She shook her head, her voice muffled against his shirt. “It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you. I should never have stolen those things. And I shouldn’t have lied to you.”
“I understand why you did it. I’m just sorry I couldn’t protect you from my father. Or those men.” He drew back, his fingers sliding along her arms and wrists as he tried to determine for himself that she was unharmed. Her clear blue eyes glistened with tears, yet the corners of her lips turned up in a tremulous smile. Her velvety skin glowed. There were no discernable marks on her arms or face, but he feared what might lie beneath the surface. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Are you well?”
“I am now that I know you’re safe.” A tear trickled down her cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb, and then kissed the spot, high on her cheekbone where it had crested.
She gave a small sigh of contentment, of relief, and his lips met hers. She tilted up her chin, and her hands reached around his neck, holding him close as if to assure her that their trials were behind them. He melted into that assurance, holding her tight, breathing her in. Nothing save hell’s gaping gates would keep him from his Queen Anne again. His fury and grief at their separation melted, and it was difficult to believe that he could need another human being as much as he needed Anne.
When at last he pulled away, he didn’t fully relinquish his hold. Now that she was here, it seemed impossible to keep from touching her. Anne’s face flushed crimson and she glanced over his shoulder. Teach had completely forgotten about an audience. Looking around the kitchen, he wondered when Alastair and Beth had left them alone.
“How did you get away?” Anne asked.
“It was Alastair. He spoke with the governor. I would have been here sooner, but Alastair insisted we stop. He said I couldn’t see you smelling and looking like I did.”
Anne wrinkled her nose. “If I’d known it would take this long, I’d have advised him to forget it. But now that you’re here, I’m grateful to him.” Grasping his freshly clean-shaven jaw in her hands, Anne stood on her toes and brought her mouth to his once more. “I still can’t believe you’re here. When I saw them taking you away yesterday morning . . . what happened?”
Her words dispelled the magic of their reunion. Preoccupied with her warm body and lips pressed against his, it took a significant effort on his part to focus. He had a thousand questions to ask her about her own trip. Alastair had done his best to tell him about the arrival of the Providence, but Teach wanted to hear the story from Anne herself. However, that would have to wait. With John and the rest of his men still locked away in the fort, guilt ate away at him. “There was a mutiny on board the Deliverance.”
Anne sucked in a deep breath, her eyes wide. “And?”
“I took charge. If it had been up to the captain, we would all be dead and the cargo from the Deliverance would be lost.”
“Was the cargo so important that you would risk your life for it?” Anne demanded.
“No, but my men’s lives were.”
Anne shook her head, raising her eyes to the sky. “You take far too many chances.”
“No longer. I’m not going to risk losing you again. I plan on marrying you at the first available opportunity.”
Her face lit up at his words. “Is that a proposal?”
“Patience, my love,” Teach whispered, his forehead touching hers.
Anne tensed in his arms. Leaning back she raised an eyebrow at him. “Patience?”
“What?”
“You called me Patience.”
Teach looked at her blankly. “I did not.”
“You did. Just now.”
He blinked, trying to concentrate. It was hard with Anne so near. Realization dawned on Teach and he cringed at his word choice. “No. No! I didn’t mean . . . what I meant was to wait, to give me time to . . .” Damnation! Marriage was important to Anne, and with one careless word, he’d ruined the proposal. Her father had never married her mother, nor had he ever openly claimed Anne as his daughter. Teach didn’t want there to be any doubt in anyone’s mind that they belonged together.
Anne simply looked at Teach. One corner of her mouth twitched, as if she was trying to hold back a smile.
“The devil take you,” he muttered, reaching for her once more. He kissed her, his lips moving over hers, determined to remove any doubt of his affection. He lost awareness of time, of where they were, as Anne responded in kind.
Eventually he lifted his head, giving a soft, shaky laugh. He couldn’t think clearly. From around his neck, he withdrew the leather pouch he’d carried with him since leaving Bristol. It seemed like an eternity had passed since the day he’d purchased the braided gold ring.
Anne sucked in a quick breath.
Just as he’d hoped, the band fit her perfectly. “Marry me.”
Her eyes sparkled. “When?”
“Now.”
Before Anne could respond, the back door opened and two people entered. Teach recognized the girl. She’d stood with Anne on the barrels at the dock. The boy stopped short when he saw Anne in Teach’s arms, a frown on his face, but the girl rushed forward, a welcoming smile on hers. Despite their differing expressions, there was an unmistakable family resemblance.
“We forgot to take money with us to the market. You must be Teach,” the girl said, her blue eyes sparkling. Winking at Anne, she nodded in Teach’s direction. “I told you everything would be all right. If something needs fixing, Uncle Alastair can fix it.”
Anne introduced the pair. Cara planted an impetuous kiss on Teach’s cheek. Coyle sized him up from across the room, his arms folded across his chest, and Teach wondered at Coyle’s relationship with Anne. Alastair had spoken briefly about his niece and nephew and how they’d befriended Anne on the long journey. Teach was grateful that Anne hadn’t traveled alone and that she was safe. Judging by the expression on Coyle’s face, he clearly didn’t share his sister’s enthusiasm for Teach’s arrival.
Beth entered the kitchen from the door behind Teach. He was beginning to find The Laughing Fox far too crowded for his taste.
“Now that you’ve had some time, Alastair would like to speak with you, Teach. He’s waiting for you upstairs.”
Teach wanted to tell Alastair to go to the devil, but he needed Alastair’s help to free his crew. The Irishman clearly had some sway with the governor, for he’d been able to secure Teach’s release.
“Come with me,” Teach said, tugging at Anne’s hand, her skin warm beneath his touch. Now that he’d found her, he didn’t want to let her out of his sight.
“I should help Beth in the kitchen.”
“Nonsense. I can handle it. You go ahead,” Cara said, waving an impatient hand.
Teach wasn’t aware Coyle had followed them through the tavern and up the stairs until he heard Coyle’s heavy tread from behind. Glancing over his shoulder, Teach raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m quite sure we don’t need an escort.”