helped her out of the boat. He looked around them as she brushed herself down and smoothed out her clothes. It seemed like years rather than weeks since the night he'd brought her into town shortly after his crew had captured her. So much had changed between them.

Taking hold of her hand, he looked down at her as she interlocked her fingers with his and held onto it tightly. He could sense she was nervous about being back in town, but he was grateful to her for offering to come with him. With her by his side, he felt as though he could take on the strongest ship, could fight the deadliest of men, and he would win.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and smiled as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. He whispered sweet words of love into her ear and she opened her eyes and looked into his. They were smiling at her. She returned the look and he started walking with her towards the town. She could hear the women as they laughed and the men as they called out to them. Deep inside she hoped that Marlin would be the same as last time and not pay the other women any interest. She wanted to keep all his smiles to herself.

As they moved through the town in the same direction they had taken the last time, her eyes took in the scene around her. She watched the men as they tried to get the attention of the harlots, offering them money and jewels in exchange for their services. She arched a brow as two of the women looked at Marlin, calling out to him and flaunting themselves, and then smiled as she saw that he wasn't even looking at them.

He was looking down at their joined hands.

Squeezing his slightly, she smiled at him as he looked into her eyes.

"So why are we here?"

"Pirates gossip ... we need to discover what Charles is up to,” Marlin said above the din.

She nodded in agreement.

They certainly needed to know what he was up to.

"Mate?” Marlin stopped in his tracks and caught the attention of a burly man who was talking to several scrawny looking boys.

"What can I do you for?” The man grinned and Elizabeth tried not to grimace when she saw the rows of blackened teeth in his mouth.

"Endeavour, ring any bells?"

"Plenty. She's been tearing apart anything that moves. People say her captain's gone crazy. Survivors say he talks of a woman. Always said women would make men go insane.” The pirate continued to grin as the boys around him laughed at what he'd said. He peered around Marlin and leered at Elizabeth. “Speaking of women."

"I would not recommend it.” Marlin glanced down at his hand where it was resting on his sword and drew the pirate's attention to it. He grinned as the man backed off a step. “But thanks for the information."

Elizabeth frowned at the pirate as she passed, her hand also resting on the hilt of her sword.

"So, Charles is still after us then?” she said as she moved to walk alongside Marlin.

"It would appear so,” Marlin answered her and then smiled when a voice called out above the others. Heading towards it, he weaved through the crowds, keeping a firm hold of Elizabeth's hand.

Breaking through the throng of people, he watched the two men as they fought each other and then cringed as the larger one ran the other through with his sword.

Elizabeth couldn't take her eyes off the survivor as he kicked the dead man's body into the water.

"A fine piece of fighting,” Marlin congratulated the man.

When the man turned around, Elizabeth immediately recognised him as the one who had accosted her last time they were in Beggars Haven.

"Marlin!” The man greeted him with a wide smile and clapped him hard on the shoulder. “Surprised to see you back here so soon. Thought you would've been off with your tail between your legs before the Endeavour found you!"

Marlin laughed and put his arm around Elizabeth's shoulder. He smiled inside as the pirate captain's eyes widened on seeing her.

"How rude of me ... you remember my wife, Elizabeth?” Marlin said.

"Wife, eh?” The man laughed again as he looked at them both. “Well ... congratulations ... let's hope you both live a long life, but with that ship and her captain after you..."

"Tell me, what has been happening?"

"You first."

Marlin hesitated and then took a deep breath. “We met her and fought her near the reef. I shot her captain and threw him overboard, left him for dead. The Fearless was to finish her off while I went after the Pegasus to rescue my lady. It turns out the Endeavour had a surprise up her sleeve. She shot The Fearless to buggery and left her for dead. Her captain had survived somehow ... Lord knows how."

"Hmm ... got yourself a problem. Endeavour's been attacking merchant, pirate, anything that isn't sailing under a naval flag. She's mightily fierce and a force to be reckoned with. There's been a report that she even destroyed The Seven Stars."

"That was us,” Elizabeth said in a small voice and then smiled shakily as the pirate looked at her with disbelieving eyes.

"It was?” He looked shocked for a moment and then laughed heartily. “You two are truly matched for each other."

Marlin just smiled. “Do you have any idea where the Endeavour is now?"

"Last I heard she was heading south, but she's not roamed far from this place since you and Clancy last encountered her. She's out for blood and revenge, Marlin, and you happen to have the trinket she's searching for.” He looked at Elizabeth again and then back at Marlin. “I would recommend you lay low for a while, wait for the storm to clear."

"I am afraid that I cannot do that.” Marlin smiled at him and nodded. “The next time I see her, it will be the last."

Elizabeth smiled at the man as Marlin began walking, leading her towards the pub he had taken her to last time. She could see in his profile that he wasn't happy and she wished that it were over like it should have been. She didn't know what they could do if they met the Endeavour again and she feared it would be the end of them.

Following him into the pub, she pushed away her melancholy thoughts and fell into line beside him, showing the harlots that he was spoken for. It seemed to work. They took one look at her and then at Marlin's hand where it was gripping hers and turned their attention to another man.

Settling down in the seat beside her husband, Elizabeth sidled closer to him and placed her hand over his where it rested on the table.

"Why are we here?” she asked.

"We are going to meet Clancy and see if we can figure out what to do,” he answered her and hailed one of the barmaids.

When she came over, Elizabeth's fingers curled around his hand and held it possessively. She noticed him smile.

"Wine, ale, make it quick."

The woman nodded and disappeared.

Marlin raised the hand up that she was holding and pressed a kiss to her ring.

"It is a sad day when a pirate is caught.” Clancy grinned.

They looked up at him.

"Caught? Me?” Elizabeth said with a wide smile.

Clancy laughed.

"I was referring to the captain, not the admiral.” He smiled as he took the seat opposite them and leaned forwards with his elbows against the table. “You two love birds tied that knot then?"

"Certainly did.” Marlin smiled. “Not only that, but she is turning out to be one hell of a pirate."

"I heard from Gregory that you went and blew The Seven Stars to heaven."

Marlin pointed at her. “Someone thought it was a good way to get a full compliment. It seemed to work, but she got herself initiated at the same time."

"Not a real pirate ‘til you have taken a few hits.” Clancy nodded in understanding. She subconsciously rubbed her arm and he looked there. “Good place for your first injury, nothing too dangerous. Now, as for myself, I was skewered in the gut. Not a good place."

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose in disgust. “It sounds delightful."

"Still got the scar.” He went to lift his shirt.

Her eyes widened.

"Some other time.” Marlin chuckled as he reached across the table and pushed Clancy's hand back down. “How is The Fearless? We saw her docked. She is looking better."

"There is still a way to go. We will be ready to set sail within the next week, I reckon."

"The Merciless took a little damage. The Seven Stars is a worthy adversary. It was a shame to send her to the depths,” Marlin mused as their drinks appeared. He poured Elizabeth a glass of wine.

Pushing it towards her, he watched her fingers as they brushed against his and saw a hint of fire in her eyes as she looked at him. He absorbed the softness of her touch as she stroked his fingers and then took the glass from him.

"I never did see a more lovesick pair than what sits before me,” Clancy commented and then laughed as they both looked at him, their faces blank as though they had forgotten they had company.

Marlin poured him a large tankard of ale and then filled his own. Raising it, he knocked it against Clancy's. “To The Seven Stars."

"The Seven Stars.” Clancy grinned at the frothy head on his ale and then gulped it down.

"Where do you intend to go once the ship is repaired?” Elizabeth sipped her wine.

He looked thoughtful for a moment and then shrugged as he put his tankard back down on the table. “Not rightly sure. I was thinking of heading south to warmer waters. I hear there's good hunting down that way, and a refreshing lack of the Endeavour."

Marlin raised his brows and nodded, his thoughts settling on what he'd said to Elizabeth about taking her to Dominica. The small islands in that part of the Caribbean were on a main route for merchants carrying gold or cargo. There was a fifty-fifty chance that you'd get one that was carrying cargo, but it was worth it from what he'd heard. The ones carrying gold were heavily laden with it. All he'd need to do was hit a few of them and he'd be set for life on Dominica.

He glanced at Elizabeth and saw that she was humouring Clancy as he prattled on about something. She didn't deserve to spend the rest of her life onboard a ship. At some point, she was going to want to settle down somewhere and he needed to choose somewhere safe, a place where she'd be happy.

If he could amass enough money over the coming years, he could start his own merchant business. Something inside him felt a little queasy at the thought of that. He'd never truly been a pirate, but to be a merchant?

Elizabeth ducked her head and looked up into Marlin's eyes as he stared blankly at the table in front of him, apparently deep in thought. She placed her hand on his knee and frowned.

He smiled and patted her hand in a reassuring way but it didn't convince her that he was fine. She watched him drink down the remains of his ale, top up his tankard again and then refill Clancy's.

"You have been anchored here a few days now. What have you heard about the Endeavour?” Marlin said.

Clancy looked uncomfortable and took a mouthful of his ale. “Probably the same things you have heard. She's out for your blood, Marlin. Better watch your back."

"I am watching it.” Elizabeth's expression became determined as she fingered one of her pistols. “Charles is not going to come anywhere near him."

"Such a fire in you.” Marlin smiled at her. He watched as she blushed as though she'd suddenly remembered herself and had felt she'd said something she shouldn't have. “I have always loved that defiant streak of yours."

"Think you should both be keeping your eyes open. He wants both of you, meaning either of you could be used as bait to the other."

"Gregory thinks we should tuck our tail and head for safer waters until the storm passes. I do not think I can do that.” Marlin sipped his ale and gave his friend a serious look.

Clancy matched it with one of his own. “Didn't think you could. Just be watching yourselves. Last thing I want to hear is either of you getting done in."

Clancy's look of concern hit Marlin hard in the stomach and he tried to quash the thoughts it brought to mind. He wouldn't lose Elizabeth, and he was damned if Charles was going to get the better of him.

"Will do, old man.” He stood and then looked down at Elizabeth. “If you do not mind, Clancy, I think I should be getting my wife back to the ship. We shall be seeing you tomorrow, I am sure. The Merciless is always open to you if you and your crew wish to join us for drinks or dinner."

Clancy grinned and patted his stomach. “Dinner it is then."

Standing, Elizabeth was surprised when Clancy held out his hand, and she hesitated a moment before shaking it as hard as she could.

"Quite the grip. You will have to watch her. She shall be stealing that reputation of yours.” Clancy chuckled.

Marlin arched a brow at him before taking her hand away from Clancy's.

"Tomorrow then.” He smiled before leading Elizabeth towards the door.

"What do we do now?” she asked as they stepped out into the street and started back towards where they'd docked the boat.

"Now...” Marlin took a deep breath and sighed it out. “We rest a while."

Chapter 10

Elizabeth giggled as Marlin brushed a finger down her side, tickling her bare skin. She pushed his hand away, slapping it as gently as possible and then rolling over onto her front.

His lips curved into a wide smile, and he put one arm behind his head.

Picking at the sheet below her, her eyes roamed over his exposed chest down to his navel, and then back up again. Two days had passed since they had gone into Beggars Haven. Clancy had come to the ship as promised and they had discussed in more detail their capture of The Seven Stars and what the Endeavour was up to. Since then, the crew had been working on the ship, and she and Marlin had passed most of the time they weren't on duty in bed ‘resting', as he put it. Only there wasn't much resting happening. The amount of sleep she was getting had halved and she felt more tired than ever.

Walking her fingers over to him, she lightly stroked his side and smiled wickedly as he chuckled, the sound of his laughter delighting her ears. She ran her fingertips over his ribs a few more times, laughing along with him as he tried to get her to stop but she evaded his grasping hands.

Finally catching hold of her hand, Marlin flipped her over onto her back and grinned down at her as he pinned her hands above her head.

"Not so clever now, are we?” He chuckled and gripped both of her wrists with one hand.

She wriggled below him.

Menacingly wiggling the fingers of his free hand, he pursed his lips as he looked down at her naked body.

She bit her lip and gave him a pleading look as he considered where to tickle her first. When she realised that he was going to go through with it, she struggled as hard as she could.

Marlin tightened his grip and ran a lone finger down between her breasts, following the line of her stomach until he reached her navel. Stopping there, he traced his finger around it in a circle and then watched her lips part softly as he allowed it to continue downwards and under the sheet.

"James...” Elizabeth breathed.

Marlin grinned on hearing his name on her lips.

"So this is how you intend to use my name? I was beginning to wonder.” He listened to her sigh out her breath as he let go of her hands, and the next thing he knew he was on his back.

Looking up at her where she sat astride him, he raked his eyes over her body. As her hands moved, his gaze darted to follow them. He furrowed his brows as she ran her fingers lightly up his stomach and over his chest, taking in every peak and valley of his muscles.

