Fallon nodded and said no more. That was all the information she required. While Mrs. Beadley hadn’t given her the exact details on how Frankhadmanaged tosecureher passage on board the merchant vessel, it would likely be better if fewer people knew her true identity was that of a woman. As it was, with her hair pinned and shoved beneath a worn cap that she’d pilfered from one of the tenants, leaving behind some extra tonic for the theft, she was quite certain she could be mistaken for a young lad in the dark.
She gavethestable handsome coins and enough money to keep the mare comfortable untilAbramscould come and collect her. Fallon might be many things, but she had neverabandoned anyone or anything. While she would miss Honeydesperately, she rubbed her velvety nose and whispered softly to her. “I have to leave now, but I appreciate all the good times we’ve had. You have been the best part of this dismal place.”
The mare nickered and that was enough of a reply for Fallon.
With tears stinging her eyes, she turned and walked toward the docks where she silently observed the activity taking place. Two sailors staggered past her and Fallon ducked behind a post to remain hidden. They walkedby, slurring the words to a well-known sea shanty, and Fallon breathed a bit easier.
With her steps making little sound on the boards, the water lapping around the pier making the most noise, she searched the various ships in harbor until she finally found the one she’d been searching for.
The Flying Swan.
She glanced about and lifted her pack more firmly on her shoulder as she walked toward the vessel and grabbed hold of the rope ladder hanging over the side. It would be entirely too risky to boldly stride up the gangplankin case Frank hadn’t told anyone she was coming, which she suspected might be the case. Even she wasn’t that courageous—or foolhardy—to face off with the captain and his crew.
Breathing evenly, Fallon concentrated on pulling herself up and over each unsteady rung until she made it to the top. Her palms were sweaty and her heart was pounding, butknowing that freedom wasso closewithin her grasp, it gave her the determination to reach the top.
She threw a leg over the side andjumpedto the deck.
“Who are ye?”
Her head jerked upas she found herself facing off withayoung man, not much older than her, if she had to guess, butwho waseyeing her rather skeptically.He wasattiredin plain wool clothing,andwhile hedidn’t appear to bean immediate threat, she knew he could sound the alarmif he so chose.
She decided to speak quickly. “Does the nameFrankBeadley mean anything to you?”
For a moment, he looked confusedas his eyes swept over her, but thenhis expression cleared and he said, “Aye. He’s mysister’s swain. But you aren’t—”
“I’m Fallon O’Malley,” she said, daring to take a step closer into the light so he could see her better. “I’m probably not what you were expecting, but I was assured a place on board the ship.”
Again, his gaze swept over her baggy clothing, and then he gave a curt nod. “Aye.As a cabin boy.” He shuffled his feet slightly. “Iwas expectin’ a lad, but even then, Imight have fibbed a bit when I toldFrankIcould obtainpassage for ye, because I didn’t really think you’d show up. We don’t get many passengers. This is a cargo ship, you see.”
As if she didn’t know the difference.Either way, she was starting to lose ground. She would beg if she needed to.“Please.I traveled all the way, surely there’s something you could do.”
Heshoved a hand through his hair with a sigh. “I might be able to sneak you into the hold, but I’m afraid it won’t be a very comfortable journey.”
Renewed hope bloomed within her chest once more as she started forward. “I will take anything I can get. It can’t be any more unbearable than this place.”
Hestared at her in disbelief for a moment and then shrugged. “You must miss Ireland a great deal to risk such a journey.”
“I do.” she said softly. “I do, indeed.”
Chapter Fourteen
Fallongrimaced where she sat wedged between a vat of Scottish whisky and a crate of sheep wool.As if praying herlegswouldn’tfall asleepwasn’t bad enough,her nerves were stretched tautwith the fear that she wouldsoonbe discovered and forced to walk the plank.She snorted, for the very idea seemed rather archaic and ridiculous in the extreme, but she knew some men were still rather superstitious about a woman being on board a ship at all, claiming that the female gender caused bad luck and angered the gods. And yet, a naked carvingof a sirenon thebowwas perfectly acceptable asit wasbelieved to calm the seas.
Fallon wondered if the Raven had such an adornment on his ship.
Nearly as soon as the thought surfaced, she shut it down. She reminded herself that what they had shared was one night of torrid passion—nothing more. While she still couldn’t believe she had actedso shamelessly, she would not start thinking about him now, for that wouldonlyremind herof Atticus Clare andhowhehad rejected her.
She swallowed down the bitter taste of regret and tried totell herselfthat it didn’t matter, that her heart wasn’t shattered because he hadn’t done or said anything to give her a reason to stay. If so, she might have had the courage to face Francine’s wrath when she told her she wouldn’t be marrying Locklyn Durmor and that she knew all of the dark secrets she and Martina had been trying to conceal.
Instead, she was forced to huddle in the dark where she wondered what was causing the scuttlingsoundsin the corners around her, while praying that Father O’Leary would take mercy on her when she reached Ireland.
She huffed out a breath. This all could have been avoided if the Raven had just been true to his word and sent for her, but apparently, he couldn’t be bothered to assist some Irish orphan after all. She had wanted so desperately to believe that he would be the honorable man she’d imagined him to be, butit appeared thathe wasn’t any different from Locklyn.
Fallon sat up straighter as she heard the heavy thud of footsteps above her. They had set sail some time before then, but while she had been spared any activity until now, her luck was about to run out.
She pulled asheet of musty canvasoffone of the nearby barrels andusedittofurtherconceal herself,but she couldn’t help stiffening when she overheard two of the crewmencoming downthestairs. She held her breath asone struck a“Lucifer.”
The sulfuric scent teased her nostrils as helit a cherootwhile his companion began to scold him. “Whot do ye thinkye’re doin’?If th’ cap’n finds out ye’ve been smokin’—”
