Even Bandit leapt from his corner and dashed toward the lady.
Surprised, she caught him in her arms, the force of him nearly knocking her over. He clung to her as a babe would his mother and, though clearly startled, she caressed his fur.
“Shh now, has the captain been mean to you?” She glanced up at Blake. “Should we add torturing small animals to your list of crimes, Captain?”
Bandit jabbered at the lady as if answering her, and the oddest thing happened. Blake could have sworn he understood the monkey saying something about ghosts in the cabin.
Aye, definitely going mad.
“Do have a seat, Miss Hyde.” He gestured toward a chair.
“I’d rather stand.” She set Bandit down and lifted her pert little nose. “Unless you have summoned me with the intention of setting me free, I find myself loathing your company.”
Blake chuckled. “Indeed? I should have you flogged for your brazen tongue.”
A spark of terror flashed across her eyes. Regardless, she stood her ground. “I am not one of your crew, Captain, who cannot speak their minds freely. Nor should any real gentleman threaten a lady with such barbarity.”
“A gentleman, am I?” Oddly, the ache in Blake’s head lessened, and he found himself smiling at their banter. The heaviness that had weighed upon him all night lifted, and he felt refreshed…hopeful, even.
“Nay, do not flatter yourself, Captain. A gentleman you will never be.”
Blake laughed. “Nor do I wish to be a goose-witted dandy who cowers for the favors of the opposite sex.”
“You deceive yourself if that is your assessment of a gentleman.” As if taxed by the conversation, she moved to sit in the chair. Bandit leapt into her lap.
“Do regale me, Miss, with your understanding of the role.”
“’Tis no role, but qualities that make atrueman—Godliness, honor, integrity, courage, and being a champion of the weak.”
“Humph.” Blake poured himself a sip of rum. “I have found none of those qualities in any gentleman I have met.”
“Then you have not met a true gentleman.”
He tossed the rum to the back of his throat, then set the glass down and studied her. Rays of sunlight shifted over her cheeks in streaks of glittering gold. Thick lashes circled her luminous golden eyes. Spirals of chestnut-colored hair dangled over her shoulders as she gently petted Bandit.
The traitorous monkey leaned his head against her breast, smiling, and Blake suddenly wished he could do the same.
He shook off the sentiment. What was wrong with him? “Quite impressive the way you set Maston in his place.”
She smiled and the entire cabin seemed brighter. “I could hardly allow him to harm Charlie.”
“You and she have become friends.”
“I wouldn’t call it that.” Sorrow tainted her tone.
“Regardless, I wouldn’t have expected…” He sighed, unsure he wished to insult the lady, for he was enjoying their conversation.
“Me to point a cutlass at anyone?” She arched a brow. “You forget who my father is.”
Hardly. ’Twas because ofpreciselywho her father was that he could not keep her. He frowned. Too bad, for he found the idea of having this lovely sprite around appealing. He gripped the black cross around his neck, balancing his feet on the deck as the ship heaved over a wave.
Placing Bandit down, she rose, her jaw tightening. “He will find me. He is not one to give up. And when he finds this bucket of imbeciles you call a pirate ship, he will sink you to the depths.”
b
Emeline had no idea where her sudden courage sprouted from. Nor her brazen tongue. She’d never been fearless like her parents and siblings. She knew all too well that she was at this pirate’s mercy, a man who had proven himself to be anything but a gentleman. And nothing like her father.
Instead of his eyes narrowing in fury. Instead of charging toward her with the intent to do her harm, he laughed.
