Read Online In the Arms of a Pirate (A Sam Steele Romance Book 2) by Michelle Beattie - Free Book Online Page A

expected and while she didn’t fool herself into thinking she was in any position to overtake the captain and his men, she was nevertheless intent on talking to the man. Clearly he had some vendetta against her father and she wanted to know what it was. Her father was but a merchant sailor and he could not have done anything vile enough to send a band of pirates after him. Surely, this was nothing more than a misunderstanding and, with any luck, she could talk him out of his believed slight and have him gone before her father returned.
    There would be no repeating her plan with Sophia but perhaps she could still find a way of escaping before her father arrived. First, however, she had to rid herself of these pirates.
    Now that she had a goal in mind, all she needed was for the cellar door to unlock. Sarah crossed her arms and tapped her toe against the hard, dirt floor. The others were beginning to stir and mumble. Surely it must be morning and they’d be out of the dank soon.
    As though her thoughts travelled through the press of bodies and up the dirt walls, the door opened and the big, burly man named Chunk stood in the doorway. The light was near blinding after so many hours in darkness but Sarah rushed forward, gaze narrowed against the brightness. The flood of fresh air was worth the discomfort to her eyes and she cleansed her lungs of the moldy, stale air of the cellar.
    “Captain wants to see you in the parlor,” Chunk told her.
    “Tell your captain I have needs to see to first.”
    “As do we all,” Mrs. Bingham said.
    “Fine. As we did this last night, then.”
    Three of the captain’s men accompanied Sarah, Mrs. Bingham, Emma, and Sophia—who had only just awakened when Chunk opened the door and was indeed looking green around the mouth—upstairs. Behind the screen, the chamber pot they’d used last night was empty and waiting. Despite her embarrassment, Sarah didn’t hesitate to take her turn. Nor did she hesitate to take extra time at the washbasin to wash her face and hands.
    Sophia rushed to her side and handed her a towel. “Miss Sarah, what’s happened? Who are these men?”
    “I don’t know. They came last night before—” she swallowed the truth.
    Thus far the assumption amongst them was Sarah had only tried to escape after the men had penetrated the house, nobody knew it had been her intent all along.
    “Before?” Sophia prompted.
    “Before I had a chance to change into my own clothes.”
    Sophia frowned. “Trying on each other’s clothes had made more sense last night.”
    Sarah removed the bonnet she wore, handed it to Sophia. She knew she wouldn’t be given a chance to change her clothes but, as much as possible, she wanted to be taken seriously when she met with the captain and she doubted looking like a servant would aid in her goal.
    Mrs. Bingham strode over, grabbed Sophia’s arm, and spun her round. Her wrinkled face was red with fury. “That’s because last night you were no better than a town drunkard. How dare you presume to drink while working? And wearing Miss Sarah’s clothes as well?” Her bosom swelled with righteousness. “The moment we are rid of these brigands you can march yourself out those doors. I’ll not have the likes of you working in this house. And just wait until Mr. Santiago finds out what you’ve done!”
    Before Sophia could protest Sarah pulled her from Mrs. Bingham’s grasp. “What happened last night was of my doing and mine alone. I talked Sophia into it and I will be the one to tell my father.”
    “Sophia works under my orders, Miss Sarah, and—”
    “And you work under my father’s,” Sarah reminded her. “I can assure you, once I tell him the truth he will allow Sophia to remain.”
    Mrs. Bingham arched both needle-thin brows and while it was evident she did not agree with Sarah, she said nothing more on the matter.
    “Respite’s over,” the man named Lucky said. “Downstairs, the lot of you.”
    They marched down the