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The three ships had managed to outrun the worst of the wind and violent seas and found refuge in the sheltered bay of a small island.

It was sheer bad luck that Fonteyne had been blown in the same direction.

When the lookouts who had been posted high on the rocky peak reported seeing another ship less than a mile offshore, Rose’s stomach had plunged down into her toes.

The Black Wind was superior in firepower, manpower, and would likely have sent the Cygnet to the bottom of the sea had they met on open water.

Further, if the fog cleared and the wind returned in his favor, Fonteyne would have seen them emerging from behind the island and he could easily have opened fire and reversed their fates.

But the storm, the windless calm, the murk of the shifting fog bank, combined with her own sheer audacity had been bolstered by Stubb’s knowledge—given grudgingly— of the currents where they broke around the crescent-shaped island.

Rose had seen a bold opportunity and she had taken it. Now she not only had the finest, deadliest ship in the Caribbean under her command, she also had its most fearsome captain as her captive on board.

The memory she had carried in her mind for so many years was of a darkly sensuous lover full of passion, lust, and reckless bravado.

The moment she had seen him stride into the ballroom at the governor’s mansion, she had known exactly where and how she wanted the night to end.

She may have been a virgin, but she was no ignorant miss who had no knowledge of what a man and woman did in bed.

Nor did she want her first experience to be with any of the pale and powdered prospects her mother continually paraded before her.

Once again, she had seen the opportunity to take what she wanted and she had damn well taken it. To that end, the night of her dénouement had been a success. But the long nights that followed came with a thousand regrets.

During the intervening years, she had deliberately sought to burn Sebastien Fonteyne out of her mind, but when the candlelight was dim and her body was straining against a lover in search of relief, it was always Fonteyne’s face she saw before her, Fonteyne’s hands she ached to have stroking down her flesh, Fonteyne’s big body she imagined lashed tightly to hers.

Utter foolishness.

She could see that now.

He was just an ordinary man made of flesh and blood. He could be cut and he could bleed like any other mortal being. The anger and resentment she saw in his eyes was barely a tenth of what she felt for the years she had wasted thinking him an untouchable warrior-hunter.

She had not only touched him, she had taken his ship, his prized possession without having to fire a shot.

She just wasn’t entirely certain what to do with it now. They were at enough risk sailing through the islands with the Pride in tow. That risk was doubled having two impressive prizes, both easily recognizable, in her little fleet.

She felt a presence beside her and looked down.

Stubb had dragged a cask over to the rail and was climbing up to see why she was peering so intently over the side.

The fog had almost all blown away leaving a slightly blurred sea and varying shades of-blue sky above.

The island that had given them temporary refuge was visible off the port side.

The Cygnet had cut loose the grappling lines and was a half-pistol-shot distance off the Black Wind’s beam, her gun ports still open, her crew alert for any signs of treachery.

Twenty of the Cygnet’s men remained on board the Black Wind , having changed positions with twenty of Fonteyne’s crew who were now on board the Cygnet .

“I put a brace o’ men in the tops with glasses in case there be other vultures nearby.”

“There are no other vultures. He came alone.”

“Alone?” His brows shot upward. “Now there be a puff-chested cock in full blood.”

“Probably a good thing,” she murmured. “Because that was luck. Pure, sheer, bloody luck. My hands are still shaking.”

“Aye, since we be confessin’ then, my breeks ‘ave a few fresh stains as well. One o’ these days, mind, ye’ll come up with some bare-assed scheme that’ll end with the lot o’ us sinkin’ down into Neptune’s graveyard.

For now though, after that wee trick, the crew be so chuffed wi’ themselves, they’d take on a squadron o’ Spaniards single-handed if ye ask’t them to. ”

“You have had your fair share of bare-assed ideas,” she said. “For most of them, I just hold my breath and pray.”

Stubb chuckled. “Faugh! Only means we deserve each other’s company.”

Rose smiled, for she could see the little man swelling his chest with pride.

Many had scoffed at the notion of her having any success standing at the helm of a ship crewed by misfits and scoundrels, but she had happily taken up the challenge to prove the naysayers wrong.

Leading the pack of cynics was her own brother, Ramsey, who, she suspected, was more driven by jealousy than disdain.

It would have given her a great deal of satisfaction to sail into Tobago with Lafitte’s Pride and Fonteyne’s Black Wind sailing under her pennon.

It would almost be worth the risk just to see the look on her dear brother’s face.

Unfortunately, once the shock passed, Ram would likely confiscate all three ships and toss the crews in the brig.

Four ships, however, were decidedly one too many. Her men were spread thin and even with half the Hyperion’s crew added to their roster, they were heavily outnumbered should Fonteyne decide to take his ship back.

“It will be a shame to have to sink the Hyperion ,” she said.

“Worthless crate o’ timber be leakin’ like a sieve,” Stubb declared. “N’owt worth a snork o’ spit-foam in a bucket o’ seawater.”

Rose agreed. “We will waste no more effort trying to keep her afloat.”

“I’ll make sure the lads strip every cable an’ cleat what might be useful.”

Rose nodded absently then frowned. “Where the devil is Billy? I haven’t seen her since we came on board.”

Stubb chuckled. “She very near creamed herself when she seen the Black Wind’s guns. I expect she’s got herself rubbed all over one o’ them big culverins by now.”

Rose laughed. “Go and fetch her for me. She wanted to test the guns on the Pride , this is her chance to do so. She can use them on the Hyperion . The sooner we dispose of the wreck, the sooner we can leave this place. Despite what might be in Fonteyne’s log books, I find it hard to believe Lafitte would only send one ship into the hunt.

There could be more, perhaps without Fonteyne even being aware of it.

What did you find in the way of damages?

“I sent a man down to look at the rudder. There be a tangle o’ lines twisted ‘round it from the storm, but it be clear an’ fine now.

” He paused and looked up at the Black Wind’s cracked mainmast. “We can brace that with tar an’ cables fer the time bein’ an’ hope we don’t run into any more foul weather, but we’ll ‘ave to pull up somewheres to fix it proper.”

Rose clapped the little man on the shoulder. “I trust you can find us another hidey-hole somewhere? In the meantime get the carpenters working on any damage we did to the deck and rails.”

“Aye, Capt’n. What about the rest of our guests? There be a mort o’ them crowded into the bilges.”

“Put them to work on the repairs. The captain has given me his bond they will make no trouble.”

Stubb’s eyebrows shot upward. “An’ ye believe him?”

“Not for one half of one half second. Put men in the yards with muskets and give them orders to shoot anyone who lifts a finger the wrong way.”