Chapter 7: Angels Tell No Lies
“William!” A delighted smile graced the face of the man who sat at the end of the table, the seeming friendliness of the gesture subdued by the wicked curl of his lips.
Elizabeth had to admit, she could see why he’d acquired his nickname. Even as he sat, she could tell he was a tall, broad man. His form practically exuded strength and subtle power. His face was no less striking – strong jaw, dark and penetrating eyes, sensitive brow. He was every bit as handsome as he was reputed to be. And, if the evil glint in his eye was any indication, every bit as dangerous as well.
Her own companion was just as dangerous, however, and didn’t cower in the slightest from the living legend before him.
“Angel,” William said evenly, walking right into the center of the dinning room.
Xander was at his side the entire time and, despite Giles’ attempts to hold her back, so was Elizabeth.
Angel cast the young woman a curious glance, looking her up and down and obviously approving of what he saw. His attention quickly turned back to the young captain before him, however, an enigmatic little smile curling the corners of his lips.
“We’ve been expecting you for some time now,” he commented, drinking deep from the golden goblet in his hand.
“Got held up,” William said simply. “Attacked, actually. Right on the way in. You wouldn’t anythin’ ‘bout that, now, would you?” There was a harsh glint in his eye when he met the other captain’s glare.
Angel didn’t even blink. “How…unfortunate,” he responded. “Done something else to set the navy against you?”
“Ghost ship,” William replied. “Pirates. I din’t know better, ‘d think someone set me up.”
“If you didn’t know better,” Angel said simply, raising his goblet in a welcoming gesture. “But, you’ve made it after all. By all means, have a seat. I’m sure your crew is hungry.” He shoved roughly at the man to his left, knocking him from his seat.
The man fell to the ground, blinking up dumbly in a drunken haze. The two women that had been fawning over him were instantly at his sides helping him up.
“That seat,” Angel informed the fallen man, “is always reserved for my former first mate.”
The displaced man, apparently too drunk to really care, wrapped his arms around the two women that held him and made his way from the dinning hall. Several other men got up to leave with him, obviously his friends.
“Still with the high-handed gestures, I see,” William commented, offering Elizabeth his hand so that she could sit on the long bench that lined the table.
“Ah, Will, my boy,” Angel let out a melodramatic sigh, “you expected something different?”
William’s eyes remained cold and calculating. “I suppose not,” he agreed.
Elizabeth raised a curious eyebrow at the exchange, and Angel noticed her reaction.
“I do believe we’re boring your lady, William,” Angel flashed a devilish smile in Elizabeth’s direction. Before she knew it, he had caught her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “And such a lovely creature should never be kept waiting…”
Despite herself, she blushed. What was it about her and pirates? She couldn’t help but wonder. After years of rejection, suddenly two of the most attractive men she’d ever met were looking at her like she was good enough to eat. She couldn’t deny that all the attention was…nice.
“And, if I may ask your name, milady?” The slight Irish drawl vanished from Angel’s voice as he took on more formal tones in addressing her.
“Summers,” she informed him primly, belatedly snatching her hand back from his when she realized she’d let him hold it for fall too long. “Miss Elizabeth Summers.”
“Elizabeth…” he let the syllables of her name roll off his tongue. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
She blushed again.
William frowned. He’d warned her about Angel’s womanizing tendencies, but had she listened to him? Oh no, of course not! Well, if she wanted to flirt with him, then so be it! After all, it wasn’t like he cared…
“Would milady Elizabeth sit at my side?” Angel was absolutely pouring on the charm.
“I thought you said that seat was reserved for William,” she countered, coming back to her usual self a bit.
“Over any man, yes,” Angel agreed shamelessly, “but I’m afraid William is no competition for a charming lady such as yourself.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she turned in surprise when William settled in the seat next to her, leaving her trapped next to Angel. He gave her a wry grin off of her incredulous look.
“So, Elizabeth,” Angel’s hand moved beneath the table so that it just barely brushed against her skirts. They were crowded together enough that it could have been an accident, but Elizabeth highly doubted it. And, unfortunately, the cramped seating arrangements meant that she couldn’t move away. Angel continued just as if nothing were different. “How on earth did a fair lady such as yourself end up with such an…uncouth companion?” He gestured to William with his knife.
