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"Enter"

Her expression was coldas shewatched the door open, anddid notsoften when Megentered"What do you want? "

Meg peeredather silently, thensighed "I thought mayhap you wouldlike to talk"

Valoree’s htly "You heard, didyou? "

"Of courseI had avote, too"

"Of course" Valoree sighed and turned quickly away She paced to a map stuck to the cabin wall, a map of the Caribbean, andstaredatit blankly

"They really aretrying to help, " Meg explained quietly "They care aboutyou a great deal" WhenValoree re, the woman added, "And sodo I"

Valoree shiftedient, brave, and noble"

Valoree snorted at that "I’m a pirate Noble is not insaid fir himself and have dutifully saved his portionover the years It isstored in awarehouse until youcan arrange to see the king and have it delivered Which you intended todo assoon as you hadsorted the matter of your inheritance"

Valoree was silent for aasked quietly"It would resolveyour proble Mayhap even resolve yourproble, Valoree returned to herdesk chairand sank into it, gesturing forMeg totakethe seat across from her "Theletter of marque wasmade out to Jeremy I am not sure that it would protect uswithout him"

"Oh, surely - "

"And I do not have it, " Valoree finishedquietly

Meg’s eyes ide "What - "

"It wentdoith the original Valor whenthe Spanish sank it"

The wo will recall? He must; he sent Thurborne to look for you"

"Aye Even before I knew that, I had hoped that he would recall assigning Jeremy a letterof marque, allow that it protected myself and the crew, and would simply take his portion and be happy But that was beforethe men kidnapped Thurborne - his htrant us his favor"

"Oh, dear, I see, "Meg whispered, frowning "This all rests on Thurborne, then"

"Who isquite angry at ed"

"Aye, well" Shehtened her shoulders

’ThenIthink you shoulddoasthe menhave decided: don your loveliest dressand try to charsoff ofhi’s expression softened again

"Oh, Valoree You fight so hard notto be the things you are"

Valoree stiffened at the soft words "What I am is thecaptain of a pirate ship, "she said quietly

"Nay Thatis just a role you tookwhen forcedWhat you are is alady, born of nobilityand soonto return to yourhome"

"I am a pirate captain, " Valoree insisted"Andhave been for five years"

"Areyou aaneyebrow

"Nay, ofcourse not"

"Nay, " Meg agreed with a nod "You have lived as and pretended tobe amanfor thirteenyears, but that does not make youone Youwereborn a fe at pirates isjust soh ti Pirate captains retire, die, or are votedoutBeing noble lastsa lifetias you marry andprovidean heir, itwill always be there foryou" She paused, breathing heavily in herexcite everything in your power to look and soundand actlike a seadog, andstart using the ladylike words, manners, and abilities I know youhave"

At Valoree’s startled expression, she nodded soleured out quitequickly thatyou weresto and poor nized you just as you recognized me for a true lady What Ididnot understand at first hy Now I think Ido"

"Oh? " Valoree said warily Meg nodded