“He did what?” Jack’s mouth gaped.
“He tried to touch me. I bit his finger so hard it bled. Then Hawk Face made fun of Dirty Beard who reached for me again, so I kicked him in the shins. Then he kicked me back. Bastard. That’s all I remember.”
Jack sat up next to her and pulled her against his chest. “I will kill him myself,” he swore to her. “Dirty Beard and Hawk Face?” He raised one eyebrow.
“It’s what I called them in my head. Hawk Face seemed the more sensible of the two. Dirty Beard was just evil and mean. They were taking me to Dubois. He is docked in Portsmouth. Moreau already rode ahead.” She tried to remember any other information she had gleaned.
“Yes, we figured out most of that. Moreau left a ransom note. It said for us to bring the map and meet them at the Royal Arms in Portsmouth tonight.”
“The map? Oh, the stupid map my father hid in my trunk?”
“You knew it was there?” Jack asked.
“I only found it yesterday when I was looking through my mother’s things. Right before I got the message to meet you out at the stables. I guess the message was a fake. Moreau must have paid off the footman.” She sighed and snuggled closer to him. “Wait, is my father really here? Or did I dream that last night?”
“He is here. He showed up at Stoneleigh yesterday after your abduction."
“Where has he been?” she asked. A knock came from across the room. Jack got up to pull open the door.
“Speak of the devil,” he said. He held the door back, and her father walked into the room.
“Papa, I can’t believe you are here.”
“How are you feelin’, my girl?” Papa came over to kiss her on the cheek.
“Much better. Where have you been?” she demanded.
“You get that hard head of yours from me. To answer your question, I have spent the last six months in a damn French prison in Le Havre. But I came hightailing it up here as soon as I got out, only to find Dubois had found you already. Ah, Vivi, this is all my fault. I’m sorry, girl.”
“I gave myself away the night I pinched the list from Moreau.” She peeked over at Jack. “I was talking about my father and traveling to India and Moreau recognized the name. He asked if my father was the infamous pirate of the West Indies. I should have been more careful.”
“And I shouldn’t have involved you at all,” Jack said. “I will go down and get you some breakfast ordered.”
Her father pulled a chair up to the side of the bed. “Don’t let that boy walk away from you. I have seen his type before-martyrs.” His eyes slid to where Jack just exited. “He is telling himself he’s not good enough for you, that your kidnapping is his fault.” He skimmed a hand down her hair affectionately. She nestled her cheek into his wide palm. “No one is good enough for my girl. But I never met a man more in need of someone to love him.”
“Don’t worry, Papa, he’s mine now, and I have no intention of letting him go.” She threw her arms around her father, so happy to see him whole and unharmed. “Tell me all about what happened in Le Havre.”
****
When Jack went downstairs to order food, he found Winters and Morgan in the dining area eating already. He sat down across from them, his thoughts seething about Vivian’s tale of the kidnapping.
“I want to see the one with the beard privately for a few minutes. I have an important point to get across to him.”
“Hold on,” Winters said. “I don’t think you need to add murder to your list of misdeeds in life. You have your lady to think about. Leave them to me. How is Vivian this morning?”
“Feeling better, which is a miracle, considering the one with the beard accosted her in the carriage. When she fought back, he kicked her in the head.”
“What?” Winters and Morgan exchanged a look of disgust. “I change my mind, you can have at him, but I will be there to make sure you don’t kill him.” Winters took another sip of his coffee. “Can we come up to your room and discuss the plan for today?”
After he ordered breakfast to be brought up to the room, the three of them walked back upstairs.
Winters spoke first. “I think the best way to catch Moreau and Dubois is to go forward with the exchange this evening. I have men in Portsmouth who can back us up.”
“But how can we go forward when they don’t have Vivian?” Jack asked. Winters stared at him, his face unsmiling. What Winters meant dawned on him. “Oh no, please tell me you aren’t suggesting we use her as bait. No. Absolutely not.” he thundered.
“Listen, the skinny one, Dungee, has agreed to cooperate with us. He and Morgan, posing as his compatriot, will take Vivian to Portsmouth and wait at the inn. We will have the place surrounded. Dungee said he is to bring the girl to Dubois at the Royal Arms. When you arrive at the inn to trade the map, we’ll arrest them.”
“What if Dubois takes her aboard his ship, tries to double-cross us?” No way would he let Vivian out of his sight.
