Page 73 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

The sound of someone grunting had Ned turning toward the rope ladder. He heaved a chest over the rails, followed by a ruddy-faced crew member pushing from his end.

I hadn’t seen the boatswain since I’d stepped on deck this morning. Now, here he was, adding his two cents.

“Better than being trapped in the harbor and forced to do the governor’s bidding,” I lobbied, and a few heads bobbed in agreement. “Woodes Rogers will not allow you to sneak tea and tobacco into Nassau without paying a fee.”

Murmurs circulated throughout the crew. Words like tax and freedom and makin’ an honest man’s wages floated back to me. I had to bite my tongue not to comment about what makes an honest man.

Ned propped a shoe on the chest. “Might I suggest ye go to the council, tell Captain Vane of Miss Jennifer’s vision.”

Many heads nodded, accompanied by “aye’s” and “here-here’s.”

“I should be the one to tell him.” I moved closer to Max, wishing I had something more enticing than the high-necked Mary Poppins dress to help him see things my way. “I can be pretty persuasive.”

Max nodded. My inner voice gave me a partial thumbs-up. “Weel, send out the scout. Go to the meeting. Let Captain Vane decide our fate.”

Oh boy. My inner voice turned her thumb down.

“All in favor?” Rowan took a count and the decision was made.

“Aye.” Max rubbed his hands together, eyeing the chest. “Let’s see what our tea and rum have gotten us.”

Two men hauled the chest to the main mast in the center of the ship. Rowan took his blade to the lock and opened the chest.

I leaned around Max to see what treasure lay inside. “It’s filled with clothing,” I blurted out. Max beamed at me. There was some jewelry but no stacks of silver, gobs of gold, or piles of pieces of eight.

Rowan held up a blue velvet coat. Any man wearing it in this weather would sweat his ass off. “Who bids a fair coin on the jacket?”

After some scuffling and pushing, a few men held up small pouches, shaking them, the sound of coins clinking together. I thought about Itty’s gold bangles and wondered if General Potts arrested her and Jake for aiding my escape.

I quickly pushed the thought out of my mind.Focus on the man you’re here to rescue,I reminded myself,not the one you left behind, or the one who’s fate you hold, or the one who’s disappeared like a ghost ship into a sea fog.

If Jake’s conclusion that Caiyan stalked me was correct, where the heck was he? Why hasn’t he rescued me from this motley crew? If he was in Nassau, he’d just failed Finding Your Fiancé 101.

Rowan picked up a small box and checked the inside. “Ah, Logan, ’tis filled wi’ needles and thread. A true sailmaker’s tools.”

A man with dark hair and a thick mustache stepped forward. “I’ve got little coin,” he said sadly.

“Take it in trade for a sail well made.” Rowan tossed the box at Logan, who blushed red. He bobbed his head and accepted the box.

My eyes widened when a string of pearls went to Shrug. Did the man have a woman to wear them? He strung them around his neck and danced a jig.

Doubtful.

A pair of shoes and more jewelry found new owners. Max smiled ear to ear. He was enjoying himself. I leaned closer to him, shouting above the ruckus. “I thought you were smugglers.”

“We were paid handsomely for our most recent delivery, but Rowan requested the chest as a bonus for our good trade.” He stepped in front of me. Excitement bounced off him like a kid finding the last Easter egg. “’Tis my turn.”

Rowan held up a pretty pale green dress, the color of seafoam. The gown belled out into veils of thin lace resembling tulle that had to have taken the dressmaker months to sew.

Men held up their pouches but quickly retracted them as Max stepped forward. He placed a bulging pouch in Rowan’s hand. “I’ll take the lot.” And took the dress from him.

My stomach went squishy. He brought the dress to me and knelt. “For you, Miss Jennifer.”

Oh jeez. “Thank you.” The silk felt soft in my hands, and the skirt swayed delicately. It was much prettier than my current Poppins abomination.

“’Tis no as beautiful as yerself, but will suit ye for the ceremony.” Max gave a pleased smile at my obvious admiration of the dress.

The thoughtful gesture from Max shattered my heart. My plan to ditch him and watch his ship burn to embers seemed wrong.

---