A Pirate Princess Read online

  TWELVE

  By the next day, Burke was strong enough to prop himself up in bed and eat without Cori’s help. She sat by his bed at all times, never leaving for a moment. He smiled at her through his pain and she could not help but cry with relief. Burke wanted to get back to work and being forced to stay still for another few days outraged him. “I have work to do!” He yelled at Acel from his bed.

  “We are taking care of everything, you stubborn fool!” Acel screamed back. “Just be still and let Cori take care of you!”

  Burke scoffed in irritation, “I’m fine!”

  “Yes Burke, you shall be fine. But you aren’t yet! Now listen to your cousin and let me take care of you,” Cori scolded.

  “Thank you for your help, Cori. If it was up to Odelia I would be left alone to die,” he chuckled.

  “I don’t even want to talk about her,” Cori fussed in anger.

  Three days after the attack, The Beloved Loss was repaired enough to move and Burke Belcourt was standing at the helm of his ship again. “Argentina, here we come!” he whooped in joy.

  “What are we doing after we return these children?” Karoly asked.

  “We will swing back by Cuba and drop off Guillermo and Novia. Then we shall sail to France like a bolt of lightning. I hope to be back on French soil two months from today,” he confidently challenged.

  “Do you want me to sail The Beloved Loss behind you, Burke?” Acel asked in preparation.

  “No. I think I will move Cori to The Beloved Loss with Novia and Guillermo so that they can feel comfortable. Plus, I want to keep Odelia’s fangs out of Cori. I shall follow you in The Beloved Loss, you take care of my ship,” Burke decided.

  Within an hour the ships were sailing at high speed toward the beautiful land of Argentina. “Is it alright if I begin cleaning the boat?” Cori asked Burke from the helm.

  “Why don’t you let Novia…” he began, being cut off instantly.

  “No, I have always cleaned this ship. Until we sell it, it is mine to take care of. Alright?” Cori begged.

  “Alright, Mademoiselle. Anything you wish is my command.” He chuckled in honesty.

  The two spent every free moment together. They sat together at dinner, talked throughout the day, and danced together in the evenings. The week seemed to fly by joyously and they arrived in Argentina with time to spare. They waved a white flag of surrender all the way to the shore where angry parents stood screaming and waving swords. However, the weapons were thrown down immediately when their babies ran off the ship and into their mother’s arms unharmed.

  No eyes were dry aboard The Beloved Loss or The Heart of Calais, none except those of the prisoners who sat in a storage room fuming in anger. Likewise, Odelia only thought they were wasting time by not going straight to France. She most certainly didn’t swell her beautiful eyes shut by crying.

  The oversized crew was invited to stay for a meal in Argentina in appreciation for returning the children. The hosts sat everyone on the beach. Lucky for Karoly, Leala sat alone watching Miette talk to Cori a few yards away. He approached her sternly, not letting her shoo him away this time. “What do you want, you over-sized brute?” Leala demanded.

  “You,” was his short reply.

  “Well, that is out of the question!” She denied.

  Karoly rolled his eyes, “Let’s get something straight between us, Leala. You have always meant the world to me. Yes, I might have flirted with a few girls years ago before I knew you were pregnant with Miette but you are the only one who has ever held my heart. I want you to marry me. Think about it.”

  He walked briskly away, leaving Leala with her mouth open. Several hours later the crew began boarding again. “Burke, I think we should trade ships for a few days,” Acel said unexpectedly before leaving Argentina.

  “Why?” Burke demanded in disagreement.

  Acel shrugged, “There’s something that seems to be wrong in the steering. Karoly says he can fix it but he needs you around to explain the problem and I don’t know The Heart of Calais like you do. It shouldn’t take more than a day or two, at the most.”

  Burke grunted in response but agreed that it had to be done. With Acel aboard The Beloved Loss, Cori was not nearly as giddy. “Don’t worry, he’ll be back soon!” Acel chuckled.

  “Oh, it’s fine,” she tried to smile. “I need to get accustomed to being away from him. I keep reminding myself that I’ll never see him again once we get to France!”

