They laid Reggie on a thickly padded seat and quickly wrapped a rope around her knees to hold the sack in place. “This will sweeten his temper, yes? Never thought we would catch our fish this soon.”
“Give it up, Frenchy. Ye’ll never sound like an Englishman, so stop tryin’. And I bet ye thought we’d be freezin out ’ere in these woods for weeks, eh?”
“Well, did you not?”
“Yeah, but I tol’ ye it pays to be ready, and see if she didn’t come right out to us. A fine piece of luck! If this don’t please the cap’n, what will, I ask ye?”
“The little fish catching the bigger one.”
“Right ye are. Let’s just ’ope that don’t take too long either.”
“You will ride back here with her to see she does not fall off the seat, or do you wish me—”
“Ye can ’ave the pleasure. I don’t trust ye gettin’ this lumberin’ land ship out o’ these woods in one piece. That’ll be my job.” He chuckled. “I take it ye fancy that arrangement?”
“As you please, Artie.” The young Frenchman flashed a grin at the Englishman.
“Just don’t get a mind to sample the goods, mate. Cap’n wouldn’t like that a’tall,” the man said seriously before climbing into the driver’s seat again. The coach rocked forward.
Reggie’s mind was racing. This had to be a simple kidnapping. A demand for money would be met, and then she would be returned home. Nothing to worry about.
She wished her body would see it that way. She was trembling violently. They were taking her to a captain who didn’t want her roughed up. Yes, a kidnapping. And he was a sea captain, she surmised, because there was a large harbor in Southampton. Why, Nicholas’ own shipping firm was located there.
She forced herself to recall every word they’d spoken. What was that about the little fish catching the bigger one? She strained all her senses, alert to every sound, every movement.
It wasn’t more than half an hour before their pace slowed and she knew they were in Southampton.
“A few more minutes,chérie, and we will have you inside and more comfortable,” her captor assured her.
“Inside?” Not “on board?” Well, he was French, after all, so maybe that had been a language problem. Oh dear. The tight sack around her cloak was beginning to make her itch and sweat. And to think she’d believed there would be no more adventures once she was grown!
The coach stopped and she was carefully lifted out, the Englishman carrying her this time. There were no sounds of a waterfront, no waves lapping against a ship, no creak of nearby timber at anchor. Where were they? There was no gangplank to maneuver across, either, but steps were mounted. Then a door was opened.
“Hell’s bells, Artie, you got her already?”
“Well, this ain’t ballast I’m totin’, lad. Where do I put ’er?”
“There’s a room ready for her upstairs. Why don’t you let me carry her?”
“I can box yer ears and not drop ’er, lad. Want to test me?”
There was a deep chuckle. “You’re too touchy by half, Artie. Come on, I’ll show you where the room is.”
“Where’s the cap’n?”
“He’s not expected back until tonight. I guess that means I get to take care of her, don’t it?”
“Will ye listen to this young cockerel, ’Onry?” Artie demanded. “Not on yer life, lado, will we be leavin’ ye alone with the likes o’ ’er. Yer the only one round ’ere who might think ’e can get away with a little hanky-panky ’cause the cap’s yer old man. Don’t ye be thinkin’ about it while I’m around.”
“I said take care of her—not takecareof her,” the boy shot back.
“Is the lad blushin’, ’Onry? Is that a real blush I see?”
“Run along,mon ami,” Henri said to the boy. “You questioned his strength, and he will not let up on you today.”
“Well, at least let me see what she looks like.”
“Oh, she’s a pretty one, lado.” Artie grinned. “In fact, when the cap sets eyes on ’er, ’e’s likely to forget what ’e wanted ’er brought ’ere for. Might just keep ’er for ’imself. Might just indeed.”