Elizabeth snorted in a way that wasn’t ladylike in the slightest. “My ‘uncouth companion’, as you call him, at least has the decency to keep his hands to himself!” she retorted.
Xander coughed and started choking on his drink while Anya patted him repeatedly on the back. Giles’ eyes darted around the room nervously, waiting for them all to be sentenced to death any minute. Riley’s eyes just narrowed at Elizabeth’s latest infraction. William’s face remained indifferent the entire time.
But it was Angel’s reaction that truly mattered, and all he did was laugh, slapping the table with his fist. “A feisty vixen, this one!” he announced in delight, turning to William. “Where’d you find her? I don’t recognize her from the courtesans here.”
“I should say not!” Elizabeth exclaimed with an indignant shriek, cocking her fist to strike with her full force.
William caught her elbow before she could do any such thing, however. “I thought we agreed you’d avoid brawlin’,” he hissed at her.
“I did no such thing!” she informed him primly, yanking her arm free of his grasp. “You just ordered me not to fight. I never agreed to anything.”
William’s eyes flashed, and the muscle in his jaw began to tick.
Angel laughed again at William’s obvious frustration. “Haven’t completely tamed her yet, have we?” he taunted, taking another sip of his ale. “She’s a pretty thing, though. Well worth the wait…”
“Oi!”
“Hey!”
William and Elizabeth both lurched out of their seats simultaneously, both intent to defending Elizabeth’s honor.
Anya merely rolled her eyes. “They’re not actually having sex,” she informed Angel from her seat between Xander and Giles. “We’ve had people listening at their door for days now.”
Elizabeth’s face turned a deep maroon at this, and William’s cheeks darkened slightly as well.
Angel’s smile merely grew. “I would’ve thought you’d have had the sense to snatch this one right up, Will,” he commented, his eyes raking up and down her body once more, “before someone else beats you to her…”
William didn’t bother to stay Elizabeth’s blow this time. Unfortunately, despite her practiced skill at kicking between the legs and bashing people over the head with blunt objects, her slap wasn’t much more effective than any other woman’s.
Angel barely even flinched, but that deadly light lit up in the backs of his eyes as he chuckled in response. “A word of…friendly advice,” he leaned in close so that she could feel the warmth of his breath, “William’s not quite the biggest fish in the sea. That means if you piss off the wrong people,” his hand came up to cup her chin, making her gulp, “he’s not going to be able to protect you…”
“Angel.” William’s voice was tight, and he reached over to put a warning hand on the other man’s arm.
Angel laughed again at that, his seemingly abrupt mood changes from jovial to deadly frightening Elizabeth more than his words had. “Luckily for you,” he turned back to his drink, “I don’t hold grudges. Innit that right, m’boy?”
William merely gave him a tight smile in response.
“So, er, yeah.” That was Xander, desperate to change the subject. “We heard you ran into some trouble down in South America.”
Angel batted one hand in the air dismissively. “Nothing of importance,” he insisted. “The Spaniards‘re too caught up in their own problems to pay me the slightest attention.” The glint returned to his eyes. “Now you, William, seem to have royally aggravated the British navy. Not a smart move there…”
William gave him a disinterested shrug. “’ve got no quarrel with the navy,” he insisted. “They stay outta my business, I stay outta theirs.”
Angel shook his head and attempted to share a conspiratorial smile with Elizabeth; she didn’t smile back. “Surely, certain…families have picked up on your attacks by now, though?” he persisted.
William’s brow furrowed slightly. “I would ‘ope so,” he agreed, downing the entire contents of his goblet.
Angel tisked him softly. “They’re going to come after you with a vengeance one day, m’boy,” he warned.
“Let them,” William insisted darkly. “Finish this once an’ for all, then.”
Elizabeth had been getting progressively more confused as the conversation proceeded and decided she was sick of it. “What are you talking about?” she demanded of William matter-of-factly. “What’s this ‘family’?”
Angel laughed in response. “You haven’t told her yet?” he asked in disbelief. He shook his head at Elizabeth solemnly. “Doesn’t bode well for you, my dear. The man hasn’t even bothered to tell you his life’s work yet…”
Elizabeth spun on William in surprise. “What is he talking about?!”
