Page 63 of Mardon

“My boots, you mean,” grumbled Aaron.

“So is that why you look like a lass instead of a lad, Ramble?” asked Mardon. “It’s not a good look for you.” He shook his head, perusing Ramble’s odd choice of clothing. He wore a blue, velvet coat of some sort with the sleeves cut off. Underneath, he had a tunic made of pink satin. His trews only went past his knees, made of burgundy taffeta if he wasn’t mistaken. On his head covering his hair, Ramble wore some kind of sash with white lacing on the sides.

“Lady Emmaline made these clothes for me out of the gowns in the trunk.”

“I see.” He held back his chuckle, but some of the other pirates started laughing. “And why on earth would she do that, and want to wear your clothes instead?”

“I already told you why,” said Emmaline, sounding upset that the men were laughing at them. “I don’t want to wear the clothes from the trunk since they were given to me by Jean Philippe.”

“Did she give ye a kirtle as well, Ramble?” snickered one of the men.

“Nay, but she did give me these.” Ramble held up his hands. On each finger, he wore a ring with some kind of jewel embedded in it.

“I thought that trunk didn’t have any jewels in it,” shouted Goldtooth from up on the sterncastle, having been listening to everything they were saying.

“Ramble, hand them over to us,” said Coop. “Ye’re only a cabin boy. Ye don’t get such a big cut of the booty.”

“It was my cut, and I gave it to him,” Emmaline spoke up, surprising Mardon by being so bold. “Isn’t that right, Mardon?”

All eyes shifted to him. Mardon never felt as vulnerable as he did right now. He stood there half-naked without even a weapon on him, facing an angry crew. If he decided the rings should be split amongst his men, Ramble and Emmaline wouldn’t like it. Then again, if he let Ramble keep them, that wouldn’t be right either.

“That’s what he said, all right,” said Nairnie, coming from the galley, nosing her way into the conversation as always. “I, as well as everyone else here, heard Mardon say it. So if Lady Emmaline wants to give the jewels to Ramble, it’s her choice.”

“But ye said there weren’t any jewels in the trunk, Nairnie,” Peg Leg pointed out.

“Well, I guess I didna see them,” said Nairnie with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Cap’n, ye’re not goin’ to let the wenches take over the ship like this, are ye?” asked Peg Leg.

Both Nairnie and Emmaline stared at Mardon, making him feel as if he wanted to throw his hands in the air and scream. He had to be very careful how he answered.

“The things were Lady Emmaline’s before we stole them,” Mardon told his crew. “I think it’s only right that she’s allowed to decide what to do with them. After all, that trunk is hers.”

Groans and mumbles went up from the crew.

“Well, enough of that,” said Nairnie, brushing her hands together. “Who wants to eat?”

“Did you make those little biscuits with all the butter again?” asked Aaron.

“I did,” she said. “But I’m no’ sure there is enough to go around.”

“Out of my way,” said Aaron, pushing the rest of the men aside, taking off at a run for the galley. Suddenly, everyone forgot about the gemstone rings and followed their stomachs.

“Dinna anyone touch them. Wait until I get there!” shouted Nairnie. “Emmaline, Ramble, I’ll need yer help servin’ the food. These men are hungry and out of control.”

“As long as I don’t get butter on my velvet coat, I’ll help.” Ramble smoothed down the velvet with his palm and smiled. Then he headed off after her. Emmaline slowly walked over to Mardon.

“Thank you, Mardon,” she said, reaching up and kissing him on the lips.

He pulled her into his arms, running a hand down her back. He kissed her, not caring that anyone could see them. “Thank me? For what?”

“For being here for me since I have no one else but you. I’m like you now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have no family, no home, and no money. Mayhap I’ll have to start thieving like you do, just to survive.”

“Nay. You’re a lady and a noble. Don’t ever say things like that.”