“Of course,” answered Tyler. “You didn’t think I would leave the ship without it, did you?”
“Move behind me. I’ll manage on my own. Watch out for the steering chains. They’re likely to snap when the rudder falls.”
Tyler dutifully paddled around to join him. “Might I inquire how we are going to keep from drowning, once we’ve sunk their chances of escape?” He grimaced. “The bloody river is a lot colder than I imagined.”
Wrexford was already sawing away at the bolt. “Do you see a wherry with an ochre sail behind us?”
The current was starting to quicken, its whirls slapping bigger waves against the hull.
“There’s some sort of small craft in the distance, but I can’t make out the color,” said the valet.
“I think we can assume it’s our friends coming to our aid. Charlotte, Sheffield, and Raven will be delighted to see you . . .” The bolt emitted a low crackling. “Mac may be a trifle less—”
The rest of the earl’s words were swallowed in a shudderingcrackas the weighty rudder broke off from its moorings, tearing loose the chains—and disappeared beneath the water.
From high above them on the quarterdeck came the sounds of all hell breaking loose.
Wrexford grabbed Tyler’s sodden shirt and indicated a thick swirl of fog off the right, its tendrils lying low over the waves. “Swim for cover before we’re spotted.”
The shouting grew louder. He recognized von Stockhausen’s voice amid the cacophony. Someone lowered a rope with a lantern tied on its end, which clearly illuminated the damage.
Caught in the current, the ship yawed and started to drift toward them. The commotion quieted as the crew seemed to shift to the front of the ship. For several moments, the earl heard only the flapping of the sails. And then . . .
“How could the bloody rudder simply fall off, Reggie?” It was Adderley, his voice quavering with fury. “Everything was shipshape yesterday.”
“A good question.”
“That’s Lyman,” murmured Tyler. The wind had shifted in such a way that the voices floating down from the quarterdeck were clear as a bell.
“But it’s not one we’re at leisure to answer at the moment,” added Lyman. “Come, let’s lower one of the longboats.”
“What about von Stockhausen?” asked his cousin. The navigation lanterns hung in rigging cast enough illumination for Wrexford to make out the two figures standing together by the rail. “And what about the ship?”
Lyman laughed. “Why would we take a plump pigeon with us, when he’s ripe for plucking by authorities. As for the ship, there’s no need to worry. I’ve a plan.”
“You usually do,” said Adderley with a nasty chuckle.
Wrexford batted at the fog floating around him, straining to keep Lyman and his cousin in sight as they moved to the stern of the ship.
“I learned a great deal about those devious dastards and their sordid plans during my interrogation,” muttered Tyler as he and the earl continued to tread water. “And I can explain how the pieces all fit—”
“Shhhh!”hissed Wrexford as another figure appeared on the quarterdeck and accosted Lyman and Adderley with an angry shout and a flurry of curses and demands.
“Stop the crew from abandoning the ship?” repeated Lyman. “You’re welcome to try, Herr von Stockhausen. But money won’t do them any good in Newgate Prison.”
“You, too, are like filthy rats, trying to slink away,” cried von Stockhausen. “I’m paying you a king’s ransom to partner with me, and you’ve only received half of it.”
Lyman shrugged. “You’re worth more to us here, taking the blame for everything.”
“Even among thieves, there is a code of honor,” protested von Stockhausen. He was clutching a small valise—valuable, no doubt—to his middle. “My money should purchase the short passage to shore. I demand that you take me with you.”
Adderley snarled an oath and shoved him aside as he and Lyman set to work, rigging the longboat to a set of pulleys and tackles hanging from a set of davit arms, and swinging it out over the water.
The ship was drifting closer and closer to Wrexford and Tyler. Pushed by the waves, the stern was almost facing them.
“Stop—I order you to stop!”
The anger was gone from von Stockhausen’s voice, noted the earl. Instead, there was an edge of cold-blooded calmness.
