Pirate Fantasy Haiku

This poem was inspired by the pirate fantasy my heroine has.

stormy seas beckon
leading us to distant lands
adventure is nigh

Pirate Fantasy, part 7

Edward brought three men with him to meet with Hopewell one last time. The older man came to greet him as soon as he entered the villa.

"Ah, there you are, Lafitte! Thank you for agreeing to have the ceremony so quickly. You'll understand if I don't let my daughter leave here without such protection."

"Absolutement, Monsieur Hopewell. I, too, am eager to take my bride away wis me." More than the old man realized.

They adjourned down a long corridor to a small chapel. His bride was already waiting there with her mother by her side. She was stunning, dressed in a gown of white satin with tiny flowers in her hair. For a moment he forgot how to breathe. At her wide eyed stare he remembered who he was supposed to be. He stepped up to her and bowed gracefully. "Mademoiselle, it ees an honor to have one so lovely as you for my wife. I assure you will have zee best of everysing."

Carina curtsied. "Thank you, Monsieur. You honor me, as well." She stared at the floor. It was too bad. He longed to gaze into her eyes.

The minister joined their hands together and began the ceremony. An hour later Edward's men were loading the last trunk onto his ship. He helped his wife step aboard. "Welcome to your new home, my love."

Carina stopped and glanced at his face. "I'm sorry. Did you just lose your accent, sir?"

"All will be explained shortly. First, let me show you and your maid to your rooms." He led the two women downstairs and opened a door to a large suite. "This is my room, but consider it yours now." She blushed at his words. "Do not fret. I promise not to enter this room without your permission." He saw her visibly relax. "I will let your maid help you settle in, before I show her to her cabin." He left them alone.

Carina grabbed the other woman's arms. "We did it!"

Mrs. Hopewell looked up at her from beneath the large ruffle of her mobcap. "I find it hard to believe no one recognized me."

"Why would anyone suspect you would be disguised as a maid?"

"I warn you, I have no such skills whatsoever." Her mother smiled.

Carina laughed. "I'm sure we'll be able to take care of ourselves."

Edward Lafitte gave a farewell salute to the island as they sailed away. Then he went below to visit his captain. "Sir, we are away. Our contacts should be raiding the villa even now."

"Good. Good. I'm sure they'll find plenty of damning evidence of Hopewell's betrayal to the Crown."

Edward nodded. "I have a wife!" He sighed happily.

"Congratulations, my boy. Is she pretty?"

"She is a goddess."

"Then what are you doing here? It's your wedding night!"

"Sir, we've only just met. I would never force my attentions on her."

"Oh. You married a woman you only just met? How does that happen?"

"We rescued her, remember?"

"Right! Did I ever tell you I tried to rescue a damsel in distress?"

"Yes, sir. You did at that. What happened?"

"I wanted to marry the girl, but her father forbid it. I knew she loved me, so I vowed I would steal her away. I plotted and planned for weeks, but when I returned with my crew I discovered she was to marry another. Women can be so fickle." He stared at the wall, telling Edward he was done talking.

Pirate Fantasy, part 6

Edward sat down by his captain. "It's done, sir. Hopewell is drawing up the contracts right now. By this time tomorrow we should be on our way from here."

"You're a good lad. A good lad. Did I ever tell you I also once tried to rescue a damsel in distress?"

"No, sir." Edward wondered if the man was delirious.

"She was so beautiful, hair of gold and eyes of blue. She lived on an island."

"Sir, I think you are confusing things."

"Oh. Maybe, I am." He looked sad. "I tend to forget things lately."

"It's all right. I will keep you informed." He got up to leave.

"Keep her safe, my boy."

Edward looked back, but the old man was asleep.


Carina paced her room. Francesca had just brought news of her future husband. He was a pirate! She hoped he was a good man. She had never heard of a kind pirate, but she was sure there had to be some. He could be like Robin Hood, taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor.

She walked to the window and stared out at the water, hoping to catch a glimpse of his ship, but there was nothing there. It was probably on the other side of the island. She sighed and looked over at her lunch of cold pheasant and fruit. She hoped her husband would feed her lobster.

She was startled when her mother burst into the room. She rushed over and took hold of her hand. "Daughter, I must throw myself on your mercy. Your father is punishing you for my past indiscretion."

Carina was shocked. She had never seen her mother as anything less than composed. "Whatever do you mean?"

"I had sworn never to reveal my secret, which is the reasonI haven't been attentive to you these last few years. I love you, my daughter, but it is just so painful to see you each day and be reminded of love lost."

"What are you saying? Do I remind you of your younger self so much?"

"You do, yes, but it's your father I see in you most of all, and it feels like my heart being torn from my chest whenever I see his beautiful eyes looking back at me." She smiled sadly.

"I never thought I favored my father much."

"Hopewell is not your father," she said in disgust. "My own father forced me to marry him when he found out I was with child."

Carina froze, her head starting to spin. "I'm a bastard?" She gripped the edge of the table for support.

"To the rest of the world you are legitimate. My father made sure of that."

"Why didn't you marry my real father? Was he already married?"

"No He was a captain on a merchant ship. He had regular business here with my father. We became friends, then sweethearts. I gave myself to him on his last night here and he promised to return and marry me. I believed him. I had loved him so very much. I never saw him again. He never even knew about you." Silent tears rolled down her mother's cheeks.

