"Oh, yes, quite well indeed." Jacob blushed a little at Allison’s tone and Morgan laughed, a little surprised at the boldness of the young woman perched in her bed. Waving to him to take one of the chairs in front of the fireplace she took the other one.

"So, Mr. Barnes has been asking about the sloop, has he?" Jacob nodded.

"Aye, Cap’n, it appears that e’s had a couple of offers already for d’boat." Jacob smiled as Morgan nodded.

"Good, then that means we’ll get the price that we want." Morgan saw Allison move out of the corner of her eye, climbing out of the bed and walking over to her. "Have the men sail her over to an empty spot on the dock and tie up, Barnes is going to want a thorough look at her, and we need to get an offer on the cargo." Jacob nodded, eyes flicking up to look at the woman standing behind her chair. "You take care of getting the sloop over there and I’ll head over to deal with Barnes. Knowing that there’s already been inquiries about it is going to tip the bargaining in our favor I would say." Jacob nodded and smiled.

"When do ya want me to have the boys get t’gether?" He asked. Morgan frowned for a moment.

"Hmmm, why don’t you have them meet me at the pub for lunch. That should give me enough time to get the bargaining done with Barnes and get everything there to be divvied up." Morgan watched as Jacob shot a meaningful glance at the redhead behind her and looked at her questioningly. Morgan gave a minute shake of her head and mouthed the word, "later". He nodded and pushed himself up out of the chair.

"I’ll see you at the pub at high noon, then, Cap’n," he said and left quietly.

Morgan sat quietly for a moment until Allison walked around to perch on the edge of the chair opposite her.

"I wish you didn’t have to go," Allison said softly. Morgan cocked an eyebrow at her.

"I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. But I need you to stay here, alright?" Allison nodded and motioned to the shelves of books.

"I have plenty to read, so I’ll be okay." Morgan nodded then walked over to the desk that sat in front of the window. Sitting down, she carefully wrote out a letter then folded it up and tucked it in an oilskin pouch. Allison watched her from the chair but thankfully didn’t ask her what she was doing. Sighing, Morgan tucked the bundle into a larger bag and sat it next to the door then went to her trunk and started to get dressed. "Now, no one should bother you at all. I’ll be sending Jacob up here for that small trunk over there a little before noon, but other than that, you can ignore anyone at the door." Allison acknowledged the statement with a nod, tucking her feet under herself in the chair. Cinching her belt around her waist she settled her cutlass at her side and checked her knives. She walked by the chair, looking down at her captive for a long moment, then turned and left.

Allison flipped to the next page in her book and sighed. She glanced at the door, then at the clock on the mantle, willing the time to pass more quickly. The morning hours had seemed to drag by eternally, and her ache to be in Morgan’s company again didn’t help. Her stomach was in knots, certain that the note Morgan had written was for her ransom, but helpless do to anything about it. She knew that it was part of Morgan’s livelihood, and that the crew would never allow her to forfeit the significant amount of money that her ransom would bring them.

Allison returned to her reading, trying hard to lose herself in the story. The sound of footsteps in the hallway made her stop and she looked up at the clock. Hmm….11:30…that should be Jacob… She said to herself, waiting for the knock on the door. Finally, the footsteps paused and a sharp rap echoed through the room and she went to answer it. She opened the door and felt a sharp moment of surprise.

"Well, hello, there, I don’t think we’ve been introduced," the woman outside the door said, offering her hand. "I’m Carolyn." Allison stared at the proffered hand for a moment, then opened the door further and took it.

"I’m Allison." Carolyn shook her hand briefly then dropped it, her eyes taking in Allison’s scant attire. Finding herself under scrutiny, Allison briefly wished that she had changed into one of the elegant gowns that filled her trunks. "Is there something you need?" She asked Carolyn, wondering why the woman was there. She was certain that the blonde knew that Morgan had left earlier, and Carolyn’s honey-coated answer confirmed it.

"Well, dear, actually I came up to see you. After being on a ship for so long I figured you might like some female company." Allison looked at Carolyn warily as the woman confidently walked past her into the room. Slowly shutting the door, Allison watched Carolyn perch herself in one of the chairs, carefully spreading her skirts out around her. Allison shoved down the urge to grab her robe from the evening before and wrap herself in it and walked over and seated herself in the other chair with her feet tucked under her, trying to look more comfortable than she felt. Carolyn sat with a cool expression on her face, eyes hard and flat, and Allison found herself fighting the urge to shrink away from it. Come on Allison, you know what this is all about. You’re in Morgan’s room…and she thinks that Morgan is hers. So she’s jealous. She calmly met Carolyn’s stare with an inquisitive one of her own, waiting for the other woman to make a move.

"So, Allison, dear, how are you fairing?" Carolyn asked. Allison fought to keep a frown from creasing her eyebrows and tried to figure out what Carolyn was asking.

"Well, Carolyn, I’m not sure that I understand your question," Allison answered.

"Hmmm, you poor child, she has you completely fooled," Carolyn shook her head sadly, making Allison's spine stiffen.

"What do you mean?" She said, sharper than she intended. The corner of Carolyn's mouth quirked a little bit, and she settled more comfortably into the chair.

"Honey, that woman is nothing but trouble, and you better keep her at arm's length until your ransom comes. If you don't she will seduce you and use you for her own perverted pleasures," Carolyn leaned forward and fixed a look on her that Allison was sure the woman was convinced would look sincere. Allison looked at her for a moment and nodded graciously.

"Thank you for your warning, Carolyn, I will keep it in mind. But, I must tell you, Morgan has treated me quite well." Carolyn's expression froze into a mask and she stood quickly.

"Well, then I guess my advice isn't wanted here then. Good day, Allison." Carolyn swept out of the room, jumping as she ran into Jacob's huge frame.

"G'day, Ma'am," he bowed out of her way, then peeked into the room to look at Allison. She waved him in, and he shut the door behind him. "You alright, Miss?" He asked in concern.

"Yes, Jacob, I'm fine. I just wish I knew that that woman was up to." She answered.

"Miss, that woman is pure poison, and I hope she stays away from you." Jacob said fiercely. "I'm grateful that yer here, Miss, or else that woman would be causin' even more trouble that she is already." Allison smiled sweetly at Jacob.