Thank the gods for Aunt Tilda. When he’d needed to escape the Villiers name, it had made sense to borrow Blackwood from her. She had no children, and he owed her so much—it was the least he could do to continue the family line. It wasn’t as if Father deserved to have his name live on.

Blinking, Vice started and backed away as though she hadn’t realised she’d finished disguising him and had just been staring. “So talkative today. I believe this is the most words I’ve heard you string together at once.”

He lifted one shoulder. “Well, we’re serving on the same ship, now. It wouldn’t do to be rude, especially to the woman whose cabin I’ve commandeered.”

“Aye, best not to piss off a notorious pirate.” She gestured to the street with a quick, stiff smile. “Shall we?”

On First Name Terms

When they emerged into the sun, no unwelcome attention lingered on them. As they continued up the road, he eyed her sidelong. Somehow, he’d managed to get her to speak to him civilly. Perhaps if he gave more, she’d share more.

“Of course,” he said, scanning ahead, “selling off everything we had of worth, together with the scandal, destroyed my marriage prospects.”

“I’m sure there are plenty of young ladies out there just waiting for their heads to be turned by a dashing young captain in uniform.” She flashed him a grin and winked.

He scoffed at that reference to their first meeting. “Or rich young widows.”

Her grin faded, and her eyes snapped away.

Damn it, he hadn’t even asked a probing question, and he’d managed to make her shut down. He cleared his throat. “Still, the Na—my work means I can look after my family. And I wish to provide my sister with a good dowry.”

“Such a dependable brother,” she said, brows together. But the look was more thoughtful or confused than angry. “It sounds like you’re working hard to turn your family’s fortunes around.”

“It’s steadily paying off.” His chest warmed with pride. He had worked bloody hard, but it was nice to hear it acknowledged, particularly by... Well, technically she was an enemy even if it didn’t feel like it right now. “I reimbursed my aunt two years ago, and I should be able to provide my sister with a good dowry by the end of the year.”

Her eyebrows rose, and she veered them into a left turn at the next intersection. “Pirate hunting pays well.”

Inwardly he winced. Yes, the thousand guineas on her head was a handsome sum.

“In which case,” she went on, “why are you helping us rather than turning us in? I heard my bounty had gone up—surely that would help your family a great deal.”

Because my ‘help’ is just a way of getting you back to Albion without you realising and escaping.