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He appeared to Heather as no less confused by what he saw than his e, she assessed him as far better able to cope with their sudden intrusion on his peace

“What have we here?” he asked in his native tongue as he looked over the two stoays

Heather braced herself, drew a breath, and answered in French, “I beg your pardon, monsieur My friend and I have had a series of mishaps, and quite unintentionally cae on your vessel while you were docked in port Tired from our…an to falter at the captain’s utter look of incredulousness

“Aha,” the captain offered and then in English, “allow h you speak a decent French, still that I can say Also, though you are ragged, it is obvious that you are not a peasant, but born to the English gentry…is that not so?”

Heather inclined, “Yes…”

He hurriedly interjected, “You are also quite exceptionally beautiful…even in your dirt, so that lends the question, what kind ofon my schooner?”

“Here is the thing We don’t want to be here,” she offered “But…”

Irritated, and already envisioning a problem, no doubt with her fa to say that soainst your will and kept you here?”

Heather was now close enough to see his eyes in the diht There was a kindness in those depths “Indeed, how unhandso No, I h aard circumstances we have come to a point where we are at your mercy”

He chuckled and shook his head “What utter nonsense to be sure However, allow s first I, mademoiselle, am the Comte de Brabant and captain of this ship” He turned at that point as Heather’s eyes shifted towards a sound

That sound—the rustle of a silk skirt

The captain’s brow rose and he grinned at his sister’s expression Louise Davenant stood, her cashhtly wrapped around her well-shaped shoulders, and her expression of doubt quite evident as she said, “Maurice? Who is this woman and this boy?”

“As it happens, lish, and Heather noted the surprise on the woman’s face “I have not as yet discovered the answer to such a pertinent question Come, let us all retire to my cabin and uncover the secrets of this affair”

Heather turned to Bunky and sly, for she could see her co about himself with some trepidation “There now, Bunky, they won’t throw us to the sharks after all”

The captain evidently heard this rehter “Indeed, resty easy…er…Bunky, I have no intention of feeding you to the fish”