Dipping her head, Elizabeth followed her fingers with her lips, pressing wet kisses to his skin and breathing in the smell of him. He smelt like sand and ocean. Her lips teased his warm skin and she smiled at him as she finally reached his mouth.

"Sweet Elizabeth.” Marlin smiled up at her as she sat above him, strands of her hair tumbling down and tickling his face. Looking into her beautiful green eyes, the world around them drifted away and he focused solely on her.

Elizabeth coursed her hands up his arms, moving them so they rested above his head. Pinning them there, she gasped as she moved forwards and Marlin caught her nipple in his mouth. Her teeth teased her lower lip as she closed her eyes and lost herself in the sensation of him suckling her breast. Her heartbeat accelerated as he ran his tongue in circles around her pert nipple and began kissing her breast. As he shifted downwards, she frowned at the lack of contact and let her hands move with his.

Her eyes opened slightly as she felt him kissing her stomach and she suddenly found her hands void of his. She was about to speak when she felt him wrap his hands around her thighs and bring her arousal down to his mouth.

"James...” Elizabeth groaned as his tongue darted into her folds, teasing her.

Her fingers wound themselves into his hair as he licked her and then she let them weave up her body until they came to rest on her breasts. Teasing her nipples, she closed her eyes and frowned as she concentrated on the feeling of him below her, alternately licking and sucking on her clit.

Feeling herself edging near to orgasm, she tensed her thighs.

Marlin disappeared.

Looking over her shoulder, she found him kneeling behind her with a wide grin on his face.

She pouted.

Marlin continued to grin.

As she turned to face him, he stalked towards her, dropping to all fours and narrowing his eyes on hers. He smiled inside as she laid back, her eyes becoming hooded as she looked down the length of her body at him.

She crooked a finger at him and he regarded her for a moment before ducking his head and kissing his way up her thigh. He smiled against her soft skin as she dug her fingers into his hair and clung to him, her body arching beneath him as she tried to get more contact between them.

Marlin took hold of her hand and pulled her up into a sitting position. He smiled as she knelt in front of him and then frowned when she ran her fingernails down his stomach.

Watching her, he gasped for air as she pressed a kiss to the swollen head of his cock and then did it again. He found his fingers automatically weaving into her hair, holding her there as she tentatively licked him.

"God, Elizabeth,” he breathed as she ran her tongue up his length and flicked the tip of it.

Elizabeth swallowed her nerves as he moaned her name. She looked at him and watched the way his expression changed as she kissed his length, her tongue playing against it. As she ran the tip of her tongue around the head of it, he bucked his hips forward and moaned harshly.

She smiled, satisfied she could have the same effect on him that he had on her.

Marlin opened his eyes a fraction and found her watching him with a wide smile. Catching her under the jaw with his hand, he raised her up until her face was almost level with his and brushed his lips gently against hers.

She sighed and closed her eyes, and then squealed when the ship lurched in time with a loud bang and they were thrown to the bed.

"Bloody hell was that!” he cursed as he regained his balance and the ship settled.

He looked down at Elizabeth where she lay and then listened to the shouts of the men from the deck.

Elizabeth took hold of his hand, leading him to the edge of the bed. He gave her an apologetic look and she smiled. She handed him his breeches, and then slipped into her clothes, dressing quickly while Marlin did the same.

Following him out of the room, she glanced back at the bed and wished they had more time in which to ‘rest'.

"What the?” Marlin growled the words as he looked at the main sail where it was sat at an awkward angle, the tip of its starboard side touching the railings of the main deck. “Would someone care to explain?"

The crew's faces remained blank as he looked at them, trying to search out the culprit. As a quiet mumble reached his ears and someone appeared next to him, he gritted his teeth.

"Dawn?” Elizabeth peered around him.

Dawn looked as guilty as he'd ever seen her.

"It was not my ... well ... maybe it might have been. I was trying to help, and Alexander said to—"

"Whelp!” Marlin called out and frowned as Alexander slinked forwards with a look of apology on his face.

"Sorry, Captain ... did not mean to be disturbing you. It slipped."

"It slipped?” Marlin gave a thought to what Alexander and Dawn had interrupted by letting the sail slip. He clenched his fists and tensed, only to find Elizabeth pressing her hands against his chest and stopping him from exacting revenge upon Alexander.

She gave him a look that said they could finish it later and smiled prettily.

He held her gaze for a moment, and then took a deep breath. Letting it out, he tried to expel all the anger he felt at the same time.

Alexander gave him a nervous look.

"Fix that!” Marlin pointed at the sail. “We leave tonight."

Taking hold of Elizabeth's hand, he dragged her back into the cabin and held her arms tightly as he kissed her hard. His tongue tangled with hers as she fervently kissed him back, her hands gripping his shoulders as he drew her close to him.

When he broke for air, she smiled up at him, clearly amused by how desperate he'd been to kiss her.

"You need a drink,” she stated as he began pacing the cabin.

He felt more agitated than ever. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Elizabeth walking to the cabinet. She pulled out the wine he had stored there and filled two glasses. She handed him one as he came over to her, and then she sat at the table.

Marlin sat in the chair beside her and drank his wine down in one go. Placing the glass on the table, he idly toyed with the base of the stem, moving it back and forth in a circle as he tried to put his thoughts into order. He wanted nothing more than to go back into the bedroom and remain there with Elizabeth, loving her and feeling the warmth of her embrace, but twilight was falling and soon they would have to leave Beggars Haven.

The ship was repaired and they had spent too long in port for his liking. The longer they remained, the more vulnerable they would be. The Endeavour would know they would come here and if they stayed a moment too long they increased the risk of being found by her if she chanced a visit. They needed to get back out to open water where they would be able to see a ship miles before it drew close enough to attack.

"Where shall we go?” Elizabeth asked as she looked at the maps that littered the table. There was one with an island on it she didn't recognise, and she wondered if it was Dominica.

He sighed and she could see in his eyes what he was thinking.

"You cannot let him go, can you?"

"He is a danger to everyone. I must to stop him,” he answered her as he leant back into his chair and tapped his fingers against the map in front of him.

"But he is a naval captain on a naval ship, and we are...” she trailed off as she struggled to remember the term.

"Privateers,” Marlin offered in a resigned tone as he ran his fingers over his hair. She was right. They had accepted the offer of becoming privateers. He couldn't attack a navy vessel now, no matter who was captain of it.

"Surely under the circumstances—"

"No!” He cut her off and then smiled warmly at her when she looked a little take aback. “We cannot."

Seeing how much being a privateer meant to him, she searched for another way to do something about the Endeavour. She watched his fingers as they drummed against the table, showing her how agitated he was about the situation.

"The admirals,” she said in a distant voice.

He perked up.

"Liberty,” he said the word slowly, wrapping his lips around it as though he was weighing it.

As loath as he was to take Elizabeth anywhere near her father again, Marlin knew that she was right. This was a task for the admirals. They needed to be told what was happening. His eyes lingered on his wife where she sat near him, her concentration wholly with her thoughts and her eyes fixed on her wine glass as she swirled the liquid in it around.

He knew she didn't want to go back to that island, knew that she feared going anywhere near the navy and her father, but they had no choice. They needed orders, needed to know if the Endeavour would be labelled a dissenter for her actions, and if they could go after her and put an end to all of this.

Elizabeth watched the miniature maelstrom in her glass and sighed. She had seen so many pirates hung in Liberty, had stood proudly next to her father and Charles while the pirates faced death. She knew that Admiral Forrest had granted her and Marlin a reprieve by giving them a rank of privateer, but she also knew that her father would go to any length to split her and Marlin apart. He was the governor of the island, highest of officials, and everyone listened to him. In her heart, she feared they would listen to him more than they would listen to Admiral Forrest, and she would see Marlin hanging from the gallows.

Gripping her glass tightly, she watched the liquid settle and pushed aside the feelings that were eating her up inside. She wouldn't let anything like that happen to him. They would go to Liberty, and they would go armed.

Now was not a time of peace.

Marlin stood, and she swallowed down the remains of her wine and placed her glass on the table. Glancing out of the rear windows, she saw that night was falling rapidly and the weather looked to be closing in.

"We are setting a course then?” she said as she slowly stood, pushing her chair back with her legs and stepping away from the table.

Marlin held her gaze for a moment and then nodded, the words not wanting to come as he felt the oppressive weight of their destination and their situation pressing down on his chest.

They had no choice.

They needed to enlighten the admirals and see what could be done about the Endeavour. They had to do what was right by their appointment, and that meant he couldn't just hunt down the Endeavour like he wanted to. If he was to remain a privateer, he had to abide by their laws, and that meant he couldn't attack a vessel of the British navy. If the admirals declared that the Endeavour was lost to them and stripped Charles of his rank, they could go after him. Until then, they could do nothing.

He sighed.

They had no choice.

To Liberty they would go.

Chapter 11

The sky was deep blue and clear when Elizabeth walked out onto deck. The air was cool, making her skin flush with goose bumps. She wished that she had bought a jacket along with her clothes when they had stopped in Beggars Haven. Her eyes scanned the horizon and she leant against the railing as she watched the lights of the town slowly disappearing into the distance.

Pushing off from the balustrade, she wandered up the steps to the quarterdeck and smiled at Marlin.

"It is a nice night.” She glanced up at the stars as they began to appear in the sky above them and drew his eyes there.

"It shall not be shortly.” He nodded towards the horizon, and she turned to see a wall of fog stretched across the ocean.

"Can we not go around?” She stared at the ominous expanse of white and rubbed her arms to keep the chill off them, and then looked at him.

"I am afraid not. Still, it will grant us some protection from other ships, though it blinds us, too.” He watched her hands for a moment and then removed his black jacket and held it out to her. “You will catch your death."

"What about you?” She frowned as she took the heavy jacket and put it on. It felt as though it was ten sizes too big, and she wondered what she must look like as she drew it closed around her and huddled into it.

Marlin smiled at the sight of her all wrapped up in his coat and then looked back at the horizon. “I shall be fine. I have never have felt the cold when I have been looking at you."

She blushed in the near darkness and rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek. She wrinkled her nose up as his short stubble scratched her lips.

"You need to shave."

"Someone kept me in bed for two days straight ... the state of my beard did not seem to come into question then.” He watched her cheeks darken again, and he smiled as she turned her face away from him and looked out to sea.

Elizabeth stared at the approaching fog bank and frowned. There was something about the sight of it that made her blood run cold. She hoped they would pass through it safely. Marlin was right; it would offer them some protection from other ships but at the same time, it made them vulnerable by taking away their eyes. They would need to run silent if they were going to avoid drawing attention to themselves.

"You, man,” Marlin called to one of the men that was scrubbing the deck and crooked his finger. “Come here."

As the man came to a halt in front of him, he pointed at the white wall of sea mist.

"Go to the forecastle. Not a sound until they hear otherwise, understand?” He waited for the man to nod in understanding of his order and then went back to steering the ship.

He almost felt like holding his breath as the bowsprit gradually pierced the fog and was enveloped by it.

Elizabeth moved closer to Marlin as she watched the mist creeping onto the ship, smothering the forecastle deck at first and then slowly swallowing the main deck and the masts. She closed her eyes as it washed over them, making her skin damp. Darting her tongue out, she licked her lips and tasted salt on them.

Eerie silence descended around them. Wherever she turned, all she could see was white. The only sound was the distant splash of the water against the bow of the ship, heralding their steady progress in their journey to Liberty.

"Marlin...” she whispered as she looked up at his face and his eyes moved to meet hers, “I am frightened."

Marlin remembered the time she'd come out of the cabin during a storm for that same reason. Running his fingers lightly down her cheek, he smiled warmly at her, trying to reassure her.

"There is nothing to be frightened of,” he whispered back at her. “We shall drop sail a little so we run as quiet as a mouse and we'll be out the other side before you know it."

Elizabeth smiled shakily, not wholly convinced by his words. Walking towards the balustrade, she looked down at the sea below and was surprised that she could still make it out. The fog seemed to hang a few feet above the surface as though it was afraid to touch the water.

As her eyes became adjusted to the thin white cloud, she realised that she could just about make out the bow of the ship. She wondered how Marlin could steer in this weather, and then supposed he had probably sailed this route enough times to have a good knowledge of any dangers that lay below the surface. She watched him as he looked at his compass and turned the ship's wheel a few degrees starboard. The reef was somewhere around here and she hoped he would be able to avoid it. The idea of becoming another ghost ship in a tale sent a shiver up her spine.

Walking slowly down the steps to the deck, she decided to investigate the bow of the ship and see what she could see from there.

