A Pirate Princess (20 page)

“Captain Belcourt!” Cori demanded in an authoritative tone. “What happened? How did my father escape? Why are we not turning around?”

“Ah, Cori. Well, it’s nothing really. No worries,” Burke dismissed.

“What do you mean
no worries
?” She asked angrily.

Burke chuckled at her charisma, “I mean just what I said! No worries. It
’s true that your father is no longer a prisoner of mine. He’s free somewhere in Cuba. We’re going to France. We still have Sharlene, Falco, Klaas, and Zeeman to bring to the King.”

Cori stared in silence for a few moments, trying to unde
rstand what had happened. “You’re going to let my father get away, after he arrested you? Are you not concerned about how he escaped? Do you think someone let him go, like Yvet or Laron? Whoever released my father could release Falco tonight!”

“F
irst of all, the King will not miss him. As long as the mission was successful and your father has been stopped from pirating then I did a good job. I could tell the King that Marin died in the battle if it came to it. Secondly, I don’t think anyone will let Falco out. Don’t worry,” Burke shrugged casually.

“
My father arrested you, worked you, and locked you in a room with me for days! Why are you not angry? Why do you not want him killed?” She demanded, stomping her right foot.

Laughing heartily, Burke waved her anger a
side, “We all make mistakes. I’m sure that he’s a good man underneath all of that. Besides, what harm can he do? He’s jobless, crewless, and stranded on an island where there are no boats! My ship will be the only one they trade with or that commonly visits. I suppose it’s possible that a passerby might stop at the island but it rarely happens. In France, most captains refuse to sail toward Cuba due to the danger. I know one man from Ireland who does, but his boat is so small and old that most pirates don’t find it worthy to even bother him! Regardless, most likely Marin will be stuck there.”

Cori didn’
t know whether to smile or cry. She was relieved that her father had escaped and wouldn’t have to suffer in prison. She was elated that with his free status their paths may one day cross again, and when it did he wouldn’t be in charge of her. Marin being in Cuba helped, because Cori hoped to travel there with Burke,
Odelia willing
! “Alright, I guess.” She mumbled in confusion.

“Now,
are those all of your questions, my beauty?” Burke asked.

“Yes. Wait, no it isn’
t! Why do you plan to release Yvet and Laron?” Cori probed.

The c
aptain smiled again from the helm of
The Beloved Loss,
“Yvet and Laron helped me a lot when I was a prisoner of your father’s ship. They also surrendered quite easily when I attacked them. Yvet was part of the French Navy as your father was and he never wanted to go into the life of pirating. He just felt like he had to stick by Marin’s side, out of a sense of responsibility. By the way, how much do you know about Laron’s life before joining
The Beloved Loss?
”

“I don’
t know, nothing I guess!” Cori dismissed, not seeing the point behind Burke’s explanation. “All I know about Laron is that he loves women, all women! He cannot keep his hands off of anyone who glances at him. The only times Laron has ever been in trouble with my father is when we would get to an island or a country and he would just disappear! They would give him a time to be back and he would miss it. My father would have to go looking for him and drag him back from a brothel!”

Burke sat down, pulling her down next to him on the deck. “Well, let me tell you something about him. Laron was very poor. He worked hard for an income to support his family and they were still barely able to eat. He had a young wife, and although they were impoverished they were crazy about each other. Do you know what happened, Cori?”

Suddenly curious, Cori replied “No. I don’t.”

“A thief broke into their home one night while Laron was away working. He killed Laron’s wife and took everything they had
been working for. He was only twenty years old when his wife died. People tried to blame him for her death, saying that if he was home to protect her it wouldn’t have happened. Others said that it was him who did it. Heartbroken, lonely, guilt ridden, with a ruined reputation, Laron joined your father’s pirate crew. I believe his fascination with women is a defense mechanism to hide his pain for his late wife,” Burke reasoned.

A tear slid from Cori’s eye, “Burke, he has been on my father’s ship for seven or eight years now and I never knew any of that! How did you find out?”

