“I understand ye have a ledy o’ board.”
The crewman set a boot on the edge of the ship and spat over the side. “Whot gives ye that idea?”
Instead of answering right away, Ridge held up a shiny gold guinea, sure to catch the man’s eye. “I’d like to secure her release.”
“I’m afraid ye’re gonna have t’ do better than that.” He studied Ridge in his common clothes, and then glanced at Isabella in her obvious finery. “Ten guineas an’ ye got yerself a deal.”
Isabella’s face blanched, but Ridge said firmly, “Agreed. Now affix th’ gangplank.”
Once it was in place, Ridge looked at Isabella and gave a brief nod as they strode up the wooden walkway and boarded the ship. “Ye must be One-Eye,” the crewman grinned. “Yer reputation proceeds ye.”
Ridge merely grunted. “The woman?”
He gestured toward the stairs leading below deck. “She’s down there.”
Ridge tossed him a single coin and said evenly, “Ye’ll get th’ rest when she’s in my possession.”
He reached for Isabella, but the crewman stepped in between them. “Ye don’t need th’ ledy t’ go wit’ ye.’Ow about if she stays ‘ere and entertains us for a spell?”
Ridgesmiled, but Isabella could see the tension coiled within him like a spring. “She’s no’ part o’our bargain.
The grin widened. “She is now.”
Ridge watched as several more crewmen walked overwith slow deliberate stepsand stood behind their first mate, the man in charge while the captain was absent. “Ye really don’t want t’ do this,” Ridge warned him.
The man didn’t seem concerned as he crossed his arms over his large chest. “I’m no’ that worried.”
As his eyes shifted to Isabella, that was all of a distraction Ridge needed to act. He withdrew a knife from the inside of his coat pocket and let it fly. It hit his target exactly where he wanted it to land—in the middle ofthe man’sright palm.
As the first mate howled in pain, Ridge didn’t even try to continue his accent as he pulled out a pistol and glared at the rest of the men gathered around, who were a bit more wary of their prey now. “I do apologize for that, but to be fair, I gave you the choice to do this the easy way. Unfortunately,such an injury will make it a bit more difficult tosatisfyyour lust for a while once the ladyloves on shore rebuke your advances, for rest assured, I will make sure you’re no longer welcome through any of their doors.”
Without turning his head to Isabella, he said firmly, “Go.”
She hesitated. “But what about you?”
His grin was pure maliciousness as he regarded his opponents. “Oh, I think they’ll behave while you’re gone, won’t you lads?”
No one answered, but neither did they move as Isabellahurriedbelow deck.
***
Isabella thought that the best place to look would be the captain’s quarters, but when she found it to be empty, she started searching other places, calling out Claudia’s name as she went.At last, she heard an answering reply,and her heart lodged in her throat when she came upon a locked door at the end of the passage.
Throwing back the bolt, she went inside.Claudiawashuddled on a dingy cot in the corner. While a bit disheveled, she appeared to be unharmed,and Isabella was eternally grateful for that fact.
“Claudia, I’ve come to get you out of here,” said Isabella.
Whenthe maidglanced up, she jumped to her feet and threw her arms aroundIsabellawith a sob. “Oh, my lady! Thank God!”
Isabella was grateful as well, but she pulled Claudia toward the door. “There’s plenty of time for tears later, but right now we must go. Ridge is facing off with several menon thisship as we speak.”
Claudia nodded,and together they rushed back to the top deck. Isabellareleaseda heavy breath in relief upon seeing that nothing had changed. As she came abreast of Ridge, he said, “Ah, thereyou are, my dear. Run along back home now. I’ll join you momentarily.”
She swallowed, for she didn’t want to leave him, but sheknewthat tone, and it was one that brooked no argument. Thus, she hastened down the gangplank with Claudia on her heels and together they made their way back to Millicent’sjust as dawn was breaking the sky.She shook her head, thinking of how many times in recent days that she’d witnessed this exact moment, and the fear it had inspired within her. It wasn’t any different now, but she forced herself to remain calm and have faith in Ridge’s abilities.
When they walked inside, the madame herself greeted them, glancing beyondIsabella’sshoulder. “Where’s Ridge?”
“He’s still at the ship,” Isabella said grimly. “He told us to leave without him.”
