Duke by Day, Rogue by Night by Katherine Bone Page B

contempt, the futility of their situation hitting him full force. They’d be lucky if they beat the storm.
    Jacko seemed to read his thoughts. “We’ll get her home, sir.”
    â€œThat’s not the only thing I’m worried about, Jacko,” he confided. He pointed to the horizon. “We’ll need every hand available to get past that.” The Channel had a way of whipping up sudden storms packing all of Poseidon’s fury.
    â€œDon’t worry, sir,” Jacko said. “Our men are well-trained and we have what’s left of the Octavia ’s crew. And if Frink’s men know what’s good for them, they’ll man the braces with the rest of us. We follow orders. That’s what we do best. That’s what keeps a sailor alive.”
    â€œDo you think we can get Simon’s niece back home in one piece?”
    â€œWe’ve sworn to do riskier things, sir.” Jacko’s honesty shook him. In truth, he was right.
    He nodded. Simon was a hard man. When you signed with Danbury, you signed on for life, swearing to endure anything until the job was done. If Simon told you to do whatever was in your power to attain a madman’s trust, you did it in spite of your misgivings, if you had any. Simon had trained them all, twenty men total, and extremely well.
    â€œHow is her Ladyship faring?” Jacko asked.
    Percy peered down from the sextant. “Exhibiting much more spunk then I thought her capable of.”
    â€œNot hard to imagine,” Jacko jested. “She is Simon’s niece.” Jacko squinted toward the north. “If she has but one ounce of Danbury in her, we should expect no less.”
    â€œShe’s shown her meddle more than half.” Percy smiled, remembering how she’d used a bed warmer to neutralize Saracen and how easily she’d melded into his embrace.
    â€œYou can ill afford to be swayed by the fact that she’s a woman, sir. She’s untainted, thanks to your quick thinking, and Simon will want her back that way — completely unscathed.”
    A growl rumbled up from his core. “Say what you mean.”
    â€œThe men expect you to claim your reward.”
    â€œWhat about you, Jacko?” he asked.
    â€œI know you, sir. You’ve sacrificed everything for this,” he said, pointing toward the crew scuttling along the deck. “Lady Constance is as fine as they come. I think you’ll have a hard time resisting her, especially if she shares your cabin.”
    Jacko was right to warn him off. Simon had tackled Robert Surcouf, one of the most successful corsairs France had culled in the Indian Ocean, and lived to tell the tale.
    â€œWhat would you do?” he asked.
    Jacko winked. “I’m not you,” he said. “But consider the ramifications. Lady Constance is not weak-willed. If you seduce her, she could demand your life for it.”
    Percy’s mouth suddenly felt dry. “Be a good man and fetch me some grub.”
    â€œWill you not be taking your meal with her Ladyship?”
    â€œNo,” he said.
    â€œAye.” Jacko grinned. His quick-footed retreat left Percy unsettled.
    Food was the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, images of Constance’s naked body, strawberry blonde curls, cherubic face, and silken limbs teased his senses. “Damn your hide, Jacko,” he grated through clenched teeth. He was a cad, and being reminded of that fact did not sit well.
    The sea crested and foamed, mimicking his riotous thoughts. He raised his eyes heavenward, and then cast them back to the swells. There was a storm brewing, on the sea and in his heart.
    Percy strapped himself to the helm and prepared for the worst.
    â€¢ • •
    Lord Montgomery Burton opened the missive and held it beneath tempered candlelight, fuming with rage as he read the hastily scribbled note, which had been blotched by drizzling rain.
    No one has seen your intended for nigh a week.