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

a temper, Lydia Burke did. Needling people into losing their tempers purely for the entertainment value of it had ever been one of Robert's besetting sins.
    He was still smiling as he opened his box and gazed upon his new collection of hairpins, secreted from her cabin in the dark. He'd indulged himself last night, admiring the sleeping woman's form. She'd kicked off the covers and her night rail was tangled up around her legs, not far enough to satisfy Robert, but far enough to assure him his suspicions were correct. She had neat ankles and shapely calves. His imagination was good enough for him to assume the rest of her form would be equally shapely. While he was a connoisseur of all things lovely, he found most women beautiful in their own way. A good eye, a winning smile, a long neck, all had something to commend them. Whether they were rounded and buxom or sleek and slender, all had attractions. Miss Burke--Lydia--had more than average looks if she'd let herself properly display it. Those snapping eyes like the green flash of a tropical sunset, the rich chestnut hair, the shapely parts, oh yes, the lady was hiding herself away.
    But hiding from what? Murder? Theft? Robert believed with the right provocation she would shoot him, and heaven knew he could be provoking, but she did not strike him as the sort to plot out a premeditated murder. She also did not seem a probable thief. So what--or who--was she hiding from? A former employer? A jealous husband?
    This last thought made him frown, but only for a moment. Disposing of people who were in his way was nothing new. If Miss Burke left a husband behind in England, she no doubt had good reasons. If he needed to be done away with so she could live her own life, then Robert was the man for the job. No false modesty, he was good at what he did and he considered how utterly appreciative a young widow might be for his assistance.
    He had substantial complications in his life these days, a situation which did not sit well with him. Robert knew himself well enough to understand avoiding complications kept him on an even keel. However, one of those complications was a delightful moppet who made his heart ache, and the other complication was a prickly lady who made his balls ache. Complications, yes, but there were rewards from having them in his life and he hoped to get quite well rewarded indeed if he took care of Miss Burke's own complications.
    As he prepared to join his crew up top, Robert paused to check himself in the mirror, smiling at what he saw. Truly, it was only a matter of time before the lady found herself with a whole new set of complications in the comfort of his berth.
    * * * *
    Mattie preened in her new jacket in the brisk sea air. It was styled as the men's jackets were, but hers was a deep rose that set off her curls charmingly and made her eyes look even bluer. The jacket was quilted and of a substantial weight, and Lydia shivered in her garments more suited to the occasional cool breeze of the tropics than for sea travel.
    "You need your own heavy weather gear, Miss Burke," Mattie said as her father stepped over to join them and admire Mattie's coat.
    "Quite correct, Mattie. Do not argue with me, Miss Burke. You would be no good to us if you came down with an ague from being inadequately clothed. If you're ill I would have to move you to my cabin and nurse you so Mattie would not be exposed to your contagion. Surely you do not wish that to happen?"
    "Surely not," Lydia said promptly. "Being in your cabin is a fate I do not wish to contemplate, Captain."
    She was such a fibber, but she'd gotten good at it over the years, though the captain just smiled at her firm response.
    "Then I will instruct Sails to make you a jacket. If you have a spencer you can spare, he can use that as the pattern."
    "Do you plan to dress me in pink satin as well?"
    He shuddered. "My dear Miss Burke, you would not be at your best in pink, satin or otherwise. No, you should be dressed in