Free Lady Pirate by Lynsay Sands

process.
    Valoree was just wondering if she should comment on his rudeness when the woman spoke up for herself. “We can see what the room is, young man,” she reproved gently, surprising Valoree. Considering the talent for tartness Meg had displayed over the past couple of days, Valoree had expected a harsher chiding—anice cutting comment, or an outright verbal slap. Instead, the older woman was smiling at the fellow almost fondly. She’s trying to endear us to him because he’s a noble, Valoree thought bitterly. She considered the man to see if it was working.
    Lord Beecham, realizing what he had done, was now flushing a bright shade almost as pink as the god-awful livery Henry had chosen for Skully and One-Eye. He stuttered out an apology. It was only then that Valoree took notice of his appearance. He wasn’t bad-looking, or very old really, perhaps twenty-five or-six. But he was the studious sort, she would guess. After spending the better part of her life in the company of strong, fit pirates, Valoree thought he appeared weak and too skinny. His discomfort now didn’t help either. Once his aplomb was gone, it seemed quite impossible for him to regain it. It was almost painful for her to watch as he began to stammer out an offer to give them a further tour of the house. It was Meg who let him off the hook.
    â€œThat will not be necessary, my lord. I think we can find our way around now.”
    â€œA-aye, of course.” He glanced briefly at Meg, but turned to Valoree to speak again. “I…Your uncle never asked me to see to servants, so I—”
    â€œThat will not be necessary,” Aunt Meg answered for her again. “We have people coming later today.”
    â€œG-good. I’ll just—Oh! I nearly forgot. My mother, Lady Beecham, thought that if you were not too tired from your journey here, you might like to attend a small soiree she is having tonight.” His voice trailed away when Valoree stared at him rather blankly; then he began backing out of the room. “Well, nay, of course not. You are probably rather tired. I—”
    His words came to an abrupt halt, as did his retreat, when he managed to back himself right into Skully.The pirate stood in the doorway of the salon, eyeing the surroundings with some disdain.
    Jerking around to see what he had backed into, Mr. Beecham paled, his jaw dropping slightly. Valoree supposed he’d never seen the likes of Skully before. Apart from the man’s being dressed in pink, Valoree imagined that to anyone who didn’t know him, he would look like death itself. His peg leg didn’t help.
    Chuckling quietly, she waved the pirate out of the room, then took Lord Beecham’s arm and led him to the front door. “It is kind of ye—you,” she corrected herself quickly. “It is kind of you, Lord Beecham. And you must thank your mother for us.”
    â€œAnd tell her Valoree’ll be there,” Henry inserted from behind her.
    Beecham’s eyes widened in amazement at such bold behavior from a servant, and Valoree wheeled, glaring furiously at the older man. But Henry merely glared right back, and a glance at the other men showed the same determined looks on their faces. Grinding her teeth together, she took a deep breath, then turned back to Beecham, forcing a smile. “Of course you must tell her that we would be delighted to attend her soiree.”
    â€œYou will?” the man asked, craning his neck to peer over her shoulder at Skully, who was grunting in approval of her concession.
    â€œAye, of course.” Opening the door, she smiled at him cheerfully, then urged him through it. “Thank you again for all your trouble, my lord, in attending to all of this for us.”
    â€œOh, well, my lady, it is my pleasure,” he began modestly.
    â€œAye. Well, you do it well. Good day to you,” she said cheerfully. With that, she closed the door on his smiling