“Once we reach Brighton’s port,” Broderick answered his friend, “I will instruct everyone to go into hiding. I think we all need to stay someplace we haven’t been. That’s the only way. We also may need to alter our appearance.”
“How do you suggest we do that?”
Broderick shrugged. “By any means we can obtain. In fact, I know of a woman—”
“Of course you do,” Phillip interrupted with a snicker. “And a lot of womenknowyou very well too, captain.”
Broderick rolled his eyes and tried not to grin. True, he had become a ladies’ man in the past few years, but that was neither here nor there. “As I was saying,” he continued, “I know anolderwoman who can dye hair. Perhaps I shall visit her and see what she can do with mine.” He scrubbed his raven hair as he peered at Phillip’s head. “And I suggest you follow my example.”
“I shall, captain.”
With a nod, Broderick ended their conversation and strolled back toward the end of the ship so he could finish watching the French vessel that was almost out of sight now. Over the past ten or so years, there had been many times the enemy had nearly captured him. Thankfully, good fortune was on his side.
Doubt snuck inside his mind. Could there be a spy amongst them, as Phillip had suggested? Most of these men he knew from when he was the first mate to Captain Hawk not more than sixteen months ago. Back then, there were many spies, some they didn’t know about until Broderick and Marcus almost lost their lives. So why not now?
Growling, Broderick tightened his fingers around the railing. He needed to weed them out, yet how could he accomplish such a feat while he was in hiding? Regardless, he must find a way. His crew depended upon him. He could not…would notlet them down!
Chapter Two
Can this daypossibly get any worse?
Emmie’s legs wobbled as she rose out of the mud pit she and her maid were tossed into when the vehicle had thrown them. Her heart still hammered out of control, and the spinning in her head hadn’t subsided. She glanced up the small slope to where the vehicle had rolled before stopping in the muck.
One minute they were riding along just fine, and the next minute, the coach jerked fitfully and flipped over. Within seconds, the door had broken open, throwing both Emmie and Anna out.
Anna groaned and rose to her feet but slipped and fell on her backside once again.
“Here, let me help,” Emmie offered, holding out a shaky hand.
Once Anna was standing, she tried to swipe the mud off her dress, but it mostly stuck to her fingers. “What happened?” Her voice shook.
Emmie examined the scene closer—an overturned coach with a broken door, but the four wheels were still held together and connected to the vehicle. Where the horses had run off to, she didn’t know. “I wish I knew what happened. Perhaps the vehicle hit a large rock and overturned.”
“Lady Sarah? I can’t see the driver.”
Panic raced through her blood. “Neither can I.” Emmie lifted her soaked skirt and walked to the knoll not far from them. “He isn’t down in the ravine… although our trunks are.” She searched again, this time calling, “Sir? Driver? Where are you?” She turned toward Anna and shrugged.
“Heavens, Lady Sarah. Your face has smudges of mud all over it.”
Emmie swiped the muck off her face, knowing she’d probably made it worse.
“Oh, Lady Sarah, this has been the worst day of my life, and yours as well. I blame your uncle and his selfishness for putting us in this predicament.” Anna pouted and slipped again, but Emmie caught her maid’s elbow, steadying her.
Sighing heavily, Emmie nodded. “I agree. Today has been simply horrid. But we must not blame my uncle. Not fully, anyway. This senseless world in which we live has many emotions running high. People don’t always make the best decisions when they are angry.” She glanced up and down the empty road, searching for their driver. “Sad to think we have only been in Greenwich for a few hours, and already we have had a very trying day.”
“And your father’s soldiers have already left us.” Anna choked on a sob.
“That only means we are near the Cramptons’ estate.”
“I want to return home.” Anna sniffed. “Oh, Lady Sarah, look at your dress.” She brushed her hands over Emmie’s traveling dress but only managed to smear the caked-on dirt instead of removing it.
“Not to worry, Anna. Since this was something we could not avoid, we should not fret. However, I wonder what happened to our driver.” She scanned the area once more. “Without him, how shall we get to our destination?”
“Oh dear. Do you suppose he is terribly hurt from being thrown?”
Silently, Emmie grumbled. If only the soldiers had stayed with them the whole journey, perhaps she and her maid wouldn’t be in this predicament. Then again, in order for Emmie to begin her charade, she’d needed the others to turn back. “I cannot see any trace of him. Unless…” She sucked in a breath and trudged through the mire toward the overturned coach. “I pray he’s not trapped underneath.”
“Oh no!” Anna moved around the other side of the vehicle. “He isn’t here, either.”
