"Aye, Ma'am," Antonia replied in English now, her inimitable voice spiced with that warm Cajun patois. Not of course that Nicolette heard - or if she did? She did not give the rogue the least indication that her assent was of any consequence - but no matter. 

That was not the point. Not [i]truly.[/i]

The rogue's entire demeanor, all the way down to the tone of her voice, stated she deferred to the authority of the First Mate's command instantly. And where Nicolette likely wished with all her heart to fend off the curious stares of the [i]Skate[/i]'s men, Antonia [i]invited[/i] them as she fell in behind the tall, golden woman. Let the crew see the exotic, caramel-skinned lady of a thousand hidden blades and an eagle's gaze yield to the orders of their First Mate. Let every last pair of curious eyes watch as the darkly dangerous Vodoun woman, the bearer of richly deserved blessings or curses aboard the [i]Skate[/i], heeded Nicolette's command to follow without the least qualm or hesitation.

There was more than one gift, after all, that the rogue could give to the First Mate.

Nicolette strode toward the aft castle and her quarters, with all the straight-backed dignity that simply screamed of years spent in naval service to Antonia's knowing gaze. Disciplined and exacting, yet still very much at ease with the swell of the waves beneath the ship as Nicolette strode toward her cabin, the rogue could almost imagine the days when the Admiral Sir Greene might have walked just so on the decks of a British warship. 

Well, [i]obviously[/i] without the sway of hips. Antonia bit her lip softly and dropped her eye to keep the soft laugh that wanted to bubble up, back behind her teeth. 

The rogue's own gait affirmed to any who watched, that she was a creature entirely apart from the stunning Nicolette Beauchamp. Where the First Mate was the very picture of self-control and a certain exquisite, rigid elegance, Antonia simply glided behind her as she was bidden. One would no more expect to find military order and discipline in the rogue's lithe steps, than one might think such a thing natural to the jaguar prowling in the shadows of the jungle canopy.

As they walked toward the First Mate's cabin, Antonia was content to see Nicolette's strides were sure and solid. It had been all the rogue could do to keep her own fingers still, and not reach to steady Nicolette's shaking hand when she first tentatively reached for the velvet bag and the mahogany box nestled within. She was relieved herself, that the First Mate had chosen to take their meeting from prying, curious eyes. Antonia had not intended to set her off balance, to see her unsure or hesitant - no matter that only the rogue was close enough to take the least note of anything off in her demeanor. 

Trust was, apparently, not a commodity Nicolette held in abundance.

Antonia's thoughts prowled through the shadows of the night past, to the onyx-eyed, eagle beaked face of the French naval captain, to [i]Capitaine[/i] Poutreau - the sight of whom had sent the otherwise steady and sturdy First Mate to flight. All the vile suspicions that had begun to raise their foul heads the night before, wormed their way into the more fertile soil of Antonia's darker imaginings - though she kept all to herself of course.

[i]Particularly[/i] the murderous promise that hovered ominously, like a steel grey storm cloud in the back of her thoughts, for that sweet crimson day the loa blessed when the rogue's path crossed with a certain pissant French captain again. 

Respectful and obedient, Antonia stepped into the First Mate's cabin as she was bid, the velvet bag still in her hands, clasped behind her back. She pushed all remembrance of the last time she had seen the interior of this small room to the back of her mind, and instead turned toward Nicolette as she closed the door behind them. 

Antonia did not presume to take a seat, but remained on her feet as she smiled up to Nicolette. Her hand outstretched, Antonia offered the First Mate the velvet bag once more. "Should you like to see, [i]Mademoiselle[/i] Beauchamp? Now that we are elsewhere? 'Tis for you alone, after all."