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convention.
    “You may not have heard of me, Mr. Blake. In London circles, I’ve gained something of a…a reputation.” She swallowed, fought the nausea rising in her stomach, and forced herself to continue. “Sir James was good enough to rescue me from the debacle I’d made of my life. Now I will do the same for him and the Linx. If you’re so set on revenge, I would ask you take it with me.”
    “What?”
    “M’lady…”
    “Sarah!”
    The American was astounded. Maude distressed and teary-eyed. James coldly—seemingly—furious.
    Ignoring her maid and her intended, Sarah stripped away the last of her pride.
    “If you want me, I will bed with you. In return, you must promise to harm no one else aboard this ship.”

CHAPTER THREE
    R ICHARD COULDN’T DECIDE whether he was more astonished, amused or offended. For the second time in less than an hour, this glorious creature expected him to pounce on her like a bilge rat would on a barrel of salt pork.
    He was an officer in the United States Navy, for pity’s sake! The son and grandson of deep water ship captains. He lived by the rules of the sea and held to a rigid code of honor.
    He came within a breath of informing the lady of that fact. Rueful reflection held him back. His conduct in her cabin hardly qualified as that of a true gentleman. He’d given her little reason to think he would rebuff such an extraordinary offer. Still, it was one kettle of pea soup for a man to steal a kiss. Another pot of stew altogether to take a sacrificial virgin to bed.
    Except…
    She was a widow, not a virgin. And Richard was no fool. They’d hatched some plot between them, she and the captain of the Linx. Richard would betevery brass button on his uniform jacket Lady Stanton intended to bring him grief, not pleasure.
    “Let me be sure I understand this,” he drawled. “You’ll bed with me and willingly. In turn, I’m not to line the crew of the Linx up at the waist-rail and shoot them.”
    She blanched. Rocked back a bit on her dainty heels. Steadied. “Nor will you hang the ship’s captain from the yardarm.”
    Christ’s toes! He’d forgotten all about that offhand threat. He hadn’t meant it, of course. In his own mind, he could justify firing on and boarding the Linx to reclaim the crewmen taken off his ship by force. He couldn’t justify stretching her captain’s neck. Unfortunately.
    His glance went to the officer under discussion. “You agree to this, Lowell?”
    “It’s not his choice,” the lady interjected. “It’s mine and mine alone.”
    Richard’s mouth curled. Whatever scheme they’d hatched, Lowell was certainly allowing his intended to carry the brunt of it. The man was a rosewater sailor of the worst sort!
    He’d play the game through, Richard decided. See how far it would carry him…and the delectable Lady Stanton.
    “I accept the terms and conditions.”
    Her eyes were huge pools in her pale face, as deep and green as the ocean and just as unfathomable. Swallowing, she swiped her tongue along her lower lip.
    “Very well. Shall we retire to my cabin?”
    “You may retire. I’ve matters to attend to yet above decks. I’ll join you shortly.”
    Nodding, she moved to the door.
    “Don’t do this, m’lady!”
    The wailing protest came from the plump little maid. She cast a fearful look at Lowell and would have said more if her mistress hadn’t silenced her with an abrupt command.
    “Come with me, Maude. I shall need your assistance.”
    The maid scurried to her side. Richard opened the door for them and instructed the petty officer standing guard to escort the women to their cabin. As the trio navigated the dim passageway, he rested a hand on his pistol butt and turned to Lowell a final time.
    “It takes a rare breed of dog to let his mate crawl into a kennel with another.”
    The captain flicked the gold lace at his cuff. “You heard the lady, Blake. This was her choice, not mine. She and I will settle matters between us