Chapter Seventeen
Ridge wanted to collapse against the wheel of the ship, but he wouldn’t give in to the impulse andallowhis body the rest itrequired until he’d checkedon Isabella. He’d wanted to go toher earlier, but untilthe danger had passed, his place had been at the helm to guidethem into open waters.
God knowswhat she must be thinking.As a gently bred woman, she was likely pacing herchamber and ready to lash out at anyone who entered, or else burst into tears. At least, that had been his experience with females when it came to such a traumatic experience as the one she’d just been through.
As Ridge called for Logan,he noted the other man’sfacewas aboutas weary as his own.“Can you take over for a few minutes?”
His first mate took the wheel and murmured, “That’s quite a woman you’ve got there, Claymoore. I wouldn’t let that one get away.”
Ridge regarded his friendwith an even stare, Liverpool’s warning weighing heavilyon his mind. “If it were so simple.”
He turned away, but before he could go below deck, one of his crewmen intercepted him. “Cap’n.”
Ridge spun around reluctantly and saw the man twisting his hat in his hands. “Whatever it is will have to wait, Marley.”
When he would have continued on his way, the man blurted out, “It’s about Lawson.”
Ridge paused this time. With his hands on his hips, he glared at his companion. Now that he considered it, he hadn’t noticed the man’s presencewhen they’d returned. “Out with it,then,” he said curtly, although his patience was starting to wear thin.
Marley swallowed visibly. “’E was murdered.”
Ridge took a step closer. “Pardon me?”
The man’s eyes widened.“It’s just wha’ I said, Cap’n. I’eard’im an’ a Frenchman talkin’ earlier about th’ lady wepulled from th’ water,an’then th’ soldier slit’is throat.”
Ridge narrowed his eyes. “Just what did they say about the lady?”
“That she was supposed t’ be th’ payment for someone named Wistenberry.”
“I see.” Ridge digested this information. While it wasn’t a surprise, it did prove that he’d underestimated the viscount’s reach when it came to persuasion and the temptation of coin.He was apparently more resourceful than he’d given him credit for, but Ridge wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Until Simonwas captured, Isabella wasn’t safe. “Thank you, Marley.”About to turn away, he paused and held up his hand. “Er, what did you do with the body?”
His crewmember shrugged. “Tipped ’im into the harbor.”
“I see. Carry on.”
He headed downstairs, the need to see Isabella, to hold her in his arms even stronger than before.
The first thing Ridge noticed was that the door to the cabin wasn’t shut completely. When he walked inside and saw her breathing evenly on the cot, he was about to turn away and leave her alone to rest, whensomething caught his attention.
There was a red stain marking the floor.
In the space of a heartbeat, everyfinehair onthe back of his neckstoodon end, every nerve endinghumming with alarm as he swiftly moved to her side.It didn’t take him long to deduce the sourceof the blood.
With a curse, he lightly shook Isabella, praying that she was merely asleep, and not unconscious. Relief flooded him when she fluttered her eyes. “Ridge?” she whispered.
“Yes, it’s me.” He took her hand. It was ascold as ice. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d been injured?”
“The bulletjustgrazed me,” she murmured,her eyesalready starting toflutter closed.
“Isabella.” He paused, waiting, but her eyes hadshut. “Isabella.” He said more firmly, but this time there was no reply.
Fear clenched his chest as he lifted her into his arms. There wasbutone man on this ship that he trusted with his life. He would entrust Isabella to him too.
The moment he reached the upper deck, he shouted for his fellow agent. “Montgomery! I need you now!”
His first mate shouted for Pierce to come take over at the helm. Logan met him on deck,but whenhe saw Isabella, hefrowned. “What—?”
“She’s been shot,” Ridge said evenly. “I think she’s going to need stitches, but I haven’t checked the wound as yet.”
