Free Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall

survived, but instead because her mother’s life depended on it.
     
    Marianne glanced at the captain’s desk again. “I wonder, Mr. Hobbs if you would oblige me.”
     
    “I’d be happy to, miss.”
     
    “Since I am to be imprisoned on this ship for months, I’ve taken an interest in sailing and navigation. Could you point out the captain’s instruments and their function to me?”
     
    “Of course.” Mr. Hobbs threw back his shoulders and met her at the captain’s desk. “What would ye like to know?”
     
    Marianne pointed in turn at each instrument and asked its functionand name, which Mr. Hobbs was more than eager to explain.
     
    “So what would happen if the captain’s charts were to be lost?”
     
    “He’d have t’ use the stars to guide him, I suppose.”
     
    “What about this one.” Marianne picked up the odd-looking brass triangle with the curved bottom. “The sextant, was it? What exactly is it used for again?”
     
    “Where’s the rum?” Mr. Heaton’s deep timbre filled the room, and Marianne glanced toward the door, quickly setting the sextant back upon the desk. The first mate’s dark hair, tied behind him in a queue, matched the black breeches he’d donned. A white shirt, encased in a black waistcoat with gold embroidery completed his ensemble. “Forgive me, Miss Denton. I did not realize you had arrived already.” He gave her a roguish grin that he no doubt expected would send her heart fluttering. She squelched any such reaction. She knew his type. He was handsome and he knew it. And he used it to his advantage. Marianne had resigned herself long ago that she would never know how it felt to stir a man’s passions by the mere sight of her. And for the most part, she was happy for it.
     
    For the most part.
     
    Noah marched into the room like a captain in command, and her heart quirked a traitorous flutter in her chest.
What is wrong with me?
He tossed his bicorn onto a hook on the wall and eyed his guests. One brow lifted when his eyes landed on her. “Miss Denton, you came?”
     
    “I was invited, was I not?”
     
    “I didn’t expect the pleasure of your company.”
     
    “I did not wish to deny you of it.” She hid her annoyance beneath a sarcastic smirk.
     
    Mr. Heaton grabbed a decanter from the table and poured himself a glass of whatever vile liquor it held.
     
    Noah approached her, pointing at his desk. “What, pray tell, do you find so fascinating among my things?”
     
    “Miss Denton wanted to—” Hobbs began.
     
    “Mr. Hobbs was instructing me on the fine points of navigation, if you must know.” Marianne interrupted before the man gave her away.
     
    Noah folded his arms across his brown waistcoat. “I had no idea you had such interests.”
     
    “Nor the mind to grasp them?”
     
    He smiled.
     
    Luke dropped into a chair, a grin on his lips.
     
    Mr. Hobbs shifted his stance and gazed between them. “Truth be told, Miss Denton has a keen mind an’ a quick understandin’.”
     
    Marianne smiled at the elderly man. “Why, you are too kind, Mr. Hobbs.”
     
    “Hmm.” Noah scratched the stubble on his jaw.
     
    A sailor entered with a tray balanced on his shoulder. Another man followed him, and they both began placing platters of food on the table: biscuits, cheese, a steaming bowl of some sort of soup, and a block of salted meat.
     
    The spicy scent of stew wafted over Marianne. Her mouth watered and her stomach clenched at the same time. Whether it was seasickness or the constant terror of being upon the ocean, Marianne found her appetite had shriveled.
     
    She thanked Mr. Hobbs and moved away from the desk, deciding it would be best to make her exit now before she had to endure any more of Noah’s scorching wit.
     
    The ship tilted and one of the sailors stumbled. A glass decanter flew from his tray and crashed to the floor, bursting into a hundred crystalline shards.
     
    “My apologies, Cap’n.” The sailor growled as he knelt