Page 40 of The Summons


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Chapter 13

“S

he is no longer here.” Delphine Lavigne stood in the doorway, her shoulders back, her eyes full of more pain than Blake had ever seen. She also wore a more modest gown, which was odd.

He knew he’d hurt her, but there was naught to be done for it now. She could hardly expect him to make a commitment to a strumpet, despite the promises he’d whispered to her in the night. Though a rather beautiful strumpet at that, as his gaze took her in, remembering fondly their time together. Only a small cut on her lip and a fading bruise on her cheek marred her beauty.

“What do you mean? Where is she?” He gripped the hilt of his cutlass, glancing down the street.

“I have no idea, Blake. She disappeared in the middle of the night without a word. Though…” Delphine pursed her lips.

“Though…?”

“It seems she may have been taken against her will.” Fear quivered in her voice.

Alarm shot through him. “By whom?”

“I do not know, but she mentioned being followed.”

Blake hung his head. Who would have cared to take an unknown woman with nigh a penny to her name?

“Now, if you please, I’m soon to set sail.” Delphine started to shut the door.

Only then did he notice the portmanteau and bags perched in the foyer. “Where are you going?”

She gripped the edge of the door, leaning her head against it. “I’m going to live with my sister on Martinique.” Both sorrow and a strange determination filled her eyes. “I’m out of the business, Blake. Starting over.”

Shocked, Blake shook his head. “Why? What happened?” He reached up to touch her bruise, but she slapped him away before he could.

“Find her, Blake. She’s a good woman, decent, kind. Though you don’t deserve her.”

That much was true. He didn’t deserve Emeline, but he needed her. And at the moment, she might need himifshe was in trouble. For he doubted word would have reached her family so soon.

“Take care of yourself, Delphine.” Turning, he descended the steps.

“Did you ever love me, Blake?” Her voice followed him, tugging on his heart.

Halting, he faced her, an odd guilt twisting his insides. “I’m incapable of loving anyone. You know that.” Before he witnessed more pain on her face, he walked away, full of more confusion and angst than he cared to admit.

Back on board theSummons, Finn approached him, pipe in his mouth and scrap of parchment in his hand.

“Message came fer ye, Cap’n.”

“From whom?” Blake took it as his men hauled the cockboat on deck.

“Dunno. Sailor rowed it over t’ us after ye left. Said some men paid ’im t’ deliver it t’ theSummonsif he sees it make anchor.”

The wax seal bore an unusual crest but one he’d seen before, one which turned the blood in his veins to ice. Breaking it, he opened the missive.

The Ring for Miss Hyde. Sail Northwest toward San Juan Bautista. You’ll find a small island south southeast off the coast of St. Thomas. Sail into the bay. I’ll find you.

Use the power of the Ring and she is dead.

Father Arturo Della Morte

b

Boom! Boom! The cot shook beneath Emeline. She sprang up in bed, heart pounding.Boom! A cannon blast! At least a twenty-pounder, from the sound of it. Who were they firing upon? She had no window to peer through. No way to know if it was day or night. Several days must have passed—how many, she had no idea. In her loneliness and despair, she’d lost track of time. She’d lost track of her sanity. And if not for the presence of Almighty God, she’d surely have lost her life as well.