“And who will stop me from dragging you there and--”
“Me,” Tom spoke just behind her. Relief made her shoulders sag. She didn’t know where he had come from but she was so glad he was there. In this moment, her anger over last night was forgotten. So was her resolve to end her relationship with Loudoun without Tom’s intervention.
“You have no authority over me.” Loudoun’s voice grew louder with every word.
“I have the law on my side. Not even an earl can force a woman to travel with him.” Tom grabbed Loudoun’s wrist and his grip must have been tight because Loudoun’s fingers instantly slackened on her arm.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Loudoun’s voice was considerably softer. “I didn’t mean that. I was simply urging her to come. It’s in her best interest.”
“The Duke of Manchester disagrees.” Tom stepped closer and he must have tightened his grip further because Loudoun cried out and released her. “He told me to keep an eye on you and by extension, he is as well.”
Loudoun shook his arm free. “You’re a bloody usurper.”
“I’ve usurped nothing.” Tom was so close to her now, his arm brushed her shoulder. His touch soothed her.
“This has nothing to do with Tom,” she started.
“Tom is it?” Now that he had some distance from Tom, the vitriol returned to his voice. “Awfully cozy, isn’t it?”
“He saved my life,” she answered in an attempt to defend what Loudoun was hinting at. That their relationship was more intimate. She wouldn’t validate Loudoun’s accusations.
“Saved you from some terrible drunken earl,” he sneered, stepping closer again.
“We’ll finish this conversation later,” Tom cut in. “We’re leaving the island. So unless you want to stay, I suggest you head for the dinghies.”
“Of course, your majesty.” Loudoun gave a mock bow and charged back into the castle.
Tom gave an exaggerated sigh. “Let’s go. Later this evening you can tell me the parts of the conversation that I missed.”
Flora didn’t answer but she frowned. He wasn’t asking and she didn’t know if she liked him being so authoritative. Her anger at him over his rejection trickled back into her thoughts. But she walked next to him as they made their way back to The White Lady.
She didn’t know what to think of Tom, but one thing was for certain—she couldn’t escape Loudoun’s company quickly enough.
9
Tom knew something was wrong. She hadn’t said a word as they walked together. Part of him wanted to attribute her silence to Loudoun. But it was deeper.
She likely was angry over his refusal last night but he wouldn’t take it back. He meant what he’d said about not being her toy.
He attempted to ignore the voice that mocked him within his own thoughts. This is exactly what you want. What you always want. A casual relationship with a beautiful woman. But Flora was different. He didn’t know why, but being a fling for her was too much like his relationship with his own family. Less important, less needed. He wouldn’t be a plaything for her to be tossed aside for a proper lord. No matter how much he desired her.
It had been so tempting. But he didn’t want marriage and he couldn’t do less with her. So it had to be nothing. Unless of course, he had to marry her. That was different.
They reached the shore and he saw her lifting her skirts to climb into the dinghy. He offered his hand. “Allow me.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Her eyes still did not meet his. She had been pressed against him when Loudoun was yelling but now she seemed distant.
Trying not to huff a breath, he let it be. It was for the best.
They reached the boat easily and he helped Flora begin climbing up the ladder.
She scrambled up to put distance between them and he rolled his eyes. If she thought she could outpace him on a rope ladder, she’d lost her senses.
With a sigh, he decided it was likely best to let her put distance between them. Now that she had decided to return with him he needn’t worry so much. Soon he’d be bringing her safely back to London, his duty completed. But he had a nagging suspicion that wouldn’t be so easy.
She was almost at the top when suddenly her skirt swirled and then she disappeared onto the deck. How strange. Who else might have lifted her onto the deck? Fear, like a vice, gripped his chest.
Picking up speed he scaled the ladder in a few seconds and launched himself aboard the ship.
A cutlass met him, pointed just inches from his nose. Stew at its other end.
“I’m rather fond of my face.” Tom quirked an eyebrow, feigning a calm he didn’t feel. “So I suggest you put that cutlass down.”
