Read Lost Honor for Free Online

a new awareness.
    She had nothing to lose if she changed tactics. Arianna tore off the paper and shook out the light blue, muslin skirt and matching bodice. Entirely inappropriate for working on, or traversing, a ship. She purposely hadn’t taken one with her. It was her bad luck he had a sister and purchased this garment for her.
    She glanced at the door. What if he entered while she was changing? How much longer did she have before he returned? She scanned the cabin for something to brace against it.
    The table. No, it was bolted to the floor.
    The two chests sitting against the farthest wall. They wouldn’t keep him out, but they would hinder him until she donned her clothing. She hurried to the first one, grabbed the handle, and pulled. It weighed more than she thought. What did he keep in it? Pushing would probably be easier. With the force of her entire body behind her, she shoved the stubborn chest. It slowly scraped along the floor until it hugged the wooden barrier.
    The second one was lighter, and she soon had it beside the first. She smiled. One mission accomplished. Now on to the next. Arianna stripped off the beloved pants and shirt and threw on the hated skirt and bodice. The cloth embraced her breasts and glided down her form. The excess material rested on the floor. His sister must be taller than her but then, most people were. With the buttons in the back, she had trouble fastening the bodice, but with considerable twisting and turning, she was finally successful. She straightened the skirt and brushed out the wrinkles. The high neckline pleased her. Of course, Captain Danvers would buy a garment that covered his sister’s entire figure. Arianna hoped she presented a pleasing picture.
    A wisp of hair fluttered into her face. Another sudden insight bloomed. All men liked long, silky hair, and she considered hers her best feature. She might be vain but she loved her soft curls, and when it became unruly or hindered her, she wove it into a braid as she had today. Even though Arianna wished to fend for herself and not answer to men, she liked being a woman. She swiftly unwound the strands and raked her fingers through them. Remembering the comb on Captain Danvers’s washstand, she snatched it up and ran the teeth through her hair until the tresses flowed down and around her like a serpentine river.
    Satisfied with her appearance, she knelt beside his berth. He wouldn’t be amicable to her wishes if his room looked the same as when he left. Neatly folding his pants and shirts, she placed them in the drawers. Next, she grabbed her clothes, stuffed them in her bag, and then dropped it on the floor at the foot of his berth. She looked around her, and with a nod, she decided the cabin was fit for his majesty to enter.
    The door handle clicked, and she swung toward the sound.
    “Arianna, open this door at once.”
    The chests. This wouldn’t help in her quest to win him over.
    “Just a minute.” She clutched the handle of the lighter one. The chest screeched as it inched along the wooden floor. Huffing, she raced back for the next one, but before she reached it, the door crashed into the chest and moved it a short distance.
    “Arianna, what is going on in there?”
    The man had no patience. She grabbed the handle of the chest and pulled with a grunt. This one was much heavier and not cooperating. She planted her feet and leaned back, using her weight. At the same time, he pushed inward. The resistance melted, but not her backward tilt. She windmilled her arms as she fought to catch her balance, but her feet were positioned in front of her. She went down on her rear. Hard. Her hair flew up and then drifted down around her, covering her face.
    ****
    Morgan peeked around the corner of the door and glanced toward the floor. A chest. Was she trying to prevent him from entering? As if that would stop him.
    “Arianna, where are you?” No matter how hard he tried to contain it, frustration rang in his voice.
    He