Turning from his father, Teach caught sight of the portrait
hanging above the fireplace, his mother’s kind eyes smiling
down on him. “If mother were alive, she would let me make
them. Why can’t you?”
The air seemed to escape his father’s lungs at the mention
of his wife. “I will not argue with you. Not now. I am too tired for this. We will continue this conversation after I have rested.
I do not wish to be disturbed until supper this evening. Please instruct Margery that I would like my tea to be delivered to my room and left by the door.” He headed in the direction of his
dressing room, his weary footsteps echoing in the chamber.
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Clutching the back of the chair in his hands, Teach barely managed to stifle his shout of aggravation. He knew very well that his father would not discuss it with him further. If
Drummond was to rest until the evening meal, Teach would
have no opportunity to speak with him privately. It was as
if the older Teach became, the more Drummond tightened
the noose.
If only they had a few days, Drummond might have time to
mull over what Teach had said. Then they could speak reason—
ably, just like they had when Teach had convinced his father to let him sail on Andrew Barrett’s ship.
After closing the door to his father’s bedchamber soundly
behind him, Teach headed down the stairs. His heartbeat roared
in his ears as he struggled to understand how he had so completely lost control of his life, and when he would get it back.
Anne, unaware of his presence in the doorway of the library,
sat in a chair with a book in her lap. She stared out at the rain as it continued to fall. A log broke in the fireplace, and part of it fell from the grate, sending a plume of white sparks into the air.
Teach paused, watching her until she turned. Setting the
book aside, she stood and took several quick steps forward.
Teach met her in the center of the room. Before he could say
anything, she smiled.
“I heard. I’m sorry, but I stood outside your father’s door for a moment and listened.” Anne reached for one of his hands, and
her fingers warmed the chill in his. “I heard him say it was over.”
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Teach looked down at their clasped hands. “Yes. It’s over.”
Glancing up, he saw her smile fade.
“What’s wrong? What else did he say?”
Teach’s only reply was grim silence. It was clear she hadn’t
listened for long.
Anne stumbled back a step, her skirts rustling. She gave
a slight shake of her head, her brows furrowed as she looked
about the room. “I should go.”
“Do you wish to retire? I’ll escort you to your—”
“No. I must leave England. At once.”
Pain unfolded in Teach’s chest. “You can’t leave. I won’t
let you.”
“Once I have the three thousand my father left me, you
won’t be able stop me. I will not stand idly by and watch you
marry her. If I can leave before that happens, I will.”
He knew it would do him no good to argue with her, but
he couldn’t help himself. She was his only source of pleasure at the moment, and it frightened him how much he depended on her to achieve his happiness. “Don’t do it, Anne.”
Their gazes caught and held. Her blue eyes, usually so
bright, were now bleak.
“Don’t do anything rash,” he said.
“I have no other choice.”
“Yes, you do. Come away with me. I’m no longer a wanted
man. We could leave, just the two of us.”
“And then what? I won’t be a kept woman like my mother
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was. And where could we possibly go where people won’t look at me and immediately assume that’s what I am? Or worse.”
“Marry me, then. We’ll leave England and find a place.
We’ll make a place.” Teach watched her intently, hoping for a sign of consent. But she took another step back, her shoulders straight, her lips set.
“You might want to leave now, but in time you would come
to resent me. You would be giving up your inheritance and this
lifestyle. I won’t have you blame me for losing everything.”
“I would never resent you. Or blame you. I just spent a year
at sea. I’ve seen what it’s like to be without.”
“Yes, but it was an adventure. You always knew you would
come back. I’ve experienced what it’s like to truly be without, and I would not wish that on anyone. Least of all you.”
“That’s my choice to make, not yours.”
“I’m sorry,” Anne said. “But when I leave, I will go alone.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
Anne stepped around him, heading for the door.
Desperation caused his voice to rise. “I’ll tell my father
about us. I’ll tell him I wish to marry you.”
She stopped with her hand on the knob and turned, her
blue eyes flashing. “If you do that, he will not hesitate to throw me out. He tolerates me now, but if he believed I came between you and Miss Patience, he would not be kind. Or merciful. You
should not wish his wrath on anyone. Least of all me.”
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