The Barefoot Barmaid (Belles & Bullets Book 1) Page 6

  That morning, like every morning for the last three days, Miles arrived at her door with a tray of tea and biscuits. Tea was apparently a luxury that only Miles, the captain and Kitt were free to enjoy. According to Miles, most of the men were lucky to get a portion of meat and vegetables each day. To them, something like regular biscuits were an unattainable dream.

  “The captain has treated you decently, you know,” Miles said as he tilted the teapot over her cup. “Whether you know it or not, you have certainly received special treatment.”

  “Well, I am a princess.” Kitt winked at Miles as she tossed a few sugar cubes into her tea. In her opinion, tea could never be sweet enough. “As far as getting special treatment... I don't know about that. He locks me in my room, for goodness sake! And he did make me swab the deck once.”

  “But he's been lenient on you, more often than not. He would never tolerate so much sass from anyone else.”

  “Gee, Miles... you're always defending the captain!” Kitt stared into her tea with a sigh. “He's lucky to have such a strong advocate in you.”

  “Francis Doon may not always do the right thing, but there is only goodness at his core. I firmly believe that, my lady, which is why I shall always defend him. But you needn't be jealous, for I would defend you too.”

  Kitt quietly nibbled on a biscuit. Miles and his infinite positivity was starting to change her perception of Captain Doon, which she didn't want to happen. She knew at her core that Doon had taken her against her will and had been cruel to her ever since. And there were many who had died at his hands. Doon never denied that. In fact, he seemed almost proud of the blood on his hands. She could never trust a man who could take another's life so easily.

  Miles' pocket watch make a cuckooing noise as it chimed. He took it out, checked it, and announced with a sigh, “Unfortunately, I must now take my leave. I've been tasked with swabbing the deck.”

  “You? The captain's making you swab the deck?”

  But Miles didn't seem to mind. In fact, he was smiling. “We must all do our part, my lady.”

  “Is this some kind of punishment or something?”

  “No, not a punishment.”

  Kitt leapt to her feet as soon as Miles stood. “Can I come with you? I can help!”

  “There's no need. Zeke will be assisting me.”

  Kitt barely remembered the silent ginger boy who helped her swab the deck two days ago. It felt like a lot had happened since she was forced to swab the deck, but in reality, nothing had happened. Time seemed to flow differently on an airship. “But I want to help, Miles. More people means it'll get done faster.”

  “Very well. If you insist.”

  Kitt followed Miles out of the room, and Barnabus followed her. She was halfway down the hall before she heard the dog's metal leg clunking behind her.

  “Barnabus!” Kitt's voice was sharp when she spun in the animal's direction. “What are you doing? You can't come with me!”

  The dog whimpered at such an appropriate time, Kitt wondered if he somehow understood her. He seemed just as determined to follow her as she was to follow Miles, so she let him tag along.

  Zeke was already on deck with a soapy bucket in his arms. He didn't acknowledge Miles and Kitt when they approached, he simply got to work.

  “My lady...” Miles sighed as he took a mop in hand. “There is really no need for you to help with this. In fact, I feel a bit guilty.”

  “Don't be silly!” Kitt picked up a ragged mop and dunked it in the suds. “It's not like I'm actually some fragile princess who can't do hard work. Lucky used to make me clean the bar all the time!”

  “Lucky, my lady?'

  Kitt launched into a monologue as she dragged the sopping mop across the deck. “Yeah, Lucky. I used to work at his pub. I have no idea if that was his real name or a nickname, and no one ever asked. Anyway, he wasn't the kindest to his employees. And I don't know why I said I used to work there. I still do, hopefully... assuming I can get back home. I wonder what everyone's thinking about my sudden disappearance. Tobias probably misses me, but I wouldn't be surprised if my stepmother never even noticed I was gone!”

  “Forgive me my lady, but I must ask...” Miles began, and after a brief pause, he asked, “why do you continue to work for this Lucky fellow if he is as unpleasant as you say?”

