Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1)(73)

Stunned, Teach shook his head. “Did you not hear me? I’ve





2 6 0


been accused of piracy. I could be sent to the gallows.”

“My father is a peer of the realm. Once you join your name

with ours, nobody would dare hang you.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to remind Patience that her

father was merely a baron, not an earl or a duke, but he decided against it. His mother had tried to raise him as a gentleman.

“I’m fairly certain Lord Hervey would not share your opinion. Once he hears about this, I’m sure he’ll want to break the arrangement.”

“Nonsense. I know my father. He wants this union.”

Lord Hervey needs this union.

“Patience, it’s no use. This has to end. Even if by some mir—

acle I’m not sent to the gallows, you deserve better.”

She scowled, her eyes hard. “None of this would have happened if you hadn’t set sail in the first place.”

Teach’s own features hardened. She wasn’t at all affected by

the thought of him hanging, nor did she ask him if he was

guilty. She simply blamed him. Just like his father. “I will never regret my year at sea, but I know we would both have a lifetime of regret if we ever married.”

Jumping to her feet, she shook her head at him. “I won’t let

you do this. I won’t!” she cried, and fled the room before Teach could stop her.

Slamming his fist down onto the table, he caused the spoons

and other cutlery to jump. Some of the soup spilled out of the

bowls. Pushing back his chair, he nearly toppled it to the floor.





2 61


With a sound curse, Teach strode from room, heading in the direction of the back entrance. He had to get out of the house, before he lost his sanity completely. He didn’t mind the rain, and he hoped that a ride in the country would do the trick.

Near the kitchen, he stopped when he found Sara alone.

“Has Anne’s meal been taken up to her yet?” he asked.

“She ate before she left, sir.”

“Left where?”

“She went into town with Elizabeth.”

“Did they walk?”

Sara gave Teach a strange look. “No, sir. They took the

carriage.”

Teach didn’t leave. For the next three hours he waited impatiently for Anne to return.

He retired to his room and sat in the large bay window

overlooking the courtyard, as the rain continued to pour down

from the skies. Although it was only four in the afternoon, it

was dark and gloomy, the storm clouds obscuring any light

from overhead.

He must have dozed off at some point, because the next

thing he knew, he jerked awake to the sound of voices. Looking

down at the muddy courtyard, he saw the carriage beside the

stable and two young boys holding the horses. The boys’ thin

shoulders were hunched forward in a futile effort to protect

them from the rain.





2 6 2


He recognized Anne’s cloaked figure as she spoke with Margery on her way inside, while Elizabeth and another young girl, presumably Elizabeth’s other sister, scurried behind.

After racing down the hall, he took the back stairs, and

stopped in the doorway to the kitchen amidst a flurry of activity. Margery and Sara took the young girls’ soaking wraps and

placed them before the fire.

Out in the courtyard the two boys helped the driver unhitch

the horses from the carriage.

There was no sign of Anne.

Teach was anxious in his search for her, his heart tripping in

his chest. Less than three weeks ago he would not have believed he could need another human being this much, but the desire

to see her was overwhelming.

He trailed a path of wet footprints leading to the front of

the house. Anne entered the dining room, still dressed in her

traveling cloak. He followed behind. “Anne?”

She whirled, an object in her hand flying until it bounced

on the rug and landed on the hard wood near Teach’s feet with

a loud clank.

Looking down, Teach saw a silver goblet reflecting the glow

from the fire in the hearth.

It was the goblet his father had given his mother.

And it was one of the items his father had said was missing.





2 6 3


C H A P T E R 2 6

Anne

Anne watched as if in a dream while a range of emotions crossed Teach’s face. Confusion, recognition, disbelief, and finally

anger. He picked up the goblet, his eyes glinting dangerously in the firelight as he turned it in his hand. “Why?” he asked.

The question pulled her out of her daze, and Anne blinked,

wishing she had a clever response to give. She was numb, her

mind unable to respond fast enough. She should have heard

him approach, but had been too intent on returning the stolen

items, her pulse racing.

It had been too easy. She’d gone to Elizabeth’s house and

spoken with her mother, explaining Mr. Drummond’s need of