Marlin watched Elizabeth as she idly walked along the main deck, her hand running along the rail on the starboard side of the ship. He let his eyes follow her, his lips breaking into a smile as she paused and looked back at him before turning to face the side of the ship.

She looked amusing in his jacket but he noted that had it fitted her properly, it probably would have suited her. She could make anything beautiful just by wearing it. It matched her tan breeches well. He made a mental note to buy her something similar at the next town in which they stopped.

Liberty.

He frowned as he remembered their destination and silently wished that he didn't have to take her or his ship back there.

Watching Elizabeth walk along the deck, he found he couldn't take his eyes off her. She was enthralling. Everything about her made his heart beat a little bit faster, and all he wanted to do was spend the rest of his life gazing upon her.

As the ship rocked and a splash broke into his thoughts, he grabbed hold of the wheel and frowned.

"Bloody hell was that?” he muttered and then his eyes widened as he looked at the deck and couldn't see Elizabeth. “Elizabeth!"

"Woman overboard!” One of the men called out.

Marlin shoved him in front of the ship's wheel and ran down the steps to the main deck. Diving over the edge of the ship, he plummeted into the water and struggled to swim upwards. As he broke the surface, he heard the clamour of voices up on deck and the crewman shouted again.

"Man overboard!"

Marlin wiped the water from his eyes as he frantically looked around him. His heart skipped a beat when he saw no sign of Elizabeth. Swimming around, he narrowly avoided being hit on the head as several large ropes were thrown down to him.

"Elizabeth!” he called out as he scanned the darkness, trying to find a sign of her.

A distant splash caught his attention and he swam in the direction it had come from.

"Marlin?” Elizabeth found herself treading water as she looked all around her. She couldn't see anything. She was surrounded by a wall of black with a ceiling of white fog.

Below her was an infinity of darkness.

She started as she heard a noise beside her, and was about to lash out at it for fear of it being a shark when it took shape. It was a man, a familiar man.

"James!” She threw her arms around him as he swam up to her, and then gave him a sorry look as her actions forced him underwater. As he came back up, coughing and spluttering, she smiled.

"It is a little dark for a swim, sweetheart,” he commented as he drew her close to him in the cold water and kissed her briefly.

"Swim? I thought you said you could steer a ship?” she retorted as they broke apart. She looked around them. “Um ... where is the ship?"

Marlin rolled his eyes. “I could have left you down here, you know. I did not have to come and rescue you."

Elizabeth clung to him as he started swimming. She pressed a rough kiss to his cheek. “Thank you."

She paused and realised there still wasn't a ship in sight.

"James?"

"Hmm?” He kept swimming.

"If you are rescuing me ... then who is rescuing you?"

He grinned and pointed in front of them. She squinted into the darkness and saw a tiny yellow dot like a firefly.

"Oh.” She didn't know what else to say as the tiny dot became a lantern. Clearly, this wasn't the first time someone had fallen overboard in fog. “You really should learn to steer. I could teach you."

He chuckled. “You, teach me? It was not my steering. I think we hit something."

Elizabeth frowned and heard a noise. Looking over her shoulder, her eyes went wide as she saw a shape in the mist, two ghostly yellow spots hovering a few metres up.

"Or something hit us,” she offered and urged him on. “Swim faster."

Marlin looked over his shoulder and did as instructed when he saw the outline of a ship approaching them fast.

"A hand, and make it fast, we have got company!” he shouted up at The Merciless as she appeared in view . He grabbed the rope that was thrown down to him, wrapped his arm around Elizabeth's waist, and grinned as the crew started to haul them up.

Landing on deck with a harsh bump, Elizabeth scrambled to her feet. Marlin stood up and hurried to the wheel. She followed close on his heels, running straight to the rear balustrade and staring into the night at the approaching lights.

"Kill those!” Marlin barked the order at her and she immediately did as instructed, snuffing the lanterns on the rear of the ship.

Running down the steps, she dashed into their cabin and extinguished all the lights there.

"Open those sails!” Marlin shouted.

She watched as the crew piled out of the forecastle and onto the deck. They immediately sprung into action as though they'd rehearsed it a million times and knew exactly what each of them had to do.

She ran down the steps to Dawn, Susannah and Kitty's quarters. She banged on both of the doors and then waited, desperately trying to catch her breath.

"What is happening?” Dawn rubbed her hair sleepily and then frowned.

Elizabeth didn't have time to explain why she was sopping wet.

She looked at all three girls and took a deep breath. “We have company. Remain in your room, Dawn. Susannah, Kitty, they may need you in sickbay."

"Is it a big ship? Is it the Endeavour?” Dawn asked as she wrapped a blanket tight around her shoulders.

"Worse."

"Worse?” Susannah looked worried.

"I think it is Chaos,” Elizabeth said.

The two girls looked petrified.

"It will be fine ... we are faster than her.” She tried to reassure them and cringed as a loud boom was shortly followed by a splash.

"Go to your stations,” she said and then darted towards the stairs. Running out onto deck, she saw the men struggling with the main sail and frowned. “Get that open. Are you trying to kill us all?"

Marlin watched her grab hold of the rope and begin tugging on it with everything she had. He smiled and then looked at the boom sail as the main sail began to rise. “Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth turned to see him nod at the boom sail and grabbed the two men nearest her. “Come on!"

Raising the sail, Elizabeth ignored the pain in her cold joints and gritted her teeth as she worked with the men to get it up as quickly as possible.

Marlin tried to get his bearings as the fog became patchy. All around him was a mottled darkness, nothing standing out to give him a clue of their whereabouts.

He ducked as another cannonball whizzed overhead, missing the mizzenmast by a few feet and landing harmlessly in the ocean on the other side. He clenched his jaw as a second cannonball cut across the back of the ship and he heard the sound of splintering wood.

"More sail!” he shouted as he turned the ship hard to port, hoping the reef lay ahead of them.

He'd recognised the ship from the few brief glimpses he'd caught of it and he knew that Chaos always ran deep. If he could make it to the reef, he could escape her, or at least put some distance between them. Chaos would scrape her keel on the shallows if she attempted to follow The Merciless. She was too large a ship to cross the reef. She would have to go around or give up entirely.

He cursed under his breath when there was another cracking noise and splinters of wood from the main topsail rained down onto the deck below.

"Elizabeth!” he called out to her where she stood on the deck staring at the pieces of wood that had barely missed her. “Either get below deck or get up here."

She nodded and took the steps to the quarterdeck quickly.

"Is there anything that we can do?” Elizabeth breathed heavily as she cast frightened eyes towards the distant lights. The fog was clearing now, becoming nothing more than a light mist, and she could see the ship following them.

She looked down at the cannons that stood near the rear of the deck.

"Cannot we fire back?” she asked.

Marlin cast a quick glance over his shoulder.

"Why the hell not?” he said as he realised it was worth a go. The only other option he had was to come about so the starboard cannons were in line with Chaos and that would lose him precious escape time. “Powder monkeys!"

Two of the younger boys came rushing up with the powder for the cannons, followed by two large men carrying shot.

"Make it good,” Marlin said the words over his shoulder as he steered the ship to port a few degrees more and peered into the distance. He smiled as he saw familiar white crests glistening in the pale moonlight. “Just a little more time."

Elizabeth heard his words and turned to look in the direction he was facing. She could see what he was heading towards and silently prayed that he knew what he was doing. To take any ship, no matter how small, near a reef was a dangerous and desperate move, but she believed he could do it.

She covered her ears as the men fired the cannons and coughed as the gunpowder smoke filled her lungs. It was acrid, making her eyes water and her breath become short.

There was the distant sound of the cannonballs landing in the water and Marlin closed his eyes.

"Again!” he shouted.

She watched the men hurry to clean the smouldering powder out of the guns and reload them as fast as they could. As they lit them, she covered her ears and took a deep breath.

She flinched as the cannons recoiled and the familiar white plume of smoke rose into the night air. As it began to clear, she let out her breath and looked at Marlin.

He smiled. “At least we have her bearing now."

Elizabeth took his words to mean that at least one of the cannonballs had been successful in hitting its target.

She grabbed hold of the mizzenmast as Marlin turned the ship hard to starboard and skirted the outside of the reef. Rushing over to the port railing, she looked down at the sea below and saw they had barely missed an outcrop of rocks.

"I hope you know what you are doing,” she whined as she looked back at Marlin and he gave her a reassuring grin.

"I would never put you in danger.” He smiled and counted to himself, clearly calculating the distance between turns.

Elizabeth held onto the railing as the ship turned a few degrees port, her hull creaking as she scraped against the reef but avoided the rocks on the other side.

She closed her eyes as she saw the maze that lay ahead of them and took hold of her cross, holding it tightly and praying they would safely make it through.

"She's falling back, Captain,” one of the rear gunners hollered.

She turned and looked at the Chaos where she was fading into the distance.

"Drop sail, slow a little so we don't frighten the ladies.” Marlin grinned wide at her where she was frozen to the spot, her fingers still gripping her cross.

She ignored his comment and closed her eyes again, not wanting to see the rocks that they were barely missing and wishing she couldn't hear the moans of the keel as it broke the reef below them.

Marlin turned the ship a few degrees starboard and then back to port. Looking into the distance, he saw the small chain of islands that led the way to Liberty.

He smiled as he looked over his shoulder and saw Chaos turning about, and then stared at the island nearest the other side of the reef.

"Let's find us a safe port for the night."

Chapter 12

"I am beginning to believe your old wives tale about women onboard being bad luck.” Elizabeth peered over the side of the ship at the damage. Now that it was beginning to get light out, she could see the splintered wood where the cannonball had grazed the hull. “You have had nothing but trouble since I came onboard."

"I assure you, this is no worse than usual, only usually we do not have pirates after us.” Marlin kicked at the pieces of mast with the toe of his boot.

She moved to stand at the top of the quarterdeck steps and watched him. “Do you think she was after revenge?"

"All pirates are after revenge for something. But, yes, she was out for vengeance. We destroyed her partner, after all.” He squinted up at the broken topsail and motioned to the nearest crewman. “Get up there and see what can be done about repairing the topmast."

Turning on his heel, Marlin noticed that Elizabeth seemed out of spirits. He wondered if it had anything to do with their ever-increasing proximity to her old home and her father. He took the steps two at a time and stood in front of her on the step below her. Taking hold of her hands, he brushed his thumbs over the backs of them and frowned at how small they were compared to his.

"Elizabeth,” he said and raised his eyes to meet hers, “I will never let anyone take you from me. I promise."

Elizabeth sighed out her breath, wrapped her arms about his neck and rested her cheek against his shoulder. Closing her eyes, she drew comfort from the feeling of his embrace and the warmth of his skin against hers.

"I know, Marlin,” she whispered into his ear. “I know."

* * * *

Wearily pushing the cabin doors open, Elizabeth stifled a yawn and trudged into the bedroom. She slumped into the chair and let her head fall backwards. It felt like an eternity since she'd slept. The cold of the ocean had sapped her strength and all she wanted to do was curl up in her warm bed and sleep until someone came to wake her.

She looked down at her filthy clothes, the salt dried into them. Peeling off the jacket Marlin had leant her, she frowned at it. There were white marks all over it. They looked like thin veins tracing their way across the material. She wondered if he liked the jacket, and decided that she would wash it at her first opportunity to see if she could rescue it.

Stripping her corset off, she removed her shirt and shimmied out of her breeches. She rifled through her clothes and grabbed one of her under dresses. Taking up her sword, she sliced through the thin material at waist height and let the skirt of it drop away. She slipped into the top and then placed the corset back over it, tightening it as best she could without assistance. Putting on her black breeches, she looped her belt back through them and tightened it.

She shrugged as she looked down at herself and picked up her brush. Letting her hair down, she ran her fingers through it to loosen it and remove any knots, and then began to brush it.

She could hear the men working outside and she listened to Marlin as his voice rose above the others. When she'd left the deck, she had told him she was going to spend some time with her sister. It was too long since she'd had the chance to just sit and talk with Dawn, and she wanted to get to know the other two girls better. If all four of them were going to be onboard, she wanted them to be friends.

Pinning her hair up, Elizabeth looked at herself in the little mirror and smiled. She looked so different from the girl she'd been when she'd left Liberty. She felt so much more womanly, more grown up, and she was happy she'd been given the opportunity to find out who she really was. She was strong, strong enough to fight, strong enough to make her own destiny rather than letting men lead the way for her.

Standing slowly, she took her pistols off the table and put them into their holsters. She picked up the sword and started walking towards the main room.

There was a thud and a rattle.

Frowning, she peered through the door at the main room of the cabin, her heart beating a little faster as she wondered what had made the noise. It could have been her sister. It could have been Marlin. She smiled as she realised it was probably the men starting work on the rear of the ship.

