Lady Pirate Read Online Free PDF Page A

then around the empty room. “And I am, see?”
    Letting the door slide farther open, he showed her that he had one hand planted firmly on his left arse cheek. Valoree released a weary laugh. That was the beauty of One-Eye. He would follow an order literally, if it would gain him his purpose. She could hardly flog him for entering when she had not said ‘don’t enter.’ He had done as she had ordered, after all.
    Seeing her smile, he eased into the room, giving it a more thorough examination. “It sounded like there was a bit of excitement goin’ on in here.”
    â€œAye. If you call trying to get into me breeches excitement,” Valoree admitted dryly.
    One-Eye’s hand went to his cutlass, his charming smile replaced with deadly intent in a heartbeat. “Who was it? I’ll kill the bastard for ye.”
    Valoree blinked in confusion at him before understanding struck; then she grabbed one of the boots on the floor nearby and whipped it at him. “It was me , ye silly souse!” she roared. The boot slammed into the door. Then she jerked her skirts up, revealing her breeches. “I was trying to get my breeches on!”
    One-Eye blinked at that, then relaxed with a grin. “Well, now, it’s a sad day when a captain can’t even manage to don her—” His voice died as her eyes narrowed grimly on him. He changed the subject. “Ah, well, Henry sent me to—”
    â€œWhat the hell are you wearing?” Valoree snapped, sitting up on the floor suddenly as she took note that his usual attire—tight breeches, flowing white shirt, and leather vest—was gone. It had been replaced with pink hose, pink knee breeches, and the most God-awful pink waistcoat it had ever been her misfortune to see.
    Sighing heavily, One-Eye immediately began to nod in misery. “Livery,” he said with disgust. “That’s what Henry called it. Said it was all he could find.”
    â€œDear God,” she said softly, shaking her head in horrified wonder at the ugliness of the outfit. One would think the pink clothes would make One-Eye look effeminate and dandified, but that was hardly the case. If anything, the fancy dress simply seemed to make him look more disreputable—like a pirate dressed up in the fancy clothes of a servant. Which he was, of course.
    â€œSee! I knew you’d see that this was wrong. Shall I just go change back into me own clothes?”
    Valoree actually almost nodded at the suggestion, then shook her head with a sigh.
    â€œNay. You cannot run around London looking like a pirate on the prowl.”
    â€œOh, but—”
    â€œNay,” Valoree repeated firmly. “You’ll wear these clothes.”
    At her tone, One-Eye nodded, though still appearing a bit disgruntled. “Well, I’d best go tell Henry and Skully that ye’ll be along directly.”
    â€œWait!” Valoree called as he started to back out. He paused, and she gestured to the object lying by the door. “My boot.”
    Eyebrows rising, he bent to retrieve the footwear, then moved to hand it to her.
    â€œNay. Put it on for me,” she ordered instead of taking it. She’d had enough trouble putting on the breeches. She could use help lacing up the boots.
    One-Eye’s eyebrows rose so high, Valoree thought they were going to fly off his forehead. “Do you not think some slippers might be more appropriate?”
    â€œWell, aye, they would. And if I had some, surelyI’d wear them, wouldn’t I? But I don’t recall stopping by a cobbler’s shop, do you?”
    The corner of his mouth twisting at her testiness, One-Eye bent to grab the second boot as well, then moved to her feet and knelt there.
    Valoree watched him set to work with disinterest, her eyes wandering over Henry’s choice of livery. It really was atrocious, and she would guess it was just about killing One-Eye to wear it. The man had always