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around her. “Katherine, what are we going to do?”
    “I don’t know. I am so afraid.” Katherine looked around, then finally chose to sit in one of the heavy Spanish chairs. Her eyes widened when she grasped the chair and it did not move. It was tied down to the floor. She realized that everything in the cabin must be similarly secured. She slid into the chair and closed her eyes.
    She felt extraordinarily tired, but her heart was pounding, too, in anticipation of the horror that was to come and from knowing that she must still attempt to defend herself. For she did not believe the pirate’s declaration that he would not hurt her; such a statement, coming from such a man, was ludicrous. Katherine knew that she must reveal herself as the earl of Desmond’s daughter immediately. Surely he would leave her virtue intact once he learned her identity, and give her over to her father for a handsome ransom.
    Katherine recalled the pirate’s smoldering gray eyes. She had never seen a man look at her in such a way before.
    She shook. Instinct warned her that the pirate would toy with her as a cat did a mouse, then take her, ransom or no. She crossed herself, praying that she was wrong.
    A moment later he entered the cabin. Katherine jerked upright as he closed the heavy door behind him. Juliet darted to where Katherine sat, but he did not even glance at her. His gaze slid over Katherine. Clearly he undressed her with his eyes. Katherine’s breathing was shallow. Her heart felt as if it might leap right out of her breast. She flushed in response to his insolence.
    Finally he turned his gaze from her to Juliet and crooked his finger. “You, my lady, come.”
    Juliet froze.
    Katherine was horrified—what did he intend for her younger friend? Surely he would not abuse them both? She was on her feet, in front of Juliet. “S-she stays w-with me.”
    He raised one of his brows and laughed. “How brave you are, mistress. But you do not give orders upon my ship. Lady, come.”
    Juliet did not move, and Katherine gripped her arm, preventing her from obeying him. “What do you intend?”
    He held her eyes. “Not what you are so obviously thinking, sweetheart. I have no need of your friend—your charms will occupy me well this night. But unless you wish an audience, the lady leaves.”
    Katherine swallowed, her color higher. She did not release Juliet. “C-captain.”
    He looked amused.
    “You surely think to ransom me?”
    His gaze moved from her eyes, to her full mouth, then down to her bosom, flattened by the current style of dress. Katherine’s nipples were tight. From breathing so hard and fast. Did he now notice the shabby state of her clothing, or the charms he had so recently referred to? “’Tis not what you must think!” she cried in a rush. “I am no serving girl; I am the daughter of an earl!”
    He lifted one tawny brow slightly.
    “I swear upon the cross and all that is holy,” Katherine said frantically, “I am the earl of Desmond’s daughter.”
    He said, “Lady Juliet. Do you wish to be removed in a forcible manner from this cabin?”
    Juliet shook her head no, freed herself from Katherine’s grasp, and quickly walked toward the pirate. Katherine was panicked, aware that her fate was soon to be sealed. The captain of the Sea Dagger opened the door. Macgregor waited there with supreme indifference. Juliet was handed over to the seaman, and then the door was closed and the pirate faced Katherine, a slow smile spreading across his face. He moved toward her.
    Katherine lost the last of her good sense. As he came forward she flew toward the door. He caught her easily as she tried to rush past him, and a moment later she was pressed against the very door she wished to escape through. But his huge hands held her shoulders firmly, pinning her to the wood, and one of his thighs was suddenly between her legs, much too intimately. Katherine could not move.
    “So foolish, sweetheart. I am not going to hurt you. I