Chapter Eight – Once Upon A Time…
London, 1730 – five years ago…
“…You have my deepest sympathies, Lady Arlington,” the barrister said solemnly, glancing at the signed death certificate in front of him.
Across the desk from him, the recently widowed Lady Arlington sobbed softly into the black handkerchief she held before her face. The black dress and veils she wore couldn’t even begin to describe her grief that her much beloved husband was truly gone.
Beside her, her only surviving son looked equally pale, his father’s death really hitting him for the first time. “A-Are we positive he went down with the ship?” William’s perfectly-cultured voice demanded. “You said they haven’t found the body…?”
The barrister sighed. Cases like these were always the most difficult on the families because they never had a complete sense of closure. “There were no survivors,” he insisted. “The storm was too violent. Several other ships were lost as well. I’m afraid there’s no chance that your father is still alive.”
Lady Arlington let out another sob, and William was instantly at her side, holding on tightly to the only family he had left now.
“I-I see,” he tried to sound strong, but his voice wavered. He knew he was technically a man now, but he felt anything but it at the moment. Nothing could ever have prepared him for taking over his family at this young age. “What needs to be done, then?” He tried to bite back his own tears, but the first drops of salty liquid ran down each of his cheeks before he could stop them.
“Your father’s business accounts were in the process of being transferred,” the barrister informed him. “Lord Arlington was shifting his investments to an entirely different shipping company. A decision must be made quickly on whether to continue the transfer of funds.”
“What does that mean?” William ran an agitated hand through his sandy-blond curls.
“It means that you have a choice to make, Master Arlington,” the barrister informed him kindly. “I recommend that you meet with Lord Abrahms to discuss the business dealings between himself and your father. He can undoubtedly provide more insight into your father’s intentions than I can.”
William nodded slowly. “Yes, quite,” he agreed, still horribly nervous. “I shall do so as quickly as possible…”
* * *
“Now, ‘d known Lord Abrahms’ eldest son for a while before that,” William commented, his fingers tracing over the hem of Elizabeth’s voluminous pale-blue skirt as he spoke. “Both heirs to noble houses an’ all that rubbish – had to run in similar crowds…”
“You know Parker?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief.
William winced. “Wished I din’t, though,” he sighed. “The younger Abrahms is scum, luv. Has his fun with the skirts, then leaves ‘em to pursue his latest conquest.”
Elizabeth gulped slightly. “I had heard as much,” she nodded slowly.
“We ‘ad a fancy for the same lady once,” he admitted. “Cecily Addams – high-society, well-born, an’ such. ‘f course William din’t stand a chance while Parker was there seducin’ her. So Abrahms ‘as his fun and then tosses her aside – with his child, no less. Completely broke her.” Angry tears stained his face. “Couldn’t stand it ‘f he did that to you, too…”
Softly, Elizabeth wiped his tears away with her thumb, placing a gentle kiss upon his brow. “It won’t,” she whispered softly. “I’m yours, never Parker’s…”
He gave her a soft smile at that, but then his face darkened again as he returned to his tale. “So even back then I knew that the son was scum. What I din’t know was that the father was as well…”
* * *
“You have no idea how sorry I was to hear about your father.” Lord Abrahms sat back in the leather armchair and sipped slowly at his brandy.
As a young William sat in the spacious sitting room watching Lord Abrahms’ cool demeanor, he quickly realized that he was completely outclassed. “Th-Thank you, sir,” he said nervously, looking into his glass as if something were about to jump out of it and bite him. “I-I just had some questions…”
“Of course,” Lord Abrahms agreed magnanimously, the dark points of his eyes glittering like a serpent’s in the light from the fireplace. “Your father and I worked together for many years…many profitable years,” he amended. “Our combined investments in colonial shipping made our chosen companies a force to be reckoned with.”
“Y-Yet my father withdrew most of his holdings just prior to his…” William gulped, still unable to express the sentiment, “…trip,” he finished lamely. “Have you any idea why?”
“Merely for convenience’s sake,” Lord Abrahms waved one hand in the air dismissively. “The transfer of bonds requires frequent withdrawals.”
“My father’s auditor seemed to think that my father was moving his business elsewhere,” William commented, thumbing desperately through the notes he’d taken.
“I would’ve known about that,” Lord Abrahms insisted with a tight smile. “I’m very intimately acquainted with my fellow investors’ business activities.”
“Then, perhaps you could tell me what my father intended,” William requested innocently.
“A new…trade route we found,” Lord Abrahms said evasively. “Safer, more favorable winds – that sort of thing. Your father was to inspect it after he returned from his trip to India.”
“And you were his partner in this?” William asked.
“Your partner now,” Lord Abrahms agreed with a sly smile…
* * *
“I was young,” William sighed. “Naïve. I knew nothing of the business and so fell into the very trap my father had been escaping.”
“Your father had been escaping…” Elizabeth repeated slowly.
William flashed her a wry smile. “I had the same thought, but my father’s death still looks like an accident…albeit, a very convenient one for the Abrahms.”
“You’re sure?” Elizabeth raised one eyebrow skeptically.
He shrugged. “Doubt even the all-mighty Abrahms could rig that storm,” he argued. “Besides, my father was too important to try that kinda underhandedness. I, on the other hand, was a nobody who was better gotten rid of…”
* * *
William leaned on the rail of the ship, watching the rhythmic waves of the ocean until they vanished at the horizon, lit up brilliantly by the setting sun. At first he had been quite wary of leaving England for the very first time, but Lord Abrahms had insisted that as the new executive of the Arlington title, he should investigate his father’s businesses himself.
And, much to his surprise, he had found that he rather enjoyed the sea. It soothed his nerves in a way that nothing had done ever since he’d learned of his father’s disappearance. His only regret was leaving his mother behind. She had been ailing more and more of late, as if she had nothing left to live for now that her husband was gone.
