Page 19 of Any Duke in a Storm

Lisbeth’s temper boiled over and she leaped over the rail, her boots making an ominous thumping sound on the deck as she landed like a cat. Furious, she stomped toward Narina and Smalls as Estelle followed down the stairs. “What the devil are you doing here, Nari? I told you it was safer for you to stay in Bridgetown!”

“Bess,” the girl pleaded. “Let me explain.”

“Explain what?” she snapped through her teeth. “That you defied me and went behind my back to hide on my ship when I told you that this journey could be dangerous!” Narina’s lower lip wobbled and eyes welled with tears, but Lisbeth was much too irate to notice. “Now you’ve put me in an impossible situation!”

“Bess,” Estelle chided softly.

“Don’t you ‘Bess’ me,” she ground out, cursing under her breath. “You should be manning the wheel, and I bloody well told her to stay put.”

Estelle’s brows rose. “When you were a child, did you always do everything you were told?”

“That’s not the same. It isn’t safe. I left men there for her protection.”

“She’s safer with you than in that shitty tavern on her own with no next of kin to care for her, and she’s here now.Nothing we can do about that, unless you wish to swing about and set course for Barbados?”

Lisbeth scowled. Turning around wasn’t an option. “No.”

“Well, work it out. Without making a spectacle of it.” Her quartermaster rolled her eyes and strode back the way she’d come. “And control your goddamned temper.”

Narina sniffled. “I had no one left.”

“I’m not your mother.” Lisbeth regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth, the stricken look on the girl’s face making her heart clench.Fuck!This was why she did not get involved with people. Relationships, even ones with children, meant expectations, and shouldering the emotional toll when she invariably failed at giving them what they wanted.

The life of a spy was lonely work. Lonely work that Lisbeth loved because she did not seek out companionship. People were simply means to ends. Thornbury had been a convenient partner in arms. Estelle had been an opportune lover. Narina and her mother had been a useful connection for a bath and a hearty meal. Lisbeth rubbed at a spot in the center of her chest that felt like an elephant was sitting upon it. Christ, she had no time to be the hero. Especially not now…when she was on the cusp of ending this accursed assignment.

The pounding in Lisbeth’s head grew. “Take her to my cabin,” she finally said to Smalls, who stood like a silent shadow, while she willed the flames of her temper to cool. “She’ll be secure there until I can figure out what to do.”

“I’m sorry, Bess,” Narina said with a dismal sniff. “I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s a little too late now, isn’t it?” Lisbeth barked.

A throat cleared from behind them. “Don’t take your resentment out on her, Bessie love. The girl didn’t mean it and she already apologized. Calm down.”

What in the actual hell? Bessie-fucking-love? Calm-fucking-down? The furious embers she’d tried to quench billowed into an inferno at that deep, ever amused, loathsome baritone. “You!”

Fists balling, she spun to face her nemesis—finally, a target she could unleash her rotten mood upon. One who deserved it, simply for putting her—one of the Crown’s best spymasters no less—into an intolerable,unspeakablesituation. In fact, the moment he’d set foot on her ship, she’d regretted it. He was clearly thesomethingher senses had been warning her about.

An arrogant eyebrow rose. “Moi?”

Oh, the bastard knew how to push her buttons. “Oui, toi,” she replied in a mocking tone. A slow grin curled his lips at her response in scornful French. “Let’s settle this once and for all.”

“Settle what?” he countered. “We already have an agreement.”

Resentment at being backed into a corner fueled the words on her tongue as she rolled her neck, signaling to Smalls who stared at her with surprise written all over his usually impassive face. “Since you boasted about your love for swords in close quarters, I challenge you to a fencingduel. First to draw blood wins. If I win, my forfeit is null. You’ll give me the information I require in exchange for safe passage onmyship.”

“Bess,” Smalls cautioned, but she waved him off.

“Fetch the épées from my cabin.”

Murmurs from the eavesdropping crew filled the air. The promise of a fight was always good entertainment at least. More abandoned their duties to get a better view, and she could already see coin and wagers changing hands.

“Why would I do that?” Saint drawled, crossing his arms. “And besides, you’ve already drawn my blood. I do not wish to have my trousers sliced to ribbons next.” He waggled his brows. “Unless, of course, that is your diabolic intent, you sneaky Valkyrie, you.”

Oh, for the love of God and his entire legion of avenging angels! Lisbeth closed her eyes and counted to ten. “Best me and you get my cut of the cargo in the hold. Salt, liquor, diamonds, and cigars bound for Florida, take your pick.” Most of the items were confiscated goods from the customs houses to shore up the pretense, but no one needed to know that.

“I told you I am not in need of money.”

What smuggler worth his salt refused the promise of more wealth? Her gaze narrowed on him anew. Whowasthis man? And again, why would he turn his back on such a lucrative deal? Men in their profession would salivate at getting their hands on any part of Bonnie Bess’s hold.

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