Romancing the Pirate 01.5 - Beneath The Water's Edge Read Online Free

his own way, and once in San Juan, he’d get by on his name. I begged him to take me with him. I couldn’t let Lord Montgomery renege on his settlement with Papa. I just couldn’t.”
    “And your husband agreed?”
    “Well, no. I promised to find work in bookkeeping, or as a serving girl in a tavern, anything. I’d give him anything to help build his wealth. I’d do whatever it took, just so he’d bring me.”
    Blackthorn admired the love and loyalty she had for her family, risking her life for those closest to her. Not unlike that of the brethren. Yet, he didn’t feel her husband had her best interest in mind, only his.
    “And so he signed you up as a seaman on a Spanish bucket.” He couldn’t hide his disgust if he wanted to. “How did you keep your secret? Surely you’ve had your monthly courses?” Perhaps he should have been more delicate in asking such a personal question. But he never was much for dancing around proper etiquette when he wanted answers. Besides, he found the reddening in her cheeks curiously alluring.
    “I, um, I haven’t had my, um, courses. Dobie thought if I worked as hard as a man, drank as hard as a man, and want to really be a man, my body would follow suit.”
    ’Twas more likely because she was half starved. What a skinny thing. A woman should have more meat on those curves. That’s the way Blackthorn liked them. Maybe he should have Hobbs whip her up some lobscouse.
    “Dobie said I’d need to pretend to fall ill should, um, it happen.”
    Dobie. Dobie. Ugh, Blackthorn didn’t much care for this lackey. Immature, selfish, neglectful, swab. “Where is Dobie now?” Because Blackthorn would like to have a word with this lout.
    She averted her gaze to the farthest corner of his cabin. “He’s dead. Fell from the yardarm, broke his neck.”
    Blackthorn drew a long breath. “I see.”
    He had enough problems. Now he had a potentially profitable widow on board. What was he going to do with her? Where would he keep her? ’Twas bad luck to have a woman aboard a ship, or so the tales go. Despite the claims otherwise, most of the Sanctum men would never hurt a woman. Still, they were a superstitious lot and he couldn’t let her loose on his ship and risk something happening to her. Especially once the men passed their judgment on Rathbone. Nay, this did not bode well for Blackthorn. He had little choices, and Blackthorn hated that.
    “Are you going to kill me?”
    Blackthorn tried not to smirk, but he did anyhow. The reputation of a pirate afforded him many advantages. He’d be telling false truths if he said he didn’t enjoy seeing her squirm. He circled around her, only a hair’s breadth from touching her.
    “Nay, lass. I’m not going to kill you. But I haven’t decided what I shall do with you, either.” He bent to whisper in her ear. “Though a few savory ideas come to mind.”
    He rounded back in front of her and peered down. Her tunic hung close to her body. The urge to see if she wore bindings to help her look more like a boy was too strong. He hooked a finger into the collar. She squeezed her eyes shut. The poor lass. He shouldn’t toy with her so. She trembled something awful. Never mind that. The cur that he was, he wanted to see what wares she hid. And he wasn’t disappointed. Even with the binds tight, her breasts brimmed over the top. How uncomfortable she must be. The rapid rise and fall of her chest reminded him of a petrified rabbit trying desperately not to be seen by a passing fox. Oh, but this fox saw her. And he was beginning to think she might be a tasty morsel.
    “Please, Captain Blackthorn.” The lass opened her eyes. “Please, have mercy. I’d rather you just kill me than lay a hand on me.”
    “Dear, Elyssa. You flatter yourself. I said nothing about taking you.” Though he was well into imagining so. What pleasure would a lass bring who dares to willingly cast herself among pirates? He would be most interested to find out. If he were a