“Lucky for me, it isn’t up to you.” Eyebrows flashing up, she gave Perry a broad grin and scratched Barnacle behind the ear. The cat purred her approval. “And I have ways to make the Captain agree.”

“It’s not fair of you to use your fae charm on him, and you know it.”

“It’s not like I can turn it off and on—it just is.” She waved her hand vaguely. Perry worried too much about everything. “It’ll be fine. It benefits him, anyway. Hells, it benefits everyone, including you.”

Lips pursed, Perry folded her arms—the picture of unconvinced. “And how do you figure that out? What exactly is it you want to persuade him of?”

“If we take the Venatrix, he gets me out from underfoot—no more overshadowing him in the stories, no more songs about the ‘Pirate Queen’, I get a ship of my own, and—”

Perry burst into an incredulous scoff. “You want to take the Venatrix, a pirate hunter? Are you—gods, you’re not even joking, are you?”

“What? Why not?”

“Pirate hunter. The clue’s in the name.”

“Ha! He’s nothing to worry about—didn’t you just hear me say how easily fooled he was?”

Inhaling slowly, Perry closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “He won’t be a second time—he must have done something impressive to make captain at such a young age. And to be stationed out here, not even under an admiral’s fleet. He can’t be an idiot. And besides, he’s seen you now—you won’t be able to get close to him like that again.”

“Then I’ll just come up with a plan that doesn’t require it.” Vice shrugged and shed the chemise, the last of Miss deLacy’s layers. Sighing, she pulled on fitted breeches and a shirt with billowing sleeves. Thank the gods for that—normal clothes.

And Perry had fallen silent—double thanks. Maybe she’d realised her worry was unwarranted.

When she turned, Perry stood by the door, hands on hips.

Vice winced. Maybe not. Definite lecture incoming in three, two—

“You’re seriously willing to wager other people’s lives on this?” Perry’s voice was low. “This pirate hunter has come halfway across the world after you. I asked around the docks—he has a reputation. Well-paid, they say—do you know what kind of pirate hunter is well paid?” She raised her eyebrows, chin jutting.

Whatever Vice said, Perry was about to tell her. She lifted one shoulder—let her have her fun explaining. Who was she to come between Perry and a good lecture?