“No longer under discussion, George. You’ll stay here and that’s the end of it.”
Her mouth opened to argue again, but she closed it just as quickly. She could give ground on that, as long as he understood she wasn’t his to command ineveryway. Actually, if she couldn’t have a room to herself, then his cabin was preferable to any other quarters. At least here she would be able to remove her bindings and sleep more comfortably for the duration of the voyage.
“Very well, as long as the sleeping arrangements remain the same.” That was putting it plainly enough. “And I don’t think I should be scrubbing your back anymore…sir.”
James almost laughed. How prim the little wench was sounding this morning, and entirely too demanding. He wondered again what kind of life she led when she wasn’t sporting breeches. He supposed he had to rule out dockside doxy after last night.
“Need I remind you, George, that you’re the only cabin boy I’ve got. You put yourself in that position, so you’ll stay in it until I tell you otherwise. Or have you also forgotten that I’m captain around here?”
“And you intend to be difficult, I see.”
“Not at all. I’m merely pointing out that you yourself give me no choice but to insist. But you aren’t by any chance thinking I mean to take advantage of you just because you were so accommodating last night?”
She eyed him narrowly, but his expression gave away nothing. Finally she sighed. Until he gave some indication that he might force his attentions on her, she really had no choice but to be fair and assume the man wouldn’t bother her unless invited to do so.
“Very well, we’ll go on as we did before…before last night, that is.” With the concession, she even offered him a tentative smile. “And now I’ll dress more thoroughly, as you suggested, sir, then fetch your breakfast.”
He watched her scoop up the rest of her clothing from the floor and head for the concealment of the leather screen. He had to bite his tongue to keep from making some comment about her modesty after she’d marched gloriously naked across the room last night.
He remarked instead, “You don’t have to keep sir-ring me, you know.”
She paused to glance back at him. “Sorry. It just seems appropriate. After all, you’re old enough to be my father, and I’ve always given my elders a measure of respect.”
He looked for the twitch of her lips, the triumph in her eyes, anything to show that she was deliberately trying to insult him. And it was a direct hit. Not only did he feel indignant, but his pride and vanity were also seriously wounded. But there was nothing in her expression. If anything, she looked as if the comment had been entirely casual, even automatic, without any forethought at all.
James gritted his teeth. For once, his golden brows didn’t move even a miniscule amount. “Your father? I’ll have you know, dear girl, that that is an impossibility. I may have a seventeen-year-old son, but—”
“You have a son?” She turned about fully. “Have you a wife, too?”
He hesitated in answering, only because she surprised him with her crestfallen look. Could it be disappointment? But she recovered during his hesitation.
“Seventeen?” she practically shouted, sounding totally incredulous, then added quite triumphantly, “I rest my case,” and marched on toward the screen.
James, for once at a loss for a proper rejoinder, turned and left the cabin before he gave in to the urge to throttle the saucy chit.Rest my case, indeed. He was bloody well in his prime. How dare the wench call him old?
In the cabin, behind the screen, Georgina was smiling—for all of five minutes. And then her conscience began to prick her.
You shouldn’t have attacked his self-esteem, Georgie. Now he’s mad.
What do you care? You don’t like him any more than I do. Besides, he deserved it. He was entirely too smug.
With reason. Before he reverted to form last night, you thought he was the greatest thing God had ever put breath in.
I knew it! You just couldn’t wait to gloat because you think I made a colossal mistake. So what if I did? It’s my life to make mistakes with, and I’m not denying it. I gave him my permission.
He didn’t need it. He’d have taken you with or without it.
If that’s the case, what could I have actually done about it one way or the other?
You were too complaisant.
I didn’t hear you complaining very much last night…Oh, God, I’m talking to myself.
Chapter Twenty-four
“Brandy, George?”
Georgina started. He’d been so quiet, sitting there at his desk, that she’d almost forgotten James was in the room. Almost, but not quite. He was not, in any way, shape, or form, a man who could be easily ignored.
