Gabriel gave Triana a consolatory wink before looking up at the sour-faced man peering over the edge of the ship. He cocked his head to the side, stumbling to a halt as he yelled back, “Just gettin’ me jollies off wit’ this fine ledy and havin’ meself a good time o’ it, ol’ chap! ’Ow’s aboot kickin’ that plank down so’s I can climb aboard?”
The other man shook his head. “Drunken sod! Ye’ve got the wrong vessel. Now get lost!”
When he disappeared, Triana’s heart sank, but Gabriel gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze, as if to say, ‘Have patience’, before he stumbled a bit more and started humming just as off tune as before.
To her surprise, not a full minute later, a different crewman leaned over the side. “’Ey, ledy! Ye wouldn’t ’ave time for some real fun, would ye? We ’ave plenty o’ coin!”
Triana’s mouth would have dropped open if Gabriel hadn’t already explained his plan to her earlier.“It may take a bit of charm on my part to get the idea of a woman into their heads, but trust me, once it’s there, they won’t be able to resist the temptation. Remember, this is their first night ashore after days, perhapsevenmonths, at sea.”
Remembering to play her part, Triana lifted her heavily rouged face and fluttered her lashes flirtatiously at the sailor. “Aye, that I do! I’ve got plenty t’ go around.”
Almost instantly, the gangplank was shoved firmly into place and the first crewman who’d initially rejected them, suddenly reappeared and doffed his hat. “Well, then, welcome aboard th’Evening Swan, me ledy.”
As he gave a licentious chuckle, she looked nervously at Gabriel. “It’s all right.” He said quietly andverysoberly. “They won’t lay a single hand on you before I set them to rights that you’re spoken for.”
Triana felt a shiver of warmth at the possessive note in his voice. It helped to give her the proper amount of courage to continue this wild charade. Gabriel gave her a light push in the direction of the gangplank, muttering aloud, “Fine. I’ll find me anoth’r, and more willin’ wench t’ pass the time.”
***
Gabriel had to admit in that unyielding pose from earlier, with those blue eyes flashing so defiantly, Triana looked mighty delectable in the role of formidable foe. It was all he could do to resist the sudden urge to pull her into his arms and kiss some sense into her. In the end, he was forced to tuck that image into the back of his mind to be savored later.
Now, he appeared to sway back the way he’d come, but the minute he was out of sight of the men on deck, he headed for the stern of the ship and the rope ladder he’d already spotted hanging there.
But before he could even grab hold of the first rung, a mocking voice asked, “You wouldn’t be trying to play the hero without me, would you, Gabe?”
The duke turned and shot a cheeky grin at the tall, dark-haired man. “Hallo there, Montgomery. I was wondering when you were going to get here. Fashionably late as usual, I see.”
Logan gave a tolerant roll of his blue eyes. “Well, if I hadn’t been busy doing all the work, pumping the captain with drinks so that his tongue loosened up, or chasing down the blasted cur that set Travell up, I might have been here earlier.” He turned his lips upward in a wry smile. “But it’s nice to see you’re finally doing your share.”
Gabriel just shook his head and began climbing the ladder. “Still just as humble as ever, I see.”
The other agent grinned without a bit of remorse as he followed suit. “By the way, where did you find your lovely companion?”
Logan didn’t see his face tighten. “I’d be careful there, old friend. Considering that’s Travell’s sister, I’m not sure he’d take too kindly to your idea of courtship.”
His reply was a low whistle. “I might be willing to take a chance on that one.”
Gabriel was silent for a moment before he replied, “Then I’m afraid you’re doomed for disappointment, because she’s already spoken for.”
“Ah, I see. Pity that she should waste herself on you.”
Gabriel snorted. “I couldn’t agree more, but I’m afraid that organ in my chest begs to differ.”
Logan tried to smother a bark of laughter. “Are you sure you’re referring to the right organ? Sheisrather comely.”
Gabriel’s only reply was a kick to the other man’s head that was easily averted.
***
Triana walked as slow as she dared up the gangplank, as she was not in a big rush to confront these two, ogling men. However, knowing what was at stake if she didn’t play her part convincingly, she made herself paste on a seductive smile. While most men were rather apprehensive about inviting a woman on board their ship, a common superstition many sailors had that it brought bad luck, it obviously didn’t bother these scoundrels, for they looked on the verge of salivating.
Imagine if some Gypsy were to tell her future a month ago — that she would be in the guise of a harlot in order to board a ship in the middle of the night to rescue her brother, a spy, with the man she loved, who happened to be another spy — needless to say, she would have laughed in their face.
It just goes to prove that anything is possible.
As she stopped before the burly pair, Triana eyed the larger of the two crewmen, who bowed in obvious mockery. A vicious looking scar ran the length of his right cheek and he had a mouthful of rotting teeth. When he spoke, he got right to the point. “We ain’t go’ much time, but we’ve go’ plenty o’ coin. So ’ow’s about that toss?”
Triana felt a surge of panic, but she tried to recall Gabriel’s words of instruction.“Play hard to get. Look for clues.”Breezing past the men’s eager eyes, she scanned the bow of the vessel with a quick, but observant eye. With a bored air, she said, “’Ow’s about showin’ me yer coin first?”
