Did Captain Warble know?

Olivia stared at the formidable shape of her captain as he lay asleep in bed. His face was pale and his hair damp from sweating, but his breathing was steady and even. In sleep, he looked peaceful, almost boyish, the lines of pain and worry smoothed from his features. It was difficult to imagine he might know her secret and not question her.

A thousand questions whirled inside her, a thousand doubts and fears. She couldn't stop thinking about the moment earlier when he had looked at her with such gentle eyes. How he'd caressed her cheek.

He'd called her pretty.

Did he know?

Or was it a delirious dream caused by his fever? She wished she knew. It wasn't the first time she'd suspected him, but it seemed impossible. Right? He couldn't know. She'd been so careful, so cautious. She'd played her role to perfection, never slipping, never letting her guard down. Hadn't she?

Thinking back to all their interactions, she sorted through the memories of the moments they'd shared. The way he'd watched her. The teasing lilt in his voice when he spoke to her. The knowing glint in his eyes... Had he seen through her disguise since the start?

No. Surely not. If he had known, he would have said something. Done something. He wouldn't have let her continue this charade. Wouldn't have allowed her to put herself in such a precarious situation.

But then why had he called her pretty? Why had he touched her with such tenderness? It made no sense.

With a frustrated grunt, she shook her head. She would have to wait for her answers until Captain Warble was past this fever. Pushing the gnawing doubts away, she busied herself with tending to him. She changed his bandages, her fingers gentle as she unwound the linen from his head. The gash was healing well, the edges already knitting together. She cleaned it carefully, applying a fresh poultice supplied by Cook before wrapping it anew.

As she worked, she did her best not to get distracted by the shape of his wide shoulders or the expanse of his bare chest. Tried to ignore that he was a magnificent specimen of male beauty, all hard muscle and tanned skin. Her fingers definitely didn't tremble, and her heart wasn't racing. If it was, it was only because of her fear of discovery.

When the captain still didn't seem to wake, she brought him food and water, and coaxed him to sip and swallow even if he was only ever semi-awake. She sponged sweat from his brow, her fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. It was a strange intimacy, caring for a grown man like this.

A knock at the door startled her, and she leapt to her feet with her heart in her throat. Oh God, what would the crew think if they saw her hovering over the captain like a lovesick maiden?

She cleared her throat, pitching her voice low and gruff. "Yes?"

The door creaked open, revealing Tom's friendly face. "Just checking on the Captain," he said, his gaze darting to the captain's sleeping form. "Crew's been worried 'bout him. Wanted to make sure he's doing all right."

"He's resting." She forced a smile, hoping it didn't look as strained as she felt. "The fever's broken, but he's still sleeping. I'll let you know if anything changes."

Tom nodded, and his gaze swept over her. For a terrifying moment, she feared she might have forgotten to bind her chest or put her cap on and she expected him to call her out, but then he smiled at her.

"And how are you doing? Need a break from sitting in here?"

Her shoulders sagged as relief flooded her. "I'm fine, thank you. Happy to keep an eye on the captain."

And I'll try to stop ogling him.

"You're a good lad, Oliver." Tom clapped her on the shoulder, making her wince. "Captain's lucky to have you looking after him."

And then he was gone again, the door closing behind him. Olivia sagged back onto the bed, her knees weak. That had been too close. She had to be careful about touching the captain in ways that simply weren't appropriate. Especially when the poor man wasn't even conscious.

Not that she should touch him when he was conscious, either. Her cheeks heated. Nor did she want to. But even she knew that was a lie. No matter how much she tried to ignore it, she was most definitely attracted to Captain Warble. How could she not be?

It wasn't only attraction either. She actually enjoyed his company. Their conversations were always stimulating, even if he believed her a boy, and his stories of his adventures were always entertaining and told in a way that made her wish she'd been there. It was a rare skill, as most times when men tried to tell her of their exploits, she had to hold back a yawn.

The only other man who could hold her attention like that was Dash.

Dash.

Her heart constricted a little. It had been days since she'd even thought about him, her days so filled with duties on the ship, her mind exhausted by the night. But that was the only reason she hadn't. Exhaustion. Because she still loved him. Still wanted a life with him. He was who she wanted. These feelings...this strange pull she felt around Captain Warble was nothing more than a fleeting attraction. An appreciation of his good looks and charm.

But did he know her secret?

She glanced down at his sleeping form, only a few inches away from hers on the bed. As much as she wanted to believe he did not, she could not escape the feeling that he did indeed know. Anger sparked. If he'd known all this time...it meant he'd teased her and taunted her on purpose. The knowing looks and smirks took on a completely different meaning. The undressing in front of her. How dare he?!

He was playing with her. Either he wasn't certain, or he was purposefully torturing her. Was he trying to get her to confess? Well, he was in for a surprise then. No one was as stubborn as she was.

"Oliver?"

She startled as the captain's voice broke through her reverie. His eyes fluttered open, hazy with fever but clearer than they had been before.

"Captain?"

"Water, please."

She helped him sit up, holding the cup to his lips as he drank. His skin was no longer as hot to the touch, and he appeared to be more coherent. The fever might have finally broken.

"How are you feeling, Captain?"

