Free Care and Feeding of Pirates by Jennifer Ashley

tiredly.
"I am no longer interested in my brother's opinions."
    The other two exchanged a glance. Diana was
madly in love James, and Alexandra had always had a soft spot for
him. Why, Honoria could not fathom. James could make her grind her
teeth to nubs. He was so arrogant . But ladies had always
been attracted to James, heaven help them.
    "I am happy you both are pleased for me,"
Honoria said, then she, who seldom cried, let herself find comfort
in tears.
    *** *** ***
    The home Christopher took her to was a
brigantine, a two-masted ship, moored in Greenwich. He'd christened
it the Starcross .
    The Starcross lay small under a
graying sky, her bare masts black, her rich wood sides low in the
river. The ship had been stripped and her hull refinished, the
quarterdeck removed to render the top deck one long surface.
    The captain's quarters had been rebuilt below
the deck and fitted with many-paned windows called lights. The
beams, walls, and ceiling had been painted white, giving the cabin
an airy look, but the quarters were cramped.
    Christopher's main cabin held a desk,
cabinets, and the log book. A small room opening to the port side
contained more cabinets and a bed large enough for two.
    Honoria studied the bed in some irritation.
Ship's carpenters built the bunk to fit the man, so the sleeper had
a better chance of staying abed in high seas. She glared at the
obvious double bed and then at Christopher.
    "You assumed I would come away with you."
    Christopher leaned against the doorframe.
He'd said little between Mayfair and Greenwich, sitting in the
shadows of the hired carriage, not offering conversation.
    "The carpenter finished it this morning,
before I came to fetch you."
    The bed was a mere box, bare of mattress and
coverlets. Honoria had brought a few quilts with her, courtesy of
Diana, but she saw that she'd have few comforts here.
    Christopher entered the tiny cabin. He slid
his arms around her waist from behind, resting his cheek on her
hair. "It's a fine ship. Good bones. Do you like it?"
    Honoria leaned back into him without meaning
to, liking the feeling of his arms around her. She knew enough of
ships to know this one was sleek, solid, and well built. "It's a
bit small," she said.
    "Small and fast. Built for speed."
Christopher reached above him and fondly touched a beam. "She'll
take us where we need to go."
    Honoria also knew that men could go on at
great length about their ships if not stopped. "Where are we going?
Charleston?"
    Christopher gave her an unreadable look. He
hadn't answered her about Charleston last night, and it seemed he
had no intention of doing so now.
    "We'll leave soon," he said, his breath
stirring the fine hairs at her hairline. "Take the time to get
settled. I have unfinished business in London."
    She looked at him in surprise. "If we are not
leaving immediately, you might have let me stay with Diana a little
longer."
    Christopher stepped away from her, and she
felt suddenly cold. "We must be ready to leave on an instant. You
won't have time for tearful farewells."
    He'd abandoned the gentleman's suit from the
night before and returned to his black broadcloth breeches, boots,
and a shirt. The shirt was open enough to reveal the end strokes of
the tattoo on his collarbone, a Chinese dragon with overlapping
scales.
    He had another tattoo on his hip, that of a
lion, a Chinese creature with claws held ready to attack. The last
time Honoria had seen it, she'd traced it with her tongue.
    Christopher caught her gaze on him and shot
her a sinful smile.
    She flushed and said swiftly, "I meant that I
was in such a hurry to leave Diana's I didn't have time to pack
enough. I will need bedding."
    His smile widened. "I know. I plan to bed you
every night."
    "You know what I mean. A featherbed and
pillows. And a chair."
    "I can bed you in a chair as well."
    "Christopher!"
    His eyes were sparkling, teasing, but behind
the teasing lay a watchfulness, anger at bay but still present.
    "I meant that I