In the Tudor Court Collection. Amanda McCabe

that morning. ‘Has she taken anything with her?’

      ‘Only the gown she meant to wear today.’ Anna looked at him tearfully. ‘Surely she would not run away? She had nowhere to go.’

      ‘She must be somewhere.’

      Justin strode into Maribel’s room, looking for evidence that she had taken something with her. Her combs and perfume bottles were still there, as were her jewels. He whirled round as he heard a step behind him.

      ‘Maribel…’ Seeing Higgins, he frowned. ‘What is it? Have you found her?’

      ‘I have found signs of a struggle. What looks like the marks of several pairs of boots in the dust outside the house—and I have heard that a strange ship was seen at anchor outside the reef.’

      ‘You think someone snatched her last night?’

      ‘I’ve never trusted Hendry,’ Higgins said sourly. ‘Did you not wonder why Sabatini let him return? Or why he bothered to come back at all? He already had the ship. Why should he have come back to the island merely to bring you another message?’

      ‘You believe Hendry brought Sabatini’s ships here in return for his freedom? That the intention was to snatch Maribel all the time?’ Justin frowned. ‘There was a map that showed the way to some silver mines…I destroyed it because a man like that should not be allowed to have such power. He is evil.’

      ‘You destroyed a map showing the location of silver mines?’ Higgins looked at him intently. ‘Those mines are worth a king’s ransom.’

      ‘I considered trying to find the mine, but decided it was cursed.’

      ‘Sabatini must think you still have the map. Do you think that is why he has snatched her?’

      ‘If it is, then I am at fault,’ Justin said. ‘I do not know where they are taking her—but we must try to find them. I shall go to her father. He may hate me and he may take my life, but, it is the risk I must take.’

      ‘Do you think that is wise?’

      ‘I do not care whether or not it is wise,’ Justin replied. ‘I shall not ask anyone else to risk their life for me. You will drop me on shore and then go back to sea. I will meet you on the beach at midnight. If I am not there, come again the next night, but after that you must go and leave me to my fate.’

      ‘Let me go in your stead?’

      ‘No. You have been a good friend to me, but if I do not come the second night leave me and seek your own fortune.’

      ‘Will you not take the air on deck, Madonna?’ Samuel Hynes looked at her, his eyes narrowed. ‘We are forced to put into port for repairs to the mainmast and it may be some weeks before we reach England.’

      Maribel sighed. It was hot in the cabin and since the third night after leaving the island, when a storm had badly damaged their mainmast, they had been forced to drift aimlessly. Now that the ship had at last managed to limp to the nearest port, which was Gibraltar, the carpenters could make repairs while the stores were replenished. Under Moorish domination for many years, Gibraltar had briefly achieved independent status until the beginning of the century, when it was taken under Spanish rule. Although in no hurry to reach England, Maribel did not wish to spend more time than need be on board ship with this man. The looks he gave her made her skin creep and the thought of being his wife filled her with revulsion. Perhaps if she reached England she might find a way to escape him.

      ‘You do not answer.’ His face clouded with anger. ‘Your father warned me of your pride and stubbornness, lady.’ He moved closer, menacing, angry. ‘He told me you are mine, and I would have you as my wife, but I have a mind not to wait. You are here and there is nothing to stop me taking my pleasure of you.’

      ‘If you touch me, I shall kill myself.’

      ‘Damn you!’ He struck her once across the face and she fell backwards against a table, hurting her back, but she gave no sign of her pain. Lifting her head, she looked at him defiantly.

      ‘If you force me, I shall never reach England alive.’

      Samuel looked at her and hesitated. He wanted the girl, had wanted her since the first time he saw her. But he wanted the money as much or more. His cousin’s estate was heavily encumbered, leaving him little but an empty house. He needed a fortune to restore it to the great house it had once been, and this girl was his means of achieving his aim. Her threat to take her own life had given him pause for thought. If he forced her to yield, she might find a way to kill herself and he would lose the rich prize that could be his for the taking.

      He must be patient and wait a little longer. A shipboard marriage might be contested. It would be better to wait until they were in England and he could be certain of her. Once the repairs were made, the ship would get under way once more and he could be sure that that damned pirate was not lurking somewhere in these waters!

       Chapter Eight

      Justin was in his cabin, lying on his bed, when Higgins knocked at the door and then entered. He rubbed at his shoulder, which was still sore, looking at his friend with raised brows; it was less than an hour since he had left the bridge to take a muchneeded rest.

      ‘Is something wrong?’

      ‘Look-out has just spotted a ship not far ahead of us. It is the Mistress Susanna—Samuel Hynes’s ship. Shall we go after it or let it be?’

      ‘The Mistress Susanna was one of the ships that attacked the island. We cannot let this chance for retribution pass.’ Justin frowned. ‘My meeting with Sabatini will keep another day for if she is not there…’

      His words died away unspoken, because he would not let himself think of what might happen to Maribel if she was not at her father’s house. Samuel Hynes was no better than his cousin had been and would treat her badly.

      He would find her even if he had to follow her to England!

      ‘We shall take the ship. We need to replace the Siren Eater and the men must be itching for a fight. It might be better if Hynes resists.’

      ‘After what happened on the island you will need to crack the whip, Cap’n, for the men’s blood is up. And you cannot blame them.’

      ‘We will have no brutality, no wanton killing. Tell the men to chase and attack Hynes’s ship, but when we board her any man caught using unnecessary violence will answer to me.’

      Maribel turned as her cabin door opened. They had left Gibraltar that morning and were once more under sail. She was expecting the cabin boy with food and water. He was a Spanish lad named Pedro. He had helped her after she was hurt by Captain Hynes and treated her with respect, but instead of the friendly boy, she saw the man she both feared and hated. Her heart sank; he had a purposeful gleam in his eyes and she knew why he had come.

      ‘Stay away from me!’ she warned, brandishing her dagger. ‘Come near me and I shall slash my wrists. I would rather die than be your whore.’

      ‘I thought I had taught you a lesson?’ Samuel moved nearer, watching her warily. ‘If you take your own life, you will burn in hell—is that not your belief?’

      ‘I do not care!’

      ‘Oh, but I think you do.’ He took another step closer. Maribel held out her left arm, placing the blade against her white skin. Samuel halted. ‘Do it, then,’ he challenged. ‘Kill yourself.’

      ‘Do not think I should hesitate…’ She touched the knife to her breast as he moved towards her, then a booming sound from above made him halt. He looked round as the cabin door was flung back and the cabin boy entered.

      ‘We are being attacked,’ he said, looking frightened. ‘I was sent to fetch you.’

      ‘Curses! Out of my way, imbecile,’ Samuel growled and pushed past the lad, who looked at Maribel with scared eyes.

      ‘Is