He offered her a wry smile. "Like I've been run over by a carriage. Twice."

A chuckle escaped her, the sound coming out a little too high and feminine. She quickly covered it with a cough. "Well, you took quite a blow to the head. We're lucky you're even coherent."

"Thick skull." He knocked his knuckles against the side of his head.

Trying to keep from smiling, she mumbled, "I'm sure that helps."

"Having such a dedicated cabin boy looking after me helps too."

There was a subtle emphasis on the word 'boy', a hint of irony that made her stomach clench. She forced herself to meet his gaze, keeping her expression neutral.

"Just doing my duty, sir," she said evenly.

"Of course." He nodded, wincing at the movement. "And you do it so well. Better than any nurse. Have you cared for many people in your days, Oliver?"

She stiffened, her heart pounding. What was he implying? Was he admitting to knowing she was a woman?

"No, sir," she said carefully, not wanting to give herself away unnecessarily. "I have no such experience."

He sighed. "No, I suppose not. Maybe your mother is a nurse. Or a lady's maid. You never did tell me what your family does."

With good reason. She'd intentionally kept her background vague so he couldn't somehow place her family. It was unlikely he knew the Newtons, but not impossible since she had attended several Seasons. Fortunately, he had not been active in London's social scene for years, so they had never met. Her father was an untitled gentleman who had invested in several businesses, and as such was not welcome in the circles Olivia was. The only reason she could attend the London Season was because her mother's brother was the Duke of Ashbrook.

"My family is not particularly interesting, sir."

There was a shrewd glint in his eyes as he glanced at her. "I'm sure that's not true. If you look closely enough, any family—any person—is interesting. We all have secrets."

He knew. He definitely knew. The realisation hit her like a punch in the gut. Her mouth was suddenly dry. Was she meant to confess? Beg for his understanding?

No! She would not. She'd come too far. Risked too much to give up now. She had to see this through, had to make it to America and find Dash. Until the captain told her outright, she would say nothing. If he wanted to play games and try to catch her out, to make her slip up and reveal herself...then she would take him up on the challenge.

"I don't know..." she said slowly, busying her hands with folding away the cloth she'd used to mop his brow earlier. "What secrets do you carry, Captain?"

For a moment, he only stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smile curved his lips. "Oh, none at all," he said breezily. "I'm an open book, Oliver."

It was all she could do not to scoff in his face.

"I very much doubt that...Sir."

He didn't miss the slight delay in her deference, and his smile deepened. "Well, Oliver..." He yawned. "We will have to continue this conversation later. I believe I need some more rest."

"Of course." She nodded. "You're still recovering. We can speak more when you're well."

"Oh, we will." There was a definite challenge in his voice, but one she was willing and wanting to meet.

She would play this game with him.

And she damn well planned to win.

The following afternoon, when Olivia entered the cabin, balancing a tray of food, she was startled to find the captain sitting on the edge of the bed with his bare feet planted on the floor.

She nearly dropped the tray. He was still shirtless, his broad shoulders and muscular chest on full display. Other than his matted hair, there was no sign of having spent the last couple of days in bed. He looked strong and alert, a far cry from the fevered, delirious man he'd been just the other day.

"Captain," she said, her voice catching slightly. "You're up."

He looked up at her, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Indeed I am, Oliver. Feeling much better, thanks to your excellent care."

She ducked her head, hoping to hide the blush even as she wondered if he was taunting her. "I brought you some food," she muttered.

Setting the tray down on the bed next to him, she was acutely aware of his eyes on her. He rose from the bed, stretching his arms above his head. It was impossible not to admire the play of muscles across his back or the way his breeches hung low on his hips.

She swallowed with some difficulty. No ogling. It was a reminder she'd had to give herself more often than she cared to admit.

"I feel like a new man." Captain Warble rolled his shoulders. "Though I must say, I'm in desperate need of a bath. I've been sweating in that bed for days, and I'm not fit company for man or beast."

"I will ask Cook to heat the water. While I get your bath ready, you should eat." She'd get that done quickly. With some luck, Tom would be willing to give her a hand again. And then she'd make herself scarce until the captain was finished, just like she had last time.

She was halfway to the cabin door when his next words stopped her mid-step.

"I'll need you to assist me this time, of course."

Her heart must have stopped beating. Her lungs constricted. He couldn't be serious. He couldn't really expect her to...to...

But he was looking at her expectantly, one eyebrow raised. Waiting for her response. Waiting for her to either accept the challenge...or admit defeat.

And in that moment, something in her snapped. Something reckless and defiant, and perhaps a little bit mad. If he wanted to push her. Wanted to test her limits...then by God, she would meet him head-on. She would call his bluff and raise the stakes.

Squaring her shoulders, she met his gaze dead on. "As you wish, Captain." Her voice was clearer and steadier than she had expected. "I'll let you know when your bath is ready."

And as she turned to leave, she could have sworn she saw a flicker of surprise cross his face. A flash of something that looked almost like admiration.

Let the games begin.

~~~~~~

Author's note: Just a cheeky reminder that subscribers on my Ream page get chapters two weeks early (and free ebooks once I publish). Following (which is free) lets you read chapters ad free at the same rate as on Wattpad (sometimes a day early, as I try to publish them on Thursday there).