A Woman Made for Sin (8 page)

Aimee looked down to where his eyes were focused. “My wrists? Unfortunately, that
was of my own doing while trying unsuccessfully to wrestle myself to freedom. They
still look bad, but they do not hurt nearly like they did when it happened.”

Collins heard her voice make light of the injury but knew without a doubt that such
wounds were very painful. Unfortunately, he also knew they must be tended to. And
the moment he did, he knew the captain, who had temporarily retired to his cabin,
would investigate upon hearing her high-pitched yowls. But at least the captain would
finally know she was aboard. “My lady, if you would follow me. We need to see the
cook.”

Puzzled, Aimee followed Collins out into the narrow corridor. Something thumped behind
her and she watched how Collins extended an arm around her to hook the latch so that
the door did not bang as the ship rolled with the waves.

When they reached the deck, Aimee stopped. Without a word, she stood with her eyes
closed, enjoying the wind as it whipped at her face, hair, and gown. It felt wonderful.
“Mr. Collins, if you do not mind, can we stay here for just a moment longer? I would
so like a chance to view the ocean. While I have felt it beneath my feet, I have not
yet actually seen the Atlantic.”

Collins looked back in the direction of the captain’s cabin and then at the radiant
beauty beckoning him to allow her to enjoy his favorite love—the sea. Relenting, Collins
nodded. “But just for a minute. We really have to see JP.”

“JP?” Aimee repeated, smiling as she walked over to the deck’s rails and peered over.

“Jean-Pierre, but everyone calls him JP,” Collins said as he spied, from the corner
of his eye, Smiley and Red Legs Solomon stop what they were doing to ogle the captain’s
woman. Soon, more men joined them in an effort to catch a glimpse of “the One” as
she stood confidently with her face in the wind. Collins had already known that it
would be impossible to keep her presence hidden from the crew, and consequently had
done the exact opposite. He had spread the word that the captain’s woman was not only
on board but had been injured by one of the crew. Hearing the latter, it was not hard
to convince the crew to keep quiet about her presence until Collins found the right
time to inform the boss. But no one had agreed not to stare at the siren if given
a chance.

Grimacing, Collins gestured for her to follow him. “It’s time. We need to go now,
my lady.”

Aimee sighed. Once they were inside where the wind could not smother her words, she
asked, “It’s time for what?”

Collins did not answer but went down two narrow sets of stairs that led to a small
factory of delicious smells. Instantly, Aimee felt like eating again, and this time
a meal big enough to satisfy even someone of Mr. Collins’s size. “Please say it is
time for dinner. Mr. Jean-Pierre? Is that your name?” she asked the man with a twitching
mustache. He was shorter than she was by several inches, with thinning dark hair,
but unlike most men who could not see eye to eye with her, JP was not in the least
intimidated. “It smells absolutely wonderful. I can honestly say that I have never
inhaled better scents in my life than what you are creating in here.”

JP narrowed his gaze as the tall, trim blonde bent over to peek in his pots. Then,
without asking, she used a nearby ladle to sample the contents. Every man aboard the
Sea Emerald
knew to stay away from his kitchen. Step inside and you did not eat. It was a clear
and simple rule, and all followed it—including the captain. JP could be mean when
crossed, but as one of the most coveted cooks on the seas, he was allowed to be. It
had taken Captain Hamilton three years to convince him to move on board the
Sea Emerald
, and JP had only one firm stipulation—stay out of his kitchen.

Collins gave JP a grave look and then introduced them. “Uh, JP, this is . . .” He
was about to say “the One” again before changing his mind. He really did not want
to explain to the lady just what the term meant and how the captain felt about her.
That conversation was for her and the captain, and no one else. “. . . Lady, uh .
. .”

“Aimee,” she said between sips.

Collins swallowed. “Lady Aimee, this is . . . JP.”

Aimee turned, looking chagrined about her miniature eating foray, and greeted the
cook as if he were the most gifted genius in the world. It completely disarmed the
Frenchman. “Mr. Jean-Pierre, you are truly a master. I shamefully admit to sneaking
into many kitchens, but I have never been in one so cleverly organized. Despite the
confined space allotted to you, you have whipped up dishes that make the mouth water
in anticipation of the next bite.”

