Chapter 16

" A RE YOU GOING TO tell anyone about this last mission?" Sprat looked out over the water at the shore growing larger.

"I hadn't planned on it, but I don't think there's much use in hiding it now. Once we pick her up, everyone will know. That, or rumors will spread. Might as well spread the truth." Raking a hand through his hair, Jude tried to shake off memories of last night and focus on the conversation at hand. But all he could think about was Agatha. The many sides he had seen of her; that being every physical side as well as her emotional side. Of course, just the mention of her body sent a jolt to his cock.

They hadn't done anything sexual last night, but holding her through the storm had felt more intimate than anything he experienced in his life so far, and to say it rattled him would be putting it mildly.

Physically, and emotionally now, she had exposed herself to him. Back at the ball, she had the ability to seamlessly fit into the aristocratic crowd. That wasn't shocking in the least. She was born into it. What was surprising was how well she navigated his ship and his crew. For ages, the men had been loyal to him. But seeing them fawn over her now and ensure her comfort as she sat watching the water, he wasn't convinced that they wouldn't turn on him in her favor.

When had that happened?

"I'm still waiting," Sprat pointed out. "In case you'd forgotten."

"Was hoping you might forget."

"You're not that lucky." Sprat chortled.

"We're picking up a princess."

Sprat choked on something in the air. "What? A princess?"

Jude patted the ship's wheel hard. "That's what I said."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Are you questioning my judgment?" Jude tapped his foot on the damp wooden planks. "You've never done that before."

Folding his arms across his chest, Sprat said, "Never had a reason to."

"What's your reason now?"

Sprat jabbed his thumb toward Agatha.

"Pfft. She had nothing to do with this." Sprat shrugged as Jude plowed on. "The mission was assigned before I even met her."

"Didn't know what I didn't know." Sprat let out a soft whistle. "I guess that settles it then."

"Good," he growled. "Now go make yourself useful and get out of my face."

"Sure thing, Captain."

What was in the air to make everyone around him question him or challenge him? This—Sprat finally believing him upon his word—that was the way it should be. Once Jude said something, it shouldn't be questioned. It was fact. His word was law. He was the damn captain. When was everyone going to just accept that again?

** *

"A princess?" Agatha's mouth hung loosely agape. "I'm about to meet royalty looking like this?"

She barely registered Jude's annoyance as he dragged a hand down his face. "Do I need to repeat myself to you as well?"

Unnerved, she shook her head. "I should have gone ashore and purchased a new frock, at the very least." Her hands smoothed the sides of her head attempting to tame her hair that she assumed looked about as good as she remembered it. Which is to say, it was the very likeness of a rat's nest.

"You look…fine," Jude grumbled.

He couldn't even bring himself to lie to her. But should she have expected anything more? Sure, last night he had comforted her and that had felt like a whole new kind of home. But she couldn't let herself make more out of that than it was. She was scared. He was reassuring. It was nothing more.

Yet…two shivers chased up her spine as she relished the memory of his large arms around her. His hand rubbing slow circles on her lower back. His warm whispers in her hair.

At some point, the two of them had fallen asleep; she before him. She remembered that at least.

In the morning he had been gone when she awoke, and it was as if he had never been there. Except he had left his imprint in the wrong place. Instead of leaving his physical impression on his side of the bed, he had left a sinking depth in her heart.

But she couldn't be thinking about any of that because they were about to cart a princess back to London. Surely a beautiful, well put together, dainty, princess who would obviously capture his attention more than she ever could in her frumpy and bewildered state.

And yes…there she was. The princess. Coal black hair framing high cheekbones and lush red lips. Sweeping the ship with sultry eyes, Agatha was vastly aware that the two of them were opposites in every way.

And in every way that mattered, this princess was who she could see Jude falling for. Royalty. A woman of the world. Her eyes brimmed with experience. Her hips sashayed with knowledge.

"Princess Amalie, this is Lady Agatha." Jude introduced the two women.

Never before had her name sounded so atrocious. But next to an elegant name, like Amalie, and compared to an even classier human being, Agatha felt like…well, she felt like an egg. A boring white egg next to a dazzling peacock.

Comparison? What comparison? There was no comparison between the two. Amalie embodied everything Agatha only dreamed that she could be.

Agatha curtsied, thinking she may as well stay there and never get back up again.

"It's a pleasure to see another woman onboard. I thought I would be the only one." Aside from the entourage of lady's maids and servants, who looked more like they were there to stand sentry than push a tea tray. "I'm sure you can fill me in on all I need to know about everyone." She winked.

Damn it. She winked. Damn her to hell, of course she had to be nice, too. She couldn't be one of those princesses wiggling her fingers at her servants every few minutes to bring her tea, move her footstool, tuck a pillow behind her back. Even a princess with only air between her ears would have been better than this.

A beautiful, kind, experienced woman. A beautiful, kind, experienced woman who now had Jude's hand on her lower back guiding her to what would seemingly be her cabin. Why hadn't Agatha been offered that room ?

Agatha's jaw locked a smile in place as she gritted out, "Of course. I'd be only too happy to share."

"How long have you been on the ship?" Amalie asked, and Agatha wanted to lie. She wanted to lay claim to her space. She wanted to say that she had been on the ship forever and a day. Or perhaps something more believable like a few years. Or a few months. Anything longer than a day. Had it really only been a day? One day did not establish her at all. And if anything, she needed some foundation right now, in front of this princess.

"I boarded two nights ago."

The princess's eyes widened. "And has it been the adventure you were looking for?"

"How do you know I was looking for adventure?" Agatha couldn't stop the question from blurting out.

"I should think anyone boarding a ship assumes that there will be some adventures on their journey."

"I suppose so. Are you looking for an adventure?"

At that, the princess's eyes turned a touch wistful. "I am. But I'm not sure I'll find it."

"If you want it, you'll have to take it."

"That is probably true." Amalie looked out over the waters as if some answer to an unknown question rested on the waves.

Instead of replying with anything more on the subject of adventure, she turned back to Agatha and asked, "You can tell me all about the Captain, too, I assume?" She winked.

Ha! And just when she thought she was making a connection with the princess. It would be a snow crested day in hell before Agatha would share anything with Amalie about her man.

Yes. Her man. For now.