Zach knew that everything afloat in London harbor would have been searched by now. Barrington would realize he'd chosen another route, or would think he still remained in London, possibly to ask for ransom. But he was clever and with theRevengeno longer in London, it was possible that he would figure out that he'd gone to Dover.
They'd been on the road several hours as a breeze stirred. They'd made better time than the night before, with him leading the second horse with Elyse astride, wrapped in the blanket and bound to keep her from falling or trying to run off.
The midday sun rose over the headland that jutted out into the channel, and he pulled the horses to a stop. In the cove below, theRevengerode the gentle swells of a restless tide. Glancing at the small stretch of beach, he saw a longboat and guided the horses down the path alongside the sea wall.
He dismounted, then helped her down as Sandy and Tris beached the longboat and ran toward them.
"We thought you might not make it, Cap'n." Sandy fixed a narrow gaze on him. "We heard that was quite a wedding you attended."
Zach nodded. So word had already reached Dover. "What else did you hear?"
"Seein's how it's goin' to be a long voyage home, I let some of the crew stay in the village last night. We got word just a little while ago that Barrington is apparently sendin' search parties to every port up and down the coastline." Sandy looked over at Elyse, wrapped in the blanket with the gag at her mouth.
"You wouldn't know anything about that now?" Sandy asked.
"Not a thing," Zach replied. "See that our passenger gets aboard. And be careful." He winked at his second mate. "I wouldn't want her bruised any more than she already is."
"Aye, aye, Cap'n." Sandy saluted as he carefully carried Elyse to the rowboat. Zach removed saddle and bridle from both horses and turned them loose. He then turned to Tris.
"Is Tobias aboard?"
"Yes sir, and he's none too happy."
Zach nodded. "I expect he's not."
His gaze scanned the ocean. Sandy signaled from the longboat as they approached the ship. The tide was fast turning. Shading his gaze against the rising sun, he scanned theRevenge. She looked like a proud, powerful bird, her wings slowly expanding, ready to take flight.
"When we get aboard, set our course south by southeast with the wind. And run up the Portuguese colors."
"Lisbon, sir?"
"Lisbon." Zach nodded. "There's a man I want to see about some gold."
Fifteen
"No mercy! Lash 'em to the yardarm!"
Elyse groaned as she slowly awakened, the words jarring through her.
"Keel haul the bloody swine!" was followed by a string of colorful curses.
It had to be part of a nightmare. And yet, as the words pushed their way through the haze, she had a nagging suspicion it wasn't.
Her throat was so dry it was paralyzed, and something was bound across her mouth. Coming more fully awake, Elyse jerked her head to the side, and immediately winced.
It seemed as if every muscle ached.
"Lash 'em to the yardarm!"The screech helped her focus despite the pain. She felt as if she had been lashed to a yardarm and left for days. She forced herself to relax. Whoever had been shouting had stopped.
It's all right, she told herself. It's just a bad dream. In a few minutes you'll wake up and it will be over.
It didn't work.
She tried moving her arms, but her wrists were bound together. Good heavens! Where was she? She rolled onto her back. Staring overhead, she tried to make out shapes in the meager light, but everything blurred into soft gray. A thin sliver of light a few feet away and down low caught her attention. The light came from beneath a door!
She tried to swallow; her throat was so dry. Trying to sit up, Elyse felt the restraint of the rope across her shoulders. She was tied to the bed! She twisted and turned as much as the ropes would allow, then fell back.
As she breathed in slowly, her senses sharpened. St. James had been the one in the shadows at the church. That phony ceremony, being abducted at knife point! Where had he taken her? And why?
