Free The Pirate's Secret Baby by Darlene Marshall

a fine idea, and this was definitely the wrong man to set off olfactory responses and bring her skin and senses to life.
    "Miss Burke?"
    "Miss Burke was teaching us number tricks, Papa."
    "I was addressing the lady," he said mildly, which brought a "Sorry, sir," from Mattie and silence from the rest of the crew standing there.
    "We were having lessons, Captain," Lydia said.
    "These two weren't a distraction?"
    "On the contrary, it is a pleasure to teach eager pupils of any age."
    "I would let you teach me a thing or two, Miss Burke," he murmured close to her ear. She ignored this and continued.
    "The men asked if they could sit in on the lessons, their schedules permitting. Mattie approves of the idea as well, and I've found that sometimes a pupil's learning is stimulated by the presence of other students."
    She looked up at the captain, whose eyebrows arched at the idea of Nash and Turnbull as classroom compatriots, but he said, "If Mr. Fuller agrees, then I have no objection."
    The two men thanked their captain and hurried off, arguing over how to check sums. This discussion involved allusions to Turnbull's parentage and to Nash's hygiene, so Lydia was relieved when they took themselves off.
    Somewhat relieved. She still had Captain St. Armand standing too close to her, crowding her and intruding in her breathing space. She wanted to step back away from him, but at the same time, she did not want to. Regardless, retreat displayed cowardice and it was not the best response with him, no matter the provocation.
    He smiled down at her as if he could parse all these thoughts, then stepped back himself, his slender fingers gliding down her upper arm as he released her, a shiver lingering along that too sensitive flesh in their wake.
    "I came to alert you ladies it is time for luncheon. May I escort you below?"
    He cocked an arm, but offered it to Mattie, rather than Lydia. The girl giggled and took her father's hand.
    "You are too tall for me to hold your arm, Papa. This is a better fit."
    "As you say, Marauding Mattie. And this way your knife hand is free."
    They both turned at the garbled noise that worked its way out of Lydia's throat.
    "Never mind," she muttered, following behind as father and daughter went below.

 

Chapter 7
     
    Her remaining caps were missing, and she knew positively she'd put them in her trunk. Their absence could only mean the mysterious cap thief had visited while she slept.
    Her blood ran cold at the thought of one of the men stealing into her cabin, then her brain began working properly and her blood heated up. There was only one suspect, the only one daring enough to enter the cabin where the captain's daughter slept, never mind her governess!
    She braided her hair because her remaining hairpins also were not to be found. Really, it was the outside of enough! She tied off the thick braid and tossed it back over her shoulder. She might not be able to pin her hair properly atop her head, but she would not wear two braids like a schoolgirl.
    Lydia fumed through breakfast, responding in short words to Captain St. Armand and Mr. Fuller, even though she bore the mate no ill-will. Fortunately, Mattie did not seem to notice that her governess was glowering, and chatted with Mr. Fuller about the change in weather and her new pink jacket.
    "Now I am rigged out for foul weather, Mr. Fuller. It is important to have the proper gear during a blow," Mattie told him solemnly.
    "I have heard that said, Miss Mattie," Fuller responded, passing the biscuits around. Lydia rapped hers on the table to encourage any wildlife inside to leave. Weevils in her food were one of the harsh realities of sea life she'd come to grips with on her first voyage, and now she ignored them even as she longed for more wholesome fare. At least there were still oranges from the islands. A luxury in England, she intended to enjoy them while she could.
    After breakfast Lydia said, "Mattie, would you gather your books and wait for me? I need