His words struck with the force of a cannon ball.Yet she allowed not so much as a wince to appear.Instead, she lifted her chin.“I see you are acquainted with Damien Allard.”
A hint of a grin lifted one side of his lips, then disappeared as quickly as it had come.“So, you do not deny it.”
“I do not deny his acquaintance.”
“Or the result.”He snapped back, perfidious gaze landing once again on her belly.
Fear like she’d never known swamped her, squeezing every nerve tight.“You want my child,” she mumbled out as the realization hit her.
He said naught, merely stared at her with such ferocity, she nearly collapsed.Nay!She would not allow another pirate to harm her.Or her child.Drawing a deep breath, she sat up straight and threw back her shoulders.“I realize, Captain, that I am your prisoner and being a woman do not have the physical strength to fight you and your men, but I assure you, I will do everything in my power to save the child I’m carrying.If it comes to it, I will fight to the death and gladly die and take the babe with me to the depths of hell rather than hand him over to you.”
???
Cadan didn’t know whether to applaud the wench’s performance or throw her back in the hold for her brazen insolence.Either way, he couldn’t help but smile at the lunacy of her threats.
She had pluck, he’d give her that.And courage.Quite surprising in a woman who obviously hailed from nobility.Another disparaging mark against her character.Most females were not to be trusted.But those born to wealth and power were the worst of the lot, naught but sharks whose bite could sink a man to the depths.
And this particular siren shark had quite a bite.
She was a rare beauty, much like his wife had been.Another strike against her.Still, how could he keep his eyes off those golden tresses tumbling over her shoulders to her waist?Even dirty and tangled, each strand glittered in the lantern light like fine gold intertwined with pearls.High cheek bones, a chiseled nose, and lips that would drive any man wild completed the face of a goddess.But those eyes, the color of the Caribbean, one minute streaked in terror, the next covered by a determined, defiant sheen….a man could get lost in those eyes.
He was not the young fool he used to be.Nay, he would not come under her spell.
“I will excuse your impudent affront, my lady,” he began, using his most imperious tone, “for you do not know me.But henceforth, I will have you thrown back in the hold should your tongue run its foolish course again.”
Her pert little nose twitched.“Am I not going back there regardless?”
“Do you wish to?”
She studied him.“I wish to be off this ship.”
“That will not happen.At least not until you serve your purpose.”
“To bait Captain Allard?”
He shot his gaze to hers.Smart.Another quality he had not expected.
“If you think he will come for me, you are quite mistaken, Captain.Allard bears no affection for me at’ll.In truth, I doubt he cares for anyone but himself.”
Cadan nodded.“I quite agree, my lady.But you are not the bait.”
Confusion wrinkled her face until she glanced down at her belly.“You think he cares for his child?”
Cadan arched a brow.“Does he know?”
She gently caressed her stomach as if she were comforting the child itself.What was it about women who could love a babe they had not yet seen or held?Even after they were born, they were naught but screaming, smelly creatures.
“Nay,” she said.“He left me to hang for piracy ere my stomach grew.”Bitterness stung in her tone as she looked up, eyes moistening.“He is a monster of the worst kind, but then, so is a man who would use a baby as bait.”
“Watch your tongue, woman!”His sharp words hit their mark as the wench cowered slightly.What did this peckish minx know of his life?Of him?Grabbing the rum, he took another gulp.Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Zada scampering over the deck toward the lady.Women were such skittish things.He should warn her.But why?’Twould be amusing to watch her scream, run to the door, cower in disgust… He waited with anticipation.
Instead, a smile graced her lips, and she leaned to the side, swept the iguana in her hands, and brought it to her lap.“Who are you, little one?”she said as if talking to a cuddly cat.Then ever so gently, she pet the lizard on its cheek.
Zada, the traitor, turned one eye on Cadan as if to say,I like her.
Baffling woman.Cadan needed more rum.Instead, he called for Moses, knowing the man would be right outside.
“Lock her in Barnett‘s cabin.”
