Percy quickly squared his shoulders and tried to scowl. “Did I just get insulted?”

“D’you think you could knock one out if you took him by surprise?” Jeremy asked his friend.

Percy made a fist and stared down at it before he shook his head. “You know that ain’t my cup of tea, dear boy.”

“I can,” Jack volunteered. “Never mind objecting, you know I can.”

“You could,” Damon allowed. “Except that would put you too close to them. All it will take is for one of them to get their hands on you, Jack, and the rest of us will lose. You stay right where you are.”

“I’ll be back in a minute.” Jeremy headed down to the main deck with Percival and the guards.

“Is he going to start something?” Damon asked.

Jacqueline grinned. “Possibly, but more likely, just make them a little nervous. Are we going to do this today?”

He shook his head. “No, today we plan, and before we do anything, I need to lock Mr. Thomson safely in my cabin. We won’t make much headway afterward if he gets injured or captured.” Damon brushed back a lock of Jack’s hair that had fallen over her face. “So . . . we’re back to separate beds?”

She glanced around to make sure her brother was still walking on the main deck, then put her hand on Damon’s buttocks and squeezed. “What do you think?”

“So you lied to him?”

“Course I did. He’s being a hypocrite. He never denied himself any woman who cast her eyes his way before he married, and that was pretty much any woman who crossed his path. For him to deny me the same sort of pleasure is absurd.”

“He was being protective and I’d expect no less.”

“Are you going all noble again?”

He gently caressed her cheek. “As long as you want me, I’m yours.”

She smiled brilliantly. “That was rather sweet—”

“What was?” Jeremy asked as he came up behind her.

She swung around to complain, “I thought you were getting some exercise.”

“I was passing out nasty looks in preparation.”

“For?” she asked.

“Our foolproof plan.” Jeremy glanced at Damon. “Tell them to send up two of their men to fight me—hell, make it three. Say the crew is due some entertainment.”

“That’s not a bad idea, but challenging two should be enough.”

“No, three. They have to think they can win, or the others won’t come up to watch.”

“You’re assuming they will all show up, but what if they don’t?” Jacqueline reminded Damon, “I thought you wanted to secure your helmsman first to keep him safe?”

“That won’t be necessary if this impromptu fighting match that they can wager on lures all of them up here. But if it doesn’t, we won’t proceed beyond the fight and we can try again tomorrow. They might not be happy when your brother wins, but they shouldn’t interfere. And at least we’ll be able to count two or three of them sore or disabled for the next round.”

“There are still fifteen of them,” she told Jeremy. “How are we getting rid of the rest?”

“I’m going to be clumsy so a few of my swings will go wide and take out a few of the onlookers, and I’ll keep it interesting so their eyes stay on me and won’t be watching what the rest of you are doing.”

“With the pirates gathered around your brother,” Damon added, “we can take down the ones on the fringes before the others notice. It’s a good plan.”

It was, yet she couldn’t help thinking about what would happen if they failed. They’d probably be killed and she’d be . . . She shuddered.

Noticing her expression, Jeremy chucked her chin. “You see any flaws in this plan?”

“No, but I’ll need a weapon.”

“You’ll need to lock yourself in the cabin,” Damon said adamantly.

“Not a chance! And before you disagree, they will expect me to be by your side as I’ve been all week. If I’m not, they will be suspicious and then nothing will go as you wish.”

“She’s right,” Jeremy said. “Just try to stay out of the way, Jack. If even one of them gets their hands on you, it’s all over.”

“Exactly my point,” Damon said. “You can stay on deck until the fight starts, but then you have to get behind a locked door. If you don’t agree to that, Jack, then I’m not delivering Jeremy’s challenge.”

She glared at Damon for a moment before she mumbled, “Fine, I’ll use the latch on the door. But you’re going to miss my help.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

AFTER CALLING MORTIMER OVER and relaying the full plan to him, the first mate went below to issue the challenge and wake up any sleeping pirates, promising a fight they wouldn’t want to miss and taking wagers. Jeremy went down to the main deck, removed his wrinkled coat, and started stretching and jabbing at the air, typical preparations for a round of fisticuffs. Jacqueline stayed with Damon, trying to figure out a way to help without hindering. But she doubted she could knock out anyone with a single punch; disable, yes, but she didn’t dare leave any of the pirates able to get back up before most of them had been captured. She wished she had some sort of weapon, but none was being offered to her.

Then Damon slipped her the little pistol he’d taken from her at the start of this voyage, saying, “Just in case.” Knowing that he now trusted her with it gave her such a warm feeling she couldn’t resist thanking him with an ardent kiss, even if it had to be brief. She knew the pistol was only for her own protection, not to be used in taking out any of the pirates, but she still felt more confident now that she had it and slipped it into the pocket of the britches Jackie had loaned her.

Jeremy’s preparations were drawing the attention of the three pirates on deck. Jacqueline moved to the top of the stairs when one of them yelled at her brother, “Wot are you up to, toff?”

Jeremy motioned the pirate forward, his expression making it a dare. “I’ve offered some entertainment in the form of a challenge, and your captain thinks it will be amusing, so he’s agreed.”

“You’re fighting him?”

“Eventually, but today I want any two of you who beat me down in London to dare try it again. Weren’t you one?” The pirate’s snort had Jeremy add, “No? Well, your mates have been invited and will join you shortly. Decide amongst yourselves who’s brave enough to give this a go.”