A Pirate's Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

such incidents occurred. The crew was careful to stay well away from Bettina when she was allowed on deck.
    After a month at sea, they encountered another storm that was quite mild at first, and Bettina was able to wash her hair again. But she had barely finished when the storm increased in intensity, and she was forced to return to the safety of her cabin.
    It seemed as if the heavens had opened up and were throwing their vengeance on this ship alone. It stormed all through the night, and the violent pitching of the ship made it impossible for Bettina to sleep. She tried pacing the floor nervously but was quickly thrown against the walls of the cabin. Luckily, everything was securely fastened down, and Bettina dashed back to the built-in captain’s bed for protection.
    Amazingly, Madeleine had fallen asleep quite easily, which annoyed Bettina, who was very frightened. She was sure that the Windsong would crash over into the sea and they would all drown.
    But sometime in the middle of the night, with her hands braced against the sides of the little bed and her still-wet hair trailing over the side, Bettina herself finally went to sleep.
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    The sea was calm the following morning when Bettina awoke. She chided herself for being so frightened the night before, and was sure it hadn’t been such a bad storm after all.
    Madeleine was already up and dressed, and pouring the allotted amount of cold water into a small bowl for Bettina’s morning toilette.
    â€œDid you sleep well, my pet?” she asked cheerfully.
    â€œI did not,” Bettina grumbled and swung her long legs off the bed. Her damp hair fell over her shoulders, and she grimaced. “Maddy, be a dear and go ask the capitaine if I can dry my hair on deck.”
    â€œI will do no such thing. You are not going out there in the morning,” Madeleine answered adamantly.
    â€œIf I have the capitaine ’s permission, then it will be all right. And you know how long my hair took to dry last time. I nearly caught cold.”
    â€œThere is worse you can catch up on deck,” Madeleine replied.
    â€œPlease, Maddy, do as I ask.”
    â€œI will, but I don’t like it.”
    Madeleine left the cabin, grumbling to herself as she closed the door. Bettina dressed quickly in a velvet dress of a dark violet that contrasted vividly with her hair. When Madeleine returned, she led Bettina to the rear deck of the ship.
    â€œI still don’t like this, young lady, so be quick about it,” Madeleine said sternly.
    Bettina laughed. “I cannot make the wind blow faster, Maddy. But it will not take long.”
    She faced the wide expanse of sea to let the wind sweep through her hair, drying it swiftly. After a few minutes she spoke again.
    â€œWhere is the capitaine? ”
    â€œOn the gallery I am surprised he agreed to let you on deck after what that poor sailor attempted.”
    Bettina turned to see the captain in a heated argument with one of his crewmen.
    â€œLook, Bettina, a ship!” Madeleine cried.
    Bettina turned and saw the other sail in the distance.
    â€œLadies, you must return to your cabin quickly.” Bettina jumped as the captain came up behind her. “If that seadog of a lookout had been doing his job, instead of watching you, then he would have seen the vessel in time. As it is, they are coming straight for us.”
    â€œIs there anything to be alarmed about, Capitaine? ” Bettina asked worriedly, a frown puckering her brow.
    â€œThat ship is not flying her colors. She may be a pirate vessel.”
    Bettina gasped. “But surely they will not attack the Windsong! ”
    â€œIt is unlikely that they will, mademoiselle , but one never knows about these cutthroats. We will try to outdistance them, and I must ask that you lock the door to your cabin. Do not open it for any reason until the danger is past. And do not worry. We have succeeded in fighting off pirates before.”
    Bettina felt sick