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given her, really?
    Captain Thompson cleared his throat. “Milady, may I escort you about the ship, now? Or do you wish to rest?”
    â€œNay, Captain, I’m afraid there will be plenty of time for rest on our voyage. Please, do show me about your vessel.”
    He beamed and offered her his arm. Ivy hesitated, considering her options. She didn’t want the man to think she wanted to touch him, and yet she did not wish to offend him by not taking his arm. However, without holding onto him, there was a large chance of her toppling to the deck. She squeezed her eyes shut at the vision of her feet in the air, petticoats exposed. Nay, that was not an option.
    Ivy let out a sigh and accepted his outstretched arm. He guided her about the main deck, pointing out the different masts and sails to her. They all passed through her mind without her noting any. She assumed she would never need to know the information, but listened to be polite.
    She detected a certain pride in his voice as he led her about the vessel. Captain Thompson led her down a stairwell, lighting a lantern as they went. The light cast an eerie glow across the dark setting. They passed several doorways until the captain halted before one.
    â€œThis will be your cabin for the voyage. It is meant for some of my officials, but they have agreed to sleep with the rest of the men so you may have your privacy. Many ships don’t have a separate cabin like this anyway unless they are a passenger vessel.”
    â€œThank you very much, sir.” Ivy pushed a lock of her hair from her eyes that had escaped her bun. Really, the man was quite kind, offering her a place on his ship and wanting nothing in return, and giving her a cabin for herself as well.
    Captain Thompson nodded his response and moved down a hallway, his heavy boots thumping as he walked, but Ivy stopped in her tracks. Her blood chilled as realization struck her. Was the man being kind, or…or…could he want something—not monetary—in return? Only now thinking of what she had gotten herself into, she shuddered. She would have to discuss this with him later.
    The captain halted, faced her, and raised a questioning brow. Ivy opened her mouth to speak but refrained. She did not want to give him any ideas if they had not yet occurred to him.
    â€œMilady?”
    She gave him a small smile and shrugged.
    He cleared his throat and continued on their journey. His path led them down a narrow ladder.
    Filthy smells assaulted Ivy’s senses and she quickly pressed the back of her hand to her nose.
    Captain Thompson glanced back at her and chuckled, the white of his teeth glimmering in the lantern light. “You’ll grow accustomed to the stench in time, milady.”
    â€œI know, Captain, even though I was only off of Captain Emery’s ship for a few hours, I suppose my nose was glad to be rid of it.”
    He smiled. “Well, milady, it’s a long voyage ahead of us so the sooner you get used to it, the better.”
    â€œOver there is where the crew sleeps.” He gestured towards another dark passageway that wound downward. “And down there is the hold where we keep the supplies, whatever treasure we may find, and any cargo.”
    The further they traveled into the bowels of the ship, the more Ivy felt like gagging. She didn’t understand how someone would willingly choose to live on a ship like this their entire life.
    She allowed her gaze to rove over the captain, who walked in the foul darkness with confidence. Although he was quite handsome, by the way he was dressed and how his hair was disheveled, he appeared to fit right in with this ship of his. But the second he grinned, she couldn’t force herself to concentrate on the fact that he was a rogue.
    She closed her eyes and focused on clearing her mind of such thoughts.
    ****
    Once back on the main deck again, Gage shifted his weight between his feet as Lady Shaw moved to the starboard