Anne placed a hand on Teach’s arm. “Don’t,” she said.
Coyle shrugged, unperturbed. “I’ve made sure nothing’s happened to Anne since she left England. I’m not going to stop just because you showed up. I’ll leave you alone once you’re in the office.”
Anne smiled. Rolling his eyes, Teach continued up the stairs, wondering again exactly what Coyle was to Anne. It was obvious they cared about each other, but to what extent?
Once inside Alastair’s office, Coyle closed the door behind them. It was a moderate room, with few furnishings, but they were well-made and well-appointed. Teach was surprised at the bookshelves lining one wall. This didn’t resemble an office one typically encountered in a tavern.
“Don’t look so surprised, boy. I may not look like much, but I know the importance of an education. I might have come to it a bit late in life, but it’s never too late. Didn’t your father ever teach you that?”
Teach stiffened at the reminder of Richard Drummond. Did Alastair know who his father was? “Actually, sir, education was very important to my father.” Anne squeezed his hand.
Alastair snorted, seeing the small gesture. His features softened when he looked at Anne. “So this is the scoundrel you were waiting for, was it?”
Anne’s cheeks flushed, but she nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Hmm. He’s made quite a mess of things. Did he tell you about the charges?”
“He did.”
“And did he tell you that he could hang for mutiny, unless he accepts a job from the governor?”
Anne raised a brow at Teach. “No, he didn’t.”
Now it was Teach’s turn to flush. Hang it all, he’d meant to tell Anne everything, but they hadn’t had much time alone. He’d wanted to have this conversation in private, but Alastair now forced his hand.
“What kind of job?” Anne asked.
“I don’t know, exactly. He wants me to captain a ship for him.”
Anne frowned. “But how can you accept a job if you don’t know what it entails?”
Alastair’s face hardened. “That’s how Webb operates.”
“And yet you have a working relationship with him,” Anne pointed out.
“I work with him, yes. But I wouldn’t exactly call it a relationship.”
“But you managed to secure my release. Surely that means you have some influence over him,” Teach said.
Leaning back in his chair, Alastair toyed with an ornate brass letter opener. “Webb allowed your release because it benefited him somehow. That’s why you’re standing here and not still locked in your cell. He didn’t do it out of the kindness of his heart.”
A vein pulsed in Teach’s neck. “So you had nothing to do with it?”
“I would never presume to be that influential. From time to time the governor listens to me, and I to him. But we go about achieving our goals very differently. The man looks for weaknesses and won’t hesitate to exploit them.”
Teach wondered what Alastair’s weakness was. It certainly sounded as if he spoke from experience.
“Beth,” Anne said, stepping forward and clasping the pouch at her hip. Her fingers traced the wooden handle of the small pistol. Teach wasn’t surprised she carried a weapon. He’d spent enough time on other islands like Jamaica and Bermuda to know it was necessary in port towns. But it made him angry that she needed it to feel safe.
Alastair nodded. “Aye, Beth is my weakness.”
Teach understood that weakness only too well.
“I’ll butcher the man who ever harms a hair on her head. Webb knows the tavern is important to Beth, although she’ll tell you it’s mine. My name is on the papers, but all the money we earn is set aside to help escaped slaves move on. Every once in a while, Webb will send some men to come in and wreck the place. Just to prove they’re in charge.”
“But you don’t believe Webb sent those men the other night,” Anne said.
“No, I don’t. Pelham’s official business here is to help put a stop to pirating. He’s particularly keen on catching a female pirate named Reva. Word is she stole something valuable from him a few years ago. Benjamin said she was at the Fox when Pelham attacked.”
“I saw her.”
“You were attacked?” Teach asked, his insides turning to ice. He didn’t like not knowing what was going on.
Anne glanced at Teach’s face and quickly shook her head. “It was a small scuffle. Nothing happened.”
Teach didn’t believe Anne for a minute, and he felt powerless to protect her. That frustration coupled with the fact that he wanted to be alone with her did not improve his foul temper. This was not how he had envisioned his reunion with the woman he loved.
“Pelham mentioned something about the Royal African Company,” Anne said, clearly trying to change the subject.
“He says it’s only a matter of time before the slave trade is open to all merchants.” Alastair exhaled, running a hand over his jaw.
Teach looked between Anne and Alastair. “What does that have to do with you?”
“Pelham wants to have a large group ready to act if the monopoly breaks. Of course, he wants to be in charge. He thinks he can persuade me, but I have no intention of joining them. Thankfully, neither Webb nor Pelham know about all my business dealings. The minute they become more of a threat, and as much as I’d hate to do it, I’ll take my leave of the island, assets and all, including my merchant ships.”
“But you’ve lived here for so long,” Anne said.
“True, and I had a better relationship with the previous governor, Trott, but he left. He came from a prosperous family and didn’t need the hassle of dealing with the riffraff of Nassau.”
“Webb said he sent out ships to search for the Deliverance. Surely that shows he’s fair,” Anne said.
Teach’s eyebrows drew together. “He told me the same thing, but I saw no sails.”
The three of them were silent for a moment. Teach didn’t like the picture Alastair painted of the governor. It merely confirmed what he’d first suspected. And he didn’t know who this Lord Pelham was, but Teach was certain that anyone working with the governor would be rather shady. “My crew is still locked up.”
“John?” Anne’s voice was fearful.
“Aye, including John. Those are good men, and they fought bravely.” Teach stared down at the floor, his mind racing, but he could not come up with any alternatives. “I’ve been in the fort. It would be impossible to plan an escape.”
“For that many men, yes,” Alastair agreed, his eyes glinting. “Now, if you only had to break out one person . . .”
Teach frowned. “And how am I to choose which one survives? No, I’m not leaving any of my men behind. I’ll take the job with Webb before I sentence them to death.”
“You might be doing just that by taking the job,” Alastair said quietly.