“Tais-toi!” Dubois swung a slap through the bars, but she was faster, ducking away from his reach. “Your arrogant beau is not long for this world. And I’ll have the last laugh whilst I watch his woman being sold to a malicious master.”

Divana opened her mouth to issue a retort, but Finnes reached in with the speed of an asp and gripped her chin. Hard. He forced her head from side to side. “She’s marked. They won’t pay a premium for that.”

Vane tugged the bow from her hair, making it fall about her shoulders. “They will when they see her red tresses. How often do you find hair as lustrous as burnished copper. Just look at how it glistens in the sun.”

“Hmm.” Finnes released his grip. “The hair will help, but ’tis too short. I’ll give you sixty pounds.”

“Sixty?” Vane asked incredulously. “She’s worth twice that.”

“On the block, mayhap, but what about my profits? And I’m the one who has to feed the wench.”

Divana skittered against the wall, jamming her fists into her hips. “Stop talking as if I’m nay here.”

“Your life isn’t yours,” growled Dubois. “And ’twill never again be.”

Vane smirked and shoved Captain Finnes in the arm. “Come, let us discuss the terms over a tankard of ale.”

Shuddering, she watched them walk away. Dubois lasciviously flicked his tongue at her before he followed.

“It appears as if you’ll be leaving this fine establishment soon,” said Petey, laughing at himself. “At least ye’ll be off my ’ands. I only regret I won’t be there to watch when they sell ye into bondage. Ye won’t be so ’igh and mighty then, will ye?”

Divana spat on the ground—wishing she was unmannerly enough to spit in his face. She absolutely could not leave Jackson’s Hell with Captain Finnes. If she smacked Petey with a rock, she might escape her cage, but then where would she go?

“When is your next adventure?” she asked, trying to sound civil. The more she knew about Vane’s plans, the better.

“Why would ye care?”

“Why did ye become a pirate?” she countered.

“Ye ask too many questions.”

“Och, Vane and his pirates have stolen a king’s ransom. Why continue to plunder?”

Petey rubbed his loins. “Coin is made round to go around. The merchants earn it, we take it—spend it on women, gambling, and drink. Once it’s gone, ’tis time to find another victim.”

Ye wretched, lawless scoundrel.

“Is that what happened with the plunder from Captain Cameron’s ship?” she asked.

The blackguard smacked the cage door, making it rattle. He drew a dagger and clanged it between the bars. “Shut your bloody gob, or I’ll cut out your flappin’ tongue.”

Divana turned her back, the walls closing in around her. This was the end. If she didn’t do something, she’d never see Kennan again. Such a notion was unthinkable. Captain Finnes would be sailing on the morrow or the day after. She had no more time. Making her decision, she tapped the rock with her toe. Come dark, she’d make her escape—and then she’d improvise. Now all she must do was bide her time.