“She’s kicking everyone’s ass.”
“As usual,” said Abbie, lowering the rifle and grinning at Gideon. “You’re welcome to try beating my record.”
Rune suddenly realized what Poor Man’s Trap was.
“We’re… trapshooting?” asked Rune, shivering again as a gust of icy wind hit.
Gideon didn’t hear her. “I doubt I’ll have to try very hard,” he called to Abbie as he tugged off his jacket, dropping it over Rune’s shoulders. The warmth of him settled into her skin, and Rune couldn’t help snuggling into the fabric, thankful.
The eyes of Abbie’s friends followed Gideon’s jacket, landing on Rune.
“Whoa. Who’s the aristo?”
“His wife,” said Abbie, who’d stopped grinning as she handed the rifle to Gideon.
Someone whistled in appreciation.
It was then that Rune realized she was in unfamiliar territory. Give her a ballroom, an evening gown, and a four-piece band playing a waltz, and Rune knew exactly who she was and how she was supposed to behave. But here, on the lower deck of a ship, with people who broke china for fun and whistled at girls they found pretty… Rune was at a loss.
“Clearly it pays to be the hero of a revolution.”
“Enough,” growled Gideon, cocking the gun.
The catcalls quieted.
Rune came as close to the group as she dared, remaining a few steps away as Gideon took three shots in a row, shattering all three plates. In the distance, the sun hung low in a red sky.
“Isn’t this a little… wasteful?” she said.
Abbie threw her a look that said Rune was the silliest thing she’d ever encountered.
“We only use the broken china,” said a voice at her ear. “Whenthe sea gets fierce, and the ship rocks enough to send the furniture tipping, it’s hard to keep the dishware secure. A lot of it ends up chipped from sliding around or broken from crashing on the floor.”
Rune looked up to find the young man who’d kindly brought her wine before being scared away by Gideon. He wore the navyArcadiastaff uniform now, and the sea breeze blew his golden hair back from his face as he studied her with an amused smile.
“I’m William, by the way.”
“Kestrel,” she said, holding out her hand to him. “Sorry about Gideon’s behavior last night.”
He took her gloved fingers in his. “No offense taken. I get grouchy when I’m seasick, too.”
Right.
“So,” said the boy in the red cap, who’d first called out to them. Like Gideon, he was built like a soldier. “How did a classy girl like you sully herself with a man like Gideon?”
Sully herself.
The phrasing brought to mind Rune’s illicit dream from last night. She could almost feel the heat of the boilers and Gideon’s hands on her skin.
Gideon lifted the rifle and fired another shot, bringing her back to reality.
Five for five.
“Love doesn’t sully you,” she said. “Love purifies you.”
Real love, anyway.
Gideon paused as if to glance her way, but reloaded instead.
