Читать книгу The Devil's Necklace - Kat Martin - Страница 6

One Week Later

“I see her, Capt’n! The Lady Anne! She’s there…just off starboard, left o’ the foremast.”

Standing next to his first mate, Angus McShane, Captain Ethan Sharpe swung his worn brass spyglass in the direction Angus pointed. Through the darkness, the lens caught the gleam of distant yellow lights shining through a row of windows at the stern of the ship.

Ethan’s fingers tightened around the glass as he surveyed his quarry. An icy wind blew over the deck, ruffling his thick black hair, numbing the skin over his cheekbones, but he barely noticed. At last his prey was in sight and nothing was going to keep him from it.

“Come about, Mr. McShane. Set a course to intercept the Lady Anne.”

“Aye, Capt’n.” The weathered Scotsman had been in his employ since Ethan had commanded his first vessel. Carrying out Ethan’s direction, the old sea dog ambled across the deck spouting orders to the crew, and the lads set to work. The sails began to flutter, luffing, then refilling with wind. The rigging clattered and clanked as the Sea Devil came about; the heavy ship’s timbers groaned, then the hull settled into its proper course and sliced cleanly through the water.

The schooner was eighty feet long, sleek and fast, skimming through the waves as effortlessly as the sea lions who followed in her wake. She was built of seasoned oak in the best shipyard in Portsmouth, designed for a merchant unable to come up with the funds once the schooner was complete.

Ethan had stepped in and purchased the vessel at a more than reasonable price, though he knew he would only have brief need of it. One last mission, one final assignment before he assumed the duties of his newly acquired position as marquess of Belford.

One last bit of personal business that wouldn’t let him rest until he saw it done.

His jaw hardened. The Sea Devil was the second ship he’d commanded since he had relinquished his naval commission eight years ago and begun a career as a British privateer.

He had commanded the Sea Witch then, a similarly well-equipped vessel manned by the best crew a man could have. His men were gone now, lost in battle or dead in a stinking French prison, the Sea Witch rotting in an icy grave at the bottom of the sea.

Ethan closed his mind to the memory. His men were gone, all but Angus, who had been away in Scotland caring for an ailing mother, and Long-boned Ned, who had managed to escape the French pigs who had taken the ship and make his way back to Portsmouth.

Ethan’s men captured and killed, his ship gone, and though he still lived, eleven months of his nine-and-twenty years stolen from him. He carried a slight limp and the scars of his endless months in confinement. Someone would pay and pay dearly, Ethan silently vowed as he had a thousand times.

His hand unconsciously fisted.

And that someone rode now aboard the Lady Anne.

Grace Chastain took the high-backed, carved wooden chair held for her by Martin Tully, earl of Collingwood. The earl, a slender, attractive man in his early thirties with light brown hair and a fair complexion, was a fellow passenger. Grace had met him on her first night aboard the Lady Anne, the packet carrying her from London to Scarborough, where Grace planned a long stay with her great-aunt, the Dowager Baroness Humphrey.

Lady Humphrey, Grace’s father’s aunt, had extended an offer of assistance should it ever be needed. Grace had never expected to accept such an offer, but the matter of her father’s imprisonment had drastically altered her circumstances, and she had accepted her great-aunt’s help and money enough to free her father.

Grace prayed that by the time she returned to London, matters would have settled down. She prayed no word of her involvement in her father’s escape a week earlier had surfaced and she would be safe.

The door of the salon swung open. She looked up to see Captain Chambers enter the elegant, wood-paneled room. An older man, short and stout with thinning gray hair, he waited till the rest of the passengers were seated, then took his place at the head of the linen-draped table, the signal for a pair of uniformed crewmen to begin serving the meal.

“Good evening, everyone.”

“Good evening, Captain,” replied the group in unison. Since Grace and her lady’s maid, Phoebe Bloom, had been traveling aboard the packet for the past several days, the shipboard routine was no longer daunting. And the passengers, especially Lord Collingwood, had all been agreeable company.

