Chapter Fourteen
Thank heavens for Abigail. Specifically, Abigail’s dress.
While Samantha quickly twisted Josephine’s hair up, she stared out the window. Two times now she’d been warned to not tempt fate. She pulled her key free and rubbed her thumb over the skull. Each time she replayed the old man’s words in her head, the hairs on her neck lifted. What did it mean?
She shivered, even though the heat in the cabin bore down on her. For all her talk about destiny, it seemed she should have worried about fate instead.
“What’s that?” Samantha nodded toward the key.
Josephine tucked it back below the delicate lace trim of her squared bodice. “Just an old relic I won from a pirate.” She’d swapped the ribbon for a yellow one that matched her dress.
Samantha grinned. “I’ll have to hear the story sometime.” She pinned the final locks of Josephine’s hair into a loose chignon. “You look ravishing. Leave it to Abigail to choose the absolute perfect dress for you.”
A grin tugged at Josephine’s lips as she took in Samantha’s empire dress, the blue silk shimmering in the lantern light. “Speaking of ravishing, I can see why you favor that color.”
With a scrunched nose, Samantha smoothed the dress. “I despise the constriction of skirts. They sure aren’t handy if you need to climb into rigging or sneak out of a window. And they are especially cumbersome if one has to fight.” She winked. “I’m sure you understand.”
A blush heated Josephine’s cheeks. Samantha had been absolutely delighted when she’d seen Josephine return wearing her clothing. “Have you truly fought before?”
Samantha pointed to the rapier hanging above her bed. “I don’t carry it around for nothing.” Her face had sobered. “I almost killed Christian with one just like that.”
Josephine’s eyes widened. “Surely you jest?”
When Samantha shook her head, Josephine leaned toward her but was met with a raised hand. “Another time. I’m sure Christian and Isaac are waiting for us now. Meanwhile…” She lifted her skirt. “One can never be too prepared.”
A leather sheath hugged her ankle, the hilt of its dagger resting against her calf. Josephine blinked and Samantha chuckled. “I think it might be good to give you some basic swordsmanship lessons. We can start tomorrow if you’d like.”
A thrill ran through Josephine at the thought of learning to wield a real sword. She nodded and Samantha dropped her skirt and motioned toward the door.
“Do many women in America have this… knowledge?”
This time, Samantha’s laugh rang through the cabin. “Heavens no. At least no one respectable.”
Josephine frowned. “Then why do you?”
Samantha opened the door and slid her a sly look. “Who ever said I was respectable?”
Out on the deck, Josephine fell a few steps behind Samantha with a wide grin. No wonder Abigail had mentioned unconventional friends.
“What took so long?” Christian leaned against the railing near the gangplank wearing a deep blue tailcoat. “We’ll be lucky if the party isn’t over by the time we get there.”
Samantha lifted on her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. “Precisely.”
Lieutenant Caldwell stood several paces away with his back to them, his attention fixed on the lights of the city beyond.
When he turned, his gaze found Josephine at once.
Heat pooled in her chest as scenes from earlier flashed through her, the ghost of her bold kiss still lingering on her lips.
A slow, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes raked over her as if recalling every moment.
The ship rocked gently beneath her feet as she lifted a hand to adjust the ribbon at her neck as he stepped forward to meet her. He came to a stop, too close, the scent of salt and sandalwood settling over her.
“You look…” He leaned back and took her in once more. “Incredible.”
She managed a breathless laugh and dipped into a curtsy, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tremble in her hands. “Abigail picked out the dress. It is lovely, isn’t it?”
He offered his arm and his voice dipped low. “I wasn’t talking about the dress.”
Heat blazed through her as her thoughts tangled with the way his gaze lingered. Instead of replying, she lifted her chin and set her hand on his arm, focusing on the soft wool beneath her fingers. Definitely not the man at her side.
Once settled in the waiting wagon, they jolted forward, iron-rimmed wheels creaking over uneven cobblestones.
Josephine sat next to the lieutenant, hands folded neatly in her lap though her pulse still hummed.
The lantern hanging from the driver’s perch swung, casting shifting shadows across his profile—highlighting the strong cut of his jaw, the quiet control in his expression.
The streets grew livelier the closer they came to the heart of town.
Music floated from open tavern doors, laughter spilling into the night air.
Carriages rumbled past, their occupants draped in silks and velvets, many bound for the same gathering.
