“What do youpropose?” Henry asked, the raspy tone of his low and impatientvoice carrying through the room.
“Threefavors,” Roselyn replied.
“Three?” Finnspat. “Bloody Christ!”
“One,” Henrycountered. His arms crossed tightly.
The womannarrowed her eyes as she seemed to contemplate it. “Two.”
“Fine. Twofavors.” Henry stepped forward and reached out a hand. They shookon it.
My stomachturned at the thought of us owing this woman anything. What werethe extents of the favors? Could Roselyn Wallace quite literallyask for anything? But, as Henry turned to come back to where I was,I was given my answer before he even sat down.
“Excellent.”Wallace clapped her hands once. “I have a task for you to do. Thefirst favor, if you will.”
He stopped,eyes locked on mine in a plead of forgiveness, and spun back aroundto face her.
“I’m throwinga big party this evening,” she began. “A Christmas party. My fourbarrels of wine are stuck on a merchant vessel just a few yards offthe coast. The ship is having some trouble with its sails. I need agroup of men to row out, help fix them, so the ship can come toshore and deliver my wine. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes,” Henryreplied and glanced back to where I sat. “But, does the merchantvessel not have row boats of its own?”
“No, theyfoolishly left them behind to make room for more cargo,” Wallacereplied.
Henryexchanged a knowing glance with Gus. “Just allow me the time totake Dianna back to our room at the tavern.”
I sprangupright. “What? No. I’m coming with you.”
“Absolutelynot,” he told me. “You passed out. Clearly you need to rest.”
“I’m finenow,” I pleaded. “I swear.”
Lottie took aseat next to me. “Dianna, I have to side with Henry on this. Yoursand the baby’s safety is the most important thing. You can’t berowing out to sea in a little boat.”
Part of mewanted to pull rank, play the captain card and demand I come along.But I knew that would only alert Roselyn Wallace that I was thereal captain of The Queen and Henry had been pretty insistent shebe kept in the dark. So, like a child, I crossed my arms and leanedback against the chaise with a harrumph.
“Dianna ismore than welcome to stay here and wait for your return,” Wallacesuggested. The woman spoke about me as if I were a child, or not inthe room at all. And then I realized what the source of my uneasewas about her. She wouldn’t make eye contact with me.
I couldn’ttell if she was truly being sincere in the offer. Perhaps it wasthe tinge of jealousy running through my veins, but I could havesworn I caught the glimmer of something in her eye. Deception? No…something else. I couldn’t put my finger on it. But Lottie musthave sensed it, too.
“Thank you forthe kind gesture, but that’s quite alright,” my best friend repliedfor me. “I’ll take Dianna back to the tavern. I could use some restmyself.” She turned back, her blonde hair shielding her face like acurtain as she threw me a playful wink.
“I’ll returnas soon as I can,” Henry promised as he helped me to my feet.
It killed meto let him go. All I wanted since finding his mother’s ring was tohaul Henry off somewhere private and share in the joy I knew he’dfeel. But I also knew that Wallace was letting us off easy and Ihad to play along.
I held hisgaze and willed him to feel my anxious heart. “Right back.Promise?”
The line ofhis mouth widened. “Promise.”
From the otherside of the room, I heard Wallace clear her throat. “Of course,you’re all invited to attend the party tonight.” She had a playfulsmirk on her face as she rushed the words from her mouth. “As myguests.”
Henry sighed.“That’s really not necess–”
“I insist.”Her response was curt and rushed but the woman eased before adding,“All the food and drink you could dream of.”
“Aye,finally,” Finn churred, “now yer talkin’.” His cheerful expressionrelaxed as he caught my discreet glare and he shruggedapologetically.
“I’m sureafter your long journey, you could all use a good time,” Wallacecontinued not taking no for an answer.
Damn, she waspersistent.
Part of mewondered what she’d do if we really pushed back and declined herinvitation. Would it piss her off? Was she one of those unstablebeautiful people? Did the power of her position weigh heavy in herpretty head? I didn’t know enough about Wallace and, from what Icould guess, Henry kept details from me for a reason. Another partof me, the seedy jealous bit, wanted nothing more than to digdeeper and figure out the past Henry shared with the darkgoddess.
“We’ll bethere,” I blurted out.
My crew turnedand shot me a look of disbelief. Except Finn, who rocked back onhis heels in pure joy. The promise of a feast and endless alcoholwas enough to lure him into a bear’s cave, I would imagine. Butthen I realized, I wasn’t supposed to make calls like that. Iwasn’t the captain. “Uh, if it’s alright with Captain Barrett, ofcourse.”
Henry’s chestheaved at the face of defeat. What else could he do with Finn and Irooting to go? “A party it is, then.”
“Excellent!”Wallace declared and hopped up from her chair. “Guests will arriveat eight.” She fetched a quill from her desk and scribbled down inkon a loose piece of parchment before handing it to Henry. “This isthe number on my cargo. I’ll have Angus bring the carriages aroundand he’ll you escorted back to the docks. He’ll also show you tothe rowboat.”
We followed asshe exited the room, Henry close behind her with me in tow, ourhands linked tightly. When our group reached the foyer, Roselynturned and laid her hand on Henry’s shoulder. Her slender brownfingers and perfectly manicured nails caressing the curve of hisarm a little too much for my liking. An unexpected flare ofjealousy burned through my chest.
“I’ll have myseamstress send something to The Kraken’s Den for you to
