Page 46 of A Prince Among Pirates
“A few hours. I told the men you wereindisposed. They have… questions.”
I’m sure they do. “And you?” I ask.
He takes his feet off the desk and leans forward to rest his elbows against it instead as he stares at me. “A million. I’m especially curious about your reckless decision to rescue me off a French frigate.” I have questions of my own, but they can wait. Despite his words, his relaxed demeanor means most of them arealready answered. He smirks and sits back. “Is there any danger of your father chasing after you?”
I frown as I consider what he’s asked me. Part of me doubts my father would care enough to come after me, but then, Iamhis son and heir. “I don’t know,” I say honestly.
Sharpe frowns and reaches up to run his fingers over his beard. “That’s a problem, Kitten.”
“No one knows I’m aboard this ship.”
“Except for Captain LaBarre and his men.”
“Who?”
Captain Sharpe gives me a pointed look and waits. When I do nothing but stare back at him, he sighs and shakes his head. “The French gentleman you dressed down on the deck of my ship yesterday.”
“Oh, him,” I say with a chuckle.
“I’m glad you think it’s funny.”
“I do. He was an utter ass. And he nearly shot me!”
“Kitten,” Sharpe says, and I hate how serious his tone is. “If word gets back to your father that his heir is on my ship, how can I be sure he won’t send the English navy after me? We did kill a few of LaBarre’s men.”
“My father doesn’t have nearly as much pull as I made him out to have,” I insist. “And I’m sure his replacement son has been born by now, so I doubt he’ll be much concerned that his heir is on a pirate ship when his spare is safe at home.” I’m not sure what to say about the men they—er,we—killed.
Captain Sharpe clearly wants to argue, but after a momenthe concedes my point and stands. He looks like he wants to say something but isn’t sure what. We stare at each other for a few moments, and I can tell by his expression that he’sseeingme again. “Are you all right?”
I tense up. I wasn’t expecting that question, but now everything from the night before comes rushing back, and I am dizzy from the memory of it. I’d rathernotthink about it. I’d rather lock it away in a box inside my head and focus instead on what to do about the crew knowing my true identity.
Panic wells up inside me, making my chest tighten painfully. I try to swallow the lump forming in my throat, but there’s no room for it to go down, as my ribs are thoroughly crushing my lungs.Ididn’t kill anyone last night—but I took part in the men’s deaths. I am responsible, whether they died by my hand or not.
I was also nearlyshot. There’s that, too.
Where do I go from here? I fear I have reached a precipice, and I have no choice but to throw myself into the abyss and pray someone is waiting below to catch me. Now I am certain that I can never return home, not after last night.
“I…”
“You’re one of us now, Kitten. Remember what I said before: You’re a seaman now. My crew are loyal to one another. That goes for you, too. Go and mess with the crew. You have to sleep in your own hammock tonight.”
I blink up at Sharpe, moved yet again by his ability toseeme. But I also see that he’s given me an out, and I take it. “Pity, I’ve got used to your bed.”
“Good Lord, Kitten, the men are already starting to suspect I’m buggering you. Don’t make it worse.”
I can’t help but bark out a laugh as I am reminded of the conversation I had with poor Digby Hale the night of my engagement party.
Buggery and lawlessness? Where do I sign up?A self-fulfilling prophecy.
But Captain Sharpe doesn’t laugh with me, and a cold chill settles into my stomach, killing my laughter on the spot. Once I remember how to inhale, I manage to ask, “Do they really?”
Sharpe snorts, which is something I would find revolting from anyone else, but he somehow makes it seem charming. “Go,” he says, before he finishes off the port in his glass, sets it down, and crosses the cabin to his settee. “Tomorrow morning I’ll have an assignment for you.”
I watch him for a moment as he sits and works open the laces of his boots, curious. My own boots are set neatly beside my trunk, so I slip them on and lace them up quickly. As I cross the cabin towards the door, Captain Sharpe speaks once more.
“Oh—and, Kitten?”
I stop and turn to face him, but he’s got his back to me. “Thanks for rescuing me. It was very gallant of you.” He glances at me, and his smirk sends a warm rush over my cheeks.
