Page 175 of The Pirate Queen

Grace could leave it be. She ought to, in fact. But at the mention of sweet rolls, her stomach begins to growl and, with it, her anger. It would be a harmless lesson, really.

She nods to the toy in his hand. “You like boats?”

“Yes.”

“Would you like to see mine up close?”

He looks to Niamh, his eyes rolling over her sleek lines. “Truly? She is yours?”

Grace sets her hand to her heart. “I swear it.”

“And I can touch her?”

“You can go on deck. I’ll even take you out on the water, if you like.”

Christopher twists the corner of his mouth into a knot. “I don’t think my grandfather would allow it.”

“I will not say a word to him. I promise.”

Christopher’s small blond head swings back and forth between her boat and the castle on the hill. After a moment he looks at the toy in his hand, then smiles.

“Shall we?” Grace asks.

“Oh, that would be grand!”

The little boy follows her along the pier, skipping as he goes. When they reach Niamh, Gutty stands there with a scowl.

“Who’s this?” he asks.

“Lord Howth’s grandson.”

“And why is he with you?”

“Because he would like to go for a sail.”

Gutty raises one dark brow. “A sail?”

“I recall that you were fond of boats at his age.” She pats Christopher on the head. “G’wan, look around.”

He wanders off, neck craned to see up the mainmast.

“What are you about?” Gutty asks.

“Are we fully provisioned?”

“Yesss?” He says it like a question, clearly expecting her to explain.

“Lord Howth turned me away at the gate. Wouldn’t so much as entertain the idea of letting me in.”

Gutty whistles, long and low through the gap in his front teeth.

“I thought we might teach him a lesson in hospitality,” she says.

“By doing what?”

“Hosting his grandson aboard this ship. Mind him, would you? I’ve one thing to do before we leave.”

Gutty shakes his head, but begins to explain the rigging system to Christopher. Grace ducks into her cabin and spreads a piece of paper across her desk. The note she writes is short but detailed: