Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(72)

“Good work, Ned,” Jacob said as the three men clambered into the rowboat. Soon the dinghy was moving quickly toward the gap in the cliffs.

Costa called from the beach, “I’ll keep an ear out for Murad’s movements and send word to the consulate in Corfu Town.”

“Perfect, thank you.”

“Why Corfu Town?” Ned asked. “Why would Fredrick be heading there?”

“Fredrick has to kill Lord Pembroke,” Jacob answered, still pulling hard on the oars. “Row faster.”

Alex concentrated on his oar because if he didn’t, he might simply stand up in the little boat and shake his fist at God, tipping them all into the sea. If they didn’t catch Fredrick, Hestia would be lost to him forever.

He’d been such a fool. He should have married Hestia and left her in London. He’d thought he was doing the right thing by not shackling her to his side, when really he’d made a complete mess. It was like Tulay all over again. He’d survived Tulay’s death but if he lost Hestia…

“We will rescue her. We won’t let Cary kill her,” Jacob said fiercely.

“He won’t bloody kill her. He’ll sail away where no one can find them for a year and then return to England with Hestia as his wife.”

The two men stopped rowing at his words.

“Bloody hell, keep rowing,” Alex screamed in a panicked voice.

Jacob began to row harder. “God damn the devil himself. We have to ensure we keep eyes on that schooner.”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t understand,” Ned said. “I thought he’d simply kill Lady Hestia.”

Alex gritted his teeth as his arms burned. “If her father gets back to England Cary’s deeds become public knowledge. But if he marries Lady Hestia, he survives. Too many people have learned of his deception. However, the earl will keep quiet to protect Hestia’s reputation. They could say Fredrick had been told the body he buried was Lord Pembroke and he was simply misled, and no charges would be laid. In addition, if he marries Lady Hestia he eventually gets everything, or his son does. A clever man would not kill the golden goose. No Hestia means no money and likely imprisonment.”

Ned scoffed and rowed harder. “Lady Hestia would never marry that buffoon.”

Jacob cursed again. “The lass won’t have any choice. Sail away, marry her by force, then wait to get her with child and return to England. She’d have no choice but to stay married to preserve her reputation and avoid scandal. And protect her child.”

Alex’s fury almost blinded him. “Lord Pembroke would recognize Fredrick to save Hestia’s reputation.” Those words cost him. His anger saw him almost snap the oar.





Chapter 21


Alex’s hopes began to rise as they rowed against the current through the narrow passage. The Angelica had engaged the schooner, and to his horror he watched as a cannonball came very close to striking the port side of the boat.

Cary must already be on board, and Hestia was obviously with him. The last thing he wanted was for the schooner to go to the bottom of the sea before he’d rescued her.

Jacob, of course, spoke his thoughts. “The silly bastards are going to sink the schooner.”

To add to the woes, Alex could see the anchor chain slowly rising out of the sea. Fredrick was going to make a run for it.

It seemed like an eternity before they managed to reach the Angelica. The three men clambered aboard and Alex instantly halted the cannon fire. “We can’t sink her, we need to get close enough to board. Lady Hestia is on board.”

The only thing on their side was that the usual strong trade winds were absent. The schooner’s sails barely moved in the light breeze. The Angelica, being a much larger ship, had larger sails. They were catching every bit of breeze available, which meant the Angelica was turning faster than the schooner. Just as Alex began to hope Fredrick’s escape would be short-lived, looking through his spyglass he spotted a larger ship rounding the bay farther down the coast.

A cold sweat broke over his body. He’d recognize that ship anywhere.

Murad.

He slowly lowered the spyglass and motioned for Jacob to join him. He pointed down the coast and handed Jacob the device.

Jacob looked long and hard and issued a curse. “Well, you wanted to go after Murad. Seems like he’s found you. He can’t be that ill then. Best we rescue the lass as quickly as possible and send her safely back to Costa.”

“It would be better if she could sail far away from here as soon as possible even if with Fredrick. But if I leave her with Fredrick, I probably won’t be able to find her again.”

“You better hurry and make up your mind what you are going to do. You can’t leave her with Cary. Her life would be over. Being married to that man would be enough to make anyone jump overboard.”

“How long before Murad’s ship’s cannons come into range?” Alex thought they probably had about half an hour before Murad could attack them.

“Half an hour or an hour if we’re lucky. Not much wind.” Jacob looked across toward the schooner. “We will be in gunshot distance in ten minutes. Let’s go get your girl.”

The schooner, being smaller, carried fewer men, and once the gun battle began, the attack was over almost before it started.