Page 20 of Escaping Pirates
“You will also need to chaperone my girls and Harlan tonight.”
“What…me?” I asked, shocked. “I thought you…”
“My daughters would prefer more privacy. You will report directly to me of everything that happens, and if that boy tries anything with either of my girls, you are to alert me immediately so I can handle it.”
Was this another of his mind games? Or was it a genuine concern for his daughters? Either way, I wasn’t going to let an opportunity like this pass me by, even if there was no such thing as good luck when it came to Captain Harsh.
“Of course. I’ll help however you need me to,” I answered, keeping my head inclined and staring at the wooden planks beneath his boots.
“Good. Now hurry up and get back to help my girls.”
Sugar and Blossom ordered me to stay in the corner when Harlan arrived that evening and to remain silent for the entire time he was to see them. I had expected to feel second-hand embarrassment for Harlan and cringe on his behalf, but instead, I found myself staring hard at the book in my lap, not taking in a word of it, in order to hold back my laughter.
While the two sisters had never made any effort to impress me, they were doing everything in their power to dazzle Harlan. Sugar insisted on dancing with Harlan, which she did without music and rested her head on his chest so that it appeared as though she was checking for a heartbeat with her arms flung around him. More than once, she stepped on his feet. Harlan didn’t wince, but his jaw tightened and he moved stiffly. It was impossible to determine if the rigidity of his posture was inexperience in dancing or disgust at being partnered with Sugar.
Blossom waited on the other side of the room until the sand timer ran out to indicate Sugar’s time being finished.
“My turn,” Blossom said, and she hurried forward with the papers. “And these are for you to write letters on to give to us tomorrow. One for me and one for Sugar.”
“It would be an honor,” he told her with a half-bow. “Do you mind if I have her hold onto them?” he nodded in my direction. “Then I won’t have anything to distract me from your riveting companionship.”
Blossom and Sugar both giggled and covered their mouths, exchanging gleeful expressions as Harlan came over to hand me the papers.
“Smoooooth, lover boy,” I whispered, taking them with an obedient nod. He shot me a conspiratorial wink and returned to the sisters.
Blossom had composed herself again by the time Harlan returned.
“I must confess, I’m quite indigent on your behalf,” Blossom said, lifting her nose.
“You must mean indignant,” Harlan said. “And why are you indignant on my behalf?”
“Because Daddy put you in the brig! You deserve so much more.”
“Anytime you want to upgrade my quarters, I would be happy to accept,” he told her. “Now, did you want to dance as well, or do you have something else in mind?”
“I propose a game of riddles,” she said, smoothing the wrinkles out of her skirt and sitting primly on the sofa. “Do you enjoy them?”
“It depends on who tells them.”
“I’ll give you some, then you give me some.” Blossom pulled out a lace-edged fan like she was holding court. “I simply adore riddles,” she declared, glancing down atHarlan with what she clearly thought was a winsome smile. “They show how clever a person is. Wouldn’t you agree?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I suppose they do have that effect.”
“Splendid! Then let’s begin. Here’s one I made up just this morning.” She cleared her throat dramatically. “What’s sharp, shiny, and perfect for eating soup on stormy seas?”
Harlan blinked. “Eating soup…with something sharp?”
“A hook!” Blossom announced triumphantly before he could offer an actual guess.
“What?”
“A pirate’s hook,” Blossom clarified. “Because it is shiny and sharp at sea.”
“How would that help anyone eat soup?”
Blossom paused. “It’s metaphorical.”
Harlan tilted his head, and I pressed my lips together to hold back my laughter.