  When Kitt looked up, she saw Miles' mop hitting the deck. It was strange to see him work so hard. Miles was dressed like such a gentleman, after all. He should have been a duke, not a deck swabber. After a moment's pause, Kitt shrugged her shoulders and answered, “Well, there weren't a lot of options in the slums. You were lucky to find any work.”

  “It's lucky to work for Lucky!” Zeke suddenly entered the conversation and surprised them both.

  “Ah, he speaks!” Kitt exclaimed. “I didn't even realize he was listening to us, and then suddenly... surprise!”

  “I like to be surprising,” Zeke said with a wide smile that revealed a mouthful of rotting teeth. “Sorry I was eavesdroppin.”

  “You don't have to apologize, young sir. You are more than welcome to join our discussion at any time!” Miles clapped the much younger man on the shoulder.

  Kitt caught herself yawning several times as she dragged the mop back and forth, back and forth. It was, without question, some of the most tedious work she ever had to endure. The deck didn't even look that dirty, aside from the occasional evidence of bird droppings here and there. Boring as it was, she must have really liked Miles, or she never would have been crazy enough to offer to help him with such a task.

  Kitt, Miles and Zeke had nearly scrubbed the entire deck when they were approached by two bulky men with dirty, familiar faces. It took Kitt a moment to remember who they were. One of them was Bryce, who clobbered her on the head the day she was kidnapped. The other one was Doldy, who nearly attacked her on her first day aboard the airship. It was no surprise, then, that Kitt's body tensed up when she saw them coming toward her.

  “Miss Princess...” It was Doldy who spoke first. He held a hand over his heart and dipped into a humble bow that would have suited Miles, but not the thug standing before her. “I gotta apologize to you, Miss Princess. I'm sorry I was bad to youse.”

  “I gotta 'pologize too!” Bryce chimed in. “I hurt you and I'm sorrae I done did it.”

  “Um...” Kitt's mouth gaped open as she watched them. She half-expected them to reveal they were joking and roar with laughter at her expense.

  Miles stopped mopping and turned to the two men muttering unlikely apologies. “Did the captain put you up to this, by chance?”

  “Oh, aye,” Doldy replied. “He didn't want the princess to think we was all savages on board this ship.”

  “I'm not a savage. I'm just not that smart,” said Bryce.

  Doldy passionately agreed. “Oh, aye. That's true too. You can't be angry at Bryce because sometimes Bryce don't even remember what his name is.”

  Bryce's mouth hanged open as he nodded solemnly. “He's right. I don't remember what my name is. Sometimes I think my name might've been Bruce before I told peoples it was Bryce and then everyone started callin' me Bryce and then I forgot.” Bryce paused to scratch his unkempt black hair, and when he did, Kitt swore she saw a small winged insect fly out of the tangled mess. “Anyway, Princess, I was supposed'ta tell you the captain wants to speak to you.”

  “Oh... well... okay.” Kitt's lower lip jutted out when she turned in Miles' direction. “Sorry I can't stay and help you work.”

  “The work is nearly finished, my lady. You've done more than enough already.”

  Kitt abandoned her mop and headed below deck. She kept checking over her shoulder, making sure Doldy and Bryce weren't following her. Even though their apologies seemed at least a little bit sincere, they didn't exactly inspire a lot of trust.

  Captain Doon was waiting for Kitt outside his door. “Ah, Miss Lake, there you are. I have a few very important things to say before you leave us tomorrow.”

 
Kitt's eyes widened then narrowed, as if she was simultaneously surprised and skeptical. “Wait... Miss Lake? You've never called me that before.”

  “You've never given me leave to call you Kitt or Catherine, and I'm trying to be a gentleman, so--”

  “That's not why I'm surprised!” Kitt interrupted. “You usually insist on calling me Princess or... or Your Highness or something along those lines.”

  “Well, I have my doubts about your identity. I've always had them, truth be told.” Doon suddenly took her elbow and guided her to her room. “Regardless, when I turn you over to the royal family tomorrow, I'm telling them you're Princess Lyneah. So I can't have you showing up at the castle looking like a mess, can I?” When they arrived at Kitt's room, he kicked open the door with his boot and lightly pushed her inside. “That's why I've prepared a bath for you.”

