Chapter 19:  Blackmail

 

Lord Beckett found keeping Robin at his side difficult, for she was no longer trying to mask her attempts to pull away from him.  She did not seem to care what the crew of the Flying Dutchman thought of her anymore.  Beckett had to stop this behavior, and quickly—it would reveal to the crew of the Dutchman that his power was limited, and worse, limited by her.

Beckett kept a hand firmly holding Robin’s hand to his arm.  If Robin had not so obviously been attempting to escape his touch, the motion would likely have appeared loving.  But Robin was not going to receive Beckett’s love until she would willingly accept it.  Once she understood that she was his, and his only, she would embrace everything he had to offer.

Beckett glanced back at Norrington, who was currently steadying himself by leaning on the wooden railing.  If he had been a low-ranking soldier, Beckett would have already had him eliminated.  But Norrington was an Admiral, and his unfortunate high standing would cause him to be missed, given his greater value.  And Norrington had served Beckett well, thus far—he had ensured that the free-spirited wench on Beckett’s arm had fulfilled their agreement, though she did not complete it fully.  Beckett smirked; he was rather pleased at how the arrangement had turned out, and glad that he had found a loophole.

Motioning to two East India soldiers to make sure that the couple would not be disturbed, Beckett let Robin to the very back of the ship and to a sort of balcony.  Below them was another balcony where a member of the Flying Dutchman’s crew seemed to be taking an unscheduled break from work.  Releasing Robin’s arm, Beckett drew his small pistol (which he had retrieved from Robin’s room that morning) and fired a shot through the dozing man’s head, killing him instantly.  Beckett put the pistol back within his coat and behaving rather nonchalant about the incident, which caused Robin to stare at him in horror.

Pretending to only just notice the look on Robin’s face, Beckett said, “He was not doing his duty.  Wouldn’t you, a former pirate captain, have taken similar action?”

Robin shook her head.  “No, I wouldn’t have.  If you kill a man, you give him no chance to learn from his mistakes.  And that defeats the purpose of such a punishment, does it not?”

“Jack did not seem to learn his lesson, even after he was sent to Davy Jones’ Locker and then returned.”  Robin looked at Beckett curiously, anger and hatred suddenly vanishing and being replaced with an intense gaze filled with interest.  Beckett was instantly on his guard; Robin wanted something.

“Jack went to Davy Jones’ Locker?  And how did he return?”

“His pirate friends rescued him—for their own selfish reasons, of course.  No one missed him.”  Beckett expected some sort of outcry at this statement.  He knew of Robin’s close relationship with Captain Jack, a relationship that had left a scar on Beckett’s heart.  But Robin did not say anything to defend her former captain.

“I doubt that you were happy to hear of his return,” Robin commented.

Beckett’s eyes narrowed.  What was she doing?  Trying to gain information?  Attempting to anger him?  “The only good thing about his return was the possibility of being able to kill him myself,” Beckett said viciously.  “He betrayed me, the Company, and you.”

“He did not betray me!” Robin exclaimed, her eyes flashing.  “Nor did he betray you!  It was you who betrayed him, you who ruined his life, you who took away everything that was dear to him!”

Beckett had been completely unprepared for such a strong response to his statement, but he remained outwardly calm.  “He betrayed the Company, therefore me, and therefore you,” Beckett retorted.  “And even if I did take some of what he held dear…”  Beckett’s voice became soft, and the coldness in his eyes vanished.  “He took what I held most dear.”

Robin mulled over this statement in her mind for a few moments before realizing what Beckett meant.  “You…”  She blinked, completely thrown off by his response to her brief rant.  “You never loved me.”  Her tone of voice betrayed her doubt about her own statement.  Beckett stepped closer to her.

“I did,” Beckett admitted quietly.  “You’ve no idea.  I was willing to risk everything for a marriage to you.”  Robin’s brow furrowed.  “My father threatened to disown me if I married you.”

“Because I was lower-class?” Robin predicted.

Beckett nodded.  “And because you were…well…”

“Less than ladylike?” Robin said with a grin.

Beckett chuckled.  “Something like that.”

Robin’s eyes softened.  “You never told me that.”

“I was…afraid.”  Robin shook her head to show that she did not understand.  “I thought that…that you were perhaps.”  Beckett looked away from her.  Why was telling the truth sometimes so difficult?  “I thought that you may have only been pretending to be in love with me.”  Beckett took a deep breath.  “That you only loved my family’s fortune, and that you’d…that you would leave me if you discovered that I was likely to lose my wealth.”

“Cutler…are you telling the truth?”  Without looking at Robin, Beckett nodded silently.  The awkward pause was almost unbearable as Beckett waited for a response to this.  He should not be emotionally attached to this woman…  “I’ve always wondered why you didn’t tell me.”

