‘My husband is back.’
‘What husband?’
‘The one I wed at my father’s behest when I was young. Drayton Carver. The villainous one, who died.’
‘So am I in danger of a haunting, Maren?’ he said, running his hand down her face.
‘Stop that,’ she snapped. ‘He is alive somehow. He killed another in his place, to look like him. Now he is back.’
Lawson frowned. ‘What does it matter to us?’
‘It matters because…oh…Lawson, he is like a creature of the night, slithering in darkness. He comes and goes at will. And he knows things about me and you that he is threatening to tell. So he holds me in thrall to do his bidding.’
‘His bidding?’ Lawson stepped back from her, looking crestfallen. ‘Do you lie with him, lass?’
‘No. Not that. Something far worse. He threatens to kill anyone I care for.’
He took her in his arms and kissed her forcefully. When she barely responded, Lawson stood back and frowned. ‘You don’t mean me, do you?’ he said bitterly.
‘I have no time for your wounded pride, Lawson. Listen to me. Please.’
‘That rich young fool. That is where your loyalty lies, isn’t it?’
‘That is not important. You must hear me. Drayton has no loyalty, no heart, and no feeling for others. Murder is nothing to him. You must get clear of this, or he will hand you to the redcoats.’
‘Why? What does this man know of me?’
‘I am not sure, but they will hang you or send you to London for a traitor’s death for spying. So you must go now and get clear of it.’
‘I will not back down for this dog. No. I will end him, Maren.’
‘No, he will end you. I don’t know how much Drayton has uncovered, but he could endanger you and others if he spills their names. And trust me, he will if it serves his purpose.’
Lawson shrugged as if her dire news were nothing to him. ‘Why do you even care, Maren?
‘You know why,’ she cried.
‘No, enlighten me, Maren. It is not as if you love me. You are not my woman to lie with at night. No, you belong to that other one now – that high-born wretch. I think you have given your heart to him for I can see it on your face. There is a glow to you that was not there before.’
Lawson had always had a keen eye for sniffing out human weakness. It was what made him such an effective spy. His words hit Maren like a hail of arrows, piercing the shield of indifference she had built to save her heart from the vagaries of men’s affections.
‘Perhaps I do care for him, Lawson,’ she said. ‘Though I doubt he will love me back now that I have run away. He does not know I am here.’
‘You took such a risk for my sake?’ he said, with an expression between pride and disbelief.
‘You have been my friend and good to me, Lawson, in your way. We fight the same cause.’
‘Your friend? Is that all?’ He hung his head. ‘It seems you came to warn me out of loyalty, not love.’ He rubbed his beard. ‘Loyalty is a start, I suppose.’ He fell silent, and there was just the creaking of the ship’s old bones. ‘Come with me to France,’ he blurted suddenly.
‘No.’
‘You would stay and risk exposure for the fine fellow? I did not have you for a fool, Maren.’
‘Well, I am a fool who has come to warn you, so there it is.’
‘Might I at least know the name of my rival?’
‘No, you may not, for he is safer that way. And Lawson, you will never be his rival for my affection. There is no contest to win, for he is beginning to steal my heart. I know I sound like a fool even saying the words.’
