The Captain's Pearl Read Online Free PDF

her brother’s voice. Her awe of him increased. If he was more powerful than Bryce, he must be a great man.
    â€œAye, Captain,” Bryce said with obvious reluctance, then smiled grimly. “Let’s get out of here. Sun Niang is going to be mighty annoyed.”
    Davis began to speak. As she wrapped a dark cloak around herself, she shook her head when he asked if she understood.
    He looked at his first mate. “Explain it to her, Bryce. You speak her language far better than I do.”
    Bryce bent so his eyes were level with hers and said in Cantonese, “Do as you are told, little fool. If you cooperate, you might escape alive. If you are foolish, we shall leave you behind. Do you understand?”
    â€œYes, I understand you completely.”
    With a smile that chilled her, he nodded. “I thought you would.”
    Misgivings oozed like cold rain along her. “You need not steal me. Buy me from Sun Niang.”
    With a wry grin, Davis shook his head. “I tried. With both Bryce and me buying your time, he thinks you are a true prize. Even opium could not buy you.”
    â€œOpium?” Bryce asked. “Where did you find that, Captain?”
    â€œDon’t ask.”
    â€œHe thinks she is worth more than a chest of opium?”
    Lian glowered at him as Davis said, “I offered him more than one, but he would not sell her.”
    â€œHis loss.” Bryce chuckled, and she was shocked by the transformation. The taut lines of anger vanished as he rubbed his hands together. “So we shall do as we planned?”
    Davis’s grin matched his mate’s. “Make sure we have at least five minutes for a head start.”
    â€œAye, Captain.” His smile faded as he faced Lian. In Cantonese, he continued, “Do exactly as you are told.”
    She nodded. When her brother held out his hand, his broad fingers closed around hers, comforting and protective. She lifted the hood over her head and shivered with fear and excitement as Bryce brushed past them.
    When she started to follow, Davis whispered, “Wait.”
    â€œWhat—?”
    â€œSay nothing, sister.”
    Lian bit back the questions taunting her. She watched Bryce storm across the courtyard. When he berated Sun Niang with curses she had not guessed a Yang Kuei-tzÅ­ could know, she heard Davis’s low chuckle.
    â€œHe has an astounding Cantonese vocabulary,” he said in admiration.
    â€œForeigners are not supposed to learn much Cantonese.”
    â€œBryce cares little about the law when he feels it is unfair—to him. I think he paid workers in the bars to teach him.”
    When she started to ask another question, he put his finger to her lips again. The argument was growing loud. Davis’s hand tightened around hers. She tensed. Bryce would abandon her if this failed. She wished she knew what her brother might do. She must put her trust and her life in the hands of two strangers. She must concentrate as surely as the man had on his studies to win the fox’s daughter.
    â€œNow!” Davis whispered.
    Keeping her head down, Lian went with him into the courtyard. Her bare feet made no sound. They must not go too fast, nor too slow, or they would be noticed. As her breath rasped in her ears, she prayed those here would be too busy grasping for pleasure to notice three foreign devils had left when only two had entered.
    Davis put his arm around her shoulders. When she started to pull away, he whispered a warning as a man walked toward them.
    â€œ Jo tau, ” Davis mumbled, but the man ignored the polite greeting. Pushing against her back, her brother herded her into the outer garden.
    Lian was sweating beneath the heavy cape as she listened for the telltale sounds of pursuit. When Davis led her into the chaos of Hog Lane, she paused.
    â€œCome on,” he urged.
    â€œBut, Bryce—”
    â€œCan take care of himself.” He motioned toward the river. “We have