  “Uh huh.” Kitt didn't sound amused. “And are you planning on watching me bathe?”

  “Don't be ridiculous. I have no desire to see you out of your clothes. Not now, not ever. But I do have a few more things I need to say to you before tomorrow, so I'll be talking to you through the door.”

  “That won't be awkward at all,” Kitt sarcastically chimed in. As soon as she was inside, she closed the door behind her and stared at the large, steaming washtub in the center of her room. She was secretly impressed by the feminine frivolities that had somehow been assembled. There were fluffy towels, a pink sponge, lavender candles, and most importantly: soap. “How did you manage to find a pink sponge on a pirate ship?” she asked him through the door.

  “I knew I was kidnapping a princess, so I wanted to be prepared.”

  “Kidnap?” Kitt stared at her reflection in a looking glass as she spoke. Her forehead, nose, neck and hair looked like they hadn't been washed in ages. As awkward as it was to bathe while the captain could barge in at any moment, she was grateful for a chance to get clean. “I believe this is the first time you've owned up to the fact that this was a kidnapping!”

  “Rescuing,” Doon corrected himself. “If you had truly been Princess Lyneah, I would have considered it a rescue.”

  “But you don't mind kidnapping me instead.” Kitt caught a glimpse of her eyes rolling before she turned away from the looking glass. All she could do was stare at the tub in the center of the room. If Miles was correct about the captain's aversion to human contact, Doon probably had no interest in seeing her naked; nevertheless, she was reluctant to undress while he was standing so close. To ease her worries, she dragged a chair to the door and wedged it under the knob. That, at least, would make it a bit more difficult for anyone to peek inside while her clothes were off. “So how did you find soap?” she asked. “No one on this ship looks like they've bathed in at least a quarter-century.”

  “You wound me, Miss Lake!” Doon exclaimed. She imagined him clapping a hand over his heart on the other side of the door. “I'm the cleanest man on this ship!”

  “Being the cleanest person on this ship isn't really an achievement to boast about. Everyone's filthy!” Kitt started peeling her dress away from her shoulders as she crept toward the tub. “It's like saying you're the least rotten tooth in Zeke's mouthful of rotten teeth.”

  “Miles is quite clean!” Doon objected.

  “Well, Miles is different from anyone on this ship. He even dresses like a gentleman... albeit, a gentleman in frayed clothing.” When Kitt's dress dropped to her ankles, she kicked it aside and started removing her petticoat. Ever since the day they were tossed over the side of the airship, Kitt mourned the loss of her shirt and breeches—they were so much easier to take off! “At least Miles' clothes are better than yours. That gray coat you're wearing right now... I don't think I've ever seen a coat with so many patches sewn onto it.”

  “You don't like my coat? I happen to think it's rather stylish.”

  “Sure. If you're a hobo.” While Kitt removed her undergarments, she kept checking the door to make sure it was closed. It was. As soon as she peeled away the last article of clothing, she leapt into the water as quickly as she could and submerged herself entirely. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, she had to admit—the warm water felt amazing. She might have been wearing pretty dresses, but she was nearly as filthy as one of the pirates.

  Doon thought he could hear the soft swish of water as Kitt entered the tub, and one side of his mouth twitched into a weak smile. “Kitt, I need to speak to you on a matter of utmost importance.”

  “Sure.” Kitt crossed her arms over her breasts. She knew he couldn't see her, but hearing his voice made it awkward enough. “It's a little strange to talk to you while I'm naked, but... go ahead. Have at it.”

  “Talking to me through the door is preferable to the alternative.”

  “Wh.... What's the alternative?” Her mind conjured up an image of Doon watching her as she bathed.

  “Are you really that naive?” Doon groaned, long and loud. “If I wasn't here guarding your door and my men were tempted by the thought of a naked woman in a bath... what do you think would happen?”

