Lady Pirate Read Online Free

boring to her mind as fussing over gowns and cloaks and just which material went with what. It was all a lot of bother, and a task she would have been more than happy to hand over to One-Eye or Skully…if she hadn’t feared being stuck in something pink and frilly.
    â€œVery good,” the tailor announced with relief as he wrote down the number his wife spoke. He looked tired himself, and was likely eager to have Valoree and her burly companions depart. But before she went, she needed to clear things up.
    â€œI’ll need one day gown for each of us by tomorrow. I want the other gowns the day after. The men will return for them. Make sure they are ready by noon.”
    â€œNoon tomorrow?” the man squawked at once in horror. “But that is mere hours away! I cannot possibly—”
    â€œYou can and you will,” Valoree interrupted mildly as she began to walk toward the front of the building.
    â€œYou don’t understand—” the shopkeeper began, following closely behind her.
    â€œAye, I do.” Valoree paused and turned to glower at him. “I understand that I have paid you well, and that I wish for two of the gowns to be done by noon tomorrow.”
    â€œAye, my lady, but I cannot—”
    â€œDid I not give you enough coins for at least ten times that many garments?”
    â€œWell, aye,” he admitted reluctantly.
    â€œExactly. Now, if you cannot have the gowns done when I wish, I can take my business, and my coins, elsewhere.”
    The threat got the reaction she’d expected. The shopkeeper took a step back, abject horror on his face. He began to stutter. “N-nay. I-I w-will have them done. I-I w-will hire extra women to sew.”
    â€œGood.” Turning back, Valoree glanced around the front room of the man’s shop. Her sailors were playing cards on the table they’d crashed into when they’d busted the door down. Apparently they had fixed that, too, though she hadn’t thought to order it. In addition, all the fabric that had originally rested on it and been strewn on the floor had been gathered and restacked on the table adjacent. The old hag, her soon-to-be aunt, was sound asleep on an old mat in a corner of the room.
    Though Valoree briefly wondered how the woman could bear to sleep on the hard wooden floor with only a thin rug for cushioning, she quickly pushed the question aside. The woman had likely slept in worseplaces—places and situations Valoree did not even care to think about.
    Her glance slid from the old woman to Bull, who immediately straightened. Without a word from her, the immense pirate bent to lift Valoree’s “aunt” in his arms, then headed for the door.
    Skully scooped the cards they’d been playing with into his pocket, then hurried to open the door for his comrade. One-Eye stood too, but moved to Valoree’s side. Taking a small but painfully sharp knife from his boot, he slammed it into the counter beside the tailor.
    Valoree glanced at the shopkeeper and his wife meaningfully. “One-Eye’s leaving that as a gift. And a reminder.”
    â€œA reminder?” The shopkeeper was beginning to get the nervous look he’d had when he’d first come downstairs.
    â€œAye. A reminder not to mention this night. To anyone.”
    One-Eye smiled widely then, an expression that did not quite reach his one good eye. “Keep it nice and sharp,” he said in a menacing growl. “Or keep your tongue from wagging.”
    The shopkeeper seemed to understand at once; he was nodding vigorously when his wife suddenly piped up with a nervous, “Why?”
    â€œBecause I’ll be cuttin’ your tongues out with it if I hear ye done gone and mentioned us to anyone. Anyone at all.”
    Valoree almost sighed aloud at his words. One-Eye truly did enjoy his work. And he did it well, too. Too well. With a small gurgle, the shopkeeper’s wife went into a full