Chapter Fifteen
Isabella didn’t know what to say to such a passionate—and alluring—promise. So, she did theonething she could to show him that his feelings were reciprocated.
She kissed him.
It was just a light brush of her mouth against his, but enough to set her blood racing through her veins, the earlier weariness dissipating.
She leaned back with a sigh,with buta slight distance separating them. She yearned to see both of his eyes, but was satisfied enough when his singular gaze caressed her face. “Thank you.”
His brow furrowed. “For what?”
She smiled. “For being a better man than Simon. For showing me that men can be kind and considerate.”
And just like that, his expression changed, the shutters drawn over his true emotions. Ridge straightened his posture. “Don’t put me in some sort of hero category, Isabella. I’ve done some rather corrupt things during my tenure as a spy, things I’m not proud of, buttheywere necessary for survival.”
“I’m sure that’s true, but—”
He paced the room and continued on as if she hadn’t even spoken. “I don’t deserve to even be speaking to someone as pure as you are, but I can’t seem to stop myself. From the moment I met you—”
He broke off abruptly and she sat forward, eager for him to continue. “You what?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “It’s not important.”
“It is to me.” She rose to her feet andat onceregretted her decision, for the room began spinning.
He was there by her side in an instant, steadying her. He urged her to sit back on the bunk andthen liedown. “We can talk another time. You need your rest, and I should be getting back—”
She held on to his hand. “But what if I don’t want you to go?”
His jaw clenched. “Isabella, I’m the captain of this vessel. I have duties that I need to attend to and a crew to manage.” He kissed the top of her headas if she was a child. “I will return as soon as Ican. I promise. But I doubt it willbe until after dawn. The moment we anchor atGravelines, I’m heading out with Logan. Lock the bolt behind me when I leave.”
Isabella watched him go with aterrible, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t want this to be the last time they spoke, but sheknewthat whateverhe was about to do was extremely dangerous.
But since she didn’t want to be more of a hindrance, sheunderstoodthere was nothing to do be done for it, but wait anxiously for his return.
She stood up, slowly this time, and walked across the room todo as he asked, and also togather the clothes he’d set aside for her use.Once she’dpeeledoff her gown and undergarments, she laid her sad lookingattireover the captain’s chair. She braided her hair into one long plait,but she didn’t return to the bed. There was no way she could sleep now, even if her body was humming for it. She was too restless to do anything but walk over to the porthole and look out at the sea, thedark,dreaded expanse that was swiftly carrying them to enemy territory.
***
As the cutter drew closer to French shores, Ridge instructed for the British flag to be hoisted, along with a white one to announce that they were a friendly foe and meant to parley. Even in the dark of the early morning hours,as he stood at the bow of the ship and anticipated their approach,he could tell that the Smuggler’s City wasswarming with French soldiers near the specially constructed encampment at the edge of the port city.
Neither were they the only British vessel to anchor at the docks.
Severalships were sitting in the harbor and flying the Union Jack, ranging insize of a sloop tomore elaborate brigs and frigates, many of whichalsobore the insignia of the EIC.
Ridge couldn’t help but snort. He didn’t miss those days at all.
“Are you ready for this, Claymoore?” Montgomery asked, as he joined him at the railing.
Any other time he would have said yes, the thrill of the moment coursing through his blood, but when he recalled who was below deck, he hesitated. Turning to Logan, he said, “Promise me something.”
As usual, his fellow agent was rather perceptive. “I will see that Lady Isabella gets back to English shores safely.”
Ridge inclined his head. “Then let’s go do our job.”
As his crew was securing the ship to the docks, Ridge andLogan headed down the gangplank. The moment they stepped foot on French soil, they were greeted by severalInfantrysoldiers. The highest-ranking officer, amajor, stepped forward and spoke in accented English. “What is your purpose here?”
“We have come to barter for the release of one of your prisoners,” Ridge announced. He nodded to Logan, who withdrew the heavy purse from inside his jacket. He shookthe pouch, andseveral gold sovereignsglinted in the moonlight as they tumbledinto his palm, taking on the appearance ofa true pirate’s treasure. Wasting no time,Logan slippedthem back in the purse and tucked it away in his jacket pocket.