He and his mother had never been particularly close, true – she had wanted a strong, athletic son rather than the bookish intellectual that she got – but it still pained him that he was seemingly not reason enough for her to keep going.
But it was yet another problem that the ocean seemed to sweep away. He felt as though he could get lost on the seas, bury everything else until all he heard was the gentle lapping of the waves against the wooden planks of the hull.
All that changed when night fell upon them, however. William had just thought that he had dimly seen the outside of a ship in the pitch black that surrounded them when the first shots were fired…
* * *
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Is there anyone who hasn’t been attacked by pirates?” she wondered.
“Actually, there’s less’n a dozen ships around here,” William pointed out. “’S actually fairly rare.”
“Then it’s just my incredible misfortune?” she teased before a sly grin spread across her lips. “Or fortune, as the case may be…”
His blue eyes twinkled back at her in response. “Can’t say I can bring myself to hate the circumstances that brought me you,” he agreed softly.
One of her hands reached up to stroke the soft curls that had paled to white after years exposed to the harsh sun. They were beautiful, though, and she wouldn’t have him any other way.
“So, I’m guessing you didn’t die,” she jested lightly. “Which means that I’m also guessing that Angel was the captain of the ship that attacked you…”
He scowled. “You jus’ had ta go and blow the big surprise, din’t you?” he sighed in exasperation.
“Let’s just say that I’m starting to see…parallels in our situations,” she conceded.
He let out a low chuckle at that. “You’re a bleedin’ menace, luv,” he whispered softly against her hair. “Don’t know what ‘d do without you…”
“And you’re not kissing me, why?” she demanded, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised.
He couldn’t come up for a good response to that and brushed his lips softly against her own, shutting his eyes and savoring everything about her – her perfume, the warmth of her body, the softness of her lips, the sweet taste of her mouth, and the little mewls that escaped her throat as he set her body ablaze with his passion. Together, they pulled apart, amazed at how the connection between them seemed to grow each time their lips met.
“Satisfied?” he asked with a wry smirk.
“For now,” she agreed with a coy smile. “Aren’t you going to finish your story?”
“Only if you stop interruptin’,” he mock-huffed.
“Promise,” she insisted with a dancing light in her eyes that indicated that she would do anything but.
He let out a resigned sigh but continued nonetheless…
* * *
The battle that had followed had been brief, bloody, and William hadn’t seen any of it because less than five seconds in, he had been knocked unconscious – all in all, not a promising sign for his future well-being.
Nevertheless, he awoke safe and sound – albeit with a splitting headache – some hours later. He was somewhat surprised to find himself lying on a cot, and for a moment he assumed that the crew had defeated the enemy threat and brought him back to his room.
That was until he opened his eyes. The dark-haired man before him had not been on his ship, of that William was sure. He would have recognized the cold, calculating eyes and the wicked smile had he ever seen the man before.
“Awake so soon, my boy?” Angel commented, his accusing ebony gaze never leaving William.
“Wh-Who are you? Where am I?” William stuttered nervously, jerking up into a sitting position and groaning at the pain in his head as he did so. He exploring fingers quickly found a rather large lump at the back of his head.
“They call me Angel. You’re my guest,” Angel said simply, “aboard my ship.”
“Y-You’ve kidnapped me?” William’s heart sank.
“I want some answers,” Angel explained simply.
William was confused now. “Answers?” he repeated.
“The money,” Angel demanded. “Where is it?”
“Money?” William blinked in surprise. “What money?”
“Don’t play stupid with me, boy,” Angel hissed angrily. “I know that coward Abrahms used you as his errand boy.”
“What?!” William was too confused now to be frightened. “My job was merely to inspect the docking ports in Carolina.”
“My contacts informed me that the money would be coming with this shipment,” Angel insisted. “So where is it?”
“I know nothing about any money!” William was just as vehement.
“If you’re in this with that double-crosser…” Angel began menacingly.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about!” William protested.
Angel leaned in close, his eyes narrowed to slits as he studied William intently. The younger man felt a pang of real fear for a second before Angel let out a weary sigh and collapsed back into his chair.
“I believe you,” he said with a sigh. “Looks like I’m not the only one Abrahms set up…”
“Wh-What are you talking about?” William’s voice still shook from the way the other man had stared at him, at the deadly precision in those black eyes.
“Abrahms must’ve leaked the information himself in order to send me on a wild goose chase,” Angel decided, “and you, boy, were the patsy he sent to take his fall.”
“But Lord Abrahms was a friend to my father!” William protested.
Angel laughed aloud at that. “Abrahms has no friends,” he said coldly, “merely…assets. And it seems that both of our value is gone now.”
The first inklings of the truth filtered into the edges of William’s mind as he thought about it. “H-He intentionally sent you after my ship?” he repeated in disbelief. “I could’ve been killed!”
“That, my boy,” Angel said with an amused smile at the youth and innocence of his captive, “was the point.”
“B-But why?” William still couldn’t quite believe it.
Angel sighed. He really didn’t have time to babysit this kid, but he figured he at least deserved to know why all this was happening. “Let’s just say that not all of Lord Abrahms’ ships carry cargo,” he began.
William’s eyes widened. “Are you saying that THIS is his ship?”
Angel chuckled. “Originally, perhaps,” he agreed, studiously examining the point of the dagger he held in his lap. “You see, the best way to ensure good business is to remove the competition…”
More pieces were falling into place by the minute. “My father knew,” William decided. “That was why he decided to withdraw…”
Angel shrugged. He didn’t really care. All he wanted was the money that Abrahms owed him from his last ten attacks. Cargo was well and good, but he didn’t run a cargo ship after all…
“I-I need to get back to England,” William decided. “Report Abrahms’ activities to the government and—”
“They know,” Angel sighed in annoyance at the foolish kid he’d picked up. Oh well, maybe the boy would be useful for scrubbing the decks or something… “They don’t care. After all, Abrahms is nobility. As long as he only attacks the ships of commoners, England will look the other way.”
