To Tame the Wind (Agents of the Crown Book 0) by Regan Walker

mischief, sir. ’Tis her dreams.”
    He sat back and crossed his arms. “Tell me more.”
    “Well, at first I thought it were just an odd dream. I’ve
had ’em meself. But this tweren’t no single dream. She’s had more than one in
the nights I’ve stood guard. Some would call ’em night terrors. She moans and
screams in her sleep like she’s bein’ chased by one of McGinnes’ banshees. The
sounds die down after a time.”
    “Have you asked her about this?”
    “Aye, once. After the first time, the next morn I ask if she
slept well. All she said was ‘Not altogether, Mr. Anderson’. I thought ye
should know, Cap’n.”
    “You were right in telling me. I hope she’s not troubled by
her captivity.”
    “Don’t think that were it, Cap’n. I heard her call out a
woman’s name… Elsie, Lisee…somethin’ like that. It were slurred, ye see.”
    “Thank you, Anderson, that will be all.”
    As the big man rose and left, Simon picked up his quill,
dipped it in the ink and then hesitated. What would cause her to have such
dreams?
    He had lingered in Rye, now well over a week, to await a
reply from Donet and to see to the needs of his hostage, her clothes, shoes and
other things a young woman might need. Elijah had taken her to Sally at the
Mermaid Inn who had more knowledge of a young woman’s clothing. All Simon knew
of feminine attire was how to remove it.
    There’d been no word from Dartmouth or Donet. With a fast
coach from Paris and a faster ship across the Channel, he thought he might have
heard something by now, unless Donet had not yet received the missive he’d left
on the girl’s pillow in Saint-Denis.
    An hour later, he had turned to his charts of the Channel
when his first mate stepped over the threshold. Jordan’s dark eyes, usually
full of mirth, carried a grave look. It raised the hair on the back of Simon’s
neck.
    “You have news?”
    Jordan stepped into the cabin. “I do. Donet received your
note. You won’t be surprised to learn he’s sent a nasty reply.”
    “I expected as much. After all, we have his daughter. What
does he say?”
    “You might as well read it.” He walked to the desk and
dropped the letter on top of the ship’s log.The blue wax seal was
already broken. “The short answer is he agrees to the exchange and threatens
the crew with death if she’s harmed.”
    Simon unfolded the single sheet, quickly confirming the
message, and raised his head. “He says nothing of the Abundance ?”
    “I noted that as well. Expect the pirate intends to keep
her.”
    Simon sat back, wondering if he should go himself. But the
note said Donet was sending his quartermaster. And he’d need Jordan in London.
“Send Elijah and Giles to Paris for the meeting Donet wants. Whitehall has
enough of its representatives in France right now, they’ll be in good company.
Tell Elijah to demand the return of the Abundance as well as her crew.”
    “I’ll see to it, Captain,” Jordan said and turned to leave.
    Before his first mate had stepped through the cabin door,
Simon asked, “Where’s the girl now?”
    Jordan paused, looked over his shoulder and smiled. “She’s
in the galley with Nate listening to tales from our new cook. Safe enough, I
think. And one of the crew stands guard as you ordered.”
    He nodded and Jordan departed. So she’s discovered
McGinnes.
    During the day when he had work to do at his desk, Elijah
often escorted her to the weather deck. The galley was a new venue for her, but
he’d known she’d eventually find her way there. His Irish cook was only a few
years older than she and quite a charmer. Educated in one of the Ursuline
schools for the poor in Cork, they would have many stories to exchange. Simon
had no bias against Catholics, as many in London did, and knew the Ursulines to
do much good. That his captive was Catholic concerned him not at all. That she
was French nobility and the daughter of his enemy concerned him more.
    Since Simon had kissed