Few plates were set on the table in front if the two, and two cups of water and a jug of juice, The dishes were simple ones, as ships dishes must, because spoilage of foods was commonplace at sea when food could not be replaced often .
Daniel held his breath , waiting to see the sort of abominable table manners the woman was sure to have, cultured manners or not. But again she surprised him .
Lynnette broke open a hard ships biscuit daintily , and dipped it in the soup to soften it. She did not cram it into her mouth all at once , as some other women have, She ate it slowly and did not lick her fingers afterward.
Daniel wished secretly that she had . He would have enjoyed the enjoyed the sight of her pink tongue bathing those slim fingers.
Daniel cautiously dipped his own . He discovered that the soup , which turned out to be a kind of seafood he usually ate , was not bad as he was dreading . Obviously , the cook knew his job very well , which was more than he could say for his own cook aboard the Empire.
Lynnette sliced neatly into her steak . without preamble, she said, " you will be taken to our island base nearby, I have a house on the isle where you will stay untill the ransom arrives. I will deliver the note when we put in at St . Eustatius to sell the goods.
That hurt . The pirates would sell his cargo on the very same island that had been Captain Bradley's original destination .
Now a bunch of murderous thieves would share the profits while Daniel rots on some island, waiting to be ransomed , He said nothing . There was nothing he could say without upsetting his precarious hold on safety by angering the pirate queen.
He promised himself , right then and there that , that he would have revenge . Daniel did not care at the moment that the cause of his anger was female , Captain Thorne had shown clearly that she didn't desire to be treated as a woman , and he resolved that he would not do so.
". I must warn you , he said pleasantly , " that I do not intend to do nothing but fold my hands while you proceed with this plan.
Lynnette laughed , took a sip of juice . " I expected nothing less",.
" I will escape "
" you can try ."
It was a challenge , " Your attempts will keep my men amused while we are ashore . They could use the distraction .
" Tell me , Captain, how did you ever get into the savage business? A woman like you". --- he gestured , indicating her obvious youth and beauty ---
"" A woman like you ought not to have need of such an undignified , not to mention dangerous , profession in order to earn her living . you could make more , I think you will make more as a Bed warmer he teased ..
His tone was light , friendly, purposely insulting . Daniel didn't ask out of curiosity , although his interest in Thorne's mystery was still high, but as a way of paying her back , He was rewarded by seeing an angry flush color the creamy skin of Lynnette's face and neck .
Her eyes glinted furiously , but spoke blandly, saying only, " you would be surprised at how much I make a year as a pirate ",
Food was forgotten as she leaned back in her chair, glaring with narrowed eyes across the table at Daniel.
Frustrated again , he could only marvel at the sight of this girl , who probably didn't seem like she has passed twenty years of age.
Who yet manged to best him at every turn . He thought he would upset her further by saying the last statement . And then , as Lynnette could no longer stop her anger , it seemed he had .
Unable to stop herself , she hissed , " Why is it that you men seemed to think a woman is better served to be a whore and live off the riches of men that to fend for herself ?"
" And as a pirate , do you not live of the riches of men ?"
he asked , " what else could you call it?"
" At least I've got to choose when and where to distribute my favours'! I take what I wish and never to be at mercy of any man"
The timbre of her voice was harsh , black , " And I am damn good at what I do . your presence here is proof of that.
" indeed " Daniel murmured . He wondered at her vehemence. In truth , he wondered at everything concerning this woman.
Deciding not to infuriate her any further , he said softly , " I am sorry if I've offended you by prying more than I should, it was not my intent ",. But it had been she apparently knew that.
"Was it not" she asked sarcastically . it was the second time Captain Bradley had apologized to her . which was unusual in a man, at least in the men of Lynnette's experience. To stop her rising curiosity about her prisoner , she drank down half of her juice in one swallow .
Daniel eyebrow rise then he followed suit , draining his mug to the dregs, Lynnette poured more for the both of them . Silence reigned between the two for two long minutes as the sipped slowly this time
Finally the pirate Captain spoke , and her voice was bemused, " peacock ," she said , " I'm not sure whether to like you or dislike you intensely ",
Daniel laughed aloud . He felt exactly the same way .