Lady Pirate Read Online Free Page A

swoon, hitting the floor with a resounding crash.
    Shaking her head at One-Eye in reproof, Valoree turned and led the way out. It took them very littletime in the empty London streets to find their way back to the ship.
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    The moment Valoree awoke and stepped out of her cabin into the sunlight, a barrel-chested older man hurried toward her. At his approach, she sighed. Henry. Her quartermaster. He had held the position for her brother when Jeremy was captain, and continued to hold it for her. The rank put him right below her, second in command. In some ways, it gave him more power. He was her right hand, and though she was loath to admit it, she doubted she could control the men without him. She had left him in charge of them last night while she had gone in search of a dressmaker, and he’d surely had his hands full trying to prevent anyone from slipping over the side to follow the lure of rum and women that going ashore promised. They had been at sea a long time, and most of the crew were eager for leave. But if anyone knew how to help control these cutthroats, it was Henry.
    â€œSome of the men are wanting to go ashore,” the man announced at once, barring her way onto the deck. “No.”
    â€œAh, now, Cap’n, girl,” he wheedled, tucking his thumbs into the front of his belt and rolling back on his heels. “Ye know as well as I that the boys have worked right hard the last few weeks, and they been real patient ’bout goin’ ashore, waitin’ till you was ready to let them. But I’m thinkin’ if ye’re awantin’ them to stay patient, ye best be lettin’ em have a little leave.”
    Drumming her fingers against her leg, Valoree glanced at the crew gathered on deck. They were all looking pathetically hopeful. She supposed she had kept them aboard long enough. But she’d wanted to avoid trouble, and once the men got some drink into them, they could be a whole passel of that. Still, theywere going to be in port only one more day. If her appointment with the lawyer hadn’t been set for so late in the afternoon, they would have left already. However, she had not been able to secure an earlier meeting, and none but a handful had been allowed leave since they had left the Caribbean more than a month ago. It was no wonder the boys were looking so hopeful.
    Pushing Henry back toward the men, she looked them over slowly. “No stealing, no brawling, and no killing. If you break anything, you fix it or pay for it. And leave all but tavern wenches alone. If I hear of any of you bothering shopkeepers’ daughters, you’re off the ship. Understand?”
    She suspected by their eager nods that they would have agreed to nearly anything to go ashore. Her gaze moved to the largest of the men, a Scot nearly as large as Bull, with hair the color of a carrot. “You’re in charge, Jasper. Anyone gets out of line and I’ll be after your hide.”
    She waited until he nodded, then continued. “Leave enough men behind to guard the ship; let the rest go. Then switch. Richard.” Her second mate stepped quickly forward. “You decide who goes first.”
    Henry moved forward to join the group as Richard began to pick and choose, but Valoree shook her head. “Not you, Henry.”
    â€œAh, now, Cap’n, girl—”
    â€œI need you.” It was all she said, then turned and headed back belowdecks. It was all she had to say, and she knew it. Henry’s wheedling died at once, and she heard him follow her to her cabin. He would do whatever she requested without complaint. He always had. He, Bull, Skully, Pete the Greek, One-Eye, and Richard were the most loyal of her crew. She wouldn’t have been able to manage the men without them, and she was just as grateful as they were trustworthy.
    Stepping into the captain’s cabin, Valoree glanced at the dress lying on the small cot built into the wall, then turned to glance at