Read Online A Pirate's Love by Johanna Lindsey - Free Book Online

underestimated this one. I compared her to the meek, timid ladies I have known in the past. But I won’t make that mistake again.”
    â€œWhat will you do, tie her up at night, or let her cut your throat while you sleep?” Jules asked.
    â€œI don’t think she will try to kill me again, at least not while she’s on my ship. She had the chance to end my life when I was unconscious and at her mercy—but she didn’t.”
    â€œNo, because she thought you were dead already!”
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œWhen I told her I would take her life for taking yours, she only begged me to shoot her instead of using the whip on her.”
    â€œVery well, so she thought she had accomplished what she set out to do. But she has learned now what the consequences would be. Thanks to you, old friend, I know that she has a deathly fear of the whip. Didn’t she faint before you laid one stroke?”
    â€œAye.”
    â€œWell, that’s just the kind of information I need to put her where I want her.”
    â€œYou underestimated her once, Tristan. Don’t do it again. I love you as a son—as a brother. Don’t make a mistake with this wench.”
    â€œShe intrigues me, Jules. It would give me great pleasure to tame this particular lady.”
    â€œLady! That vixen is no lady!”
    â€œAye, she is a lady, gently reared. Where the hellcat part comes from is a mystery I would like to solve. She has a devil of a temper. Now find something for my head, for it’s pounding like native drums. And get those men back to work.”
    Tristan made his way back to his cabin with Bettina still sleeping in his arms. He laid her gently on his bed, then stood looking down at her for a few moments.
    Would she awaken still frightened, or with renewed fury at finding him alive? He hoped for the fury. He wouldn’t care to see this beauty cower before any man, not even himself. He would enjoy trying to break her in what little time he would have her, but somehow he knew that Bettina Verlaine could not be broken, not as long as there was life in her. She could be made to submit to him, but no one could break her will.
    Jules came into the room and surveyed the damaged instruments on the floor with a shake of his head. He picked up the two tankards, brought them to the table, and filled them with wine, wishing for something stronger.
    Madeleine appeared in the doorway and looked anxiously from the captain to her charge lying in his bed, then back to the captain again. Jules cleared his throat and beckoned her to enter.
    â€œShe said she is learned in ways of healing. I didn’t think you would mind having her tend to your wound. Her hands are delicate compared to my clumsy ones,” Jules said to Tristan, who had sat down by the table.
    â€œVery well, as long as this one doesn’t wish to cut my throat, too.”
    â€œThat I would like to do, monsieur , but I will not,” Madeleine replied.
    Tristan chuckled softly. “At least you are honest, old woman. What is your name?”
    â€œMadeleine Daudet.”
    â€œWell, Madeleine, did you witness what almost happened to your lady?” Tristan asked quietly.
    â€œYes, monsieur . I came on deck just before—before she fainted.”
    â€œIt is fortunate for her that you didn’t cry out,” Tristan remarked, noting the woman’s swollen lip that she had bitten to still her screams. “Had you done so, Jules wouldn’t have heard me stop the whipping, and Bettina would have received at least two lashes before I could have reached her.”
    â€œThank God you awoke when you did, monsieur ,” Madeleine said. She bent over him and began to clean the wound.
    â€œThen you know why my friend here was going to whip Bettina—in fact, to whip her to death?”
    â€œYes, because the crew thought she had killed you. I tried to dissuade Bettina from trying to do you harm, but she