“When I was healing from Falco’s attack, after the battle with your father, I went to the storage room to speak to the prisoners. I pulled Laron and Yvet aside separately and asked them to give me their history. Both did. After making sure that neither was wanted for other crimes or bad behavior, I told them both that they would be released once we reach France. They don’t deserve prison, Cori.” Burke finished.

“Thank you for being so kind. My grandf
ather was right about you, you’re different than most!” Cori lovingly alleged.

“Your opinion of me is the only one that counts,” he whispered.

“Let me leave you to your work, Burke. Dance after dinner?” She asked flirtatiously.

“I sha
ll think of nothing else. You have made my day,” he huskily replied. Cori winked teasingly and floated away, happy and in love. The Count of Calais felt his heart beat quicken in his chest and he sighed dreamily as he watched the woman who held his captivation drift away.

After the trip to Cuba, Burke and Cori spent every free moment together. They were the only two passengers aboard
The Beloved Loss.
Burke sailed the ship during the day, Cori cooked and cleaned. When she was not busy, he taught her to sail. When he was not busy, she taught him to clean. They danced every evening after dinner, and stayed up late into the night talking about everything under the sun.

Burke told her about his family in France. Since Burke considered his title a mute point, he purposely left out that information.
For some reason, he felt though he just wasn’t ready for her to know. So many women in Burke’s life had been more interested in his title and wealth than him as a man. He just found it easier to talk to Cori as a captain… rather than a Count. Cori enlightened Burke about Falco’s engagement request, her many failed escapes from
The Beloved Loss
, and Sharlene’s hatred. One evening, Cori asked Burke how much longer it would be until they arrived in France.

“Probably another ten days,” he answered nonchalantly.

“Only ten days?” Cori screeched, suddenly upset.

Burke did no
t understand her obviously unhappy reaction, “Yes, why? What is wrong?”

“It took my father nine or ten months to sail from Cuba to France when my mother was pregnant! I expected that we would have several more months together. Not just ten days!” She wailed, close to tears.

Burke wrapped one arm around her shoulders as he explained, “It was almost nineteen years ago when Marin made this trip with your mother. Back then, ships like
The Beloved Loss
were built much slower than they are now. They were big, hefty and resistant, but they were not fast. Now, ships like
The Heart of Calais
can make the trip from Cuba to France in less than a month. Even after your father had
The Beloved Loss
updated into a speedier vessel after your mother’s death, it is still slowing
The Heart of Calais
down by several weeks.”

He shrugged, “
Besides, we are traveling in the summer. If you were born in February, your father must have traveled all through the fall and winter. The winter months are a sailor’s worst nightmare. Ice storms, snow storms, blizzards, so many things can happen to slow a ship down.”

“Oh Burke, I am nowhere near prepared to arrive in France!” Cori cried in shock.

“What do you have left to do? The ship is in perfect shape to be sold, the prisoners are ready for judgment, and you will be staying at my home in Calais until you decide where to go from there. There’s no hurry, I shall spend the first several days in Versailles and you’ll have plenty of time to settle on a travel location!” He soothed.

Tears
ran down Cori’s cheeks, “No, I’m not ready to tell you goodbye. Let’s face it, you shall probably marry Odelia while you are in Versailles turning the prisoners in. Her father will not wait much longer than that! When you come back, if I’m still at your home in Calais, Odelia shall be accompanying you. I must tell you goodbye forever within two weeks!”

“Cori, wh
at can I do to show you that I’m going to find some way out of my marriage to Odelia? I don’t want to marry her. Plus, you promised to let me court you if I can get out of the union,” he said, shaking his head.

“Yes, Burke! If you can get out of a union I will still have you for a little while. I have yet to hear you tell me any plan that might make th
at work. What do you think you’re going to do, get to France and have a clear ticket out? I doubt it happens like that,” she said with her hands on her hips.

“What do you mean ‘for a little while’?” He asked, changing the subject.

“I mean, if you decided to court me you would still be ready for another sea voyage soon. I won’t be able to keep you in France and I’m still undecided with how I feel about remaining a pirate!” She stomped.

