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He fought not to show surprise that she’d ed to uncover that little fact

She took a step nearer, gripped the back of the chair in her gloved hands, and leaned forward, confusionher brow "Why? Why would you seek to undermine my efforts? Why would you care?"

"Because I want you on er, like reeling in a fish His bitter confession was prompted by her eyes The sorrow there that he didn’t understand, the pain that he wanted to ease

"But you won’t takeelse"

"Yes"

"I know exactly what you want and you shall never have it"

He tilted his head slightly "Careful, Princess That sounded like a challenge And I’ve never walked away froeor lost one"

"Rot in hell"

She spun on her heel and stornificence of the fiercest tempest he’d ever encountered Dear God, he should accept her offer, take herto have her on his ship Once on the sea, she couldn’t walk away

Once on the sea, he would have her

Anne was furious, so furious that she could pull out her hair No, no, that would not do at all It was ridiculous to cause harh to yank out his hair That’s what she should have done: simply reached across the table and jerked out a clu ebony strands That would show him that she was not a lady to be trifled with

"I don’t understand," Martha h she feared Anne would turn her fury on her "My brother speaks so highly of the captain--"

"Yes, well, how he treats his men is quite obviously very different from the manner in which he treats ladies" But why? To ensure captains wouldn’t accept her offer, ould he pay double what she would pay them? He could have any woman he wanted, of that she was certain Why her? Why did he want her on his ship? So he could lift her skirts? He’d damned well discover that where she was concerned, they’d be made of lead "Tell your brother to find me one more captain I shall offer to pay hioes too far"