Aimee paused, taking in the cook’s twitching mustache. “Mr. Collins, I believe we
have interrupted this magician at a critical time and must allow him to continue his
work. If we do not, the carrots will be undercooked,” Aimee said, pointing to the
diced vegetables on a table against the wall. “And that would be a shame, for the
stew Mr. Jean-Pierre is preparing is one of the best I have ever tasted.” She hummed
for a second and pointed to the ladle in the soup. “Mr. Jean-Pierre, would you mind
terribly if I tried just one more sample?”

JP opened his mouth to say many things but nothing came out. Seeing that the cook
was visibly shaken, Collins grimaced. “We are not here for victuals, JP, and you have
my apologies about the interruption, but we have need of the whiskey.” Collins caught
the cook’s eye and with his chin directed JP’s gaze to her wrists. He knew exactly
when the Frenchman saw them.

JP gulped, for he knew what the chief mate intended to do. And it did have to be done.
“Should we get zee boss?” he whispered.

“That is a question I have been struggling with since I first learned of her and her
. . . condition.” Collins pressed his lips together. “Yes, we will get him, but let’s
wait until after we wrap her wrists, I think.”

Aimee held up her hand. “Just what do you believe will happen after I meet with Mr.
Hamilton?”

“
Captain
Hamilton will no doubt immediately turn us around and head back to London double
speed. And seeing the condition you’re in—pardon me, miss, but your wounds are quite
distressing to the eyes—he would most likely fire us all. And that’s if we’re lucky.”
Collins rubbed the back of his neck. “To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t blame him.
But these men are a good bunch and would follow the captain through just about anything.
Such trust between a crew and their boss is not quickly developed. It would cost him
a lot to fire us. And the men? Most would eventually find work, but nothing as good
as the
Sea Emerald
, and they know it.”

Aimee had surmised that Collins, even Gus and Petey, would get a lecture. She had
even felt guilt at the thought, for she suspected Reece’s lectures were something
along the line of her brother’s—and quite unpleasant. But after hearing Collins’s
prediction of what would happen, Aimee had no intention of seeing Reece until they
were much farther out to sea. She needed enough time to convince him that they belonged
together. That his being a second son and his love for the sea made no difference.
That she loved only him and he loved her as well. Being happy and in love, he would
then harbor no ill feelings toward his crew.

Until then she intended to stay aboard, which was not the horrible experience Society
people purported it to be. Strangely enough, she enjoyed being on a ship. The sounds
and the motion were both appealing and soothing, and she was not ready to give them
up.

Unfortunately, her new plan was doomed unless she convinced Collins that a delay in
disclosing her presence would benefit both him and the crew. She delicately shrugged
her shoulders and said, “Then why not wait to tell Mr. Hamilton?”

“
Wait?
” Collins barked. The stress of having her around without the captain knowing was
already intolerable. Collins doubted he could wait. Barely three days out, it already
felt like the longest voyage ever.

Before he unequivocally refused her suggestion, Aimee explained, “I am already here.
The anger Mr. Hamilton might feel at my being aboard will not change. However, if
we allow some time to pass for my wounds to heal, the severity of the repercussions
might be significantly less. In addition, Mr. Hamilton would have more time for his
anger to ease. I would hate to know that men lost their jobs because we were impatient.”

The only disadvantage to her proposal was the impact it would have on Millie and Jennelle.
Both were undoubtedly upset by her disappearance. But surely by now they had confirmed
she was on the
Sea Emerald
and therefore in safe hands. If Aimee could actually talk to them, she had little
doubt that they would be encouraging her to take the risk.

The real unknown was her brother. Charles was going to be furious with her; thus,
his anger was
another
reason to delay telling Reece. It would give her brother several more weeks to make
peace with the idea that his little sister ran away with his best friend.

She sighed and locked pleading green eyes onto Mr. Collins’s brown ones until he finally
muttered the words she wanted to hear. “We will wait.”