“Why do y
ou keep calling me a pirate? I’m not a pirate, Cori. I’m a captain, a sea trader, a sailor, and a shipping company owner, but I am not a pirate!” He tried to remind her.

She still didn’
t understand that there was any difference, “Pirate, Buccaneer, Privateer, whatever you want to call it is fine with me. It’s still an illegal career where men steal, kill, and attack to make a living. You run from the law, and receive a prison sentence if you get caught! I don’t want to live like that. The rest of my life could have dignity if I chose to remain on land. I keep hearing how good you are and how you’re not like everyone else. If I had my way I would see you every day for eternity, but I’m just not sure if I’m willing to give up my dream of being legal and respectable!”

With that, and the tears flooding her eyes, she ran to her quarter
s. Burke stood at the helm in complete confusion.
She thinks I’m a pirate. That’s why she keeps saying that, because she doesn’t understand that you can be a legal sea trader!
Burke took a few steps to follow her, planning to explain the situation. Then he changed his mind.
No, that’s a good test. If Cori loves me enough she shall stay with me, no matter what my career is. Odelia only loves me for being a Count. Perhaps Cori will love me no matter what I am. If she loves me enough to stay with me thinking I’m a pirate, then she’ll truly deserve to be a Count’s wife.

A week later Burke and Acel traded ships again. This time, it was so that Burke could speak to the prisoners about their cooperation during the Ki
ng’s judgment. Falco sat on the far side of a room behind a tall stack of Persian rugs. Sharlene sat on the other side of the rugs, close enough that she could talk to Falco but not able to see him. Klaas and Zeeman sat together in the middle of the room where they were originally placed.

Shrugging
off Falco’s seclusion as a strange need for privacy, Burke began his speech. Falco and Sharlene glared at Burke with a wicked smile upon their faces. “We should reach Calais in the next few days. Once we arrive, I shall take you immediately to Versailles. King Louis is extremely forgiving but not patient at all. If you’re smart you will be on your best behavior and ask him to take pity on you. If you do that, you may be forgiven of your crimes and released quickly with fair treatment while you’re in prison. If you annoy King Louis, I promise you shall never see daylight again. Understand?”

Sharlene and Falco still glared. Finally, Falco snarled his nose and spoke “I will not be incarcerated; I can assure you of that.”

“Why do you think that?” Burke asked, not amused.

“
I’m not at liberty to say. However, I shall give you a little hint.
The Beloved Loss
and Cori will both be mine soon. You shall have your hands quite full with a family of your own,” he rattled, not making much sense to Burke.

“Whatever you want to think,” Burke shrugged, walking out of the room and locking the door behind him.

Sharlene laughed derisively, “You and I will be free in no time, my boy.”

“
Ja
, we will.” Falco growled with clenched teeth.

Three days later, Burke woke Cori during the night. “Cori?” He asked, peeping through her door.

“Yes?” She asked from the bed, trying to cover herself in a ladylike fashion.

“I just spotted land. We shall be arriving in Calais in a couple hours at the most. You should get ready. Acel will escort you to my home in Calais, Quain shall be taking Odelia to Le Havre, Yvet and Laron will be released, I shall bring the captives to Versailles, and the rest of the crew will stay behind to unload the ship.” Burke explained in haste.

“Just give me one moment,” she politely commanded.

Burke nodded understandingly, “Sure, I shall see you on deck in a moment.”

Acel, sailing
The Heart of Calais
directly behind
The Beloved Loss
, spotted France only moments after Burke did. He announced to the crew that they were almost home. Odelia was the happiest of all. She smiled from ear to ear with a mischievous grin that would have concerned anyone who saw her.

Her trip had been a successful one, in her opinion. Keeping Burke tangled in her web, refusing to let him slip away, was the whole purpose
of going on the mission. Odelia was afraid that King Louis would pity Burke and let him out of the union if she stayed in France. However, going with him insured that her reputation was on the line. She had no doubt that she succeeded in snaring him even further into her grasp through this trip. The snotty blond packed her belongings quickly, hoping for a speedy departure to Le Havre.

