Within seconds, the anger fled from the boy’s face, replaced with a white color. “But he assured me—”
“And he was wrong.” Broderick released Levi. “I promise not to say anything to Mr. Crampton about this if you hurry back home as soon as possible—tonight, even.”
“I-I-I promise, sir. Please forgive me. I was only trying to do my civic duty—”
“I understand, Levi. I’m quite certain you will hear things about people’s characters quite a bit in this day and age, but unless you seek out the truth before you lay judgment, you are no better than the traitors themselves. Please remember this in case it happens again.”
“That I will, sir. Thank you for understanding.”
“Now be off with you before Mr. Crampton sees you.”
Nodding, the boy turned and fled as fast as he could. Broderick prayed Levi would take his advice and leave posthaste. There were already enough problems happening at this moment. He didn’t need a snot-nosed heathen around to cause more.
*
Emmie’s body achedterribly. They hadn’t moved her from this tied-up position on the rickety chair. And to make matters worse, she had to use the privy. Although she seriously doubted they had one on this ship. Still, if she waited any longer, well… She didn’t want to think of the consequences.
Lieutenant Mercer and Rebecca had moved away from her. Emmie assumed they were sitting at a table, because earlier she’d heard other chairs scraping the floor as if someone was moving them out to sit. And she’d heard their whispers. Unfortunately, this time she didn’t know what they were saying. Emmie suspected if they knew she was still awake, they would be more secretive.
As she opened her mouth to get their attention, the bang of a chair being knocked over echoed in the room.
“Miss Crampton, I grow tired of your constant complaining. You shall receive the money once Mr. Worthington arrives, and not a moment sooner.”
“But you promised me—” Rebecca whined.
“I said,enough!”
A hard slap resounded through the air mere seconds before Rebecca wailed. Emmie shook her head, having known something like that would happen to Broderick’s cousin at least once. Mercer was correct—Rebecca complained a lot. Emmie was the prisoner here, yet she hadn’t complained once.
Although now was a good time, because shereallyneeded to use the chamber pot.
“Pardon me, but I need some help over here.” Emiline still couldn’t believe that her captors would forget about her. Apparently, they didn’t know how to handle women prisoners. “I know you are there, even though I’m blindfolded. I can hear you, and I can smell your foul scent.”
Footsteps pounded on the floor, coming her way. She cringed, wondering if Mercer would hit her, too.
“What do you want?” he demanded.
“I need… Um, well, I have womanly necessities I have to take care of.”
“What in the blazes are you talking about, woman?”
Inwardly, Emmie groaned. He was really simple-minded. “I need to use the chamber pot, you jackanapes.”
She held herself still, readying for his hard hand across her face. Instead, he started chuckling.
“You definitely are the spitfire we heard you to be. I suppose I will allow you this necessity, but you will remain tied and blindfolded.”
She nodded, not really wanting to upset him, but if he was too stupid to figure it out, she must spell it out for him. “But howcan I attend to myproblemif I cannot move my hands or legs—or see?”
“You make a good point, so I will untie your feet only. Someone else can assist you.”
A gasp sprang from across the room. “You want me to act as hermaid? I refuse! I will not help Lady Sarah dothat!”
Emmie groaned silently. Had Rebecca not learned her lesson yet?
Mercer marched across the floor away from Emmie, and then came Rebecca’s shriek. “Stand up and go help our prisoner, or you will not see a shilling of the money I promised you.”
Rebecca’s soft sobs grew closer to Emmie, followed by Lieutenant Mercer’s heavy footsteps. Her legs jumped as he untied the ropes securing them to the chair. Feeling rushed to her feet, making them tingle, then burn. She wouldn’t complain. At least she could feel them now.
