Sea Mistress by Candace McCarthy Read Free Book Online

leave us alone, she urged them silently. She was more than ready to return to her cabin now. If only she and Reeves could get away. . .
    She was hot. Beneath her coat her shirt was damp with perspiration and clung to her skin. Without thought, she started to unbutton her coat, and then froze, sensing she was being watched. Shocked by her own carelessness, she chanced a peek toward Conrad, and found him eyeing her closely as he spoke with Alf Feather. Conrad’s eyes narrowed on her suspiciously, and she looked away.
    â€œWhat’s ailing ya, boy?” he taunted.
    â€œConrad—” Reeves warned.
    â€œKeep your sniveling nose out of this, Reeves. I’m speaking to Robbie Marlton here.” His arm encircled Bess’s slim shoulders, and she shuddered but resisted the urge to withdraw. Her struggles would only incite the bully, so she remained passive, hoping that Conrad would tire of the game and leave.
    â€œGawd!” the second mate burst out suddenly, removing his arm from about her. “A coat— jeezus—the stripling’s wearing a coat! In this ’eat!”
    His grubby thick-fingered hand fastened on Bess’s coat collar. She swallowed and averted her face; she could smell the fetid odor of his breath and feel the heat of his exhalations against her cheek. “Such smooth skin, ya’s got, boy. Don’t ‘e, Alf?” Bess caught her breath fearfully when he caressed and then pinched her cheek. “ ’E don’t even ’ave fuzz like a peach!”
    Conrad tugged unexpectedly on Bess’s collar, and she cried out as she jerked away.
    â€œWhat ya need is some’um to builds up a sweat if yur so cold!” he growled. With a hard yank, he threw Bess to the decking, where she lay, gasping, fury replacing her fear.
    â€œLeave him alone!” Reeves lunged for Conrad, but Feather grabbed the man by the scruff of his neck.
    Laughing at the helpless Reeves, Conrad kicked a bucket in Bess’s direction. “Scrub, boy, and y’ull be warm in no time.”
    Water sloshed over the sides of the pail, splashing onto the hem of Bess’s trousers. Anger burned in the pit of her stomach as she scrambled to her feet. How dare this ruffian treat her and Reeves this way! She glared at Conrad, her hands clenched into fists, uncaring at that moment if Conrad saw that she was a woman.
    â€œYou boorish oaf!” she shouted. She sprang at him, her hands hammering on him wildly, but the man chuckled with delight. He caught hold of her flailing wrists, locked her hands tight to her sides, and pinned Bess solidly against his chest.
    â€œYou’d best take care who ya hit, stripling,” he murmured in her ear silkily. “A lad like ya could easily slip and fall overboard if he wurn’t careful.”
    â€œ Con-rad! ”
    Conrad froze. The captain had seen the fracas as he’d come up on deck, and his tone was furious.
    Releasing Bess, who hastened toward Reeves’s side, Conrad snapped to attention. Alf Feather freed Reeves.
    â€œSeth,” Bess breathed, clutching hold of Reeves’s arm.
    There was a charged moment of silence as the two crew members tensed at their commander’s approach. Garret eyed his men sternly, then his gaze touched briefly on Reeves before settling on Bess with probing intensity.
    She swallowed and turned away, checking to make sure her cap remained in place. Did Seth recognize her? Or suspect that something was amiss? If so, he gave no clue. After several long, fearful seconds, during which Bess felt her heart must surely be heard, Seth returned his attention to the sailors.
    â€œI warned you, Conrad,” he muttered.
    â€œSir—I—”
    â€œSilence!” he thundered, and Bess gasped, stunned to see his hardened expression. There was nothing in the captain’s features at that moment that resembled the gentle young officer whom Bess had loved. The captain’s face was more