“H-He attacked me!” William announced triumphantly. “Since I am the heir to—”
“Nobody,” Angel rolled his eyes.
“Pardon?” William asked, confused.
“You’re nobody yet, kid,” Angel informed him. “Hell, Abrahms probably already has you listed as dead and is delving into your family estate as we speak.”
“Then I must get back on once!” William exclaimed. “Mother—”
“Too late, my boy,” Angel informed him. “But,” a smile lit up his face, “if you want to get revenge on Abrahms, there are…other options…”
* * *
William chuckled. “You should’ve seen the _expression on Angel’s face durin’ the first battle I stayed awake for – took out eight ‘f the enemy, an’ I din’t even know which edge of the sword was which. Got me right outta the kitchen and onto to deck. Became somethin’ like his protégé after that…”
“So, the two of you attacked Abrahms’ ships,” Elizabeth concluded.
“Abrahms ‘imself was untouchable,” William agreed. “But his investments…”
“You intentionally bankrupted the family,” Elizabeth said with a little huff. “You’re the one who set about the unfortunate events of my arranged marriage.”
William raised an eyebrow at that. “Was a money thing then, was it?” he said with a sly grin. “Turned out best for the both ‘f us then…”
“I can’t say I object to seeing Parker getting quite thoroughly screwed over,” she agreed with a little smile.
His eyes widened in surprise. “Been hangin’ around Anya too long, I reckon,” he teased. “You’re startin’ to develop a bit ‘f a mouth.”
“Whereas, I was known for my dainty, polite conversation before,” she couldn’t help but retort sarcastically.
His chest vibrated with a deep, rich chuckle at that, and she lay her head over his heart, savoring the sensation.
“Although,” she added with a little smile, “you really have no right to criticize my speech. The way you talk, I would think you’d grown up on the streets.”
“S’pose ‘ve gotten a li’l…rough around the edges over the years, pet,” he agreed, “but ‘s all part of my charm.”
She rolled her eyes. “By whose definition of ‘charm’?” she demanded.
“Yours, apparently,” he countered, “seein’ as you’re curled up in my lap an’ all.”
She pulled away slightly and sat up so that she could look straight down into those deep cerulean pools. “Rough around the edges,” she agreed softly, “but still every bit the gentleman…”
His eyes widened when her lips crashed down upon his with enough force to send him falling backward onto the soft sand of the beach. He had no clue where she’d learned to kiss like this – it had to be pure instinct – but he wasn’t about to complain.
Her body fell atop his, pressing down against him, as her tongue carefully traced all the contours of his mouth, fully exploring the moist cavern. She stroked his tongue languidly, slowly stoking a raging fire deep within him.
His body responded, becoming hard beneath the grinding of her hips, but she didn’t let off until she finally deemed that he had been well and truly kissed.
“Luckily for you,” she said with a wry grin when she pulled away, “I’ve never been much of a lady.”
“Lucky…” he agreed breathlessly.
“So,” she lay down upon his chest, quite content to remain there on the beach, her body tangled with his, for eternity, “why aren’t you and Angel still fighting the good fight?”
He snorted derisively. “Let’s just say that the grand ponce is an opportunistic bastard…in more ways than one.”
She looked up at him curiously. “Clarify?” she demanded.
He let out a weary sigh. “A woman,” he sighed. “Innit always? Snatched her right out from under me…”
Elizabeth brow furrowed to a scowl.
“Metaphorically speaking, that is,” he quickly clarified. He shrugged. “Drusilla was more Angel’s type anyway. A quick romp an’ then gone.”
“And, yet, you’re still mad at him,” she pointed out, still a bit ticked at the image of another woman in his arms.
“That an’ he abandoned our li’l revenge a few years back. Wasn’t profitable enough for him,” William sighed. “So I set off on my own.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of it?” she whispered softly, her voice barely audible over the regular waves of the sea. “Constantly living for revenge?”
“For so long, I ‘aven’t had anythin’ else to live for,” he murmured against her hair. “Until now…”
She looked up at him in surprise. “You mean…?” she began hesitantly.
“’ve never met anyone like you before, ‘Lizabeth.” He pulled her down to him so that their foreheads rested together. “When I met you, I met my match.”
“And I, you,” she agreed, a feeling of deep, warm contentment seeping into her bones as she lay there with the man she… She started a bit at the thought before letting a soft smile creep upon her lips. “I love you, William,” she admitted.
“Love you, too,” he agreed, tilting his head to give her a quick kiss. “Y’know,” he commented thoughtfully, “’ve actually built up a decent fortune over the past five years. Was thinkin’…you, me, nice big villa down in South America…”
“Mmm,” she murmured, “sounds wonderful.”
“’S a plan then,” he agreed with a small smile.
“A perfect one,” she agreed before leaning in to kiss him once more…
TBC
Skull And Dagger
Chapter Nine - One Last Stand
If her father had ever given her any good advice, it was this: A woman should never trust what a man promises to her in heat of passion. And, right now, Elizabeth was practically seething at the truism of it.
Having returned to the dinning hall, Elizabeth and William had taken their seats once more, although William had strategically placed himself between Angel and Elizabeth this time. He gave his former captain a cold look and returned to his food.
Angel opened his mouth to speak, but a harsh glance from Xander shut him up immediately. Elizabeth wondered what on earth could’ve transpired to make the pompous and confident Angel actually listen to Spike’s first mate. She figured she could probably get the story from Anya later.
The ice that had fallen upon the dinner was soon broken, however, when a blond woman dressed in the most diaphanous thing Elizabeth had ever seen approached Angel and whispered something into his ear. He seemed to freeze in place for a second before casting a nervous glance in William’s direction.
William’s own eyebrow rose in response, and he intently watched the pair continue to whisper back and forth frantically for a few seconds before the blond slipped from the room once more. “Still holding up with Darla, then?” he inquired casually. The steely glint in his eye indicated all too clearly that he demanded to know the subject of their conversation as well.
