A tall, strikingly confident woman strides into the room, clearly suspicious as to why she has been invited here. She wears a deep green velvet frock coat over a striped corset vest and tight black breeches. The cuffs on her black boots are folded over at the knee and barely conceal the silver hilt of a dagger sheathed there. No effort has been made to conceal the brace of long- nosed pistols she wears in a leather crossbelt. Fiery red hair flowing beneath the wide brimmed hat warns of an impatient nature, a sampling of which comes as she tosses the hat on the table, sits in the indicated chair, then props her boots up on the corner of the table.
“With us today,” says the interviewer, “is Rose St. Clare, and may I begin the introduction by saying you come from a long line of famous privateers, beginning with the legendary Simon Dante, also known as the Pirate Wolf. How would you describe your childhood, being a direct descendent in such an adventurous dynasty?”
(After a momentary hesitation, Rose crosses her ankles and leans back in the chair.)
My childhood was what you might call today, that of a tomboy. I grew up with two older brothers, Ramsey and Simon, neither of whom coddled me or treated me like a “girl”. We had sword fights and fist fights; we conducted piratical raids on the cook house to pillage the pantry; we attacked our father’s ship when it was in port and climbed to the tops of the masts like monkeys. I learned alongside them how to shoot a pistol, a musket, and a cannon (much to my mother’s displeasure). My father, Alexander St. Clare, was my role model, the hero I aspired to be when I took command of my own ship.
“Might I ask: what was the greatest lesson he taught you?”
Choosing the right people to stand on deck beside me. My brother Ramsey often mocks me for taking a dwarf on board as my navigator, a former slave as my ship’s master, and another fearless woman as my gun captain…although I secretly suspect she strikes terror into his bowels. But they, along with every member of my crew, are honest, loyal unto death, and are the best damned crew on the high seas!
“Do you have a significant other?”
(she sighs and fiddles with the edge of her cuff) I was married for a time…a very short time…to a sweet boy my parents chose for me. But he hated the sea, spent any time on board a ship leaning over the rail sending his stomach into the waves. Unfortunately, he died of the yellow fever. (she pauses and purses her lips) There was one other—a reckless, dangerous, black-hearted pirate who once served with my brother in the Royal Navy but abandoned that career to join Jean Lafitte’s company of privateers.
“And you never saw him again?”
(she looks up sharply) In truth, I vowed to shoot Sebastien Fontaine if I ever did see him again.
“I suppose, in your line of work, you do have challenges in your relationships.”
(laughing) Indeed, it is a challenge to outwit, out-smart, and not stab any man who thinks me incapable of captaining my own ship. Several have learned the error of their thinking the hard way.
“I understand your home base is Tobago?”
My home base is my ship, the Cygnet, named after one of my ancestors, Isabeau Dante, whose detailed charts still hang on the walls of Naval Academies in many countries. Her signature mark is that of a black swan.
“Doing…er, what you do… do you have many enemies?”
Only every captain and every crew of every ship I have fought and captured… French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese. I do my best (cough) to avoid encounters with the British, but I have run the blockade into Savannah three times, leaving a few English sails burning in my wake. If they get in my way, I consider them fair game.
“Ah yes, the war between England and America. Your family seems to be divided in their loyalties.”
Father is in a difficult position, having the shipping business based in London. Should he show any outward sympathy to the Americans, he could have the company confiscated and his letters to trade, issued by the Crown, rendered null and void. Simon is in a monastery in Italy making wine, so he has little concern for war now that Napoleon is in exile. Ramsey has been rewarded for his service in the Navy and has been appointed the governor of Tobago, thus he too must support the Crown and would, I suspect, happily toss me in jail… if he could catch me.
“You side with the Americans?”
I do what I can to help them throw the British out of the country once and for all. I run guns and ammunition and necessities through the blockade along the eastern seaboard. I have also approached Jean Lafitte with an offer to join his company at his base in Barataria Bay. Like a typical male pig, however, he flatly refused my help and shooed me away like a pesky female gnat.
“I’m assuming that did not go over well?”
You are the master of the understatement. No, it did not go well for either Jean Lafitte or… or for the most successful and prolific privateer in his fleet, Sebastien Fontaine. Neither one seemed ready to commit to defending New Orleans against an impending invasion by the English. New Orleans is the key to holding the Mississippi and if the British take the city, they will be able to send their army straight up into the heartland of America. They have already sacked Washington City in the north and burned the white house to the ground, sending Madison’s army fleeing to the coast. If they capture New Orleans, they capture the south.
“Setting the war aside for a moment, what is your greatest source of joy?”
(she draws a breath at the cavalier dismissal of the war, but gives the question some thought) My greatest pleasure is standing on the deck of my ship, the sails unfurled above me to catch the wind, the taste of salt in the air, the thrill of riding through the tall waves. The boom and thunder of unleashing a full broadside and hearing the crew celebrate a victory. The quiet dark nights with a glittering swath of stars overhead reflected on the surface of the sea so that it seems we are floating in space. All of those things give me more pleasure and excitement than most gain in a lifetime of sipping tea on a shady veranda.
“And your greatest personal failing?”
I suppose that would be my inability to trust easily. No thanks to Sebastien Fontaine, I have looked at all men with a critical, mistrustful eye, and because of him, have not been surprised that most regard women as mere playthings, something to warm their beds at night. I might add, however, that in the end he was the one who was the most surprised of all!
“Dare I ask if there is anything that keeps you awake at night?”
Hating Sebastien Fontaine, but not hating him. Wanting to trust him, but not trusting him farther than I can spit a mouthful of chewed mutton. Wanting to earn his respect and praise, but not wanting to fall in love with him again… and yet… (she lowers her boots from the table and reaches for her hat, signalling that the interview is over.) What I want is respect for my ship and crew. The Cygnet is a fighting ship that has never lost a battle at sea and if we have to sail up the Mississippi and defend New Orleans on our own, so be it. I will stay true to my ancestors and to the original Iron Rose, Juliet Dante!
“One more question before you leave. The title of your story is THE BLACK WIND?”
Yes, it is. And yes, (she turns and looks directly into the camera) it is coming for you.
Pirate Wolves #5
From much-beloved Marsha Canham comes a brand-new, never-before published tale of breath-taking adventure, including treachery, betrayal, exhilarating sea battles and romance.
The year is 1814 and a British fleet is on its way to engage in the final battle to capture New Orleans. Standing in its way is Rose St. Clare, descendant of the infamous Pirate Wolf, and the brilliant, fearless captain of the blockade runner, Cygnet.
Chasing her in his notorious ship, the Black Wind, is Sebastien Fonteyne, the extremely dangerous and successful privateer who reigns over Barataria Bay with Jean Lafitte.
Paranormal Historical [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: July 1, 2025, e-Book , / ]
Marsha Canham, born November 19th…a while ago... raised in Toronto, Ontario. Writing mostly historical romances set in many of her favorite periods: medieval, pirate, regency, Scottish. Winner of several awards from Romantic Times, including twice receiving Lifetime Achievement, as well as Storyteller of the Year. The Iron Rose won accolades from Publishers Weekly for being one of the seven best fiction books of the year. Her novels have regularly appeared on USA Today bestseller lists. Nasty rumors of her retirement have been greatly exaggerated.
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