Carina's heart clenched as she listened to her mother's pain. She wiped away her tears and embraced her. "I'm so sorry. Do you think he perished in the sea?"

She shook her head. "I found out years later that he had returned just as he promised. A few weeks after our night together he asked my father for permission to wed me. But my father had loftier expectations for my future. My husband never forgave me for bearing another man's child."

She chuckled. "I think he was more upset that the man had been a common sailor, rather than a nobleman. And he blames you for us never being able to have more children. Now he has searched for the most despicable of husbands for you. He is practically crowing over the fact he's marrying you off to a sailor, and a disgusting one at that. I am so sorry."

"Mother, do not despair. I am ready to meet my fate and the new adventures that await me. Anything is better than being stuck in a tower for the rest of my days." She stared out at the vast blue. "The sea calls to me."

"Just like your father." She held her daughter tight. "I wish I could go with you."

Carina smiled to herself. "Maybe you can. I have an idea."

Pirate Fantasy, part 5

The office was immense. It was more like a library, with books lining three of the four walls. Directly across from the entry was a set of large french doors that opened to a patio and garden. Throughout the room was plush furniture for conversation or lounging.

"If you are quite finished examining my office you may have a seat, Mr. Lafitte!" Old Hopewell bellowed.

Edward tilted his head, hoping to express he was not impressed, as he slowly took a seat across from the massive mahogany desk. In a practiced French accent he said, "Merci, Monsieur Hopewell. It ees an interesting little home you have here on ziss island."

"You think my home little?"

"Forgive me. My English iz not so good. I find it... quaint?" He fluttered his hands at the room. "My own estate is quite large and can accommodate two of you own. But zen I have many people who work for me and live on my property. I am a very powerful man looking for an equally powerful family in zee Americas wiss whom I may combine resources."

"What can you offer me in exchange for my daughter's hand?"

What a pig! He was selling his daughter off with no care for her feelings? He cleared his throat. "I have many trading ships. I am zee most powerful trader in all of Europe, and soon to be zee Americas. Zere is no one comes close to my connections and operations."

Hopewell grinned at him and nodded, looking him up and down. There was actually a twinkle in the old man's eyes. Edward tried not to shudder at the fact this man would give his daughter over to an obvious pirate.

"You'll do nicely."

A woman's gasp came from across the room. She had been half hiding in the shadows of a bookshelf. She stepped into the light. "You cannot be serious, Chester!"

"Do not speak against me, woman! You of all people should not be surprised by my choice." He glared over at her and she shrank back, staring at the floor.

Edward maintained his persona and flashed an arrogant smirk at the old man. "We must keep our women in zere places, yes!" He laughed loudly.

Chester Hopewell stood and extended his hand to seal the deal. "I will have a marriage contract drawn up immediately. We can have the ceremony at your earliest convenience."

"Zat would be most appreciated." Edward shook the disgusting man's hand before turning to go. He was in shock. What sort of man would give his daughter to a pirate? For all he knew she could be sold into slavery or used among the men on the ship. He was not about to let anything like that ever happen to his midnight angel. Once she was his he would protect her with his life. For she would soon be his wife in truth.

Pirate Fantasy, part 4

Chester Hopewell sat back in his gloriously plush desk chair and puffed away on his cigar. He eyed the man who hoped to marry his daughter. "Why should I let you wed her?"

Douglas Redding, Esquire came from new money in America. Something to do with railroads or shipping or something. He was the youngest son in that family, though, and most likely did not stand to inherit much at all. Businesses usually fell upon the eldest sons. He had a weak chin and a lisp.

"Thir, I can athure you your daughter would not want for anything. I will treat her like a queen!" He smiled proudly.

"Why the hell should I care what you can do for that chit? Tell me what you can do for ME!"

Douglass shrank under the older man's intense glare. "Well, I-I-I'm not thure what you mean, thir. My family is quite rethpectable, revered in fact. It thertainly would not hurt your reputathion should our families align."

"Get out, you ninny!" He nodded to his butler. "Send in the next candidate, Collins."

"Right away, Sir." He led Mr. Redding away and announced the next potential groom. "Mr. Jebediah Crabbich."

Mr. Hopewell squinted at the skinny, smarmy old man as he daintily seated himself across from his desk. "And tell me why I should let you marry my daughter."

The older man snickered and licked his lips. "I own several thousand acres of certain medicinal plants, if you take my meaning."

Hopewell sat up straighter and raised his eyebrows. "I think I do." He smiled.

Outside the office, Edward paced in the hallway. He was next. Thankfully, his informant on the island had met with him late last night when they docked in the cove. The man had mentioned the husband interviews and that Hopewell was seeking someone to align his business with. Edward had the perfect proposition, not that he had any intent of making good on it.

Upon hearing that the man apparently had no love for his daughter, Edward decided a disguise was in order. After all, the man surely would not want his daughter to have a happy marriage to a nice gentleman. That idea held more merit when he viewed the trail of men who had left with their tails between their legs. Each one was more hideous than the last.

The butler led out the next man and pointed to Edward. He reached up and adjusted his eye patch, stroked a hand over his facial hair, adjusted his sword and pistol and followed the servant into the lion's den.