Revenge of the Parson's Daughter or the Lass That Loved a Pirate by Jo Victor

Author:Jo Victor [Jo Victor]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
ISBN: 9781626390287
Amazon: B00EH3EEOY
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2013-08-11T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-nine

Stevie jerked her hand away as Isabella let loose a peal of scornful laughter. “‘Sweetheart’!” she crowed. “Oh, my dear, how gravely I have underestimated you. No man has trespassed on your virtue, indeed!”

She glanced pointedly at Stevie’s bosom, now restored to its previous state of barely adequate modesty, and then at Kate, who felt her face burn.

“My dear, are you sure you are not a secret Jesuit? Such accomplished casuistry, such delicate splitting of rhetorical hairs. No doubt this is the young sailor who protected you so well! I’m surprised you could bear to tear yourself away.”

She smirked at Stevie, who glowered, if possible, even more fiercely. Isabella assumed a softer expression and took a step toward Stevie, who responded by brandishing her cutlass. Isabella stopped but, to her credit, did not retreat. “Stevie,” she purred, favoring her with a speaking glance from her fine eyes, “I find myself with an…opening that I need to fill. In my bodyguard detail.”

The words oozed out, positively dripping with double entendres, and with each seductive syllable Stevie blushed harder.

“From what I have observed, you would be eminently qualified for the position. You will find that I can be a most generous mistress.”

Now it was Kate’s turn to glower. Stevie was saying nothing. Was she actually considering this insanity? Kate searched Stevie’s flaming face uncertainly, but the young pirate did not look at her, glaring instead at Isabella.

“Never you mind, Your Ladyship. I’ve given my oath somewhere else already. Cap’n would never forgive me for jumping ship. Some of us believe in staying true.” The last sentence she snarled in Kate’s direction, and Isabella laughed again.

“Kate, my dear, your would-be rescuer seems a trifle lacking in gallantry. Surely you would prefer to remain here to enjoy the comfort of my—”

Kate cut her off with an indignant gasp followed by incoherent spluttering as she tried, unsuccessfully, to give verbal expression to her dismay and incredulity at Isabella’s refusal to desist from her importunities.

Perhaps misunderstanding the source of her anger, Isabella looked momentarily chastened. “I admit that my approach was a trifle…impetuous. But can you blame me?”

Kate was completely confounded. She could only stare, openmouthed, as Isabella continued.

“Never before have I encountered a woman of such spirit, such passion, such—”

“Don’t mind me, then, Katy. You and Lady Fancypants here can live happy ever after an’ all. Reckon as how I ought to give your regards to Cap’n Sommers?”

Horrified, Kate realized that Stevie had mistaken her shock for acquiescence to Isabella’s proposal. “Stevie, please, please don’t listen to her. You have no idea. She put something in my tea and then they tied me up and, and—oh, Stevie, I thought I was never going to see you again. Don’t you know how much I care for you?”

“How positively touching,” growled Isabella.

“You, shut up!” Stevie punctuated the command with a jab of her cutlass in Isabella’s direction. Face and voice softening, she turned to Kate. “Oh, Katy lass, do you mean it? Really and truly?”

“Oh yes, yes I do.

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