Read Online Hostile Shores by Dewey Lambdin - Free Book Online Page B

that was promisingly bouncy-looking, with perky breasts that even a modest bandeau to press them down could not completely hide. To top all that off, she was a woman of a sinuous, languid, and teasing demeanour.
    “It is too bad that we shall not be seated close together,” she said with a moue, and a waft of her fan. “I expect you shall be seated nearer the top of the table, whilst I must languish far down, with the ‘chaw-bacons’, ha ha!”
    “Well, there’s the mingling before, and the dancing after,” Lewrie said, trying on a leer. “Uhm … I note that Mister Frost is not attending with you? He’s still down at Grand Turk?”
    “An American ship came in with mail, and he sent me a short note,” Priscilla told him with another pout. “He’s found a market at Cape Franois, on Haiti, and has sailed there to look into the possibilities, so … he will be delayed some more weeks. ”
    “Oh, what a pity,” Lewrie commiserated.
    “Lord only knows what dangers he might face among the savage Blacks of that foul place,” Priscilla said, not sounding all that much concerned for her much older husband’s safety.
    “They’re a blood-thirsty lot,” Lewrie told her, looking over her shoulder to see Commodore Grierson mid-way up the flights of stairs. “Be a dear, Mistress Priscilla, and stroll with me into the garden for a bit.”
    “Why, Sir Alan! Captain Lewrie, will you ruin my repute in Nassau?” She did so with a fetching air of mischief, a merry glint in her eyes, and a tap of her fan against his chin.
    “Only with your complete permission, dear lady,” Lewrie purred in kind, with a flirtatious laugh. “But, I’d rather put off havin’ to greet Commodore Grierson ’til later. Much later.”
    “Oh, that fatuous clown!” Priscilla huffed. “But of course, I shall aid you in that.” She offered her arm to be supported by his and allowed herself to be led towards the gardens. “What a thoroughly thoughtless act! Why, I was so terrified that the French had come to impoverish us all that my maids and I were packing in a perfect panic, until it was revealed that his ships were ours ! Everyone is wroth with him…’tis the talk of the town, and none of it complimentary, let me tell you! Do I get the chance, I would tell him what I think of him to his face!”
    “Then I shall be sure to introduce you,” Lewrie assured her. “Do look and see if he’s gone in, yet.”
    “He is just about to enter,” Priscilla whispered conspiratorially after a quick peek. “Oh!”
    “Oh?” Lewrie asked in dread that Grierson had spotted him.
    “Do you enter and be announced after him,” Priscilla schemed in wicked glee, “you would be certain to hear louder approval. You would … as the actors say … up-stage him?”
    “What a clever girl you are!” Lewrie said in open praise. “For that I stand completely in your debt … and in complete admiration of you, to boot,” he added with another leer.
    “Debt and admiration, Sir Alan?” she cooed, looking up at him with a lazy and flirtatious smile … and an artful hitch of her breath that lifted and swelled her breasts. “Such complete admiration must be rewarded. Amply rewarded, hmm?”
    “Where admiration may turn to worship?” Lewrie dared hint, leering yet again. She slowly batted her lashes and nodded her head to agree.
    Huzzah, I’m aboard ! Lewrie exulted to himself.
    “Walk me back to the entrance, Sir Alan,” Priscilla said, turning practical, “before people have reason to talk. Make your entrance a bit after me. I shall prepare the ground. A minute or so later?”
    Lewrie saw her to the grand entrance doors, bowed her away, then lingered a bit more. Over the mutters of attendees and the musicians, there came a thump of a long cane, and a loud voice announcing the entrance of Captain Henry Grierson, Commodore of the Bahamas Squadron, and his Flag-Captain, Captain George Meadows. Lewrie smiled in delight as the crowd inside paid no