“I will, but if I must act to save my brother, then I will.” In this she was determined. She and Adam only had each other, so she would do what needed to be done to get him back to her safely.
“And while I admire your courage, I will not have you hurt. It’s my hope that Nix locates my cousins and they find their way here soon so we have help in retrieving Adam.”
He led her down a narrow lane.
“We must not attract attention. This man knows what you and I both look like, Ruby.”
She knew his words for the truth but chafed at not just running onto theGodfreyand demanding the release of her brother.
“We cannot wait. Adam will be scared,” Ruby said.
“Forrest.”
Mr. Deville and Mr. Zachariel Deville came toward them.
“Adam is on theGodfrey,” Forrest said, relaying what they had learned from Nix.
“It will be dark soon, and we can board,” Zach said.
“I am coming with you,” Ruby said.
“And I would understand why you want to,” Mr. Howarth said. “But we know what we are doing, Ruby.”
“We have saved many people and walked into many dangerous situations. You must trust us to know what is right,” Mr. Deville said.
She tried to pull her hand free before the men saw it entwined with their cousin’s. He wouldn’t let her, just tightening the grip when she tried.
“Come, we will move closer, but keep to the shadows as best you can,” Mr. Deville said.
“Do you believe he is one of us, Ruby?” Zach whispered. “The man who gave you the orders in the carriage.”
“I don’t know. I saw a brief glimpse of his face, but I do not know those that walk in society. He spoke as you do, however.”
They crept closer, running down lanes and along streets until the clang of rigging and sounds of the port could be heard. Fear clawed at her throat, and her belly ached, it was clenched so tight.
“They will not harm him, Ruby. There would be no point in that,” Forrest Howarth said.
“How do you know that?” She looked at him. “You can’t know that.”
“He’s right, Ruby,” Mr. Deville said. “I agree, he will be safe until we can get to him, as there is nothing to be gained by hurting him if they wish only to control you. We want to get your brother back, but doing that when it is dark will make things easier.
She was close to tears. The rage and fear, all the emotions that were charging through her were forcing her over the edge.
“But how will we board that ship when there are likely so many sailors on there and my brother is surely being watched?”
“We have done this before,” Mr. Deville said.
“We will get him back, Ruby.” The hand that held hers squeezed gently.
“That is theCharlotte Anne,”Mr. Deville said. “Harry Sinclair’s ship.”
They all looked to where he pointed. The ship was two along from theGodfrey.
“Come,” he said. “We will board and see if the Sinclairs are there. They may have some knowledge of theGodfreythat can help us,” Mr. Zachariel Deville said.
She chafed at the delay.
“The Sinclairs can be trusted,” Forrest Howarth whispered to her. “Walk slowly, and act like you are simply boarding to confirm a passage or visit the captain.”
