Captain Merric Read online

  His head pounded angrily from the thirst that was already beginning to assert itself and from the swelling where the butt of the pistol had connected; his stomach lurched with every wave, the boat far too small to avoid being buffeted. He lay down. There was nothing he could do but wait for the temperature to drop and his pains to fade. Unable to maintain his focus, Daniel let his eyes drift closed and willed himself to sleep.

  Chapter Two

  Daniel spluttered, regaining consciousness as water hit his face. He tried to sit, but the foot on his chest kept him pinned in place, flat on his back, hands tied once more. He was surrounded by six men, but the glare of the sun overhead prevented him from getting a better look at their faces. However, one thing was for certain: they weren’t members of the Royal Navy. Bewildered, he at last realized he was on board a ship, the gentle roll of the world and the sound of flapping sails unmistakable. He peered upwards. The mizzen wasn’t the right configuration for a frigate, and there were no flags proclaiming she sailed under the command of the French crown. But, hanging high on the mast, there was the unmistakable emblem of a skull and crossbones.

  Daniel let his head smack down on the deck, wondering what he’d done wrong in his life to find himself in such a situation. With the French he might have been a potential prisoner of war, held somewhere he could attempt an escape from, but pirates…. He was a dead man.

  “English pig,” he heard one say, his accent clearly Spanish.

  “We should throw him overboard. There may be ships after him,” said another, and if Daniel was not mistaken, he recognised a trace of County Cork about him.

  “Take him down to Merric. The captain’s always been fond of a pretty Englishman. This one should entertain him nicely until he decides the bastard’s fate,” said a third.

  He was older, more commanding, and Daniel thought he might be the first mate by the way he spoke.

  Two of the pirates dragged him across the deck. His parched brain and body were too confused to put up a fight, but he knew the name the men had mentioned. He’d heard of Captain Merric. Every member of the fleet had a story to tell of the pirate who had swiped the jewels of Ambassador Swin’s wife and fled with his son. Daniel had pursued Merric once or twice himself, but he’d never caught him. Merric’s ship was too fast, and despite the large bounty on his head, no one had information to sell. Even Swin’s son had been curiously tight-lipped when he’d been returned, unharmed.

  Hauled below deck, Daniel was temporarily blinded by the loss of the bright sunlight, but his eyes adjusted as he was manhandled down dark corridors that smelled of gunpowder and expensive spices. They stopped outside a closed door, and one of his captors banged his fist heavily against it.

  “Come,” was the curt reply.

  The door opened. Daniel was thrown to the floor, landing so the first thing he saw of the infamous Captain Merric was the worn leather of his unpolished boots.

  Daniel struggled to his knees, looking up to get a view of the pirate. The sun must have affected him more than he had thought, and the figure that stood before him had to be an illusion. The face was older, and now had a beard, but belonged to that of a man who had died over fifteen years ago.

  He shook his head to clear his sight, but it didn’t change the vision towering over him. “I am seeing ghosts.”

  One of the pirates snorted. “The captain’s many things, but a ghost ain’t one of them.”

  Daniel blinked rapidly, but still the man he’d grieved for, a man he had once loved, stood in front of him. He could barely breathe, his heart pounding so loudly he couldn’t hear himself think or believe his own eyes. He tried to chase away the image, but he was not mistaken. The confusion bled away and was replaced by a disturbing reality. Edward Merriston was alive and well, playing pirates in the Caribbean, when Daniel had thought him lost to shipwreck all those years ago.

  Edward had always been tall and broad, but his time at sea had made him stronger, and the sun had bleached his long hair so it was blonder than Daniel remembered, making his blue eyes even more striking.

  “You’re meant to be dead,” were all the words he could manage.

  Edward’s eyes widened, and a look of disbelief flashed across his face. “You’re not the first one to have said that and won’t be the last to wish it.”

  He’d taken a moment to answer, although Daniel wondered how much the drawling rebuff was for the sake of his crew.

  “We found him set adrift,” said one of Merric’s men, the Irish one. “What you want doing with him?”

  “Leave him with me for now, Harris.”

  That resulted in a series of sniggers as the other men left, Daniel hearing Harris say as the door shut, “See, told you he liked ’em pretty and English.”

  Even before the door had fully closed, Daniel felt Edward kneel behind him and untie his wrists before pulling him to his feet, gripping him by his upper arms. “How the hell have you ended up on my ship?”

  Daniel shoved him away. “I don’t answer to dead men.”

  “Dead? You truly thought I was dead?” Edward turned to the table behind him. His hands shook as he poured some water, but he managed to contain the tremor as he passed the cup to Daniel.

  Daniel took the water and drank it down in three greedy swallows, his thirst needing to be sated more than his anger and confusion appeased. Edward refilled the water, and Daniel drained it again.

  “You did not receive my message?” Edward sounded desperate.

  “I received nothing from you. Although now it seems you did give me empty promises and false assurances of your devotion. Edward Merriston is dead—and will stay dead to me.”

  “No, this cannot be right.” Edward shook his head. “I will have some food brought up from the galley; then we will talk.”

