“I have to believe in something. I’m the one who got myself into this mess.”
“Aye. And I hope you’re capable of getting out of it. Now say your good-byes, you two. It’s time for you to leave.” Blowing out the candle, Alastair stepped outside the kitchen door. Teach waited for him to walk away, but the stubborn old man wouldn’t. He truly intended for Teach to leave.
“I’ll see you in a few days. Come and find me,” Anne whispered, intertwining their fingers, their palms pressed together.
“Always.” Teach stole a quick kiss, then stepped outside and turned to Alastair.
“She can’t keep that ring on her finger. They’ll find out you gave it to her,” Alastair said. “You have to do what I say in this, or else you’ll put her life in danger. I know that’s not what you want to do.”
Teach pulled at the leather cords around his neck, withdrawing the little leather pouch from the inside of his shirt. He’d grown accustomed to it and hadn’t taken it off after he gave the ring to Anne. Anne removed the ring from her finger, and Teach put it away once more for safekeeping.
“Promise me you’ll keep her safe,” he said to Alastair.
“I will, lad. Like she was my own daughter.”
“You swear it?”
“I swear. And if I’m unable to keep my promise, may the good Lord strike me down.”
CHAPTER 18
Anne
“Will you miss being here?” Anne asked Beth the next morning. The two of them had spent the past hour packing the pantry into crates. They had salted fish and pork, as well as pineapples, limes, and other fruits and vegetables. Cara and Coyle had gone to the market to purchase more chickens. Once they returned, they would take the supplies to Alastair’s sloop. By sunrise the next day, they would all be on their way.
“I’ll miss what Alastair and I had here,” Beth said, wiping her hands on her apron. Looking at the worn table and large fireplace, there was sadness in her eyes. “It wasn’t always this bad, but Webb has changed things. He claims he’s working for the Crown, but every decision he makes only seems to benefit himself.”
Fear gnawed at Anne, but she pushed it aside. She knew she wouldn’t be able to completely relax until she saw for herself that Teach was free of Webb’s control. “Will the governor come after us once he discovers we’re gone?”
“It won’t be us he’s after. It will be Teach. But don’t worry,” Beth said quickly, once she saw Anne’s face. “Alastair knows these islands. With a ship at our disposal, we can disappear before the governor has time to send someone after us.”
Another thought occurred to Anne and she smiled. “I wonder what will happen to Mrs. Webb’s boils.”
Beth laughed. “She’ll have to find someone else to make the poultice. Someone who will mix it properly for it to actually work.”
“You mean you—”
“I did,” Beth said nodding. “I purposefully left out the nightshade a few times and substituted something else in its place.”
Now it was Anne’s turn to laugh. “I’d be afraid to see what she would do if she ever found out. These islands might not be far enough. Perhaps we should return to England.”
“Alastair has talked about heading up to Charles Town or perhaps even New York one day. We’ve always wanted to own some land somewhere and settle down. Perhaps you would consider joining us.”
Anne smiled, touched by Beth’s words. “That sounds lovely.”
Knowing Teach’s love of the sea, Anne wasn’t sure what their future held. All she knew was that until she received the rest of her inheritance, her options were limited.
“I have something for you, child,” Beth said, taking a beautiful tortoiseshell comb out of her pocket.
Anne regarded the gift with blank surprise. “It’s lovely, but you’ve done enough for me already. I couldn’t possibly accept it.”
“Nonsense. I want you to have it.” Stepping behind Anne, Beth untied Anne’s thick tresses from their heavy braid. Anne’s scalp prickled, and she enjoyed the feel of Beth running her fingers through her hair. It reminded Anne of when her mother had painstakingly brushed Anne’s hair. Jacqueline had often despaired of ever taming Anne’s locks.
Stepping in front of Anne once more, Beth smoothed back the tight curls on one side of Anne’s face, securing them in place with the comb. She guided Anne to the looking glass near the back door. “I told you the island would be good for your hair.”
The image staring back at Anne didn’t seem to belong to her. Beth was right. The humidity created long coils that cascaded over Anne’s shoulders, nearly reaching down to her waist. Anne fingered a tendril, happy with the effect. In Bristol, Drummond had insisted the household help keep their hair confined under a cap. Anne had been forced to conform to Drummond’s supposed high standards.
But here, her dark curls didn’t stand out anymore. She’d finally found a place where she belonged.
Smiling, Anne embraced the older woman. “I’m glad I came to Nassau. If I hadn’t, I would never have met you.”
“You’re a beautiful girl, Anne. Good things are going to happen for you. You’ll see.”
Anne flushed. She certainly hoped so. “Alastair said I should go through the books in his office and bring some of them with us.”
Beth waved at Anne. “Go. I’ll finish what’s left in here. By the time Alastair returns, we should have everything ready.”
The tavern was silent, and dust motes caught the sunlight streaming in through the windows. In a few hours, thirsty sailors would fill the tables, demanding drinks, but for now, the front door remained locked. Anne was grateful for the peace and quiet.
On her way up the stairs, she heard the jangle of a harness and horses from out in the courtyard. Cara and Coyle must have returned. Opening the door to Alastair’s office, Anne walked to the bookshelves lining the wall and began to withdraw several volumes, noting Alastair’s eclectic taste. He had a worn copy of Nicholas Barbon’s A Discourse of Trade, surrounded by several editions of Shakespeare’s works, as well as John Milton’s Paradise Lost. Anne wished she had asked Alastair which volumes were his favorites. Guessing by the wear and shape they were in, she left the newer books on the shelves and packed what appeared to be his favorites into the crate, knowing that space on the sloop was limited.
When she ran across a copy of Dampier’s A New Voyage Round the World, she could not help wondering what had happened to Teach’s. She remembered the first time she’d read to Teach, when he’d been so ill. He’d lost his lunch on his betrothed and Anne had nursed him back to health. In the beginning she’d regarded it as a chore, but by the end of that week, she’d started to care for him. That had been the beginning of their friendship.