Free A Woman Made for Sin by Michele Sinclair Page A

mess with some
     far better alternative than death. I must own some blame for the current situation
     as I intended to be captured. I assure you these men could not have detained me otherwise.”
    Collins gaped at the daft woman. “Are you trying to tell me you let Gus right-hook you across the jaw, my lady?”
    “Well, no. That unwelcome experience was not in my plan per se . . .” As soon as she
     said the words she saw an even greater fear rise in the stout man’s eyes, and quickly
     added, “but I was struggling at the time, and he did believe me to be a man as well as a thief.”
    Collins raked his eyes over her slender figure. Yes, she was in men’s clothes, but
     only a fool would think she was anything other than a woman.
    Aimee fluidly rose and went over to place a placating hand on his bulky arm. “Mr.
     Collins, I am sure my appearance looks to be much worse than it is.”
    “I doubt it,” Collins grumbled. “And if you could see what Gus did to your lovely
     face, you would not be so agreeable right now.”
    “You do not know me all that well, Mr. Collins. I suspect I might surprise you.”
    Collins swallowed and his brown eyes grew round with appeal. “My lady, my heart can’t
     suffer any more surprises at the moment.”
    “Well then, let us overcome just one problem at a time. I wager that once I am able
     to clean up a little and dress into something . . . without an odor, the circumstances
     that brought about my presence here will not seem as bad.”
    Collins scowled and mulled over her comment. Cleaning up would not hide the bruises,
     but at least some of the evidence of what she had endured would not be staring the captain straight
     in the face. “Perhaps you’re right, my lady. Come with me to my quarters. I’ll see
     if I can pinch the captain’s tub for you to bathe in,” Collins added, suspecting she
     was like the captain, who preferred to bathe en route to their destination and not
     just upon their arrival. “You probably want the water at least somewhat warm, too.”
    Aimee blinked a couple of times at the strange comment. Didn’t all the men on the
     ship prefer to bathe in warm water? She decided not to pursue the subject and nodded
     that she agreed to his plan.
     
     
    Three hours later, Aimee felt like a new person. After consuming a delicious platter
     of cheeses, meats, and bread, she had been able to bathe and clean her hair. Now,
     with the exception of her wrists, which were still raw and angry, she felt wonderful.
     The chief mate’s cabin was not very large, but in comparison to the hold and Gus and
     Peter’s small cabin, Aimee thought it spacious.
    In addition, Collins had placed a trunkful of lady’s odds and ends on the end of his
     narrow bed. All of the garments were too large around the bustline, but the extra
     material made it almost long enough for her tall frame. She had found some dark thread
     and did a quick seam along the sides of a pale yellow frock so that it hugged her
     slender figure. It was far from stylish and the inconsistent stitching made it obvious
     she lacked the skills of a seamstress. However, she did feel at least somewhat feminine
     once again.
    Her hair was still slightly damp, so instead of arranging it she decided to let the
     waves of blond curls remain free. Aimee was just placing the second comb she found
     in the trunk to pull the tresses away from her face when she heard a sharp rap at
     the door.
     
     
    Collins rapped on the door and waited. He could not ever remember his gut being wound
     in such tight knots. He would rather face nonstop storms all the way from London to
     the Americas than have to deal with the problem Gus and Petey had just handed him.
    Though she had been covered with filth, her hair matted, and dirt and bruises were
     smearing her face, any man could have seen that Lady Aimee Wentworth would be a rather
     pretty woman, once clean. When he first saw her, he had barely recognized her from
     the