“Sorry, mate. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.” Stew gave him a slimy grin, revealing his many missing teeth.
Captain Andrews stood to the side near the helm of the ship, a cutlass pointed at him as well. Carl, beside him, shivering in his boots.
Loudoun and several sailors were corralled by a ring of mutineers and being held at pistol point, while Flora, her mother, and Mary huddled near the hatch, clutching one another. Relief flooded through him to see her unharmed.
The mutineers were only about six of the fourteen-man crew. But they had gotten themselves on the boat first and picked them off as they climbed on board.
Come to think of it, if Loudoun hadn’t detained Flora, they would have been on the boat long ago.
Tom glanced over at the earl. Despite being held as a hostage, he looked very calm. Even his toughest sailors were uneasy detained by the barrel of pistol.
“What do you want?” Tom gritted out.
“The way some of us see it, you and the Cap’n aren’t fit to run this boat. Ran us to ground, lettin’ women distract you. Way we see it, ‘is grace might think we done him a favor gettin’ these goods to port.” Stew gave him a sneer. “So we’re takin’ over the boat and relieving you of duty.”
“Your charges are thin at best. My cousin made it clear to keep an eye on those women, and ships sometimes run aground in storms. You won’t win his favor but you will gain his ire. Stop this now before it’s too late.” Tom took a deep breath.
A hulking man, Rick, caught his eye from the pen. With a wiggle of the man’s eyebrows, he knew that he would fight. Looking over at his captain, the man gave an almost imperceptible nod.
“You’re tellin’ me to stop?” Stew gave another wicked grin. “I think you’re gonna like livin’ on this island. You’re resourceful. I’m sure a ship will stop in a year or two to pick ye up. Think you can survive that long?”
Now he knew Loudoun had a hand in this. That was exactly what he had said to him.
“Baroness Seagrave will be missed by His Grace. You can’t leave her here.” Tom flexed his fingers, getting ready. If he kept talking, they’d drop their guard.
“Oh, she ain’t stayin’. We’ll deliver her to Scotland so she can continue her journey.” Further evidence Loudoun was involved. Stew cackled then. His head tipped back and that was Tom’s cue.
In a flash he knocked the cutlass to the side and bashed the heel of his hand into the man’s throat. Stew dropped like a log and Tom grabbed the other man’s cutlass on his way down.
Phil came at him next but Tom simply threw the smaller man over the side.
The men that were ringed with pistols grabbed for the weapons, and several fired off into the air.
He saw one of his men fall, but he couldn’t worry about that now. “Lock yourself in your room,” he bellowed at Flora.
Pride swelled in his chest as she nodded and began tugging the other women toward the hatch. Swinging the cutlass, he knocked two more men over the side, the two remaining held their hands up in defeat.
Looking at his faithful soldiers, he nodded to the water. “Fish them out and tie them up.”
Stew lay writhing on the deck and Tom gladly gripped his hands. Another sailor grabbed a length of rope and Tom wrenched his arms behind his back
, tying them tighter than was likely necessary.
He wasn’t going to leave his men on the island, even if they were mutineers. “Take them to the brig.” He hauled Stew to his feet. Barrett could decide what to do with them. Besides, he needed to question these men to see if Loudoun was behind all this as he suspected.
Locking the men in the aft of the ship, he made his way down the hall to see how Flora fared.
Knocking on several doors, there was no answer until he came to Flora’s. “Flora?” he called as he banged on the wood.
The latch clicked and she swung open the door. Her eyes were wide with fear but she didn’t move toward him and he reached out and yanked her into his arms. Burying his face into her hair, he murmured, “It’s all right. You’re all right.”
“This has got to be the most ridiculous sea journey--” She buried her face in his neck.
He chuckled. “Storms, mutinies, annoying earls. Not all that uncommon. I suppose all in one three-day trip, it is rather miraculous.”
“I don’t think that’s exactly the word I would use.” She stiffened, ready to argue with him.
