“Indeed, not,” Fallon said stiffly.
Martina headed for the door. At the frame, she stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “I expect to hear good news very soon, Miss O’Malley.”
With that parting remark, she was gone.
As Fallon sank onto the settee, Eliza came into the parlor and joined her. “I saw Mrs. Durmor leave. Is everything all right?”
Fallon thought of the Raven and realized that, even should he keep his promise to help herreturnto Ireland, it would be too late. So, it appeared that Fallon had to take matters into her own hands. And while she offered a smile to her cousin, inside she wasstarting to make alternateplans.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.”
Chapter Eleven
“Are you sure it has to be now?” The manwhinedat his female accomplice, who was sitting opposite him in the darkened booth of the Hog’s Head Pub. Since privacy was of the upmost importance for the conversationto be hadthis night,they had met at the rundown tavern,knownnotonlyfor its notoriety, but because the occupants here could have cared less what they were discussing, hell bent on their own debauchery.
“We agreed that you should proceedwith your proposal!” she hissed angrily.
He set his jaw, starting to grow bored with the whole affair. It had been something of a lark at the beginningwhen he’d been approached with the idea, but each time he was around his intended bride, she found a way to get under his skin—and not in a good way. That Irish accent grated on his nerves, as did herunwillingness to be alone with him, always finding some way to dissuade him. If he couldn’t get under her skirtsand satisfy his urges,thenwhat was hereallygaining out of any of this?
Leaning back lazily in his chair, which he knew would annoy his companion, he decided to ignore her for the moment and eye their buxom waitress in a hungry fashion. As she sauntered over to pour him some more ale, giving him a generous view down her blouse, he licked his lips in greedy anticipation.
The lady sitting across from him cleared her throat loudly. He reluctantly swung his glance back in her direction. “If you could please pay attention to the matter at hand,” she said through gritted teeth. “The last thingleft is your full cooperation and once the vows are said, you can do whatever you wantwith your bride, even dispose of her, if that’s what you wish.”
His eyes narrowed as he considered the prospect set before him. Still, it wasn’t enough of an incentive for him to actually stand in front of a vicar and declare his undying love. “Won’t anyone find it suspicious that my wife dies shortly after our wedding?”
She shrugged. “Accidents happen every day. Besides, wouldn’t you like to know that you finally won over your enemy?”
Of course, she was sure to bring up the one subject sure to annoy him. It was the single bait that dangled before him that he could never refuse. “I willalwaysbe better than that bastard,” he growled.
Her eyes glittered with victory, knowing that she had reeled him in. “Then prove it, before she decides to accept his suit rather than yours.” Shewent in for the kill. “She does seem to fancy him.”
He slammed a hand down on the table. His condemnation was filled with an icy fury as he leaned across the wood. “I will continue this charade just to spite him, regardless of what you and my mother have conspired. She’ll accept my hand atBrendanand Eliza’sbetrothalball, or I will spirit her to Gretna Green and ensure that the deed isfinished.”
At this point, Francine finally smiled rather coyly. “Good boy,” she soothed. “See, that wasn’t so difficult, was it? We willallhave what we want soon enough.”
He glowered at her over the rim of his ale, slamming it down with fervor. “Am I to assume our business is concluded then?”
“Indeed.” She rose and tossed a few coins on the table. She glanced at the serving wench and back at him. “Enjoy yourself, but just make sure you’re presentable tomorrow night.”
Nodding a curt agreement, Locklyn scooped up the coins and put them in his pocket before hegave a silent gesture tothe maid. Shejoined him andthey walked up the stairs, where he could satiate both his anger and his lust.
***
“We mayhave a problem.”
Atticus was dressed in the black clothing of the Raven, his leather mask beside him on the desk in the captain’s quarters of theCrimson Rose, as heeyed the other man across from himwitha pensive look.He slowly set his pen down and gave him his full attention.
Sean took off his tattered cap and ran a hand through his copper hair. “One of the crewmen overheard a few snippets of a conversation that took place at the Hog’s Head between Francine and Locklyn tonight.”
“And what wasthat?” Atticus asked casually, although his every sense went on high alert. Whilehisinterludes with Falloncontinued toreplay over in his mind,including the picnic where he’d had the pleasure of her laughterand not just her body, he had come to the realization thatnow was not the time to playthedashing hero, no matter how much he might yearn to have her on this ship,by his side—and in his bed.
However, onceSeanhad relayed what he’d been told, Atticus sat back in his chair and interlaced his fingers across his stomach.He agreed that this wasarather disturbingdevelopment. While he’d known FrancineShawfor years, her bark had always been worse than her bite, but ifshe was speaking ofFallon’sdemise,Atticusmight not have a choice but to intercedeafter all.
“I need some air.” Atticus got to his feetrather abruptlyand strode out of the captain’s cabin which had suddenly become stifling. He got to the end of the large deck and gripped the railing as he stared out at the rippling waves of the water before him.As he stood on the deck of theRaven’s ship,he found that most of his worries faded when he came to this secluded cove, or when he was doing what he did best, attackingEnglish merchantshipsladen with weapons.
But when it came to Fallon O’Malley, nothinghad beensimple.
Atticus expelled a heavy breath. Rubbing the back of his neck to relieve some of the tension, heturned to his first mate who hadsilentlyfollowed him and said,“If Fallonsteps onto this vessel, she’s going to find outwho Ireallyam, and that willput her in even more danger.” His mouth turned down grimly. “And if she were to find out I knew her mother, she might lose whatever thread of trust sheever hadforme.”
