moment to help her down from the plank, then he led her across the main deck and up the ladders to the quarterdeck. The man known as McBride already waited there.
Alex gave her a hard look as he released her by the outside rail overlooking the ocean. “Stay here and cause no trouble. My men are not the sort of lily-livered buffoons you are used to. If they see a woman unattended, they will act according to their baser natures. Do you understand, or must I say it in less respectable terms?”
“I comprehend you quite well. It is what I expected.”
“No doubt.” With one last warning look, he crossed the deck to confer with the first mate. Even wounded, the man moved with the grace of a tiger.
As Diana watched him, a fluttering sensation sprang to life in her stomach. This man had a wild, untamed side that both frightened her and intrigued her at the same time. He glanced up from his whispered conversation and met her eyes for an instant. The contact lasted only a brief moment, but its effect lingered in her trembling limbs. Then he returned his attention to the first mate.
Disturbed by the intensity of her response, Diana turned her attention to the open sea. She had no interest in the low-voiced conversation going on a few feet away. Instead, she occupied herself with plans for escape.
Alex glanced at Diana again and frowned. He didn’t like her contemplative expression as she stared out to sea. He would wager his ship that she was plotting something. From her fearless demeanor, one would think she was abducted by pirates every day.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered.
“Captain? Did ye say somethin’?”
He frowned at McBride, who regarded him with a puzzled expression. “No.” With effort, he pulled his thoughts away from Diana Covington. “Did we profit well from the contents of Marcus’s hold?”
McBride chuckled. “‘Tis true we lightened his load a bit.”
“Excellent. Divide the shares then, but none for me. I claim the woman as captain’s share. That should keep the peace amongst the men.”
“Agreed. They will not be missin’ a woman when their pockets are full o’ gold.”
“That is my intention. I have no desire to punish any member of my crew whose lust might overwhelm his common sense. But if I have to, I will.”
“I don’t think ‘twould come to that. There’s not a man aboard who would dare touch the captain’s woman. ‘Tis not worth the risk o’ losin’ a hand.”
“Or any other body parts,” Alex added dryly. He stretched and then hissed in pain as the slice in his side protested the movement. Rubbing the wound, he asked, “Is all well with the Renegade ?”
“It is. I’ve six men aboard to sail her back to port. If we need more, we have them.”
“Excellent. And Marcus?”
“Locked in the hold with his own irons.”
“Good.” He paused, torn between the necessity of seeing to Diana’s welfare and the desire to ensure the security of his captured enemy. Necessity dictated he make a show of charming Diana, lest he be forced to punish one of the men for lusting after her. “I’ll attend to him later then. Those irons will keep him well enough.”
“Indeed,” McBride agreed.
“Set sail for Port Royal,” Alex said, his eyes on Diana. “I have a matter to oversee.”
“That ye do,” came the reply.
“I suppose I must play the pirate here,” Alex muttered under his breath, in no hurry to deal with the red-haired baggage. “The more afraid she is of El Moreno, the less trouble she will cause. Then we can return the girl to her father none the worse for wear.” He sighed. “Let’s get this over with.” With determined strides, he approached Diana.
Chapter Five
White sails bloomed as wind filled the sturdy canvas, guiding the Vengeance toward Port Royal with the Renegade trailing behind. On the horizon iron-gray clouds gathered in anticipation of the coming storm.
Alex, too, expected a storm as he came to stand beside Diana. Any other woman
Alex gave her a hard look as he released her by the outside rail overlooking the ocean. “Stay here and cause no trouble. My men are not the sort of lily-livered buffoons you are used to. If they see a woman unattended, they will act according to their baser natures. Do you understand, or must I say it in less respectable terms?”
“I comprehend you quite well. It is what I expected.”
“No doubt.” With one last warning look, he crossed the deck to confer with the first mate. Even wounded, the man moved with the grace of a tiger.
As Diana watched him, a fluttering sensation sprang to life in her stomach. This man had a wild, untamed side that both frightened her and intrigued her at the same time. He glanced up from his whispered conversation and met her eyes for an instant. The contact lasted only a brief moment, but its effect lingered in her trembling limbs. Then he returned his attention to the first mate.
Disturbed by the intensity of her response, Diana turned her attention to the open sea. She had no interest in the low-voiced conversation going on a few feet away. Instead, she occupied herself with plans for escape.
Alex glanced at Diana again and frowned. He didn’t like her contemplative expression as she stared out to sea. He would wager his ship that she was plotting something. From her fearless demeanor, one would think she was abducted by pirates every day.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered.
“Captain? Did ye say somethin’?”
He frowned at McBride, who regarded him with a puzzled expression. “No.” With effort, he pulled his thoughts away from Diana Covington. “Did we profit well from the contents of Marcus’s hold?”
McBride chuckled. “‘Tis true we lightened his load a bit.”
“Excellent. Divide the shares then, but none for me. I claim the woman as captain’s share. That should keep the peace amongst the men.”
“Agreed. They will not be missin’ a woman when their pockets are full o’ gold.”
“That is my intention. I have no desire to punish any member of my crew whose lust might overwhelm his common sense. But if I have to, I will.”
“I don’t think ‘twould come to that. There’s not a man aboard who would dare touch the captain’s woman. ‘Tis not worth the risk o’ losin’ a hand.”
“Or any other body parts,” Alex added dryly. He stretched and then hissed in pain as the slice in his side protested the movement. Rubbing the wound, he asked, “Is all well with the Renegade ?”
“It is. I’ve six men aboard to sail her back to port. If we need more, we have them.”
“Excellent. And Marcus?”
“Locked in the hold with his own irons.”
“Good.” He paused, torn between the necessity of seeing to Diana’s welfare and the desire to ensure the security of his captured enemy. Necessity dictated he make a show of charming Diana, lest he be forced to punish one of the men for lusting after her. “I’ll attend to him later then. Those irons will keep him well enough.”
“Indeed,” McBride agreed.
“Set sail for Port Royal,” Alex said, his eyes on Diana. “I have a matter to oversee.”
“That ye do,” came the reply.
“I suppose I must play the pirate here,” Alex muttered under his breath, in no hurry to deal with the red-haired baggage. “The more afraid she is of El Moreno, the less trouble she will cause. Then we can return the girl to her father none the worse for wear.” He sighed. “Let’s get this over with.” With determined strides, he approached Diana.
Chapter Five
White sails bloomed as wind filled the sturdy canvas, guiding the Vengeance toward Port Royal with the Renegade trailing behind. On the horizon iron-gray clouds gathered in anticipation of the coming storm.
Alex, too, expected a storm as he came to stand beside Diana. Any other woman
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