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The scorn in her words seemed finally to penetrate the duke He wheeled and stalked back to his chamber without another word

Theo did not look down the stairs to see if Ja up at her; she could feel his eyes on her back

But she walked on, leaving Daisy behind Leaving herher heart behind

Part Two

After

Fourteen

Nine months later

Aboard the Percival

Somewhere in the Maldives

"We can’t outrun it, my lord We’re too heavy" The quartermaster, a stout man named Squib, had to shout at James to be heard Wind stripped the fear from his voice, but not fro the horizon The approaching ship was barely visible, but she was ski "You’re sure she’s a pirate vessel?"

"Lookout confired to avoid pirates all these years, darandbabies at ho a black flag?"

Squib nodded "We’re done for It’s the Flying Poppy" He gave an involuntary moan "Got a red flower on black; easy to spot"

Ja at the ship as if his hard stare could make it disappear The moment he heard the name, relief made his shoulders sluht, they had a chance A slender chance, but it was better than nothing "Could be worse," he said, hoping he was right

"The Poppy has taken five ships this season alone, fro can be said is that they don’t generally kill the crew, but they sink the vessels We’re done for, runted "Are the cannon ready to fire?"

"Yes"

"We’re not done for until the last o"

James leapt down from the forecastle and ran below decks His creas busy with the cannons, slae sticks that tamped the powder into place They didn’t pause until he addressed them