  “Maybe you shall, Mademoiselle. Burke hates Odelia and will be trying to find a way out of the marriage unceasingly. He just doesn’t have much time once we return. If he’s able to cancel the union, would you marry him?” He asked in amusement.

  Cori blushed, “Oh, I don’t know. I think Burke cares about me, but not enough to marry me or anything. He would prefer to spend the rest of his life a bachelor, not married to someone like me. Besides, I want nothing to do with pirates after this trip.”

  Acel assumed she was talking about Burke running into pirates occasionally on his trade routes. He shrugged it off, wishing he could explain to her that the chance of meeting pirates was slim and when they did the pirates were typically too afraid of Burke to try and attack. Plus, if she was that scared of pirates she could always stay in Calais.

  Acel knew that the woman who married Burke would be the Countess of Calais; plenty could keep her busy at home until Burke returned. Burke loves the sea and his dream is to continue sailing as long as he can, but if he is willing to give it up for Odelia then he sure would for Cori! He surmised.

  Broaching the subject again, Acel prompted further. “If you don’t like pirates you can stay in Calais. Burke has a huge home there; you shall love it. He might even give up the trading business altogether and stay home with you if you promise him a few children.”

  Cori giggled, “Children? Burke wants children?”

  Acel chuckled in agreement, “Yes, he always said that he wanted to remain a bachelor for life because not many women were able to strike his fancy. Children, on the other hand, Burke loves.”

  “And how does he plan to have children without a wife to take care of them, pray tell?” Cori playfully asked with her hands on her hips.

  “Who knows with Burke, but let me tell you something. When Burke Landis Belcourt sets his sights on something, or someone, he finds a way to get it. And he has his sights set on you, Mademoiselle Corisanda. He wanted to shoot me, his favorite cousin, for making him trade ships! Every second away from you is hard on him. I can tell that he loves you. Do you realize what a big deal that is?” Acel questioned protectively.

  Cori sighed, “If Burke truly loves me then yes I do know that it is a big deal. I cannot think of one thing better in this world than to marry him, Acel.”

  “So you love him too?”

  “Oh yes, with all of my heart. I just don’t think there’s anything that can be done about it. Odelia’s going to marry Burke, whether we like it or not,” Cori finished, feeling extremely sad again. “Please don’t tell Burke how I feel though. It will just embarrass me worse when Odelia marries him. I’m going to get back to work.”

  “Burke, darling! I’m so glad you decided to come back to The Heart of Calais and make that commoner cousin of yours sail that old, beaten up pirate ship! I missed you,” Odelia cooed.

  “I didn’t hope to be here. I would rather be there.”

  “But you love The Heart of Calais!”

  “Yes, but I love a woman on The Beloved Loss.” Burke was not a person to lie or sugarcoat his answers. “I love Cori, Odelia. And I’m going to marry her. When we get back to France you need to tell your father that I’m not the man who took your innocence. You need to track down whoever did and marry him. Not me.”

  Odelia’s face turned as red as blood, her mouth dropped open, her bottom lip quivered, and her hands formed into fists. She stood silent for a moment then turned and ran from the helm to her quarters below deck.

  He is going to regret this. O
h, he is going to regret this. What can I do? She wondered, storming around the room. I have to think of something that will teach them not to mess with Odelia Vadeboncour! That witch, Corisanda, needs to learn that she’s nothing compared to me and Burke’s title and money will be mine, whether he likes it or not!

  She paced around her small quarters, raging about Cori and Burke until she was blue in the face. Her door opened cautiously with a quiet squeak and Miette walked in meakly, “Lady Odelia?”

  “WHAT?!” Odelia screamed violently.

  “Mother wants me to ask if you need a bath now?” Miette asked in trepidation.

  Odelia scoffed, “No! What I need is for Corisanda St. Aubin to marry some other man and leave mine alone!”

  “Oh, Mademoiselle Corisanda is a very nice woman. She didn’t deserve to be put through marrying someone she didn’t love, like Falco. Mother says that Burke and Cori deserve each other.” Miette said, bravely trying to protect Cori.

  “Miette, you stupid girl! You make no sense. What are you talking about? Who on Earth is Falco?” Odelia said, rolling her eyes.