He laughed harder. “Glad to see you are of sound body and mind.” He gave her a grin, relieved she was her usual self, ready to spar with him.
She huffed a breath and turned towards her mother. “Come check on the rest before you go.”
Go? He’d been scared witless when she disappeared and he wanted nothing more than hold her in his arms to know that she was safe. “Of course.”
The other two women sat huddled on the bed but appeared to have no injuries. Flora stood by the door, arms crossed.
He needed to see Flora again. Had to be with her to know that she was safe. “Why don’t all of you join the captain and me for dinner this evening? Loudoun too.”
Flora’s eyebrows rose to her hairline. “You can’t be serious.”
He walked back over to her and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I need to know if Loudoun had any part in this uprising.”
Her eyes grew large but she gave a nod.
Glad for her understanding, he stepped away. It would a painful evening but it had to be done and, at the very least, he’d be with her.
10
“You want to have Loudoun for dinner?” Captain Andrews asked.
Tom gave a terse nod. He’d just outlined his suspicions. “Yes, Captain. Actually, I want you to invite him. And make sure to have out the scotch.”
“But why have the baroness here too? He’s less likely to talk with the triangle that has been constructed here.” The captain began pulling out bottles.
“Triangle?” Tom asked raking his hand through his hair.
Captain Andrews stopped and stared at him. “It’s been a while since I sought the company of a respectable woman but I can see when a man is infatuated with--”
“I am not infatuated. I’ve been tasked with keeping her safe. That is all,” Tom grumbled.
“Please, Tom. She shouldn’t be at this dinner. You just want to spend time with her.”
There was some truth there but he’d be damned if he admitted it. “If I’m not with her, I can’t guarantee her safety.”
“And what will you do when she gets off this boat? How will you keep her safe then?”
“She will no longer be my responsibility,” Tom answered, but his insides clenched at the thought. To not see her, know she was safe.
“Aye, she won’t. She’ll be some other man’s. Not only will he protect her, but he’ll love, honor--”
Tom slapped the table, not a gesture he would normally commit in front of his captain but Flora had his mind in a muddle. “I just want to keep her safe from Loudoun.”
“Again, Tom. What happens when she leaves? She is at the mercy of any fortune hunter that takes a fancy to her. No one is protecting her.”
His stomach churned. The idea of her being alone, without protection, made him near sick. Perhaps he should escort her back to her home. Surely there she would be safe.
He sent Carl to deliver the invitation to Lord Loudoun. He consoled himself that if he could force Loudoun to admit his part, then the earl may well go to jail with the rest of them. One less lout to keep away from Flora.
* * *
AT SIX THIRTY, Lord Loudoun arrived at the captain’s quarters. Captain Andrews handed Loudoun a glass of scotch as he made his greeting. The other man downed half of it before he’d even returned a hello. “Much obliged, Captain. It’s been a trying day.”
“Indeed. Fortunately, all is right again,” Captain Andrews answered.
“Very fortunate.” Loudoun frowned. Though to be fair, Tom didn’t know if it was because of the words or the fact that Loudoun had noticed Tom in the shadowed corner. “Mr. Maddox.” He nodded coolly.
“Lord Loudon,” he returned with an equal amount of frost.
“How long till we arrive?” Loudoun asked, finishing his drink then tossing himself in a chair.
“Tomorrow evening at the earliest, but more likely the following morning,” Tom answered.
Loudoun grimaced. “And you’re still going to keep Flora from accompanying me?” He handed his glass to the captain.
Tom paused. Loudoun’s outstretched hand was shaking. In all honesty, it was difficult to discern if the man had a guilty conscience or was just in need of drink. He would have thought if Loudoun were guilty he’d hold back on the drink. Keep his wits. But the way the other man was sweating, he wondered if he could help it. All the better for him to fish out Loudoun’s secrets. “I’m not holding her back. You did that all on your own.”
“Gentlemen,” Captain Andrews cut in. “This is a friendly dinner.”