Grace flicked a glance at the earl, who sat beside her at the long mahogany table, chatting pleasantly with the woman to his right, Mrs. Cogburn, a plump matron traveling north to visit her brother. Mrs. Cogburn was a widow, as was Mrs. Franklin, her companion. Also seated at the table were a wealthy silk merchant from Bath and a newly married couple on their way to visit relatives in Scotland.

Lord Collingwood laughed at something Mrs. Cogburn said then casually shifted his attention to her. His eyes ran over her aqua silk gown, took in the auburn curls swept high on her head, lingered a moment on her bosom, then returned to her face.

“If I might say so, you look particularly fetching tonight, Miss Chastain.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“And those pearls you are wearing…they’re quite unusual. I don’t believe I have ever seen a string so perfectly matched or of such a rich color.”

Unconsciously her hand came up to the strand of pearls at her throat. The necklace was worth a fortune, a gift Grace probably should have refused, but Tory had insisted, and the necklace was so lovely. The moment Grace had put it on, she simply hadn’t been able to resist.

“They’re very old,” Grace told the earl. “Thirteenth century. There’s a rather tragic story behind them.”

“Really? Perhaps you will tell me sometime.”

“I would be happy to.”

The captain began speaking just then, relaying the progress they had made so far on their journey, then listing the delights on the menu for supper. Wineglasses were filled and silver dishes appeared with an array of vegetables, meat and fish.

“So, my dear Miss Chastain, how did you pass your day?” Lord Collingwood leaned back as a uniformed waiter scooped a plump piece of chicken in lemon sauce onto his plate.

“If the weather had been less inclement, I would have enjoyed a stroll.” But the February day was overcast and chill, the seas choppy and rolling. Fortunately, she had never suffered mal de mer, as did her lady’s maid and several other passengers aboard. “Mostly, I read.”

“And the book?”

“A favorite volume of Shakespeare. Do you also enjoy reading, my lord?”

“Why, yes, I do.” He had slightly crooked teeth, yet the smile he gave her was not unpleasant. “And I, too, enjoy the Bard.” The remark was followed by a discourse on King Lear, his lordship’s favorite work.

Grace joined in, saying that she most enjoyed Romeo and Juliet.

“Ah, a romantic,” the captain said, entering into the discussion.

Grace smiled. “To tell you the truth, I never really thought of myself that way, but perhaps I am a bit of a romantic. And you, Captain Chambers? Which volume of Shakespeare do you favor?”

There was no time to reply as the salon door swung open and a burly seaman appeared at the top of the ladder. He made his way down to the salon and hurried over to speak to the captain.

She couldn’t hear what was being said, but after a minute the captain pushed to his feet.

“If you will excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, it appears duty calls.” At the murmur that went round the room, Chambers gave them a reassuring smile. “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. In the meantime, please continue to enjoy your meal.”

The stout, gray-haired man departed and conversation resumed. No one seemed unduly concerned, though it was obvious the passengers were curious about what might be occurring.

“If it’s anything of import,” the earl said, “I’m sure we’ll find out when the captain returns.” The group chatted amiably throughout the meal and after they finished dessert, Lord Collingwood invited her for a stroll round the deck.

“Unless, of course, it’s too chill for you out there.”

“I would love a walk. A bit of fresh air sounds just the thing.” As supper approached, there had been a slight break in the weather, and though it yet remained cold, the seas appeared somewhat less formidable.

Lord Collingwood escorted her across the deck to the rail and she took a deep breath of the brisk sea air. She could feel the pitch and roll of the sea, but the ocean was less hostile and a thin sliver of moon rose over the water, casting a silver trail toward the horizon.

Grace tilted her head back to admire the crystal-white stars glittering in the black night sky. “Do you see that cluster of stars overhead?” She pointed into the darkness above the tall ship’s mast. “That is Orion, the hunter. Those three stars form his belt. Beside him, just there, that group is Taurus, the bull.”

