Free The Pirate's Secret Baby by Darlene Marshall Page A

to speak to your father."
    Mr. Fuller took one last biscuit with him, stuffing it into his coat, and said, "I'll help you with your books, Mattie."
    "I can climb without help, Mr. Fuller!"
    He ushered her out of the cabin, closing the door firmly behind them.
    "I too have to get to my work, Miss Bur--"
    "This will not take long, Captain," Lydia interrupted, and to emphasize her point she took a stance in front of the door, blocking his passage. His lips quirked up at the corners, but he leaned against the table and threw his arms wide.
    "I am all yours."
    In his dreams. She sniffed at his insouciant manner, but his pose brought his well- muscled arms to her attention, which was, of course, his goal. Today he was wearing one of his knit shirts, similar to that worn by the sailors aboard the Prodigal Son . The difference was his shirt was of a much finer weave and shaped itself to his muscled shoulders and arms. His forearms were left bare, browned from the sun and corded with strength. She remembered his backside as being a lighter shade, also muscled, sleek muscles that flexed with his movement, not like the muscles that bulged across his shoul--
    He snapped his fingers.
    "Miss Burke? I have a ship to command, if you recall."
    She shook herself and remembered why she was there. The anger helped her focus.
    "Captain St. Armand, someone came into our cabin and stole my caps!"
    "I'm shocked, Miss Burke, shocked, that anyone would steal something as hideous as your silly caps! I give my crew credit for having better taste than that."
    He had the audacity to smile like it was all a joke to him.
    "I have heard rumors that Sails likes to wear women's undergarments. Perhaps you should ask him if he took your caps?"
    She dismissed this nonsense with a sneer.
    "My hairpins are missing as well."
    "I find your new coiffure quite charming, Miss Burke. Very feminine and de jeune fille. I approve."
    "I do not want your approval," she said through her teeth. "I want my hairpins and caps returned to me!"
    "Ridiculous," he said, pushing himself off the table and coming closer. Lydia wasn't aware she'd moved until her back was against the door, and then she couldn't move any farther. He kept coming, until he could reach out and tug her braid forward, across her shoulder, his hand gliding down the length like it was a string of pearls.
    "So silken," he murmured. "And the color is glorious, a rich sienna that frames your face and makes your eyes glow. I cannot imagine why you would wear those caps, hiding this glory unless...are you in disguise, Miss Burke? Why would a governess hide from prying eyes? Did you steal the family silver? Murder a former employer?"
    "You are the only person who would say that like it's praiseworthy."
    "I confess, as interesting as I already find you, your being a murderess would make you even more fascinating to me on this tedious voyage."
    "May I remind you that I am responsible for teaching your daughter, Captain St. Armand?"
    "If what I'm conjecturing is correct, I hope you will teach her effective ways to hide the bodies of your victims," he finished with a boyish grin, stepping back, finally, and allowing her to pull air into cramped lungs.
    "No, I did not kill any--why am I defending myself to a scoundrel like you? I want my belongings returned to me! I want to know I can sleep unmolested at night aboard your vessel!"
    "Miss Burke, I can assure you none of the crew will molest you, asleep or awake."
    He said nothing about the captain and she was about to accuse him, but he was still talking, "As far as your ugly caps and pins are concerned, I will mention it to Mr. Fuller and if anything resembling them turns up, I will be certain you are told. Now, don't you have lessons with Mattie?"
    He reached around her and opened the door, helping her into the passageway before she could protest.
    * * * *
    Robert could almost see steam seeping under his door from where the little hedgehog bristled on the other side. She had