“My sentiments exactly, but the blasted man insisted. He wants me close to hand in case he needs something in the middle of the night, the lazy cur. But what can you expect of a pampered English lord?”
“Then he’ll have tae be told.”
It was her turn to gasp as she shot to her feet, “What!? You can’t be serious!”
“Ye better believe I am, lass.” Mac nodded resolutely. “Ye’ll no’ be sharing a cabin wi’ a mon who’s nae friend or kin tae ye.”
“But he thinks I’m a boy.”
“That doesna matter. Yer brothers—”
“Will never know,” she cut in angrily. “For God’s sake, if you tell Malory, I could end up sharing his cabin anyway, but in a manner even less to my liking. Did you think of that?”
“He wouldna dare!” Mac growled.
“Oh, wouldn’t he?” she demanded. “Are you forgetting so soon who’s captain around here? He can do anything he blasted well pleases, and protesting on your part will only get you clapped in irons.”
“Only the blackest scoundrel would be taking such advantage.”
“True. But what makes you think he isn’t just that? Are you willing to risk my virtue on the thin likelihood that the man has a scrap of honor? I’m not.”
“But, lassie—”
“I mean it, Mac,” she insisted stubbornly. “Not a word to him. If I’m found out some other way it will be soon enough to learn if the Englishman has any decency, but I tell you true, I doubt it. And sleeping in his cabin is the least of my worries. It’s being around him otherwise that will be a test of my fortitude. You would not believe how despicable he is, how he takes pleasure in being downright nasty. He actually admitted to me it’s one of the few enjoyments he has.”
“What is?”
“Putting people on the defensive, making them squirm. He treats them like butterflies, his barbs the pins that nail them to the spot.”
“Are ye no’ exaggerating a wee bit, lass, disliking the mon as ye do?”
She was, but she didn’t care to admit it to him. If she really was the boy the captain thought her to be, she wouldn’t have taken offense at what was merely an older man ribbing a younger one about his lack of experience, something males invariably tended to do. And the topic of sex was a natural one between men when women weren’t around. Hadn’t she overheard enough conversations among her brothers, when they weren’t aware that she was about, to know that?
Fortunately, the door opening just then kept her from having to answer Mac. A young sailor rushed in and showed relief at finding the boatswain there.
“The topsail halyard is fraying under these winds, sir. Mr. Sharpe sent me for a new one when he couldn’t find you.”
“I’ll see tae it, mon,” Mac said curtly, already turning to locate the proper rope.
The inexperienced sailor left gratefully. Georgina sighed, aware that Mac had no more time for her right now. But she didn’t want to leave their conversation on such a bad note, or have him worrying about her.
The only way to do that was to give in and admit, “You were right, Mac. I have been letting my dislike of the man persuade me he’s worse than he is. He said himself that he probably won’t even notice me underfoot in a few days, which means he’s tested my mettle and now won’t bother himself with me anymore.”
“And ye’ll do yer best tae stay unnoticed?”
“I won’t even spit in his soup before I serve it up to the great ox.”
She grinned to show she was only teasing. He looked horrified to show he knew it. They both laughed before Mac headed toward the door.
“Are ye coming then?”
“No,” she said, rubbing her ear under her cap. “I’ve decided the deck is more hazardous than I remember it being.”
“Aye, this wasna a good idea, lass,” he said regretfully, referring to their working their way home. It had been his idea, even if he had tried to talk her out of it afterward. If anything happened…
She smiled, not blaming him in the least for the way it had turned out. It was no more than bad luck that had made an Englishman, and that particular one, owner and captain of this ship.
“Now, none of that. We’re on our way home, and that’s all that matters. There’s nothing else to do but grin and bear it for a month. I can do it, Mac, I promise. I’m practicing patience, remember?”