The earl’s brown eyebrows went up. “Very impressive, my dear. I have studied the stars a bit myself and you are exactly correct. You enjoy stargazing, Miss Chastain?”

“Why, yes, I do. Very much. It is a hobby of mine. In fact, I have a small portable telescope packed in my trunk. I hope to do a bit of amateur astronomy while I am in Scarborough.”

He gave her a slightly crooked smile. “That sounds entertaining. I shall be traveling back that way on my return. Perhaps I might pay you a call.”

Grace cast the earl a look. He was handsome and well groomed, wealthy and a member of the aristocracy. She had sensed the man’s interest from the start, yet any interest on her part remained lacking. Though she enjoyed a man’s company, there were few she found appealing enough to consider more than a friend. At times, she wondered if something might be wrong with her.

“You would be welcome at Humphrey Hall, of course. I’m sure a visit would be pleasant.” Pleasant, indeed, but little more. She thought of the great love between Romeo and Juliet and wondered if she would ever know such a love.

The breeze picked up, tugging a strand of auburn hair loose from its pins and whipping it against her cheek. There was an icy chill in the air and beneath her fur-lined cloak, Grace couldn’t stop a shiver.

“You’re cold,” Lord Collingwood said. “I think it is time we went in. Perhaps you would care to join me in the salon for a game of whist.”

Why not? She had nothing better to do. “That would be lovely—” She broke off at the sound of men’s voices, members of the crew moving around the deck. Something seemed to be happening on the opposite side of the boat.

The earl’s head came up. “Look! It appears another ship is approaching.”

“Another ship?” A thread of worry slipped through her. They were at war, after all. A ship approaching in the dark ness might not bode well for the Lady Anne. She let Lord Collingwood lead her toward the bow so they might get a better view. “You don’t suppose the vessel is French?”

“I heartily doubt it. We are sailing fairly close to the coast.” He glanced back the way they had come. “But per haps we should return to the salon.”

Grace let him lead her in that direction though she didn’t really want to go. In the moonlight, she could see the white gleam of sails just off the port side of the ship. The vessel had nearly reached them and her worry crept up another notch.

“Looks like a schooner,” the earl said.

The ship was long and low to the water, its tall, twin masts rising majestically above the sea. The earl spotted the British flag flying at the rear of the sleek black craft at the same moment Grace did and she could hear his sigh of relief.

“Nothing to fear after all. The ship is one of our own.”

“Yes, so it would seem….” But thinking of the reason for her journey, her unease did not lessen.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your voyage, Captain.” Ethan Sharpe stood at the rail, speaking to Colin Chambers, captain of the Lady Anne. “But I’ve come on a matter of importance concerning one of your passengers.”

“You don’t say? What sort of matter are you talking about?”

“One of the passengers aboard your ship is wanted for questioning in regard to a breach of national security. She’s to be returned to London immediately.”

“She?”

“I’m afraid the passenger is a woman.”

He frowned. “And you say this woman is wanted by the authorities?”

“I’m afraid so, yes.” Not exactly the truth. The government had never heard of Grace Chastain. Ethan was one of the few who knew the woman was responsible for the escape of the traitor, Harmon Jeffries, Viscount Forsythe, the man who had betrayed him to the French and cost him his ship and his crew.

But his sources were completely reliable. The Chastain woman had hired someone in the underworld to arrange for two of the guards at Newgate to turn their backs while Jeffries escaped. According to his sources, Grace Chastain was the viscount’s mistress. She was the woman responsible for saving the man from the gallows.

No, the government didn’t want her for questioning.

Ethan did.

He was determined to find Jeffries—and sooner or later he would. At present, Ethan believed the man was safely living a life of luxury and ease in France, but he needed to know for sure. Aside from that, until he found a way to re capture the man, someone had to pay for what the viscount had done.

That someone would be Grace Chastain.

“I’ll need to see your papers, Captain Sharpe,” Chambers said.

“Of course.” He was prepared to cooperate as much as he reasonably could. He didn’t want trouble—he wanted the woman who had aided a traitor. He showed the man his charter as an English privateer, placing him in the service of his country. It seemed enough to satisfy the captain.

