Page 20 of A Siren for the Duke

Jemima’s screams and wails did not abate. Such a determined creature she was.

“Calm yourself, darling, it’s not as if I’m torturing you. You’re the one who illegally boarded my ship of your own volition.”

Sailors looked upon the scene with a mix of bewilderment and amusement. Not everyone had seen her yet, so surely some of them were shocked. Some muttered and crossed themselves as if just her presence were enough to curse them.

“Mr. Robinson!” she screamed at Ellis as they passed down to the lower deck.

Poor Ellis looked quite confused at the sight of Jemima slung over the captain’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Yes, madam?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Ellis, do not interfere. She is perfectly fine. Just loud and dramatic.”

“I am not fine!” she screamed.

Lionel shifted her, paying no attention to her yells of irritation.

“I am sorry, Lady Jemima, but I cannot disobey the captain.”

“I thought we were friends!” she shouted, her voice growing distant as they descended further into the ship.

Lionel chuckled as they approached the galley.

“You see, my little captive, this is my ship. The crew is loyal to me. If you ask to be freed, it will be at my will and no one else’s.”

He finally deposited her in the galley, where she huffed angrily.

“Lady Jemima, meet Mr. Hugh Coade, the Regina’s cook. If you are so desperate to be out of your cabin, you will be put to use and assist Mr. Coade.”

Jemima turned and gracefully curtsied to him.

“A pleasure indeed to meet you, sir,” she said, then turned back to Lionel. “I will not be bullied by you,” she said indignantly.

“It is not bullying. You either stay here and help Mr. Coade prepare meals for my hungry crew, or I lock you away. Unless, of course, you prefer a third option.”

“Which is?” She crossed her arms and drew herself up to her full height.

“I toss you overboard and leave you stranded in the Atlantic.”

“I might actually prefer that. I’m quite certain the fish will have better manners.”

“You are on a ship full of seasoned sailors. You left manners behind the moment you snuck aboard.”

“I thought the Royal Navy was supposed to be made up of gentlemen. Is that not how they are advertised?”

“Oh darling,” he leaned in close, fixing his stern gaze upon hers, “I can assure you I am not a gentleman.”

That seemed to stun her into silence for a moment. She was quite cute when angry: her brow furrowed, and her nose curled like a little bunny. It was difficult to take her seriously.

She raised her hand to slap him again, but he caught her wrist before she could land a blow and tsked.

“Right, you lot, that’s enough drama in my galley,” Mr. Coade said, walking in between them. “I will not have a lover’s quarrel end in bloodshed near the rice and lentils.”

“We’re not lovers,” Jemima said through gritted teeth.

Mr. Coade snickered.

“Well, you argue like them. Come on,” he said, tossing her a plain brown apron. “We’ve a lot of work to do.”