Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1)(97)

candlelight flickered as Teach strode to the door. Opening it, he saw Elizabeth’s pinched face as she wrung her hands.

“What do you want?” Teach demanded.

“Please, you have to come with me, sir. Miss Anne needs you.”





3 5 0


Gripping Elizabeth’s wrist, he pulled her into his room and checked the hallway before closing the door. “Where is she?”

“Your father had her taken away, sir. By two mean-looking

men. They were supposed to take her to the White Stag, but my

brother heard them talking and changing their plans. He followed them. Miss Anne tried to escape, but they caught her. I

think she’s hurt, sir. And they’re keeping her in an awful place.”

Shaking his head, Teach closed his eyes briefly against the

surge of white-hot rage. “Who took her? Can your brother

show me where they are?”

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes wide with fear. “Yes, sir. He’s

waiting downstairs with your horse—”

“Is my father in the dining room?”

“No, sir. He asked for his meal to be sent up. You must

hurry. If Margery finds me here . . .”

Teach didn’t need to be told twice. Throwing the bag across

his shoulder, he silently headed for the back stairs. Elizabeth didn’t carry a candle, and there was no moonlight to illuminate the way. Although the rain had stopped, the night was still dark, and they crept noiselessly along the stairwell.

In the courtyard Teach saw the outline of the young groom

where he held Kaiser’s reins in his hands. Teach’s breath escaped in small puffs, the chill in the air biting. “What’s your name?”

Teach whispered, swinging up into the saddle.

“David, sir.”

“And you followed the men when they took Miss Anne?”





3 51


“Aye, sir. I saw her being taken to the carriage. It didn’t look like she was very happy about it, so I jumped on the back once they left the premises. They didn’t suspect a thing,” he said, his chest jutting out with pride.

Teach pulled David up behind him. “I’ll see that you’re

rewarded. Now show me where they are.”

Fearful that Kaiser’s hooves would alert Master Drummond

to his escape, Teach kept to the strip of grass lining the side of the drive.

Once he reached the city streets, he urged Kaiser on. Teach

was only vaguely aware of the lanes they rode along, bloodlust racing through his veins. If she was injured . . .

Forcing himself to breathe regularly, he followed David’s

directions, Kaiser’s hooves clattering along the cobblestones.

The closer they got to the docks, the fewer people they encountered. Most workhands had returned to their families at this time of day, and Teach was grateful for the abandoned roads.

David led him through a labyrinth of small alleys and back—

streets. Teach sincerely hoped the lad knew where he was going.

“It’s just up ahead, sir. That building there on the corner.”

“You’re sure?”

“Aye. I’m sure.”

Teach slowed Kaiser to a walk, Teach’s eyes long accus—

tomed to the dark. The two-story structure David had pointed

to was a ramshackle house, with several boards missing on the

second story and its front door hanging forlornly on its hinges.





3 5 2


The skeletal remains of the surrounding buildings appeared to lean against the other for support, blackened by a recent fire. It was far enough away from any main thoroughfare that no one would think to look here. For anything.

Teach pulled Kaiser up short and slid to the ground, with

David following close behind. One of the charred buildings had a small courtyard and the remnants of a stable nearby. After

leading Kaiser off the street, Teach hid him from view.

They crouched for a moment in the shelter of a stall, waiting

for any sign of movement to come from the building next door.

“There are two men with her, sir. And an old woman. The

two men stay here, but the old woman comes and goes,” David

whispered.

Teach gave David an appreciative look. “How did you know

to follow them?”

David grimaced. “I was in the barn when the two men took

Miss Anne away. They mentioned something about the White

Stag and your father’s ship, the Deliverance.”

“And you’ve watched them?” Teach asked.

“Aye. I like Miss Anne. The men your father sent her with

didn’t look like the sort you’d want to send a lady to, so I

stayed here.”

“Good lad,” Teach said, slipping several coins from his

pocket and handing them to David.

The boy’s eyes grew large, but he handed the coins back to

Teach. “I didn’t do it for payment, sir. Miss Anne’s looked out





3 5 3


for my family, and I didn’t like the thought of her suffering.”

Teach refused to take the coins. “Even more reason for you