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No, the only thing for it was to go on with life To smile, to joke, to drink and make merry To toast wives and sweethearts, just as they did every Saturday

Funny, for Joss to reh, and just get on with life

"Co his brother with his elbow

Joss shook his head "No sweetheart to toast No wife, either"

"So raise a glass to her ht" Joss pushed off the rail and headed for the hatch, only pausing long enough for one last remark--a remark that summed up just about every word Joss had spoken to Gray since the day Mara died: "Go on without ue back

Once his brother had disappeared belowdecks, Gray ambled toward the bow of the ship, to join the weekly celebration In fact, he began the celebration a bit early by pausing to take out his flask and toss back a large s

He froze, flask tilted to his lips, when the ht, flirtatious,from the assembled crew

It had to be her He knew this simply because she was the only feh And that had hiht of brandy, to think that he’d been several days in a beautiful woh How utterly unlike hilance confir a tankard between her fingertips, the skirts of her ill-fitting gown draped across an overturned crate Damn it, hadn’t he just told the chit she was to stay aft of the foremast?

Bailey struck a few notes on the pipes, and the crew launched into another rousing song Gray waited a full verse before approaching her, prowling around her periphery and coave him friendly nods, butto pay hi hiht

"Who, ainst the foreo past"

She sipped her drink

Gray pushed off the mast and crouched at her side If she’d turn and look at him, they would be eye-to-eye But she didn’t "The better question is, what the hell are you doing?"

"I’ another drink "I suggest you do the same" She passed the tankard to hi came to its tuneless end

Gray peered at the half-eht, unadulterated ru That would explain the enthusiasm Her applause concluded, she snatched the tankard back and downed a s to do a sailor proud

Bloody hell Gray suspected the only thing worse than watching over a pri over a soused one

"Gray!" O’Shea pushed through the crowd and thrust a bri into his hand "Just in tih "To the fair Maureen, and her lovely bits She’s firm in the arse, and soft in the--"

"Head," Gray interrupted, prodding the Irishe for brains, if she dallies with the likes of you"

While the hed and drank "To fair Maureen," Gray reached for Miss Turner’s elbow "Co here"

"I was invited here," she ground out "And I’ anywhere"

"It’s no place for ladies" He squeezed her elbow firmly and lifted her to her feet

"Your turn, Gray," O’Shea said

He shook his head "I’m not here to drink I’m here to see our little Miss Turner back to her cabin It’s past her bedtiht back

"Come on, Gray," another sailor called "Just one toast"

Miss Turner raised her eyebrows and leaned into him "Come on, Mr Grayson Just one little toast," she taunted, in the breathy, seductive voice of a harlot It was a voice his body kneell, and vital parts of hi a response

Siren

"Very well" He lifted his lassy eyes "To the most beautiful lady in the world, and the only woht her breath Gray relished the tense silence, allowing a broad grin to spread across his face "To roaned

"You’re no fun anyone respectable" He tugged on Miss Turner’s elbow

"And good little governesses need to be in bed"

"Not so fast, if you please" She jerked away from him and turned to face the assembled crew "I haven’t made my toast yet We ladies have our sweethearts too, you know"

Bawdy ht the to his lips If the girl was determined to humiliate herself, as he to stop her? Who was he, indeed?

Swaying a little in her boots, she raised her tankard "To Gervais My only sweetheart, mon cher petit lapin"