She fell down upon the bunk, exhausted. It had to be nearly dawn, and there wasn’t a thing in the world that she could do at the moment.
She dropped her sword, doffed her cloak, and stretched out upon the bed. Her mind raced and her heart ached and fits of trembling seized her again and again.
At last she stood up and went straight to the Hawk’s liquor supply. She downed a good portion of rum, recorked the bottle,and staggered back to the bunk. She fell down upon it again.
And that time, she slept.
In the morning she awoke alone.
She had feared the Hawk throughout the night, but he had not come near her. As she rose, she realized miserably that she did not fear his force, but her own response.
Robert came, quiet and subdued, bringing her breakfast and water with which to wash. He watched her intently. “It was not your fault,” he told her. “The Hawk’s not pleased at all that you’re with us, but don’t be alarmed by him, it was not your fault.”
“Thank you, Robert.”
He smiled to her encouragingly. “Robert, if a pardon comes through, is there any possibility that you will forswear your ways and sign loyalty to the king?”
She thought that his smile deepened, but he quickly lowered his lashes and she could not see his eyes any longer. “I will do whatever the captain does, madame.”
“Is your loyalty so fierce, then?”
“It is.” He hesitated. “He nevers betrays a trust, milady. He has said that he will lay down his life for you—he will do so then. I will lay down my life for him. That is how we all feel, all of us sailing with him. And that is why he is feared and respected.” He paused, as if he longed to go on. Then he shrugged. “The door is open, milady, you are welcome topside.”
“Wait, Robert!” she pleaded. He stopped, and it was her turn to pause as a crimson flush climbed over her face. “Robert, where did he sleep last night?”
Robert’s gaze swept over her, and he smiled secretively. “In the officers’ quarters, milady. Is there any other way in which I may serve you now?”
In the officers’ quarters…
He had given her his cabin in privacy. Was he waiting to collect his payment, the honorable rogue to the very end? The thought made her shiver, and then she remembered her husband left lying upon the floor, and she wondered where Lord Cameron had spent the night. A fierce surge of trembling rose within her and she had to sit down upon the bunk. Roc…could he forgive all of this? Would he disown her, or beat her? Or both. Such behavior would lie well within his rights for all that she had done.
And gave promise to do in the future.
She didn’t know who she hated the most then, Lord Cameron or the Hawk. She didn’t know who she feared more.
And she still didn’t know who she loved more.
“All you all right, milady?” Robert asked anxiously.
“I’m—I’m fine, Robert. Thank you.”
“There’s nothing I can do?”
She shook her head slowly. When he was gone, she picked at the food that he had brought her, then she quickly washed, brushed her hair, and came topside.
The sails were mostly drawn in, and they traveled slowly and very close to shore. Dangerously close, Skye thought. She could see land to the starboard side. She looked to the carved platform and to the helm and saw that the Hawk was there, navigating his own ship that day.
Skye smiled to the men she passed upon the deck, and they smiled in turn or tipped their hats. Once, she had been in terror of these men, she thought. Now they were her allies.
Her friends.
She couldn’t dwell upon such curious twists of fate. She hurried by them and up the platform.
The Hawk was in a black open-necked shirt and black breeches and his dark head was bared to the day. He nodded to her gravely when she came his way.
“Did you sleep well, milady?”
She nodded. “Did you?”
