Free Silver Storm (The Raveneau Novels #1) by Cynthia Wright

few
hours."
    "Yes, sir. Good night, sir."
    "Report to me after we are at sea. I'm afraid
Minter won't have recovered by tomorrow."
    "Yes, sir." Devon was feeling more relaxed
since he had wrapped a towel around his waist. "Good night. And
thank you."
    "Don't thank me," he admonished, vigorously
rubbing a towel over his gleaming black hair. "Just prove to me
that you can work like any other man on board the Black
Eagle."
    Making her way back to the crew's quarters,
Devon became aware of the full extent of her exhaustion. Every
muscle ached, along with her head, eyes, and heart. She glanced
into the dark galley in passing and saw a shadowy body. Long arms,
groping hands, surrounded her, but she managed to let out a healthy
scream before a palm closed over her mouth and she was dragged into
the darkness. Devon had never felt so tired and weak; her struggles
were ridiculously ineffectual. The stranger pressed her into a
corner and began to pull wildly at her clothing. One knee jabbed
the intimate places that had already been abused once that day,
while fingers rubbed her breasts, now unbound. Devon heard her
shirt tear. She felt warm tears sliding down her cheeks onto the
hand that covered her mouth.
    "Mon Dieu! What is going on here?"
    There was light. Devon could see Captain
Raveneau through a mist of tears, then she saw her attacker. It was
the boy who had been standing watch and had helped her over the
rail. Stunned and frightened, he released Devon. Raveneau caught
her as she fell. The last thing Devon remembered was his arm under
her breasts and a startled, enraged shout.
    "It's a girl! Damnation! Who is responsible
for this?"
    * * *
    The cabin was spinning, then dipping gently,
and Devon opened her eyes. Cool linen caressed her cheek. She could
smell... what, whom? She smiled, closing her eyes again. Raveneau.
From far away voices came to her.
    "This time you've gone too far, Jackson.
You've cut your own throat. I don't know why I let you by with so
many breaches of conduct in the past, but never again. Yorktown
will be your last stop."
    "Captain Raveneau, you must try to
understand!" It was Caleb's voice, ingratiating yet edged with
panic. "The poor child. Her parents are both dead now, her home
destroyed. You wouldn't have wanted me to leave her there for the
redcoats?"
    "I wanted you on board today, where you were supposed to be!" Raveneau's voice was dangerously low.
"God's life, Jackson, I cannot run this ship like a mother hen! You
knew my rules when you signed on, yet you've flouted them time and
time again."
    "I promise, Captain—"
    "Spare me," Raveneau interrupted in a
venomous tone. "I hope you read the Articles of Agreement well
before signing on? They specifically state that any man behaving
indecently toward a woman shall lose his shares and receive
whatever punishment I see fit to administer. However, since you
placed the temptation before him, I shall let Greenbriar keep his
one meager share. He'll stand on deck with you tomorrow and take
five lashes, though."
    There was a long, tension-laden pause. Devon
struggled to clear her mind and make sense of this
conversation.
    "What of me, sir? How many lashes will I
receive?" Caleb was asking.
    "Five. You will lose your shares as well,
Jackson, and leave the ship when we reach Yorktown. If you cause
trouble in the meantime, I'll put you adrift at sea.
Understood?"
    "Yes, sir," Caleb said acidly.
    "That's all. Tell Mr. Lane I want to see
him."
    Devon listened to the receding footsteps and
tried to ascertain whether or not the Black Eagle was
underway yet. Was it morning? Were they at sea? Or had only a short
while passed? Did Raveneau intend to put her ashore? She kept her
eyes closed and listened. The cabin swayed to and fro, but Devon
was certain the privateer was not moving forward. She cautiously
opened one eye and peeked through a haze of lashes. The cabin was
dark, except for the lantern which hung over Raveneau's desk. So it
was still night He was sitting in