“She’s a pleasant distraction,” Angel said simply. “Shrewd, too.” He took another swig of his ale. “Has ears all over the world.”
William’s head tilted to one side as he studied Angel. “Oh?” he tried to sound disinterested as he took a bite out of his bread.
“Something you might want to know,” Angel agreed with a sly smile.
Elizabeth had some sense of foreboding and let her hand under the table stray to William’s knee, seeking comfort from his touch. His tensed body relaxed an almost miniscule amount under her caress.
“And what would that be?” William inquired.
“It seems some old ‘friends’ of ours still have a few contacts somewhere high up,” Angel seemed to delight in teasing his former first mate.
“ ‘Friends’?” William hated taking the bait, but patience had never been one of his virtues.
“Old man Abrahms,” Angel leaned back with a sigh. “He’s a persistent bastard, gotta give him that…”
William was squeezing the knife in his hand so tightly that Elizabeth feared that the handle would snap and he would hurt himself. Cautiously, her hand moved above the table and she caught it from him, blushing slightly at the display of affection in front of all these strangers. Not that many were paying attention to what she was doing, of course.
“Abrahms is broke,” William said calmly. “And all his associates know better’n to deal with him if they want their shipments to get through…”
“True,” Angel agreed, taking an almost delicate sip from his goblet, “but there is one distributor that need not fear pirate attacks…”
William’s brow furrowed for a minute, and Elizabeth bit her lip.
“The navy,” she finally said softly, eyes widening when the answer came to her.
Angel raised his golden goblet in her direction. “Smart girl you’ve got yourself there,” he said with a quick flash of the seductive smile he’d used on her earlier.
William shook his head. “Abrahms’ power is entirely in business,” he insisted.
“Was, my boy,” Angel corrected. “It seems the old swine’s figured your little scheme out at last.”
Xander frowned. “There’s no way the navy would agree to deliver Abrahms’ shipments,” he insisted.
“It would be a waste of British Naval resources,” Anya agreed perkily.
“Like I said,” Angel said with a shrug, “friends in high places.”
William’s brow furrowed. “’m not about to attack the navy,” he finally commented, taking a deep swig of his own ale. “Hate to let Abrahms get away, though…”
Elizabeth frowned at this. It had been, what? Less than half an hour ago that they’d been discussing retiring to a sunny villa? “There’s nothing you can do about it,” she informed him somewhat primly.
“The girl’s got a point,” Angel agreed. “Tough luck is all.” A hint of a smile twitched at the edge of his lips. “Unless…”
“Unless what?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. William wasn’t actually falling for this, was he?
“Abrahms has taken heavy losses,” Angel answered, “due to your tireless efforts, of course…” He raised his goblet in William’s direction.
Elizabeth felt about ready to strangle Angel for his over-dramatic theatrics. Why couldn’t he just spell it out?
Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who thought so because at that moment the previously silent Giles finally couldn’t stand it anymore. “Would you get to the bloody point already?” he demanded, annoyed.
The entire room paused and blinked at the language the priest had chosen to use.
Giles’ face flushed slightly, but then he shrugged it off. “Well, it was damn irritating!” he defended himself, daring anyone to comment on this latest blasphemy.
“The point,” Angel interrupted the awkward silence that followed, more than a little amused himself at the priest’s antics, “is that Abrahms only has two offices remaining. On in London and a second along the coast that he uses for shipping.”
“His cargo ‘as to go through there,” William realized, his eyes narrowing in a predatory manner.
“It would be impossible to defeat a navy ship,” Angel agreed, “but if Abrahms’ shipments were destroyed before they even entered the navy’s hands…”
The sinking feeling in Elizabeth’s stomach increased as this new line of conversation progressed. She could tell by the glint in William’s eye that he was sorely tempted by Angel’s plan.
“It would be suicide!” she insisted, somewhat illogically, in the hopes of discouraging the man she loved from taking up this dangerous mission.
“Not necessarily,” Riley commented for the first time. “A sneak attack at night, burn the place down, and then no more Abrahms.”
“The port’s to the north,” Angel added his input, “far from regular naval patrols.”
“We could be in and out before anyone was the wiser,” Xander was picking up on the rising enthusiasm as well.
“And we were headed to England next anyway…” William said thoughtfully.
Elizabeth cast a desperate look in Anya’s direction. Her friend nodded in realization at Elizabeth’s desire not to see this carried out.
“I don’t particularly enjoy having orgasms in high-stress situations.”
The room was stunned silent for a second.
Anya sighed at the general cluelessness of men. “That means that we wouldn’t be able to have sex if you make this attack,” she spelled it out for Xander.
Xander’s eyes widened in horror. “Wait a minute,” he abruptly changed his mind. “Maybe we shouldn’t attack. You know, it’s dangerous and…dangerous…” he finished lamely.
William eyed Anya skeptically, apparently oblivious to Elizabeth’s desires. “Didn’t seem to mind it before,” he commented curiously.
“There was no danger then,” Anya tried desperately to concoct a remotely plausible story. “This is much…more…dangerous…” Her lower lip jutted out at the lameness of that excuse.
“In fact, we should probably disembark if you’re going off on such a dangerous venture,” Elizabeth took up the ball since Anya had so spectacularly dropped it. “We should remain in South America.”
“Wait a minute!” Anya screeched, dropping all pretense. “I’m not leaving Xander! I need my orgasms!”
“But you wouldn’t be getting any because you wouldn’t be sleeping with him, remember?” Elizabeth reminded her through gritted teeth.
“Oh…yeah,” Anya agreed with a nervous laugh. “I…forgot?” She let out an annoyed sigh and decided to go with bluntness since her attempts at subtlety had failed so miserably. “Elizabeth doesn’t want you to go because she thinks you’re going to get yourself killed,” she informed William pointblank.
