Page 11 of The Tempest
“She’s not meant for ye, Declan,” she said, but she motioned him to stand next to her at the rear of the wagon. “But come over here so I can introduce ye. My lady, this is my middle son, Declan. I know ye’ve seen him around, so it’s time ye made his acquaintance. Declan, this is Lady de Tarragona. She’s not tae be trifled with.”
Astria’s gaze fell on the big, handsome man who bore a faint resemblance to his mother. He had brown hair instead of her vibrant red and eyes of the darkest brown that were fixed on Astria with interest. But she clearly had no interest in him, or anyone else, as she struggled to push herself into a sitting position.
“I amnotLady de Tarragona,” she said angrily. “I am Maria Astria Julia, Princesa Real, Princesa of Beira, Duchess of Braganza, Duchess of Barcelos, Countess of Faria, Countess of Neiva, and, by marriage, Duchess of Tarragona. I am my father’s youngest daughter and aunt to the current king, who is, even now, surely gathering a fleet of ships to save me. When he does find me, I will make sure to tell him how horribly I have been treated and what barbarians you are. You are on borrowed time, all of you, so make yourself right with God because soon, you shall meet him.”
She was shouting by the time she was finished, and there was a moment of stunned silence before the entire group standing around the wagon burst into laughter. Astria looked around in shock as the pirates practically screamed with the hilarity of what she’d just said. Maude was actually wiping tears from her eyes. Still laughing, she patted Astria affectionately on the foot and turned to the men around her, lifting her hand.
“Move forward,” she commanded. “We must make Blackchurch by the time darkness falls. I dunna wish tae be late.”
The men moved swiftly to do her bidding, but they were all in a good mood, still chuckling at Astria’s expense. Declan, however, remained at the rear of the wagon, a grin on his lips as he watched Astria fume.
“Dunna take it so hard, lass,” he said. “Ye made a good effort but ye lost. The sooner ye accept that, the better for ye, because we can keep laughing at ye from sunrise tae sunset. And we will if ye keep being ridiculous.”
Astria didn’t think she had been ridiculous. In fact, she was gravely insulted over the laughter because no one had ever laughed at her, or her titles, or anything she’d ever said. When she spoke, men jumped. At least, that was the norm until now.
Now, they simply laughed.
It was a rude awakening.
“Leave me alone,” she said, turning her head away from him.
But Declan didn’t leave. In fact, he grabbed a man that was just walking by, pulling him to the end of the wagon bed.
“This is my brother, Francis,” he said. “They call him the Pope because he prays all the damn time. He willna shut his mouth with all of that praying. And I’m known as Declan the Devil, though ye wouldna think that by looking at me. I dunna look like a devil, do I?”
Astria refused to answer. She was hurt and angry and didn’t like Declan’s subtle attempt to charm her.
“I told you to leave me alone,” she said. “I meant it.”
Declan turned to Francis. “She’s trying tae seduce me,” he said. “I can hear it in her tone.”
Astria looked at him sharply, red-faced. “I amnot,” she said. “You are the last man I would want to seduce.”
Declan was still looking at his brother. “See what I mean?” he said. “She likes me.”
Francis shook his head. “Ye’re delusional,” he said before his attention shifted to Astria. “M’lady, can I bring ye something tae make ye more comfortable? A blanket, mayhap?”
Astria wouldn’t look at him, either, although she’d seen him around over the past month. Francis was very tall, blond, and rather thin compared to his brother, who was big and muscular. He’d never spoken directly to her before, however, and nor had Declan, which told her that Maude must have ordered them to stay away from her.
The only person she’d had any real contact with was, in fact, Maude.
It was possible that Maude simply wanted to control the situation and therefore didn’t want any of her men talking to the prisoner. But it was equally possible that she was trying to protect Astria somehow. These were pirates, after all, and there was no telling what ideas they would get into their heads about a restrained female prisoner. They might even try to steal her away from Maude. Whatever the case, Maude was most definitely watching out for her.
“Nay,” she said after a moment. “I do not need anything except my freedom.”
Francis shook his head. “I canna give ye that,” he said. “But I can bring ye something tae make ye more comfortable if ye wish.”
“Stop trifling with her,” Declan warned. “I told ye that she’s sweet on me, so stop trying tae turn her head.”
Francis, thinking his brother was ridiculous, rolled his eyes and walked away. The wagon Astria was riding in began to lurch forward, moving slowly along that horrifically bumpy road. It didn’t do Astria’s head any good as she struggled to sit up and keep her balance, all the while avoiding Declan’s grinning expression. Since his mother had finally introduced them, he’d decided that it was perfectly acceptable for him to flirt with the captive.
Astria wanted to punch him in the nose.
Keeping her head turned, she kept her focus on the surrounding countryside and not Declan’s smug face. So Maude wanted her for marriage, did she? That didn’t seem like something a pirate would do. Marriages of convenience or for political gain were made by lords and kings, not by pirate queens. But it seemed that the further and further they traveled into this barbaric country, the more her fate was being sealed.
But Astria knew something they didn’t know.
A little secret she’d been hiding.
