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No-Noseshook hisheadand proppedhis hands onhis hips. He leanedto the side slightlyand spat ontheroad. "Nope. Came back with the others last night to help at the town house.
Volunteered. Didn't know I'd be 'spected to wear this here fancy-pants outfit, though. "
"Hmmm. " Ignoring his sneer ofdisgust at the pink livery her men were all being forced to wear, Valoree raised an eyebrow.
"Andwhere is Skully? Why isn't hedriving today? "
No-Nose shrugged. "Went back to the ship for something.
Henry sent him. "
"Hmmm, " she said again, then sighed. "Well, what I just told One-Eye goesforyou, too. Get ridofall your weapons but one pistol and twoshort blades. Stick 'eminthe top of your pants and closeyourcoat. Wearit proper. And find something to tie your hair back with. You bothlooklike a coupleof pirates. "
No-Nosestraightenedslightlyat that. "Well, and so we should.
That's what we are. "
"Notright now, you'renot, " she said as if they were idiots.
"You'replaying the parts of servantsat themoment. " They both stiffened, their chests puffing outslightly in offense, but Valoree smiled at them sweetly. "You allvotedon this, " shereminded them, then hersmiledisappeared. "Andif Ihave to run aroundin these damn dresses acting all ladylike, you two can play your parts, too. I expect my orders tobe carried out. If they aren't. . . "
She let thesentencefade away, a mean lookonher face. There was no need tofinish the threat. All her crewknewwhat would happen if they shoulddisobeyan order . . . Something bad.
Chin lifting, Valoreewhirled away, actuallyenjoying the way her skirts flew out around her, imagining that it must look impressive as shestrodegrimly back to whereLord Thurborne patiently waited.
"Come on, Ineed a drink, " she said with a grunt, catching his arm anddragging himalong theroad awaysbefore tryingto pull him intoa tavern. She got him to the doorbeforehe balked.
"Just a moment. "
Turning at his hesitation, she eyed him impatiently. "What? "
"Well. . . "Heglanced upat the sign over thedoor unhappily.
"Thisis a rather rough establishment for a lady. I do notthink - "
"Can you not protect me? " she asked withfeigned surprise. He stiffened.
"Aye, ofcourse I can, but - "
"Good. " Whirling away, she hurried inside, leaving him to follow ornot as hewished.
Thenoise from the tavern washed overher likethunder as she opened the door, but was a very brief thunder. Her entrance seemed tobe notedbyeveryone rather quickly, and an ominous silence abruptly fell. Ignoring theirmute stares, Valoreewove her way calmly throughthe sea of sailors, ne'er-do-wells, and doxies, tothebar. Pausing there, she waited patiently as the barkeep hesitated, then made hisway to her.
He eyed her uncertainly. "Is there something I can help ye with, m'lady? " he askeddoubtfully.
"Youcan poorme a whiskey, "she answered calmly, sighing when the bartender'seyebrows rose. He glanced over her headat someone behind her. Undoubtedlythat someone was Thurborne.
Forcing what shehoped was asweet smile to her lips, sheturned and flashed itat the man, then murmured, "Whiskey settlesmy stomach, andI am feelinga touch nauseous just now. "
Both the noblemanand the bartender continuedto stare at her rather blankly, and Valoree's frayed patience was stretched a littlefurther. Eyes narrowing, she turned back to the barkeep.
"Isaid, it settles my stomach. Ye wouldn't want me to bepukin' on yer lovely barnow, would ye? "
That got a better response. A look of horror overtaking his face, theman snatched a mug from under the counter, slammed it on top, and produced a bottle from seemingly nowhere. He pouredout some golden liquid into it.
"Thank you, " she said with amusement, liftingthe glassto her lipsas Daniel gave his own order - ale, ofcourse. Probably for the best, she decided. They didn't serve stuff like she was drinking in theplaceshe likelywent. This whiskey was thekind Petey could soakhis pots in andnever have toscour to get them clean. Onecould even drink theused whiskey afterward, and it wouldn't taste any different. Yes, sir, this was the good stuff.
Swallowing therest of the liquid down, she slammed her mug onto the counter, a message to thekeeperthatshe wasready for more. The minute hehad refilled it, she moved to the nearest tablewithan open spot and settled herself on the end of the bench. Sheneededto drink and try to relax. Danielfollowed and settled acrossfrom her almost at once, glancingaround warily as the other patrons slowly began to speak again - about her, no doubt. They didn'tlike what they thought wasa ladyinvading their territory. Didn't like it at all. That becamerather obviousin ahurry.
