Paid to the Pirate by Una Rohr
Chapter 27
Colt
The steady drumming of my fingertips against the tabletop belied my fear. Fear that Charlotte was in love with Daniel. Fear that she planned to betray us to him. Fear that she planned to run away with him, that she was lying…
Of course she’s always lying, I thought. But maybe about more than I’d ever guess.
I sat behind my desk, feigning calm, when my door finally opened. Robert’s casual gait into my cabin told me nothing. He was curating his appearance as much as I was. I’d wondered again if I should have sent Johnson to spy on Charlotte, but my pride had gotten the better of me.
Twirling his dagger, Robert sauntered to my bookshelves, as if interested in examining their spines.
So, we’re both playing a game of who’s going to show their hand first? I thought, aggravated.
He knew I desperately wanted information and I would be forced to speak.
Well, then. Purposeful misinterpretation of your silence it is.
I sighed dramatically and declared, “You were unsuccessful.”
Robert’s head snapped in my direction and I bit back the grin.
“’Course I wasn’t.” He squared his shoulders. “You were right. I caught her talking to that Daniel boy.”
“And?” I gritted out, unable to keep from clutching the edge of the table.
“She’s plotting somethin’ alright. But I couldn’t hear what. Sounded like they were having a disagreement about the terms of whatever game she’s up to this time.”
Ignoring the ache in my chest and the rage burning through my veins, I focused on getting matters under control, getting Charlotte under control. Quickly.
“Bring her back to the ship, I’ll need-”
“Already brought her,” Robert said, twirling his dagger once more. “Couldn’t very well leave her running about the tavern spilling our secrets.”
“Where is she now?” I demanded, unsure who I was angrier with at the moment -- Charlotte, for whatever plotting she was doing, or Robert, for touching her.
“The brig,” he answered with relish.
I’d leapt to my feet before I even had the conscious thought to stand.
“Ready to tie her to the mast now?” Robert asked, practically salivating.
When we’d departed Nassau, I had to bargain more lashes in order to stay Robert’s hand, had to convince him that I’d convince Charlotte to talk. Give me a few more weeks, I’d negotiated, or else you can give her five more lashes to the five you’ve already planned.
I’d never let it come to that, of course, but just the image of Charlotte’s back torn to shreds by the cruel bite of leather was enough to make me want to tear the flesh from Robert’s bones.
When had we become so adversarial? Was it always? Maurice had groomed the two of us like his own sons, like we were brothers, but we’d never had similar natures.
“Set a course for Charles Town,” I ordered, ignoring his comment. I wanted to put as much distance as possible between Charlotte and her schemes.
Between Charlotte and Daniel.
#
Charlotte was weeping before she even saw me.
Save your tears, I thought. You’re going to need them.
“Please, let me explain,” Charlotte cried, shooting to her feet as I came into view. Her hair fell from her bun in clumps, her nose was swollen, her eyes red. She looked genuinely miserable, but then, I knew well how much of an act she could put on.
She’s pretending even as she pleads, I thought, incredulously. Acting the lady who’s never before set foot upon a ship.
I raked my hands through my hair. “Go on then. Let’s hear you spin this story. I might enjoy seeing how you form your lies. That way, I’ll be better prepared to stop them before they start.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Tell me your lies, Charlotte. I know you were arguing with that boy. Tell me you weren’t planning to betray us all.”
Charlotte’s face softened with desperate longing. “No lies, Colt,” she breathed. “I was planning to betray you. Before.”
My stomach filled with dread.
“Before I stepped upon the ship,” she quickly explained. “Can you blame me? You kidnapped me! I needed a plan. Any one of your men would have done the same. Would you respect a crewmember who couldn’t conspire?”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Is it not both a man’s valuation of his freedom as well as his innate loyalty that makes a good shipmate to begin with?”
Oh, but how she could wield her tongue to shape the story.
As if sensing my rejection of such manipulative arguments (even if they were true), Charlotte changed tactics.
“Yes, I meant to betray you. But that was before… before what we shared,” she whispered.
I didn’t bat an eye but I couldn’t stop the twitching in my lips.
Did she see it?
Charging forth from another angle yet again, Charlotte insisted, “You said it yourself, you heard I was arguing with Daniel. That was me telling him I couldn’t go through with it. Why else would we quarrel?”
“Why?” I scoffed. “There’s a hundred reasons why. You disputed your payment. You didn’t like a part of the plan. Who knows?”
“No,” Charlotte insisted. “It’s because I told him no. Because I couldn’t betray you,” she held a hand to her breast and whispered, “here.”
God, she sounded like she’d meant it. I badly wanted her to mean it.
“I risk the whip to stay aboard your ship,” Charlotte declared, grasping the bars of the cell. “I’m entirely at the mercy of your protection. Do you not see?”
“Then prove it,” I ordered, voice low. “Stop this charade and tell me where the Crimson Eye is? Did you find a buyer? Then what have you done with the gold? Is it spent?”
Charlotte’s shoulders slumped and her gaze fell upon the floor.
“I cannot tell you that now. But I promise, I will. Soon.”
I’d clenched my jaw so hard I thought I might crack a tooth. In the silence, I heard a floorboard creak, just outside the door. It could have been someone listening or it could have been the natural noises of the ship, but I didn’t want to chance it.
Forcing myself to relax, I grit out, “We’ll finish this discussion in my cabin. And I should punish you until you can’t walk for this planned betrayal, executed or not.”
My words had the intended effect. Charlotte cowed. Or so I thought.
“Yes,” she said, gazing up at me with her doe eyes. “I want you to.”