Page 60 of Company of Thieves
Would Alan be offended? My fingers stroked the leather, knowing I shouldn’t even think about it. “But dammit, it’s my wedding,” I said, getting to my feet. “And after all, you only live once.”
Octavia glanced over from where she was helping Safie hook up all the buttons on the back of the dress. “Yes, of course it’s your wedding. What did you pick out to wear? One of those pretty trouser suits? I’m sure Alan would have no complaint with you wearing something so elegant, even if it’s not a gown suitable for such an occasion.”
“Something like that. Er ... I think I’ll go dress around the scattered parts of Jack’s new navigator,” I said, hauling one of the trunks to the door.
Octavia looked up, a frown between her brows. “Are you sure? I’m happy to help you dress for the wedding, since you were so kind to me when Jack and I were married.”
I smiled and gestured toward Safie, who looked a little worried. “I appreciate that, but I’m happier getting ready on my own. Besides, you know I don’t like all the fussy bits that the women here go in for, and Safie appears to enjoy them. I won’t feel slighted in the least if you help her get ready.”
“Very well,” Octavia said, clearly hesitant. I managed to escape, and was almost to my cabin when Jack came down the stairs, frowning when he saw me.
“Hallie, what are you doing?” He took the wooden chest that I was dragging. “You shouldn’t be moving things in your condition.”
“You sound like something out of a nineteen fifties sitcom,” I told him, but opened the door to my old cabin. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to touch your project. I just wanted somewhere quiet to get ready.”
He set down the trunk and studied me for a good minute before saying, “Are you sure about this, Hallie? Really sure? Akbar ... Alan hasn’t manipulated you into thinking you have to do this, has he?”
“No, no, no,” I said, giving him a kiss on his cheek. “Really, Jack, you need to give up this ridiculous idea of brainwashing you have. I love Alan. He loves me. We’re having a miracle together. I couldn’t be happier.”
He was silent a moment, then gave a heavy sigh. “You always did do things your own way. I’ll admit to being worried that you’re happy about this, though.”
“The wedding?” I shrugged. “It’ll be all right. You know how I feel about that sort of thing.”
He grinned. “That weddings are a ceremony wrapped around signing a piece of paper? Yeah, we’re alike in that.”
“Which is why it was nice you let Octavia have the wedding she wanted last year.” I kissed him on the cheek. “But I’m not her, and so long as I get to do this my way, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
He looked a little confused by the admittedly incomprehensible sentence. “So long as you’re happy,” he said, patting my arm. “I’m going to go check on that bast—er—the groom, to make sure he’s not trying to slip out without anyone noticing.”
“Right, it’s time for you to get over yourself,” I said, shaking a leather gauntlet at him. “Alan isn’t a bastard, or a heartless monster, or a violent murderer. He’s loving and sweet and funny and patient, and you need to embrace having him as a brother-in-law, because he’s all-around awesome, and will help the Company of Thieves immensely.”
“Hrmph,” my brother said, stomping off. I smiled to myself. I knew Jack, and he liked to grouse about any sort of change, but in the end, he’d learn to see Alan for what he was.
An hour later, I thought the crew were going to choke when I trotted down the stairs to the cargo area where the others were gathered.
“Bleedin’ hell,” Mr. Piper said, squinting at me with a grizzled face that had seen so much. “Ye look like ye’r goin’ in t’battle.”
I adjusted the falchion, flipped the tail of the lay over my shoulder, and once again tugged the breastplate down a smidgen. I’d still had to stuff the breast area with a soft pair of leggings in order to fill it out, but all in all, I was pleased with my appearance. “Why, thank you, Mr. Piper. I thought it was only fitting that a man of Alan’s reputation be honored thusly.”
Mr. Ho, who, like the rest of the crew, had donned civilian clothes, studied the armor, murmuring little comments of approval. “It really is quite unique. And is it comfortable to wear?”
“Very,” I told her, feeling proud of the dashing figure I made in my borrowed armor. “It’s not hindering at all, and whoever made this for Alan’s sister was a master craftsperson.”
“Indeed,” she said, then stepped back, casting a glance to Mr. Llama.
“I’ve brought the carriages,” Mr. Christian, the red-haired young man who served as navigator, said, bursting into the cargo area carrying with him a sense of excitement. “Where’s the captain?”
“I’m here, with Captain Safie,” Octavia said, tripping merrily down the spiral stairs with Safie in tow. She caught sight of me, and stumbled to a stop. “Oh. I ... er ... Hallie ...”
“Ooh, is that Leila’s armor?” Safie said, coming forward in her elegant black-and-white gown, a sparkly comb pulling her curls back from her face in a way that made her look even more ethereal. “It looks very good on you.”
“Do you think she’d mind me wearing it?” I asked, suddenly feeling like I was encroaching on a family heirloom.
“Lord, no. She was with us for a bit, but then she married a Turkish prince and is quite happy in Anatolia. I’m sure she will wish you nothing but the best with the armor. I always did like it, but it was far too big for me.”
Octavia had been opening and closing her a mouth a couple of times while Safie cooed over the armor, but eventually she gave a little shake of her head and let it go. “Well, if we are ready, I believe we can continue to the carriages. Mr. Piper, Mr. Mowen, you are both certain you do not wish to accompany us? We can ask some of Captain Dubain’s men to watch theEnterprisewhile we are in town.”
“So long as I may kiss the bride”—Matt Mowen, ship’s engineer extraordinaire, gave me a big smile and kissed me on the cheek, his grizzled mustache tickling my cheek in a way that Alan’s never did—“then I’m content to guard the ship.”
