Caleb’s insides raged with shock and anger.Still, he maintained a calm demeanor.“Then you also know I will never hand it over to you.”
A rap on the door brought Montverre’s, “enter”, and a servant slipped inside, gave the marquis a nod, and then left.
Montverre circled his desk, a grin of victory reaching his eyes in a devilish twinkle.“Au contraire, I believe you will give it to me.And quite willingly.”
Caleb chuckled.“And why would I do that?”
“Because, otherwise, I will be forced to do much harm to Miss Starr, that is before I end her short, miserable life.”
Chapter 22: How Dark the Night?
“I ordered you both to watch her!”Caleb stormed across his cabin, anger getting the best of his efforts to maintain a Godly composure.Alden and Liam stood at attention before him.
Alden gripped the cross around his neck.“Your father told me to keep you safe at all costs.”
Caleb gave his quartermaster a fuming look.“And you think I can’t handle one mewling popinjay?”
“As skilled with a cutlass as you are, Captain, who was to say the marquis didn’t have twenty men in the waiting?”
Caleb scrubbed his jaw, every nerve tight, every muscle twitching to rescue Desi.
“And,” Alden added, “the lady was hardly in any danger.Ifshe had stayed in the parlor.”
’Twas true enough.Foolish woman!“And you!”Caleb all but snarled at Liam.“You allowed her to leave.Why?”
Liam lowered his gaze.“Mademoiselle de Montverre distracted me.I didn’t notice Miss Starr had left until it was too late.”
“Rot and Ruin!I should have you both flogged!”Caleb faced the window and gripped the edges of his desk until his hands ached.“But I have more pressing matters at the moment.That monster has Desi, and I must get her back.”
“And we will.With God’s help,” Alden interjected.
Pushing from his desk, Caleb spun, intent on shouting at his friend for his trite remark, but the look of peace and confidence on Alden’s face put Caleb to shame.
A knock on the door preceded Brandt limping inside, his face flushed and worry wrinkling his brow.
“What is it now, Brandt?”
“Thought you should know.At least ten of the crew are ill, Captain.Some type of fever.”
Thunder and Flame.What else could go wrong?“Do you know the cause?”
“Nay.It came upon them suddenly.Perhaps some foul food they ate.”Drawing out a handkerchief, he dabbed his brow.“I vow to determine both the cause and the cure.Never fear.”
“Then be about it.”Caleb gestured him away.“And thank you, Doctor,” he added in a softer tone.
After he left, Liam continued to stare at the deck, unable to meet Caleb’s gaze.“The marquis wants the Ring in exchange for Miss Starr?”
Caleb nodded, grinding his teeth.
“Surely you are not considering it.”Alden settled a hand on the hilt of his blade.“With the power of the Ring, an evil man like the marquis could cost many lives.”
Patches leapt onto Caleb’s desk and uttered a low guttural meow.Apparently, she agreed.
“Yet, neither can I allow an innocent woman to die!”Or any more innocents to lose their lives due to his negligence.“I must think.There has to be a way.”Caleb hoisted Patches over his shoulder and walked to the stern windows.Outside, a setting sun dabbed maroon and gold paint over the wavelets in the bay and lit up the sails of two ships rocking among the waters.
And a thought sprang into his mind.A brilliant thought.Setting Patches on the window ledge, he faced his men.“I will give him the Ring.”Raising a hand to silence their protests, he grinned.“Just not the real one.”
♥