Aimee swallowed as she realized what Collins had prescribed for treating her injuries.
“You have to be seriously befuddled if you think I am going to allow you to pour that
nasty-smelling liquid onto my wrists, Mr. Jean-Pierre.”

Frowning, he looked at her. “My name is not
Mister
Jean-Pierre, it is
just
Jean-Pierre. And,
oui
, I must clean your wounds wiz zis nasty-smelling liquid, as you so politely put it.”

Aimee ignored his sarcasm and pulled her arms behind her back. “And just how much
do you know of wounds, Mr. Jean-Pierre? Do you claim to be a doctor as well as a cook?”

“I know all too much, me lady,” JP replied, his French accent thick. “I ’ave been
on ships all me life, and too often wounds such as yours are fine one day and foul
zee next. Even after we do cleanse your injuries, zey may still not heal right.”

Aimee gulped, remembering well the stories Jennelle told Millie and her about how
some physicians believed that spirits stopped the flesh from turning bad and causing
a man to die. But mostly, she remembered Millie’s terrifying account of cleansing
her brother’s wound and the level of agony it had produced. “I’m sorry, gentlemen.
It is not that I am a coward . . . but, well, maybe I am a coward. You see, I am quite
aware of the pain that is caused by what you intend, and let me put it this way .
. .
there is no way in bloody hell you are going to do that to me
.”

Collins sighed. He wished Lady Aimee was ignorant about the treatment, but that would
have meant something had gone right this day. “If you refuse, then I will be forced
to notify the captain and
he
can do it,” he stated, part of him praying to God that the threat would not work.

Aimee inhaled and stared at Collins. Deciding he was not bluffing, she straightened
her shoulders and asked, “Are we to do it here?”

JP looked at Collins and gave him a hostile glare. “My kitchen is for cooking and
cooking only. I suggest your cabin.”

Collins frowned and shook his head. Pulling JP aside, he whispered, “It’s too risky.
The captain is next door to my cabin. One female shriek and he would walk in, demanding
to know what the hell was going on. Only after we were fish fodder would he realize
the right of what we were trying to do, but then it would be too late. I’d rather
take
your
wrath.”

Aimee had thought Collins’s previous comments about his imminent death were jokes,
but she was beginning to believe the man truly believed Reece would physically harm
them if he saw her injured or in pain. “I can assure you, Mr. Collins, that Mr. Hamilton
would never hurt you or Mr. Jean-Pierre.”

JP snorted, crossing his arms, and Collins grimaced. “Not unless he had a good reason,
my lady. But, aye, he is certainly capable and willing if given adequate motive, and
holding down a woman—especially
you
—and causing her to scream in pain . . . well, I can promise you, to him that
would
be a good reason.”

“But I would stop him. I would tell him what happened and explain the situation.”

Collins inhaled deeply, but his frown remained. “I’m hoping you are going to do exactly
that, my lady, but
only
after you heal somewhat. Right now, one look at you and the captain is not going
to listen to explanations. As a leader and a sailor, he is as fine as they come, fair
and capable. But the captain is also a soldier and a damn good one. It would take
very little to trigger his combat training and become one again. Hearing you in pain,
seeing your arms and face . . . this time, we,” Collins said, waving his finger between
himself and JP, “would be his enemies. And I’ve seen the captain in battle. We would
die before you or anyone else could stop him.”

Comprehension flooded Aimee’s countenance. She had known Reece only in safe, happy
surroundings. Yet, Collins was right. For eight years, Reece had been constantly surrounded
by danger. His crew had depended upon him. They knew him, and Reece knew them well.
But he had been brought up as a noble, and like all gentlemen, his code of honor was
nonnegotiable. If Reece believed his men had put her in danger or caused her harm,
all the trust between them would be gone instantly. She had not realized how her decision
to be abducted would affect others until now. Whatever the pain she had to endure
to reduce the potential damage her presence might cause was a very small price to
pay.

“Mr. Jean-Pierre, I suggest we do this on deck.
If
I do cry out
and
am overheard by Mr. Hamilton, it would be easier to claim it was one of the crew.
Correct?”