  “Falco was the Quartermaster on The Beloved Loss. He was supposed to marry Mademoiselle Corisanda and inherit The Beloved Loss from Captain Marin. I saw them load him into the storage room with the others. He’s very handsome, indeed. Did you see him too?” Miette asked.

  “I don’t think so. What does he look like?” Odelia questioned curiously.

  “Oh, he’s tall and broad like Monsieur Burke! He has short blond hair. Burke’s longer, dark brown hair is more appealing in my opinion, but Falco is undeniably attractive. Something about him terrifies me though. It’s definitely well that someone sweet and beautiful like Mademoiselle Corisanda shall not have to marry him!” Miette explained, as she laid out Odelia’s night gown, hair brush, and lavender soap.

  Odelia was silent for a long moment. “Hurry with my bathwater, but put away that night gown. Lay out the lavender lacey one instead.”

  “Alright, Lady Odelia. Call when you need me to dry you off,” Miette answered.

  “Before you leave, I have one more question.” Odelia prattled.

  “Yes, Lady Odelia?” Miette asked.

  “How many prisoners do we have, total?”

  Miette counted on her fingers for a moment, “We had seven, but Burke said that two of them are allowed to wander the boat and will be released in France. They get to sleep on the deck and aren’t tied up in the storage room with the others, so I don’t know if you would count them as prisoners or not. Laron and Yvet, that’s their names, are both very nice. So I guess that leaves five prisoners. They’re keeping the captain of The Beloved Loss, Marin St. Aubin, separate from the rest. The other four are in the first storage room. Why?”

  “Just wondering,” Odelia said with a smile.

  Miette left quickly before Odelia could ask anything else. Dealing with a crazy woman like Lady Odelia would drive any man insane! Miette thought as she walked down the hallway, pitying Burke.

  The night was dark and almost everyone slumbered soundly aboard both ships. One small woman with blonde hair, light blue eyes, pale skin, and a deceitful plan crept quietly from her own quarters to the captain’s cabin at the end of the hallway. She knocked lightly, and Burke ordered sleepily for whoever it was to “Come in.”

  Odelia closed the door behind her and approached Burke in a tight fitting lavender colored night gown. “What do you want Odelia?”

  “You, Burke. I want to marry you, you know that. Why do you not love me?” She asked seductively as she sat on the edge of his bed.

  “Odelia, don’t be silly. Leave me in peace, I’m tired.” Burke scolded.

  Odelia stood up and walked around Burke’s room slowly, speaking to Burke in low tones. “I would make a good wife,” she whispered as she ran her fingers over Burke’s dresser. “Men would die to trade you places. I am beautiful, educated, classy…” she continued as she scanned the items in his chairs. She crossed to Burke’s small luncheon table that he typically used for card games or meetings with his crew, “I would be on your arm at every social gathering and we would look grand together.”

  “What does that matter if I don’t love you? And you don’t love me, I am not stupid, Odelia. You love my money and my title. There are a few men in France wealthier than I, like King Louis XIV or his brother, Phillipe! He is the Duke of Orleans. Go after him,” Burke begged.

  “No, I shall not.” She said determinedly, still looking around Burke’s room as if on a treasure hunt.

  “What on Earth are you looking for?” Burke finally asked.

  “Nothing,” she answered, “Only looking at all of your things. It helps me know my fiancé better.”

  She is so strange, Burke thought to himself. “Odelia, coming in my room is pointless. I do not love you, nor will I ever. And I shall not marry you either. Not unless you can prove that I am the man who took your virtue, which you cannot do because I did not take it.”

  Odelia was silent, pretending not to hear what he said as she rubbed her hands across Burke’s armoire. Opening the mahogany doors, she ran her fingers across his clothes, his wallet, his watch, and everything else he carried in his pockets from day to day. “Burke, my darling! You are quite right. It’s late and I really must be going. Goodnight,” she called as she ran from his room, closing the door behind her. Burke lay back down on his bed, confused by Odelia’s actions. Oh well, he thought, at least she’s gone now!