William turned to Elizabeth in surprise, noticing the extreme worry in her face for the first time. “There won’t be any danger,” he assured her, his hand reaching up to cup her cheek. “We’ll go in at night, real secret like. Be out before anyone’s the wiser…”
“You’ll be in England,” Elizabeth bit her lip nervously. “If they catch you…”
“Shh,” he leaned into her, his thumb brushing over her lips, and the rest of the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them. “They won’t catch me, luv,” he assured her. “Haven’t managed it in the last five years. This won’t be any different…”
“What if it is?” Her gaze lingered over the now-familiar planes of his face. “I thought…you and me…just the two of us…nice little villa…”
“We will,” he insisted, giving her hand a little squeeze. “This could be it. Abrahms’ finished off once an’ for all… Jus’ this one final attack, luv.”
“I see,” she pulled away rather harshly. “And I suppose the next five attacks after that will also be the ‘final’ one.”
“I promise you,” he practically begged. “Let me finish this, give us both a fresh start when ‘m done…”
“I like the start we have now,” she persisted.
“So do I, kitten.” He leaned in once more, and this time she didn’t pull away, allowing their lips to lightly brush. “I need this, though,” he pleaded. “I need it to end.”
She let her eyes drift shut, hating the choice she had to make but reassured by his nearness at the same time. “Only if I come with you,” she finally conceded. “We will share in the danger equally.”
A small smile curved at the edges of his lips. “Wouldn’t ‘ave it any other way,” he agreed.
The room watched, fascinated, as the blond pair met in a passionate kiss. As their lips lingered upon each other’s, however, everyone eventually returned to their meals, trying to pick up the conversation around the interlocked pair at the table.
“I take it you’re going then?” Angel asked hopefully.
“I’d say that’s a yes,” Xander cast an amused glance in William and Elizabeth’s direction. She had managed to insinuate her way into her lover’s lap, oblivious to all onlookers, and even watching the way her hips were grinding made Xander hard.
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who was turned on. “Xander?” Anya licked her lips as she studied the pair.
“Yeah, Ahn?”
Her eyes never left the blond pair as she lifted her hands, the fingers of one hand forming a circle while the index finger of the other thrust in and out of it several times.
“Yeah, Ahn,” Xander agreed, catching her hand and practically dragging her from the room…
* * *
Lord Abrahms looked up from the account-book in front of him with a scowl. The messenger nervously walked up to the massive oak desk that Abrahms always sat behind while at work, making him seem to tower above all those who entered.
“Well?” Abrahms snapped. “Do you have word?”
“Our ally had the message delivered, and the trap is set,” the peon agreed nervously.
A wicked leer curved across Lord Abrahms’ lips. “Then all we need do is wait for the bait to be snatched up.” His hand clenched at the paper before him for emphasis. “And, then,” he added with a satisfied smile, “William the Bloody will be no more…”
* * *
“You said I could come with you!” Elizabeth repeated, eyes flashing dangerously.
“And you are!” William insisted just as vehemently.
“By what definition does standing around on the beach waiting for you count as coming with?” she demanded angrily, her cheeks flushed from the heat of their argument…or perhaps from the nearness of their bodies.
Paradoxically, as their minds warred, their bodies curled up together on William’s mattress, Elizabeth’s skirts encircling them both, their arms wrapped around each other, and her head resting in the curve of his shoulder. It was a testament to how well matched they were that neither found the seeming contradiction at all troubling. Rather, arguing while holding each other seemed perfectly natural to both of them.
“You don’ actually ‘xpect to help burn the place down, do you?” he demanded.
“If that’s what you are doing, then that’s what I am doing,” she retorted.
“What happened to that persistent morality ‘f yours?” he countered. “Arson’s not exactly ladylike.”
“I’ve never been much of a lady.” She batted one hand in the air dismissively. “Besides, you are working for justice, righting a great wrong-”
“Oh yeah, ‘m a bleedin’ hero,” William rolled his eyes sarcastically.
Her expression softened as she looked up at him. “You are handling the fate life gave you as best you can.” Her fingers lightly traced the outlines of his strong features. “And, yes, that does make you a sort of hero…”
He sighed. “You think too much of me,” he said wearily, leaning his forehead down to rest against hers.
“I think you a good man and a true gentleman…as well as my love,” she whispered back with a soft smile. “And I am never wrong about these things.”
The edges of his own lips lifted into a shy smile at that. “Have I told you lately that you are amazing?” His accent reverted to its old upper-class patterns for a moment.
“Not recently enough,” she teased.
“You’re amazing,” he accepted her bait with a grin, leaning in to steal a kiss from her soft lips. “I love you,” he murmured against her hair as they broke apart.
“And I, you.” The arm flung about his waist squeezed him more tightly to her.
They lay like that for some time, completely content to just be together in the other’s embrace. It was William who reluctantly broke the comfortable silence between them, however.
“I need people to watch the coast,” he began the argument anew. “Make sure nothin’ blocks our escape route…”
“Xander can do that,” she insisted, eyes narrowed. “I’m coming with you.”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “No, you’re not,” he insisted.
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Am.”
“Not.”
“Am.”
“Not! And ‘m the captain so that’s final!” he commanded.
* * *
“A hand would be appreciated,” Elizabeth informed him primly from where she was stuck, half-climbed over the fence behind the building that housed Abrahms’ shipping offices.
With a resigned sigh, William helped her over, his hands practically reaching around her slim waist as he brought her gently to the ground. Even he had to admit that she’d been wise to forego her skirts for this mission. He still didn’t think she should be with him in the first place, but as he didn’t seem to have any say in the matter, it was at least a good idea that she had dressed herself in his spare clothing, if a bit…distracting.
His clothes were large on her, true. In fact, she had rolled the pant legs up to about half of their normal length. Nonetheless, the dips and curves of her body were far clearer in her current garb than the normal layered skirts that surrounded her.