Walking into the cabin, she looked at the open window and tried to remember if it had been that way when she'd first come in. Not knowing the answer, she thought nothing more of it and turned towards the doors.

Her eyes widened as she saw Charles standing in front of her. She felt his fist connect with her jaw and the world drifted away as she fell to the floor unconscious.

* * * *

Elizabeth's head was a riot of pain as she gradually regained consciousness. She frowned at her blurred unfamiliar surroundings and tried to remember what had happened. When a pair of boots came into focus, she followed the legs up, moving over the cream breeches and prim jacket to the face of their owner. Her eyes went wide as she saw Charles grinning wickedly down at her, his broad build making him seem like a giant to her where she was laying in the bottom of a rowing boat.

Glancing over the side of the ship, she saw The Merciless through the mist and went to call out.

Charles hit her again and watched as she blinked a few times, her fingers grasping the chain around her neck as she slumped back into unconscious. He couldn't have her making a sound, not even if she had intended to thank him for rescuing her. She would forgive him for what he had done. By the time they were safely onboard the Endeavour and on route to Liberty, she would have accepted his proposal and would be too full of happiness to remember his impertinence. He was sure of it.

* * * *

Marlin stared up at the men as they worked on the main topsail. He sighed and thought about what Elizabeth had said about women onboard being bad luck. He'd never been one to hold with superstition, but life hadn't been easy since he met her. There always seemed to be something happening.

"Have you seen Elizabeth?” Dawn approached him.

He brought his eyes down to meet hers.

"She went into the cabin to fix herself up and was going to see you.” He looked away from her, keeping a close eye on the work the men were doing. Everything seemed to be running smoothly. At this rate, all of the repairs would be done by nightfall and they could set course to Liberty again.

"Oh ... she did not come.” Dawn smiled nervously as Marlin looked at her again, his blue eyes cold and steely in the twilight. There was something in his eyes that frightened her, something that spoke volumes of the things he'd done and the things he was capable of. She hadn't seen him fight, but Elizabeth had told her that he was as merciless as his ship. The tales her sister had told her of her first meeting with Marlin had taught her to be cautious around pirates, especially him.

His face softened into a smile and the darkness in his eyes seemed to lift with it.

"She has most likely fallen asleep. The poor little thing was so tired.” Marlin's eyes narrowed softly with his smile as he thought about Elizabeth. She was doing an admirable job of being a pirate, but she was still retaining her femininity. In his eyes, she was still the same girl he'd kidnapped all those weeks ago. She was still the passionate, defiant woman that her time in captivity had awoken in her.

He raised his brows as he realised that Dawn was walking away and then sighed as his attention returned to his work.

Dawn pushed the door open and walked quietly into the room. “Elizabeth?"

Remembering what Marlin had said, she went to the bedroom door and eased it open before peering around it.

Nothing.

Dawn's heart began to pound against her chest and her eyes were drawn to the rear windows, and then the cabin doors. Marlin watched Elizabeth like a hawk, he surely would have noticed if she had left the cabin.

"Marlin!” Her heart raced as she dashed out of the cabin, frantically trying to get his attention.

"Dawn?” He peered over the quarterdeck railings at her. “What the hell is wrong?"

"Elizabeth.” She panted hard as she tried to stifle to feeling of panic that was running through her veins. “I cannot find Elizabeth."

"Whatever do you mean? I said she was in the cabin. She has not left it,” he said casually and then froze. Turning to his crew, he gave them a serious look. “Search the ship, find Elizabeth!"

Dawn watched as he ran down the stairs and threw open the cabin doors. She felt sorry for him as he searched every square inch of the two rooms and came out again with an anxious look on his face. Following him down to the lower decks, she assisted him by hurrying along the length of the gun deck, searching for a sign of her sister.

Marlin opened every door in the hold, his heart telling him to keep looking even when his head told him there was no hope of finding Elizabeth. Coming to the end of the deck, he worked his way back up the steps and through the forecastle. His men were doing their best to find her, but there was no sign of her onboard The Merciless. Running up to the quarterdeck, he grabbed hold of his telescope. He could hear Dawn talking to Alexander as they searched for her sister in the water and he prayed they wouldn't find her there. She was a good swimmer, but he couldn't imagine her being able to out-swim the sharks that lived in the shallow bay.

Raising his telescope to his eye, he scanned the water at first and then worked his way towards the island. Moving along the shore, he was about to give up hope when he spotted something.

A boat.

It was unmistakeably a naval boat. He looked at the deck of The Merciless, checking that both boats were still in place, and then looked back at the one on the shore.

"Lower that,” Marlin said to the man nearest to one of the rowboats as he walked towards it. “Alexander, you have command. See to it the men double their effort with the repairs. I have a feeling that I know where Elizabeth went."

Alexander nodded and Marlin jumped into the boat. The crewman lowered it.

Taking up the oars, Marlin rowed as quickly as he could towards the island. His heart was beating hard against his chest, pounding erratically as he struggled to keep calm. He never had been one to panic and he wasn't going to start now. He knew what must have happened. There was only one person that would have the audacity to steal his wife, only one ship that carried boats like the one he'd seen.

Charles and the Endeavour had found them.

As he hit the shore, he leapt out of the boat and dragged it up onto the sand. Running as fast as he could to the other rowboat, he looked inside and felt his heart ache as he saw the gold cross lying there. Picking it up, he ran his fingers over it and then wrapped them around it. He didn't know whether to be happy that he had found a sign she was alive, or to be sad that she'd been snatched from him. He settled for feeling angry.

Holding the cross tightly, he looked at the trail that led into the forest.

No one took his girl from him.

Unsheathing his sword, he began to follow the trail. It was a clear track, and Charles had obviously been in a hurry. There was only one set of footprints but they were deep in the sand. He must have tied her up in order to carry her without her struggling.

Either that, or he'd knocked her out.

The idea of Charles hurting Elizabeth made Marlin's blood boil. He clenched his fists and continued to follow the trail, vowing that the next time they met, he would make sure Charles was well and truly dead.

Reaching the brow of a hill, he saw the deeper bay on the other side. He scanned the scene below him and sighed as he realised the Endeavour would be long gone by now. There was no sign of her on the horizon, nothing to give him a clue as to which direction to head. The only thing he could do was hope that Elizabeth gave Charles hell and kept herself alive until he found her.

Walking back down the hill to his boat, he stared at The Merciless where she sat in the shallow bay. Work was almost done on repairing her, and once she was ready to set sail he was going straight to Liberty.

He wasn't going to see the admirals.

He didn't need permission to attack the Endeavour anymore.

He was going to wait for her there and put an end to this.

Charles was going to pay.

He would have his vengeance.

In blood and death, he swore it.

Chapter 13

Elizabeth frowned as her head ached. Pressing her hand to her forehead, she tried to recount what had happened and then groaned as she remembered. She slowly opened her eyes, looking through her lashes at her surroundings and seeing it was exactly as she feared.

Charles had her.

Keeping still, she listened for a sign of someone being in the room with her and then sat up when it became apparent that she was alone. She rubbed her aching jaw as she took in her surroundings. The walls were as dark as those of the Pegasus, their rich mahogany making the room appear dull and drab. There wasn't much furniture. In the middle of the room sat a long table with maps scattered all over it. The couch where she sat was against the port wall, and to her left were the doors that led to the deck.

Standing slowly, she could see a low cabinet on the other side of the room, and beside that sat a large wooden chest.

Moving across to the table, she ran her eyes over the maps. They were laid out in such a way that they made one massive map of the area. She could see Beggars Haven, Freeport and even Liberty. Her fingers came to rest on the markings for the reef and she followed it to the small island where they had been anchored when she'd been kidnapped.

"Awake, then?"

She froze. His voice was as deep as always, and laced with venom. Her eyes slid to one side and she turned her head a fraction as she listened to him approach, his boots making dull thuds on the wooden floor of his quarters.

Her eyes tracked his boots as he walked around her, wisely keeping his distance so she couldn't lash out at him.

He sighed as he came to a halt on the opposite side of the table.

Charles looked down at her slender fingers where they were touching the maps. It was almost as though she was stroking the spot where he'd rescued her from The Merciless.

It was as though she hadn't wanted to be rescued.

He looked her over. Her state of dress was unbelievable. She wore her corset over her top and dressed in men's clothing. When he'd first entered the cabin of The Merciless and saw her in the other room, he hadn't been able to believe his eyes. She had been pinning her hair up, dressed in this bizarre outfit and wearing a pair of pistols about her waist as though she were a pirate.

He chuckled slightly and then stopped as she raised her eyes to meet his. All he saw in them was fire.

Elizabeth fixed her gaze on him, her eyes narrowing as she heard his laugh. She wanted to hit him. He looked the same as always, his dark hair covered by his wig and his uniform crisp and clean. The only difference was that he was a lot paler than she remembered. He looked sickly and ashen, his eyes dull and his lips almost the same colour as his cheeks. She wondered if this was the after effect of his meeting with Marlin. He'd been shot at close range and even though he'd survived, the bullet must have done substantial damage.

Placing her hands on her hips, she quickly looked down when she realised that her belt was gone.

He'd taken her guns.

She took a deep breath and frowned hard at him, trying to show him that he'd overstepped the mark by taking her pistols.

He took a step towards the table and began gathering up the maps. “That rogue gave us quite a run."

She bit her tongue and just stared at him, willing herself not to respond. Getting herself knocked out again wouldn't help her find a way back to Marlin.

"Would you sit?” He intimated the chair.

She shook her head in the negative.

"I did not think so.” He looked disappointed and then smiled wide. “It was a shame the bastard was holed up in that bay. We could have blown The Merciless to kingdom come if she had been anchored somewhere more accessible. I had to settle for coming to rescue you. Still, when we meet The Merciless again, we shall be sure to send her to her grave, along with that pirate."

Elizabeth gritted her teeth, barely restraining herself from rising to the bait as he continued to push her. Did he honestly believe that Marlin was still holding her captive? Hadn't he been in contact with the admirals or any other naval ship coming out of Liberty?

She recalled that the Endeavour had been hunting down pirate ships and blowing them to pieces in search of her. He hadn't been back to Liberty. He wouldn't have had the time to get there and back to here again, and still make a reputation for himself. He must have been lurking on the waters around Beggars Haven, presuming that Marlin would return there and they could finish their feud. Someone must have told him that she was onboard.

"Imagine my surprise when I was watching The Merciless from the island and saw you on the quarterdeck. You were looking over the edge of the ship as though searching for a means to escape. I was happy to provide you with one. Now we shall sail back to Liberty and ensure you are safe there before I head back out to sea and hunt the braggart down.” Charles smiled at her.

Elizabeth looked incredulous.

He really did believe that he'd rescued her, when in reality he'd kidnapped her. She had been wearing guns when he'd taken her. Surely, that had told him something. Surely, he knew she was on The Merciless of her own choice. Was he delusional? Had the sickness that had clearly come from the wound Marlin had given him made him mad? The pirates in Beggars Haven believed him insane.

Or was he simply in denial?

"Elizabeth, dear, say something.” Charles stepped towards her, the smile fixed on his face as he rounded the table.

"Where are my guns?” she said in a distant voice.

He laughed.

"You do not need guns. You are safe here."

"Safe? Here is not safe.” Backing off a step, she kept the distance between them steady.

"No. Worthington will be looking for you. You will be safe once we make anchor at Liberty in a few days."

She shook her head.

"I know that your feeling of safety in Liberty has been lessened by what happened to you, but the navy is there and they will do all in their power to protect you from this fiend.” Charles frowned and she knew it was because he'd realised that he wasn't making any progress in closing the gap between them.

"There is only one place where I am safe,” Elizabeth whispered and looked around the room, searching for a means of escaping Charles as he began to close in on her.

"Elizabeth, my love. Why do you run away?"

"Love?” She scoffed at the word. “What was it that you said? The ‘governor and his brat daughters'?"

Charles stopped dead, as though she'd physically hit him with those words. He stared at her. After a moment, he laughed.

"That was a long time ago. Opinions often change once people are acquainted with one another."

She laughed this time. She couldn't miss the irony of what he'd said; her opinion of Marlin had definitely changed once she had become more acquainted with him. “They certainly do."

"I love you now.” Charles took a step towards her, and then frowned as she moved away from him, putting the table between them again.

"You do not love me.” She gave him a sorry look and kept her voice calm as she struggled against the overwhelming feelings running riot inside her. She had listened to him insult her husband, believe that she was a weak girl in need of protection and now he was telling her that he loved her. It was all too much. “You love what I represent. You love the connections that marrying me would give you. You love the elevation in society. It is not me that you love, it is my father."

