Aboard The Vengance: Eleanor's Courtship, #2

By Michelle White

James Patrick’s plan was to have the feared pirate, Redbeard work with him to free his enslaved Irish brothers, but now that he was forced to kill Redbeard he had to make other plans.  And what about this stowaway, how would he be able to keep this secret from his new pirate crew?

Now looking over the horizon, there was a new threat bearing down on his ship…
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle White
• Release date: Dec 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781507098219

Book preview

COPYRIGHT INFO

Copyright 2014 Michelle White

This book is a work of fiction.  The names. Characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental

© 2014

All Rights Reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Digital Edition  Manufactured in the United States of America

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Table of Contents

COPYRIGHT INFO

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

About The Author

Chapter 1

Port Royal Harbor 1686

Aboard the pirate ship Vengance

"What could you possibly have been thinking?"

Utterly incensed, James stared at the drenched and shivering woman standing before him in the small captain's quarters. When he'd first seen her on deck, he had barely been able to believe his eyes. Eleanor Leslie had followed him, from the safety of her home, out to sea and onto one of the most notorious pirate ships in the Caribbean! And it didn't matter how beautifully his wet trousers molded to the curves of her legs or how he could clearly see the fullness of her breasts beneath his shirt- she must be mad!

His mind awhirl, James reviewed the events of the past night in his head. How he had survived, he still wasn't exactly sure, but here he stood- alive and mostly unharmed. After brawling his way out of Port Royal, he'd managed to board the ship Vengeance and had convinced the crew with both his sword skills and his silver tongue to go against their traitorous captain.

What kind of a man held an audience with someone and then attempted to sell them into slavery once their business was done?

An untrustworthy one.

Though the idea had been fairly laughable in his head- pandering to a group of brigands about the importance of morality- the plan had gone surprisingly smoothly in practice. The pirates aboard the ship had turned on Redbeard, and soon the man who had once sought to put James in chains had been fighting for his life.

Though the young man had never savored the idea of taking another man's life, he wouldn't deny the satisfaction he had felt as his blade had pierced Redbeard's heart. The man was a liar, a coward, and slave trader.

But, now that he was dead, James could take that fearsome reputation as his own.

I feared for you, Eleanor finally returned, drawing him back to the present. To his immense surprise, the Irishman found no fear or intimidation in her eyes- only steely determination. When I woke and found the city under attack, my first impulse was to run and find you. But you weren't in your room! Now her tone turned accusing, "You're a pirate? Is that why you truly came to Port Royal? To ply your trade? Though her voice was intense with anger, there was also underlying hurt that made him wince. We took you into our home and you would have robbed my father's ships blind!"

Eleanor, hold. I am no pirate. James held up  hand to put a stop to her accusations, his blue gaze softening. "Though I admit that I did not merely come to Port Royal to court you, it was not my intention to cause harm to a single man. Redbeard started this conflict. His voice lowered in disgust as he spoke. I merely finished it."

Indeed you did. The blonde woman agreed, her green eyes unusually bright as she continued, "You killed him. Him and many more, I'll wager."

Only because they threatened my life. His voice was defensive as he spoke, I sought to meet with Redbeard and ask his assistance. When I received my audience, he not only refused to help me but also attempted to capture and enslave me.

Eleanor's eyes widened and her mouth fell open in shock. For a moment, she grasped vainly for words, and James allowed himself the pleasure of imagining slipping his tongue betwixt her pink, sweet lips. What assistance could you possibly need from a pirate?

Sighing, James ran a hand through his mussed auburn waves.

This woman was all questions.

Before, he'd thought her clever. Now, he realized that perhaps she was too clever for her own good.

But she was here, and there was no way that he could return her to her parents without an explanation, or without wasting precious time. He would have to find somewhere else to take her to keep her safe. In the meantime, he had no choice but to reveal to her his methods, lest she think him no more than a common criminal.

"You do realize how much danger you put yourself in, he couldn't help but continue for a moment, letting his anger play out, moving through a city in turmoil, rowing a boat out into open water along  moving vessel... climbing up rigging never meant to be climbed? You are mad."

And what about you? The feisty blonde's retort held no less fire. You snuck out alone in the middle of the night! You even forgot your pistol! To emphasize her words, she drew something from the hem of her trousers- his stolen trousers- to point at him and he inhaled sharply at the sight of his sodden pistol.

Christ Jesus, Eleanor, give that to me! He