TWO MONTHS EARLIER
He was the esteemed Lieutenant Jordan Lewis. He did not want to stoop this low, but his reputation could recover from being seen in this brothel when he brought the Queen the equally infamous Captain Murder and brought home one wife and one consort in the process. Miss Swift was not raised noble. He never saw her at any of the balls but she was not the filthy wenches that infested places like this; riding any man with a dollar to his name. Miss Swift was the property of Fort Featherstone. He wanted her to bear and raise his children. What higher calling could a common maid like Miss Swift aspire to?
The Lieutenant wrinkled his nose as he dismissed his decorated entourage. The officers that accompanied did not require further encouragement to leave his side. A small crowd had gathered and they were flirting with the ladies who marvelled at their uniforms. The Lieutenant recognised Dwayne Skipper the moment he laid eyes on him.
“You there! Dwayne Skipper, was it?”95Please respect copyright.PENANAY5fnRKF3nz
“I didn’t expect such an audience.” Dwayne clapped slowly. “You really are the pirate killer hired by her Majesty. If I knew you were no lowly hoodwinker, I’d have invited you to somewhere more…classy to conduct business.”95Please respect copyright.PENANARXdq7SSwFW
“Your letter implied that you know where the pirates are? I doubt that you and I have anything in common enough to conduct business.”
The Lieutenant frowned at the prostitutes conducting their business under the gaze of drunken and desperate sailors and working men. He straightened his wig with agitation. “Aye, but people talk here in the pleasure house and I know where they’re going. Those pirates took something important to me. I want to take their lives as much as you do.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAN1iLF05fQ5
“How do you expect to do that from here?”95Please respect copyright.PENANABh0C50JyY1
“That’s why I need you. You NEED me to find them.”
What Dwayne was not sharing was that he was not human. Unlike most Kelpies who protected freshwater lochs, Dwayne preferred human luxuries. One day he lost his temper with a boy with orange eyes and hair that was half black and half white. When he hit the boy his claws left a mark that allowed Dwayne to track the boy to the ends of the earth. Even if the boy was torn into pieces and sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
“Draw me a map and I’ll pay you however much gold you can spend here.”95Please respect copyright.PENANARXdkLxZw1O
“I’m not an idiot, Lieutenant. I’m coming with you to take back what is mine. I will give your crew directions in pieces. You can pay me for each map. Do we have an accord?”95Please respect copyright.PENANA7iTUNEMa3L
“How do I know that you know where you’re going?”95Please respect copyright.PENANAYB2zQTBtN7
“I have a spy aboard their ship.” The little boy did not know that he would be their ruin.95Please respect copyright.PENANAsPl3grFACo
“All I ask is that you don’t hurt the boy they stole from me. He’s an invaluable asset.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAO83rdGVxFf
“Is he your son or nephew?”95Please respect copyright.PENANA5gi4yBsyrS
“No. He’s my favourite servant.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1mRI7fCfH
“How much are your services going to cost?”95Please respect copyright.PENANA5p4QufPGxb
“80 pounds?”95Please respect copyright.PENANAOTdOJSl2eD
“I should have expected as much. 40.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAvjSXoj6u9l
“Hmmn. You’re going to have to do better than that.”95Please respect copyright.PENANApbLT0WhyJS
“50?”95Please respect copyright.PENANAGqs3A4zJt4
“65 pounds.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAgMA1ZuXKtq
“Deal.” As a naval officer, the Lieutenant was paid more than the average working man. However, If this business transaction was a waste of his time his rank would be dropped. He could handle that minor humiliation, but his reputation was also at stake.
Their gazes were locked like a canon locked on a rival ship, Dwayne’s sky blue and Jordan’s steel grey. Suddenly, the doors flew open and a maid stumbled in, tripping on the front of a maid’s dress that was once diligently pinned at a workable length.
The Lieutenant recognized the fourteen-year-old instantaneously, stepping in to protect her from his associate’s lecherous intentions, given that Skipper had selected a brothel to conduct business, but the redhead bowed to the maid trembling in Jordan’s arms.95Please respect copyright.PENANAh3vpQOF5wj
“Someone please help! My friend has been abducted by ruffians!” Myrtle sobbed.95Please respect copyright.PENANAThrmaGJq2v
When she realized who was holding her, she jumped out of the Lieutenant's arms.95Please respect copyright.PENANAcjLHp1tcg0
“Which Master do you work for?” Dwayne inquired to settle her.95Please respect copyright.PENANAmPLw4G4dFO
“F-Featherstone.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAS5ZD52nWG9
“You are one lucky girl, but you are so far from the estate. That is unwise. There are all sorts of perverts that roam at night. Please describe the ruffians who took your friend and we shall return your friend.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAJXAQ5nEHuX
“I didn’t see their faces clearly, misters. It was dark. But I do remember the ship.”
“I’ll get you some parchment and a quill and you can draw the ship for us, little miss.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAUDBmptGkkx
Myrtle shook her head at the redhead.95Please respect copyright.PENANA7xvM8ovakh
“I…um…don’t know how to draw.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAMnOoJb9EsB
“Would you like to accompany us? With your help we can find your friend sooner. Don’t worry about your Master. I can write him a letter to explain that you are safe and will be returned with your friend.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAdd1j0CUAs8
Myrtle looked between Dwayne, a disinterested Jordan and finally at the ladies of the night, who were creeping closer, murmuring excitedly and giggling amongst themselves as Dwayne turned and asked them to bring him a roll of parchment and a quill. Myrtle had to repress the blush rising in her cheeks as the ladies of the night pawed at the gentlemen. She really liked pretty ladies. Sandra was pretty, but she was also smart.95Please respect copyright.PENANAWoXb5U0XiW
“You seem to know this fair maiden, Lewis.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAAoqU0885nw
“Yes, Skipper. I am also familiar with her friend, Miss Swift.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAGbincyehKi
“Ladies!” Dwayne snapped his fingers. “Please bring some drinks for my guests.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAFl8qQOVpuR
“I don’t drink.” The Lieutenant scowled.95Please respect copyright.PENANAC5ODUvbLvS
“The drinks aren’t for you. They’re for the little miss. To help loosen her shy tongue.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAI331TT07Bz
“Do you need anything else, misters?” One of the prostitutes spoke up. “...and miss?”95Please respect copyright.PENANA9zZ6Gq2SZq
“Please take care of the three of us, madam. We’ll be offshore for months. I’ll miss you.”95Please respect copyright.PENANAxEjtXtDe6J
The Lieutenant rolled his eyes as his new associate woo’d the filthy, penniless whores. Myrtle was in over her head. No longer scared of Lewis since she was being fawned over by the ladies of the night. Skipper kept Myrtle’s glass full while he questioned her.