Beckett turned sharply to her, his mouth open in astonishment.  “You knew?”  And you didn’t leave…

Robin nodded, now refusing to look at him.  “Your father sent me a letter…well, a threat, really…”  Robin looked at her hands.  “But I still wanted to marry you.  You were…I thought you were a good man.  And I…”  Robin’s voice became suddenly harsh.  “But then you ruined my father.  And I finally saw you for what you were.”  Robin turned to leave, but Beckett caught her arm.

“I did what was best for the Company,” he pleaded.

“Then go marry the Company and let me be!” Robin hissed through clenched teeth.  “It’s quite clear that your feelings for me were not nearly as strong as mine were for you.”  Tears filled her eyes.  “And I’ve had enough of your lies.”  She tried to pull away, but Beckett managed to grab both of her wrists to keep her from escaping.

“Have I lied to you since you boarded this vessel?”

The question seemed to catch Robin off guard.  She searched her memory for what seemed like an eternity until she finally said, in a voice so quiet that Beckett hardly heard her, “No.”

Beckett noticed that she was no longer trying to twist her arms from his grasp.  “Then believe me when I say this.”  Beckett stepped forward slightly.  “I love you.”

Robin stared at him, her mouth open and her eyes studying him, trying to determine whether or not he was being truthful.  Almost as a sign of his sincerity, he released her arms from his tight grip.  Robin shook her head.  “I…”  She bit her lip.  “Though I know I will regret saying this, and am probably being a fool…I believe you.”

That’s not something you lie about—but I am a damn fool for admitting it.

Beckett nearly gasped in surprise as he felt Robin’s soft lips against his.  He closed his eyes in response, but tried not to allow himself to get too caught up in passion, remembering what had happened before.

Robin did not attempt to seduce him with the kiss.  It was much more gentle, much more…dare he think it…loving.  Beckett’s eyes remained closed as Robin pulled away, and when he slowly opened them, she was leaning against the wooden railing, staring out at the sea.  She had not even attempted to leave.

Lord Beckett watched her for a moment, trying to decipher whether feelings or goals had made her suddenly…he touched his fingers to his lips.  He walked up beside her and, after a few tense moments of silence, he dared to speak.  “I do not understand you.”  Robin arched a quizzical eyebrow at him.  “If you…I do not understand why you would betray me by allowing another man to—.”  Beckett’s mouth snapped shut due to the sudden fierce glare Robin shot at him.  After a moment, Beckett hesitantly continued.  “Perhaps I am merely paranoid.  I always have been.”  Beckett’s voice became darker.  “Jealous, as well.”

“And who are you jealous of, Cutler?” Robin asked, her eyes glinting.  Beckett swallowed, feeling almost weakened by Robin’s use of his Christian name.  “You are the man I am to marry.”

Beckett allowed a small smile tug at the side of his mouth.  She did, at least, accept that.  “True.  But your affections seem to be…split.”  Robin’s eyes lost their mischievous glint as Beckett leaned closer to her, his voice dropping dangerously low.  “I will not have my future wife fooling around with other men.”

“I never—.”

“It is obvious where the majority of your affections lie,” Beckett said.  At least where the majority of your desires are satisfied he thought spitefully.  “And the wife of the head of the East India Trading Company cannot be seen as an unfaithful whore.”

“What about as a pirate?”

Beckett chuckled.  “A privateer,” he corrected.  “And no one will know.”  He leaned even closer.  “Your silly habit of pillaging is something I will tolerate.  Your flirtations with the good Admiral, however…it would be most troublesome if a fatal accident were to be befall him.”  He let his words hang in the air.

“You wouldn’t,” Robin gasped after this sank in.  “He works for you!”

Beckett smirked, allowing his eyes to casually glance downward at the dead sailor on the balcony below them.  “His usefulness seems to have run its course, and now he’s simply…in the way.”  Robin continued staring at him in horror.  “Of course, if he was no longer vying for the affection of my betrothed…”

“He’s not vying for my affection!”

“Oh?  For use of certain ‘talents’ of yours, then?” Beckett asked, his eyes narrowing.

Robin flushed, glaring at him.  “No.  He’s not vying for anything.”

“Then you won’t miss him.  And if you don’t wish an unfortunate accident to occur, you should make sure he doesn’t get too close to you, my love.”

Robin’s eyes flashed in anger.  “You liar!” she snarled.  “I knew I shouldn’t have believed you!”

Beckett stopped and looked back at her.  “But I didn’t lie, love.”

“Oh, and blackmailing your fiancé is just your way of showing affection?” Robin said sarcastically, her eyes filling with tears.  Beckett smirked.  He had complete control of the situation now.

“That, too.  But in this case, it’s just good business.”