Treasure aside, Drake was certainly an exciting figure. Perhaps Vee’s interest in him pre-dated her time on The Morrigan with FitzRoy. Maybe it was a glimpse of the young woman she’d been before …

“‘It isn’t that life ashore is distasteful to me,’” Waters intoned, chin lifted as if he were an actor on the stage, “‘but life at sea is better.’”

Knigh blinked. “Pardon?”

“Drake’s own words, I believe, quoted to me by an eighteen-year-old Vice.” He chuckled, eyes warm. “So, you see, she’s always been fascinated by the fellow.”

Shaking his head, Knigh flipped the book shut. “Enough of your sales pitch, Waters. I can see why Vee curses you for the amount of money she spends here. How much for the book?”

Maybe it would cheer Vee up.

This thing between them, yes it was only temporary, but they could still enjoy it while it was there. He would undoubtedly treasure it, just as he’d treasure the memory of the coral reef and swimming so close to that whale shark.

Knowing she had this and the earring, just small gifts from him, might make it feel like there was still some connection threaded between them like a course plotted on a chart. No matter how many miles of ocean separated them.

Long Live the Queen

Vice folded her arms, staring at the rocking ceiling above her head. Perry was ashore, so she had the room to herself for a while. And it was much-needed after what Fitz had just told her.

After she’d left Knigh, she’d finished her errands and come back to find Fitz alone. When she’d first entered his cabin, he’d raised one eyebrow, an amused glint in his eye like he expected her to try to seduce him again.

When she’d asked him about the box from the wreck, his expression had closed, and he’d nodded. “I can’t tell you yet,” he’d said softly. “If Blackwood finds out what it is, it’ll belong to the Queen.” He’d raised his eyebrows meaningfully. “And you and I both know we’ve been looking for this since long before he arrived with Her Majesty’s letter of marque.”

Her stomach had dipped. A clue to Drake’s treasure. It had to be.

Even now, lying in her hammock, that was the only conclusion she could draw. At last, after all these years, they had a clue.

In FitzRoy’s cabin, her blood had bubbled with questions until he’d gone on. “Once we’ve docked in Albion and Blackwood’s off the ship, it’ll be safe to tell you, and we can go after the real prize. But until then, I can’t risk any word escaping. You understand, don’t you?”

She’d nodded, but only five words had really registered: once Blackwood’s off the ship. He was leaving when they returned to Albion.