"Elizabeth!” Charles looked stunned as he listened to her speak. She knew she was talking out of character and out of place. He scrutinised her with a frown, looking her over with a hint of disgust in his eyes. Now he was finally seeing the truth. She had changed. She had gone from being a sweet, quiet girl to this uncouth woman in front of him and he clearly hated it.

"I am sorry, Charles, but it is the truth,” she said distractedly as she looked over both her shoulders in search of her guns. She needed them. Not to kill Charles, but to give her the feeling of safety she so desperately wanted. She needed what they represented—Marlin's love for her. She needed to believe that he would find her.

Charles rounded the table and smiled as he tried to shrug off what she'd said, putting it down to all the excitement of her adventure and telling himself that she would be back to normal after a week in Liberty.

"Miss Elizabeth Miller ... there is something that I have been meaning to ask.” His tone was soft as he looked at her.

She froze, her eyes wide and her lips parted slightly as she stared back at him.

Elizabeth swallowed hard.

This couldn't be happening.

She had to stop it.

Raising her chin, she gave him a defiant look and thought about how he'd labelled Marlin and the terrible things he'd said about her.

"Mrs. Elizabeth Worthington, actually.” Holding her head up high, she extended her hand and held her nerve as his eyes dropped to rest on it.

Charles’ feeling of calm disappeared on seeing the gold band that encircled her ring finger. He tried to tell himself that James had made her do it, that it wasn't real and it didn't matter, but on looking into her eyes he could see it was very real.

She'd married James Worthington.

She was in love with him.

He just stared at her hand.

What he'd taken from James in Freeport that day seemed like nothing when he compared it to the revenge James had exacted by taking Elizabeth from him.

Elizabeth swallowed noisily, her insides trembling as she struggled to hold her nerve. She waited for his harsh retribution, waited for him to strike her, but instead he just pushed past her and left her alone in the room.

Letting her shoulders slump, she sighed out the breath she'd subconsciously held and let her arm drop to her side. She couldn't believe that Charles had thought she was still a captive onboard The Merciless. She wandered to the rear windows and wrapped her arms about her waist, holding herself and staring out at the early morning as she thought about everything that had happened.

She had to get back to Marlin. There had to be a way to get off this ship and find her way back to her love. Charles had her guns stowed somewhere, but where? The first thing she would do was look for them, and then she could set about trying to come up with a plan that would get her safely off the ship.

From the course that Charles had plotted on the map, she could see he wasn't planning to go directly back to Liberty. He was going to skirt around the island and that would bring them near to Beggars Haven. Maybe he believed that Marlin was going there or that they would meet another naval ship that he could hand her to.

Clancy had said he wasn't going to leave the town for a while, that The Fearless would take time to repair. If that was the case, she stood a chance of finding him still there and she could get him to give chase to Marlin. Then together, they could find the Endeavour.

Walking around the room, she paused as she saw a small mirror resting on a side table. She picked it up. Looking into it, she gingerly pressed her fingers against her jaw and frowned as she saw the mottled bruising there. If Charles loved her, why has he struck her?

She supposed that Marlin had done worse to her in the past, but she had given him as much grief as he'd given to her. But Charles believed she was still a captive. Surely it would have made more sense for her to be awake during their escape so she could aid him.

Maybe Charles wasn't as stupid as he'd first appeared. He'd seen her calling out to Marlin during the battle, had seen Marlin attempt to save her from the crew of the Pegasus. It was possible he hadn't wanted to believe that she wished to remain with Marlin. He had tried to convince himself she was a captive rather than having to handle the pain that came with the idea that she wanted nothing to do with him.

Looking around the room, she opened every single drawer and cupboard. She rifled through the objects that filled the cabinets and tried to think about how she was going to escape.

As she finally worked her way back around to where she'd started, she sighed. There was no sign of her guns. Charles had obviously stowed them somewhere that she wouldn't have access to.

He really wasn't as stupid as he appeared.

Glancing at the rear windows of the ship, a smile weaved its way across her face.

Or maybe he was.

Moving to the windows, she stared out of them and watched the horizon drift by. If the Endeavour stuck to similar shift patterns as The Merciless, Charles would be on duty for another few hours and would then be off duty until evening. He would want to take the first of the night watches because he would fear that The Merciless would find them, and the fading light of evening was an ideal time for an attack.

That was when she would make her escape.

Sitting on the couch, she curled up and held her knees, her eyes fixed on the ring around her finger and her thoughts with Marlin. She would conserve her energy and wait.

* * * *

Charles looked at Elizabeth where she sat by the wall. She hadn't moved in almost seven hours. She just sat there staring at the ring on her finger and saying nothing. He'd tried to get her to speak, but she'd remained mute, not even acknowledging that he was talking to her.

He couldn't believe what she'd done. What would her father have to say about this when they anchored at Liberty? It was insane.

How was he supposed to marry her when she was already married?

He smiled as he thought of a way. She wouldn't be married if he sent James down to Davey Jones’ locker. A widower could marry.

Elizabeth looked out the corner of her eye at Charles where he was sitting at the table, smiling to himself. He reminded her of the pictures she'd seen of crocodiles, grinning to themselves and looking as though they were hatching evil schemes. She wished she didn't know what his evil scheme was about, but it was clear there was only one thing on his mind, and it was the same as what was on hers.

Marlin.

Her eyes slid to the window and she held her knees a little tighter as she saw that the morning had progressed into afternoon and that afternoon was on the verge of melting into evening.

Soon.

She closed her eyes as she heard Charles’ chair scrape against the wooden floor as he stood up. Focusing on the sound of his footsteps, she tried to chart his movements around the room, silently hoping that he would leave her alone.

"You are out of spirits. Are you missing home?” Charles looked down at her and was surprised when she raised her head and looked back at him.

"Yes,” she answered honestly. Her home was on The Merciless with Marlin and her sister and she missed them terribly. She couldn't imagine how frantic her sister would be or how angry Marlin was at her disappearance. At first, he would have been upset like her sister, but over time, she could imagine that his anxiety would give way to a steely determination to find her. She knew he would succeed.

She glanced at the window again.

That was, unless she found him first.

"You shall be home soon enough. Until then, you will just have to make do with my company.” Charles smiled at her and then frowned as she turned her face away from him. Reaching down, he grabbed her under the jaw and forced her to look at him.

Elizabeth held his gaze, letting her anger and hatred burn into him, hoping he'd be able to read how deeply her feelings ran. She flared her nostrils, set her jaw, and ignored the way his fingers were digging into her cheeks.

"Harlot.” Charles pushed her away. Looming over her, he sneered. “You will enjoy my company, whether you want to or not."

She gently massaged her jaw as he walked out of the cabin and slammed the doors. The instant he disappeared from view, she moved to the trunk and opened it. Pulling out the makeshift rope she'd created from Charles’ clothes and his bed linen, she opened two of the rear windows and tied it to the wooden beam that divided them. She tugged on it to make sure it was secure and then quietly crept out of the window.

Holding onto the rope for dear life, she tried to settle her breathing. Her heart hammered quickly against her ribs. She took several deep breaths and looked up at the railings of the quarterdeck high above her.

Night was beginning to fall, the sky was getting darker by the second and she could see the last of the sun's rays fading from the heavens.

In the distance, she could see tiny dots of light on a silhouette of an island.

It was her only hope.

Working her way down the rope, she looked at the three-metre drop from the end of it to the water below. She glanced at the island again and then shut her eyes tight as she dropped into the sea. Holding her breath, she swam as far as she could underwater in the direction of the lights so she avoided detection by any of the crew. She broke to the surface when she began to run out of air.

She didn't look back as she swam towards the island. She just kept going forwards, her thoughts with Marlin and getting back to him so she didn't have to think about Charles, or the creatures swimming around her.

She had to get to Beggars Haven.

She had to get back to Marlin.

Chapter 14

Elizabeth squeezed the water from her hair as she walked towards the town. She could see it in the distance, nothing more than a mile from where she was stood. Her muscles ached from swimming away from the Endeavour, and a mile seemed more like ten. Once she reached the town, she needed to find the road that led to Beggars Haven. It would be a long journey across the island. Time was against her and the seawater in her clothes was beginning to turn cold, sapping more of her strength as it chilled her flesh.

Wrapping her arms across her chest in an attempt to keep some of the warmth in, she trudged towards the town. It wouldn't be long before Charles realised she had escaped. She didn't know whether he would come after her, or set sail in the direction of Liberty to tell her father what had happened. Part of her hoped that he would attempt to find her, because if he went to Liberty he was bound to run into Marlin.

If she knew Marlin like she thought she did, he would have set course for Liberty when he couldn't find her. He would be waiting for the Endeavour.

Only she wasn't on the Endeavour anymore.

She looked up and pulled the wet, tangled strands of hair from her face. The lights were a little closer now. Keeping her focus on them, she wearily walked the road and tried to keep her spirits up. She would see Marlin again. She would make it to Beggars Haven and order Clancy to set sail immediately, no matter what state The Fearless was in.

Reaching the outskirts of the town, she headed towards the centre. She found her eyes wandering as she walked past the houses, their warm lights making her feel even colder as she saw people inside them, families and friends.

Emptiness filled her. She longed to be back on The Merciless with her sister and Marlin, with her family and friends.

Walking past a small side passage, she stopped dead as the scent of bread filled her nostrils and her stomach rumbled. She edged quietly up the small road, keeping to the shadows and avoiding the windows as she moved towards the source of the smell.

Pressing her back to the wall, she peered around the open door and into the room. There were rows of bread on a long side table, all freshly baked. Her mouth began to water as she looked at them. Listening hard for a sign of someone coming, she snuck into the room and snatched one of the loaves before dashing back out into the night. She suppressed her feeling of guilt as she picked at the bread, pulling bite-sized morsels off it and stuffing them into her mouth. She had to keep her strength up.

Eating the bread slowly, she wandered down the gentle slope and into the town. She ignored the looks the few people in the streets gave her. It was strange to be on the receiving end of such fearful expressions. She wondered if she had looked at Marlin like that when she'd first laid eyes on him.

Looking down at her ruined clothes, she tried to figure out whether they thought she was a pirate or a beggar. She didn't have a weapon about her person, and what kind of pirate wandered through a town with a lost expression on their face while eating a loaf of bread. Straightening up, she stood a little taller as she walked past the next set of people and met their eyes. She narrowed hers and smiled inside as they gave her a scared look and then drew their eyes away from her.

That was better.

She was a pirate, not a beggar, and these people would be wise to treat her with the respect she deserved.

Elizabeth smiled.

She was turning into Marlin—demanding respect for being a pirate. Thinking about The Merciless and how she was now a pirate, she wondered what rank she would have on the ship. She was married to the captain, but was certain that wouldn't give her any special dispensation. In the eyes of the crew, she was probably a passenger but she felt as though she was more than that. She had fought alongside Marlin, had helped to capture The Seven Stars and had done her part in the battle against the Endeavour.

As she thought about that ship in particular, she looked over her shoulder and smiled when she saw nothing in the distance. Charles probably wouldn't discover she was gone for another few hours yet and that was plenty of time in which to travel inland.

She didn't want to think about how far it was to Beggars Haven. It had to be thirty miles in the very least. She'd never walk that far in one day. She needed to find a method of transportation other than her feet.

Passing the men working on the dockside, she nodded to them and was amused when they looked stunned for a moment and then returned the gesture. She smiled appreciatively at the large merchant vessels anchored there, and then turned her back on the sea when she saw a road off to her left. From what she could remember of the maps, this was the way she needed to go.

Staring at the long dark road ahead of her, she sighed.

She had to find a quicker way to get to Beggars Haven.

* * * *

Elizabeth felt as though she was going to trip over her own feet as she trudged along the road that led over the island. She was beyond tired, her feet sore from walking so far. The night was a dark blanket around her now, with no lights to be seen in any direction and only a slither of moon to provide the palest of light.

She had stopped two times to ask passers by if this was the road to Beggars Haven, and both times she had received only mumbled words and a fearful look.

She took that as a yes.

Eating the last of her bread, she brushed the crumbs from her fingers and wondered how far she had walked.

Stopping by a fence, she slipped one of her boots off and rubbed the sole of her foot. It ached under the pressure of her fingers and she heaved a long sigh as she thought about how much further she had to go.

She had to get back to Marlin. With each second that passed the anxious feeling in her stomach worsened. The Endeavour could be closing in on The Merciless this very second. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Marlin. It would be like losing a part of herself, and that part would be her heart.

Without him, life wasn't worth living.

He was everything to her. He was her air, her blood. Her entire universe. She'd never felt so sure of herself, so free to be the person she had been forced to keep locked inside, and so happy as when she was around him. He gave her life meaning, gave it purpose, and she couldn't be in a world without him.

