fter Evie had relieved herself again, washed, and applied medicine, she looked around for something to wear. Garson had promised to bring her clothes, but until then, she didn't want to walk around in only a chemise. His clothes would certainly be too large, but perhaps he had something to at least keep her covered.

 She had just wrapped a coat around her like a robe when there was a knock at the door. She stared when she didn't recognize it to be the style Garson showed her if he were the one knocking.

 "It's me, lass," came Ronan's familiar voice. "I've brough' ye sumthin' t' eat."

 At his words, her stomach growled. Edgar hadn't let her eat breakfast, saying the cinching and gathering of the dressmaker would make her vomit if her stomach was too full. She realized then that it was to avoid sea-sickness. She went to the door to let Ronan in, holding firmly to the gathering of Garson's coat.

 As soon as the bolt was pulled away, she hurried to the bed and climbed beneath the blanket.

 "'ello, lass," Ronan called out as he entered.

 He held a large tray with various plates and platters of food. He smiled at her and set everything down onto the table.

 "Would ye like me t' make a plate 'n bring it t' ye?" he offered, setting the dishes aside to fill for her.

 She looked at the aromatic food and the kettle of tea and shook her head.

 "Thank you, but that won't be necessary," she said softly. "I don't want to trouble you."

 She stood from the bed and did her best to wrap the coat as snugly as she could. It nearly reached her ankles, but having no belt to secure it concerned her.

 Ronan smiled when he saw how she was dressed. Garson's coat swallowed her with its large arms, wide collar, and length.

 "Ye're no trouble, lass," he told her as she sat down at the table.

 "Evie," she replied and poured herself a cup of tea. "You may call me 'Evie.'"

 "'n ye may call me Ronan 'r Li'le Seal, as the crew often does," he invited and sat down to join her.

 "Little Seal?" she wondered.

 She watched him fill her plate with a mixture of chopped meat, anchovies, eggs, and onions on a bed of lettuce. He drizzled it with oil and vinegar and shoved it in front of her with a fork.

 "It's the meanin' o' me name," he answered. "O' course, it could also be because I became the wife of a seal once."

 She stared as he laughed at the memory.

 "'ave ye ever eaten salmagundi, la... Miss Evie?" he asked.

 "No, I'm afraid I haven't," she replied and picked at the various parts with her fork.

 "Oh, ye've been missin' ou'!" he said with a happy voice. "Our cook is the best there is! He was once a cook aboard one of the king's ships. He was captured by another crew o' pirates 'n forced to work in their galley, but then we took their ship, so he's in our kitchen now."

 She stared at him as she slowly chewed a bite of the meal.

 "Is he a captive here, too?" she wondered.

 Ronan swallowed his bite of food and looked at her with sympathy over the position in which she had seen herself.

 "He was at first," he replied. "He was so happy bein' away from tha' other ship 'n with life ou' at sea, he gladly joined us as part o' the crew."

 There was a knock on the door and Evie jumped.

 "It's Radnor, my lady," called out Radnor from the other side. "I've brought you clothes."

 Evie flinched when Ronan patted her hand. He stood and went to the door to make sure it was safe.

 "Qua'rmaster," Ronan addressed Radnor as he opened the door.

 He stepped aside and allowed Radnor to enter, assuming Garson wouldn't want prying eyes to see their captain already bestowing the woman with gifts.

 Radnor looked at Ronan curiously until he noticed the food on the table.

 "You've brought food," he remarked.

 "There's enough fer yew if ye'd like t' stay," Ronan offered. "I'm certain Miss Evie won't mind the comp'ny. Bein' stuck in this room all day'd drive anyone mad."

 Radnor nodded as Ronan laughed and he looked around for her. When he saw her sitting on the other side of the table nearly hidden by a lantern, his breath caught. He had seen her when she was brought on board, but he was more interested in the safety of the ship and crew with strangers on their deck.

 She was beautiful with her locks of hair kissed by sunlight spilling down in giant curls around her arms. Her bright blue eyes were wide and worried as she stared at him. A gentle blush crept across her cheeks as his gaze lingered, and he cleared his throat as he looked away.

 "Miss Evie, 'ave ye met our ship's qua'rmaster?" asked Ronan.

 She shook her head and looked down at her plate while she ate.

 "She's a bit shy, ye know," he told Radnor with a compassionate smile at her sad state.

 "No need to fret, Little Seal," Radnor replied. "She can speak when she feels comfortable to do so."

 Evie continued to take small bites and drink her tea as the men talked.

 "Did Captain Garson order you to bring food?" Radnor asked. "He didn't mention it to me. Only clothes."

 "I brough' it meself," Ronan replied. "I assumed the cap'n would be worried wit' other things 'n forge' all abou' feedin' the wee lass. He seldom eats, ye know. He'd forget if we didna shove a plate in front o' 'im."

 Radnor grinned as Ronan laughed again. The doctor was always in a cheerful mood, and Radnor suspected the man had tasted his own medicinal concoctions from time to time.

 "He has other things on his mind now," Radnor revealed. He scooped food onto a plate and began to pick at the meat. "A ship is on the horizon."

 "Oh?" wondered Ronan. "Is i' friend 'r foe?"

 "In these waters?" asked Radnor with a quick laugh. "No friend out here."

 Evie swallowed her food and looked up at them in worry.

 "Is someone going to attack this ship?" she asked in a quivering voice.

 She remembered what Ronan had said about the ship's cook. As terrible as her situation was at the moment, it would be much worse if she were taken by pirates with a captain who didn't care about keeping her safe.

 Ronan and Radnor gave each other a quick glance before Radnor spoke.

 "Nothing like that, Miss," he replied calmly. "The ship is far into the distance. We keep a close eye on anything we see out here. Captain Garson is keeping us a far bit away from them to avoid any encounters. You're safe."

 She stared at him as he spoke and found comfort in Garson's efforts, but safe? In the single solitary day she'd been aboard this craft, she'd learned "safe" had different degrees and meanings for everyone. She never believed being a prisoner would be considered safe, yet there she was, hoping for the safety within the hell she knew rather than the horror in what could be.

 "We've gone 'n scared the girl," Ronan said remorsefully. "I hope ye can forgive us, Miss Evie. We're unaccustomed t' watchin' our words in mixed comp'ny."

 She shook her head and pushed aside her half-empty plate. "It's all right. If I'm to be here a while, I suppose I should learn how things are done and when there's danger."

 "Tha's a good lass!" Ronan said joyfully. He patted her arm and picked up his fork. "If there's anythin' ye'd like t' know, just ask us. We'll speak true 'n open. We'll keep nothin' from ye."