William’s attention snapped back to matter at hand when Riley and Forrest climbed over the fence behind them, Riley handing the can of kerosene oil to William before he made the final jump.
William handed it back to him when they stood together once more. “Surround the building with the oil,” he instructed in a whisper. “Elizabeth and I shall light the fire inside.”
Riley nodded, and he and Forrest set off on their appointed task.
“Up for a bit ‘f arson, luv?” William asked lightheartedly, offering his arm to her as they headed for the back door.
“You sure know how to treat a lady, don’t you?” she teased, pressing a gentle kiss into his palm before stepping away so that he could pick the lock on the door.
“’S part of my charm,” he agreed with a little wink. He twisted the two thin pieces of metal into the lock, and they heard an audible click.
“After you, milady,” he said with a sweeping gesture, opening the door for her.
She stifled the laugh that bubbled up in her chest and entered the small office building. William followed behind her, his arm slipping about her waist in a loose embrace as they searched for the optimal place to begin their fire.
With William holding her close and the flush of excitement and danger lighting up her face, Elizabeth almost wished that their lives could always be like this. Perhaps they could return to this on occasion, just for old time’s sake and all…
However, even as she thought it, the hiss of matches lighting sounded all throughout the empty room. The pair started in surprise when they first discovered that they were not alone and were, in fact, surrounded.
“I wouldn’t move if I were you,” a young man bearing a musket instructed them.
Elizabeth’s hand reflexively clutched over William’s heart in response, as if that simple gesture could defend her love. He, in turn, seemed to be trying to shield her from the enemy as he searched frantically for an escape route.
“William the Bloody,” a cold voice sounded throughout the room. “We meet at last…”
“We’ve met before, Abrahms,” William’s eyes narrowed as they honed in on the source of the voice.
“Have we?” The older man stepped into the light then, his face looking harsh and skeletal in the flickering candle flames. “I can’t say that I recall you…”
“You ruined my family,” William hissed angrily.
Lord Abrahms let out a short bark of laughter. “Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down, boy?” he retorted.
William’s eyes darted back and forth among the men that surrounded him. There were three dressed as police in addition to Abrahms and two others that seemed to be in the Lord’s employ. Not good odds, but not impossible, either. Especially since the man with the gun seemed to think the situation was well under control.
William’s head inclined slightly in the direction of the table behind them, and Elizabeth caught the gesture, reaching for the heavy inkblotter that rested there.
“Can’t say ‘m surprised,” William responded to Lord Abrahms’ last comment, hoping to lull the enemy into a false sense of security. He himself inched behind the large wooden table in the center of the room. It meant that he had to distance himself from Elizabeth, but he trusted that she would keep her cool without him. “They call me the pirate, but you’ve ruined far more lives.”
“And I should care, why?” Lord Abrahms waved his hand in the air disinterestedly.
“Because sooner or later, ‘s gonna come back to haunt you.” William stepped back further into the shadows, an evil smirk on his face.
The armed constable cocked his gun in warning, his attention focused entirely on William…and didn’t see Elizabeth’s blow until it was too late. The gun went off just as the blotter struck his brow, knocking his aim askew.
There was a second’s hesitation before the other two officers rushed William, but it was all the time he needed to overturn the table, knocking them both to the floor.
He and Elizabeth both darted for the exit in that moment as Lord Abrahms stood there sputtering, speechless. Their hands met just as they reached the door and linked together before they ran…
Yeah, we had to get back to the plot sooner or later. Life's rough, isn't it? ^_^ As always, reviews are much appreciated. Plus, they make the juicy Spuffiness come faster. ~_^
Skull And Dagger
Chapter Eleven - Hope and Despair
“Let me go!” Elizabeth screamed, struggling to free her hands from where Riley pinned them down to the bed.
He gave her a nasty sneer. “Playing hard to get, huh? Honestly, bitch, who do you think you’re fooling?”
She screeched in anger at this and lashed out with her booted foot, kicking him squarely in the shin.
His eyes widened in pain, and he struck her hard across the jaw in response.
Elizabeth felt blackness trying to overcome her and just barely managed to bite it back. Even so, it felt like her head was spinning drunkenly, and she didn’t have the conscious thought to struggle as Riley tied her hands roughly to the headboard.
By the time she regained herself, he was tying her last ankle, leaving her spread-eagled on the bed. Elizabeth couldn’t help it then; she let out a little sob.
Riley glared down at her in response before his gaze turned cold. “It’s about time someone put you in your place,” he sneered.
“Why?” Elizabeth didn’t want her voice to sound so desperate, pleading, but the emotions escaped, nonetheless.
“I saw you first,” Riley said simply. “That makes you mine.”
“You led a mutiny just over me?” Elizabeth couldn’t help but mutter the implied “idiot” at the end of that statement.
Riley let out a cold, heartless laugh. “Stupid little girl,” he shook his head. “You honestly think you mean anything to me? That you’re worth this? Well, allow me to enlighten you then.” His hard eyes bored into hers. “You’re nothing, you whore!”
“Then, why?” she was hopelessly confused now.
“William!” Riley practically spat the word out. “I saw you first, yet he still took you from me! Just like he takes everything else...” He leaned over her, and she hated herself for flinching. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that you whored yourself off to him,” he began casually, almost conversationally. “After all, that’s what they all do. Like he’s something special, something better...” His voice turned icy once more. “Tell me, harlot, just what is it all you women see in him, anyway?”
“H-He loves me.” Elizabeth’s voice was shaky with fear, but she said this statement with complete assuredness.
Riley laughed. “I hate to break it to you, but there’s no such thing as love.”
His fingers trailed down the side of her face, and she turned her head away from him. She received a harsh slap in response and reluctantly didn’t move as he traced her cheek once more, fighting back her tears. This was such a horrible mockery of the way William had touched her. His gentleness, tenderness, the love in every gesture, the way he made her burn for more...
