“And where are you going?”
“I’m taking the place of Lieutenant Caldwell’s cabin boy.”
The gasp Abigail let out could have raised the dead. “Why?”
“Ever since I first moved to Tortuga, I’ve hoped for an adventure. Going on a pirate hunt would be the adventure of a lifetime. Samantha is going, so why shouldn’t I?”
“Samantha has Christian to protect her.” After a long pause, her friend’s eyes widened. “This is because of the lieutenant, isn’t it? You want to use it as an excuse to spend more time in his company.”
Josephine pulled her lip between her teeth. Deep inside, her heart betrayed her, thudding in agreement to the accusation. “I don’t know. Maybe. My father wants me to marry an old merchant. One I’ve hardly ever even spoken to. When I met the lieutenant, I felt something. Something I’ve never felt before.”
“Just because you felt something doesn’t give you license to act so foolishly. It’s a terrible plan. You’re only going to make him mad at you. And then you’ll be stuck on a ship with him.” Abigail shuddered.
“I know, I know.” Josephine looked over her shoulder at the open window. “I can’t explain it, but I feel certain I’m meant to go.”
“Or, you could stay here with me until Lieutenant Caldwell returns and win his attention the traditional way.”
“If I wait, I might miss my chance entirely. He wrote to my father, which means I won’t have very long before I have to go back to Tortuga. Besides, didn’t you tell me about all the women who have tried and failed to catch his eye the traditional way?”
Her friend threw up her arms. “Why the lieutenant? You danced with several young men tonight that are infinitely better choices than him.”
Josephine paused. “If I go back to Tortuga, I’ll never know if something could have come from it. It will drive me mad.”
Abigail’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Fine. But don’t make me say I told you so.”
With a squeal, Josephine rushed forward to embrace her friend. “Thank you.” She turned and headed to her room. “I must pack quickly, I haven’t much time to get down to the docks.”
Abigail nodded. “I’ll gather some things for you as well.”
Josephine made quick work of repacking her things. A pirate hunt. A shiver ran down her spine. She would be safe with the lieutenant. He had over a hundred well trained men and a heavily armed ship. Besides, Samantha had said Thorne would probably be long gone by the time they got there.
Abigail walked in with an armful of items. “Here, if you’re going to woo your lieutenant, these might help.” She passed over a bundle of ribbons, a pretty yellow dress and a bottle of perfume before looking her up and down. She shook her head. “How is it that I end up with all the unconventional friends?”
Josephine’s smile widened as she finished packing and slung the bag over her shoulder. “I hope I get to meet those friends.” She walked over to where Lola slept and stroked the soft feathers on her back. “You be good for Abigail.”
She hugged her friend. “Thank you. I look forward to telling you all about my adventures.”
Abigail gave an uneasy smile. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I will.”
Moments later, she hopped to the ground. She waved to Abigail and slung the pack over her shoulder. The walk back into town took over an hour, and by the time the tall masts of theTempestcame into view, sweat dripped down Josephine’s back.
She pulled out the slip of paper and started down to the docks. Only a few men walked up the gangplank and she quickened her pace. Wouldn’t do to be late.
The man at the bottom was not the first officer who had discovered her ruse in Tortuga. Thank heavens. She hurried over and presented the paper to the sailor. He gave her a bored look. “Cabin boy, I suppose?”
She nodded and lowered her voice. “Jack Barlow.”
He grunted and waved her on. “Best hurry. We sail within the hour.”
Each step up the ramp sent her pulse racing faster. This was it. She was going on a pirate hunt. A thrill ran through her, even as a heavy weight settled within her. Somehow, she needed to convince all these men she knew what she was doing.
Another sailor who had boarded ahead of her headed down a hatch with a rucksack over his shoulder. She followed, climbing down a ladder to the berth deck. Men in uniform secured polished cannons with thick ropes. One more hatch and ladder took her into the berth deck. A whole slew of sailors wrapped their belongings into hammocks, conversing in loud voices. She picked her way over trunks and rucksacks, until she found an unclaimed hammock in the middle.
“A cabin boy?” One of the nearby men approached her. “I thought the lieutenant didn’t run a boy on his ship?”
She began to roll her bag into the hammock. “He must have changed his mind.”
