Teach turned in the direction of the plump maid. “Is this true?”
Mary twisted her mouth, clearly trying to think of a way
out of her present situation.
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It was enough of an answer for John. He lunged for the groom once more, but this time Teach was ready. He grabbed John around the shoulders from behind, leaning back to prevent
the two of them from toppling over. “You are both dismissed,”
he said to Tom and Mary through clenched teeth, struggling to
hold John back.
Margery, seeing the need to intervene, pushed Mary toward
the back door. “You heard him. Mr. Edward says it’s time for
you to go.”
Tom stood there for a moment. “But his father hired me—”
Teach’s face was bright red from exertion. “Go now!” he
bellowed.
It took Tom less than two minutes to gather his belongings
and leave the property. Mary quickly followed suit, in a rush
to catch up to him. She left without so much as a good-bye in
John’s direction.
Teach released John slowly, his back tensed in case he needed
to intervene again. He needn’t have worried. John’s shoulders
slumped forward, his face crumpling with grief.
Although Anne had never lost a beau, she felt an overwhelming amount of sympathy for the young man. She could
not imagine how he must feel, watching his love walk away
with another.
On the other hand, she was relieved that Mary was gone.
The girl had always been trouble.
Anne turned, wanting to give John some semblance of pri-
2 3 4
vacy. Her eyes met Teach’s, and she saw the same emotions she felt mirrored in his.
“I’ll go see about some food,” she said to no one in partic—
ular. At the door to the house, she cast one last look over her shoulder. Teach spoke quietly to John as the first few drops of rain fell from the pewter sky.
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C H A P T E R 2 3
Teach
Teach waited patiently beside his friend as John took a deep,
shuddering breath. Raindrops fell intermittently, like silent
tears from the sky.
“She doesn’t deserve you,” Teach said.
John didn’t respond. He stared at the empty courtyard that
just moments before had been full of chaos.
Clapping John on the back, Teach guided him toward the
stable, knowing his friend needed some privacy. He was worried
John might still decide to go after Mary. “Come in out of the rain.”
“You knew all along, didn’t you?” John asked, dragging
his feet.
Teach gave him a steady look. “Would you have believed
me if I’d told you?”
After a moment of stony silence, John shook his head.
“Probably not.”
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Teach approached Kaiser’s stall and stroked his neck. The sweet smell of hay combined with the leather tack acted as a balm.
“I’m sorry for my behavior. Your life is on the line, and I
acted like a fool, but when I saw Mary and that . . . I . . .” John’s voice faded, his hands clenching into fists. “I’m sorry.”
Teach tried to imagine how he would feel if Patience’s atten—
tions were otherwise engaged.
Relieved.
Now, if he ever saw Anne with anyone else . . .
Shaking his head to clear the image, Teach turned to his
friend. “You’ll find you’re better off without her.”
John gave him a sad smile. “Mary and I grew up together.
I’ve known her since I was a lad and stole a pie from her father’s bakery. She used to be all kinds of fun. What could make a girl change so much?”
There was no question Mary still liked to have fun, but
Teach kept that observation to himself. “It happens. Some
people change too much, and others don’t change at all. You’ll
see it’s for the best. You’re a good man, John. You’ve weathered far worse, and I daresay you’ll come out ahead in the end.”
Teach almost envied him. At the moment he’d gladly have
traded positions with his friend and been rid of an unwanted
betrothal.
“She didn’t even look back at me,” John muttered.
Teach took a long breath, disliking the thought of John
2 3 7
wasting another minute pining for Mary. Given time, John would forget her. “I hate to ask, but I’m assuming you’re here because of Barrett.”
“Aye, I am. He’s gone.”
“What?”
John nodded. “It’s true. Word is he sold several of his father’s ships to the Royal African Company, to be turned into slavers.”
Teach was disgusted but not surprised. “When did he leave?”
“Yesterday, aboard a ship set for the West Indies.”
“Did you hear of any evidence he might have against me?”
John lowered his head. “No. Nothing. I was about to have
someone pay him a visit, but I never got the chance. He’s gone.”
Teach cursed, and Kaiser sidled away, snorting nervously.
Leaning forward, Teach attempted to soothe the animal, his
mind replaying John’s words.
Barrett was gone. Barrett was gone.
“I’m sorry, Teach. I truly am.”
Teach almost didn’t hear him, for his heartbeat hammered