Unable to resist, wanting to reassure her and to tell her that what they had shared was no mere brief, meaningless encounter, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately, regardless of who was watching.
BEA STUMBLEDand nearly fell as Pierre shoved her into his dimly lit cabin. She sprawled upon the table bolted to the floor, then immediately rose and turned, leaning against it, ready to kick and bite and scratch if he so much as touched her.
“My lady!” Wenna gasped. She was huddled on the floor in the corner, her face scratched, the shoulder of her gown torn, her child cradled against her breasts.
Bea didn’t dare do more than glance at her as Pierre, who still held that terrible dagger, kicked the door shut. She quickly surveyed the rest of the cabin, seeking any kind of weapon.
There was nothing obvious—no knives lying unguarded, no mace, no spear, no arrow, no stick, no piece of metal, not even a cup or plate.
There was only the table, a chair, a cot against the wall and likely attached to it, and a lantern reeking of sheep’s tallow hanging by a chain from the ceiling. She might be able to reach the lantern and pull that down. The chair shifted a little every time the ship rocked; maybe she could pick that up and hit him with it.
Holding to the edge of the table, she began to sidle toward the chair.
“What are you doing, my lady?” Pierre asked silkily. “Do you think to put that table between me and you? Or to strike me down with that chair?”
She froze.
“You see how I anticipate you? You are not so clever after all.”
“Or perhaps you’ve been hit on the head with a chair before.”
He chuckled, the sound as monstrous as the rest of him. “Other women have tried to stop me from doing what I wish, but like them, you will not succeed.”
He raised his dagger, as if he were admiring it in the lantern’s feeble light. “You really ought to cooperate, my lady, unless you want that woman to lose her child, and possibly her life.”
Wenna groaned aloud and little Gawan began to wail.
“Shut that brat up or I’ll throw him over the side,” Pierre ordered with a harshness at odds with his former tone and more in keeping with his ugly face.
Trembling, Wenna opened her bodice and put her babe to suck.
Had Wenna been hurt? Or raped? Bea didn’t know, but at least she was no longer alone. Perhaps together they could somehow overpower Pierre and escape. As long as Myghal’s boat was still tied to this ship, there was a chance.
“Now, my lady, I think it is time we came to terms,” Pierre said.
“Terms?” Bea replied, forcing herself to look at him. “I don’t talk terms with murderers and pirates.”
“You should. Otherwise your journey will be very unpleasant. If you do as I say, it should be…better.”
“How can any voyage taking me to slavery be madebetter?”
Pierre sat on the edge of the table and tapped the tip of his blade lightly on the top. “You could have this cabin for youraccommodation. Otherwise, I’ll put you below with the rest of my men. I’m sure they’ll be very glad to have your company, and by the time we reach Tangier, all the fight will have been raped out of you.”
Even though her stomach turned with revulsion, Bea’s mind worked quickly. There was no point appealing to this man’s mercy or kindness—he had none. What he appreciated was money and profit. “What sort of worth will I have if you do that?” she charged. “Very little, I think.
“At present, I’m a virgin,” she lied without compunction. “How much more will a virgin be worth to a man who has a harem?”
Pierre’s brow furrowed, and she pressed on. “Treat me well, and you will get more for me. Treat Wenna and the child well, and the same holds true for them. Wenna’s pretty, and the child strong—any man of intelligence could see he’ll grow into a strong boy and a strong man. But abuse and starve us and you might as well let us go home.”
Pierre sniffed derisively. “You talk like a slaver yourself, my lady.”
“I’ve seen the difference between well-treated servants and those who are not.”
Pierre rose and sauntered toward her. Despite her wish to appear brave, she couldn’t help backing away, until her head hit the sloping cabin wall. “Clever as well as pretty, eh? Perhaps I should forget selling you and keep you for myself.”
“And what will you tell your crew? That you put them at great risk to get me and then changed your mind? Won’t they demand some sort of compensation?”
Pierre laughed harshly and shook his head. “Sacrecoeur, you know men!” He tilted his head. “How did you come by this knowledge, I wonder, if you are a virgin as you claim?”
