Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1)(91)

less as she sounded.

“Master Drummond would like to see you. He’s waiting for

you back at the house.”

Anne turned even colder, and her mouth went dry.

Margery stepped away but stopped when she noticed that

Anne hadn’t moved. “I suggest you come with me now. He’s not

in a favorable mood.”

This time Margery waited for Anne to precede her. Anne’s

mind raced with each step. Her pulse drove in erratic surges,

and her chest was tight with fear.

He knew.

What could she possibly tell Drummond about the chest?

He stood in the back door, waiting for her approach. Margery nodded at him before she disappeared into the kitchen.

Motioning for Anne to follow him, Drummond led the

way to the drawing room. He closed the door behind her, the

look in his eyes hard.

“I wished to speak with you about my son.”

Anne’s face grew warm, but she managed to meet his eyes.

It was not what she had expected.

“Sir?”

“What are your plans?” he asked bluntly.

“My plans?”





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“Yes.”

Anne shook her head, perplexed. What kind of game was

he playing? “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Margery tells me that you and my son spend a great deal

of time together. Is this true?”

“We dine together, yes. But that is only to be expected.”

“And is it expected that you take walks together in the garden, or that he show you my ship?”

“Teach asked for permission. You arranged that.” Too late, Anne realized her mistake. Drummond’s mouth turned down at the corners at the use of his son’s nickname.

“Edward did ask me. But I would not have given my permission if I’d known about the nature of your relationship.”

“Sir, under the circumstances, you can hardly expect your

son and me to ignore each other. If you would like, I will take my meals in my room.”

“What I would like is for you to quit my house.”

Although she’d tried to prepare herself for the dismissal, the sting of his words was severe. “Please, let me explain.”

Drummond ignored the pallor of her face, looking ready to

attack. “In light of the circumstances, I think it would be best if you left. I’ve arranged passage for you on the Deliverance when it sets sail.”

“Please—” she began, but he ignored her.

“I have hired a lady’s maid to accompany you. You have

the money your father left behind, although you certainly don’t





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deserve it. That should be enough for you to start a new life somewhere else. I’m prepared to give you more, to ensure that you leave.”

Anger quickly replaced Anne’s pain. “Money is your answer

for everything, isn’t it? If you want to become a member of

the aristocracy, you have only to throw money at a baron. If

someone falsely accuses your son of piracy, by all means, pay

for the constable’s silence. If someone falls in love with your son and wishes to marry him, you pay her off and send her

packing, because you don’t approve of the match. You think

that just because you have money, everyone else has to bow to

your every whim.”

The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on Anne. It wasn’t that long ago that she had planned to do that very thing, leave Bristol and everything behind her, to search for her mother’s family.

But her situation had changed, and the last thing she wanted

was to leave now. Especially without Teach. She’d thought that perhaps, once she and Teach were married, they could visit the islands together.

“Do not make this harder than it needs to be.”

“Harder than it needs to be? You’re asking me to leave

everything I know and love behind.”

Drummond was unmoved by the tears in her eyes and the

desperation in her voice. “So you refuse to leave on your own?”

he demanded.

“I do not wish to.”





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“I didn’t want to resort to this, but I can see that you leave me no choice. There is another matter.”

Anne closed her eyes.

“It has been brought to my attention that several objects in

the household have gone missing.”

“I was going to return everything,” she said, meeting his

condemning gaze. “I never meant to steal from you.”

“What, precisely, did you mean to do?”

“The only reason I took anything was because I was treated

unfairly here and I wanted to escape. I took nothing more than you owed me. Or my father.”

Drummond looked decidedly uncomfortable at the

reminder. “Yes, well, you will have a hard time convincing the constable of that.”

“Are you going to contact him?” Anne asked, desperate to

wake up from this nightmare. How had everything gone so

wrong in such a short amount of time?