that day, eight white shrouds lined the sides of the ship. Jaxon moved slowly past each one in a silent salute honoring their service to him. Eight men’s bodies waiting to slip into the sea, with weights lashed to their ankles and a final sail stitched through their nose. A gruesome practice, but better to know a man is truly dead than to slide a body not quite done living.
The crew gathered to show their respects. Gavin Quinn shouted, “Ship’s Company…Off hats.” Every head bowed. Jaxon opened the worn bible and said the well-versed words over each body before committing it to the sea.
“Good men, these.” Cookie stood at Jaxon’s side after the crew dismissed.
“They were indeed.” He tucked the Good Book under his arm. Behind him, the sails were reset to catch the wind and the Scarlet Night was once again on her way.
“Hope eight will be enough fer today. Got two more below hangin’ on by luck and a prayer. Doing my damnedest to pull ’em through.”
The Scarlet gained speed. Jaxon slapped Cookie on the shoulder. “Death gives little quarter, but my gold’s on you.”
Quinn joined them. “I’ve got the tallies for you, Captain.”
Jaxon looked over the figures. Quinn’s accounting was impeccable.
“The French ship was full to bursting with silks.” Quinn indicated the count. “Some gold, silver. Foodstuffs, medicinals.” He showed Jaxon the disbursement due each man, the share the King “stole,” and what came to him as Captain.
“The men will need to move the choicest items into your cabin, sir, of course.”
“Of course.” How would he hide his beautiful stowaway during the transfer? “I’ll see to that, Quinn. You’ve already worked more hours than most. Take a meal and a rest.”
“Aye, Capt’n, just as soon as I check on the storage of those silks. If they’re to be worth anything once we reach harbor, they need to be kept high and dry.”
Jaxon watched him go. Quinn wouldn’t rest until everything was stowed to his satisfaction. Cookie slipped away as well, concerned about the two men whose lives depended on the next few crucial hours.
As they had for the past few days, his thoughts returned to Annalise. Thank you, Jaxon. The way she said his name caught him like a blow to the chest. Wasn’t it enough visions of her pale breasts haunted him? Did he need to have her voice in his head as well? Jaxon.
He paced the deck from stem to stern and back. His heels marking each step against the gentle roll of the deck. A scowl tightened his brow. They still had weeks at sea. He would never survive sharing the same quarters with her. Either she’d kill him in his sleep, or he’d die a thousand deaths trying to resist the sweet bit of heaven he was sure to find between her thighs. He should just hand her his pistol.
Then something she said stopped him. The duke in London who’d sent her the bloody ring. She said his name was Benedict Wolfsan. Giselle’s duke? His coach bore the initials BW. Nay, a coincidence surely.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
