Page 33 of Veiled in Stars and Silver
I stared, hardly recognizing myself. But then frowned as I saw the scars on my back peeking up out of the dress.
Ivy noticed and said, “Don’t worry about that. We will cover it up with makeup. Nobody will be the wiser. Now, Let’s do your hair.” She raised an eyebrow. “And then I’ll show you where to put those knives.”
I walked down the hallway in my new outfit. The fabric was soft against my skin, and my skirts whispered when I moved. I should have asked the women for a more practical dress, but Ivy had been so excited that I hadn't wanted to be rude. Still, I felt rather pretty, despite the inappropriate amount of skin I was showing off at the moment.
Uncle Reuben would whip me something fierce if he saw me.
Hook stood in the entryway with Cora Pearl. He turned to us when we approached, also cleaned up. His black hair fell across his forehead, and he wore a fine shirt and overcoat, looking like the captain he was. “Greetings, ladies,” he said with a smile. “What have you done with Wendy?”
Ivy giggled and grabbed my arm, pulling me forward.
Hook blinked, his mouth falling open. His gaze took me in.
“Not a word,” I growled. For some reason, a compliment from him would feel almost as bad as him teasing me.
His jaw snapped shut, but I could tell that he was failing to hold in his comment. “Are you always against men complimenting women on their beauty?”
“Only when said flattery is from pirates,” I shot back. “Did you find out who gave Madame Pearl the book?”
He nodded to the other women. “Thank you, ladies, you have worked wonders.”
I frowned, unsure how to take that. Ivy and the others left us, moving away down the hall. Hook turned to face me.
“Alas, that query was a dead end.”
“So now what?”
“We find your brothers. I am attempting to recreate the spell I used to track them. I made a quick trip to the apothecary while you were… changing... and brought back the supplies. However, we are lacking one essential ingredient. A saltwater plant called pickleweed.”
“Then let's get it.” I moved toward the door.
“I’m afraid we can’t. This time of day, Pan and his boys are known to be at Mermaid Cove. The only place where pickleweed resides. The best time to retrieve such a thing would be in the early morning. I’m afraid we are going to have to wait ‘til tomorrow.”
I let out an impatient sigh. “And what are we to do until then?”
He lifted an eyebrow and shrugged. “Whatever you want, love.”
A banging on the front door caused us both to jump. “Come on, Hook! Open up! We know yer in there!”
“Yeah,” shouted another voice. “We’ve got a bone to pick with ye!”
Fear raced through me. “They’ve been taken over.” I searched for an exit.
“Maybe.” Hook’s eyes were narrow as he glared at the door, his hand on his saber. “Maybe not. One of Madame Pearl’s ladies may have told them we were here.”
Cora touched his shoulder. “I’ll get it,mon cher.” She bustled to the door and cracked it open. “Sorry, boys, but we are closed—”
The door suddenly burst wide, throwing Cora against the wall.
“Excuse us, Madame, but we have some important things to discuss,” growled a big burly man. Other pirates spilled into the front entryway. They formed a half circle around us.
I went for my knives, but Hook pressed the flat of his hook to my hand. “Hold, lass,” he mumbled. He looked at the large burly man who stood at their head. “What is the meaning of this, Mason?”
“So it's true. Captain Hook, the one man who may be our salvation, has taken up with Peter’s pet.”
A round of shouting commenced.
“Everyone knows you’ve split the stone and given half to her,” said a scrawnier man standing behind Mason. “What makes her so worthy? What does she care about any of us?”
