Captain Neil Maxwell had one goal and nothing was going to stop him. His hatred ran deep and even though it was focused on one man, it could easily spill over onto others. Sid understood this and when he realized the youth he'd thought he rescued and brought aboard was, in fact, a young woman, he knew he'd placed her in danger. Any woman would have been a problem, but a Scarborough?

Riana was not stupid. Sid's recounting of the captain's story left her few choices. The one advantage she had was their shared enemy. The question became, how best to use that? The same man was responsible for both their presumed deaths and joining forces could well facilitate their shared desire for vengeance.

Her proposal shocked him. He'd treated her abhorrently in his blind hatred and she was suggesting marriage? Did she truly understand what that meant? He was a noble's bastard, aye, but he was no noble and she was a lady. Her brothers would object. He could well end up a criminal in England's eyes and forced to flee. As his wife, she would have no choice but to flee with him. It was madness, and yet, it was tempting.

The foundation of their union may have been laid on an angry sea, but those waters were no match for the solid vessel that union became. Nor was the Duke of Lansing.