****

  Rose shifted through the drawers. The clothes were colorful and came in multiple layers. She was used to fabric in lighter tones. But anything would be better than the dampness she’d just climbed out of.

  She hurriedly changed into a lengthy skirt and oversized blouse. The material was surprisingly cool against her flushed skin. She arranged her hair into a semblance of order. She needed a bath to wash the salt from the tendrils, but it wasn’t going to happen if she didn’t leave her room.

  She opened the door with the intent of finding a bath and stopped. “Kenelm.”

  “You’re up.”

  “I-I was hoping to ask for a bath a-and for food.” Better food.

  “The cow?”

  “The cow.” A muscle twitched in her lips.

  He held out his arm. “Let’s go downstairs and find what you need.”

  “How is the crew?”

  He tensed. “They are in the tavern.”

  They should be enjoying themselves, so why did he seem so worried? “Is that a problem?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Kenelm never worried unnecessarily, which meant they could have a problem.

  The dining room downstairs was empty. They rang a bell from the sideboard and an elderly lady with salt and pepper hair waddled in.

  “Yes?” Her dark hair was held aloft from her neck with some kind of clip that allowed feathers to protrude.

  “We would like to eat then have a bath.” Kenelm spoke.

  She shuffled out then returned with two plates of meat and vegetables. It smelled like lamb, but she would take it. Seven bites, and she was scraping the empty plate.

  “More?”

  She nodded even as heat swamped her cheeks.

  Kenelm touched her hand—his plate was still half full. “Remember, you shouldn’t overindulge too quickly.”

  She would forgo the food. For now.

  She smiled at the lady. “Perhaps just a bath.”

  “As you wish.” The hostess paused at the door. “You must come with me.”

  She hesitated to leave Kenelm but the notion of being clean won out.

  The woman led her through a stifling kitchen and into another room. Uneven rock mortared with tan mud created an outer wall. Light drifted in through tiny slits in the ceiling planks. A small metal tub with a high back rested in a corner. She was given a bar of soap, a rag, and a towel. A gown was flung over a rope that draped from the ceiling beams.

  “The captain purchased this gown for you. My daughter brought it over.”

  The sliver-blue material would match Kenelm’s eyes. The puffy sleeves reminded her of a gown worn to a fancy dinner. The skirt was flared as they would be if she were attending a ball. The gown seemed out of place, but the material appeared soft and comfortable, and it would be less warm than the multi-layers she currently wore.

  “I shall leave you.” The hostess slipped out and closed the door.

  There was a bar to use as a lock, and Rose laid it in place. She stripped once more and settled in the small pot of water. Her legs dangled over the sides, but she was making the best of it. It was fresh water, which was all that mattered.

  The minimal water made washing hard, but she managed. Once out, she washed her hair in another basin. Done and toweling dry, she looked at the clothes she’d removed. Their hostess had made no notice of her borrowed clothing. It seemed odd how relaxed those in the town behaved. Shouldn’t they have been more curious? The town didn’t appear to have many visitors.

  The knock on the door had her drawing the new gown over her head in one swift motion. Wet tendrils of hair soaked her back as she opened the door. Kenelm’s frown was a bit of a shock.

  “I didn’t mean for you to wear that now.”

  She crossed her arms and held her elbow. “When did you mean for me to wear it?”

  “W-well, I,” he straightened, “had hoped you would wear it when we were more settled.”

  She relaxed her stance. He had a desire to be in her company when their journey ended? Warmth flooded over her.

  “I could wear the outfit I had on earlier.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t change. The color looks beautiful on you, as I knew it would.”

  More heat flooded her already burning face.

  “I came to take a bath myself. Before the crew arrives, that is.”

  “Of course.” She hoisted her old clothes under her arm and moved back. Kenelm entered carrying new breeches, stockings, shirt, and a greatcoat. A ribbon dangled between his fingers. His hair would probably come out of the string.

  “Feel free to walk around a bit.” He closed the door as soon as she was outside.

  She opened her mouth and thought about tapping on the door for an explanation for his abruptness but decided against it.

  Upon returning to her room, she deposited the skirt and blouse on a chair. Next, she found a comb and detangled her hair. The mirror above the changing table reflected someone she didn’t recognize. Had it been so long since she’d looked at herself?

  Twenty-eight years old, and her skin appeared tanned and rough. The creaminess from her younger years had disappeared from working on the deck of Harrow’s ship. Muscles had developed on her arms and legs, giving her the appearance of the cabin boy she’d aspired to be.

  She palmed her chin. How would she garner Kenelm’s attention? She wasn’t the typical female he would have pursued at court, quite the contrary.

  Her throat felt parched. Perhaps she should scout out the town. Maybe visit the shop or the tavern and see what they had to offer.

  Outside the tavern, she paused. The raucous noise was unexpected. One peek inside and she was taken aback. Young ladies with skirts to their knees were flouncing around the men and even sitting on their laps! Others moved in lewd fashion upon a stage. The men leered at them. There was a powerful aroma of perfume.

  She entered and was almost knocked back by the smell.