Her cry was loud enough that the entire room heard it. All across the dinning room, conversations quieted as everyone became curious about the argument taking place between the two captains and former allies.
“Not here!” William hissed through his teeth, noticing the audience they’d built up.
“I can’t believe you’ve managed to hold off your Abrahms’ rants,” Angel said with an amused smile. “Maybe you’re developing some restraint after all…”
“Abrahms?” Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise.
Angel frowned when he saw recognition there as well. “You know the Abrahms’?” he asked curiously.
“Know them?!” she turned on him in disbelief. “I’m engaged to one!”
William groaned and put one hand over his forehead.
Angel merely blinked a few times before realization dawned on him. “Brilliant, William!” he declared in delight. “Kidnap the latest fiancée, seduce her while she’s in your care… The perfect revenge!”
Elizabeth felt her stomach sink as Angel’s words connected the dots for her. Of course, how could she possibly have been so foolish to think that that villain actually cared about her? She should have known he had ulterior motives all along. And, to think that she had actually let him…
The emotions became too much, and she dashed from the room, fighting back tears, before anyone could stop her.
“What on…?” Angel looked quite confused.
William’s hand fisted in the fabric of his shirt pulling him back up to his feet. “Don’t you ever talk ‘bout her like that!” he exclaimed, enraged.
Angel’s face paled slightly. “You mean…it wasn’t a ploy?” he asked in disbelief.
“No, of course it wasn’t a ploy, you ninny!” William hissed.
Several of Angel’s men reached for their swords at the perceived threat to their captain, and Xander, Riley, and a very reluctant Giles rose to their feet in response. There was a moment of tension as everyone waited for all-out war to break out…
And then William practically threw Angel back down to the floor before racing out the door the way Elizabeth had gone as well.
“Ah, well,” Angel rose gracefully to his feet, dusting himself off as he did so, “mistakes happen…”
Xander scowled but moved to sit back down as well. “Too bad you always seem to be the cause of them,” he accused before returning to his meal…
* * *
Elizabeth hadn’t paid any attention where she’d been running, and, to tell the truth, she really didn’t care. However, it wasn’t until she found herself on one of the soft-sand beaches that surrounded the isle that she finally let herself break down.
God, I’m such a fool, she berated herself internally. How could I possibly believe anyone would ever love me? Especially a pirate? No one ever loves me. All anyone ever sees is my family…
A soft sob choked in her throat, and she collapsed on the sand just outside of the light from the small town that made up the only settlement on Dead Man’s Island.
He was just using me like all the others. And, god, I actually let him kiss me! Touch me. I-I would have given him my… Oh god! Such a fool, such a complete and utter fool…
“Elizabeth!” a voice shouted over the rhythmic pounding of the waves on the beach.
She didn’t hear it, though. She was too busy caught up in her own misery. To think that I actually lo—
“Elizabeth!” William breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her outline collapsed on the beach. He quickly ran over to her. “Are you all right?” he asked, concerned, crouching down to touch her shoulder.
Before he knew what had happened, her fist shot out, striking him right in the nose. “Don’t touch me!” she screamed through her tears, crawling back away from where he’d fallen on the sand.
William lay back on the sand, blinking up at the night sky, and holding his nose in pain for a second. Then, with a quick shake of his head, he managed to push himself back up onto his elbows. “What the bloody ‘ell was that for?!” he exclaimed, enraged.
“Like you don’t know!” she screamed right back.
William’s eyes widened. “You don’t honestly believe that ponce, do you, luv?” he asked in disbelief.
“Don’t call me ‘luv’,” she hissed angrily, scrambling up to her feet and stalking away.
He was on his feet in an instant and chased after her. “Will you just listen?” he asked in exasperation. He caught her elbow roughly in one hand and yanked her around to face him.
“Don’t touch me!” she repeated again, jerking away from his grasp.
“Luv…” he pleaded, “’Lizabeth…” He wisely changed his form of address at angry flicker in her eyes. “Angel doesn’t know what ‘e’s talkin’ about.”
