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Alexandra as a first name.
    Honoria was for intimate friends and family; it was the
    name he called her when they were in private long
    enough for him to steal a quick kiss. Strangely, a thought
    of what it would be like if the Spaniard were to kiss her
    flitted through her mind. Repulsive, no doubt. Never mind
    that he was attractive; there was nothing civilized about
    his features. His was the beauty of a wild, dangerous
    animal. Still, her lips tingled as she pushed away
    unwanted speculation.
    She put her lips close to Derrick's ear and
    whispered, "Your name is Derrick Lacey. Do you
    understand?" Lacey House was the name of the Pyneham
    family seat, and the best alias she could come up with on
    short notice. She prayed that he understood through the
    pain and the fever. She glanced up and met the worried
    gaze of her maid, who knelt on Derrick's other side. She'd
    left Huseby to tend to her beloved when she'd been taken
    to the captain's quarters.
    " That took a while," Huseby observed. She looked
    Honoria over suspiciously. "What did the corsair want
    with you, my lady? Did he do anything —"
    She cut Huseby off with a gesture. "No titles! You
    serve Honoria Pyne and her betrothed, Mr. Lacey,"
    Honoria whispered. As for Huseby's questions ... well, she
    had no intention of answering them. Simply having been
    alone with the Spaniard sullied her reputation, never
    mind that he had put his hands on her. Or that she had
    found his touch curiously… energizing .
    "But, my la—"
    " Miss Pyne . Please, Huseby." Huseby was seven
    years older than Honoria, one of many children of a
    family that had always served the Pyneham line. Honoria
    often thought of Maggie Huseby as an older sister.
    Huseby was intelligent, incisive, and very intuitive.
    Honoria trusted and loved her, but now she exerted her
    will on the reluctant maid. "The disguise is necessary.
    For Der — Mr. Lacey's sake ."
    Huseby's rebellious look turned thoughtful as she
    looked down at Derrick. Slowly her expression soured as
    she recognized that their chance of being easily ransomed
    was being compromised. She did not argue, but sighed
    reluctantly. "I serve you… Miss Pyne."
    Honoria reached across Derrick's poor prone body
    and squeezed Huseby's hand. "Thank you, Maggie.
    Nothing ill will come of this. I promise you." She turned
    her attention to Derrick, and wiped beads of sweat off his
    brow. His eyes were closed, his breathing light and rapid.
    "You will recover, my love. Nothing will happen to you.
    Could you fetch more water for him, Huseby?"
    Honoria shifted to put Derrick's head in her lap as
    Huseby moved away, muttering. Honoria glanced
    furtively around the hold once she was settled. While she
    was heartsore at what had befallen the crew and
    passengers of the ship, for Derrick's safety she was glad
    that the captives had been divided up by the pirates. She
    did not think anyone else aboard the Spaniard's galley
    knew their true identities. Derrick had not worn his
    uniform aboard the Manticore. The common sailors were
    still aboard the Manticore, which was being sailed to
    Algiers by a pirate crew. The officers and passengers
    were being held as prizes to be ransomed by the various
    corsair captains. The Manticore's captain had been killed
    in the battle. She and Derrick, Maggie Huseby, and a few
    others had been brought to this ship by the Spaniard .
    There was very little light in the space where the
    prisoners were being kept, and there were few amenities.
    The manacles she'd worn earlier had been removed when
    she was brought back to the hold. Derrick had at least
    been provided with a pallet. They were in the shadows
    enough to hide the impropriety of the intimate way she
    held her beloved's head in her lap. No one saw her run
    her fingers lovingly through his silken hair as she gazed
    into the distance. After a while she scarcely noticed
    where she was or what she did. Honoria's senses read
    back to her every look, gesture and word that had