“I think it’s best we change the conversation.” As if reading hermind, Samantha set a hand on Josephine’s forearm. “What are your intentions with Isaac?”
Josephine blinked at the forward question. “What do you mean?”
Samantha set her hands on her hips. “Come now, I’m not blind.”
A flush spread across her chest. “I… I was lamenting my future when he showed up in Tortuga and took it as a sign that there might be a chance of falling in love.” Her shoulders fell. Saying it out loud made it all seem so silly. “It was foolish.”
“Maybe it wasn’t such a farfetched idea after all.” Samantha nodded toward her husband and the lieutenant who stood across the floor, conversing with a man with his arm in a sling. “He seems different around you, especially after your little foray into town.”
Josephine gave a rueful smile. “Probably because I exasperate him.”
Samantha’s laugh caused several guests nearby to turn their way. She lowered her voice. “You should ask Christian how I made him feel at first.”
“He must have fallen in love with you right away, how could he not?”
A wry grin spread across Samantha’s face. “Hate might be a better word. But we are not talking about Christian. Tell me, did something happen earlier?”
Another blunt question. “Well, I had to pretend we were lovers.” Her face burned as Samantha laughed again. “I had to. He was about to ruin his chances at getting any information from the men at the tavern.”
“I’m sure he didn’t know how to react to that.”
More heat rushed to Josephine’s cheeks. He’d reacted alright.
After a knowing look, Samantha returned her gaze to the men. “If not for him, Christian and I would likely be dead.”
Josephine turned. “How so?”
“We were shipwrecked together and Isaac rescued us.”
Her eyes widened. “You were with him?”
When Samantha nodded, Josephine’s mind began to race and snippets of memory flooded back. How Lieutenant Caldwell had shown up that night and told her father his captain had left with another pirate. Samantha’s shocking clothing choices. Her comment that breeches were better for fighting. That she’d nearly killed Christian with her rapier.Who ever said I was respectable?
“You’re a pirate?” Her voice came out in a squeak.
Samantha’s lips parted, then curved. “Youaregood at investigating. Maybe I should send you over with Christian to help with their interviews.”
“And you’re good at deflecting.” Josephine crossed her arms. “Is it really true?”
“Ex-pirate, if you must know.” Samantha gave a half curtsy. “I’m positively reformed.”
“Does Abigail know?”
Samantha jerked upright, face paling. “No.”
A thousand questions pressed to the front of Josephine’s mind. But before she could ask a single one, someone cleared their throat behind her.
“Do I want to know why you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Christian stood there, frowning.
Samantha laughed. “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just surprised by Josephine’s perspicacity. She’s sharper than you think.”
He raised a dark brow. “Doesn’t surprise me. Now, I’ve interviewed everyone here I can find. How about a dance before we head back to the ship?”
Josephine smiled as the couple strode out onto the dance floor.
“Miss Montclair?” The lieutenant’s baritone voice rumbled from just over her shoulder.
She spun. “Has anyone ever told you it’s rude to sneak up on people?”
