Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1)(57)

To Sara’s mother it could make all the difference in the

world.

“Thank you, An—I mean, Miss Anne. That’s most kind

of you.”

Smiling, Anne remained silent, grateful that the shop front

appeared up ahead. But a sudden shout amidst the crowd drew





2 0 1


her attention. She and Sara exchanged curious looks as answering cries could be heard along the street. People shuffled back and forth, and more than one stepped on Anne’s toes. Almost

as one, the movement of the crowd surged forward, sweeping

Anne up in its wake.

Alarmed, she drew Sara’s arm more tightly through hers as

they were jostled to and fro by the group surrounding them.

“Stay with me, Sara,” Anne cried, her voice rising as she tried to speak above the noise of the throng.

Torsos and shoulders bumped Anne from every side, and

Anne heard the telltale rip of her hem. Unable to see above

anyone’s head, Anne held on to Sara and hoped the two of them

would not be separated. She had no idea what had caused the

chaos. She only wished she could find a way out of the crush.

“Miss Anne!” With a frightened shriek, Sara was torn from

Anne’s side, her eyes wide with fear.

Anne struggled to get back to the girl, but like a drop of

water fighting against a current, it was no use. She lost sight of Sara’s terrified face as more people pushed in around her.

Her own heart pounding, Anne fought a rising tide of panic.

Elbowing her way through the mob and gasping for breath,

it took her several minutes to reach the front stoop of a shop.

It was not her intended target, but at least she was situated

above the rest of the onlookers and had a clearer view of what

was going on.

Two sturdy horses pulled an open cart filled with five





2 0 2


rough-looking men. It was clear they were some sort of prisoners, for their hands were tied with ropes.

People jockeyed for a better position to see the cart, and the

roar from the streets was thunderous. Anne couldn’t tell if the crowd jeered or saluted them, for some people threw produce,

while others threw flowers. Frantic to find Sara and get out of the city, Anne searched for any sign of the girl, but to no avail.

When the cart drew up in front of Anne, she couldn’t help

staring at the men contained inside. They weren’t men at all.

Beneath their scraggly facial hair and unkempt clothing, they

appeared to be only a few years older than Anne herself, and an unexpected twinge of sympathy pierced her heart. She didn’t

know what they’d done, but the hardened expressions on their

faces spoke of a world of adversity and suffering that far sur—

passed her own.

Raising her voice to be heard above the noise, Anne

addressed an elegant woman pressed alongside her. “Who are

they?” she asked.

The woman gave Anne an incredulous look. “Have you not

heard? They’re pirates. Caught stealing from several merchant

ships and bringing their wares here to sell.”

That was why so many people crowded the streets. No

doubt hoping for a glimpse of the bandits. “Where are they

taking them?”

“Back to a ship for transport. They’ve just been questioned

by the local constable.”





2 0 3


Anne stared after the retreating cart, wondering what had driven the occupants to choose such a life. Had they done it to escape something, such as poverty and hunger? Or perhaps

they had longed for a better future and had done the only

thing they could think of to attain their goals. “What will

happen to them now?”

The elegant woman shrugged. “Most likely they’ll be taken

to Execution Dock in London and hanged,” she said, her voice

detached. “That’s where all pirates go to dance the Marshal’s

dance.”

Anne didn’t know what the Marshal’s dance was, but she

knew it couldn’t be good. The woman’s indifference upset her,

although she couldn’t explain exactly why. Anne had never met

those young men, nor did she know if they’d killed anyone. But

their wasted lives were surely worth grieving. Did they have

any family? Someone who would mourn their deaths once they

were gone? If they’d been born under different circumstances,

what could they have achieved?

Watching the progression of the prisoners, Anne and the

rest of the crowd waited until they disappeared from view.

Slowly the throng dispersed, allowing movement once again

along the busy street. Carriages proceeded with caution, and

pedestrians bustled about, the spectacle forgotten as they continued with their daily lives.

Anne remained where she was, trying to control her churning thoughts. Images of the five prisoners hanging from nooses





2 0 4


taunted her, and she resolved to return Drummond’s items as soon as possible. If someone had caught her stealing, she would have found herself in their position.