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enormous in that time. “And you’re famously rich now.”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you feel you owe him for the botched job with the war machines?”
    “No.” He glanced up from the note with a wry grin. “But if he asked, I’d probably give the money to him.”
    That was the lovely thing about possessing a ridiculous fortune—they could give away small fortunes, and hardly notice the difference. “And if it’s not money that he’s after?”
    Yasmeen would deal with Bilson herself, if Archimedes asked her to. She knew he wouldn’t, however, and left the decision open to him.
    “I’ll go out and meet with him tonight,” he said. “Then at least I’ll know what he wants.”
    “Invite him aboard for dinner, instead,” Yasmeen suggested. “And introduce your old friend to your new wife.”
    She met Archimedes’ sharp look with a smile that had terrified other men. He only chuckled, shaking his head—not refusing, but considering. She watched him struggle against his hope that Bilson’s request would be nothing, and his worry that if it wasn’t, Yasmeen might be caught in between.
    Just as protective of her as she was of him. Yasmeen softened her smile, stepped close. When he met her eyes, she said quietly, “Why did you dance on those docks today?
Lady Corsair
wasn’t yours, her crew wasn’t yours—you didn’t love them as I did. Yet you helped me today, when everything else I saw reminded me of how much it hurt to lose them. And yourdealings with Bilson aren’t my business, I know—but if he’s here to take some sort of revenge on you, to hurt you…then let me stand behind you and help you in return.”
    His throat worked. He lowered his head, dipping his mouth close to hers. His voice was rough as he said, “You have my heart, Mrs. Fox.”
    “Good. After you stole mine, I’m in need of one.”
    He smiled against her lips. “Bilson’s request will likely be nothing.”
    “Does he have a brain in his head?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then it will be nothing,” she said, and reassured him with a kiss.
    Only an idiot would believe he stood a chance in hell against this.

Chapter 3
    Thankfully, Miles Bilson didn’t seem like an idiot , though it was difficult to be certain after only a few hours’ acquaintance. He proved to be an affable, charming bastard, and—as Archimedes had said—good company, but Yasmeen might have enjoyed his company more if she hadn’t read Zenobia’s letters before he’d arrived to dinner. Though she’d known that Archimedes and Bilson had parted ways to better avoid Temür Agha’s assassins, she hadn’t realized that Bilson had abandoned Archimedes while he still suffered from a poisoning.
    No matter how amiable Bilson was, the knowledge guaranteed that Yasmeen would never trust him.
    Despite her reservations, however, Bilson’s jovial greeting to Archimedes seemed genuine, and his interest keen as Archimedes introduced Yasmeen. She welcomed him aboard and saw that Archimedes’ friend was made to feel at ease in her cabin, which he did quite readily, sinking into the cushions surrounding the low table. As the cabin girls brought in the first course, Bilson launched into conversation with Archimedes, filling in the years that had separated them, and allowing Yasmeen time to sip her wine and observe him.
    On the surface, he was much like Archimedes—or perhaps like a brother to Archimedes—sharing many of the same interests, but not so similar that they bored each other. Physically, he held himself in the relaxed manner that Archimedes did. His features were undeniably handsome, though more roughly hewn, and he was barrel-chested where Archimedes was lean. He wore the full beard that the Europeans on the northern American continent favored, and his brown hair was neatly trimmed, his jacket and trousers smartly tailored.
    That neatness wasn’t what Yasmeen had expected of a man who’d leased a farm from the natives in the American interior, though she knew her