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“What?” she asked in all innocence.
“These are serious matters.”
“And I’m taking them as such.” She lifted her hand and counted off his rules. “One, don’t irritate the ill-tempered cook—as if my presence is innately irritating,” she said with a shrug and it was all Morgan could do not to laugh. “But that’s fine, I’m willing to abide by your order anyway. Two, don’t get myself thrown overboard because you might not stop and come back for me.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“And three,” she said, ignoring him. “If I need light, don’t start a fire. I think I have it. Is there anything else?”
“Yes. Never—” he leaned close to her and pinned her with a fierce scowl. “Neverwander around below deck without me or Barney with you.”
“What about Kit?”
“I repeat,neverwander—”
“Without you or Barney. I understand. I’m not allowed to walk topside, nor can I walk below deck. What could possibly be left for me to do? Oh, I know. Die from boredom!”
Bemused, Morgan took a step back, not really prepared to have this discussion with her. But he had to make her understand just exactly what kind of danger she could find herself in. “Miss James,” he said, reverting to a formal tone—anything to hide his discomfort. “I don’t know how much your parents have told you about men and…” He paused, searching for words.
“Their base cravings?” she supplied.
He nodded. “That term will suffice.”
“They gave me adequate advice and warnings,” she assured him, then she paused for a minute as if thinking something over. “You know, Captain,” Serenity said, sitting back and pursing her lips. “It seems to me that we have a problem with these rules.”
“And what is that?”
“That they are made on the presumption that I’m stupid.”
He lifted a brow. “Now, how did you get that—”
“I’m a grown woman, Captain,” she said, rising to her feet to confront him. “I can even walk and whistle at the same time without fainting. I do, after all, work alone in my father’s paper shop, which happens to be walking distance from the wharf. Believe me, Captain, I am fully capable of watching after my own affairs.”
Morgan smiled at her bravado. “I believe you said earlier, Miss James, that an ounce of prevention—”
“Is worth an army of pistols,” she said. “I agree. It is, after all, why the Good Lord gave us brains. I fully intend to keep myself out of harm’s way.”
Grateful for her sense, Morgan nodded. “I know you can’t stay down here all the time, so if you want to go topside, you can. Just make sure you’re not alone for the journey.”
“Aye, aye, Captain Drake,” she said with a mock salute.
She finished up the last bite of her breakfast, then faced him. “Now, Captain, if I may make a small request?”
“The water-closet is—”
She cleared her throat, cutting his words off. Color rose high in her cheeks. “I already foundthat.”
“Then what did you want?”
“Show me where I may make mischief and mayhem.”
