Page 22 of The Tempest
She was as edgy as a caged cat. He paused a moment, his gaze lingering on her, before pointing to the shelf in front of her. “Finish yer food,” he said evenly. “I’ve not come tae harm ye. I just want tae talk.”
That only seemed to make her more defensive. “What about?”
He could see that he hadn’t eased her, so he lowered his hands and stood as far away from her as he could without actually leaving the outbuilding. “Yer grace, I need ye tae understand something,” he said. “I’m not a pirate. I’m not part of the crew who captured ye. I’m not yer enemy, so if we canna be friendly, then let’s at least be civil. Or have ye forgotten how?”
Astria swallowed the bite in her mouth, staring at him with enormous blue eyes.Hadshe forgotten how to be civil? That was a damn good question. But more than that, he addressed her formally and properly. She’d almost forgotten her station in life.
Your grace.
Hearing that come out of his mouth seemed to remind her of who, and what, she was.
A reminder of just how far she’d fallen.
“Sweet Mary,” she murmured, sinking back against the wall. “I’ve not heard that in months.”
She had a sweet, soft voice, gently accented. “Heard what?” he asked.
She looked at him. “You addressed me properly,” she said. “I’d almost forgotten.”
He could see how bewildered she was. “I will always address ye with respect,” he said. “Even if ye weren’t a princess or a duchess, I’d still address ye as a proper lady. I’m not like the others, yer grace. I told ye that and I meant it.”
Astria’s gaze had been distant, perhaps even misty-eyed, but she looked at him and studied him for a moment. “The pirate queen,” she finally said. “Who is she to you?”
“My mother.”
Astria’s expression softened with realization. “You must be the eldest.”
“Aye,” he said. “Ye heard what she intends tae do with ye.”
Astria nodded, almost wearily. “I am to be your bride.”
Payne nodded back, studying her face and trying to gauge how long her calm mood was going to hold. He saw the ropes on the floor, meaning she had clearly removed him. Was she planning on escaping? God, he hoped not. He really didn’t want another battle with her. He was hoping calm conversation might ease her a bit, at least enough so that she wouldn’t react violently to him again.
He proceeded carefully.
“To be honest, I’m as surprised as ye are,” he said. “I’ve not seen my mother in years, and when I do, she has come tae tell me that my father is dead and I’ve inherited the earldom. And ye’re evidently part of that bargain.”
Astria was listening to him with surprising calm. “So I was told,” she said. “In fact, when your mother first told me, I tried to fight her.”
“How did that end for ye?”
“Not well, I’m afraid.”
Payne smiled faintly. “Nay, I dunna imagine it would have,” he said. “Maudie gets what she wants. And she wants us tae wed.”
Astria sighed heavily. “It seems so.”
That was all she had to say about it, which was surprising. In fact, it was the first time Payne didn’t see abject rage in her expression or manner. She seemed exhausted more than anything, but he was glad to see that. He could use it to his advantage. Hoping to build some kind of rapport with her, Payne got an idea.
Perhaps sympathy would get him somewhere.
“It seems as if ye’ve had a rough time of it since Bloody Maude captured ye,” he said. “I think that’s a fair assessment.”
Astria snorted softly. “Fair, aye,” she said. “But I’ve given as good as I got. I’ll not let those filthy Scots get the better of me.”
He grinned. “Am I included in that?”
She arched a brow. “I do not know,” she said. “Are you?”
