The Merchant's Daughter: An enchanting historical mystery from the author of THE HOUSE OF LOST WIVES by Rebecca Hardy

Author:Rebecca Hardy [Hardy, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2023-10-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

THE CAPTAIN

My stomach plummeted as the words left his lips, and a dozen questions crowded my mind.

The captain. A woman. And not just any woman.

She uncrossed her legs and stood, walking towards us with feline grace. Although she did not work for the brothel, with her swaying hips and full lips she could certainly hide in plain sight here. Her scar did not detract from her beauty, but rather made it a more precious and unusual thing.

I took a shaky step backwards, surprised to find Kit behind me, blocking the exit. Not that I wanted to leave the presence of this terrifyingly beautiful woman, but I knew that if I did not sit soon, the ground would swallow me. What did one do in front of such a lady? Ask for permission, or wait for an invitation?

I truly did feel like a mouse in her presence.

‘Isn’t it extraordinary,’ she said, coming face to face with my husband, ‘that you sent Lei to watch over Talver and he walked right into my lodgings? Clark and Griegsson too?’

‘Most fortunate,’ Erasmus replied in the same relaxed manner. It was infuriating, considering that my own stomach had tangled itself into knots and my breathing was shallow. ‘Although your choice of lodgings is somewhat conducive to our efforts. Have you already questioned the girls about the meeting?’ he asked, oblivious to my discomfort.

The captain smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. ‘I thought I’d leave that to you. You are remarkably persuasive, after all.’

There was something deceitful in her words, but I was too distracted to discern the lie in what she was saying. I was not stupid enough to think that my husband had never been with a woman before. He was handsome, older than I, and a well-travelled seaman, but hearing about his ability to persuade women to talk to him felt all too personal.

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Mira. They’d much rather gossip to you or Lei than to someone they’ve never met,’ came his retort.

‘Well, be that as it may, I think we already know what they’re going to tell us, don’t we?’ she answered matter-of-factly.

‘Now is not the time for assumptions. We need actual evidence, papers, witness statements, something to take to the Saints that is actionable. Without that, we shall be chasing contracts in the hopes of catching these men unawares for evermore,’ Erasmus replied with a thump of his cane against the floor, the taint of frustration in his voice.

‘Anyone would think you’ve tired of the life, Bart,’ she said, her steely gaze settling on me. I blinked in confusion. Why did she call him that? I remained where I stood, straightening my back despite my desire to sit on the nearest pouffe and quail under her scrutiny.

‘It is not wrong to want to stop hiding,’ Erasmus said, pulling her focus back to him.

The captain took a step back so that she could encompass us both in her glare, the storm-cloud blue-grey of her eyes missing nothing. I threaded my fingers together before me and tried not to fidget.

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