When she was done and only a few minutes from the shore, she grabbed the small silver key hidden under her pillow. The precious little object was her answer to every locked door, trunk or case on the ship. It was also to thank for creating her
ingenious
plan to keep Burke. Odelia crept up the stairs and across the deck. She knew before
The Heart of Calais
docked that there was one person she needed to say
farewell
to, and one small favor she promised to carry out.

Several minutes later Cori appeared in front of Burke at the helm of
The Beloved Loss
. “Our journey is at an end, I suppose.” Cori said solemnly.

“Yes, our first journey. I hope we have several more,” Burke cheered positively, hoping that King Louis had decided to relieve Burke of his forced union to Odelia.

“I do too,” She whispered inaudibly.

“When you leave the ship, follow Acel closely. I will have Karoly helping me
with the prisoners, but I don’t want to risk Falco getting lose and trying to harm you. When I spoke to them a few days ago, he seemed over confident about his freedom. I’m sure he’s just bluffing but I don’t want to risk your safety,” he said with a soft shrug.

“Alright, Burke. How long might
it be until I see you again?” She asked.

“
Probably only two or three days if all goes well!” He said. “I’m hoping that the King will pardon me from my marriage as a gift for this successful trip. If that’s true, we shall be spending plenty of time together soon. You still plan to let me court you, correct?” Burke questioned hopefully.

Cori giggled, turning red. “Yes, I suppose.”

Soon, the ship was docking in Calais and although dark, Cori was amazed at the beauty of the country. Odelia ran off of
The Heart of Calais
, jumping for joy when she reached the ground. That proved too much for the poor girl and she doubled over in sickness again. “She shall be fine,” Burke whispered to Cori in amusement. “Her stomach is just weak from the trip. Sailing most certainly isn’t the life for her.”

Quain rushed behind Odelia, hoping to avoid her wrath by taking her to Le Havre immediately. Odelia rushed to Burke’s side, squeezing between him and Cori
. “I shall see you soon,
darling
. The wedding is only days away, nonetheless.” She cooed sarcastically, glaring at Cori. Odelia held Burke’s key to the storage room in her hand, rolling it around in her palm, hidden from everyone’s view.

Burke just rolled his eyes. “Go
od luck to you, Corisanda. You’re going to need it,” Odelia chuckled meanly as she threw a small, silver object into the water. Burke wondered what she had thrown, but dismissed it as nothing of importance.

“Be careful,” Burke whispered as he patted Cori on the back. She hugged him
goodbye and rushed to follow Acel to Burke’s home. Burke waited several minutes, wanting Cori a safe distance away before he dealt with the prisoners. However, she lagged behind several times, fascinated by the different world she was in. There were stores and shops everywhere! Enormous, beautiful homes sat all over the town. Not just huts, or ship quarters, but giant houses! She was amazed and could not keep up with Acel. After him urging and urging, Cori was barely off of the dock when she heard shouts behind her. Recognizing Burke’s voice, she turned around to run back to him.

Cori
soon regretted her decision. Falco was lose and running straight toward her. He grabbed her arm forcefully as he reached her and threw her over his shoulder, running toward town. He pulled a gun out of his pants pocket and aimed it straight at Burke. “She’s mine!” he screamed irately.

“PUT HER DOWN!” Burke yelled, unable to contain his fear and anger.
Acel raced behind and stood a distance behind Cori and Falco, waiting for any signal Burke gave him.

Falco chuckled,
“You want her a lot, huh? She shall be punished for playing a tease with you. Let me go or I
will
shoot her. Don’t chase us either. I demand for my crew to be returned to me!
The Beloved Loss
is mine now. Let us pass or Corisanda gets a bullet.”

Cori was ghostly white, scared to death. Her heart pou
nded in her chest and she didn’t know what to do. She worried about Burke, knowing that Falco wouldn’t board
The Beloved Loss
until he had his revenge on the dark haired man. Burke worried for Cori. He couldn’t let Falco take her but he couldn’t let him shoot her either. “Let me speak to my men,” Burke pleaded.