The Blue Diamond (The Razor's Edge Book 1) (18 page)

“I’d never do ye like this.
If I were as big as Master Green, I’d save ye.”

“I believe you would,” Ivory
said, placing a light kiss on his freckled cheek. “Now, run along before they
catch you and let that old cat out of the bag.”

Richard smiled and did what
he was told, and Ivory was alone yet again, until Richard returned with only
the water. Ivory wasn’t surprised. With no expectations, she wasn’t
disappointed either. When the hall outside her door was silent, she returned
the dagger to its place in the trunk and dressed in her sailing clothes. The
familiar feel of the fabric against her skin empowered her and awakened her
senses. The days she’d spent recovering were insignificant in comparison to the
healing power of buttoning her own shirt and tucking it into her own breeches.

Once the gold,
diamond-shaped buckle of her belt was secure, she calmly lay back on the cot
and fell into a deep slumber, devoid of dreams and unencumbered by fearful
nightmares. When she awoke several hours later, the sun was high in the sky,
and she was so rested that her body sprung from the cot as if she were tossed
off of it. She pulled on her stockings and boots and dove to the open window to
find the ship, once again, cutting through the water as a diamond on glass.

When Richard returned
moments later with her lunch, he was startled. His eyebrows were hidden beneath
his shaggy bangs, and his mouth fell open, though he seemed unable to speak.
Ivory stole the tray from his trembling palms, sat it on the tea table, and
asked, “Richard, what’s wrong with you?”

“But…ye really are the
Razor!”

Ivory pressed her hand over
his mouth and held it there until the boy found his senses and nodded when she
asked him if he could breathe. “Well, of course I am. How could you even doubt
it? Now, I’m going to let go of you, but you mustn’t shout. Do you understand?”

When Richard nodded again,
Ivory slowly pulled her hand away, put a finger to her lips, and stared down at
him. “Who the devil did you think I was?” she asked, snatching a piece of bread
from the tray.

“If ye don’t hold it against
me, Cap’n Razor, I…I…”

“Just spit it out, will
you?”

“I had my doubts ye was who
they said, because I’ve heard stories about the Razor, and I didn’t believe
anyone could catch her, let alone keep her. I just figured ye were some pub
whore they was gonna pass off as the Razor ta’ get that money.”

“Richard, all this time you
carried on this charade, then? Treating some pub whore as if she were the real
me? Why would you do that?” she asked as she took the tray to the cot and
flopped back against the wall.

“We do what we’s told. If
the Cap’n says you’re Ivory Shepard, then you’re Ivory Shepard.
 
But, everyone knows the real Razor don’t wear
fancy dresses, and she surely wouldn’t be shaggin’ the Blacksnake, now would she?
But when I finally laid my eyes on the true Razor, you as is right in front a’
me, I know’d it’s true for real.”

“Watch it, now. If you
believe me to be the Razor, you know I’ll snap you like a match and toss you
out that window there for speaking to me in such a way.”

“I meant no disrespect, I
swear it!” he yelped, as he cowered away.

“Oh, Richard, don’t be
ridiculous!
 
I won’t hurt you. So, what
gave me away when you walked in?”

“Ye look, well, different.
Bigger and stronger and… well yer clothes, Cap’n.
 
And that belt buckle most of all. I’ve never
seen one like that, and from the tales of ye, there isn’t another one the
same.”

“Bigger?” Ivory asked,
pinching at her mid-section and tossing the bread on the tray.

“Bigger, not fatter—ye don’t
look as filled out when…when yer half-naked, Cap’n. I guess it’s the clothes,
but…I don’t know. Look, I gotta go, or they’re gonna wonder what’s keepin’ me,”
Richard rambled as he turned for the door.

“See you for dinner,” Ivory
said with a smirk. Richard only glanced back, shaking his head, and out the
door he went.

Knowing Richard brought her
lunch at twelve o’clock sharp, she said to her herself, “Sixteen hours to go,”
and she lifted the fresh pitcher of water to pour a cup and wash down the dry
bread. She raised the cup to her lips, took a healthy swig, and coughed.
 
She whispered, “Richard, you little fox,” as
the warm, familiar sensation of rum tingled the back of her throat.

Chapter
Nineteen

“Lower the longboat. I need
to speak to Phineas,” Keara demanded as she climbed in and ordered two sailors
to join her. “You, Boston, pick a man and make it smart.”

Tommy picked the first man
to his left, a young Jamaican named Rollo, and they climbed aboard. Tommy
avoided eye contact with Keara throughout the brief row to the
Jade
, until she forced him to address
her. “Boston, this is between you, me, and this swab here—are you reading me?”
Tommy looked up at her and nodded. “I asked you a question, Boston.”

“Aye, Captain,” he murmured.

“I’ll have no more of your
jealous and foolish bunk. One more of your tantrums and you’re off this crew.
Now, row.” Keara spoke her piece and grabbed an oar, and not another word was
spoken before they boarded the
Jade
.

“Captain Shepard,” Phineas
greeted Keara, giving her a hand up.

