The glint in the pirate’s eye deepened at the mention of treasure. “Very well, Anglais, I agree to your terms.”
“We should begin in the morning,” Deverill said. “I presume we will establish a grid pattern to map our search, so we don’t miss any possible locations.”
“Oui. It will take a day, perhaps two, to gather the proper equipment and to employ the best seamen.” Louvel followed with a grin of his own, his teeth flashing white. “My compatriots are better suited to causing wrecks than salvaging them.”
His quip was hardly reassuring to Kate. And even though she and Deverill had succeeded with the first step, her anxiousness abated only slightly when they all drank a toast to their newly formed partnership.
When eventually they got around to discussing accommodations, Deverill asked about finding nearby lodging for himself, Miss Wilde, and four seamen. The closest inn was in Royan, too distant for his needs. Moreover, Louvel balked at letting any of his rival’s men stay in St. Georges, evidently wary of relinquishing a vastly superior numerical advantage of employees. Miss Wilde, however, would be welcome as a guest in his home while Deverill could lodge with his crewmen elsewhere.
Deverill replied with a hint of warning in his congenial tone. “If you think to make a play for ma chère femme, I would advise against it.”
Seated beside Kate on the sofa, he casually slipped an arm around her to cup her breast. Although startled by his bald act of possessiveness and being termed his “woman,” she managed to tamp down her reflexive inclination, which was to box his ears. Undoubtedly his show of ownership was a notice to Louvel to keep away, and she hoped the pirate understood the message.
Unexpectedly then, Mademoiselle Dupree suggested a solution in halting, heavily accented English, saying that her friend’s cottage was available since she had gone to care for an ailing parent.
Kate suspected the offer was spurred by jealousy rather than generosity since Dupree was most likely Louvel’s mistress. Clearly she was not happy with the thought of Kate living in the same house as her protector.
Deverill again made clear his own position, laying claim to Kate as his lover. “Miss Wilde will reside with me. Given our past history, Louvel, you will understand if I prefer not to let her out of my sight.”
Louvel appeared to bristle. “You accuse me of having wicked intentions?”
“Let us just say I would not put it past you to retaliate and try to win her allegiance.”
While the two men stared each other down like wolves, Kate bit her tongue, not wishing to add fuel to the feud.
Thankfully, Louvel backed away from an overt conflict by nodding, as if settling the matter in his mind. “You may both reside in the cottage, but Mademoiselle Wilde will provide company for Gabrielle here while we search for the wreckage.”
The beauty did not look pleased with that prospect, either, but she said in a subdued voice, “I will take you to my friend’s cottage. It is not far.”
Apparently she was eager to get Kate out of the house and away from Louvel. After Deverill arranged a time to meet in the morning, Gabrielle led them out the front entrance to collect his carriage. His men were waiting outside, just as instructed, so Mademoiselle Dupree directed him two blocks down a side street, to a cottage with a blue door, then set off with Kate while Deverill saw to the horses and spoke to his men before sending them back to his ship in Royan.
Glad to have time alone with the other woman, Kate quickly reverted to French and did her best to seem disarming and self-deprecating while trying to show that she had absolutely no interest in stealing the pirate’s affections.
“I sincerely thank you for your hospitality, Mademoiselle Dupree. It means a great deal to me to be able to lay my parents to rest.”
Her shrug was stiff, although not overtly hostile, so Kate turned the conversation to more mundane matters.
“Is there a market or farmhouse nearby where we can purchase food for supper?”
“I will send supper to you by one of the servants,” Gabrielle said rather grudgingly.
“Thank you again. Our arrival cannot be welcome to you. It is clear that you worry about what mischief we will stir, or even what danger we present. I promise you, though, Deverill is not a threat to Monsieur Louvel. He only hopes to put their contentious past behind them.”
Dupree’s suspicious look was tempered when Kate gave a small laugh. “Men can be such simpletons sometimes, always fighting over minor matters and wounded pride. If we women ruled the world, we would be far more civilized, is that not so?”
When her comment surprised a faint smile from the beauty, Kate continued in the same vein. “We should help them to get along so they don’t kill each other. I do not want to lose Deverill, just as I am certain you do not want to lose Monsieur Louvel.”
“Very true, Mademoiselle Wilde.”
“Please, will you call me Kate? It seems unnecessary to stand on formality when I may be underfoot for some time.”
“Yes, if you will use my name, Gabrielle.”
Kate followed with a friendly question about her relatives. “Does any of your family live nearby?”
More soberly, Gabrielle explained that her parents were gone, both claimed by illnesses, and so was her older brother, who had perished at sea.
“Then you understand my grief at losing my own parents,” Kate said quietly.