  “I have no wish to converse with a dead man.”

  After all these years, Edward could have contacted England to let the people back home know he was still alive. But, no, nothing, and Daniel’s body burned with betrayal.

  “Always so stubborn.” A rough hand pushed Daniel backwards. He stumbled, landing on a sturdy bed. “For once you will do as you are told.”

  “I am a captain in the Royal Navy; I will not be spoken—”

  “You are my prisoner, Captain Horton, and you will do as I say.”

  Edward was already opening the door and sending orders before Daniel could deliver his dismissive reply.

  Edward came to stand by the bed, his stance softer but still alert. “Listen to me, Daniel. You have to believe me that not long after the ship I was on was wrecked, I sent word back to England—to you—that I was alive and thriving. I wanted you to join me.”

  “How convenient that no such message was received. How did you send it, Edward, in a bottle and hoped it would reach me on the current?”

  Edward, after a moment’s hesitation, came to sit by him on the bed. “But I received your response. You made it clear that my affections were not returned and I should not contact you again.”

  “I sent no such letter. When you left, you took with you my two most prized possessions with instructions to return them: my grandfather’s pocket watch and my heart.”

  Another knock, and the door opened. Edward slipped back into his Captain Merric persona effortlessly.

  A young cabin boy peered into the room. “You decent, Captain?”

  “Put the tray on the side, Blot, and then get out before I let my boot leather loose on your insolent hide.”

  The boy barely managed to keep the smirk off his face as he placed the tray on the desk and left. Faced with food for the first time in days, Daniel accepted the dried beef and biscuits along with beer to wash it down.

  “You really thought I’d died?” repeated Edward, as if he was now only understanding.

  “The last time I heard from you was the night you sailed,” said Daniel. “A few months later your father wrote to tell me of your death and sent me a number of your books as a keepsake, since I’d been
such a good friend to you.” How the bitterness had stung at the time. To be dismissed so easily, but better than the truth and be called a sodomite.

  “I swear to you that I sent word. Not just to you but to my family.” Edward sounded so honest, imploring. “My father wrote several times. His first message did not say so directly, but it was clear you were aware I was alive, then a few days later I received the letter that I thought was from you.”

  Daniel needed to tell Edward the truth, one that would not be palatable to hear. “He told no one of your survival. All in England think you perished. He did not even share his secret on his deathbed.”

  “Then my brother, as oldest son, is now the earl. But thinks me dead.” Edward winced and fell silent for a few moments. Then he schooled his features and took a deep breath. “I was never the most devoted of sons, my father and I did not part on the best of terms, but I left for the Caribbean at his insistence. I did not deserve such treatment from my own father.”

  A sorry mess indeed. Daniel knew Edward had envied Daniel’s genial relations with his parents, since Edward could do no right in his father’s eye but had desperately wanted his father’s respect. But the Earl of Wexeter had been a cantankerous goat.

  “I believe you,” Daniel said eventually, surprising himself with the honesty of his answer, but it left another unsavoury truth. “It does not take a great mind to figure out what happened. Your father suspected something; he’d made comments about my poor influence on you, and it would not have been difficult for him, with his means, to intercept a letter.”

  Edward was on his feet. He looked too large in the low-ceilinged cabin. “I let my pride get the better of me. I should have known you would not have dismissed me.”

  Daniel shook his head. He’d locked his emotions away years ago. The hardened exterior he’d built had allowed him to climb the ranks with ease. With no compunction for the enemy and nothing to lose, he’d fought his way through life, not caring for personal relationships or offers of friendship that wouldn’t help advance his career. His reputation of being a bastard was well-earned. But now the ghosts that drove him away to sea were no longer spectres remembered in the grey hours of morning but standing before him, very much alive.

  “I should not have given up,” said Edward, returning to sit next to Daniel on the bed.

  Edward leaned closer, his eyes glinting with expectation.

  Daniel put a hand to Edward’s chest and pushed him away. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I was going to kiss you.”

  The cheek of the man! How dare Edward think he would allow such a thing. “I don’t think so. You thought so little of me, of the devotion we pledged to each other, that you turned your back on us after a single letter. While I am not unhappy you are alive, I will not so easily forgive the rest.”

  “Daniel, I was an impetuous youth, thought spurned by the man I loved. I was too proud to see past the hurt and I am sorry beyond words can convey.”

  Daniel snorted in contempt. “Tell me, how long did it take for you to forget me? Did you slake your lust with a new willing body within the hour? Or was it the next day?”

  “That is not fair. I thought you had cast me away.”

  “The hour it is then. And from then on you have continued. From what your cabin boy said, you’re in the habit of defiling your prisoners.”

  Edward scowled. “I am tied to no man or woman. I am free to go about my business as I choose.”

  “I do not argue with you on that. But you will not bed me with a flippant word. I am not so easy to persuade.”

  “I see no reason for you not to let yourself be persuaded. The past is past, and I am regretful. So why not once again enjoy the pleasure of each other?”

