Free The Countess' Lucky Charm by A. M. Westerling

the matter of Simone’s behaviour earlier this evening.
    By his fifth pass, the crisp air had cleansed his mind and cooled his rage. Rueful, he realized Simone had been right—he had been jealous. He wanted her teasing eyes and dazzling smile focused only on him. Each day, he enjoyed her company more for her keen wit and saucy attitude pleased him.
    However, the more time he spent with her, the more he realized the enormity of the wager he had made with the captain. To put it succinctly, her shortcomings were many: her language, her manners, her lack of training in the womanly arts, her lack of appropriate clothing. The list could go on and on.
    He had seen her horrified face when he had told her he would cancel the wager but in truth, he thought to cancel it to spare her feelings. As much progress as she had made, it was simply not possible for her to transform in the few remaining weeks at sea.
    He leaned over the stern, watching the ship’s wake foam and glisten in the moonlight. It would mean going back on his promise to himself that he always covered his bets. That didn’t sit well with him either but his impetuous words had instigated the whole escapade and he bore the responsibility to deal with it and Petey’s allegation.
    A vision of the captain’s sharp features arose in Temple’s mind; his curt voice echoed in Temple’s ears. The captain, used to giving orders and having them obeyed, would be a formidable opponent.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    The following morning, a thoughtful Temple emerged from the meeting with Captain Featherstone and went in search of Simone. He didn’t find her in the cabin, nor in the dining room, nor at her favourite spot by the bowsprit.
    Puzzled at her disappearance, he turned toward the sounds of hilarity swirling on the stiff breeze, nipping at Temple’s ears. What the devil?
    Rounding the bulwark, he found the source: Simone had found herself a card game with two of the crew members and was doing very well at it, judging by the coins in front of her.
    He stifled the urge to join in. No matter how much he enjoyed a brisk round of cards, he couldn’t waste time gaming—Simone must hear of the captain’s decision.
    So instead, he stood and watched, silently applauding Simone’s prowess.
    “That’s mine!” crowed Simone, throwing down her final card, the ace of hearts, onto the crate that served as makeshift table.
    “I’m out.” A disgusted Thomas Becker tossed down the rest of his cards at the squeal of the bosun’s whistle. “It’s coming up to my watch.”
    “Saved by the bell,” laughed Samuel, exposing gapped teeth beneath a fierce black moustache.
    “Aye, I had no luck today.” A muttering Thomas Becker stood and stalked away, patting his empty pockets as he disappeared from sight.
    “Shall we play?” Simone asked of Samuel as she gathered the cards.
    “No, Lady Wellington, I’ve sails to mend.”
    “Coward.”
    “Aye, I know when I’m out of my league.” He laughed again. “But count me in for the next game.” He groped for his crutch and hauled himself up, adjusting the red bandanna about his neck before stumping away on one wooden leg.
    “May I?” Temple pointed to the keg vacated by Samuel. At her nod, he settled himself. “Whatever possessed you to play at cards?”
    Surprised at her apparent good humour, he gazed at her. Childlike blue eyes sparkled back at him. Clearly, the game had agreed with her although he wondered at the too-taut face and brittle smile.
    “Because of what you told me last night.” She shuffled the cards. “We shall lose the wager.” She paused, holding the cards in one hand. “If that is so, I believe we owe double our fares. And,” she put down the deck, “we don’t have enough money for that.” She leaned back and crossed her arms. “I thought to help.”
    “How do you know I’m not able to pay the wager?”
    “I watched you count out the coins to pay the captain that night we