The Sailor's Inheritance

A Scandal

Catherine couldn't help how wonderful William was being with her. He had bought her a book and she was preparing tea just as if she lived here herself. He had commented that she looked wonderful while he arranged seating in his living room. the comment sent the heat back into her face. She was surprised at how much she liked the Pirate for there's no other explanation as to how he would have a home near the largest known pirate port.

she brought out the tea and couldn't decide where would be the proper place to sit so she chose across from him. It was curious to see his interactions with the tea. He was very proper for somebody that made a life by pilaging and selling products that weren't theirs.

"Now" William looked at her and once again she had to remember to breathe. His eyes truly captured her every time. "What can you remember?" his face no longer had his beautiful smile on it. He had the same stern look she had seen when he was shouting orders as they came into the port. "if you could trust me it would be best not to leave anything out." he finished talking at sat silently waiting for her to start.

Catherine clearly wanted to know as much as anyone what she was doing on his ship but to tell a pirate she was to inherit a large trading company didn't seem like the best idea. Although for as embarrassed as she was about last night he could've made a dishonest woman out of her but he didn't. He seemed to be a gentleman in a pirates ensemble. either way it didn't matter she felt she could trust him and she wanted to know what happened to her. if he was the man to figure it out then she had to tell him.

"My name is Catherine Cutler." she started looking for any change in his facial expression or demeanor. He kept the stone look and she continued. "My father is Lord Benedict Cutler owns.." she paused. "My father built a tobacco plantation into a very wealthy estate. With the amount of product my father was trading he invested in his own trading company and had established his own fleet of trading ships you may know of Cutler Trading Co." at this point William set his tea down and continued his intensely interested stare. "Several months ago my Father had taken ill and I started to represent his company's interests. I have been going into town regularly to attend my meetings with my father's business partners. The last one I had attended was to determine if our companies would try to make an arrangement with the businessmen of this particular port that we happen to be at now. I told the men that my father's ships unless guaranteed protection would not be moving product here. I excused myself from the meeting and had met with my two younger sisters and their spouses for a reading of my father's living will. It was read that my father would leave most the material valuable items to my sisters and that I would inherit the estate and the trading company. Johnathon my sister Sarah's husband suggested the family members stay at the estate til my father had passed to help me with the business and estate as well as the funeral arrangements once he had passed."

at this point in the story the only change William had made in his posture was a slight eyebrow raise.

"my father passed shortly after" she tried to keep her composure without crying. "I remember being awoken by the physicians late at night or early morning it was very dark out either way but the family had gathered and after the body was taken the we were told to get some rest." Catherine grabbed her head as she was starting to have pain while trying to remember. "I went to my room and sat in the reading chair I believe." she shook her head trying to bring the memories back.

"there was a knock" she said hesitantly and didn't notice William sliding to the edge of his seat. "it was Johnathon no, no it was George my sister abigails husband. He was alone which I thought was improper but having just lost my father and his father in law I thought he was going to give condolences but then I can't remember. " she sighed and looked back to william whom had listened intently to every word she had said.

He was just sitting silently and Catherine for a split moment thought perhaps she was wrong in trusting him with who she was. She noticed Williams mouth start to open when they both heard a horse thundering up to Williams home.

"Will!" John's breathless shout came from outside while William went to open the door quickly. Thankfully william was quick because just as he opened the door John came barreling in at full speed.

"Will! Cat! Catherine!" he was out of breath from running and from all the shouting he was doing.

"John are you alright?" Catherine asked him placing a hand on his shoulder. When he looked at her his face went through about 10 different emotions trying to figure out which one to put on for her. He chose feigned innocence with a rough smile and then turned back to william.

"Will I was looking for information on well her" he said as he fumbled his hands in Catherine's direction. "and you're not going to believe it."

"well we just discussed what she remembers and I think I have a good idea of what you're about to tell us." William said with an undertone in his voice that almost sounded angry to Catherine.

John looked back at Catherine and then to William. He motioned for Catherine to sit down and she honestly didn't think she wanted to know what he had discovered about her 'situation.'

"so I did like you asked and ran around the port and I'll spare you the details of my gossiping" John rambled.

"John the information" William urged him.