Looking up at the thick arch of clustered stars above her, she let her eyes follow it. It was like a rainbow, a beautiful sweep of twinkling lights, a backbone of the night.

Running her fingers over her wedding band, she closed her eyes and prayed for assistance. She needed to get to Marlin. She couldn't let anything happen to him.

Silence stretched around her until she felt as though she was in a black void with nothing surrounding her and she was just floating in the middle.

A quiet snort drew her attention.

Opening her eyes, she looked over the fence and frowned.

Another snort and a scuffing sound came from a few metres to her left and she followed the fence, hoping to find the source of the noise. She ran her hands over the gate and then smiled as she felt the soft nose of a horse.

"Hello.” She gently stroked its nose and let her smile widen as it nudged against her. Feeling her way over its face, she wrapped her fingers around the rope that was acting as a harness, tying it to the fence. “You are a little godsend."

She didn't stop to think about the repercussions of what she was about to do. She had asked for assistance, of a quicker way to get to Beggars Haven, and it had come to her.

Unlatching the gate, she took hold of the rope, untying it and leading the horse out onto the roadway. She pulled herself up onto its back and waited a moment to see if it was going to buck her off before urging it on.

Starting slowly at first, she gradually sped to a gallop and smiled as she felt the wind in her hair and heard the horse's hooves pounding the earth beneath them. She felt as though she was a child again, riding the pony she had been allowed to keep when they had lived at Helstone. Her smile stretched wide across her face, her lips breaking apart as she laughed with the happy memories.

Speeding the horse on, she gripped it with her knees, holding onto the reins as tightly as she could so she didn't fall off. Riding bareback was harder than she recalled. She remembered going down to the paddock with her mother when her father was away and riding bareback around the field. Her mother had said her father wouldn't approve of her riding in such an unladylike way, but Elizabeth had loved it. Side-saddle wasn't for her; she couldn't get enough speed up when riding that way.

And right now, she needed speed.

* * * *

The sun broke the horizon, the dark sky surrendering to light as it began to turn from deepest to palest blue. There was an orange-pink tint to the clouds, their fluffy whiteness seemingly painted with a stripe of gold. The green mountains of the island were gradually coming to life. The chatter of morning creatures reached Elizabeth's ears as she continued towards Beggars Haven.

Her head felt heavy, her eyelids dropping and becoming increasingly harder to force back open. Leaning heavily against the horse's neck, she sighed out her breath and struggled against the overwhelming tiredness. Her body was numb with the cool of morning and her damp clothes clung to her skin, chilling her to the bone. She blinked sleepily, her hands barely gripping the horse's mane as it continued along the road as though it knew where they were going.

She bumped along with the animal as it walked, evidently as tired as she was and finding it hard to keep moving.

Wearily raising her head, she squinted into the distance and saw a thin ribbon of smoke in the air. She sat up, forcing the tiredness from her body as she tried to focus on it and see if it was real. Widening her eyes to wake herself further, she smiled as the ribbon of smoke was joined by another and another.

A town.

"Not much further now.” She patted the horse's neck. It snorted and began to pick up the pace.

Trotting down the hill, she nodded to each person they passed in the fields and then stopped when they reached a rickety wooden fence across the road. Looking down at the scene in front of her, she saw there were no farmers on the other side. There were just empty fields that had grown wild and a mud road.

"Are you lost, miss?” A voice drew her attention and she looked down at the man beside her. He was evidently one of the farmers, his head covered by a wide hat and his hand holding a rake as he looked up at her.

"Why is there a fence here? What happened to the road?” she asked.

The man laughed quietly, his old wrinkled face breaking into a wide smile.

"No decent man dares go down there. It is a lawless town, miss, not a place for a girl such as you."

Elizabeth frowned and slid off the horse's back. Coming around it, she walked to the man and looked him square in the eye.

"A girl such as me?” She laughed and he frowned at her, his hand gripping the rake a little tighter. “What sort of girl do you think I am?"

Patting the horse on its hind, it whinnied and then started back up the road where they'd come from.

"I was just saying, miss, that it is not a good place.” The man looked apologetic and then went to stop her as she clambered over the fence.

She looked down at his hand where it held her arm.

"I assure you, there is no need to worry, sir. I have friends down there."

The man instantly let go of her hand and backed away.

"If I am lucky, I will be back with my ship, The Merciless, before the week is out."

Flicking him a smile, she began down the hill towards the town.

* * * *

Elizabeth kept her head held high and her walk confident as she strode into town. She made eye contact with every braggart that looked her way and made it clear that she wasn't to be messed with. Quiet whispers seemed to follow her and she wondered if they knew who she was.

Heading straight through the town to the harbour, she felt relieved as her boots hit the wooden jetties where most of the ships were anchored.

"You appear to be missing something,” a familiar voice called down to her and she shielded her eyes from the bright sun as she looked up at the ship towering above her.

She smiled as she saw the pirate captain she and Marlin had spoken with both times she had been in Beggars Haven.

"My husband, I am afraid,” she called back to him and then watched as he walked down the plank to the jetty. “I have to see Clancy. Is The Fearless still anchored?"

"Believe so. We are leaving tonight. Last I heard she intended to do the same.” He gave her a wide smile and then frowned. “You look like hell. Where's that scoundrel of yours ... Marlin?"

"He is most probably searching for me. The Endeavour snatched me after we had a narrow escape from Chaos. I need to find Clancy,” she said as she started to walk away. “Be careful. The Endeavour is out for blood and I do not think she cares whose it is."

She waved at him as he nodded and waved to her. Walking down to the start of the jetty, she slowly made her way along it, searching for The Fearless.

Her heart leapt into her throat when she saw it anchored at the end of one of the jetties. Pushing all the tiredness from her body, she ran along it, her boots pounding the wooden slats as she headed towards the ship.

On reaching it, she ran straight up the loading plank and then froze as she found a dozen swords at her throat.

She slowly raised her hands and smiled nervously.

Swallowing hard, she closed her eyes and cringed as the men closed in. She tried to back off a step, but found someone blocking her way.

"What kind of greeting is this, lads?"

Elizabeth turned the moment she heard the voice and she smiled with relief at the sight of Clancy standing behind her.

"In a hurry, Elizabeth Worthington? You are starting to take after that Captain Marlin of yours."

She noted the way he'd emphasised who she was to his men, and gave him a thankful look as they backed away from her.

"Marlin is in terrible trouble. Charles took me captive, but I escaped. He will go after The Merciless and Marlin will think I am onboard the Endeavour. He will not fight as hard as he needs to for fear of hurting me.” She pleaded him with her eyes and his look turned pensive. “We need to go after them."

Clancy looked over his ship and then back at her. He sighed at her and she knew he was thinking about what to do. The men would be angry with him if he decided to help her but she hoped that wouldn't stop him.

"Haul anchor!” he shouted and the crew sprang into action with only a few grumbled words of displeasure. He looked down at her as the plank was drawn onto the ship and smiled. “Where was Marlin heading?"

She paused and took a deep breath to steady her heart.

"Liberty."

Chapter 15

Marlin looked up at the sails, and then over his shoulder at the ship that was closing in on them. He handed the wheel over to Alexander and then walked to the rear of the ship. His crew were rushing around, carrying out the orders he'd shouted to them and doing all it took to keep a steady distance between The Merciless and the other ship. He could hear his men calling to each other, scrambling about and urging each other on as they worked as fast as possible. He wondered how he could feel so calm at a time like this. There on the horizon was a grim reaper, a herald of death and destruction, and he felt as though he was welcoming it, spurring it on so he could finally end it.

Looking at their pursuer, he tried to calculate the distance between them. It wouldn't be long now. The chances were they wouldn't make it to Liberty before the ship caught up with them and the battle began.

He didn't need to use the scope to see which ship it was. He could recognise her from her shape and size.

It was the Endeavour.

He searched for a reason as to why she was a welcome sight and then looked down at his ring finger. Charles had taken everything from him by taking Elizabeth and he wanted her back. He knew there was only a slim chance that she was still onboard the Endeavour, but he would take that chance.

Even if she wasn't on the ship, this one moment would put an end to a chapter of his life that should have been completed a long time ago.

So he welcomed it.

He stood at the rear of his ship with his eyes fixed on the Endeavour and waited for her to close the gap between them.

Only she wasn't coming quickly enough.

"Hard to starboard, bring her about!” he shouted impatiently as he turned to his crew. He ignored the stunned looks on their faces and scowled. “I said, hard to starboard!"

He watched as Alexander did as instructed and brought the ship about to face their pursuer.

"Load the guns. Grape shot. Ready the long nines!” he hollered and the young boys all disappeared below deck to gather the necessary powder. The gun crew followed them down the stairs and Marlin raised his eyes to the sky.

It was crystal clear.

A rich blue canvas, it reminded him of the day they had brought Elizabeth onboard. The sun was starting to descend towards the horizon as he looked at the distant island of Liberty and realised they had gone full circle—only Elizabeth wasn't here with him like she should've been.

Loading his pistols, he weighed them up in his hands and sighed. She'd had her pistols with her when she'd been taken. He'd searched the cabin for them once he'd gotten back onboard and had found no sign of them. He wondered if she still had them and then realised she didn't. Charles would be dead by now if she did and there wouldn't be a ship after him.

Anger twisted in his stomach as he thought about Charles having her. He flexed his fingers and gripped the guns tightly as he contemplated getting revenge like he'd sworn he would.

Slipping the pistols into their holsters, he patted them. There was only one man he would use these shots on.

Charles was going to pay.

As they neared the Endeavour, he stepped up to the wheel and watched her drawing closer.

"Steady,” he whispered to Alexander.

Alexander swallowed hard and nodded.

A look of fear entered his eyes and Marlin knew why. The Endeavour was more than twice their size and they were heading straight for her, as though the other ship would get out of their way.

"Keep to port,” Marlin said and then looked at the sails. Dropping his eyes to the deck, he took a deep breath and shouted. “Ready guns!"

He looked at Alexander and intimated for him to step away from the wheel as they closed in on the Endeavour. He took hold of the wheel and kept his eyes fixed on the ship that was heading straight for him.

Alexander stared at him. “This is madness. At this close a distance we will be blown to smithereens by the port cannons. Our starboard cannon crew will not have time to retaliate."

Marlin steered the ship hard to starboard and the two ships almost collided with each other.

"Fire!” Marlin shouted and grinned maliciously as the Endeavour was forced to steer hard in the opposite direction in order to avoid them. He listened to the cannons of The Merciless as they fired consecutively, pounding out a rhythm as the cannonballs embedded themselves into the side of the Endeavour where it was veering sharply away from them.

"Bring her around,” he instructed Alexander as he gave him the wheel again and waited for the Endeavour to retaliate.

The light was fading fast and for that, he was thankful. The night would bring them the cover they needed to elude the Endeavour's cannon fire and would aid him in battle.

He remained on the quarterdeck, watching the larger ship come about, and he signalled to Alexander to keep behind her.

They kept close to the rear of the Endeavour and Marlin watched the men load the forecastle cannons. When they were ready, he motioned for Alexander to drop back and waited for his crew to fire before breaking away from the other ship.

Marlin smiled as two large cannonballs ripped through the rear of the ship and then ducked as the Endeavour began to retaliate.

"Load the guns, keep them coming!” he hollered above the noise of the cannons and then watched as the Endeavour pulled in some of her sail and began to drop back. “This is not good."

* * * *

"This is not good,” Elizabeth said as she stood on the forecastle deck of The Fearless and stared at the horizon, watching bright flashes of light punctuate the darkness. “This is not good at all."

"Not to worry, miss. We shall be there soon enough.” Clancy placed his hand gently on her back.

Her shoulders sagged for a moment before she straightened up again.

"Ready the ship.” She turned to him and started walking down to the main deck. “Get me a pair of guns and a sword."

She gave him a determined look, showing him it was more than his life was worth to tell her that it was his ship and they would do things his way. She had proven herself to be a strong woman, and she'd spent enough time around Marlin to pick up some of his knowledge of ships and battles. Clancy nodded.

"Bring me pistols and the finest sword we have!” he shouted to a passing crewman. The man nodded and then disappeared into the forecastle.

"We need to load the cannons with chain shot. We have to disable her. It is the only chance we have.” Elizabeth looked at the men as they rushed around preparing the ship for the battle and then sighed.

"We will not fail him, Elizabeth.” Clancy squeezed her shoulder and then continued walking, leaving her standing rooted to the spot at the bottom of the steps. “Load the guns. Chain shot. Aim for the masts."

