He peered at me, and for some reason that one good eye made the skin prickle at my nape. “You wouldn’t be horning in on me trade, would you now?” He chuckled, and I fought the urge to step back.
Justine re-linked our arms. Then she gave an exaggerated yawn, patting her mouth for further effect. “Time for bed. Please lead on, Master Calhoun, before I fall asleep on my feet.”
“As you wish, me lass.” With a sweep of his amber cape, he spun around, the lantern held aloft once more. Arriving at the cabin, he touched the brim of his hat. “Till the morning then.”
He handed James the lantern, and we hustled inside, pulling the door shut behind us. I sank down onto the bunk, the image of the girl’s injured face turning the roasted beef and carrots to a cold lump in my stomach. Julian strode through the cabin to stand at the far wall with his arms crossed. James held a similar position, though with his back to the door. Their hard expressions bespoke of unpleasant thoughts, which I assumed had more to do with Captain Lynch than a girl neither had seen.
Perhaps she had only been a figment of my imagination. If so, the incident would be in good company with every other crazy thing that had happened today.
I rubbed my stomach, thankful the stays had been laced looser than usual.
Justine gave me a sympathetic grin. “Is supper bothering you?”
“A little indigestion,” I admitted. “I usually don’t eat so much at once.” The captain might be a depraved lecher, but his cook was a culinary angel.
“You did make quite the spectacle of yourself,” she laughed. “The captain almost had to send for another pie to keep up with you.”
“Captain Lynch was too busy devouring you to notice anything else, including the food on his own plate.” I loosened the stomacher in the front of my gown in search of more room.
Justine flopped on the other bunk in one of the least ladylike moves I’d ever seen her make. “Nothing but a bit of harmless flirting.”
A curt breath cut through Julian’s nose. “The man was practically making love to you all through supper.”
“Your concern does you credit, my lord.” Justine raised both arms toward the ceiling in a stretch. “But I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
“That’s not the point,” James said. “Captain Lynch behaved shamefully and should have been brought to task for it.”
“And bring the whole crew down on our heads in the middle of the Irish Sea?” Justine asked, incredulous. “You two did exactly as you should tonight by acting the perfect gentlemen without giving the least cause for retribution.” She patted the mattress next to her. “Sit down, Lord Stroud. You hardly look comfortable holding up the wall.”
I looked at James, my eyes beginning to droop. “You too, Mr. Roth. Forget about the captain and get some rest.”
James scrubbed a hand across his forehead. “You’re right. We’ll be done with the Sea Witch by morning.” Placing the lantern on the floor, he sat on the mattress next to me, and started removing his boots. “I’m so tired, I can’t see straight.”
Julian followed, sitting on the opposite bunk beside Justine.
I tried to stifle a yawn, but failed. His boots off, James moved from the bunk to rustle his saddlebag and greatcoat into a makeshift bed on the floor. Kicking off my slippers, I burrowed beneath the wool blanket and curled to one side. A brush and tooth powder beckoned from my bags, but lead seemed to have filled my body, making it near impossible to rise.
Julian and Justine laughed about something on the opposite bunk. I watched them for a moment, my eyelids drooping even more when Julian’s gaze eased to me. Lust burned unguarded in the brown depths. Heat emanated from him, spanning the small distance between us.
A faint smile curved his lips, and my last coherent thought came in a question. Do you ever give up?
Never...
My lashes fluttered shut, and the soft glow of the lantern surrendered to the darkness of sleep.
*
Fly away, Birdie girl.
I turned toward the familiar singsong voice. Deri’s pale blue eyes met mine, and hatred twisted in my gut as my fingers clenched around the bone handle of Brigid’s knife.
Something moved at her feet. I stared at the dark outline, tracing the lines of what appeared to be a wounded animal. Or a person. The sound of soft crying curled inside my ears.
Nora...
Fear burst inside me. I tried to lunge forward, but my legs refused to move. Deri laughed, icy threads that wove together with Nora’s plaintive cries.
Don’t hurt her.
I strained every muscle, fought to the extent of my strength for some measure of movement. Nothing happened. My body was useless, frozen in place as though paralyzed.
What’s wrong with me?
Deri’s laughter swelled to a maniacal trill. Reaching down, her hand hovered an inch from Nora...
NO!