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"Mr Grayson sent all able men away in the boat, save Mr Linnet" She searched out Davy’s sether they shot down thethe fire in the sea"

"Reht a smile to her face "It was the truest act of valor I have ever witnessed Mr Grayson savedthe life of Captain Mallory, who now has the malicious cowardice to accuse innocent e"

Sophia leaned closer "Do you know, Mr Fitzhugh, that Captain Mallory would have denied his injured crewmen medical attention, when a port was only a few days’ sail away? This is why Mr Grayson seized the Kestrel, sending his own ship ahead with the wounded If that be an act of piracy, then he is the most honorable pirate to ever live And as I also joined the crew that seized the Kestrel, I am proud to declare myself a pirate, too"

"You joined the crew?"

"Yes, I became ship’s cook They were underlove and re her calloused, knife-scored hand "Your honor, I aentlewolad to do it to help these ed the day of that storain" In ht with some amusement But the statement was the truth

She turned to Gray, ore a half-smile of his own It was a co, if only a private joke

"Even now, this innocent man would sacrifice hie and fortitude are an exa at her eyes with the handkerchief "They should be an example to us all"

Oh come now, Gray’s smirk chided her Don’t take it too far

"An exah spoke in a slow tone of discovery "Of honor?"

"She’s a liar!" Mr Brackett pushed to the front of the rooh the assembly with his blade-thin nose and sharp elbows "She’s a liar and a whore They’re lovers, she and Grayson Her whole story is a falsehood, fabricated to save his miserable neck"

Sophia’s heart seized The crowd held its breath Please don’t ask it, she silently iood to finally stand before Gray, theseherself to deny him now, even to save his life? Please, just don’t ask

"Miss Hathaway?" The judge adjusted his spectacles and peered at her

"What, precisely, is the nature of your relationship with Mr Grayson?"

"My … relationship?" Turning away, Sophia closed her eyes briefly, then opened theave her a barely perceptible nod, his expression hard He iping all e her denial

She had to say it; she had no choice "I love hiaze Soon his eyes were shining with approval Approval, and love

Her heart soared For this one moo hang "I love him," she repeated, simply because she could Because it was the truth

Now the truth was out, suspended in the humid silence--a sketch of it, at least It still re herself, she took advantage of the stunned pause "As isless for hie scratched his wig

"No," Brackett protested "She’s a liar, I tell you!"

"I assure you, I speak only the truth What love, working her fingers into the slender tips

"Indeed, I have come to care deeply for many of the ive this truthful testi some relationship with Mr Grayson, friendly or otherwise, would be reatly, and his exae has altered the course of my life But beyond today, I do not expect to ever ain"

Gray took a step forward "You can’t mean--"

Sophia froze him with a look "Yes, Mr Grayson, I mean that my mission here has already been completed"

He stared at her, clearly baffled Adorably so

"Since leaving England, I have resolved to never e, "but to devote my fortune to charity I have twenty thousand pounds, you see--or I shall have in a matter of days, when I reach myI have pledged it toward the purchase of Eleanora plantation froar cooperative for freedh spoke as one

There Now Gray and Joss had nothing further to argue over, no years-old dispute to drive them apart They could start over, sit down and discuss their future with open minds and open hearts It was likely too late for Sophia’s own family, but she could not pass up this chance to heal theirs

"Mr Wilson and Miss Grayson can provide you with any evidence you may require on that matter" She folded her handkerchief "As for ain, Gray and Fitzhugh spoke in unison, and each glared at the other, clearly annoyed

"Now that land I have given only earnest money, you see, some six hundred pounds The rest of the transaction must be coh I do not kno they will receive me After this adventure, I doubt I shall be received by even my closest friends Most certainly not by the likes of Mr Grayson’s family" He had to understand this, the reason she e asked