“Really?” she said with a laugh that sounded more like a sob. “Because after listening to him, suddenly everything makes a lot of sense. I’ve got to hand it to you, it was a brilliant plan.”
“There was no plan!” William insisted, catching her shoulders. She merely yanked herself free of his hands once more. A deep ache began in his heart at the thought that this beautiful, fiery woman that he’d held so tightly in his arms might never let him close again. The mere thought made life suddenly seem unbearable. “Please, believe me…”
If she hadn’t known better, she would’ve sworn there were tears in his eyes. “Y-You used me,” she accused hesitantly, “made me believe that you actually cared for me…”
“I do,” he insisted softly. “Ever since I first laid eyes on you, stabbin’ merrily away at my crew…”
“Ever since you realized that I was Parker Abrahms’ fiancée,” she countered. “When were you planning on telling me about your vendetta against my soon-to-be family? After I gave myself to you? Or would you have waited until you had gotten me with child? Humiliate both me and the Abrahms’ at the same time?”
“Never,” he insisted vehemently. “I-I would’ve told you…”
“When?” she demanded. “Seems rather convenient that you just ‘forgot’ to mention it.”
“It din’t seem important at the time!” he argued.
“Not important?” she repeated in disbelief. “My future husband?”
“No,” he ground his teeth. “An’ you know why? Because nothin’ else mattered once I met you. You were so different…no one’s ever been able to stand up to me before, an’ then there was you with your li’l ‘escape strategies’ and your projectile shoes an’…” A fond, nostalgic smile lit up his face. “Knew at that moment that there was no one else for me.” His tone turned pleading. “Please, luv, don’t you see? I din’t fall for you because of who your fiancé was. I fell in love with who you are…”
She brushed away the tear at the corner of her eye. Oh, she so wanted to believe him, but… “How can I know you’re telling me the truth?” she whispered hopelessly. “How can I ever know—?”
She was cut off when he pulled her roughly to him, his lips crashing into hers. Her eyes widened, and she moved to struggle for a minute. But then she relaxed against the warmth of his embrace and the soft sweetness of his lips. Hesitantly, her arms slid around his neck, holding him to her.
He murmured against her lips in response, his heart becoming whole again now that she was in his arms once more. However, he didn’t prolong their kiss, merely put every fiber of emotion in his being into the sweet junction of their lips. All too soon, he pulled away, leaving her panting against her chest.
“If you still can’t tell how madly I’m in love with you,” he whispered softly, placing a gentle kiss against her forehead, “then I don’t know what else I can do to convince you.”
“Perhaps,” she said with a sly smile, “you could kiss me again? Just so that I can make sure, of course…”
“Of course.” The twinkle in his eyes met hers, and he pressed his lips against hers once more, gently this time, savoring every second they were together…
Elizabeth sighed contentedly and didn’t object when William fell to his knees on the sand, bringing her down with him to settle in his lap. Her fingers twined tenderly into his sun-bleached curls as his lips trailed away from hers, leaving a path of sweet kisses down her throat and all over the bare skin that was exposed by her dress’ low collar.
“William?” she asked softly.
“Yes, m’love?” he whispered against the smooth pale flesh above her collarbone.
“Will you tell me of your vendetta?” she requested.
He looked up at her in surprise. “It has nothing to do with my feelings for you,” he quickly assured her.
“I know,” she agreed with a fond smile, her hand reaching up to cup the sharp line of one of his cheeks, “but I love you as well. And I want to know everything about you.” She placed a soft kiss on his nose.
“Mmm, I like that, luv,” he murmured softly. “Much nicer than your punches…”
Her face reddened slightly. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I…well, I thought…” she trailed off, embarrassed.
He chuckled. “’S all right, kitten,” he assured her. “Just…next time you think ‘ve taken advantage of you, could you maybe leave off the nose?”
She gave him a mortified little nod, and he chuckled in response. As he had thought, his reaction brought her right out of her characteristic bought of meekness.
“Are you going to tell me or not?” she demanded huffily.
He managed to restrain his chuckling and began. “I first met Lord Abrahms on my eighteenth birthday, mere months after my father died,” he opened his tale, his accent returning to the clear, precise tones of the upper class as he returned to that time…