“Captain Jackson, your
quarters,” she said, waving him ahead. She turned to her companions, “You two
wait here. This shan’t take more than a few minutes.”

Phineas led Keara to his
quarters and took a seat. Keara stood, as her intention was not to waste a
moment of time. “I’ve come to give you the plans. We’ve chosen not to engage
the
Cat
. I’ve never been one to risk
the lives of many for a single soul, and neither would Ivory. Our plan is to
arrive in Nassau under the cloak of night and weigh anchor among the ships in
the harbor. At that time, a crew of ten, including myself, will board the
Cat
and free Ivory.”

“Haven’t you forgotten
something?”

“And what might that be,
Captain?”

“Where exactly is she on the
ship? I’d have my doubts about ol’ Blacksnake lettin’ strangers, especially the
uninvited variety, roam about his ship.”

“You can’t possibly
think...never mind. I’d forgotten there are still men in these waters who find
women only good for one purpose.
 
We have
one of his crew aboard the
Cutlass
who’s familiar with the ship and can lead us directly to where we’re sure
Ivory’s being held.”

“How can you trust the man?
What if he’s a spy?”

“He’s no spy, I assure you.
He…I trust him. That’s all you need to know. Upon my signal, we’ll begin.
Willy, my boson, will cover the bow lamp twice. You respond in turn by covering
yours twice as well. The only thing you’ll need to do is keep your men aboard
ship. No one leaves the
Jade
, is that
understood?”

“At what hour might this
mission be underway?”

“Three o’clock. Most of his
crew should be deep in the bottle, and the rest deep into something, or
someone, else. I’m sure he’ll have his lookout and a few reliables at the
watch, but of course we plan to make every effort not to be seen. When we weigh
anchor, pull along our port side, and we’ll lower the boat between the
Cutlass
and the
Jade
, so as not to be seen.”

“And we do what?”

“You wait.”

“Two covers of the lantern.
We reply in kind, and you drop the boat and head to your deaths, correct?”

“You’re boring me, Phineas.
Just do as I’ve said. Once we have Ivory safely aboard, we return to Port Royal
and await our fates there. You’re not obligated to stay. ”

“I knew I was being used,
but to insult me as well?”

“I’m just returning the
favor. What did you expect? You’re being paid to do a job. I expect you to hold
up your end of the bargain. It’s nearly four o’clock now…less than twelve hours
to go. May I suggest a nap? It’s going to be a very long night.”

Keara turned and made her
way back on deck and found Tommy speaking with one of the crew. Keara breezed past
him and said, “Boston, you’re aboard the
Jade
for the remainder of this mission. You there, what’s your name?”

“Tobias, Captain.”

“Well, Tobias, shall we go?”

“But, Captain!” Tommy cried
out, rushing toward her.

“Belay, sir! I won’t
jeopardize this rescue. I’ll see you in Port Royal.”

“I’m not a fool. I know why
you’re doing this,” Tommy mumbled as he folded his arms at his chest. Keara had
reached her limit of tolerance and tossed her head back as she turned and
walked straight up to the man where he stood.

“Really? It takes a fool to
challenge his captain. Would you be that fool, sir?”

“What goes on here?” Phineas
asked, emerging from his quarters into the sunlight.

“Mister Boston is joining
your crew, and Mister…”

“Hale, Captain. Tobias
Hale.”

“Mister Hale here will be
coming back with me. It seems we have a situation between Mister Boston and a
new crewman. Boston is an exceptional carpenter. And now he’s yours.”

“Welcome aboard, Mister
Boston. It appears you’re our new carpenter,” Phineas said. “Tobias, we’ll see
you in Port Royal.”

“And I suppose I have no say
at all in any of this?” Tommy asked, still cross-armed and now straight-backed,
his cheeks flushed with anger.

 
“The easy answer to that question is “no”.
You’re making this much more than it is. Besides, it’s for your own good.”
Keara turned and nodded at Phineas, taking her leave, but not before Tommy’s
stubborn and foolish nature overtook him, yet again.

“My own good is right. Who
needs that red-haired slut, anyway?” he mumbled, boring a hole in Keara’s back
as she walked away, which caused her to pause.

“I won’t ask you to repeat
yourself, because I don’t have time to play at words with you, Mister
Boston.
 
I’m certain of what I heard.
Please allow me to educate you, since you obviously wouldn’t know a slut if you
fell in one,” Keara exclaimed, drawing a small group of sailors to their
squabble.

“I simply meant…”

“We both know what you
meant. Don’t we?” Keara asked with a smirk. “Gentlemen, you all know Madame
Miranda Shepard, am I correct?” Keara shouted at the increasing crowd as they
flocked like birds to bread crumbs. “You are all privy to Miranda’s charms, am
I right?”

The crewman erupted in a
loud, albeit lighthearted, exchange of chuckles and bursts of hoots and
whistles.
 
