Page 31 of The Pirate's Daughter

“Mia, it’s a sloop, no guns, hardly a crew, and,” he lifted the glass again, “flying British colors. Of course we’re not going to run. Stop thinking like a pirate.” Hewinked.

“I’m not, I’m thinking like someone who likes her allowance,” she grumbled, not thinking Devin would hear as he’d turned to give orders to the crew. He turned back sharply at herremark.

“What did you do, Mia?” heasked.

Mia felt that chill crawl up her skin. “What? I couldn’t have done anything. I’ve been on the ship this whole time.” She reached up and took back the glass, looking again towards the bow of the ship headed for them. She sawhimlooking at her. This was going to go rather badly if Papa senthim.

“Mia?” Devin started, but the call that a ship approached went out from above and he stepped away to order the sails hauled in and preparations for the ship to be boarded atsea.

Mia was standing at his side when the four men—two navy bigwigs and two from papa’s crew—stepped on deck. She knew instantly by the sneer on Mr. Smithe’s face that Papa found out what she’d done. Now would Devin learn of it? She got her answer prettyfast.

“Captain Winthrop,” the admiral called, having to withdraw his hand to adjust his powdered wig in the wind that gusted by. He held out his hand again and Devin shook it even though he looked completely lost as to what would bring a lubber like this man out tosea.

“Admiral Dorsher, welcome aboard theIron Rose,” Devin said, reaching out to shake the second man’s hand but being only a captain, Devin did not extend him the same niceties. “You’ll pardon us, we were in the middle of weekly maintenance,” Devin said, waving his arm around to indicate the half-dressed crew, buckets, and such before extending his hand to the two people Mia knew. Smithe had run the keel off catching them. That hardly left time to bring in the sails let alone cleanup.

“Oh, oh yes. No worries. Couldn’t expect less from a captain with your reputation,” the rather jolly man said. “And this must be the lovely Mrs. Winthrop.” He reached out and Mia offered her hand. He placed a kiss in the air above herknuckles.

“Yes, of course she is. Pardon me, I’m not at all used to making such introductions, sir,” Devin said, startled he’d been so remiss. “Perhaps you might step aboard and tell us why we’ve this honor to have you aboard,today?”

“Oh, oh yes. Of course,” the man said, again adjusting his wig. “How about some introductions. Yes, I think that would be nice aswell.”

The group of men started for middeck and Mia let them go past. “The commodore knows what you did, sea witch, and he’s not pleased,” Mr. Smithe said as he brought up thestern.

“Don’t tell Devin,” Miahissed.

“Oh he’s going to find out, and you’re not going to like it.” The man smirked and Mia stomped her foot before taking a deep breath and joining themen.

“Now that we’ve all been introduced,” Admiral Dorsher was saying, “the reason for this visit is the board thought it best you should know straight away that you’ve been awarded the great distinction of Companion of the Order of theBath.”

Mia saw Devin’s jaw drop open and bit her lip. What had Papa done now? The other captain was handing the admiral a rolled parchment and Mia worked to catch Smithe’s eye. The man was purposefully lookingaway.

“Of course, let us do this right.” The admiral took the parchment and from somewhere a whistle sounded and all on deck came to attention, mops and buckets forgotten for the time. Mia stood quietly and fumed. Papa couldn’t let it be. Never a man to waste an opportunity, he did nothing small. And as the man droned on and Mia saw Devin flash several looks in her direction, each increasingly annoyed, she knew he’d done this to run her aground. “And now,” the admiral finished exchanging the roll for a lovely box which he opened as he presented Devin with the medal, “congratulations, CaptainWinthrop.”

“Thank you, sir,” Devin said, taking the box as cheers when up around the ship. “Perhaps you’ll join us forlunch?”

“Oh, grand, yes, I believe wewill.”

“Admiral, I don’t know that we can keep commandeering this vessel as we have, even though he commodore was most kind to allow heruse.”

“Quite right, quite right. But, I believe Mr. Smithe has something to give you as well. It seems he knows your wife’s father and so kindly offered to run us out here.” The admiral turned to look atSmithe.

“Ah ain’t no pardon Gov’ner, if we stay a while. The commodore told me to make sure his daughter was right’n happy afore I leave,” Mr. Smithe said and gave Mia a look she knew as warning to prepare for the tsunami tohit.

“Please, gentleman,” Lieutenant Coventon stepped up and ushered the two navy men away. “Captain Winthrop might need a moment to assure the young lady’s father all is well withher.”

“You’re one of those…” Devin stopped before he could say too much. “You were there the night…” Again he stopped speaking, this time he looked over his shoulder, maybe to make sure they were mostly alone. “What’s goingon?”

“Avast, Captain.” Smithe stepped towards him. “This isn’t about you.” Smithe’s demeanor changed as he no longer needed to behave like a simple merchant ship crew member with the others out of earshot. “Mia, the commodore is very unhappy with you. You’ve been warned not to make trouble or bring attention,” Smithe chided. Mia saw Devin looking between the two of them. “What you did could’ve caused quite the storm if he’d not gone round and tied up looseends.”

“What did she do?” Devin asked. Mia warmed at his ready defense. “How could she have done anything? She’s not been off the ship since I gother.”

“What, you think the little sea witch needs to go ashore to wreak havoc and sinkfleets?”

Devin turned and glared at her. “Does this have something to do with this commendation I received for ‘revealing a deceptive practice which was in violation of all treaties and accords in relation to the Abolition Act of1807’?”

“Devin,” Mia started, then tried to laugh. “You did make a formal complaint about what happened in St. Eustatius. Someone looked into thematter.”

“Mia,” both men growled ather.

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