The Turning Tide (10 page)

A
chair flew across the cabin, smashing into a glass cabinet.

“I nearly had them! They were within my grasp! Two Pirate Lords in one fell swoop—and now Jack Sparrow has escaped…
again
! This is all your fault!”

Barbara gave her husband a disapproving look from the settee. She was wearing a new green silk gown and her hair was impeccably arranged once again, peacock feather and all. “I hope you’re planning to have all that cleaned up before I need to move again. I don’t want to get glass in my skirt.”

“All our plans!” Benedict snarled. “Everything is ruined!”

“Don’t be so melodramatic, Benny,” Barbara said, patting her hair. “You should know by now that I always think of everything. Hand me your mirror, will you?”

Benedict pulled the silver mirror out of his vest pocket and handed it to her. “Why?” he asked. “What happened to yours?”

Barbara rubbed the glass of the mirror three times in a clockwise direction. “Well, my goodness,” she said. “Will you look at that.”

Benedict peered over her shoulder. In the mirror he could see the mast of a ship—and above it a black sail.

“Is that—” he started.

Marcella’s face suddenly appeared, extremely close to the mirror, and both husband and wife recoiled. Marcella seemed to be checking her teeth, grinning ghoulishly at the mirror and turning from side to side. She couldn’t see the couple watching her from the other side.

“I’m waiting for Diego to come down from the crow’s nest,” she whispered to the mirror. “He’s been hiding up there because Carolina is mad at him. But I’m going to show him he doesn’t need any stupid Spanish princess when he’s got
me
.”

Barbara looked up at Benedict, her green eyes glinting dangerously. “Spanish princess?” she echoed. “Didn’t we hear something about a missing Spanish princess from that Portuguese trader?”

Benedict rubbed his chin. “I do remember something like that,” he said. “Hmmm.”

“Perhaps we should see if the Spanish would like to be of assistance in our search,” Barbara mused. “They’re none too fond of pirates either, if I’ve heard correctly.”

“I have another idea,” Benedict offered, strolling to his desk. He pulled out a letter scrawled on creamy white parchment and handed it to his wife. “I’ve received a most interesting offer.”

Barbara smiled, holding the letter delicately with her red nails. “The Shadow Lord,” she murmured. “I think our plans may be complementary, my dear. Look at the watermark.”

He took the letter back from her and held it up to the light. His face darkened. “Villanueva’s crest,” he spat.

“The Spanish Pirate Lord,” Barbara confirmed. “There are secrets within secrets here. I think we could use some of those to our advantage.”

“Jack!” Husband and wife turned back to the mirror, which Marcella was now holding up so she could examine her hair from the top of her head. Behind her, they could see Billy Turner striding across the deck toward Jack Sparrow.

“Jack,” Billy called again. “Diego spotted land ahead.”

“It’s too soon,” Jack called back. “We’ll stop for water, but not for long.” He passed one hand over his brow, looking a little hunted. “Hector, how long till we arrive in Madagascar?”

Contented smiles spread across the faces of both Huntingtons.

Benedict kissed his wife’s hand and headed for the door to give his crew their new heading.

T
he crew of the
Black Pearl
is headed to Africa—and the dastardly Huntingtons are hot on their trail. It will take all of Jack’s crew’s might—as well as some help from an old friend—to get out of
this
one!