“And the name of this passenger?” Chambers asked as they walked along the deck toward the salon.

“Grace Chastain.”

The captain stopped dead in his tracks. “There must be some mistake. Miss Chastain is a young woman of quality. She couldn’t possibly be involved in something as heinous as—”

“Aiding the escape of a traitor? Freeing the man responsible for the loss of dozens of lives? That is among the questions that need to be answered. Now, Captain, if you would be so good as to take me to Miss Chastain, we will proceed with our business and you may be on your way.”

The captain still looked doubtful.

A few feet behind them, Angus McShane rested a thick hand on the grip of the pistol stuffed into his wide leather belt. Ethan made a faint movement of his head, telling Angus to signal the boarding party to be ready. Grace Chastain was leaving the Lady Anne—one way or another.

“This way, Captain Sharpe, if you please. Let us see what the lady has to say.”

Following the captain, Ethan made his way down the ladder to the main salon. Passengers sat in their opulent surroundings, three of them perched on a tapestry sofa, two of them seated in front of an ivory chessboard. Others read or played cards. A man rose as the captain approached the gaming table.

“What is it, Captain?”

“Naught that involves you, my lord. This is Captain Ethan Sharpe of the Sea Devil. Apparently the captain re quires a word with Miss Chastain.”

For the first time, Ethan focused on the woman seated at the gaming table, a fan of cards spread open in a slender hand. He had expected the woman to be attractive. She was, after all, the paid companion of a wealthy man.

But Grace Chastain was far beyond pretty. She was stunningly beautiful, with jewel-green eyes and skin like day-old cream. Her hair was auburn, dark copper streaked with gold, and even in her demure silk gown, a hint of full bosom rose enticingly above the modest neckline.

She was younger than he had imagined, or at least appeared so, yet certainly no girl just out of the schoolroom. Still, she didn’t carry the usual world-weary look of a seasoned whore.

No, Grace Chastain was beautiful and feminine, pale now as she rose to her feet, a tall, slenderly built young woman who, under different circumstances, he would have found incredibly attractive.

Instead, all he felt for her was loathing.

“Might we step outside, Miss Chastain?” Ethan asked, forcing a polite note into his voice, his faint bow only slightly mocking.

“May I ask what this is about, Captain Sharpe?” she asked.

He glanced at the tall aristocrat across from her ready to come to her defense. “As I said, I believe this conversation would be better spoken in private.”

Her face went even paler, and yet a delicate rose still bloomed in her cheeks. “Of course.”

“Perhaps I should come with you, my dear,” her companion volunteered.

She managed to give him a smile. “That won’t be necessary. I’m sure this won’t take long. I shall be back very shortly to finish our game.”

Like bloody hell.

She started for the ladder and the captain and Ethan fell into step behind her. Once on deck, Captain Chambers briefly explained why Ethan had come.

“I’m sorry, Miss Chastain, but Captain Sharpe claims you are wanted for questioning in a matter of national security.”

Her burnished brows drew together and a confused look appeared on her face. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

Ethan fought to control his temper. She knew why he was here, yet clearly she meant to continue her deception. Well then, so would he. “I’m sure you haven’t the slightest notion about any of this. Still, the matter requires clarification. I’m afraid you will have to come with me.”

The last hint of color drained from her face. She looked as if she might faint dead away, and he swore beneath his breath. A swooning woman would only make the inevitable result more difficult for all of them.

Grace Chastain did not swoon.

Instead, her shoulders subtly straightened. She had resolved to brazen it out, to play the innocent victim. In a way he admired her courage.

“I’m a passenger aboard this ship. I cannot believe you expect me to simply leave. That is clearly impossible. I am on the way to visit my aunt, Lady Humphrey, in Scarborough. Should I not arrive, my aunt will become quite distraught.”

“Captain Chambers can make your explanations. Once the matter is resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, you will be allowed to resume your journey.” He urged her forward, toward the rope ladder slung over the side of the ship that led down to a small wooden dinghy waiting to return them to the Sea Devil—eager to get her there before any real trouble ensued.

