The marquis had been the perfect father, loving her unconditionally. She recalled when she was young, about ten perhaps, he had caught her in a small lie. He had taken the time to discuss with her the importance of honesty and the honor of one’s word. She had promised that she would never, not ever, lie to him again. He had pledged the same.
That single memory was the reason she knew her father was not guilty of Captain Lucifer’s accusations. He was a fair and honest man. His merchant ships were of the few who did not brutalize their crew members. He fought for the less fortunate even though his ideals made him less popular with his own kind. He was truly a man of strong convictions and that was why these treason charges were so ludicrous.
Catherine was sitting in the wooden chair next to the stove deep in thought, drying her hands on a white cotton towel when a rustle outside the door caught her attention.
A loud thud was followed by a painful “Ouch,” followed by argumentative voices. One voice she recognized and it brought a smile to her face.
“You clumsy idiot, I should have had one of the other men, one with more brains, help me,” Santos complained as he limped in, pushing the door wide open.
“It’s heavier than it looks, Santos. Honest.” Bones declared, dragging the polished oak traveling trunk into the cabin.
Catherine discreetly draped the towel she held over her bare legs and smiled her greeting.
Bones beamed from ear to ear his toothless grin causing Catherine’s own smile to widen. “I can’t tell you how thankful I am to you for carrying my trunk here. You are very kind and thoughtful.”
Santos snorted a laugh and Bones blushed, fumbling to find the right words. “Thanks, my pleasure, pleased to help—”
“Enough,” Santos ordered. “He was following the captain’s orders and doesn’t need any thanks.”
“That’s right, that’s right,” Bones agreed, bobbing his head. “The captain told me to get your trunk and bring it right quick. And I always do what the captain tells me no matter what it is.”
“Why?” Catherine asked.
Both men looked at her as if she was daft.
“I should explain my interest in your reason for following the captain’s orders?” Catherine asked.
Both shook their heads.
“I’ve heard tales of pirates, especially about Captain Lucifer, and I wondered if perhaps he was as vicious to his crew as the stories make him out to be.”
“Who’s spreading such bloody lies? Why, me and the crew will find the bastard and—”
“Bones!” Santos shouted. “Watch your mouth in front of the lady.”
“Beggin’ your pardon, m’lady,” Bones said with a nod.
Catherine acknowledged his apology with her own nod, too dumfounded to speak. She had not expected to find the crew loyal to the captain, especially not to the point of physically defending him against a verbal accusation. And foremost she had not at all expected Santos to refer to her as a lady. It worried and touched her simultaneously. She could not afford to have her charade uncovered, but it was nice to have someone think of her as such.
“Move the trunk to the end of the bed and be gone with you,” Santos ordered gruffly.
“Ouch!” Santos yelped when Bones hit his other foot while he attempted to drag it where Santos had ordered. “Get your useless ass out of here.”
“The lady,” Bones said with a whispered reminder and a blush to his already ruddy cheeks.
“Out, out,” Santos shouted, shooing him out of the room like an irritating pest.
Catherine couldn’t contain her laughter. When the door closed her giggles burst free.
Santos turned an angry scowl on her, but it vanished quickly when he caught sight of her bright face. “I don’t know why I put up with him.”
“There must be a reason,” Catherine said, feeling comfortable enough with Santos to probe for answers to questions. Questions that would help her plan succeed.
“Aye, there is,” Santos said a bit sadly, easily moving the trunk to rest at the end of the bed.
Catherine remained silent, having learned over the last few days that with a simple question and only a minimum of prodding Santos spoke freely.
“Lucian saved Bones from a mean one, he did.” The memories caused the lines on Santos’s face to crease more deeply with his frown.
Lucian. The name drifted in Catherine’s head. Could it be the captain’s given name? She listened closely, intending to learn as much as possible.
“The details aren’t fit for your ears. All you need to know is that Bones is safe and the pirate is rotting in hell where he belongs.”