“There’s only power,” Riley continued in an almost-whisper, “possession, control... And now it’s mine.” His hand drifted down to the front of the shirt of William’s that she was still wearing.
The thought of being separated from the last reminder she had of him was too unbearable to contemplate, and she grasped for anything to distract her attacker. “You’re wrong!” she hissed vehemently. “He loves me! It’s real! Just because you can’t love-”
“What did you say?” His eyes flashed dangerously as his hand gripped her throat roughly.
She didn’t care then, though. Death was preferable to being violated by this criminal while her true love was hanged. “You’re so green with envy it’s pathetic,” she practically spat at him. “You just can’t stand that he’s a better man than you in every way.”
She did pass out briefly from the force of his blow then. It was only for a moment, however, before she woke to the sound of him ranting like a madman.
“-and chose Harris, of all people, as his first-mate! Harris! Like he’s any better than me? That boy?! The only reason he did it was because he knew I was too strong, too powerful to control-”
“Or because you’re a crazed drunk,” Elizabeth muttered under her breath, but Riley was too caught up in his own speech to hear her.
“But now, finally, I’ve won, taken everything from him...” His hand traced over the curve of her thigh, displayed so revealingly through the pants she wore.
“Touch me and you’ll never have me!” she snapped, somewhat illogically.
However, to Riley’s mind, it made perfect sense. “Yeah,” he agreed thoughtfully, “I’ll make you mind completely, just like he did.” He chuckled slightly to himself as he pulled away. “Keep you tied up in here, completely under my control...watch you fall in love with me the same way you fell for him. And then, when you beg for me like you did for him, I’ll show you who the real better man is...”
Elizabeth gulped and remained silent. She’d pretty much resigned herself to being violated by him, and now that she seemed to have a viable way of averting this, she wasn’t going to rock the boat...metaphorically speaking, of course.
“I’ll make you love me the same way he did,” Riley announced in sudden triumph. “Then, everything of his will really be mine...” He was so delighted by this prospect that he didn’t bother to spare her another word before he left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
And it was only then, still bound to the bed that she and William had embraced upon only too recently, that Elizabeth finally allowed herself to break down.
She cried for the man who until so recently had been constantly at her side. She cried for his fate as well as for her own. She cried for her lost love, and the love that was never fully consummated. And, beyond all else, she cried for the fate that would undoubtedly befall her the instant Riley learned that he could take her whereas she had never allowed William to...
* * *
William sat on the dirty floor of his dungeon cell, the dire expression of one who knows he is about to die on his face. There was an eerie silence and stillness to that place - and emptiness - that made his fate seem all the more cruel.
What was it, only twenty-four hours ago, that he had lain in his Elizabeth’s arms, planning a life of paradise? And now Finn...
He choked out a sob that his once-second-mate could be breaking the woman he loved right now. The thought was too terrible, too unbearable, to consider, and he quickly distracted his mind.
A rueful smile graced his lips at the thought of Elizabeth, standing proud and tall - well, short, technically... - nailing Riley right between the legs with the hard toe of her show, bashing him over the head with various blunt objects, stabbing, jabbing, poking...
A wistful sigh escaped his lips at the memory of her, nose turned up haughtily, hazel eyes glaring defiantly, all feisty and outraged. Yet so sweet and yielding to his touch as well, melting into his arms after she’d tried one of her many plans to attack him, cheeks flushed from the fight, panting heavily, looking into his eyes with such love and fire... OK, so he had bloody weird taste in women, but he’d finally found The One, and now...
No, she’s a fighter, he banished the horrid thoughts from his mind. He can’t hurt her. Not my angel...
And there was the other name he was studiously not thinking about. No matter how difficult he found it to believe, a nasty little voice in the back of his head couldn’t help but point out that Angel and Lord Abrahms had formed an alliance before.
Given that Angel had turned him onto this set-up in the first place...
There was a clang in the corridor outside then that roused him from his thoughts. He heard the sound of a key turning in the lock, and then the massive cell door swung open. Instinctively, he rushed for the opening, only to be jerked roughly backward by the chains that bound him to the wall.
Lord Abrahms merely looked amused by this sequence of events. “I saw to it that you were put in the worst hellhole imaginable,” the older man began conversationally. He sniffed his nose at his surroundings. “Nice to know that someone managed to carry out my orders correctly.”
William refused to be baited. Rather, he let out the most bored yawn he could manage.
Lord Abrahms huffed visibly at the other man’s lack of fear. “I know who you are, boy,” he said coldly.
“Really?” William raised a disinterested eyebrow. “What a coincidence. I know who I am, too.”
Lord Abrahms let out a snide chuckle. “William Arlington,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “I wouldn’t have even recognized you...except for the fact that you’re still a gullible fool, of course...”
That got a rise. William lunged violently once more, but the chains held firm. He scowled up at the other man. “Don’t you have anythin’ better to do ‘n gloat?” he demanded before a ghost of his old smirk crossed his lips. “’Though I s’pose you don’t, seein’ as you’re broke...”
Apparently that was the tender nerve to strike because Lord Abrahms became absolutely livid in response. “You honestly thought you could destroy me, boy?” he taunted. “You think I didn’t have my eye on you all along?”
“So losin’ your family fortune was the plan?” William retorted sarcastically. “Ooh, bloody brilliant, that...”
Lord Abrahms snorted derisively. “Now that you’re dead and gone...” He shrugged. “Let’s just say that I’ve got the right allies to put me back on top shortly.”
“Finn.” William’s eyes narrowed.
“Ah, yes, your friend was more than obliging,” Lord Abrahms agreed. “And, really, what does it matter to him whether he attacks me or my competitors? In another few years, I shall rule the seas once more...”
“’Cause that deal worked so well with Angel,” William retorted.
“I was a bit...disappointed that dear old Liam didn’t dispose of you properly,” he agreed. “But he still has his uses. He did a lovely job selling you into our little trap, after all...”
