Page 25 of The Wager and the Wedding

“What did you do?” Who knew what wisdom his bearded friend might have? Perhaps he could glean an idea or two.

Ulf shrugged. “The usual things—flowers, sweet treats, offering to do chores and run errands for her. She was happy to let me beg and scrape, but she never gave me a smile that was just for me. It took me a whole year of addle-headed nonsense before I came to my senses. The first time she ever seemed to notice me was when I stood up to her and refused to do her bidding. She wanted me to carry a bundle to her cousin in thenext town, but it was raining, and the roads were muddy. I decided I’d had enough, and I saidno.”

“And how did she react to that?”

Martin tried to imagine sayingnoto Isabella. She might very well push him overboard.

“She stared at me, and for a moment, I thought she was going to unleash seven hells on my head, but then the strangest thing happened.”

“What?” Now, he had to know.

“She smiled, and before I knew what was happening, the saucy little wench tried to kiss me. Unfortunately for her, I wasn’t interested. It was the dullest kiss of my life. Learned my lesson that day good and proper.”

Martin couldn’t help but smile. Somehow, he didn’t think kissing Isabella could ever be dull. Unlike Ulf, he knew he was in a merry war from the start, and their traded barbs only made him want her all the more.

“But I don’t think you’ll have that problem with Lady Isabella, my lord,” Ulf said, as if reading his mind. “She’s a vixen, no doubt about it. And she won’t make it easy on you, but the way she looks at you when she thinks no one is looking… I’d say you’ve caught her fancy and then some.”

It warmed the cockles of his heart to hear that. “A man can hope.” A flash of blue caught his attention. “Ah, there she is now. I think I’ll go try my luck.”

He walked over to where she now rested against the rail beside her sister, wisps of raven hair escaping from the interwoven braids down her back. He breathed deep, reveling in the herbal scent of her mixed with the sea breeze. Trying Ulf’s technique was a gamble, but he had to get through to her somehow. It was just crazy enough to work.

“Good afternoon, ladies.” He doffed his cap and then continued on his way, not waiting for a response. Would she take the bait?

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A bite.A little thrill of triumph ran through him. “I’m going about my business. Running a ship requires careful attention, so if you’ll excuse me…”

Yet again, he made to leave.

“Does your cook have any pheasant?”

That brought him up short. Why in heaven’s name was she asking about pheasant on board a ship? “I’m afraid not, my lady. We cannot keep fresh meat for long while we are at sea. We still have some of the venison we enjoyed last night if you are craving something other than fish.”

She sighed dramatically. “What a shame! Pheasant is a particular favorite of ours, isn’t it, Adelaide?”

Her sister frowned and opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Is it?”

“Of course, it is!” Isabella’s overly bright smile failed to convince her little sister, whose brow furrowed more deeply with each word. “We simply adore pheasant. I don’t know how we’ll manage such a long sea journey without it. Oh, but perhaps we could stop along the way and get some.”

Ah.The game she was playing became clear. “You wish for us to stop in port. To get pheasant. By any chance, would the port you wish to stop at be in Norfolk?”

Isabella narrowed her eyes. “And what if it was?”

Damn it all!He thought he was making progress. She was nothing if not stubborn and single-minded.

“Then I would tell you that we do not have plans to stop in Norfolk. It would lengthen our journey and, given the ongoing war, put us all at risk. We will not stop and endanger the crew for a mere craving, but I would be happy to introduce you toBaldwin so that you can plan your meals with the provisions we have at hand. Come. I’ll show you to the galley.”

He held out his arm, waiting for her to take it. Perhaps calling her bluff wasn’t the wisest tactic at the moment, but her continued obsession with Norfolk annoyed him too deeply to think straight.

“Oh, but I wouldn’t want to trouble him.” She clasped her hands in front of her and averted her gaze.

He couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “You were willing to divert my entire ship and put my crew in danger for a whim, and now you won’t even talk to my cook? You must choose more subtle stratagems, my lady. Your motives are all too transparent.”

She raised herself up to her full height and crossed her arms as she stared at him. “It was worth a try.”

So brazen! She wasn’t even bothering to pretend. He wasn’t sure whether to be insulted or impressed. From the way his cock twitched, he rather thought the latter.

“No, it wasn’t,” Adelaide interjected. “We would never want to trouble you or your crew, my lord. You have been most kind to us.”

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