Page 83 of An Imperfect Scoundrel

“Apparently, Mister Dubois is actuallyMissusDubois.”

Whatever secret he expected to hear, this was not it. Mr. Hayward choked, his head whipping toward Cedric. “Are you certain?”

“Quite certain. I investigated… several times.”

“You sent Dubois to the brig!” Mr. Hayward’s shocked reply drew the attention of the ladies nearest them.

“Wherehewill be protected from the crew’s anger until we can sort out who took those items,” Cedric murmured, elbowing Mr. Hayward in his ribs.

“You should have released Dubois with the hostages,” Mr. Hayward said after several minutes. “None of the crew would realize we had five women instead of four.”

Mr. Hayward was right, he should have, but the thought of letting her go, of never seeing Alana again, had caused him to act irrationally. He’d been selfish, placed her in unimaginable danger, and if he couldn’t prove she was innocent of the crime of theft, she was going to die.

He knew she hadn’t stolen anything, knew the moment she’d been accused, but Mr. Evans had tied his hands, forcing him to behave as the cruel pirate captain and not a man falling in love with a spitfire of a widow.

But how did those items get into her trunk? And if she was being falsely accused, who had put them there? For what purpose? Surely no other man aboard the ship wanted the position of cabin boy.

“I couldn’t,” he admitted when he realized Mr. Hayward was awaiting a reply. He knew the statement wasn’t any sort of explanation, but he couldn’t put into the words the strange emotions she’d awakened in his chest.

“When one discovers a wild animal, he does not remove that animal from its natural home and force it into a small cage, for it will certainly die.” Quoting Rowland, Mr. Hayward’s gaze floated over the hostages. “We always return the women.”

Cedric bristled, annoyed that Mr. Hayward had repeated the phrase in response to the quandary plaguing him.

“That’s your advice?” he grumbled, and leaned forward, placing his forearms on his legs as he rubbed his face.

“What else would you expect me to say?” Mr. Hayward twisted toward him. “I’m assuming your indecision comes from some kind of amorous attachment you think she returns.”

Cedric pursed his lips, irritation flooding his body, then nodded.

“You can’t know her true feelings until she’s no longer in a situation where she’s forced to be in your company, whether it be the brig or your cabin.”

If it had been any other man, Cedric would have punched him, but he trusted Mr. Hayward’s opinion. Nodding again, he expelled a heavy sigh.

“When we bring the next group of the hostages ashore, I’ll place Dubois in the boat and release her at the dock.”

“How do you intend to sneak her past the crew?”

“She dressed as a man to get aboard this ship, I’ll dress her as a woman to get her off it.” Cedric lifted his head, his eyes flicking to Northcott and Miller, and there was no indication they’d heard any portion of the conversation.

“We’ll need to include Mrs. Parker as well,” Mr. Hayward said, reluctance in his voice. “She shouldn’t be aboard the ship once we sail for Ceresus.”

“You seem disappointed. Have you grown accustomed to having your own cabin boy?”

“I never treated her as such!”

The burst of anger from Mr. Hayward frightened the two ladies on the nearest bench. Their faces paling, they jumped backward into the laps of the women behind them, their sudden movement violently rocking the boat.

“Sit down!” Cedric growled, his command scaring them back onto their bench.

“I have been nothing but respectable toward Mrs. Parker,” Mr. Hayward said once the boat was stabilized. “She’s a widow.”

“And you are otherwise engaged with Miss Appleton?” Cedric couldn’t resist the jab.

“We’re not engaged,” Mr. Hayward replied, his tone clipped.

“You could be.”

“As could you.”