Nicholas eyed her with the slightest hint ofa smile. “A bold wench, I have.”
A signal cannon boomed in the distance. Shescrambled off him. Heart thumping, Nicholas crossed the room,picked up the telescope and focused on the horizon. “A schooner.And a British flag.”
Nicholas dropped the scope where itclattered on the table and grabbed for the tinderbox. Books crashedoff the shelves to the floor.
“Run, Alexandra.”
She was already sprinting down the mountain.He passed her, leaping over vines and fallen palm logs. He trippedon a root, somersaulted mid-air, landed on his feet and keptrunning.
“I can’t believe this,” said Alexandra.“Hurry, Nicholas, get the signal fire lighted before theyleave.”
Nicholas skidded in front of the pile ofgathered driftwood. He pulled out the protected coconut husk fibersand struck the tinderbox.
Alexandra joined him. Breathless she kneltbeside him. “Hurry, Nicholas.”
He struck the tinderbox several times. Inthe breeze sparks darted around the fibers.
“Damn.”
Alexandra cupped her trembling hands aroundthe tinder. He struck the flint to metal again and again. Thesparks caught to the fibers. He breathed onto the embers, addingsmall tinder and glancing over his shoulder at the ship.
“Dear God, will the ship leave before itsees our signal?”
Sweating, Nicholas placed more dry wood onthe fire careful not to put it out. “There is no way I will allowthat ship to leave without us.”
The fire roared to life. Alexandra placeddry leaves on the inferno. “The smoke will be more visible to theship.”
Nicholas and Alexandra waved their arms andshouted to get the ship’s attention. The ship blast her cannon inacknowledgement, the reply reverberated up the coast.
Nicholas picked Alexandra up and twirled heraround. “We have been saved.”
Toes in the lapping surf, they waited for asmall boat to be rowed ashore. Nicholas caught hold of the bow.Dressed in a navy frockcoat with gold trim, the captain steppedfrom the boat.
“I am Lord Nicholas Rutland. We have beencast ashore for a year.”
The British captain stood thunderstruck.Extraordinary. I can’t believe the miracle of fate that drags mefrom the scouring the Caribbean and puts me in your presence. Trulyextraordinary.”
“At your service,” Nicholas bowed.
“I am Captain Charles Sawyer and chargedwith finding you. Months ago, we discovered flotsam from theSantanasand assumed you perished with the ship. But yourfather, Duke Rutland said not to give up.”
“My father is alive?” His heart stopped. Hadhe heard Captain Sawyer right?
“Yes, very alive and well. He ordered acomplete search of the islands for you. After that terrible debacleat Belvoir where the laboratory blew up with the intent to killyour brother and his Lordship, a kidnapper’s note was found, sayingyou were sent to Brazil. There was an eyewitness to your abductionon the docks of London. We traced you to flotsam discovered in theGreater Antilles never believing we would find you. Lo and behold,here you are.”
“My father is alive?”
“Yes, Lord Rutland. He never gave up hope offinding you.”
“My brother, Anthony? Any news on mysister?”
“Your brother is alive and well. Your sisteris another matter. The Governor-General of Nassau informed me thatas far as he knew, Lady Abigail Rutland, was alive. She had been aguest of his but kidnapped by barbaric American Colonials during aninvasion of his city. He surmised there would be an exchange forher since England was at war with the Colonies.”
Nicholas made a mental note, impatient toget home to secure the exchange.
Grinning from ear to ear, Nicholas clappedCaptain Sawyer on the back, shaking his hand.
The captain cleared his throat, his eyesscrutinizing behind Nicholas.