"Mayhap we should find another place to - "
"Nay, it'sfine here. Just ignore them, " she advised, but the approach of oneof thesailorsmadeignoring impossible. He was abig gawkyScot. The man was asbigas Bull, with hair asred as Valoree'sandawicked grinthat almost distracted her fromthe factthat hewas missingone ear andhad a scar in its place that randown tohis chin.
"Hello, lovey, " washis opening line, and Valoree arched an eyebrowathim.
"Is there something I canhelp you with? " she asked, suddenly aware of the way Danielwas tensing across from her.
"Actually, lovey, I was abouttoask ye theverysame thing. "
He grinned suggestively. "Mayhap alittle male companionship. "
"She already has an escort, " Lord Thurborne said sharply, bristling all over.
"Does she now? " The bigScot glanced at him with amusement.
"Well, it wasn'tescorting I was thinking ofoffering. "
Muchto Valoree's surprise, Danielwas on his feet beforethe mancould finish turning backtoface her. Grabbing him bythe shoulder, Daniel wheeled the biglugback around, and coldly glaredathim. "Isaidshe hasan es - "
That was asfaras he got, of course. Thiswasn't the type of place where men "discussed" their differences. The Scot was on him at once, slammingafist into his jawmidword, sending him stumbling backward. Valoree sighed, thinking she would have to give up herrelaxing drink andinterveneon Daniel's behalf. It seemed she wouldfindno peacetoday. . . anywhere.
But before she could move, he hadregained himself and come back at theman, fists flying. Valoree was impressed. TheScot wasn't much taller than Thurborne, but he carried twice his bulk, and had armsasbig aroundasher thighsand fists like pots. But Daniel was thebetter fighter, apparently - and a dirty one, too, she realized with a grin amoment later as hesuddenly kickedthe other man.
The Scot howled anoteinsoprano, his hands suddenlyglued to his groin. He tumbled sideways to moan and writhe on the ground.
Straightening his cuffs, Daniel eyed the Scot for a moment, then turned a hard-eyed lookon Valoree. "If you have finished your refreshment, mayhap we could get out of this establishment. "
"Well, now, " she said withamusement. "As ithappens, I am notquite finished. Besides, it appears you'vemade some friends. "
"Friends? " He gaveher an angry look.
"Aye. And itappearsthey'dlike ye to stayand play. "
Understanding dawning in his eyes, Danielwhirledjust intime to see the fist that came flying athim. Hetried to avoid it, and while he didn't succeed entirely, he did manage to avoid the worst of the blows. It seemed the Scot had friends - three of them - and theywere moving in on him. Sighing, Daniel spread hisfeet slightly and prepared to do battle.
Gulping down the last of her whiskey, Valoree stood and moved around the fighters to reach the bar again. Settingthe mug down for the barkeep to refill, she kepther gaze fixed on Daniel and his new friends as the real fighting began. She wasn'treally worriedabout him, despite the odds. If he could handlethe Scot, he could handle those three . . . four . . . five . . . Now, six was getting a bit unfair, she decided irritably.
Grabbing herrefilledmug in one hand, shesnatched the now empty whiskey bottle from the barkeep with her other, and started backto the table. She paused along the way t
o smashthe bottle over thehead of thenearest of the six men. He felllike a stone, crumplingto the wooden floor behind her asshe continued on to the table.
Sipping herdrink, she watched the remainder of thefightwith interest. Daniel wasfaston his feet. He wasalso, she sawwith delight, using every dirty trick in the book. There werenofancy fisticuffs here. He was pulling hair, gouging eyes, kneeing, punching, andkickinggroins. She couldn't have been prouder had hebeenone of herown men.
A tap on her shouldermadeher glance around to find herself staring at Richard andScratchy. "What the devil are the two of you doing here? " she snapped irritably, then glared ather second mate. "Richard, I leftyou in chargeof the ship. What - "
"Skully came back to relieve me. He saidHenryhad sent him togive me some time off, too. "
"Oh. " Sighing, Valoree glanced back at the fight, trying to shrug off the guilt that was suddenly plaguing her for notthinking herself ofgivingtheman time off. "Well, behave yourselves. "
The two menmuttered acquiescencetothat, then were silent for a moment, watching the fight with her.
"He's pretty good, " Richard commented after a moment as Danieltossed one of the menover his shoulder andonto anearby table. "Is he'him'? "
"Him who? "Valoree asked distractedly.
