Introduction
In the late 1600’s Captain Antoine Renoir and the buccaneers of the brigantine Golden Sword sailed the Spanish Main and the waters around the Caribbean attacking Spanish galleons and other ships. A few years earlier, as part of a loose confederation known as the Brethren of the Coast, Renoir and his crew had joined the privateer Henry Morgan in the attack on the port of Panama. Although the city had been sacked, it had proved costly for the Sword. They lost several crew and by the time the treasure was divided among almost two thousand raiders, their share had proved meager. Disappointed with the results of that action, they became freelance pirates and now attacked ships of all nations from their base on Tortuga, off of Hispaniola.
Dona Isabella de la Vega was a young Spanish noblewoman who was taken prisoner when pirates seized the galleon on which she was traveling. She was sold to Captain Renoir, and her initiation into buccaneer life was told in a previous story (see “Princess & The Pirates”).
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On the deck of the English ship
Nightingale
a beautiful blonde woman stood at the railing and looked out over the blue waters of the Caribbean. The warm breeze caressed her face and for a moment she almost forgot the matter that had been haunting her during her journey. Lady Anne Richmond had been married for two years to Sir William Richmond. Her family, who considered it a grand match, had arranged the marriage. It was understood that Sir William, who at forty was eighteen years her senior had, in his youth, been busy managing the family estates and making his fortune, and therefore had not married. Now ready to take a wife, he had courted Lady Anne for some months, and finally he approached her father and asked for her hand. Lady Anne had been happy to marry him, in spite of their age difference. In addition to being charming and clever, he was quite handsome and very wealthy.
Although Anne was an English Lady of the best breeding and upbringing, she was aware that certain marital duties were expected of a wife and she was fully prepared to meet her obligations. After all, she did hope to give Sir William children. It therefore came as somewhat of a surprise to her when, as the months passed, she found that Sir William had yet to visit her bedchamber. Months became a year, and still he did not approach her. He traveled quite a lot, usually to purchase horses, which were a passion of his, but still he was home often enough to provide many opportunities. She found herself confused and somewhat disappointed, and wondered if it was perhaps some shortcoming on her part that caused him to avoid her at night.
One day while walking on the estate, she happened to find herself on a hill that overlooked the stables. She could see her husband inspecting one of the horses, talking to one of the young grooms. What she saw next turned her world upside down. Sir William and the young groom stepped around to the side of the stable where they thought they could not be seen, and embraced. As Lady Anne stared in disbelief, they kissed passionately, running their hands over each other like lovers! Anne burst into tears and ran from the painful sight. She took to her room and refused to come out for two days. Her maid attempted to bring her meals, but she was too distraught to eat.
She could not get out of her mind the scene she had witnessed. Everything now became clear to her. Sir William did not fancy women, but instead enjoyed the favors of young men! What was she to do? Divorce was not possible, the scandal would be devastating; she would be ruined and end up an old maid. Weeks passed while she contemplated what course to pursue, but she could see no resolution.
Resigned, she decided that she must keep up appearances and continue to be a good wife to Sir William in all other ways. There were many things in life besides having children, and she would simply concentrate on those. Some months later she seized upon the idea to travel as a way of taking her mind off the situation with her husband. Sir William’s holdings in the New World included large estates in Jamaica and a plantation in Carolina, in the Colonies. She would visit these, and report back to her husband.
The sea voyage went well, and she spent the weeks reading and sewing. She had brought her maid, Alice, and was quite comfortable. She spent six weeks in Jamaica, and found the place charming. It was winter, but the weather was delightful, finer than the best summer days in England. As summer approached in Jamaica, Lady Anne was ready to travel north to visit the plantation in Carolina.
Now she stood on the deck of the
Nightingale
as they sailed the Windward Passage between Cuba and Hispaniola. Although this route brought them close to Tortuga, a refuge for buccaneers, this was the most direct way to the coast of America and would save days over any other approach. The Captain had told her there was nothing to fear; his ship was fast and carried eighty-five crewmembers and sixteen guns, so the pirates would not bother them.
So it came as a shock when the
Golden Sword
appeared from a sheltered cove directly into the path of the
Nightingale
. As the lookout sounded the alarm, the Captain sent Lady Anne below, telling her to stay in her cabin with the door locked.
Captain Renoir and his crew made fast work of the English ship. In fact,
Nightingale
did not even fire her guns. Assessing the situation, the Captain saw that they would not be able to turn the ship around and flee in time. He also knew that the bigger ship of the marauders, with twenty-eight guns and a larger crew, could destroy them if provoked. The Captain decided to yield and sacrifice the cargo rather than risk many deaths and the loss of his ship. When the raiders came alongside and threw grappling hooks onto the
Nightingale
, he thought that the pirates might leave without discovering Lady Anne.
He was wrong. As the pirate crew stormed through the ship looking for plunder, they left no space unsearched. When they came to the locked door, they kicked it open to find Lady Anne cowering on her bed. The First Mate, Jean-Pierre, seized her, kicking and screaming, and carried her above.
“Look what I found, Captain,” he yelled as he came on deck.
“Unhand me, you filthy beast,” the outraged young Lady shrieked. “How dare you touch me!”
The crew of the
Nightingale
were helpless to come to the aid of the pretty captive. They were being held at sword point at the other end of the deck. Any attempt to interfere would result in certain death.
“Sir, I appeal to you,” the Captain called to the leader of the pirates, “don’t harm the Lady. Take the cargo and leave her alone!”
He was rewarded for his chivalry by a jab to the ribs with the tip of a cutlass. It drew blood, but it was not a serious wound.
“Shut your mouth, you English dog!” snapped the buccaneer Jacques. It was clear that the raiders were prepared to meet resistance with deadly force.
Jean-Pierre put Lady Anne on her feet in front of Captain Renoir. She looked at the pirate leader with defiance, returning his gaze without wavering.
He touched her cheek and said, “A fair prize, indeed. Bring her along.”
She reacted to the touch by attempting to strike him, but he easily caught her arm and held it fast. She struggled to pull away.