Captain Chambers stepped forward, blocking their escape. “I’m sorry, Captain Sharpe. I am forced to agree with Miss Chastain. I’m sure you have a valid reason for all of this, but I simply cannot allow you to remove this young woman from my ship. As long as she is aboard the Lady Anne, Miss Chastain is under my protection.”

A noise sounded behind them, a shuffling of feet on the deck. Six armed members of the Sea Devil crew stepped from their hiding places, pistols loaded and pointed at the captain’s chest.

“I’m afraid, Captain Chambers, that you have no choice.” Ethan reached for Grace Chastain, slid an arm around her waist, and dragged her back against his chest. The guns remained leveled in the captain’s direction.

Ethan spoke to Grace Chastain. “As I said, there are questions you need to answer. The truth will be better ferreted out aboard my ship.”

He dragged her backward till he reached the rope ladder. He could feel her trembling, feel the icy chill of her skin, yet she made no attempt to escape. Perhaps she felt the captain’s life would be endangered should she make any sort of move.

Perhaps she was right. He intended to take the woman no matter the cost.

“What…what about my things?”

“There isn’t time. You’ll have to make do without them.” He hauled her the last few feet to the ladder. She gave a little gasp of surprise as he spun her around, bent and set his shoulder into her middle and hauled her over his shoulder.

“What do you think you’re doing? Put me down!”

“Take it easy. I’m just carrying you down the ladder. You’d never make it in that dress.”

She didn’t say more, though he thought that she wanted to very badly. She was afraid for the captain, somewhat of a surprise since Ethan hadn’t believed a woman of her morals would give a damn for anyone but herself.

It didn’t take long to reach the bottom of the ladder. He plopped her down on one of the gunwales, draped a woolen blanket over her shoulders, and took his place at the stern of the boat. The rest of his men scrambled down the ladder, took their seats and picked up their oars.

“Put your backs to it, lads. We don’t want trouble if we can avoid it. The sooner the lady is aboard the ship, the better for us all.”

He glanced in her direction, saw that beneath the blanket her body still shook with a combination of shock and fear, but she stared toward his ship with a look of resignation. It was obvious she knew why she was being taken. If he’d had the least doubt—which he didn’t—her silence would have convinced him of her guilt.

They arrived at the ship without incident. The Lady Anne was an old, three-masted square-rigger, an ungainly old tub in the water. Once the Sea Devil got underway, there would be no chance of the slower boat catching up with them.

As the wooden boat came up alongside the hull, one of the crewmen tossed up a line to secure the vessel while they climbed the ladder to the deck.

“I can make it on my own,” Grace said, gazing up at the high rope ladder.

He was almost tempted to let her try. “You’ll go up the way you came down.”

She opened her mouth to argue but he didn’t give her the chance, just set his shoulder against her middle, hoisted her over his shoulder and started up the ladder to the deck.

The instant her slippers hit the holystoned wood, she spun to face him. “All right, I am here now, as you have commanded. You have spouted some sort of nonsense about national security. I presume you intend to take me back to London.”

A hard smile curved his lips. “Eventually. At present, we’re sailing south along the coast, then heading for France.” Surprise widened those bright green eyes. “Wh-what!”

“I’ve business to see to before I deal with you.”

She swallowed, seemed to collect herself. “I demand to know why you brought me here. What do you want with me?”

It was the question he had been pondering since the moment he had discovered her identity back in London. The question foremost in his mind the instant he laid eyes on her aboard the Lady Anne.

“That is the question, is it not?”

Instead of fear, her green eyes flashed with an unexpected fire. The color was back in her cheeks and in the moonlight her hair gleamed like flames. “Precisely who are you, Captain Sharpe?”

He looked into that beautiful, treacherous face and a sweep of lust rushed through him. “You want to know who I am? Well, I am the devil incarnate and you, my sweet, are about to pay the devil’s due.”