Sara stopped when she reached the top step. She didn't turn around. Her voice was very pleasant when she called out to her husband. 'Nathan? I won't be waiting in the cabin, but do send someone to tell me how the voting went. I want to know if I should be disappointed or not.'
Nathan frowned over that odd request. He knew she was up to something, but he couldn't imagine what she could possibly do to sway the men's minds.
'Where will you be waiting, m'lady?' Jimbo called out.
Sara turned around so that she could see their expressions when she gave her answer. 'I'll be waiting in the galley.'
It didn't take most of the men any time at all to catch her meaning. They looked horrified. Nathan, she noticed, was grinning at her. She glared back. Then she addressed her staff. 'I didn't want to have to resort to such tactics, men, but you've left me with no alternative. The vote had better not disappoint me.'
A few of the less astute seamen still didn't understand the hidden threat. Chester fell into that group. 'What would you be doing in the galley, m'lady?'
Her answer was immediate. 'Making soup.'
Chapter Ten
The vote was unanimous. No one wanted Sara to be disappointed. The pirates were tossed overboard and allowed to swim back to their ship.
Nathan did have the last word, however, or rather the last action. He ordered two cannons made ready and took great satisfaction in putting a large hole in the pirates' vessel. When Sara asked what the noise was he told her they were simply emptying the cannons.
The Seahawk had suffered damage as well. Most of the repairs that needed to be seen to at once were above the water line. The very same sails Sara had nearly destroyed with her parasol had been sliced in half by one of the enemy's cannon shots.
The crew set about righting as much of the damage as possible. They smiled as they worked-a rarity-and every one of them had tossed his necklace of garlic cloves away. They were feeling safe again, for they believed the curse had been removed.
Their mistress had saved their hides. Why, even sour-tempered Chester was singing her praises.
Sara went with Matthew to fetch Nora from the hold, and it wasn't until the hatch was opened that she remembered the captives trapped below. Nathan waited until Sara had turned to leave the deck, then slammed his fist into the midsection of each man. The loud groans caught Sara's attention, yet when she turned around and asked her husband what the awful noise was he simply shrugged at her and then graciously helped the doubled- over captives to take flight over the rail.
Sara took great delight in retelling the sequence of events to Nora. Her aunt was an appreciative audience of one. She praised her niece for her courage and her cunning.
'I cannot let you believe I was completely courageous,' Sara confessed. She stood with her aunt in the middle of the wardroom area. She'd already shown Nora where she'd hidden behind the screen. 'I was terrified all the while,' she added with a nod.
'That doesn't signify,' Nora countered. 'You helped your husband. It means all the more because you were afraid and yet you didn't fail him.'
'Do you know Nathan hasn't said a word of praise to me?' Sara said. 'I hadn't realized that until this very minute. You would think-'
'I would think he hasn't had time to say thank you, Sara, and I doubt he will when he does have the time. He's a bit…'
'Stubborn?'
Nora smiled. 'No, dear, not stubborn, just proud.'
Sara decided he was a little of both. The rush of excitement was over, but Sara's hands started shaking. She felt sick to her stomach, too, and the side of her face was throbbing quite painfully.
She wasn't going to worry Nora, though, and so she kept her aches and pains to herself.
'I know you've heard the whispers comparing you to Nathan's sister,' Nora said.
She hadn't heard any such whispers, but she pretended she had just so that her aunt would continue. Sara nodded and said, 'Jade was mistress of this vessel for a long while, and the men were very loyal to her.'
'I know their comments must have hurt your feelings, child,' Nora said.
'Which comments are you referring to?' Sara asked. 'I've heard so many.'
'Oh, that you cry all the time,' Nora answered. 'Jade never cried. She kept her emotions under lock and key, or so Matthew likes to boast. She was extremely courageous, too. I've heard such wonderful stories about the feats she and her men accomplished. But you've heard all that,' Nora continued with a wave of her hand. 'I'm not bringing up this topic to make you think the men still believe you inferior, Sara. No, quite the opposite is the case now. Why, you've won their hearts and their loyalty today. They won't be making comparisons in future, I'll wager. They've seen you're every bit as courageous as their Jade.'
Sara turned to go into her cabin. 'I believe I'll have a little rest, Aunt,' she whispered. 'The excitement has worn me out.'
'You do look pale, Sara. It was quite a morning, wasn't it? I believe I'll go find Matthew and, if he isn't too busy, spend a few minutes with him. Then I'm going to have a rest, too.'
Sara's light blue walking dress was on the floor of the cabin. As soon as she shut the door behind her and spotted the gown she remembered how the infidel had clutched it in his arms. She remembered all the foul words they'd said, too.
It was finally settling in. The realization of what could have happened made her stomach lurch. 'I mustn't think about all the possibilities,' she whispered to herself.
Nathan could have been killed.
Sara unbuttoned her gown and took the garment off. Her petticoats, shoes, and stockings came next. She was excruciatingly exact with her task. Her gaze kept returning to the gown on the floor, though, and she couldn't block the memories.
They'd really meant to kill her husband.
Sara decided she needed something to do to take her mind off her fear. She cleaned the cabin. Then she took a sponge bath. By the time she was finished with that task the trembling had eased up just a little.
Then she noticed the dark bruise on the side of her face.
The terror returned full force. How could she ever live without Nathan? What if she hadn't thought to take the pistols with her to the hold? What if she'd stayed below with Nora and hadn't…
'Oh, God,' she whispered. 'It's all a mockery. I'm such a coward.'
She leaned over the washstand and stared into the mirror. 'An ugly coward.'
'What did you say?'
Nathan asked that question. He'd entered the room without making any noise. Sara jumped a foot, then turned to look at him. She tried to hide the right side of her face by pulling her hair forward.
She realized she was crying. She didn't want Nathan to notice, though. She bowed her head and walked toward the bed. 'I believe I'll have a nap,' she whispered. 'I'm very weary.'
Nathan blocked her path. 'Let me see your face,' he ordered.
His hands rested on her hips. Sara's head was still bowed, and all he could see was the top of her head. He could feel her trembling. 'Does it hurt, Sara?' he asked, his voice gruff with concern.
Sara shook her head. She still wouldn't look up at him. Nathan tried to nudge her chin up. She pushed his hand away. 'It doesn't hurt at all,' she lied.
'Then why are you crying?'
The tenderness in his voice made her trembling increase. 'I'm not crying,' she whispered.
Nathan was getting worried. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. What the hell was
