Free Christine Dorsey - [Sea 01] by Sea Fires Page B

back.”

    Miranda didn’t know how Phin managed it, but the next morning he returned saying he was to accompany her on deck for her morning outing. “Ye’ll be getting an evening stroll, too,” he confided.
    The sun was bright, the wind was warm and brisk singing through the sails, and Miranda was very happy to be on deck.
    If she didn’t know better—which of course she did—Miranda would have thought herself on an ordinary ship. The crew looked perhaps a little more savage than that on the vessel that brought her from England. But not by much.
    Miranda shaded her eyes and scanned the deck, stopping only when she realized she was searching for the tall, golden-haired captain. She dropped her hand quickly. What was wrong with her? If anything, she should be hoping she didn’t run into the arrogant man.
    She hadn’t laid eyes on him since yesterday morning, and her day had progressed quite nicely without him. She didn’t need or want another encounter.
    And she had no idea why she’d dreamed of him last night.
    “Is Phin telling it true?”
    Miranda swirled around at the sound of the deep voice behind her and came face to naked chest with a blackamoor. She tilted her head until she could see his face, then cringed back until the rail bit into her spine. He was huge—even larger than the pirate captain, though she would have thought that impossible. And his cheeks were tattooed with peculiar markings.
    He watched her as intently as she did him, but though he looked menacing, he made no move toward her.
    “Can’t ye see yer scaring her ladyship.” Phin gave the giant of a man a small shove. “This here is King. I done told him about seein’ them animals in the water.”
    Miranda stood as tall as she could and straightened her skirt. “You’re not frightening me, Mr. King, truly.” Miranda didn’t always tell the truth. “And, yes, Mr. Phin did see the animalcules in the water. Actually we came on deck to get some oceanwater so we can compare them.”
    By the time Miranda climbed down through the hatch, she’d promised to let not only King but several other pirates see the secrets unveiled by her microscope.
    “I never realized the crew would be so interested in science,” she observed as Phin escorted her along the companionway.
    “After I done tol’ ‘em what I seen, they was.”
    “Well, I think it’s wonder—” Miranda stopped suddenly when she noticed the cabin door was ajar. Pushing it open the rest of the way, she stepped inside, her hands clamped on her hips, her eyes filled with angry sparks when she saw her precious microscope being manhandled.
    “What do you think you’re doing?”
    Jack straightened and speared the irritating woman with his stormy gaze. “What am I doing? I should think the question is, what are you doing?”
    Miranda raised her chin. “I was under the impression my excursions on deck were approved by you. Irregardless, that gives you no right to—”
    “I don’t give a damn about your excursions on deck.” Actually he did. When Phin suggested them Jack thought they would be the perfect opportunity to come below to his cabin without running into his captive. “However, I do wish to know what you did with my charts.” Each word grew louder, so by the end of his sentence Jack was yelling. And he rarely yelled. He wasn’t known as Gentleman Jack Blackstone for nothing.
    “They were yours?”
    “Aye! They were mine. What did you think? And where the hell are they?”
    “Cap’n, there’s no call to—”
    Jack’s stare shifted to Phin, whom he hadn’t even noticed till now “Don’t you have duties elsewhere, Mr. Sharpe?”
    “Aye, Cap’n, but—”
    “Phin!”
    Miranda watched as the pirate she almost looked upon as an ally retreated through the door, shutting it quietly behind him. When she turned back to the pirate captain he was regarding her intently.
    “Well?”
    “I put them in that sea chest.” Miranda indicated the trunk near the foot of