  “Ah.” Kitt didn't know what else to say, so she picked up the sponge and dunked it into the water.

  “I'm protecting you. Obviously.”

  “I'm eternally grateful,” Kitt said with a sarcastic snort, then she started rubbing her soapy sponge along her neck and collarbone. She had been in the bath for all of two minutes, and she already felt infinitely more clean than she did before. “You do realize I wouldn't even be in this situation if it wasn't for you, right?”

  Doon's ragged sigh was so loud, she could hear it through the door. “When we reach the castle, they will think I've returned with the princess, and you will thank me then. Your life can be so much better... assuming you don't do anything reckless and stupid.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This is precisely what I wanted to talk to you about,” Doon continued. “When we arrive, it would be in your best interests to pretend to be the princess. If they find out you're not, if they have reason to suspect you're an impostor, they're likely to kill you on the spot.”

  She almost missed his reply, having briefly dunked her head underwater. “Won't they kill you and not me? Maybe you're asking me to lie because you want to save your skin.”

  “My dear, I work for them! I've earned their trust. I daresay they would believe my word over the word of a raving commoner.”

  Kitt's nose wrinkled. There was something about the way he said my dear that made her skin prickle.

  “I'm telling you this for your own safety, I assure you,” the captain went on. “If they chopped your head off after all of this, it would be such a shame.”

  “So... what? You're expecting me to pretend to be Princess Lyneah forever? That sounds great.”

  “No, not forever. In a few days, after I've claimed my massive reward, I'll come back and rescue you, and they'll think the princess ran away again. I'll take you home, and I'll hand over a portion of the reward money... to you.”

  “Uh huh.” Kitt was tempted to roll her eyes again, even though he couldn't see how exasperated she was. “And you expect me to believe that?”

  “My word is good. If I make a promise, I always keep it. If I didn't, I wouldn't have stayed alive as long as I have.”

  Kitt wasn't exactly in a position to make demands. She could imagine all sorts of scenarios unfolding when she reached the castle, and none of them ended well for her. What if she told them who she was, and they did execute her? What if she tried to tell them the truth, and they chose to believe she was the runaway princess telling them a tale? They would probably lock her away in a tall tower for the foreseeable future.

  Going along with Doon's plan seemed like the most logical course of action. Miles seemed to trust him—and she trusted Miles.

  “Al... alright then.” Kitt could hear her voice was weak. “I'll pretend to be the princess. Not because I want to help you, or because I want money, but because it's probably the only scenario that doesn't end
in me as a corpse.”

  “Good. I'm glad you see sense... Princess.”

  Kitt imagined him grinning on the other side of the door. As she continued to scrub her naked body, it was impossible to forget that Captain Doon was standing nearby. “What if...” She started to speak, but stopped herself.

  “What if... what?” Doon pressed her to continue.

  “What if they don't believe I'm the princess?” She didn't even want to consider such an outcome. “What if we look similar enough that I can trick you, but I won't be able to trick the people who've known her their whole life? They'll kill me!”

  “I assure you, I'm not easily tricked. And believe it or not, I wouldn't let you walk into a situation if I felt it would end in your death.”

  “How kind of you,” she sarcastically responded.

  “Mark my words, Miss Lake... they will believe you're the princess.”

  Doon's confidence seemed to bolster her own confidence a bit. He was convinced that his perfect plan would go off without a hitch, and it reassured her.

  Nevertheless, Kitt's stomach knotted when she thought about what might happen tomorrow.

  10

  “Queen Loreina!”

  The queen heard someone calling her name, but it was much too early and she was far too fatigued to wake. When she opened one eye, she was nearly blinded by the burst of sunlight that trickled through the curtains, illuminating an otherwise dark bedchamber. That was the first thing she noticed—it was still dark. Who on earth would be foolish enough to wake her at such an ungodly hour?

  “Queen Loreina!” The squeaky voice called to her. The person who called her name sounded like a young male on the verge of puberty. “Your Majesty, I bring urgent news!”