  Duplay laid his arm across her shoulders. “Welcome! Come and join us.” He carried a full bottle of spirits in his hands.

  Stevens was next, beckoning her to join them.

  The women had stopped what they were doing and eyed her. Their eyes were red and their faces puffy. They weren’t very attractive, but they had been made up to look so.

  “I think I shall pass.”

  Jones came near. He didn’t appear drunk like the others, but his eyes were bloodshot and he stumbled.

  “Jones? Are you all right?” She caught him as he began to topple toward a table.

  “Sure, I’m fine. I just don’t feel normal.”

  His words were jumbled, and he was clearly confused. “Perhaps you should come outside with me and get a bit of fresh air.”

  Jones began to follow her, but one of the ladies stepped before them. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m taking him outside.”

  “That won’t be necessary. Let me carry him to a table.”

  The woman attempted to grab Jones from Rose’s grasp, but she held firm. “I’m afraid that he is needed by the captain. If you’ll excuse us.”

  “No, he is needed here.”

  A tug of war began between the two of them. Jones needed to come outside. Rose could feel it. Why did this strange woman resist?

  Rose jerked and pulled Jones until they exited. The woman didn’t follow. She turned and went to another crew member.

  Rose turned to her companion. Jones cradled his head. “I don’t feel so good. What happened?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Where have I been?”

  Her heart hammered in her chest. “You don’t remember.”

  Jones shook his head.

  Something was vastly wrong with this town.

  She hooked arms with Jones. “Come on, let’s get you to the captain. I think we might have a problem.”

  Chapter Six: Rescue

  Rose tugged Jones until they were both standing outside the bathhouse door. She tapped her foot. Kenelm should have been done by now. Didn’t men take less time than women?

  The door opened. Her breath felt as if it had been snatched away. Kenelm wore a white shirt that stretched taunt across his tanned chest. The open v showed the barest hint of flesh. The breeches clung snug on his hips. Even his stockings were attractive.

  He cleared his throat. Heat flushed her cheeks and she adjusted her gaze back to his. He knew she’d been admiring him. The smile on his face was enough to confirm that.

  “Yes?”

  “Cap’n, something is not right.” Jones leaned against the doorframe as if he needed it to remain standing.

  Kenelm clutched his elbow. “Chap, you’re as pale as a sheet. Let’s away to my room.”

  He guided them to the second floor of the hotel and opened the door opposite her own. The room was identical. Bed, chest, curtains, everything appeared exactly the same.

  Jones fell to the bed, cradling his head. “I see stars. Is that normal?”

  Kenelm stood before him with his legs spread and his arms crossed. His typical interrogation pose.

  “What happened to you?”

  “I don’t know for sure. I remember entering the tavern, and everything blurred, then I remember Miss Walsh pulling me free.”

  Kenelm peered over his shoulder. Rose had remained behind at the open doorway. The room wasn’t big enough for two huge men and her. But she also wanted to make sure that no one tried to enter the hallway and intrude on their conversation.

  “Is this what happened?”

  She shrugged. “The only part I can confirm is pulling him from the tavern. One of the serving maids tried to stop me. She almost pulled his arm out of socket in her attempt, but I held firm. Otherwise, he would still be in there.”

  “What are you trying to say?”

  Jones looked at him. “I think they are charming the men.”

  Kenelm blinked, but she realized what Jones meant. The perfume… that was it.

  Rose tapped her finger to her chin. “We have to get the men out of there as soon as possible.”

  “That won’t be easy if they are trying to pull them back in. But I’m still confused as to why.”

  “Kenelm, it is the perfume. It is charming the men somehow so they don’t want to leave.” She paused. “This dress. When you purchased it, did you pay with gold?”

  “I did.”

  “That must be it. The townspeople are after the gold.”

  “The shopkeeper’s behavior when I used the gold was unusual.”

  “Then that must be it. Perhaps they believe if they can keep the men occupied and under some kind of spell then they can find the gold and steal it.”

  “Which is why the shopkeeper wanted to know the location of our camp!” His voice rose as his eyes widened.

  She nodded.

  “What do you suggest we do?”

  Jones had lain down on the bed and was cradling his head.

  “From the looks of Jones if we just pull them out, they won’t be ready to depart. They will need time to recover.”

  “And I need to wait until the supplies are loaded on the wagon, and that won’t be until tomorrow.”

  “Do you think they will really be waiting for you?”

  Kenelm fisted his hands and punched one into the other. “I prefer not to take my items by force, but if necessary that is what we’ll do.”

  Rose hadn’t seen this side of him. She didn’t know if she liked it or not. Time would tell.

  ****

  It took Jones several hours to recover. By then the sun had set behind the trees. It was agreed that Rose would go into the tavern and pull out the crew members one by one. Jones would wait outside and carry them to the hotel where Kenelm would ensure they weren’t taken again. He didn’t like the plan, but Rose was the only one immune to the women’s scent so there was very little choice.

  He watched the plan enacted from Rose’s window. He couldn’t see the tavern door, but he could make out Jones standing in the street. No one had come out and tried to lure him back inside. At least that was going for them.

