He hadn’t thought of them. For the most part, he trusted his crew, but he’d taken on half a dozen new men after a bout of malaria had culled his ranks. Two of them had taken bribes from her over honest work, which didn’t say much for them. And the others were unknowns.

Rhystan knew he had a ruthless reputation, but even he couldn’t have eyes on a lady and her maid every minute of every day. Two females onboard for several weeks could prove disastrous.

He speared Gideon with a grin. “Since you pointed that out, you’re on guard duty.”

The look on the man’s face was almost comical, his large jaw gaping and big fingers clenching on the railing. Rhystan was sure they would leave splintered dents.

“I’m your quartermaster,” Gideon said. “Not a wet nurse.”

“You hired those greedy bastards, so you’re equally at fault.”

“Fuck you, Hunt.”

Gideon stormed off, and Rhystan fought his laughter. “Get in line, my friend.”

* * *

A handful of weeks later, well into the voyage, a tight-faced, patience-stretched-to-the-limit Rhystan wasn’t laughing. He was almost ready to throw his replacement cabin “boy” over the side. In the first week, they’d managed to outstrip the storm by a hair when it veered out to sea, east of the Indian Ocean. And after two more weeks of rain and rough seas, it’d been smooth sailing.

Smooth on the seas, though not on the ship itself.

The storm brewing within its casing was one of gargantuan proportions, promising casualties never hitherto recorded. One black-haired, bright-eyed victim in particular. Rhystan let out an aggravated growl as he climbed down from the crow’s nest after checking the rigging and headed toward his cabin.

Lady Sara Lockhart, also known as the bedeviled royal thorn in his side, would be the death of him. Locking her in her cabin would be far too easy. Giving up and assigning her elsewhere would make him an object of ridicule. The men had started making wagers on when he would concede and admit defeat.

The answer was never. Gideon already couldn’t stanch his snickers about the ruthless captain being tested and bested by a kitten. Little did his faithless quartermaster know that this kitten possessed the heart and claws of a tiger.

As vexed as he was with his additional duties, Gideon had kept an eye on the two women. He’d started escorting the lady and her maid up to the deck for twice-daily walks, which they loved, and the men had gathered from the quartermaster’s hostile scowl that the ladies were not to be harassed.