Page 71 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Rowan took the spyglass from Max and aimed it toward a rowboat with eight men oaring toward the beach.

“Can I have a look?” I held my palm up.

Rowan grimaced but handed me the spyglass. “Do ye know how to use it?”

“You look through the small end.”

Max laughed at Rowan’s sour face. I loved his laugh. He was so full of life. So opposite from the man who stood on the other side of me, stewing at my every move.

Rowan had secrets. I was sure of it. But he was different from Caiyan. My Scot had life squeezed in his fists despite his secrets. He wasn’t afraid of anything. Rowan was afraid, and I didn’t need to use my gift to deduce that he feared losing Max.

I put the spyglass to my eye and searched the harbor. I took note of the boat Vane’s crew left behind. TheRanger. It wasn’t that far away. Ace and I could manage.

A large ship I didn’t recall seeing yesterday flanked Vane’sRanger. A man stood on the bow. He was also using a spyglass, panning out toward the horizon and then back at me. My stomach squished, and the hair on my arms stood at attention.

Mortas.

He jerked his spyglass away and stared openly at me. I lowered mine slowly, but not before his look of surprise turned into the evil smile I’d grown to despise.

“What is it?” A worried expression creased Max’s forehead, and he took the spyglass from me.

“The man on the bow of that ship. Who is he?” As if I didn’t already know. But I wanted to know if they knew him.

Max raised the glass. “The new captain of theLark. Vane has sworn him to the cause. ’Tis him, is it not, Rowan?” He passed the instrument to Rowan.

“Aye, ’tis a strange one. I met him last we were in port. He killed a man for taking his coin. Captain Vane likes that sort of thing. ’Tis what makes him so dangerous. He shows no mercy. Now he’s gained a captain with the same code.” Rowan clicked the spyglass shut.

I hoped Vane had shown mercy to Marco and Sasha. I didn’t see either of them swabbing the decks of his ship.

“Mayhap he will be joining the search for the treasure?” Max seemed to be counting heads on the new ship, dividing his booty by more than he hoped.

“Nay. We willnae be heading to sea.” Rowan shook his head and gestured toward Mortas. “He’s convinced the other captains in Vane’s fleet to take the pardon, stay in port. Besides, ye have a wedding tonight. Ye have more things to worry yer mind than treasure.”

Max’s face fell. “He won’t do it. Vane hates the English. He’d never stay in port and do their bidding.”

“He told me hisself. If his captains vote in favor, he will abide. After he takes the pardon, he must stay at the fort. We are to sail for the treasure another time.” Rowan stared out at the ships in the harbor.

“Captain Vane is taking the pardon and then stealing sunken treasure from the Spanish?” I set my teacup down. “Isn’t that still being a pirate?”

Rowan did his grunt thing. “A good captain obeys the laws of the sea.”

Max turned toward me. “Vane doesnae obey the rules, but if he doesnae allow his captains a vote, they will replace him.”

Double dilemma. I didn’t want to burn up on this ship, but if Vane took the pardon and didn’t flee to the Florida coast, history would change, allowing plenty of time for a wedding.

No fire ship. No escape. No saving Marco.

I had to get off theSea Stormand find Marco before I became Mrs. Captain Smith.

“Where’s Silver?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant, but my voice quivered slightly. Rowan’s eyebrow ticked up.Damn.

“Vane’s got him in the hold. He’s no riskin’ his escape before he takes him to thetreasure.” Max’s stubborn dig at Rowan’s wedding plans made me hide a smile.

Rowan looked up at the sun as if checking his watch for the time. “We must prepare to leave the ship.”

“Where are you going?” I placed a hand over Max’s forearm. Shrug pointed the rifle at me.

Max waved him off. “We must attend the pirate council. We hold a vote now that we are part of Vane’s fleet.”

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