Lost Honor Read Free Page A

seamen, she would not allow him to blame Mark. She would own up to her perfidy.
    Opening her cloth bag, she pulled out a checkered shirt and dark blue duck trousers to replace the brown shirt and tan pants she wore. Arianna glanced warily at the door as she threw off her clothes and redressed with haste. She would like to forgo the wool cap that made her head sweat and itch, but her blonde hair was like a beacon and would immediately proclaim her a female.
    When she planned this adventure, she thought to cut the mass of curls but could not bring herself to do so, and her mother would be horrified if she had. Besides, why couldn’t she look like a female and still perform the work of a man?
    Shoving the cap on her head, she grabbed the key from where she had hidden it inside one of the books. She cracked open the door and peeked out. No one was near. She raced down the dim corridor and bounded up the ladder. At the top, she halted and lifted her head so only her eyes and above showed.
    Some younger boys braided rope yarns and picked oakum while other men blackened the yards and repaired the rigging. Her gaze darted to the quarterdeck where Captain Danvers stood straight and tall, hands clasped behind his back, the wind billowing his white shirt and tossing his coffee-colored hair. Imposing and intimidating, he believed he had the right to imprison her, but she refused to bow to his edicts. She would make sure she worked away from his line of sight.
    Where should she start? Swabbing the deck would be unobtrusive until the crew got used to her presence on board, and a mop and pail sat a few steps away. But first, she had one more thing she had to do.
    Arianna slipped from her place of concealment and edged along the starboard side. Lifting her arm over the railing, she opened her hand. Her spirits rose as the key to the door of the captain’s cabin sank into the deep, dark depths.
    ****
    His legs spread to compensate for the roll and pitch of the brig, Morgan stared out at the immense blue sea from the quarterdeck, wind and salt spray blowing in his face, waiting and praying for a sign of the pirate Shark to appear.
    “Don’t worry. He’ll show. Riding as low in the water as we are, Shark will assume we are rich pickings,” Andrew Markham, his first mate, said as he came up behind him.
    “He didn’t on the way to London.”
    “He will now. I am sure of it.”
    Morgan glanced at Andrew. He was intelligent, but he couldn’t predict the future. “I keep thinking about my fool brother. Is he hurt? Did they beat him? Why did he go with those pirates?” He slammed his fist on the railing.
    “I agree it wasn’t smart. That’s what love will do to you. I refuse to ever allow a woman to sway my emotions.”
    “I told him to stay away from her, that she would break his heart, but he wouldn’t listen. And then when she does, he insists he is going to England on our next ship out, even though he knew it was a risk with that pirate raiding our ships. I think he wanted to die.”
    Andrew laid a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. “Captain James said Harry went willingly. He had a choice. Surely it will count for something in their eyes.”
    He turned to his friend. “I hope so.”
    Morgan’s blood surged, and his muscles tensed. He wanted to attack the pirates and rescue his brother. Now. When his father left them, Morgan had made a vow to protect and take care of his mother, three sisters, and brother. He had failed Harry. But all he could do was wait, even though it tortured him. Breathing deeply, he fought to release the anxiety rocketing through him.
    “What are you going to do with the stowaway?”
    His muscles bunched at the mention of the virago in his cabin. “I haven’t decided yet.” He paced the deck. “She shouldn’t be here. I don’t want her on board when Shark attacks, but I may have no choice.” His gaze shot to Andrew, who had turned to watch his repeated stride. “How did she sneak on the