Purely from a naval standpoint, from the way she operated, privateering suited her. She preferred surrender over battle, targeted leaders when she had to kill, and rejected torture, unlike the most notorious pirates. She could be a great asset to the crown.

Although right now, eyes closed, no raised eyebrow, sharp grin, or flippant comment, chest rising and falling slowly, she looked soft, vulnerable, a beautiful woman rather than a naval asset.

He’d warned her not to trust him and she shouldn’t. Gods, he didn’t even trust himself, not after what he’d done to Billy, but here, in this tent, with just her … He wanted it. He wanted it so much, it ached in his chest. He didn’t just want her to trust him, he wanted to be worthy of her trust. He’d already disobeyed orders to keep her alive, and he’d do the same again.

He exhaled, shaky. What wouldn’t he do for—

A sharp rap on the front tent post made him flinch.

Vee tensed, frowning. “Mmm?” She rubbed her eyes and wriggled against him as if that would mean she wasn’t awake yet.

“Blackwood?” Bricus called from outside.

Knigh’s chest hammered. Wild Hunt and damnation, Bricus couldn’t find her here. He tugged the blankets up from where they’d pooled at their thighs, even if it only gave the illusion of protection. “What is it?”

“Captain wants to speak to you in his tent.”

Lords and Ladies, there was only one thing he’d want to talk about.

Vee’s arrest.

Buggeration. He needed a way out of that plot. It was one thing to hand her over when he thought she was a monster, but the person he’d met, the woman who’d found her way into his arms was no such thing. To trick her into returning to Albion, to serve her to the authorities on a platter would be nothing short of betrayal.

Nothing short of wrong.

Gods, what had he tangled himself up in?

His arm tightened around Vee’s waist and he ducked his face to her hair and its sweet smell of vanilla and fresh rain.

No, it was fine. He could fix this. He’d speak to FitzRoy now, play along, then he’d sit down and formulate a way out of this plan.

Once he put his report in, contradicting the patently false accusations about Vee and giving an accurate picture, the Admiralty would surely grant her a real letter of marque. She could become a legitimate privateer, and with her fame and gift, they might even fit her out a ship to captain, perhaps with Perry at her side. Her levelling influence just might keep Vee out of too much trouble.

“Blackwood? Have you gone back to sleep?”

Vee shook with a soft giggle.

He clapped a hand over her mouth. “I’ll be right there.”