A Pirate's Love by Johanna Lindsey Page A

probably still be sleeping when she brought the authorities back to arrest him.
    Bettina carefully lifted his arm off her, then quickly scooted to the end of the bed, rather than risk crawling over him. She went straight to Tristan’s chest of clothes and took out the two articles she had laid on top of the others.
    She had decided earlier that she would have to wear his clothes, for her velvet dress would be too heavy and cumbersome to swim in. She had picked out the darkest colors he had, so it would be less easy to see her.
    She braided and tucked her pale hair underneath the bulky blue shirt. And to hide the top of her head, she was forced to take the one hat Tristan had. It was wide-brimmed, with a sweeping plume, a hat that was definitely in fashion but that she could hardly picture Tristan wearing. This sort of hat was worn by gentlemen with long, fashionable curls, and short-haired Tristan was no gentleman.
    She secured the baggy black breeches about her waist with a strip of material she had torn from her shift, and she was ready to go.
    She knew she must look utterly ridiculous, but there was nothing else she could do. She opened thedoor, carefully closed it behind her, and nearly despaired when she saw how light it was outside. The moon lit everything as plainly as if it were only late afternoon.
    She hated to leave the shadow of the wall behind her, but she had to find a way to climb down the ship’s side and escape quietly. It would be easier to run for the railing and jump, but someone would surely hear her hit the water, and that wouldn’t do.
    Scanning the deck, Bettina could see no one. All was silent. Someone was probably standing watch, but she could only pray they wouldn’t see her. She moved away from the wall very slowly, but then a sudden panic gripped her and she darted to the railing. She looked about frantically, and saw a rope ladder strung over the side of the ship, which must have been left there by the shore parties. A few moments later, she slid easily into the warm black water.
    It took her over thirty minutes to swim to the piers, what with circling around the other ships in the harbor and continually having to retrieve Tristan’s hat. By the time she found a wooden ladder that climbed to the dock, she was exhausted. Her arms felt like dead weights, and she knew she would be aching all over in a few hours. But it was all worth it just to see Tristan hang, and she wouldn’t budge from this island until the governing authorities sent him on his way to hell.
    Bettina wanted to laugh aloud at that thought, but instead she stared out into the harbor at Tristan’s ship. She could see the deck clearly, even from this distance, but no shadow moved, all was still, and she was still safe. She turned and faced the town, then shivered slightly. It was just as still, and shestood alone on the dock. But floating through the air came the faint sound of music to mix with the quiet lapping of the waves behind her. She walked toward the music, hoping to find people who could direct her to the authorities.
    As the music became louder, Bettina could hear the sounds of drunken revelry accompanying it, and she stopped short when she saw the lighted tavern. A puddle of water from her sodden clothing formed around her bare feet while she weighed her problem. It was possible that some of Tristan’s crew would be in that tavern. If she walked in, they might not recognize her, dressed as she was, but she couldn’t take that risk. Then again, she had to find help, and there was no one on the street except herself. If she went into the tavern and was recognized, she could always run.
    Bettina walked up and down the street, trying to come to a definite decision. She kept hoping someone would come out of the tavern, or that she would run into someone on the street, anyone she could seek help from. But no one appeared. She could find herself an alley to hide in and wait until morning, when