Lady Pirate by Lynsay Sands

of these here sworings, and we’ll never get you married now. I should have listened to Meg instead of forcing ye to come tonight.”
    Valoree’s ears perked up; she was hopeful that this might signal the end of this stupidity and that she might return to her old life, where she felt safer despite the inherent danger of being a pirate. Was Henry admitting defeat so soon? And not because of any fault of hers but because of the men’s own miscalculations? Oh, this was too perfect. Better than she had hoped for.
    Keeping her relief hidden, she nodded in agreement. “Aye. I doubt we garnered any friends here tonight. We are ruined, I believe is the term.” She gave a feigned sigh of disappointment, then headed for the door. “Well, we’d best clear out of here and head home to tell the men.”
    â€œYou don’t really want to walk back through there , do ye?” Henry asked with amazement, falling into step beside her. He eyed her face with a wince mingled with doubt.
    â€œThat bad, is it?” Valoree asked, pausing.
    â€œI could just nip around and see if there’s any way to escape without going through the house.”
    Valoree briefly considered his suggestion, then nodded.
    Henry was off at once, hurrying away, out and through the gardens to disappear into the trees. Valoree waited a moment, then caught herself picking off the chunks of dried glop that still clung to her face. Grimacing, she forced her hands away and walked to the edge of the balcony impatiently. It was then that she spotted the fountain. As she eyed it from where she stood, a plan formed in her head. She hurried down the steps and into the garden.
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    When he first stepped outside, Daniel thought he had been mistaken; the balcony was dark and empty, and there was no sign of Lady Ainsley. It was quiet and cool, though, a nice change from the inside of the Beecham ballroom. Deciding to enjoy the tranquility for a moment, he moved to the railing and set his drink down. His relaxation was broken a moment later as he glanced quickly up at the sounds of splashing water.
    Squinting, he peered out over the shadowed gardens, his gaze stopping upon a dark shape directly in front of what appeared to be a rather large fountain. The shape seemed to be the source of all the racket. After a hesitation, he moved to the steps and down into the garden, making his way silently until he stood directly behind the noisy shadow.
    It took his eyes a moment to sort out what he was seeing, and when he did, it was only because the dark shape suddenly shifted and rose up slightly, a head and shoulders appearing above the mass of dark blue skirts that had appeared black in the darkness. The sound of spluttering water continued.
    Why would any woman submerge her head in Beecham’s garden fountain? Unless she had a desperate need to clean some defective foundation from her face.
    â€œLady Ainsley?” he asked in disbelief.
    The shape whirled on its knees and turned to face him. It was indeed the lady. She peered up at him in dismay, then lurched to her feet, pushing wet hair back off her face and glancing about rather wildly—looking for an escape route, most likely. Shifting forward a bit, Daniel blocked any opportunity for escape, his eyes taking in everything about her.
    For a moment they were both silent; then Daniel cleared his throat. “I heard of your incident and thought to come out and check on you.”
    Her eyes widened. “My incident?”
    â€œThe trouble you had with…” He gestured vaguely toward her now clean-scrubbed face and thought she winced slightly, but he couldn’t be sure in the darkness.
    â€œOh, aye. Well…I seem to have…been sold some inadequate foundation,” she said at last.
    â€œAhhhh,” Daniel murmured, though he wasn’t sure what he meant even as he did so. “How distressing for you.”
    â€œAye,” she agreed. “Most