When Charles had left, Emma had turned her chemise around to hold it together as she made her way back to the captain's quarters. With his protection gone, she knew it was the only place safe for her. Even though the man inside it couldn't defend her, the crew respected Silver too much to do anything to her in his presence.

  She shook uncontrollably as she began to look for any article of clothing that might fit her. She almost screeched out loud when Silver’s voice rang out behind her.

  “You know the more you try to be silent, the louder you are.” It sounded sleepy, like she’d woken him.

  Emma whirled around to discover that even though he had spoken, he’d done so over his shoulder. He thankfully had yet to see her in her current state.

  “I'm sorry. I was looking for something.” She said it softly, then wondered why she had done so since he was awake anyway.

  “What are you looking for?” Silver asked.

  “Clothes. My dress was uncomfortable, and I decided to try to find something better suited for sleeping.”

  “Was uncomfortable?” Silver's tone was playful, but searching.

  She should have phrased herself better.

  “I took off my corset.”

  “Oh.” Silver's tone went deeper still.

  “Please, go back to sleep.” She pleaded with him. “I'm sorry I woke you.”

  Silver let out a sigh, and his head settled back into the pillow. Emma assumed he was going to go back to sleep, but a moment later, he lifted his head and turned his body to face her.

  “No, sorry. Knowing there is a half-naked woman in the room...” There was a playful tone in his voice and a gleam in his eye as he turned around, but both quickly faded when he finally caught sight of her.

  “What happened?” Silver’s tone was as broken as she felt.

  “I'm alright.” Emma tried to convince him.

  Silver shifted his body and swayed his good leg off the bed before he started to push himself upright to try to stand. He hissed in pain each time his body moved a certain way.

  “No, please! Don’t get up!” Emma pleaded as she rushed over to stop him.

  “Who did this to you?” Silver hissed with wrath as he started to examine her.

  “It’s alright.” Emma pleaded. “The problem…has already been dealt with.”

  “Dealt with how?” Silver demanded.

  “Please, Silver. I don’t want to cause a scene on the ship.” Emma begged this time.

  Silver glared at her for a long moment. He was furious, but he seemed to collect himself quickly.

  “This isn’t over.” He grunted as he sat back down on the bed.

  “Thank you, Silver.” Emma sighed with relief.

  “There should be clothes in that wardrobe over there.” Silver pointed to the cabinet. “I'm not sure any of it will fit, but it's better than what you've got on now.”

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  Once Silver was settled, Emma made her way over to the cabinet and opened it to find what little spare clothing there was inside. There were a few shirts, even fewer to choose from for trousers, but she grabbed a few suitable items. Silver closed his eyes to give her a few moments of privacy while she squirmed her way out of her chemise.

  The pair of trousers was too big, but she managed to find a scrap of fabric that worked as a make-shift belt. She threw on the tunic top, and it looked ridiculous on her, but it was clothing that covered her body, so she would not be picky.

  When Emma was dressed, she turned around and found Silver watching her. He patted the seat next to him. She thought about not going, but decided to go over when he patted the seat again.

  She sat slowly, allowing her now aching body to ease down on the slight padding. Silver slowly reached out and caressed her swollen cheek where Dobbs had slapped her.

  “What happened, love?” His endearment caused her emotions to swell, and she broke down.

  Through her tears, Emma explained everything. The attempted rape. Charles' rescue and defense of her. The declaration he made after. Silver listened with a sympathetic ear as she drowned him in her worries over her life. Eventually, he coaxed her to lie down with him, and he held her against him and let her cry until she fell asleep.

  -----Emma awoke the next morning to the sound of hushed voices arguing.

  “I don't like it, Silver.” It was Flint. His voice was a hushed growl, as if trying to keep it quiet to avoid waking her, but he was too angry to control all of his emotions.

  “She's not a child, Flint. It's not for you to like.” Silver's voice countered.

  “Damn him for this!” Flint snarled just before a loud bang sounded through the room.

  It caused Emma to jump, and she turned to see that Flint had slammed his fist down on the desk.

  “Sorry we woke you,” Silver said apologetically as he turned his body to greet her.

  “It's fine,” Emma said to him, but she couldn't take her eyes off of a furious Flint. “Is everything alright?”

  “Everything is fine, love. We were talking about what happened last night.” Silver was the one to answer her again.

  Emma could feel her cheeks turn red with embarrassment.

  “And how you will no longer sleep in these quarters alone with any man unless I supervise it.” Flint snarled his order harshly.

  Emma looked to Silver, who put up his hands and shrugged.

  “I told him nothing happened between us.” Silver admitted. “But he didn't like hearing about what happened to you last night.”

  “You told him what happened?” Emma cringed.

  “Was it a secret?” Silver shrugged.

  She hadn't told him to keep it a secret, but she hadn't exactly thought that he would tell Flint what happened at the first opportunity.

  Emma looked back at Flint.

  “As much as I,” Emma began to say.

  “The rest of that sentence better be as much as I don't like it, I agree.” Flint finished for her.

  Emma knew after last night that she did need protection on the ship, and she could not rely on Charles for it. She knew he would try his best to charm her into bed.

  “I agree.” Emma finally sighed.

  Silver raised an eyebrow at her quick agreement, but didn't say anything.

  Now that Flint had made his point, he left the room to go about things that needed doing on deck.

  Emma turned her attention to Silver.

  “Why did you tell him?” She pleaded with the man.

  “Flint is the best man on this ship to keep you safe.”

  “Yes, but we could have approached the subject better. Talked it out. He seems furious now.” Emma motioned towards the space where Flint had been.

  “You'd want us to drink tea and discuss our problems like gentlemen?” The way Silver said his statement, Emma knew he was trying very hard not to laugh.

  Emma sighed. She didn't know much about pirates, but she knew enough to know they weren't the sort to solve their problems by talking them out. Pirates acted. Sometimes irrationally, but in their line of work, it was kill or be killed. Even if all they had to fight with were words. Emma wondered if their tongues were as vicious as their weapons. She could already guess that Silvers was.

  The morning passed much like the day before. Emma and Silver kept each other company. When it came time for lunch, Flint came and got Emma to escort her to the galley. It was crowded with pirates. Most were too busy eating to notice, or even care she was there, but there was one pair of eyes that studied her intensely.

  Charles sat at the far end of one of the tables. Emma didn't have to look directly at him to know he was looking at her. The feeling of his stare was that intense. Her skin even goose-pimpled. The longer he stared at her, the more she wanted to throw the hardtack Flint had handed to her at him and storm off back to the captain’s quarters.

  Ill-mannered addle pate! Emma did not speak a word aloud but exclaimed them to herself as her temper flared. She kept her back straight, her nose high, and did not otherwise project her feelings as she gathered her food along with Silvers and followed Flint back out of the room.