Gripping his cane, Brandt struggled to rise.“I must speak with you, Captain.”
“Then by all means.”Caleb waved a hand in his direction.
“Alone.”
What could the doctor possibly wish to discuss that the others couldn’t hear?Nevertheless, Caleb gestured for everyone to leave.“Ayida, the men will soon be famished.Liam, Alden, get the ashy mess cleaned up posthaste and the men back to their repairs.I want this ship ready to set sail on the morrow.”
Mumbling, Liam and Alden left.Aydia cast a dark glance toward Brandt before following them.
Brandt nodded toward Desi.
“She stays.Now out with it.”
Brandt closed the door, then adjusted his spectacles.“I overheard a conversation at the Montverre estate.You see, I was quite enthralled by the man’s collection of plants and herbs in his orangerie.One in particular was an herb I’d not run across before, which has been discovered to aid in the—”
“To the point, if you please.”Caleb interrupted, his patience thinning.
“Yes, yes.”Brandt shook his head and glanced once more at the closed door.“I believe ’twas the marquis himself speaking with a woman bearing a creole accent.”
Caleb raised a brow, longing to speed the man up.
“It was about your Ring, Captain.At least I heard a ring mentioned.Along with some of the disasters we’ve thus encountered on our journey.The rice, the galleon, the rats.And I heard the words vodou, delay, and ruin.”
“They spoke of me, theSentinel?”
“I believe so.”
“Hmm.”Caleb sorted through this new information, trying to make sense of it.Yet, it only confirmed what Geneviève had said.Montverre was Caleb’s enemy.But to what purpose?The Ring?How could he know of its existence?Or even that it was in Caleb’s possession?
Rot and Ruin!Did everyone in the Caribbean know about the Ring?“That’s all you heard?”
“Aye, they were at a distance, and the sounds of the night and revelry from inside muffled their words.”
“And the woman?You didn’t recognize her voice?”
Brandt leaned on his cane.“Nay, but her accent was creole like Ayida’s.Though, I suppose, it could have been any of his servants or slaves.”
Caleb cast a glance at Desi, who shared his look of confusion.If the conversation was about the Ring, why would Montverre discuss it with a slave?Still, he refused to believe Ayida had anything to do with Montverre.How would an ex-slave Caleb had rescued from Jamaica be acquainted with a wealthy and powerful nobleman like the marquis?Nay.She’d have no reason to betray Caleb.
Yet…hadn’t he once believed that of Geneviève?
♥
Liam kissed his lucky stone and grinned at the five French sailors sitting around the table.An off-key violin joined laughter, shouts, and the clank of mugs at theL’Étoile du Nordtavern in town.The scantily dressed wench on his lap nibbled on his ear, her attentions growing more salacious the more coins he won.
A knot of sailors and planters leaned in close as Liam flicked a card onto the table, flashing a look of confidence.“Here’s a queen to answer yer knave.”He tossed back a shot of rum, tasting victory in the sharp liquor.
A Frenchman as thin as a pole with eyes like polished ink, set his own card on the table with a devious grin.Another queen.
Liam’s heart seized.
Groans and laughter rippled through the mob.
“A crown says the Irishman folds first!”one man shouted.
“I’ll wager a ration o’ rum he wins this hand!”another added.
Sweat forming on his brow, Liam drew the next card and laid it down slowly.But as the Three of Clubs came into view, he felt his stomach shrivel into a cold, hard stone.
