Page 9 of A Prince Among Pirates
“You stole my trunk,” I say before he can speak.
He balks and glances to the trunk at the foot of his bed. “I have no interest in your fancy britches.”
I clear my throat before I can laugh. “I cannot be expected to sleep in a hammock with the crew.”
“Would you prefer to sleep in the brig?”
It’s my turn to look dismayed. I take a step back and place a hand on my chest for dramatic effect. “I beg your pardon—”
“Begging is usually best done on your knees.”
All right. I see I am well matched with Captain Sharpe.
“Please,” I implore, opening my hands. “There must be a stateroom you can supply for me.”
“Must there be?” he asks, and I am quickly growing tired of this dance.
I sigh and let my hands fall to my sides. “Captain. I have no intention of sleeping in a dingy hammock in a room with fifty other men.”
“You are not a guest on this ship, little kitten,” Captain Sharpe says. “You agreed to become a member of my crew, did you already forget?”
“Of course not, but—”
“Then as a member of my crew, you will sleepwiththe crew. My officers are awarded private cabins for their loyalty and hardwork. You are not one of my officers. In fact, you are not yet officially one of my crew. You do not come to me making demands.”
I frown and motion to my trunk. “And where am I to keep my things if I’m to be without proper lodgings?”
Captain Sharpe smiles at me, and I am all too aware of how much he’s enjoying himself. “That’s a predicament for sure,” he muses. “Not many places on this ship that are safe from sticky fingers.”
I close my eyes and draw a calming breath. I am about to lose my temper, and I would absolutely hate to humiliate myself further. “Captain Sharpe… I have no desire to play this game with you. If you cannot accommodate me appropriately, or even provide me with a safe place for my things, I will find another ship.”
“Will you, lad?” the captain asks me, lifting one dark brow. “And how do you propose to do that? Will you swim back to port?”
My eyes widen and my stomach drops as I recall that when I dozed off, they were raising the anchor. How long did I sleep? How far out to sea have we come? I cannot think of anything to say in reply. All I can do is stare at Captain Sharpe with my mouth agape, blinking stupidly as the gravity of my situation truly sets in.
My expression seems to have some kind of effect on the captain, for he releases a puff of air and allows his shoulders to sag. “You can keep your trunk in here,” he says as he motions to where it currently sits. “You’ll have to come in here every day to do the ledgers anyway.”
Well, that’s something. I am surprised by the gesture, but I don’t say so. “Thank you, Captain.”
I decide it’s best to hedge my bets here. I have won a small victory, and now I’m sure I can press the captain later for a room. Surely, something can be found once he is feeling a little less hostile towards me.
I am about to leave when I recall the man who brought my trunk on board. I turn back to the captain, alarmed once more. “I was meant to pay my man for bringing my things on board.”
“He’s been paid.”
Shit. I sigh and reach into my pocket. “How much did he demand from you?”
Captain Sharpe smirks at me. “Two crowns. I told him he’d take three shillings or lose a hand.”
This startles a laugh out of me as I pull a crown from my purse. “Well. I had promised him a crown,” I say, tossing the coin to Captain Sharpe. “Consider the rest a small investment in the search for my room.”
It is the captain’s turn to laugh as he pockets my coin. “Off with you, lad. Get some sleep, for you’ll be up bright and early if you want to mess before I put you to work.”
I force a smile that I know must seem more like a grimace as I turn to leave the comforts of the captain’s lavish cabin. I cast one more mournful look towards my trunk, and then I step out on deck into the fading sun.
Hammocks are criminally unpleasant to sleep in. And the repulsive smell and chorus of snores and muttering do nothing to enhance the experience. I am at once resentful of Mr. Tydes and grateful to him. For while he did assign me to this small personal hell, he also allotted me the first hammock in the fo’c’sle, and there seems to be no one in the bunk below me.
After spending an eternity trying to sleep, I struggle out of my swinging death trap and land on the floor with a small crash and a few choice words. I hear snickering as I haul myself to my feet, but I pretend not to. Instead I hold my head high and make my escape, stepping back out on deck for a breath of fresh air.
