CHAPTER 26
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 a groom and another maid. Elizabeth’s two brothers, David and Ian, had both volunteered for the job, as well as their sister Kate.
Leaving Elizabeth to help her siblings pack their meager belongings, Anne had made a quick trip to the shop. There they had lain, behind the counter. The two spoons as well as the goblet. Anne hadn’t been able to believe her good fortune.
It appeared her good fortune had now run out. “Margery said you and the Herveys were in your rooms resting.” She could not help the accusatory note in her voice.
“Aye, I was, but when I saw you arrive, I came down because I wanted to speak with you.”
“About what?”
His eyes were those of a predator. “I wanted to know if you would accompany me on a ride.”
“In this weather?”
Teach ignored her question. “Were you aware that this goblet was among the items my father believed had been stolen?” He stopped, his dark eyebrows peaked, but when she didn’t respond, he pressed on. “Did it magically appear in the cupboard? Did you find it somewhere in the house? Some dusty corner of the attic?”
She looked down as shame washed over her, but she wouldn’t embarrass herself further with a poorly told lie.
“Tell me that you found this,” he said with quiet menace.
Shaking her head, she forced herself to meet his gaze. It raised gooseflesh all over her. “I did not find it. I knew exactly where it was.”
“And where was that?”
“At a shop. Near the docks.”
“That was why you didn’t want me to accompany you yesterday.”
“Yes.”
“Why? Why did you do it?”
Something bleak and angry rose within her, a memory of how she’d first felt when she’d arrived at the Drummond estate. “My life here was a prison, a drawn-out death sentence. You of all people should understand that.”
“Perhaps, but I never stole from anyone.”
“You stole from Henry Barrett.”
“He deserved it.”
Anne didn’t wish to discuss the differences between their crimes. She simply wanted to make her point. “In order to escape this house, you threatened to join the navy.”
“But I would never have followed through with it.”
“Which makes you either a coward or a liar.” As soon as she’d spoken, Anne realized she’d made a mistake, but it was too late to take the words back.
Teach went still, his face hard. They stared at each other in wordless challenge. What seemed like an eternity passed.
Letting loose a string of foul words, he stalked toward her, his broad shoulders blocking the warmth from the nearby hearth. “My father must never find out about this, do you understand?”
Anne nodded, determined not to shrink from him. “Believe me, I have no intention of telling him.”
Gripping her by the arms, he gave her a slight shake. “How could you be so reckless? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you if he’d discovered it was you who’d stolen from him? Or worse, Margery?”
Breaking free of his hold, she went to stand before the fire, trying to chase away the chill she’d felt since he’d first discovered her. “I did think about the consequences, but it was a chance I was willing to take. A quick death was preferable to a slow suffocation of my life with Margery or your father—”
“Tell me, do you still regard this house as a prison?”
Whirling around, she glared at him. “At the moment, yes. It feels as if the very walls are closing in, and it’s all I can do to stop myself from running away.”
Teach approached her again, his normally healthy complexion ashen. “Don’t. Please don’t ever run away from me. I understand why you did it. Do you think I don’t know how stifling this house can be?” Cupping her chin, he tilted her head back. “You must promise me never to do anything that foolish again.”
Anne took a steadying breath, grateful she’d been able to retrieve the three pieces and that she hadn’t sold any of the others. “I won’t.”
“Is there more?”
Picturing the chest hidden by the two willows, Anne was nearly smothered by the weight of her guilt. She did not want Teach to know the extent of her stealing. She could not stand to see the look of hurt and betrayal in his eyes again. If she could find the right moments, the other items should be easy enough to return.
Realizing that Teach still waited for her answer, she hated her denial even as she spoke it. “No, nothing.”
She felt Teach studying her, and returned his gaze, trying to convince herself that it wasn’t a complete lie. If she had her way, Mr. Drummond would give her her inheritance, and then she wouldn’t need any of the stolen goods.
But until she was sure . . .
“Will you please join us for supper this evening?” Teach asked. “I cannot endure another meal alone with Miss Patience.”
“And if I choose not to?”
Teach snorted. “I’ll come to your room and drag you to supper myself.”
“You wouldn’t dare make a scene to that extent.”
“When it comes to you, Anne, I would dare a lot of things. I told Patience about the piracy charges.”
Torn between hope and despair, Anne swallowed around the tightness in her throat. “What did she say?”
“Not much.”
“Does Lord Hervey know?”
“Patience might have told him, although I haven’t spoken with him myself. He hasn’t left his room since he arrived.”
Anne took a moment to gather her thoughts. “I wish there were something I could do to help you.” It was in her nature to form some plan of action. Her father had often said that it was better to walk aimlessly than to sit idle, but in this instance she did not know how to change the situation.
“There is something you can do.”
“What?”
Margery came in, preventing Teach from answering. “Master Drummond has returned. He would like to speak with you, Mr. Edward.”
Teach’s head swung around. “He’s back already?”
“Aye, sir,” Margery said. “He’s waiting for you in his room.”
“I’ll be there shortly,” Teach replied.
Margery left as quietly as she’d entered. Anne reached for the watch in her pocket, her fingers shaking. Teach’s eyes held hers.
“Come with me,” he said.
“He asked only for you.” As much as she wanted to find out what had happened, a small part of her was afraid of the outcome. Either way, he was lost to her.
Teach rubbed the back of his neck, his irritation and anxiety clear.
“I’ll wait for you in the library. Come and find me,” she said.
“Always.”