Then, the extended palm of
Keara’s hand stifled them like loyal dogs as she swept it past them. “I ask you
all this; is there a man or boy among you who would, or shall I say could, even
think of laying claim to her?” She received a pointed silence with dropped
heads, save for the glances of a few who were bold enough to peek up from their
lowered brows. Not a single audible sound crossed the air but that of the
squawking seagulls.

“Now, my fine gentlemen, is
there anyone who’s had the pleasure of knowing the lovely Miranda Shepard who’d
have the stones to even think of calling her a slut?” Keara asked.
  
She planted her hands on her hips, passing
by each man in the circle she now found herself in with Tommy, as he stood with
his previously broad chest now seemingly emptied of air…and pride.

“You?” she asked a young
seaman, who swiped the cap from his head and clutched it tightly in his hands
whilst lowering his eyes. “Nay, Cap’n. Madame Shepard is a woman of many
charms, but…nay.”

“Anyone?” she continued to
interrogate them one by one until, finally, she’d grown tired of this exercise
in futility, knowing full well there wasn’t a man aboard either vessel who’d
stake a claim or utter a word of disrespect against Miranda. She also held
their purse strings, and even if she’d had them all to play with at one time or
another, they knew who the real sluts were in the game, and they were more than
grateful for the role.

“Really, Captain, is all of
this necessary? I believe we have a mission to attend,” said Phineas at her
side.

“I’ll show you why this is
necessary. You call yourself a Captain?” she hissed under her breath.
 
She continued to address the men.

“You all know Mister Boston
here, I’m sure. Well, apparently, he needs some help understanding how we do
things. It seems that Mister Boston believes it’s his right to lay claim on
Miranda, and then, when spurned, malign her fine reputation by calling her out
as a slut, simply because she no longer requests the pleasure of his company.”

A low, rumbling growl grew
amongst them, and their faces turned from embarrassed, and even amused, to ugly
and angry. Tommy could feel the holes burning through his skin from their icy
stares and was frozen, unable to move and incapable of speech but for a few
garbled noises of deep concern for the preservation of his health and
well-being.

“I’m sorry, alright? I’m
sorry. You’re right. I was wrong to make such a statement against her, and I
take it back,” Tommy finally squealed as if he were a child who’d been caught
in some bad behavior, and was about to face the switch.

 
“According to the code, your apology doesn’t
mean shit. Article number five is very specific in that it states having
complete respect for your mates, under pain of punishment by either the cat or
marooning, depending on the level of the offense as deemed by your captain. I’d
be completely within my rights, as said captain, to have you suffer
either.
 
Unless, of course, I choose
mercy and give you quarter. Since you’ve been with us such a short time, and
although I rarely accept ignorance as innocence, I’ll spare you the
punishment…upon the condition that you stand before these men and proclaim that
you are, in fact, an ignorant pig who, from this day forth, will respect all of
your mates, male or female, and that you, Mister Boston, are, in fact, an ass,”
Keara shouted, as she sauntered around him whilst she spoke.

Tommy’s jaw clenched and his
hair began to stick against his brow with salty droplets of humiliation. His
fingers flexed and then curled into fists so tight his hands turned white from
the wrist forward, in stark contrast to his ruddy forearms. His chin almost
touched his heaving chest, and he was steaming with anger, yet he knew it was
better to play the fool than the dead man.

Tommy slowly raised his eyes
from the boards and swallowed hard, obviously searching for the self-esteem
that was sucked out of him minutes before. “I offer my apology for my most
egregious remark against the honor of Miss…of Madame Miranda Shepard.” His
speech was soft and low, his eyes encircled in red bands as they peered toward
the horizon.

Keara leaned back against
the starboard railing, removed her hat, and fanned herself with it, mocking
him. “Seriously, Mister Boston, we don’t have all day. Just say it, and let’s
all move on, shall we?”

“I’m sorry! I’m a stupid
fucking ass and an ignorant pig, and if I ever lay eyes on Miranda Shepard
again, it will be far too soon.”

“Aye!” the men shouted, as
they again roared with laughter.

“We’ll see you in Port
Royal, Mister Boston. Good day.” Keara nodded and gathered her escorts. “Mister
Hale?
 
Rollo?” she called, turning her
attention back to the longboat, and departing the
Jade
with her head held high, heading back across the calm water to
the
Cutlass
to continue plotting
Ivory’s rescue.

“May I speak, Captain?”
Rollo asked, leaning forward and back, pulling the oars smoothly through the
water as his thick, cocoa forearms swelled and flexed with each stroke.

“Of course. What’s on your
mind?”

“Article five…Mister Boston
was due a harsh beating. Making such an accusation against Madame Miranda
should have earned him ten lashes at the very least.”

“And?”

“You gave him quarter. I
suppose I am only curious as to why you chose to make a fool of him instead.”

“You would have preferred
seeing a man flogged, Rollo?”

“I do not gain pleasure in
the pain of others…unless of course I am the one inflicting it for good
reason—such as upon order from my captain.” He smiled.

“A captain must occasionally
show restraint,” Keara stated, as she leaned back and stared off across the
water.