A Pirate's Love by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online Page A

gasped. She started to cry.
    â€œIt’s all right,” Bettina said, putting her arms around her old nurse. “At least we are still alive. And he has promised to take us to Saint Martin.”
    â€œMy God, Bettina! He didn’t have to rape you. The man has no honor!”
    â€œI tried to dissuade him, but he wanted me. He said he would have me regardless of anything. It is done now, and there is nothing I can do about it. But at least I was able to save the prisoners.”
    â€œWhat prisoners?”
    â€œYou have not seen them yet?” Bettina asked.
    â€œI didn’t know there were any,” Madeleine replied. “That big man called Jules let me out of his cabin and told me to go help in the galley. Their cook was killed in the last battle they fought. But I came here first.”
    â€œWell, go and find the prisoners. Capitaine Marivaux is one of them. Tell them not to worry about their fate, that they will be set free in the next port. And if any are wounded, care for them, then come back and tell me how they are. The capitaine will not let me leave the cabin.”
    â€œIs there anything I can do for you first?” Madeleine asked, her gray eyes filled with concern. “I hateto leave you after what you have been through.”
    â€œNo, I am fine, Maddy. I thought it would be a horrible experience, but it was not so bad.” Bettina said. “He was gentle with me, and he is young and pleasant to look upon. The only thing that hurt was that he gave me no choice—he didn’t care about my feelings.”
    â€œI am glad you have taken this so well.”
    â€œThere is nothing else I can do,” Bettina said.
    Madeleine left, but returned after only a few minutes had passed. “There are no prisoners, Bettina. I asked one of the crewmen if he would take me to them, but he said no one was brought aboard but you and me. I asked another, and he said the same.”
    Bettina stiffened. Every nerve, every fiber in her body was filled with rage.
    â€œHe lied! He lied to me—he tricked me! Damn his soul to hell!”
    â€œBettina!” Madeleine gasped. “What is the matter with you?”
    â€œHe—he lied to me! He told me there were prisoners, that he would spare their lives if—if I would not fight him!” Bettina stormed, her green eyes alight with a raging fire.
    â€œOh, Bettina!”
    â€œSo I submitted. God knows, I wanted to fight, but I did not. I could endure it because I thought I was saving the lives of those men. Mon Dieu! I will kill him!”
    â€œNo, Bettina, you must not talk like that! What has happened cannot be undone. And you said it was not so bad,” Madeleine said.
    â€œThat is not the point! He tricked me. This Capitaine Tristan will find out what I think of deception! He will be sorry he ever brought me onto this ship.I will have revenge! I swear it—Tristan will pay for this!”
    â€œFor God’s sake, Bettina, be sensible! You will only succeed in getting us killed.”
    But Madeleine might as well have kept silent, for Bettina was pacing the floor with angry strides, and her old servant’s warning didn’t even interrupt her murderous thoughts.

“S o, Tristan, what have you decided to do with the woman?” Jules asked when he joined his friend on deck.
    â€œI will take her to Saint Martin. This Comte de Lambert will pay handsomely for her,” Tristan replied. “And the ransom will be worth the delay in returning home.”
    â€œI agree, though the men may not. But don’t you think this man will mind that his intended bride is no longer a virgin?”
    â€œHe won’t know about it until after he has paid the ransom, and then it won’t matter to us. But I doubt it will matter to her, either. He will still want her.”
    â€œYou are a devil, Tristan,” Jules laughed. “So the blond wench was as good as she looked, eh?”
    â€œBetter! But