“Don’t deny that you know him, too. He’s obviously thrown us together for this little adventure.”
Cade opened his mouth to say something, closed it, pulled out the whiskey bottle, splashed more into this glass, and tossed that back, too. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“General Grimaldi, my superior.”
“You report to Grim?” Cade asked in a way that made Danielle realize he was trying to convince himself he wasn’t in the middle of a dream. Perhaps a nightmare.
Grim? She’d never heard her stately boss referred to by that nickname, but she wasn’t about to admit it to Cade. “Yes. If I don’t mistake my guess, you do, too.”
“You’re serious. You didn’t follow me. You’re really here because Grim sent you?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you dressed like a boy?
“Because women aren’t usually welcome aboard ships.”
“Why is a lady’s maid pretending to be a cook’s assistant?”
Danielle took a deep breath. Obviously, Grimaldi had meant for them to discover each other. There was hardly any use in prevaricating. “The truth is, I’m a pirate.”
“You’rea pirate?”
“A smuggler really. Reformed at times.” She nodded toward him. “And you?”
“Also a pirate. Who do you think I am?”
She nearly stamped her foot. “At the moment I don’t care if you’re the ghost of Horatio Nelson. I need passage to where this pile of wood is going.”
“Pile of wood?” His voice was outraged.
She shrugged. “Very well. She’s actually a fine ship. Beautiful lines. This cabin is particularly impressive. It’s positively grand.”
“Thank you. Now, tell me what the bloody hell you were doing in my brother’s house posing as a lady’s maid? Were you spying on Rafe?”
“I was spying on you.”
“Me? You were spying onme? That’s why you were at Rafe’s house?”
“Why were you staying with your brother?”
Cade slammed his fist on the table. “Damn it. Stop answering questions with questions.”
“Or what? You’ll toss me overboard? You’ll have to answer to Grimaldi for that and he’s not a day behind us.”
Cade paced across the cabin and back, scrubbing his hand through his hair. “What in the devil’s name is going on?”
“I’d like to know as well. Do you want to slow the ship and wait to ask the general?”
“No.”
“Neither do I. Baptiste might outrun us.”
Cade’s eyes were as wide as the bottom of the whiskey glasses. “You know about Baptiste?”
“Among other things,” Danielle replied with a sigh.
Cade’s nostrils flared. “What the hell am I supposed to do with awomanon my ship?”
