“We won’t let her out of the tavern. Morgan will make sure of it.”
“I will keep Vivian safe. Jack, you have my word,” Morgan placed a hand over his heart.
“Jack, look at me,” Vivian said. She held out a hand to him. He reluctantly grasped her hand and met her gaze. “I will be okay. I will be surrounded by agents. Let’s get these traitors.”
He shook his head. “I want you as far away as possible from this mess,” he said quietly.
“I know, but I can help capture these men. If we don’t finish this now, then they might come after me again in the future.”
Jack nodded grudgingly.
She was right. Better to flush out Dubois now than to live with the threat of him in their future. He turned to Winters. “All right, I agree to this scheme, but if things go awry, my main priority will be getting Vivian out of there.”
****
They all sat down and hammered out the details of each eventuality. By the afternoon, Vivian felt prepared to get into the carriage and play her part. Morgan had transformed himself into a lowlife thug with surprising ease. He wore rough working man’s clothes and had run soot from the fireplace through his blond hair, so it appeared dirty and unkempt. He hulked next to Vivian, making her feel very safe.
Her father gave her a quick hug, then passed her a small pistol. “Just in case, luv.” He gave her a wink. She tucked the pistol into the pocket of her torn and ruined, lilac morning dress.
Dungee looked nervously around at the four men.
“Do you know what you are supposed to say to Dubois?” Winters asked him.
“Yes, sir. I got it.” Dungee bobbed his head.
“And you know what will happen if you fail to stick to the plan?”
Again, Dungee nodded. He jerked a thumb in Jack’s direction. “I seen him beat Franks into the ground this morning for touchin’ his lady. Not me, I say. I haven’t survived this far in life by being stupid.” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed.
“All right, off you go. We will be right behind you until the outskirts of town,” Winters ordered.
Jack hauled Vivian up against him, kissing her firmly before leaning his forehead against hers. “Don’t do anything brave; I don’t think my heart could take it. Promise me you’ll be careful and stick with Morgan?”
She nodded and kissed him again. Then she turned to Morgan. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
They traveled into Portsmouth and through town to the docks. The carriage stopped outside the back entrance to the Royal Arms tavern, a rundown building with rats scurrying through the alley. Dungee got out to go inside and meet with Dubois.
Cage turned to her. “Time to get you tied up.” He bound her bruised wrists in front as loosely as he dared. “Now, remember to look dejected and keep your head down. Avoid eye contact.”
Dungee came back fifteen minutes later. “Dubois says to bring the girl in with us. He’s got five men in there, plus Moreau. There are at least three or four sailors sitting at the bar.”
Cage nodded. “All right. Winters has four men he’s bringing. With Aston and Jamieson that’s pretty even odds.” He took Vivian by the arm, and they followed Dungee inside.
The dimly lit room smelled of ale and unwashed bodies. She gagged a little at the stench.
Her eyes adjusted slowly to the gloom. The room ran long and narrow down to a bank of grimy windows which looked onto the street. Along one side ran a massive bar. Several tables and chairs created an eating area on the other side. At the bar, Moreau sat with a man twice his size. Could this be Dubois?
The tall and heavyset man got up from his seat and lumbered toward them. His full head of black hair, liberally streaked with white, hung past his shoulders. Sharp features and eyes so dark they looked black in the dim light dominated his weathered face.
“I said dejected, not bright-eyed and curious,” Cage whispered out the side of his mouth. She quickly lowered her eyes and let her hair fall around her face.
“So this is Jamieson’s brat. Not much to her, eh? We’ll see if your fancy fiancé will come to get you back. You had the map your father left for you upon his death?”
She looked up, feigning surprise. “But how did you know about it?”
“Money can buy all sorts of information, especially from greedy solicitors. Did you have it?”
