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the first volley, but the Valor was far from innocent. If Bastien hadn’t fired first, Bowers would have. The Valor had pursued him, and everyone knew the British Navy was notorious for attacking ships and pressing their crews into service. The Valor hadn’t had a full crew—one of the reasons they’d been so easily defeated—and if Bastien hadn’t attacked, young Jack would be serving on Bowers’s ship now. Bastien himself would be dead.
    Bastien’s gaze met Maine’s. “It appears we have something of a problem. I’ve just kidnapped the daughter of a British admiral.”
    “Aye, Captain.”
    “No matter that she attacked me. I didn’t go looking for her. And she never identified herself.”
    “It’s a dilemma, Captain.”
    “And we sail in… what? An hour? Less?”
    Maine gave a curt nod.
    “ Merde. ”
    “Aye, Captain.”
    Bastien raked a hand through his hair, swore again, and flung open the door. “Mr. Maine, I intend to leave on the tide. How’s the wind?” Brest was the best port France had to offer, but it was situated on a lee shore, and the westerly wind could make outward passage difficult.
    “It’s shifted, Captain.”
    “Good. Make final preparations to cast off, but wait for my command.”
    “Aye, Captain.”
    Bastien stormed out the door and strode quickly back to his cabin. How the hell had this happened? How the hell had he kidnapped an admiral’s daughter? He’d have the whole British Navy after him as soon as the word was out. He’d have to let her go. Turn her loose as quickly as possible. But he couldn’t exactly set her on the quay and leave her to fend for herself. Miss Russell would need an escort back to her ship. Could he hire a cutter that quickly?
    He didn’t have time for such niceties. The cargo was loaded, and he needed to be on his way. He had his own agenda, and it didn’t allow for deviation. Especially not those due to silly girls who fancied themselves avenging their dead lovers.
    Merde , but it was like some ridiculous fairy tale. And, somehow, he had ended up playing the villain.
    Well, if he was the villain, then he need not have any qualms about Miss Russell. He’d set her ashore and be done with her. As he reached his cabin door, he checked his pocket watch. Still forty minutes or so until the tide would come in.
    He replaced the watch, took out his key, and unlocked his cabin. He pushed the door open, prepared for anything except an empty room. “What the…” He spent five minutes searching the tiny cabin only to conclude it was, as he’d first noted, empty.
    “Maine!” he called. “Maine!
    When a deckhand came running, Bastien waved his hand and roared, “Get me Mr. Maine.”
    “Yes, Captain.”
    While he waited, Bastien stood with hands on his hips. How the hell had she done it? How he she gotten out? If someone had assisted her…
    But he knew no one on his crew would dare speak to the girl, much less help her escape. Still, he would have Maine organize a search of every inch of the ship, question every crew member.
    His gaze caught on the white bowl on his bed. His chamber pot, which, for all his insistence she empty had been, ironically, already empty. But he did not usually keep it on his berth.
    He strode to it, glanced down. Inside was a slip of paper from his desk. In small, feminine handwriting she’d scrawled: I am afraid you shall be obliged to empty your own chamber pot, pirate. But take heart. You shall not live so long that the task becomes tedious. The next time we meet, I will have my revenge.
    Bastien crumpled the paper and threw it against the wall.

Three
    He was going to be sorry he’d tried to make her empty his chamber pot. He was going to be sorry for quite a few things, the least of which was that abominable kiss he’d forced on her. Raeven swiped at her mouth, but she could still taste him. Could still feel his lips there. She’d kissed him back, but only because she’d realized that was the way to beat him. And it