  “It is not going to happen.” Daniel snorted at Edward’s incredulous look. “There are few souls who have not heard of the reputation of Captain Merric. I have no wish to be one of your long list of conquests that you have left scattered across the islands. You are going to return me to land, preferably somewhere close to a British port, and I’m going to arrange to have my mutinous crew hanged.”

  “But….”

  “As you said, what is past is past. I am no more in your future today than yesterday before I knew you were alive.”

  Edward reached out again, but Daniel moved away.

  “Can I not sway you in this?”

  For brief moment, Daniel hesitated. Edward was the only man he had ever loved, but Edward was not the same young man who had sailed away under his father’s orders to inspect his family’s properties in the Caribbean. And Daniel had other things he had to do. “I need to report to the Admiralty before I’m the one who is accused of desertion.”

  Edward didn’t appear to be deterred by Daniel’s refusal; he smiled and slid a hand across Daniel’s thigh. “Forget about the navy. Join me here.”

  “No.” Daniel took hold of Edward’s hand and placed it on the bed.

  “We have been granted a second chance,” said Edward, and Daniel had to admire his perseverance. “We should accept it as the gift it is.”

  “I have my duty, and even if I didn’t, we’re not the same boys as back then. The Edward Merriston I knew—the one I loved—was not a pirate.”

  Edward appeared to accept defeat, but he grinned as he stood. “I will take you to shore, but we’re not heading to any British port for now. Once we’re done at our next destination, I will deliver you to Jamaica. Until then you can enjoy the hospitality of the Opal.”

  “I am sure wherever we are headed, I will be able to make my way back. You can leave me there.”

  Edward smirked. “Oh, I don’t think so. You wouldn’t last five minutes on your own where we’re going. You’ll be far better off under my protection.”

  “More like I need protecting from you,” said Daniel, not amused by Edward’s playful tone. “I assure you I am more than capable of looking after myself. I have been for quite some time.”

  “We’re going to Plesmaya. The Royal Navy aren’t exactly welcome there.”

  “The pirates’ playground,” Daniel groaned.

  “And while we’re on the subject of you not being welcome, my crew will not be happy you’re on board—I can’t be seen to be pandering to the British.”

  Edward’s smile was just a little too wide for Daniel’s comfort.

  “And?”

  “Let’s just say, with my reputation, which you were so keen to mention, they won’t be expecting you to be getting much use of the guest quarters.”

  Daniel was horrified at the connotation. “I am not your catamite.”

  “Of course not.”

  “Edward….”

  Edward laughed, a twinkle in his eye. “The room next to mine is free. I’ll have Blot bring you a change of clothes and some water to wash in. You were always an excellent actor, Daniel. I’m sure you can persuade the crew that there’s a good reason for me to keep you around.”

  Edward grabbed his hand and hauled Daniel to his feet but didn’t let him go. “I gave you up once. I won’t do so again.”

  “You’re wasting your time.” The shock and confusion had at first turned to anger, but now he needed to put his past to rest. Edward could tempt a saint, but Daniel would not allow it, even if it would take all his reserve to do so.

  Edward winked. “We’ll see.”

  Chapter Three

  Once he’d deposited Daniel in the cabin next to his own, Edward returned to the deck, wanting some fresh air to clear his mind. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had called him Edward Merriston. He’d turned his back on England—there had been nothing left for him, or so he had thought. After serving his time on another ship, he’d become Captain Merric, and never looked back, living his life to the fullest. His crew might have noticed he had a particular fondness for men with an English accent, or with dark hair and blue eyes, but that was the only thing that he had let bleed from his past into his future.

  Until now.
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  Now Daniel Horton was on his ship, officially his prisoner, and it was imperative the crew did not think him rattled by the new arrival. Or that a captain in the Royal Navy had any hold over him. His mind raced as he stared out to sea. Daniel had not rejected him, had never sent the letter that had broken Edward’s heart. His own stupidity haunted him; he should have known Daniel would have never been so callous to spurn his first love. Some nights, when worse for wear on brandy, he’d lain awake, remembering the time they’d spent together in Portsmouth. Daniel had been so naïve, had never been touched by another. Edward was a bit older, less sheltered, and had been desperate for Daniel to let him do all manner of debauched things. He still remembered Daniel’s reticence to let Edward take him and then his soft cries when he had been suitably persuaded. Daniel might be older now, but he was no less desirable, and Edward wanted to claim him again as his own.

  “Captain?”

  Brillack waited expectantly.

  “Yes?”

  “What do you want doing with your new friend?”

  He’d expected someone to ask, the crew were by nature curious. Some of their prisoners had been happy to play with more than the captain. The idea of any of his men touching Daniel made a knot of hot anger burn in his stomach. That would not be tolerated.

  “I have put him in the cabin next to mine.” Edward fished a key out of the pocket of his coat. For now he’d locked Daniel away, mostly for his own safety, although Daniel would not believe that. “Give him some fresh clothes and something to wash with.”

  “You’re keeping him?”

  Edward grinned. “You know my tastes, Brillack. Captain Horton is not only a fine morsel but a challenge.”

  Brillack smirked. “We both know you don’t like to back down from one of those.”