"The one what ye're gonna marry, " Richard clarified, bringing herheadsnapping around.
She glared at himbriefly, then snapped, "Nay. "
"Why not? "
"Why not? " she repeated in amazement. Because he was definitely not thesort to allowher tobe incharge; she couldtell justby looking at him. But insteadshe said, "Well, for onething, hehasn't asked. "
"Hmmm. " Richard pursed his lips and eyed Thurborne consideringly. "Goodfighter. "
"Not bad, " Scratchy agreed, pluckingout asilverofwood that washalf sticking out of the rough wooden table and using it to pick histeeth as heconsidered thecontinuingfight. "Knows how tohandle hisself. "
"Hmmm. "They were allsilent for a moment; then Richard muttered, "Don't suppose weshould help'im out abit? Justin case it turnsout he's thinking of asking? "
"He doesn't need help, " Valoree snapped. "He's doing fine.
Besides, you know I don't like you men fighting when you're on shore. " She winced as oneof the men landed aratherbrutal blow that seemedto stun Thurborne fora moment, allowing several more blows before he could stop them. The Scot chose that moment torecover from his own injury. Climbingback to his feet, he released a furious roar and charged Daniel. The two men crashed onto a far table, grappling together. Now thattheScot was backin the battle, several more mensuddenlyfound their courage and decided to join the fight as well. Once the odds reached nineto one, Richard couldn'tkeepsilent any longer.
"Hemay notneedhelp. Allthesame - "
"Oh, go ahead. "Valoreesighed, hidingherreliefas Scratchy and Richard rushed forward, launchingthemselves into the fray.
Thurborne had done allright for himself, but he was growing tired and could use the help.
"What do you thinkyou are doing? "
Valoree glanced around with a start at that sharp tone, relaxing somewhat whenshe saw Meg and Henry standing behind her.
"Oh, it's you. Done, are you? "
"We finishedseveral moments ago, " Megtold her grimly. "And have been searchingfor youeversince. "
"Well, all you hadto do was askOne-Eye. He must have seen me comeinhere. "
"One-Eye didnotsee you come in here, " Meg informed her grimly. "Heclaims you ordered him andthat poor gentlemanwith no nose to remove their weapons and tie up their hair, then disappeared. Hesaid that by the time they had finished these tasks and glanced around, you weregone. "
"Oh. Well. " Valoree gave an unconcernedshrug atthe news.
"Youfound me in the end, and that's all that matters, I suppose. "
"All thatmatters? " Meg repeated withdismay. "What matters isthat you are presently sitting ina . . . a . . . What are you doingin here? "
Valoree blinked in surprise at the razor-sharp edge to the woman's voice. She shifted uncomfortably. "I'mjust watching a fight, " she answeredquietly, reaching for hermugto take asmall drink. Her hand was about toclose aroundthecup when Meg slapped it. Snatching the cup, the woman raised itto hernose and sniffed the contents.
"Whiskey? " She exclaimed in horror.
"Aye. Do ye want some? " Valoree glancedtowardthe bar to wavethebarkeep over, only to cry out inshock as pain shot throughher head. Meghad grabbedher ear andtwisted it. Even now, shewasusing it to force Valoreeto her feet. Followingthe pull to avoid further pain, Valoree found herselfdragged back out ontothestreet before she wasreleased. Eyesspittingfire, she whirled onthe old ex-prostitute, then reached automatically for her cutlass, only tofind it missing. Withlittle elseto use against her enemy at the moment but words, Valoree sucked in her breath, ready to bawl her out, only to find her mouth snapping shut in surprise asHenry grabbed her arm and whirled her around in the direction of thecarriage.
"If you were my daughter instead of my captain, I'dtake you overmykneeand whupye, " he snapped. "Me? "Valoree cried in amazement. "But she - "
"She did exactly as an aunt would be expected to do to a brainlesswhelp who doesn't havethe sensetotend toher own reputation. "
"You were in a tavern. A run-down hivefull ofthieves and doxies. There wasn't a singlerespectable lady there, including yourself, itwould seem. "
"Just becauseI am a woman, it doesn'tmean - "
"Woman? " he snapped, turning on her. 'This has nothing to do with being a woman. This has to dowithbeing anoble. You are a member of nobility, girl. Orhave you gone so far that you've forgotten that? 'Cause your brother never did. He was a gentlemanright upto the day he died. "