Kennan threw back his head and laughed from his belly. “God, woman, I love you!”

Chapter Thirty-One

In Vane’s cabin on the Silver Mermaid, Divana spread the charts across the writing table. “This is the map of Jackson’s Hell and the Strand of Pearls. See?” She pointed. “He named the two isles at the bottom Hell and Pur-ga-tor-y.”

“Have a look at that.” Kennan leaned over her, the comfort of his body soothing against her back. “I cannot believe how well you’ve taken to your lessons.” He caressed her neck with a feathery kiss, then gaped at the chart. “Good heavens, the others are named Hades, Satan, Lucifer, and Beelzebub. The varlet must have a preoccupation with the devil.”

“He is a devil.” Sighing, she leaned against him and unrolled the next chart. “This is the one with the treasure.” They’d already found the barrels of tobacco and rum in the hold of the Silver Mermaid, but Divana had kept mum about the rest until she and Kennan were behind closed doors.

“He’s been hoarding his riches. He gives his men and those who support him in Jackson’s Hell only enough to keep them happy—but never enough to make them rich. And he has jewels and coin hidden all along the Strand of Pearls.”

More of Kennan’s kisses caressed her neck. “And I’ll reckon you can tell us where to find it.”

She beamed, pulling a slip of parchment from beneath her bodice. “I copied his chart, but now we’re aboard Vane’s ship, I don’t reckon we need me scratchings.” She moved to the chest filled with treasure. “And have a wee peek in here.”

“My God, gold ingots, doubloons, reales.” Kennan scooped a handful of plunder. “There’s enough here for him to start his own country.”

Divana took a coin and let it drop, clinking atop the others. “If he hadn’t made enemies of all the nations in Christendom.”

“This is stupendous. Every single man in the crew will be wealthy beyond their wildest imaginings.”

Divana’s shoulders tensed. She’d been captured and nearly sold into slavery…and before that she’d suffered on Hyskeir. Bless it, ’twas time to stand up for herself. Besides, everyone knew her secret now. Moreover, Ethan had been assigned to the Silver Mermaid, and if that man caught wind of the size of Vane’s plunder, he might attempt mutiny and keep it all for himself.

“There’s something of grave import I must tell ye straightaway.” She twirled out from Kennan’s embrace and faced him. “One of the men threatened me when we were sailing from Scotland.”

“One of my men?”

“Aye, hired by Lachie Mor in Glasgow.”

Kennan’s jaw took on a hard line. “Which one?”

“Ethan. He said he kent me secret and he’d tell all the crew if I did not give him me share of the plunder.”

Rage flashed through the braw Highlander’s eyes. “He threatened this and yet you said nothing to me?”

“If I had, he would have told everyone I was really a lass—a-and when I asked him what he’d do if there was no prize, he said he’d incite a mutiny.”