thousands of acres; my mother’s mother was third cousin to the Spanish Royal House, a Hapsburg. Brian’s uncle was The Mackenzie, the head of the biggest clan in Scotland. We lived on an estate, with dozens of tenants; Brian was laird of it all. I know what I’ve lost. I just don’t appreciate having my nose rubbed in it.”
There it was: the stab high up under her ribs that always came with remembering. She rubbed her forehead, cheeks heating in frustration at how horribly desperate she sounded.
“Perhaps I should have ransomed you after all.”
She heard the tease in Nathan’s voice and looked up, the sight of his gold and ivory grin eliciting a reluctant one from her.
“Save your energy; it’s all so very, very gone,” Cate said tartly.
Nathan's smile faded and he sobered. “And I’ll wager you mourned when it was gone.”
“I mourned for who I lost, not what.” She would have traded it all to have Brian back, but Fate had chosen not to leave her even that bargaining chip. In a single day—in a matter of a few hours—she had gone from a lady of substance to a nameless fugitive, with nothing more to her name than what could be stuffed in a saddlebag.
“It’s just around her, I feel—I feel the same as when I was at Lady Bart’s, with Harte and all those others looking at me…like I didn’t fit in. Which, yes, I know I don’t,” she said peevishly. “Never have—not fully—but it’s just that—”
He batted his lids in disbelief. “Yet again with the ‘don’t fit in?’ I saw you wade into the midst of strange men—pirates, I might add—half-naked, and proceed to sew a man’s flesh. You’ve lived on a ship among a hundred-odd and have earned the respect of every one of them, a feat not to be dismissed,” he added, wagging his finger at her. “You lived alone in London for years, survived a war and shed enough blood to gain the attention of the Crown.”
“And yet put me in a room with silk and lace, and all I can think of is to crawl into the corner. No one will ever mistake me for a lady.”
Her throat tightened at the echo of her mother’s words. Time and again, she had endured her mother’s bemoaning of her lack of grace and modesty, all as impossible to attain as more sloping shoulders and a jaw less bold.
“You’re far too much woman to be wasted on fop and frippery,” Nathan said coldly.
Cheeks burning with embarrassment, Cate tried to look away, but Nathan took her by the chin and firmly pulled her back. A tremor ran through his fingertips as he locked her eyes with his.
“And any bastard—man or woman—what fails see that, doesn’t warrant being in your presence. The corner is never where you belong. You should be front and center.”
Nathan rose and began pacing, his hands carving the air. “Tell me—hell, tell the entire crew what you desire, luv. If it’s a fine house, jewels, servants, then so it shall be. If you want, I’ll get you an entire goddamned island, and you can have your personal empire. You can hold court over them all, and they’ll be obliged to kiss your skirts and beg your leave.”
Checking himself, he drew up before Cate and smiled. “Just tell me what you want and Ol’ Nathan will get it for you.”
“None of that.” Touched by his resolve, Cate's throat tightened. “I’m not ashamed, nor have I minded—”
“But now she has you looking around, seeing what you don’t have,” he put in knowingly.
“I know what I do have.” She looked up and said earnestly, “Thank you, Nathan. Have I ever said that?”
“For what?”
“Everything: my life, a place to belong, food, shelter, purpose…a friend.”
Nathan smiled, both recalling his adamant objections when she first bestowed the title. Modesty flowed abundant, the heavy lashes lowering. “No worries, luv. A decent man would do no else.”
“And you are decent, aren’t you?”
He grimaced and leaned down to say, “I’d prefer it if you didn’t broadcast that last bit about,” in low-voiced confidence.
Cate smiled. “Consider it done; my lips are sealed.”
Tease lurked once more in the cinnamon highlights of his eyes. “I knew you were quality, the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“Quality doesn’t pay the butcher, nor feed the dormouse,” Cate said tartly.
“Aye, but ’tis an admirable trait what doesn’t necessarily come with title or position.”
Nathan slid his eyes sideways toward the pool. “Then how’s about a nice bath? The Queen of