The Gift by Julie Garwood Page B

abruptly.
    "What is this room called? Or does it have a specific name?" She made a sweep with her hand to indicate the area around her. "I thought it was just a hallway, yet now, with the light streaming down the steps, I can see it's much larger. It would make a wonderful salon," she added. "I hadn't noticed that folding screen when I first boarded, and I…"
    She quit her speech when Jimbo moved the screen off to the side and secured it in the buckles and straps against the wall next to the stairs. "This is the wardroom," Jimbo told her. "Or so it's called on all true frigates."
    The hallway was completely gone, and once the screen had been moved Sara could see the steps leading down to another level. "Where do those steps lead?"
    "The wine and water are stored on the level below us," Jimbo answered. "Lower still is the second hold, where we keep the ammunition."
    "Ammunition?" she asked. "Why would we need ammunition?"
    Jimbo smiled. "You didn't chance to notice the cannons, m'lady, when you boarded?"
    She shook her head. "I was a little upset at the time, sir, and I didn't pay much attention to details."
    A little upset was certainly the understatement of the year, Jimbo thought. The woman had been in a rage.
    "We have eight cannons in all," Jimbo announced. "That's way below the usual number for most ships, but our aim is always on target, and we don't need more. This ship is a scaled-down version of a frigate the captain took a liking to," he added. "The ammunition stores are kept below the water level in the event of an attack. They're safer from explosion that way."
    "But Mister Jimbo, we aren't at war now. Why would the captain have such weapons on board? What is the need?"
    Jimbo shrugged. Sara's eyes suddenly widened. "Pagan." She blurted out the name of the infamous pirate and then nodded. "Yes, of course. How cunning of our captain to be prepared for the villains who roam the seas. He thinks to defend us against all the pirates, doesn't he?"
    It was a mighty effort, but Jimbo was able to hide his smile. "You've heard of Pagan, have you?"
    She let him see her exasperation. "Everyone has heard of that villain."
    "Villain? Then you don't like Pagan?"
    She thought that had to be the oddest question ever put to her. The sparkle in his eyes puzzled her, too. He seemed to be vastly amused, and that didn't make any sense at all. They were talking about the horrid pirate, not sharing the latest jest making the rounds in London.
    "I most certainly don't like the man. He's a criminal, sir. Why, there's a bounty the size of England on his head. You're obviously given to a romantic nature if you believe all those silly stories about Pagan's goodness."
    The piercing sound of a whistle interrupted her lecture. "What is that noise?" she asked. "I heard it earlier when I was dressing."
    "That's the boatswain piping the change," he explained. "You'll be hearing the sound every four hours, night and day. It's the notice of the change of duty."
    "Mister Jimbo?" she asked when he started to turn away from her.
    "Lady Sara, you don't have to call me mister," he grumbled. "Jimbo will do fine."
    "Then you must quit calling me Lady Sara," she countered. "We are friends now, and you may simply call me Sara." She grabbed his arm. "May I ask you just one last question?"
    He glanced over his shoulder. "Yes?"
    "Last evening… or was it the night before? Well, I noticed that you seemed to be in my husband's employ. Is that correct?"
    "Yes."
    "Do you happen to know where Nathan is? I would like to have a word with him."
    "He's aft."
    She looked startled but was quick to recover. Then she shook her head at him. The censure in her expression gained his full attention. He turned completely around. "He's aft, I'm telling you."
    "Yes, he might very well be daft, Jimbo," she began. She paused to pick up her parasol and then walked around the big man. "But you're most disloyal when you voice that thought aloud. I'm Nathan's wife now, and I won't