The wheels dipped into a rut, sending a jolt through the bench.
She grasped for the side of the wagon, but the lieutenant’s hand caught her elbow.
“Careful,” he murmured, the backs of his fingers brushing against her skin before he withdrew.
Her stomach tightened and she stared straight ahead, willing her heart to behave as they came to a stop in front of the grand columns of a large manor. They climbed the front steps with a crowd of other people, and once inside, Christian kissed Samantha’s forehead.
“You two stay together while we see who else we can talk to. Hopefully, it won’t be long.”
Samantha and Josephine chose a spot near a potted palm to wait. Minutes stretched into an hour and though she yearned to dance, Josephine stayed put, forced to observe only. Samantha kept one eye on the dance floor, constantly scanning the room.
“Are you looking for someone?” Josephine raised onto tiptoes to see over the tall hat of a man in front of her.
“I don’t like being in a room full of strangers. Any one of these people could be a foe.”
Josephine cast her gaze over the crowd and the hairs at her nape pricked. “Are you worried about Thorne? I thought you said he would be gone.”
“I’m always worried about Thorne.” A faraway look had come over Samantha’s face, and she gave a quick shake of her head. “No, he’s likely long gone with his new crew. But he’s smart enough to keep ears on everything going on. Especially if he knows we are on his trail.”
A thread of unease curled through Josephine. “So, he could have spies? Here?”
Samantha gave her a reassuring smile. “Probably not. I’ve just learned to never let my guard down where he’s concerned.”
Josephine couldn’t help thinking back to the argument at the dinner table the other night, how Christian had brought up multiple times that Thorne had nearly killed Samantha.
“I think it’s best we change the conversation.” As if reading her mind, Samantha set a hand on Josephine’s forearm. “What are your intentions with Isaac?”
Josephine blinked at the forward question. “What do you mean?”
Samantha set her hands on her hips. “Come now, I’m not blind.”
A flush spread across her chest. “I… I was lamenting my future when he showed up in Tortuga and took it as a sign that there might be a chance of falling in love.” Her shoulders fell. Saying it out loud made it all seem so silly. “It was foolish.”
“Maybe it wasn’t such a farfetched idea after all.” Samantha nodded toward her husband and the lieutenant who stood across the floor, conversing with a man with his arm in a sling. “He seems different around you, especially after your little foray into town.”
Josephine gave a rueful smile. “Probably because I exasperate him.”
Samantha’s laugh caused several guests nearby to turn their way. She lowered her voice. “You should ask Christian how I made him feel at first.”
“He must have fallen in love with you right away, how could he not?”
A wry grin spread across Samantha’s face. “Hate might be a better word. But we are not talking about Christian. Tell me, did something happen earlier?”
Another blunt question. “Well, I had to pretend we were lovers.” Her face burned as Samantha laughed again. “I had to. He was about to ruin his chances at getting any information from the men at the tavern.”
“I’m sure he didn’t know how to react to that.”
More heat rushed to Josephine’s cheeks. He’d reacted alright.
After a knowing look, Samantha returned her gaze to the men. “If not for him, Christian and I would likely be dead.”
Josephine turned. “How so?”
“We were shipwrecked together and Isaac rescued us.”
Her eyes widened. “You were with him?”
When Samantha nodded, Josephine’s mind began to race and snippets of memory flooded back.
How Lieutenant Caldwell had shown up that night and told her father his captain had left with another pirate.
Samantha’s shocking clothing choices. Her comment that breeches were better for fighting.
That she’d nearly killed Christian with her rapier. Who ever said I was respectable?
“You’re a pirate?” Her voice came out in a squeak.
Samantha’s lips parted, then curved. “You are good at investigating. Maybe I should send you over with Christian to help with their interviews.”
“And you’re good at deflecting.” Josephine crossed her arms. “Is it really true?”
“Ex-pirate, if you must know.” Samantha gave a half curtsy. “I’m positively reformed.”
“Does Abigail know?”
Samantha jerked upright, face paling. “No.”
A thousand questions pressed to the front of Josephine’s mind. But before she could ask a single one, someone cleared their throat behind her.
“Do I want to know why you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Christian stood there, frowning.
Samantha laughed. “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just surprised by Josephine’s perspicacity. She’s sharper than you think.”
He raised a dark brow. “Doesn’t surprise me. Now, I’ve interviewed everyone here I can find. How about a dance before we head back to the ship?”