He hadn’t recognized her.
Yet.
A few expert twists of his hand and her throbbing foot slipped free.She shimmied to the mainmast, keeping her face turned from him. “Thank you,” she mumbled, twisting to grab the shroud.
“Wait.”
She ignored his order and started down, sending up silent thanks her pins had somehow held her hat in place. Faster than she could have thought possible, she scrambled down the ratlines, missing a few and burning her hands on the ropes. When her feet hit the deck, a tendril of hair fell from her hat alongside her face.
“Boy!” The lieutenant’s voice sliced through the air only a few feet above her.
Oh no. She couldn’t face him, not on the main deck. Spinning, she ignored the stabs of pain shooting up her leg and darted toward the main hatch. Sailors stared from their cannons as she flew by and flung herself down the ladder to the berth deck. She didn’t make it far before a loud thump announced the lieutenant’s arrival.
“Stop!”
She grimaced but obeyed his shout as he strode over in several long strides. “What happened up there?”
With her face down, she shook her head. What happened indeed. She wasn’t even sure. The panic she’d felt earlier began to return as a vision of the deck swaying far below flashed across her mind.
“On shore, you assured me you had experience. It’s clear you were lying. By doing so, you put more than just yourself at risk.”
She nodded.
“Look at me and give me a proper answer. This is a naval ship and you will behave accordingly.” He barked his words out, each one laced with authority.
With a swallow, she lifted her head until his face became visible beneath the brim of her hat. “Yes, sir.”
“That’s better. Now…” His voice trailed off and his eyes narrowed as a flash of recognition crossed his face. “So help me God.”
Josephine took a step back as he reached for her. Another. Herback bumped into the wall and she spun to flee. Strong fingers clasped her arm, yanking her to a stop. Drat. She’d hoped to make it until nightfall before revealing her identity. Surely, he wouldn’t turn back now though. Not with the information he had on Thorne’s attack propelling the ships forward at breakneck speed.
He grabbed her hat and threw it to the floor, the pins finally meeting their match.
She swallowed as a flurry of different emotions ran across his face in quick succession—lips parted in shock, furrowed brow of confusion, then the ice of anger coloring his eyes.
“God’s blood.” He pressed his lips together and stared hard at her. “Where is Jack?”
“I didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re asking.” Josephine mustered a shaky smile. “Please don’t be angry.”
He blinked. Opened his mouth. Closed it when a strangled laugh bubbled forth. “Oh, don’t worry, Miss Montclair, I’m not angry.”
Despite knowing better, lightness filled her chest. “You’re not?”
“No.” His fingers tightened around her arm. “I’m furious.”
Understandable. “I’m really sorry—”
“Sorry? You nearly killed yourself!”
She winced. “I didn’t mean to.”
He pulled his hat free and dragged his fingers through his hair, an incredulous look etched onto his face. “I highly doubt anyone goes up into the rigging meaning to die.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, trying to find something to say that would soothe his temper.
“Why?” He pressed two fingers to his temple. “Why are you here?”
Josephine retrieved her hat and pulled out the pins holding her hair up. “I wanted to join your adventure.”