  Odelia walked quickly down the hallway, pausing at her door. Instead of entering, she walked up the stairs and onto the deck of the ship. She snuck quietly to the large storage rooms being used as prison cells. Fumbling with the key she stole from Burke’s room, she unlocked the door quietly. Turning the door knob she peered inside. There were four hostages tied up in the first storage room.

  She knew that the second storage room held only one prisoner, who she was not interested in. Each captive was tied at the wrist and ankles. All seven were sleeping uncomfortably in the floor and Odelia scanned each one until she picked out the handsome one with long legs, muscular shoulders, and blond hair.

  Odelia crept to Falco de Vries quietly and when she was standing over him she realized he was awake. She bent down to him, and whispered “I am Lady Odelia Vadeboncour.”

  “I’m Falco de Vries. What do you want?” He answered suspiciously.

  Odelia smiled flirtatiously, “I think we may be able to help each other if you shall shut up and listen to me, you worthless pirate.”

  “Oh, ja?” Falco asked, unamused.

  Odelia traced her finger down Falco’s face and ran her hand through his blond hair, “You must be real unhappy that Burke is stealing your fiancé, right?”

  He growled in a low voice, “What does it matter to you?”

  She grabbed his chin with force, “Because your tramp of a fiancé is trying to steal my man. Burke is supposed to marry me and I want him back. I’m not going to sit around doing nothing like you.”

  “What do you expect me to do? I’m tied up and locked in a storage room! Do you expect me to break these ropes and take my revenge?”

  “You don’t have to. What if I told you I had a very good plan that shall return your fiancé to you and my fiancé to me without ever being suspected?”

  “How?” Falco asked in consideration.

  Odelia smiled ruefully, “Let me tell you all about it…”

  “All done, boss!” Karoly said with a sigh of relief the following day. “I tried to hurry so you could get back to The Beloved Loss with that woman of yours. She sure is a beauty!”

  “I know, Karoly! She is as pretty as a picture and sweet as candy. Now if only I can get rid of Odelia so that I can marry Cori,” Burke chuckled.

  “There is no way to do that! You know Odelia will not confess,” Karoly hissed.

  “No, she probably won’t. I’m not sure what I shall have to do to get out of her. I even thought about giving up my title as Count and sailing away with Cori
, not caring what the King, Lord Orson or anyone else thought. But that would hurt the people I love, like my parents. They would be discredited. Besides, Cori deserves an easy life as a Countess. I cannot give that to her if I give it up,” he said in a dreamy tone.

  “Perhaps you shall find a way to get out of the marriage with Odelia and not have to suffer yourself. You can find the man who took her virtue,” Karoly suggested.

  “Oh, Karoly. I’m sure Lady Odelia has slept with a countless number of men but none of them would admit it now. They’ve heard what she has pulled on me and don’t want a similar fate!” Burke rejected. Karoly didn’t reply for a minute. He was staring onto the deck with an elated smile on his face. Burke tried to see what Karoly was staring at but the only person on deck looking toward them was Leala. She was cleaning the floor, often glancing up at Karoly. Burke wondered if the two of them were making progress but he decided not to interfere. Instead, he just grunted to get Karoly’s attention back.

  “Oh well, at least you can spend some time with Mademoiselle Corisanda now that your ship is repaired and we’re closing in on Cuba!” The carpentering Boatswain finally consoled as he returned his concentration to Burke.

  “Very true!” He chuckled. “Drop the sails, Karoly. I have to get this boat stopped.”

  An hour later he was aboard The Beloved Loss, gazing in awe at the woman he had fallen so hopelessly for. “Did you miss me, Cori?”

  “Oh, of course. I had no one to dance with last night,” Cori giggled.

  “How did Acel treat you?” He asked with a smile, assured that Acel was a perfect gentleman.

  “Acel is a sweetheart, Burke. It must run in the family. What am I ever going to do when we get to France? I don’t know how I shall stand it when you get married and we can no longer be friends,” she said with a dejected sigh. Cori had been trying to prepare herself for heartache but it seemed so impossible that Burke could be ripped from her.

  “Perhaps we won’t be separated,” he cooed.