My Once Handsome Husband - Chapter 296

The carriage came to a stop in front of the Captain’s grand home as the sun was sinking down into the ocean.  Delaney looked out and down towards the shore.  In the quickly dimming light, the docks with the ships moored there had masts making it look like a strange, floating forest.

The door was opened for them by one of their men while another ran ahead to announce them.  The old man standing in the doorway, presumably a butler, didn’t look pleased to have uninvited guests.

“Is the Captain here?” Delaney asked him as she stepped out.

“There are many Captains who reside here my Lady,” he said evenly, “I’m afraid you’re going to have to be more specific.”

Delaney frowned, “The Captain.  Is Captain Luke Black here?”

“Who is asking?”

“Our man has already told you who we are,” Duncan said in annoyance, stepping forward to stand beside Delaney.

“Is Captain Black here or not?” She asked again, “I have an urgent matter to discuss with him and I know he’ll want to see me.”

“On that, you are correct,” another voice came then, “I always want to see you, Lady Adair… Any chance I get.”

Captain Luke Black stepped from behind the door and Delaney couldn’t help but wonder how long he’d been standing there.  She supposed the life of a pirate wasn’t a particularly safe one so he was probably being cautious.  Or at least she hoped that was what he was doing.

“Captain Black,” she gave a quick curtsey, “I’m sorry we’ve arrived unannounced but I’m afraid it’s very important.  I need to speak to you.”

The Captain looked from her to the butler.  The slightest movement of his eyes, sent the other man on his way, back into the depths of the house behind them.

The Captain stepped forward, leaning against the frame of the door now, arms crossed over his chest.  This curly hair was pulled back and tied with a red ribbon at the nape of his neck.  He wore only a pair of black breeches and Delaney was surprised to see there was a variety of tattoos over his ribs she didn’t know were there along with several gruesome-looking scars.

A mischievous smirk played across the man’s lips as he looked at her.

“Your husband isn’t here I see… What sort of a visit is this?”

Delaney blushed, “I’m-I’m here to speak to you.  It’s about my husband.  He’s very sick, he’s… he’s dying.”

With those words, the amusement fell away from the Captain’s lips and his eyes turned to concern.

“Very well,” he nodded, “Come with me.”

Delaney moved to follow him and Duncan and Bernard moved to follow her.  She had only just made it to the door when the Captain held his hand up.

“I’m afraid I wasn’t expecting visitors so my house is… in a state of disarray… I will take you into my office to speak with you Lady Adair but I’m afraid I must insist your friends wait outside.”

“She’s not going in to speak with you on her own,” Duncan said with a note of annoyance.

Bernard stepped quickly in front of him, looking apologetic, “For the sake of her reputation sir as well as our promise to her husband, we really should go with Lady Adair.”

Captain Black narrowed his eyes on them, “I trust Lady Adair’s discretion but I do not trust either of yours.  So either she can come in and speak to me on her own or we won’t be speaking at all.”

“It’s alright,” Delaney said quickly, stepping forward, “It’s alright I can go speak to you on my own.  They can wait here.”

Her friends looked quite unhappy with this but the Captain nodded.

“Very well… come with me then,” he turned to go but stopped and turned back, “And so all of you know… If any harm comes to her reputation word of it would not be coming from any of my people.”

With that, he held out an arm to Delaney which she took as he moved to walk away.  Behind them, the butler was suddenly there and closing the door in the faces of Bernard and Duncan.

–

As they walked through the house, Delaney looked along the walls at the familiar cages filled with birds.  It was darker here now and the birds were quieter.  The whole house was quiet in fact which seemed strange to her given the number of children she knew lived here.

Something was different about the Captain as well.  He seemed tired and tense.  He walked along without saying a word which was very unusual for him.  Delaney wondered what had happened that had even the King of the Pirates this tense.

They passed door after door, most closed but some opened just a bit.  Delaney heard noises coming from some of them but made sure to keep her eyes straight ahead.  She didn’t know what the pirate king had going on in his house but she had a feeling she didn’t want to know.

At last, they came to a door at the end of a hall.  He opened it and stepped back, arm out for her to enter.

This room was dimly lit but there was a large desk with two chairs in front of it.  The walls were covered in paintings of ships and the ocean and even one of some strange sea creature she’d never seen.

Captain Black signaled for her to take a seat in one of the chairs and she did so.  She expected him to walk around and sit behind the desk but instead, he sat in the other chair next to hers.

“Now Lady Adair,” he turned to face her, “tell me what it is you needed to speak to me about.”

Delaney swallowed as she looked at this man.  Even though they looked so much alike it was hard to believe this was Ian’s father.

“My husband is dying,” she answered quietly, turning her ring on her finger, “The poison… it’s killing him.”

She paused and he sat back, crossing his arms over his chest, “I’m very sorry to hear that… but I’m afraid it doesn’t explain why you’re here to see me.”

“The poison is from a dragon so it’s magical.  It will take magic to save him.  Very powerful magic from a very powerful witch.”

“So you’ve spoken to dear Helena then,” he said with a little smile, “She’s the most powerful witch there is as far as I know.”

Delaney remembered then that the pirate king had once mentioned hearing his future from a witch.  It made sense that it was Helena.

“I have spoken to her,” she nodded, “She says she can help him but there’s something she needs.  Something, I’m told, that you have.”

Captain Black raised one eyebrow, “And what is that exactly?”

Delaney took a deep breath, trying to mentally prepare herself for any answer he might give her.

“I know you and your men took the scales and skulls of the dragons from the fields where the war was fought.  I need a tooth from one of those skulls.”

The Captain stared at her for a long moment.

“I’ve sold nearly all of those skulls.”

Delaney felt panic begin inside her and gripped the arms of the chair.

“I need a tooth from the dragon he killed,” she explained, “You would know which one it is.  It’s bigger than all the rest.  I just need one of the teeth and I’m willing to pay you for it.”

“I don’t want your money.”

“I know,” she said quickly, shaking her head, “I know.  I didn’t mean actual money.  I meant I’ll give you something for the tooth.  I have an estate of my own called Honeywell.  It’s not as grand as this but it’s beautiful and…”

“Lady Adair,” he spoke louder, interrupting her, “I said I don’t want your money.  That also includes anything else you try to offer up to me in exchange for one of the teeth.”

“But-But surely there’s something you want,” she whispered, “Captain Black I-I have to have that tooth to help my husband.  If not he’ll die!”

“And so you shall have it,” he said as he got to his feet.

Delaney looked shocked, “So… So you’ll take Honeywell?”

“Of course not,” he answered as he helped her up, “I won’t take anything for it.”

“I-I don’t understand…”

“You can have the tooth Lady Adair,” he said with a little laugh, “You may have one.  I’ll give it to you.”

Delaney shook her head, “But why would you do that?”

Captain Black sighed then, “Because dear woman, I owe you and I do not like having debts.”

“Owe me?  Owe me for what?”

The pirate king smiled then.

“You saved the life of my son and for that, I’ve owed you greatly.  What better way to repay you for saving his life than by saving your husband’s life?”