baking.”
Aimee did as she was told and started to add the water, but her dress was made for
a shorter woman, making it difficult for her to maneuver her arms.
JP chuckled. “So Collins gave you Rosita’s zings, did ’e, eh? If ’e ever tells you
zat you are a burden, just mention ’er name. I promise you zat ’e will immediately
be quiet.”
“But why? What happened to Rosita? And why did she leave her clothes aboard the Sea Emerald ?”
“Ah, now, mademoiselle, I will not explain to you ze complexities of a man’s world.
Just know I ’ave given you ze keys to dealing wiz Collins.”
“You are an evil man, Mr. Jean-Pierre,” Aimee replied, smiling. “And I am glad that
you are my friend.”
JP froze for a second and then turned to look at her, twitching his mustache. Friend? How could she think that? They most certainly were not friends, and he did not want
a single seaman on this ship to think otherwise. Not only was she a woman, but an
English woman who, like all women, loved to talk. It was for his benefit—not hers—that
he had not thrown her out. He was about to explain all this to her when Collins opened
the door.
“My lady, I need you to come with me. You can spend more time with your new friend here tomorrow, if you are up to it.”
Realizing that Collins must have overheard Aimee and thought to tease him about it,
JP was about to remind the chief mate how unwise it would be to tangle with him. But
before he could do so, Aimee had leaned over the small cooking table and kissed his
unshaven cheek. “ Au revoir , Mr. Jean-Pierre.”
If Collins had a death wish, he would have busted out laughing upon seeing the shock
on the old cook’s face. He had already pressed his luck by teasing him about his and
Aimee’s “friendship,” but he had not been able to help himself. She and JP had been
gabbing like magpies and everyone knew that JP demanded absolute silence when he cooked.
Collins had to hold on to the doorframe to keep himself from falling when he realized
the buzzard was allowing her to actually help cook! As if a noble lady knew anything
about the kitchen besides eating what was prepared there.
Collins maneuvered down one narrow corridor and into another, marching back as quickly
as he could to his cabin. Once they were inside and the door was closed, Aimee asked,
“Mr. Collins, whatever is the matter with you? You seemed much calmer before. I know
it was a little exciting earlier this morning with Mr. Hamilton knocking on the door,
but—”
“Exciting, my lady? Did you say exciting ? No, that was nothing compared to later, when the captain accused me again of bringing
someone on board because he could smell her— your —scent!”
Tilting her head back, Aimee peered at his face. “But, Mr. Collins, you spoke truthfully.
You did not bring anyone on board.”
Collins ran his hands roughly over his face. “My lady, I think by the time this is
over, I will be ready for sainthood. Half of the men are besotted with you. Bloody
hell, you even converted JP! He hates everyone!”
“Mr. Collins, you do exaggerate.”
“Do I? Because I don’t think I do.”
Aimee exhaled. The man was obviously frustrated and needed to unload his burdens,
so she moved to sit down and quietly pay attention to his ranting.
“I bet even Kyrk,” Collins snapped, throwing his hands up into the air, “who truly
despises women being on ships, would take a liking to you given enough time. Maybe
I should sprout a few blond curls so that I could bend the crew’s will to my every
whim.”
“Now, Mr. Collins, you know that I am not trying to bend anyone’s will, and if I am
being such a bother, then perhaps it would be best to take me to Mr. Hamilton right
now.”
“Oh no!” Collins said, waggling a finger. “It was you who asked to see him after you are healed, and that is what’s going to happen. But starting now, I’m
Aimee did as she was told and started to add the water, but her dress was made for
a shorter woman, making it difficult for her to maneuver her arms.
JP chuckled. “So Collins gave you Rosita’s zings, did ’e, eh? If ’e ever tells you
zat you are a burden, just mention ’er name. I promise you zat ’e will immediately
be quiet.”
“But why? What happened to Rosita? And why did she leave her clothes aboard the Sea Emerald ?”
“Ah, now, mademoiselle, I will not explain to you ze complexities of a man’s world.
Just know I ’ave given you ze keys to dealing wiz Collins.”
“You are an evil man, Mr. Jean-Pierre,” Aimee replied, smiling. “And I am glad that
you are my friend.”
JP froze for a second and then turned to look at her, twitching his mustache. Friend? How could she think that? They most certainly were not friends, and he did not want
a single seaman on this ship to think otherwise. Not only was she a woman, but an
English woman who, like all women, loved to talk. It was for his benefit—not hers—that
he had not thrown her out. He was about to explain all this to her when Collins opened
the door.
“My lady, I need you to come with me. You can spend more time with your new friend here tomorrow, if you are up to it.”
Realizing that Collins must have overheard Aimee and thought to tease him about it,
JP was about to remind the chief mate how unwise it would be to tangle with him. But
before he could do so, Aimee had leaned over the small cooking table and kissed his
unshaven cheek. “ Au revoir , Mr. Jean-Pierre.”
If Collins had a death wish, he would have busted out laughing upon seeing the shock
on the old cook’s face. He had already pressed his luck by teasing him about his and
Aimee’s “friendship,” but he had not been able to help himself. She and JP had been
gabbing like magpies and everyone knew that JP demanded absolute silence when he cooked.
Collins had to hold on to the doorframe to keep himself from falling when he realized
the buzzard was allowing her to actually help cook! As if a noble lady knew anything
about the kitchen besides eating what was prepared there.
Collins maneuvered down one narrow corridor and into another, marching back as quickly
as he could to his cabin. Once they were inside and the door was closed, Aimee asked,
“Mr. Collins, whatever is the matter with you? You seemed much calmer before. I know
it was a little exciting earlier this morning with Mr. Hamilton knocking on the door,
but—”
“Exciting, my lady? Did you say exciting ? No, that was nothing compared to later, when the captain accused me again of bringing
someone on board because he could smell her— your —scent!”
Tilting her head back, Aimee peered at his face. “But, Mr. Collins, you spoke truthfully.
You did not bring anyone on board.”
Collins ran his hands roughly over his face. “My lady, I think by the time this is
over, I will be ready for sainthood. Half of the men are besotted with you. Bloody
hell, you even converted JP! He hates everyone!”
“Mr. Collins, you do exaggerate.”
“Do I? Because I don’t think I do.”
Aimee exhaled. The man was obviously frustrated and needed to unload his burdens,
so she moved to sit down and quietly pay attention to his ranting.
“I bet even Kyrk,” Collins snapped, throwing his hands up into the air, “who truly
despises women being on ships, would take a liking to you given enough time. Maybe
I should sprout a few blond curls so that I could bend the crew’s will to my every
whim.”
“Now, Mr. Collins, you know that I am not trying to bend anyone’s will, and if I am
being such a bother, then perhaps it would be best to take me to Mr. Hamilton right
now.”
“Oh no!” Collins said, waggling a finger. “It was you who asked to see him after you are healed, and that is what’s going to happen. But starting now, I’m
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