"Sarah Zettel - Miss Underwood and the Mermaid" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zettel Sarah)

That took her back for all of one heartbeat. "What would you say of a personage who accosts
one of Their Majesties' ships? Abducts one of Their Majesties' officers? Would you say this personage
could indeed be considered an enemy to the peace and security of Their Majesties' kingdom, territories,
and possessions?"

I did not like the turn this was taking. "I would be hard pressed not to."

I would not have believed it possible, but she actually sat up straighter. "Then, Captain Latimer,
it is my duty to tell you of the work of one of Their Majesties' greatest enemies by sea, a cunning, ruthless
and destructive enemy, one who terrorizes at will, and who is also magnificently rich."

All at once, you could have heard a pin drop in the tavern. All my sailors looked at me, as
wolves might look upon hearing the words "wounded deer nearby." My own monetary hunger rolled
hard through my privateer's blood. Glowing eyes and prudish Miss or no, this woman had word of a
prize.

I wiped at my mouth before I could start drooling, something this woman would surely consider
uncouth, and tried to reassert my powers of reason. "What enemy would this be, Miss . . . ?"

"Cecilia Underwood," she answered primly. "As to the enemy, you have perhaps heard of the
King's ship Magnificent?"

I choked on my own breath. The Magnificent had set out early in the year five to cruise the
northern waters and protect Their Majesties' shipping. As a King's ship, the frigate was crewed by men
and captained by one Jack Tremor, a young fellow but a prime seaman by all accounts.

Six months later, the Magnificent returned to the Kingdom, a broken hulk. The ship foundered
off Whitefish Point, and only one sad wretch was pulled from the water. No matter what the doctors and
wizards attempted, all he could say was, "Go and tell her he will marry the mermaid. Go and tell her he
will marry the mermaid."

"Captain Jack Tremor is my fianc├й," said Miss Underwood. "Your enemy is the mermaid."

Very slowly, I set my tankard down. "Your enemy is the mermaid, perhaps, Miss Underwood,
as it was your fiance who was stolen. My enemies are all mortals, and dry-skinned ones at that."

Miss Underwood did not bat an eye. "She is rich."

Damn the woman! My blood sang as I thought on all the treasure that went to the bottom of the
sea: ingots, plate, fine jewels, not to mention the wealth in pearls that grew down there of their own
accord. All for the taking. The Queen's ships were bound to assist the King's, as the King's were the
Queen's. The Magnificent had been foully attacked, an officer dragged away, to all that wealth, chests
of it, casks overflowing with it. . . .

I wiped my chin. Reason made a last, desperate bid for victory. "How could we find the
mermaid, Miss Underwood? She is said to be a secretive creature."

Again, the light shone behind her eyes. "I will find her, and her treasure, for you."

Reason collapsed, beaten. I lifted my gaze to my sailors, standing still as statues around the