"And the rudder,” Elizabeth joined in and pointed to the cannon fire in the distance. “Disable that ship, gentlemen."

She looked at the firefight, and then at the ship she was on. She rushed back up the steps to the forecastle deck and began extinguishing the lanterns.

"What are you doing?” Clancy asked as she came down from the deck and began snuffing all the lights she could see.

"We need the advantage. The Endeavour will be heavily engaged with The Merciless. This way, she will not see us until it is too late. There is no moon tonight. The cannon fire is coming from the wrong side. We will approach away from The Merciless and attack when the Endeavour least expects it.” Elizabeth continued to kill the lights as she spoke to him, her heart accelerating as she thought of the upcoming fight.

They had to gain Marlin the advantage.

* * * *

Marlin looked at deck of his ship and for a moment, he doubted they were going to come out of this battle alive. The wood was soaked with the blood of his crew. Nearly half of them were gone already and he was running low on ammunition. They had badly damaged the Endeavour, but her losses would be nowhere near as many as he'd had.

He signalled Dawn to go back into the cabin as another cannonball tore into the side of his ship.

Dawn gave Marlin a fearful look as she heard the screams from below deck. Everywhere she turned, there was death, blood and destruction, and it was making her sick to her stomach. She was scared out of her wits. Her heart beat erratically against her ribs as she continuously prayed to God that they would make it through this.

She'd never seen such horror before. The encounter with The Seven Stars had been nothing compared to this. The men were dying, their bodies torn apart by the heavy cannon fire from the Endeavour. Her breathing became irregular as panic set in and she couldn't move.

Marlin grabbed her arm and shoved her into his cabin. “Bloody well stay put. If something happens to you, she will never forgive me!"

He slammed the door on her and pressed his back against it, breathing heavily as he looked at the carnage on the deck. The ship was taking serious damage and if his luck didn't change soon, she was going to sink. He glanced up at the Endeavour and realised there was only one thing left to do.

They had to board her.

It would be suicide, but it was their only choice.

He pushed off from the door and came to stand on the deck. He glanced at Alexander and shook his head, showing him that it was over. Nothing short of a miracle could save them now.

He frowned as the sound of wood splintering met his ears and he couldn't believe his eyes as the mizzenmast of the Endeavour began to fall.

"Move!” he shouted to Alexander. He held his breath as his first mate frantically steered the ship away from the falling mast.

Running up to the quarterdeck, his eyes followed the mast as it hit the water hard, sending up a wall of water and cutting into the side of the Endeavour.

"What the hell?"

There was a series of cannon fire and he ducked instinctively as he heard it. He frowned as he realised that they hadn't been fired upon, and neither had they fired.

The sound of wood splitting above him caught his attention and he watched as the mainmast of the Endeavour was cut in two, bringing it crashing down into the ship. He looked at Alexander, who shrugged, looking as confused as he felt.

"Turn about. Raise what sail we have left and get us moving!” he called to the rest of his crew and gave them a grateful smile in the darkness as they carried out his orders.

As The Merciless began to clear the front of the Endeavour, he couldn't believe his eyes.

* * * *

"Aim for the rudder. Disable the bastards!” Elizabeth shouted at the men and felt strength flow through her as they did as she instructed. Drawing her sword, she moved along the deck, ducking each time the Endeavour returned their fire.

As she saw The Merciless, her breath caught in her throat and relief washed through her. She ran to the forecastle as the ship approached and then frowned as it drew along side them and she saw all the damage that had been done to it.

Marlin blinked in disbelief as he saw Elizabeth standing on the forecastle deck of the other ship, a sword gripped tightly in her hand and a wide smile on her face. He signalled to Alexander to move The Merciless to a safe distance and then grabbed hold of a rope and swung across to The Fearless.

"Love is not a strong enough word for what I am feeling,” he said as he landed with a thud beside her. “Come here."

Elizabeth smiled and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, tears rising into her eyes and spilling onto her cheeks before she had a chance to stop them. Holding onto him, she closed her eyes and breathed in his warmth, drawing comfort from the feeling of his possessive grip on her waist.

"Thank God you are alive,” she whispered into his ear and sighed at the same time he did.

"Thank God you showed up.” He kissed her neck, and then drew back and looked into her eyes. “But this is far from over, sweetheart."

She listened to the cannons firing, and looked at the ship.

"It certainly is."

They both turned to face the voice as it broke into their conversation and drew their pistols.

Elizabeth was the first to fire, but Charles easily evaded her shot and grinned as he was joined by several of his crew. They swarmed across the deck, separating Elizabeth and Marlin, and keeping them occupied as they fought against them.

Marlin growled as he drew his sword and began to fight against the crewmen. He gave a thankful smile to Clancy as he appeared beside him, his sword slicing through the man nearest him and clearing a path to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth felt as though she was lost in a turbulent and dangerous sea as the men jostled her. They clearly had instructions not to hurt her, but that didn't mean she would go easy on them. Managing to free her sword, she slashed wildly until they backed away enough for her to engage them properly. She grinned wickedly as she saw the crew of The Fearless closing in on them and began her attack, stabbing and slashing at every opportunity and making sure that she had her guard up against the few that tried to defend themselves.

Charles watched her with interest as she fought heroically against his men. He'd never seen a girl with such passion and fire. She was almost out fighting his men. He realised that something had to be done about her or she was going to prove trouble.

He went to walk towards her, drawing one of his pistols as he did so, and then paused as a shot was fired and he felt a sharp sting.

Looking down at his chest, he stared at the river of red as it broke free of him and seeped into his crisp white shirt.

Elizabeth turned the moment she heard the shot and blinked as she saw Charles standing only a few feet from her, one of her pistols held tightly in his hand and his eyes downcast. She frowned as she saw the dark patch on his shirt and then saw Marlin standing behind him with his gun still aimed at Charles.

Charles seemed to come to his senses and raised the pistol he was holding, slowly turning to face Marlin. She fumbled with her one loaded gun and managed to draw it before Charles had time to fire.

Charles paused again, the look of determination falling from his face as he felt a hot searing sensation in his side and pressed his hand against it, wincing as the pain began to spread to the rest of his body.

Elizabeth panted hard as she listened to the men of The Fearless still fighting the crew of the Endeavour and stared at Charles where he stood with his back to her.

"I believe those belong to my lady,” Marlin said as he took the guns from Charles’ hands. He fell to his knees on the deck and stared open mouthed at the wounds in his torso.

As she moved towards them, Elizabeth managed to bring herself to look at Charles where he knelt. She could see the blood on his shirt in the darkness and looked up at Marlin, telling him silently with her eyes to put an end to his suffering.

Marlin raised his gun and cocked it, taking a deep breath as he extended his arm and pressed the muzzle against Charles’ forehead. He let his eyes lock with his, memorising the look in them as he finally put an end to his past. A feeling of calm washed through him.

Pulling the trigger, he watched Charles fall lifeless to the floor, crimson seeping from the hole in his head as he stared into infinity.

Marlin sighed and felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

"And this time ... stay dead."

Chapter 16

Elizabeth felt sick with nerves as they cautiously approached the harbour. She had felt fine up until the second she'd set eyes on the church tower and had seen her house, and then she'd suddenly wanted to beg Marlin to turn the ship about and go to another port.

Only she knew that The Merciless was in such a state that she wouldn't make it to another port.

Liberty was the closest one, so that's where they had to go.

She knew Clancy felt as good about seeing the town as she did. He had wanted to go to Beggars Haven to refit The Fearless, but Marlin had assured him that he would be safe in Liberty.

Elizabeth thought that Clancy had a right to feel unsure about what his friend had said. The Fearless had been a navy vessel and Clancy was a pirate, not a privateer. If one of the navy captains took it upon himself to reclaim her, there wouldn't be anything that Clancy could do to stop them. The Fearless was in bad shape, having taken the attention away from The Merciless by drawing the cannon fire of the Endeavour. She would barely be able to defend herself against a navy vessel, let alone fight back.

Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder at the Endeavour where it was following The Merciless and The Fearless into the port and tried to stifle the bad feeling that the sight of it gave her.

Marlin looked down at Elizabeth where she stood beside him on the forecastle deck and frowned. He could feel the nerves coming off her in waves and knew that his friend was feeling the same way. Neither of them wanted to come to Liberty, but as far as Marlin could see, they had no other option. The ships needed repairs and this was the closest port.

Placing his hand over Elizabeth's where it rested on the balustrade, he smiled at her as she raised her eyes to meet his and felt a little more relaxed as she managed to muster up a smile herself.

"Everything will be fine,” he assured her as they passed the harbour walls and approached the town.

Turning to what was left of his crew, he sighed as he looked at the bloodstained deck and then took a deep breath.

"Ready to make anchor!” he called to them, and watched as they moved to the anchors, some of them drawing the sails in so they began to slow down.

He couldn't blame them for feeling anxious and for looking as sad as they did. They had lost most of the crew in the battle against the Endeavour. He wished that they hadn't. Amongst the men he had lost were those that had been with him from the start, those that had mutinied against Charles and had taken control of The Merciless. He couldn't imagine ever finding another crew like them and part of him didn't want to. If he had the power to, he would change what had happened and make sure Charles was dead the first time.

Elizabeth frowned up at Marlin and saw the weight of regret in his eyes. Along their journey to Liberty, he had sent so many men to the depths and she knew their funerals had taken their toll on him. He had fallen quieter with each man that he sent to a watery grave, and by the end of them, she had seen tears in his eyes.

Gently capturing his cheek, she brought his eyes around to meet hers and furrowed her brows into a tender understanding look as she saw all the hurt in his. She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding his head to her neck and threading her fingers into his hair as he breathed against her throat. She sighed and closed her eyes when she felt his fingers trembling as they tightly grasped her shirt, holding her against him as though he couldn't bring himself to let her go. He had lost so many men who were irreplaceable in his eyes. They had been more than just his crew. They had been his friends, and his family.

Opening her eyes as she heard the anchors drop, she pulled away slightly and gave him a soft look as he did the same. “We are here."

Marlin nodded, gathering his emotions and trying to push them back into place as he looked into her eyes. There was such a depth of understanding in them. He could see how much she loved him. He'd felt it last night when they had finally gone to bed. She'd held him so gently and protectively that he'd wanted to thank her for being there for him at such a hard time. She had known instinctively what he'd needed and had given it to him, offering him all the comfort she could and just being there to hold him as he slept.

Releasing her, he managed a smile as he looked at her, and then at Liberty. There were men lining the jetty already. They were a row of clones, their red jackets all neatly trimmed with gold and their rifles held perfectly over their shoulders as they waited.

Holding his hand out, he smiled as Elizabeth slipped hers into it and let her fingers intertwine with his. He led the way down to the main deck, nodding to his men as he passed and then signalling to Clancy to remain onboard The Fearless.

Walking down the plank that his men had put into place, he pulled out one of his pistols and cocked it, smiling when he heard Elizabeth doing the same with one of hers.

"Let's not be having trouble,” Marlin warned the navy men as they turned to face him. “This ship falls under the protection of the king, as do I, my lady here and my crew ... but if anything happens to that ship...” He pointed with his gun at The Fearless where she had anchored on the other side of The Merciless. “Then I shall blow you all to kingdom come."

There was a murmur among the men, but no one moved to attack. Elizabeth looked at them, recognising many of their faces as boys she had grown up with. She knew they wouldn't dare fire on her. Everyone here was afraid of her father.

"Haul the plank!” Marlin called the order out to Alexander where he stood at the other end of it and she saw the crew do as he'd ordered. “Be ready to leave if I give the signal, understood?"

"Aye, Captain.” Alexander nodded, and then caught hold of Dawn's arm as she rushed forwards.

"I shall not be long.” Elizabeth smiled at her sister, trying to reassure her that nothing would happen to her. “Alexander will keep you safe."

Elizabeth gripped Marlin's hand tighter as they began walking up the jetty past the long line of naval officers. She nodded to the ones she recognised, finding it amusing when they recognised her and their eyes widened in shock.

When she finally dragged her attention away, she noticed that Marlin was staring straight ahead with a grim look on his face.

Turning her attention there, she felt her nerves return as she saw two of the admirals and her father. She struggled against her desire to turn back towards the ship and managed to hold her head up a little higher as Marlin affectionately squeezed her hand.

"Admiral Forrest.” Marlin greeted him with a nod as they came to a halt, and then turned to the other man. “Admiral Johnson."

"James.” Admiral Forrest smiled and returned his nod. “I have been hearing reports that one of our ships has been guilty of insubordination."

Marlin looked at the Endeavour as she limped into the bay, her hull severely damaged by cannonballs and two of her masts broken.

"That she was, but we took care of it.” He met the admiral's eyes and smiled. “We took a beating at the same time, though. I thought that you might grant a little assistance to an old friend."