A frown marred William’s brow. “You’re lyin’,” he insisted. “Angel wouldn’t-”
“Just like Riley wouldn’t?” Lord Abrahms countered. “It’s almost pitifully sad.” He shook his head. “You too much of a fool to see the betrayal right before your very eyes. That’s what made you so easy to ruin. Your father, too...”
“Yeah, about my father,” William refused to be baited. “’E saw right through you. An’ you honestly think ‘m gonna keep my mouth shut ‘bout what you did? By the time my trial is over-”
“Trial?” Lord Abrahms repeated in disbelief. “You can’t honestly believe you’ll have any such thing!”
“This is England, mate. You can’t jus’ hang me,” William insisted.
“Can’t I?” Lord Abrahms said coolly. “You forget how much my name still means.”
“An’ mine as well,” William hissed.
“Except, my boy,” Lord Abrahms gave him a false pat on the cheek, “no one aside from myself knows that the last of the Arlingtons will meet his death by the end of the week.”
William gave him an evil smile, noticing how close the other man had gotten to him.
A look of confusion passed over Lord Abrahms’ face, and it was all the hesitation William needed to make his move.
He lunged forward, wrapping his chains easily around Lord Abrahms’ throat.
However, the old man let out a cry before the strangle hold was complete. William immediately began constricting the metal links, feeling the old man weaken in his grasp.
He was wrestled to the ground before he could choke the life out of the other man, however. Three of the prison guards slammed him back into the wall, loosening the noose around Lord Abrahms’ throat.
The old man rose to his feet, gasping for air.
William lunged again, but the guards locked him firmly in place. He winced when several well-placed blows landed squarely on his ribs. With a hiss of pain, he fell to the floor of the cell, finally subdued.
“Sooner or later, you’ll be destroyed,” he gasped through the pain. “There’ll be another after me, an’ we’ll just keep comin’ until you’re destroyed.”
Lord Abrahms, visibly shaken by his close shave with death, rubbed at the bruises on his throat. “But you will not be there to see it. It will be a pleasure to watch you hang,” he hissed before practically fleeing from the prison...
* * *
“I can’t believe you people!” Anya stamped her foot in frustration, glaring back and forth between the solemn men that were hiding out in the cave with her. “They’re going to kill him!” she insisted.
She got no reply but a few meek nods.
“And who knows what’s happened to Elizabeth!” she persisted.
Still no response.
“Giles?” she pleaded.
“Quite right,” Giles readily stepped up in agreement, glancing around at the defeated pirates. “You all are giving up far too easily.”
“See?” Anya stood directly in front of her lover, pointing to Giles. “Even god says you should go break William out of prison!”
Giles got a decidedly uncomfortable look on his face. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far...” he protested.
Anya ignored him. “I mean, honestly, how many guards can there be? Sure, you lost the ship, so we have no possible means for escape, but...” She stamped the ground with her foot once more. “We can’t just let them die!”
Xander let out a weary sigh. “Ahn,” he began regretfully, “we don’t even know where they took him...”
“We’ll find out then,” Anya insisted. “We can’t give up yet! Elizabeth didn’t even get to have any orgasms yet, and knowing her this is the last chance she’s got...”
“Ahem!” Giles cleared his throat.
“Sorry,” Anya gave him an apologetic look before turning back to Xander. “But, still, she’s my friend, and she’s very hopelessly in love, so we’re going to save her and William, and in the process we get to save your best friend, and then everyone is happy, and we all get many orga-”
“Ahem!”
“-ns,” Anya quickly amended.
She got several odd looks.
“Organs. We can all learn to play the organ,” she improvised on the spot. “Because, you know, they play organs in church and all, and thus it doesn’t have anything to do with sex...” She trailed off at the pathetic-ness of that cover.
“It’s the thought that counts,” Giles assured her, giving her a reassuring little pat on the shoulder.
She brightened visibly at that. “We’ve got to at least try,” she pleaded with Xander.
Xander sat in contemplation for moment before finally nodding. “We’ve got nothing better to do,” he agreed.
“What?” Several cries echoed throughout the cave.
“Not gettin’ arrested...”
“Savin’ our skins...”
“If it were your necks in the noose, do you not think that William would come to your aid?” Giles countered to the few who had opposed the plan.
Grudging apologies were offered in return.
“If nothing else,” Xander decided to compromise, “we might as well at least find out where they took William and Elizabeth...”
“Fort Norbrook.”
The surprise intrusion of the voice caused over a dozen heads to turn.
Graham, who had been subdued and silent ever since he’d ushered everyone to freedom, reluctantly spoke up again. “They’re at Fort Norbrook,” he repeated.
“How do you know?” Xander asked curiously.
Graham winced inwardly. “The reason this location was chosen for the trap was because it’s near Fort Norbrook,” he explained. “Lord Abrahms still operates it - including the prison. That’s where they’ll have been taken...unless Riley took Elizabeth, that is.”
A flash of anger darted through Anya’s eyes at that. “If that rat has touched her-!” she exclaimed, throwing a threatening look in Graham’s direction.
He winced at the thought of Anya’s vengeance.
Xander was more thoughtful, however. “We’re not going to be able to break into a fort,” he commented.
“No,” Giles agreed, pacing as an idea came to him, “but there may be another way...”
* * *
A satisfied smile crossed Riley’s face as he leaned on the rail and watched the empty seas that surrounded them.
“Finally got the girl, huh?” Forrest commented.
“Not yet,” Riley shrugged, “but soon...”
Forrest practically rolled his eyes in response. “You means after all that trouble you didn’t even bother to sample the wares?” he asked in disbelief.
“I’ve got all the time in the world,” Riley insisted, a smug smile on his face. “I’ve already won. There really isn’t anything that can stop me now, is there?”
Forrest merely shook his head in response. He may have been indebted to serve Riley, but one of these days that man’s over-confidence was going to be his downfall...