Read Online I Kissed an Earl: Pennyroyal Green Series by Julie Anne Long - Free Book Online Page A

had sweat, broken wind, drunk, and aimed for chamber pots with perhaps more urgency than accuracy. It had always been cleaned to the extent possible but always with the occupancy of men in mind. In other words, it smelled like every other cabin on the ship, apart, perhaps from his own, which was spotless, as he was the only person who’d ever slept in it. His own aim was impeccable.
    “Miss Redmond…” he said very mildly, very gently, in a voice that belied the momentum of his gathering outrage. “Why the devil are you on my ship?”
    Corcoran cleared his throat. “Captain. Perhaps you oughtn’t use the word devil in front of Miss Redmond, as she’s a fine la…”
    Flint whipped a scorchingly quelling look at Corcoran.
    Who clapped his jaw shut audibly.
    Then Flint returned a deceptively mild gaze to Miss Redmond.
    He gave her a moment more to respond to his question. She didn’t seem eager to do it.
    “Very well. If you would just come with me, Miss Redmond, we shall speak in private quarters. Please return to your duties, Corcoran. Thank you for calling my attention to these…circumstances.”
    “Aye, sir. Good day to you, Miss Redmond.” He made a bow so extravagant the top of his balding head nearly touched his knees, and he backed away, soaking up the sight of Violet Redmond as long as possible, though she were a healing vision and the fetid little cabin a shrine.
    He turned and scrambled back up onto the deck.
    Flint was certain he’d spread word of her presence to the other men on board as quickly, and with as much exaggeration, as possible.
    Unholy, bloody mess.
    Trust an Englishwoman to complicate things.
    “Miss Redmond,” he repeated firmly. He gestured for her to precede him. And after a hesitation, she tilted up her chin in a show of bravado—she’d certainly need that, he thought grimly—and obeyed.

Chapter 5
    H e opened the door to his cabin, his sanctuary: an elegantly simple, masculine room of the type he’d occupied since he’d captained his first ship at age eighteen. It was roomier than the typical captain’s cabin, but not by much. His bed, his bureau, a mirror, his chessboard, a tiny painting, a dartboard, some books, a map-covered wall. Touchstones, these things. Everything in the room was either utilitarian or had been given to him by someone who mattered to him. He ushered her inside and closed the door.
    For sitting there were several chairs and a bed, but he didn’t invite her to sit. He turned and fired questions like shots over a bow.
    “How did you get aboard my ship, Miss Redmond?”
    “I learned that your man Rathskill was discontented, and discovered he was easily enough bought, Captain Flint. He’s not overly fond of you, you know.”
    Rathskill himself wasn’t a terrible loss. He was mad to surrender to the urge to ask. Still, curiosity won.
    “What was his price?”
    “Five pounds.” She sounded bemused that he could be got for such a bargain. Flint was surprised, too. It demonstrated the man was either a fool and he was better off without him, or far more diabolically brilliant than he’d originally credited him, because he’d certainly taken revenge upon the captain by leaving Miss Redmond as a parting gift.
    “After the ball, I packed a trunk and paid a hack to take me to where The Fortuna was anchored. Rathskill rowed me aboard and installed me in the guest cabin, and then he departed to enjoy his five pounds and his freedom from you in London.”
    “And you’re entirely unchaperoned on this misbegotten endeavor?”
    A hesitation. “Yes.” She didn’t address his adjectives.
    “Does your family have an inkling where you are?”
    “My family believes I am at a house party in Northumberland and departed for it this morning by way of hired hack. At least, that’s what I instructed our footman to tell them. He’s a bit afraid of me, so no doubt it’s what he did tell them.”
    Worse and worse and worse.
    “Why in God’s name are you