Cadan laughed.“When have my wits ever done me any good?”He slammed the rum to the back of his throat.“’Tis usually when I am without them that I achieve my goals.”
“And was your goal to bring aboard a woman ripe with child?”
Cadan huffed.“Not at first, I admit.”Movement caught his eye as Zada scrambled across the map on his desk.Picking him up, he scratched the iguana’s back before placing him on the deck.
Pell shook his head and seemed about to say something when a rap thundered on the door.Best to allow the interruption before his friend gave him another of his lectures.He might not be a preacher anymore, but he sure spoke like one.“Enter.”
Lazy-eyed Smity poked his head in.“She be locked up below, as ye ordered, Cap’n.”
“Very good,” Cadan returned, which Smity must have taken as permission to enter and give his opinion.
“Good thinkin’ in lockin’ ’er up, too.A wench should ne’er be trusted.”He rubbed the scars on the right side of his face.“I thank ye, Cap’n, fer gettin’ us out o’ that hellhole.”
Cadan nodded at his bosun, one of the best sailors he’d come across, but the man could be as heartless as an angry viper.Perhaps learned from his time with the famous pirate Captain Avery.Regardless, Cadan still felt a twinge of guilt whene’er he looked at the scars on his face and his wandering eye.
“The key?”Cadan held out his hand.The last thing he wanted was for the woman to be ravished without his permission.
Lamplight flickered off the single pearl in Smity’s right earlobe as frowning, he fished it out of his pocket and tossed it to Cadan.
“Now, get above and keep the men in order and all canvas to the wind,” he ordered, catching it.
No sooner did Smity turn to leave than Omphile shoved her way past him, a scowl on her otherwise pretty face.“What’s dis I hear ’bout a woman on board?And one wit’ child as well?”
Pell smiled.
Cadan released a heavy sigh and crossed arms over his chest.“’Tis none of your business, woman.”
Swinging one of her long braids over her shoulder, she flattened her lips.“I thought you was a decent man, Cap’n.Not one t’ take a mistress by force.”
“Mistress?Scads.Nay, she is my bait.”
“An’ what d’you hope t’ catch wit’ her?”The comely middle-aged Negress planted a hand on her rounded hip.
Pell raised his brows, clearly interested in the conversation.
“That’ll be all, Pell.Back to your duties.”
With a huff, the quartermaster left, offering a wink to Omphile.
Cadan should not allow the woman to speak to him thus, but for some reason, she reminded him of his mother, all pluck and goodness and honesty.Something found lacking in the rest of his crew.
She stood there staring at him, her ebony skin aglow in the lantern light and her long braids swinging with the movement of the ship.
“’Tis the babe within her that will bring me the greatest prize of all, and that’s all I’ll say of it.”
“Will it bring the same prize if it dies?”
Cadan studied her, confused.
“D’you think she an’ the babe will survive in the filthy, sodden, vermin-ridden hold?”She cocked her head.“Bring her above an’ allow me to tend t’ her needs.”
The blasted woman had a point.Females were such weak creatures.No doubt the wench would not last long below.And that wouldn’t do well for his plans at all.He waved a hand through the air.“Very well.I’ll have Moses set up Barnett’s cabin for her.”He tossed her the key, which she expertly caught with a grin.“But have him bring her to me first.”
Chapter 3
When a giant, dark-skinned man appeared before Gabrielle’s cage, lantern in hand, she thought her fate was sealed.But instead of a malicious look, the flickering light revealed a kind face.Holding up the lantern, he examined her more with curiosity than animosity, announced the captain wished to see her, and promptly unlocked the iron gate.
Pushing against the bench, she struggled to rise, but the ship leapt over a wave, and she fell back.