"right well long story short it seems our barrel girl here is an heiress to an incredibly large trading company." he paused expecting somebody to say something. "which apparently we all know." he continued giving an accusatory glare at William. "well rumor has it that with her not being married and having two younger sister's that are in fact married to not the greatest gentlemen, that shortly after her father died young Catherine disappeared from grief. She left her two brothers in law to see over the company. Turns out if she's not heard from within the month she is forfeiting the company to them. I believe their names are.."

"GEORGE AND JOHNATHON!" Catherine shouted as she couldn't believe what she had just heard! "you're telling me my sisters husbands took it upon themselves to give me to pirates for my father's company??" she said the words as if she didn't believe them but there was a part of her that knew it was very true.

"John" William went up to him.

"captain" he replied at nodded his head to him.

"excuse us Catherine I just need a minute with John." William ushered John into the bedroom that Catherine had spent the night in. As soon as the door closed Catherine heard the hushed whispering argument from the other side of the door.

"Will she's an heiress from a family that apparently wants her dead you can't take her back there!" John's voice was easier to distinguish than Williams for John spoke louder.

"well she can't...and if....we could.." was all Catherine could make of Williams comments.

"will you're getting too attached to this woman! look!" Catherine heard a loud thudding and it caused her to jump back slightly. She didnt catch what William had said but he must've asked John to be quieter because she could no longer hear anything besides mumbling. With her frustration she decided to get out of the house to have some fresh air.

Her mind wandered as she meandered down the lane leading to Williams house. She could see the horses belonging to william and John and she's always loved the majestic beasts. she decided to walk over to them and dote on them while waiting for John and William to finish their conversation.

What did John mean by saying William was too attached. Perhaps John had the same thought Catherine did. that they could try to ransom her for money from her family. maybe William didn't want to. If his crew wanted to though would William deny them? or perhaps William would no longer be the captain that could sail her home. All these thoughts kept tearing her apart on the inside. Did she even want to leave? so far this place was a paradise. The little cottage was wonderful. The vendors and cultures. It helped that even though she had been so promiscuous with William she rather enjoyed every second she spent near him. While she was having these thoughts she noticed a figure coming down the lane towards her. The man looked exactly how the rumors of pirates had made them too. he had a mangey air about him. something inside of her told her to run. she didnt recognize the man at all so she decided he hadn't been on Williams ship with her. She turned and started heading back towards the cottage.

"Milady!" she heard a gruff voice call after her.

She started walking faster and didn't turn around. hopefully he thought she didn't hear him and he would leave it at that.

She started to hear running footsteps towards her. She ran for the cottage as fast as she could.

The house came into view and she hoped desperately for William to be standing outside. She was sure she could make it to the house when she was tackled to the ground from behind. She screamed as she fell.

the man had begun wrestling with her and Catherine had never been so terrified in her life. All she could think to do was put her hands up In hopes of keeping this man off of her. He had straddled her and was aiming his fist for her head when suddenly blood flew across Catherine causing another shriek to fly out of her mouth. a sword was protruding from his chest and then was sucked back in. Her attacker fell on her. she felt his warm blood seeping onto her.

William appeared over top of her and removed her attacker. Catherine was too hysterical to move. Thankfully william picked her up and carried her into the bathroom of his home. He set her in a chair next to a tub and told her to wait there while he fetched her water. She heard William shouting John about getting the crew ready and then William came back with a bucket. He started filling the tub and on the second round of water he brought in a cloth with him and began washing the blood off her exposed body.

Catherine began sobbing for she had never been attacked in her life nor had she ever witnessed a murder.

William grabbed her face between his hands and began shushing softly trying to get her to calm down.

"Catherine" he whispered as he wiped her tears from her cheeks. "cat" he tried to catch Catherine's eyes but she couldn't look him in the eye right now. not in this state.

suddenly she felt a heat on her lips that began to spread through her body. She caught her breath in her lungs and lost her entire train of thought about what was happening. she kissed William back with every bit of passion she hoped he could feel like her. When he broke the kiss she had her hands wrapped in his hair and his piercing eyes held all of her attention.

"Catherine" William whispered her name as their foreheads were touching he wasn't far from her. "I promise nothing more will happen to you. you are safe with me. No more pain while I'm alive. I'm bringing in water for a bath for you. I won't leave your side ever again." he kissed her once more with an urgency and then stood up and promised he would be right back.

Catherine indeed had calmed down but now what troubled her was the heat wave that entered her body with a desire for William. He promised he would keep her safe and she believed him with her whole heart.