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door signaling the ladies’ arrival. Tom tried not to stare. But Flora was wearing a dusky pink again. The color that made him think of sunsets and kisses. Thinking of kissing made him think of the ones they had shared.
The memory of her soft full lips and the taste of her sweet mouth had him aching in seconds. And not just in his loins. His chest constricted too. What in the bloody blue blazes was that about?
She greeted the captain and then nodded towards both him and Loudoun. The knot in his chest tightened. That was all he got?
“Bloody shame about the mutineers, isn’t it?” Tom turned to Loudoun. Someone had to bear the brunt of the emotional onslaught filling his chest.
“Shame,” Loudoun answered as he got up to refill his glass.
Flora had turned her back to him while speaking with the captain but he saw her stiffen. She was listening despite pretending otherwise.
“Shocking too,” Tom continued as he got up and followed Loudoun. “Stew is ornery but he’s been loyal. I am surprised at the sudden change.”
Loudoun poured his drink. “Perhaps it wasn’t him that has been altered.”
The hair on Tom’s arms bristled. Loudoun was accusing him of being the reason for the mutiny. “Oh, I agree. There is most definitely an outside force at work.” Tom cleared his throat and stepped closer. “Stew himself will face time in Scotland Yard for his crimes. But the mastermind of this debacle, the man who attempted to steal from the king’s cousin, that man will be very sorry indeed.”
He watched Loudoun’s skin pale. His eyes growing larger in his face. His suspicions confirmed, now Tom had to prove it.
“Is Barrett first cousin to the king?”
“No, second. As am I, despite my lack of title.” He knew he shouldn’t have said it. But he wanted to wipe that smug look of Loudon’s face. The one that the earl used to declare himself superior.
The pale color of Loudoun’s skin grew pasty at Tom’s words. Loudoun cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean to imply there was some other person behind the mutiny. Just that the storm and the near wreck--”
“We face those types of circumstance all the time. Why should this one be any different?” Tom was slowly backing him into the corner. Figuratively, of course. He’d like to literally push him to the side and s
mash his face, but perhaps this wasn’t the venue.
Loudoun cleared his throat. “There are ladies on board. It upset the balance with the crew.” Loudoun visibly relaxed. That blasted earl thought he had just one-upped him.
“Shouldn’t matter.” Tom inched closer, as though conspiring. But his head dropped close to Loudoun’s and his body bumped into the other man’s. “Most of the crew spent their time in England’s finest city, visiting some of the less reputable establishments.” He thwacked the other man hard on the back. “I wouldn’t speak of it in front of the ladies but it should have calmed any wayward tendencies.”
“Did you also?” Loudoun asked, a gleam to his eye.
Tom knew what he was doing. Attempting to gather information he could use to tarnish Tom in Flora’s eyes. He was surprised Loudoun still had that many mental abilities after so many snifters of scotch. “Me? Never. But a good first mate keeps track of his men. Even on the mainland.” He cleared his throat. “You, however, had a jolly good time at the Garden of the Abbott.”
Loudoun, whose color had been returning, paled even whiter than it had been. His waxy smile looking thin indeed. It had been a guess on Tom’s part but a good one.
“I…I… don’t know what… what…” Loudoun stuttered.
Tom had him exactly where he wanted him. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I heard you and Stew. I know all about what you planned.” He was being vague because he hadn’t really.
But the glass slipped from Loudoun’s hand and clanked onto the floor. Loudoun’s hand trembled as he picked it up. “I don’t... I mean I would never… you can’t...”
“Oh, you do and I can.” Tom gave him a slow smile. “And Stew has already begun filling in the details.” Another lie, of course. But he would. Tom would find a way to make Stew talk. That was a much easier job with the sailor facing time in Scotland Yard.
Loudoun threw back the entire drink in one gulp and then poured another. “I’m not feeling well. Please have my food sent to my room.” Then he turned on his heel and left. As Loudoun stomped out, the sound of the door slamming reverberated through the small space.
Taming a Savage Gentleman: Taming the Heart Series Page 7
