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realized. He wouldn’t—Longcock preferred the first mate’s position—but Yasmeen would let Vashon determine that for herself. “He can’t read and write. I need you to do both at times. You are my right hand with the aviators.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” She took a deep breath. “And which hand is Mr. Fox?”
    Archimedes looked up from a letter, brows arched in surprise. Yasmeen smiled. Though the question was impertinent, she was pleased Vashon had asked. It was best to lay out the rules now.
    “As far as you are concerned, he is me,” Yasmeen said. “If he ever makes a request, you will consider it an order.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” After a brief hesitation, she asked, “And if his order conflicts with yours?”
    “Tell him so. If he still insists that you carry out his order, then do as he says.”
    Both stared at her—Vashon in some confusion, Archimedes in absolute shock.
    Yasmeen pretended that neither of them was gaping at her like a fish that had been coshed over the head. Though she had never imagined making such a decision, the past few months had made it a simple one. She knew Archimedes would
never
undermine or question her authority on this ship unless absolutely necessary—and to him, that necessity would be saving her life. If Archimedes Fox, Fearless Adventurer thought any situation was that dire, it was worth pausing and reconsidering.
    And she didn’t want to lose him, either.
    Yasmeen continued, “Then come and let me know that he’s countermanded my orders, of course—if he does not beat you to it. But if he feels it necessary to overturn my orders without first consulting me, I know he’d have a damned compelling reason. That’s worth listening to.”
    Slowly, Archimedes sat up, holding her gaze. By the sweet heavens, he was a beautiful man. The shock had fled, leaving an expression of incredible intensity that all but shouted the depth of his love. Yasmeen’s throat constricted. Why had she never said this so clearly before? She thought he’d known. Perhaps he had—but had just never thought she’d say it.
    Beautiful, incredible man.
    And if he kept staring at her like that, she would soon throw herself into his arms. Shaken by the strength of her reaction, Yasmeen forced herself to look away from him. Vashon had managed to close her mouth, but clearly had no idea how to respond.
    Yasmeen cleared her throat and helped her out. “It probably won’t happen, you realize. He won’t even make any requests. In the unlikely event that he does, however, these are my instructions.”
    The quartermaster released a long breath. “Yes, ma’am.”
    “All right.” Yasmeen slid a sheaf of papers across the desk. “This is your contract. Your duties are listed; if you have any questions, I suggest that you ask the steward for clarification before you sign it. After you have signed it, he’ll add you to the payroll. Your wages and share are noted on the second page.”
    Vashon’s eyes rounded. “That’s incredibly generous, ma’am.”
    Only if she lasted long enough to collect it. “Don’t be fooled by thenumber, mademoiselle. My last quartermaster thought that amount of money made him a man of leisure—but I will work every single denier out of you.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Then welcome aboard
Lady Nergüi
, mademoiselle. You’re dismissed.”
    The moment Vashon made her exit, Yasmeen’s gaze returned to Archimedes. He rose from the pillows, so lean and strong.
    The roughness of his voice was a caress up her spine. “Why?”
    “Why do I state what has become obvious to all of the crew? I am still captain, but this ship is your lady, too. I trust you to care for her, for
us
, if the need arises. I trust that you will do it, even if by undermining me you risk my anger—I trust that you will do it, even if it’s at the expense of your own heart.” Yasmeen stood and came around the desk, her pulse racing. She wasn’t adept at these sorts of declarations, not like he was. Still,