Marlin looked at the two frigates where they had anchored side by side, The Merciless protecting The Fearless by rendering her inaccessible from the jetty without boarding her first.

"Since you so kindly assisted us, I am sure we can assist you,” Admiral Forrest replied and looked to the other admiral for confirmation.

"I believe we can turn a blind eye to your companion ship this one time."

"What?” Governor Miller interjected, a look of disbelief etched on his face. “That is a pirate ship. As governor of this island, I cannot allow it to dock here for repairs. It is beyond—"

"Father?” Elizabeth stepped forward, letting go of Marlin's hand as she approached him. She waited for his eyes to come to rest on her and then smiled. “I believe you have more to deal with than one pirate ship."

"I do?” He looked confused for a moment and glanced at the two admirals as though they'd know what she was referring to.

Her smile broadened as Marlin stepped up behind her, his hands coming to rest on her stomach as he wrapped his arms about her.

"We are married.” She watched her father's face blanch as her words sunk in and managed to stop herself from laughing as he tried to speak but no sound came out. She craned her neck and looked at Marlin where he was stood behind her. “I knew that would work."

Slipping her hand back into Marlin's, she looked at Admiral Forrest and smiled. “Now if you would excuse us, I have to go and see about getting some things from my house."

Marlin waved back at the ship and watched as the men lowered the plank again. He shrugged at the admirals as Elizabeth dragged him along the jetty. He caught up with her and fell into step beside her.

Looking down at her, he let a mischievous smile work its way onto his lips as he thought about where they were going.

"So ... will you be bringing your maid?” he asked with an innocent expression and then his eyes widened as she cocked her pistol.

"One more word out of you ... just one look in her direction ... understood?” She frowned at him as she held the pistol in his face, her eyes full of fire.

He held his hands up in an act of surrender and decided that it wasn't wise to tease a woman who carried such a fine pair of pistols. Especially when she wasn't afraid to use them.

"You know there is no other woman in the world for me, Elizabeth. I made a promise to you when I married you ... one that I am never going to break.” He pushed the gun aside and wrapped his arm about her waist, lifting her off the wooden boards as he looked down at her mouth.

Elizabeth watched as his eyes became hooded, his focus on her lips. Anticipation settled in her stomach and she held her breath as she waited for him to make his move. As his lips smashed against hers, her eyes rolled closed and her heart ran away with her. She felt a flush of warmth run through her veins, happiness spreading through every inch of her body as she savoured the way his felt against hers. Everything seemed to be finally drawing to a close, and she couldn't wait to move forward with Marlin and go on with their life together without the threat of Charles hanging over their heads.

* * * *

Admiral Forrest walked slowly down the jetty, impressed with the amount of work that had been done to repair the ship in so short a space of time. The Merciless had only been docked for four days, but it was a time he wouldn't forget in a hurry. Things had been amusing, to say the least.

The dinner at the governor's house had to be top of the list. Seeing James dressed as he'd always remembered him, wearing a fine cut black jacket with neat cream breeches and his hair worn more presentably, had made it worth the while. The fact that he'd put Governor Miller in his place several times had just added to his enjoyment of the evening. James had been mostly preoccupied with Elizabeth and he couldn't blame him. She had looked beautiful in the cream dress she had chosen to wear.

The fact that she had also chosen to carry one of her pistols with her at all times had caused much amusement, too. She had insisted on carrying it, no matter how many times James had told her that he was armed and she didn't have to worry.

Each time he'd said it, she'd shot her father a distrustful look and then smiled sweetly at the rest of the table.

There had been much talk of ships and the comings and goings on the local waters, and he'd been pleasantly surprised that both Elizabeth and Dawn had not only been able to keep abreast of the conversation, they had added to it. Both of them seemed to know a ship as well as any of the admirals, and that made him smile.

He had always known that Elizabeth would lead an interesting life, and he was glad she had chosen to do it with one of his favourite officers.

He glanced at James where he was walking beside him, still dressed in the same fine jacket and breeches, his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes fixed on one spot.

The admiral didn't need to look in order to know who had his attention.

"She seems happy,” he said as he looked at Elizabeth, where she was helping load supplies onto the ships.

"She does.” Marlin smiled as he watched his wife.

"I always thought she would have an adventurous life."

"She has one now...” Marlin said and then stopped walking. His eyes remained fixed on Elizabeth. “...But we have been through so much."

"What is on your mind, James?” Admiral Forrest turned to look at him.

"I fear for her safety. This is not a game. We cannot always play at being pirates. If we do ... something might happen to one of us.” His brows furrowed as Elizabeth turned and waved at him, a smile on her face as she talked to her sister.

She was wearing her breeches again with the black jacket he had bought her in town. It suited her just like he'd thought it would. She was beautiful, her face glowing with her smile and her happiness. He wished she could remain that way, that they would always be together and nothing would ever part them.

"What do you intend to do?” Admiral Forrest smiled knowingly.

"I have no idea. Everything I think of is flawed because I do not know if she would agree. She married a pirate. She would be disappointed if I suddenly changed. I have watched her so many nights onboard The Merciless. She loves it dearly, almost as much as I do, and she loves the freedom of the ocean.” Marlin shrugged as he looked at Admiral Forrest, giving him a lost look that emphasised his indecision.

Admiral Forrest just looked at him for a few seconds and then smiled. There was a look in his eyes that made Marlin realise that he hadn't fooled him. He did have an idea but he was too frightened to act on it.

The admiral looked at The Merciless, and then back at him.

"I heard from your father the other day.” He continued to smile as Marlin frowned. “Apparently he has decided to expand his merchant business. I believe that a partner in the Caribbean would be beneficial and had my answer ready for him, only I have no ships heading that way to carry the news."

Marlin just stared at him.

"If my only son chose to marry, I would want to meet my daughter-in-law, no matter what the state of affairs between us were. I am certain that he would love her."

Realisation dawned on Marlin and a smile teased the corners of his mouth.

"We could do with laying low for a while,” he said. “Does he know that I am no longer a pirate?"

Admiral Forrest looked awkward for a moment and pulled a face of discomfort. “We may have neglected to send word of the altercation that took place. I know your father, James, news like that would have broken his heart. I know there is the slightest of bad blood between you two and I think it best that you explain things to him yourself. I have a crew that needs to go back to England to meet a ship there. They would work for their passage if you chose to have them onboard."

Marlin didn't know what to say. He had always believed that after all these years his father would have heard about what had happened between him and Charles. Looking at Elizabeth as she loaded the last of the supplies onto the ship, he began walking again.

The admiral's plan sounded good enough. They would set up a merchant business here in the Caribbean, a partner to his father's company. It would satisfy all parties. Elizabeth and he would be able to remain with The Merciless, and would still be privateers along with being merchants. His father would see that he had made something of himself after all and would hopefully love Elizabeth just like Admiral Forrest had said he would. They would be gone for a few months, long enough for Chaos to lose interest in them and long enough for him to take Elizabeth somewhere he knew she longed to go.

Walking up the plank to the deck of his ship, he walked up the forecastle deck where Elizabeth was stood looking at the town.

"So where are you going, James?” Admiral Forrest called up at him as he leant against the balustrade.

"Home, Admiral Forrest. We are going home."

"Home?” Elizabeth asked with a smile as she came to stand next to him. “Beggars Haven?"

"No.” He brushed his fingers against her cheek as the crew boarded the ship.

"Then where?” She frowned at him and then looked at the naval crew that were opening the sails of The Merciless. “What is happening, James?"

Marlin smiled at her use of his real name; it seemed to lend more weight to her question. He watched The Fearless turning away from them and then listened to the anchors as they broke free of the water and were hauled into their resting places.

"There is someone that I think you should meet, someone that could help shape our future as merchants."

"James?” she looked confused and followed him as he walked to the back of the ship.

"Set course...” he started as he stood beside Alexander and then frowned at Elizabeth where she stood with her hands on her hips. He held her gaze, not letting her win as she tried to stare him out, evidently unimpressed by the lack of information he was giving to her.

"Where to, Captain?” Alexander asked.

Marlin let his eyes meet Elizabeth's and he smiled. “Plymouth."

"Plymouth?” She frowned.

"And from there...” He looked thoughtful, relishing her look of confusion as he kept her waiting. “Helstone."

Elizabeth's eyes sparkled with happiness when she grinned. “Seriously?"

He nodded. “I assure you ... I am deadly serious."

He grinned as she threw her arms about his neck and held him tightly. He knew that this meant more to her than anything, and that in her heart she had longed to see the town she grew up in again. He was glad that he could give this to her. They would be able to spend some time there while he arranged all the necessary things for setting up the merchant business with his father. It would give her enough time to refresh her memory of the place and would allow Dawn a chance to see the place where she was born.

He watched Dawn grin from ear to ear as she ran over to Kitty and Susannah.

A smiled teased the corners of his wife's mouth as she watched her sister and the two girls talking animatedly. Marlin found himself smiling too as he realised it felt good to see her so happy, as though now everything in her life was perfect.

Catching hold of her hand, he watched her come out of her reverie and turn her smile on him, letting it widen as she looked up into his eyes. He slowly led her down the steps to the main deck and then wove through the crew as he walked with her toward the bow of the ship.

Leading her up the steps onto the forecastle deck, Marlin nodded a thanks to the crewmen as they left them alone. He came to stand behind Elizabeth where she was looking out to sea.

He pressed a kiss to her cheek and listened to her sigh.

"Happy now?” he murmured against her soft skin and then looked out to sea with her, watching their future coming towards them on the white peaked crests.

"Happier than I have ever been,” Elizabeth replied and placed her hands over his where they were clasped about her waist.

"Good.” He held her a little tighter and sighed as he thought about how she wasn't the only one feeling that way. “Do you think Dawn will be disappointed when we do not chase down pirates and steal their loot anymore?"

She shook her head in the negative. “No. By the time we reach England, she will have planned out the whole merchant business and would be onto something else. She is always flitting from one thing to another."

"Will you be disappointed?” Marlin asked, pulling back slightly so he could see her face.

Elizabeth turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. She smiled into his eyes as he watched her, waiting for an answer to his question. She loved keeping him waiting. Reaching up, she ran her fingers lightly down his cheek and thought about what he'd asked. She smiled.

"Never. Everything I ever wanted is right here in my arms.” She felt her stomach heat through as his eyes narrowed on hers, his head cocking to one side as his look turned affectionate.

"Everything?” He sounded her out.

She nodded.

"So, life's perfect then?” He dipped his head and pressed his forehead to hers. Their noses touched.

Elizabeth sighed and drew him in for a kiss.

Kissing him softly, she felt as though she was drifting away but safely anchored at the same time, secure in her love's arms and knowing that he would never let her go.

She smiled.

One word summed up how her life was turning out.

"Perfect."

The End

About the Author:

Felicity Heaton is a great believer in love at first sight and the romantic ideal. Having grown up reading extensively, she developed a deep love of classical literature, ranking Jane Eyre, North & South, and Persuasion amongst her all time favourite reads. The most romantic moment of her life was when her husband got down on bended knee on the steps of Sacré Coeur, Paris, at night in front of several hundred spectators and proposed. She was too drunk on love, and subsequently champagne, to care about the audience. All she could see was the man that she loved. A writer of emotion and life, she always strives to touch a chord of familiarity in her readers and give them characters they can love and a read to remember.

To see her other stories, visit:

www.felicityheaton.co.uk

Enjoyed this story? Email her at author@vampiresrealm.com

Other books by Felicity Heaton:

In Heat (shapeshifter romance)

A heat wave isn't the only thing making London too hot for lawyer Kim. She's been spending each night with a man who sets her body and heart on fire. The problem? He's a man that always sprouts black fur and purrs, and he's only a dream. Walking into work on the hottest day of the year, the last thing she expects is to meet Erik, a man who send her temperature soaring and who resembles her dream guy exactly.

A black panther shape-shifter, Erik Blackwell has been searching for his mate for twenty-seven years. The visions they share each night are getting hotter but finding her is proving impossible as he's never seen her face. That is, until it turns out she's working as his lawyer on his contract negotiations with his brother, Alistair.

Kim can't deny her attraction to Erik. The heat she feels with him is intense and it's only a matter of time before they surrender to their desires, but something haunts her. Is Erik really the man of her dreams? If so, can he grow fur and purr? And what about the terrible feeling she has about Alistair and the contract? How far is he willing to go to get his hands on the company Erik owns?

What will Kim do when she discovers Erik's secret? Will she turn her back on him, or will she complete the mating and become like him so they can be together forever?

All of Felicity Heaton's books are available from Alinar Publishing—www.alinarpublishing.com

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