  The first man staggered into the road. Jones flung him over his shoulder and practically ran toward the hotel.

  Rose was to wait at least ten minutes before sending out another.

  Stomps echoed on the hollow stairs. Kenelm raced from the room and opened the door at the end of the hall. Jones deposited the man on the bed and ran back out. Kenelm moved toward the bed and slapped the gentleman a few times. It was one of the people he’d rescued from Harrow’s ship.

  “Where am I?”

  “Safe in a hotel. Just rest.”

  The man curled onto his side, laid his hands under his cheek, and began to snore. He’d had a rough time of it. He’d been Harrow’s prisoner for at least five years. He’d been through the shipwreck and being thrown overboard. Did he have family waiting for him on some distant shore? Family like Rose.

  Kenelm sighed as he moved back to her room. She had been amicable when he’d mentioned her wearing the silver-blue gown for a proper dinner.

  He could see it now. A chandelier lighting the polished floor as he danced her around a fabulously decorated ballroom. The gown swishing around her slipper clad feet.

  A frown tugged at his lips. Would he be dancing at her and Evander’s wedding? Would her father wed her to another? He could protest and claim that he was her husband. It was true of a sort. It might hold up in court.

  He ran his hands through his hair. He needed to find a way to convince her to stay without tricks. He wanted her to want him.

  The stomping began again. Jones brought in two men this time. His burdens making him sag in appearance. His breath came in short rasping gasps.

  “I’ll go this time and you wait.”

  “But, Cap’n—”

  “Do as I say.” He left Jones before he could protest further.

  On the street he stood where he believed Jones had been. From his vantage point, he could see into the tavern. Women seemed to gather around the men in groups. Only a few had one woman apiece. Those seemed to be the ones that Rose went for first. She pulled them from their hostess and danced them around the floor. After a couple of twirls, she slung them toward the swinging doors. Two stumbled out again. He wasn’t as strong as Jones. But he’d make sure they made it out of the street somehow.

  He placed their arms around his shoulders and practically dragged them. Back at the hotel, at the base of the stairs he was met by the hotel proprietress.

  “May I help you?”

  She had her hands on her hips and her face was screwed up to appear fierce.

  “My men just need a room to rest in.”

  She stepped back. “Then get them upstairs. All this racket is disrupting my beauty sleep.” She turned and stomped into another room, muttering the entire time.

  He breathed a sigh of relief. Jones was at the top of the stairs and he raced down. “I got them, Cap’n.”

  Kenelm left them and hurried back into the street as Rose danced another couple of men out the door. Soon the tavern would be empty. Once there were only a few men left how would Rose convince the women to let them go?

  ****

  Only a handful of crew members remained in the clutches of the intoxicating women. It was getting harder and harder to snatch them from their clutches.

  She took the hand of one of the men and helped him to his feet. “Come with me.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t want to.”

  She coaxed hard. “But you must. The captain needs you.”

  He pursed his lips like a petulant child, shook his head, and beat his fists on the table. He was having a tantrum. The longer the men stayed, the more they seemed to digress. She needed to get the last four out at one time.

  She licked her lips and tried to devise a plan. It wasn’t easy when fifteen heavily painted, fierce warrior type women were staring as if they desired her head on a platter.

  Before they could react, she jumped onto the stage. “Gold! Free gold for everyone! I saw it in the street!”

  The men blinked. Even the women appeared to pay attention.

  “But you must hurry. It won’t last long. Everyone else is going to get it before you get there.”

  The four men scrambled to their feet and ran toward the swinging doors. They tripped several times, but continued to get up and run. Once outside they collapsed, holding their heads and moaning as if in agony. It was as if they were escaping the effects of a drug.

  Jones and Kenelm were waiting this time. They grabbed the men and pulled them into the hotel.

  Now she was alone in the tavern. The women tilted their heads to the side in a collective manner. If their heads spun around, she wouldn’t have been more shocked.

  She stepped from the stage using slow movements. They followed her with their eyes only. The doors closed behind her, and she breathed a relieved sigh. She had expected them to grab her at anytime and force her to stay.

  Inside the hotel, the air was filled with moans of pain and snores of relief. Some of the men were coming through and reaching the other side, some weren’t there yet.

  A hand fell to her shoulder. “What now?”

  Her heart jumped to her throat. Once it calmed she remembered his question.

  Kenelm was asking her?

  Jones answered, “As soon as the men are ready I believe we should escort them back to the ship. You and I will return and procure the supplies.”

  “And Rose, we must bring her.” Kenelm squeezed her shoulder. “She saved us all.”

  “Aye, she did indeed.”

  Rose helped with the ailing men until she could stand no longer. Kenelm and Jones arbitrarily picked a time and began hauling the men out of the hotel and through the woods. Lights swayed on the ship. The minimal crew was still there keeping things in shape. They had brought them food on the dinghies with the returning men when they first entered the town. It was good that they had done so. For now, the fun was ending suddenly.

  Once all were safely aboard the ship, Jones, Kenelm, and she headed back to town. The sun was cresting over the tree line when they arrived. The wagon was loaded and waited before the general store just as promised.