Both Jamieson and Jack turned around, but Gabrielle headed straight for Captain Jamieson.
“Ah, pet, listen. We have to go find Vivian. I know you’re scared but don’t worry, you’ll be safe here. Dubois isn’t lookin’ for you, darling.” He rubbed her back soothingly. Andrew stepped out of the study and gently folded Gabrielle into his embrace.
“Come in here with us. I will keep you safe, I promise,” he murmured.
Jamieson nodded appreciatively at Andrew.
The three of them went outside where Winters and another man waited. Winters handed each of them a pistol, and they briefly discussed the fastest route to Portsmouth. Then they mounted their horses and rode out of the stable yard.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Vivian woke up lying on the floor of a moving carriage. Her head felt fuzzy, her tongue dry as dust. She managed to struggle to a sitting position. Two men slouched in the seats. On the right, sat the large man with a shaved head and dirty beard. He leered at her in the vilest fashion. The other man sat on the left bench, his build also muscled, but leaner with small beady eyes and a large hawkish nose.
“So, you’ve woken up finally. Thought we’d dosed you too heavily. You are a small one, ain’t ya?” Dirty Beard said.
“Where is Moreau?” She turned to address Hawk Face.
“Well, now he rode ahead to tell Dubois we gotcha. We are to take you to Portsmouth where Captain Dubois is in port.”
“But what does he want me for?” She put on her most innocent baffled expression.
“Guess for ransom, luv. Rich gent is your fiancé, no?” Hawk Face shrugged his shoulders. These two thugs obviously didn’t know about her father and Dubois’s long-standing animosity. They must be low in the hierarchy. Maybe she could convince them she was the wrong girl.
“She is a pretty fine little thing, isn’t she, though? I could have a fair bit o’ fun with her.” Dirty Beard said.
She recoiled back against the side of the carriage. “You bloody bastard, you keep away from me!”
“Well that’s not language for a lady, is it?”
“Aww, leave her alone. You know Dubois wants her for ransom. No fancy family is gonna pay to get back used goods.” Hawk Face said.
But Dirty Beard reached down and grabbed hold of her upper arm, hauling her up next to him on the seat. She struggled, truly afraid for the first time as she looked into his soulless eyes.
“I won’t ruin her. Just have me a little tickle. Yes, wouldn’t you like that, deary?” He ran one fat finger down the side of her face and grazed it across her lips. The hell with him!
She opened her mouth and bit down as hard as she could on his finger. Letting loose a string of curses that would burn even the most hardened sailors’ ears, Dirty Beard howled in pain. He shoved her to the floor. “You bitch.” he said examining his finger. “She drew blood. Damn it!”
Hawk Face howled with laughter. “She’s a spitfire, that one. Wouldn’t take her to bed. She’d probably cut your bollocks off.”
“Damn right, I would!” She struck out with her feet and nailed Dirty Beard in the shins. He roared in anger. His large booted foot kicked out and Vivian’s head exploded with pain. Then everything went black.
When she regained consciousness, Vivian didn’t dare open her eyes. She tried to use her senses to figure out where she lay. She didn’t feel the motion of the carriage, and she didn’t hear any voices. Cautiously, she opened her eyes just a crack. At first, everything was a blur, but as her vision began to clear, she could make out wooden floorboards. She opened her eyes a little more. In the fireplace across the room, flames burned brightly. Was she lying on a pallet of blankets?
She turned her head. A searing pain sliced through her skull. Squeezing her eyes shut, she concentrated on breathing through the agony. She tried to move her arms and legs, but found they were tied. At least her arms were secured in front of her. If she could just reach down to her ankles, she might be able to get the ropes undone. Just as she attempted to move, muffled male voices came from the next room. She froze, eyes shut.
“Quit your bitching. This place is as good as any for the night. You’re the one who knocked the girl senseless. She better not die, or we’ll both be in trouble. I told ye he wanted her for ransom. And I, for one, want to get her delivered and off our hands as soon as possible.”
Vivian pulled her bound hands up to her mouth, biting down to muffle a low moan. She had no clue where she was or if anyone even realized she was missing yet. No, the darkness told her it must be late, someone would have noticed her absence by now. Dubois must be Moreau’s contact. When he couldn’t deliver the list, he decided to hand her over instead. Damn it. She should never have discussed her father that night before she pinched the list. Moreau had recognized her name. Dubois must want to use her to lure her father out into the open. She sighed. Unfortunately, nobody even knew her father’s whereabouts.
Her thoughts dimmed. What had she needed to do? Untie the ropes-she needed to untie the ropes. But to move her throbbing head seemed an impossible task. Slowly, her thoughts trailed off…Jack. Jack would find her.
****
Andrew sat on the sofa in the study surrounded by his mother, Caroline, Lady Waverly, Lady Garrison and, inexplicably, Vivian’s servant, Old Tom. Gabrielle sat next to Andrew. His arm wrapped around her shoulders. She trembled, a haunted look in her eyes.
“What explanation I got was that Count Moreau is a French spy who has been funneling secrets to a Captain Dubois, someone from Captain Jamieson’s past. Moreau has taken Vivian and is ransoming her for a map her father left her.”
“But what is the map of?” Caroline asked.
