Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(82)

Their plan worked perfectly. The guard went down with a blade stuck in his neck. Alex took a few precious seconds to search him for weapons. Only the large saber was in evidence, but it was better than nothing. He picked it up and took Hestia’s elbow.

“Look scared.”

“I am scared,” Hestia hissed.

Once they were on the deck, they saw men busy reacting to the first mate’s orders. They were loading cannons and opening up the sails. Alex hurried them to the railing and waved the saber in the air, calling out a Turkish war cry.

As he’d thought, the men saw only Hestia.

He moved farther to the stern and spied a rope ladder and, as luck would have it, a rowboat. He would prefer to be in the boat, because there was always the chance of sharks in these waters.

With no one watching he threw the ladder over the side, and with two swipes of the saber he cut the ropes securing the boat at each end, sending the rowboat tumbling toward the water. He’d right it when they reached the water, but God was smiling, for it landed the right way up with a major splash.

A few sailors’ eyes turned their way, but just when Alex thought they were in trouble, the first waft of smoke began pouring out of the hatchway.

“Jump on my back and put your arms around my neck. We need to get to the rowboat before it floats too far away.”

Soon they were in the water and swimming for the boat. A cry behind them rose loud and clear and Alex heard a musket fire. A small plop by his head saw him swim harder. Hestia was in front of him and he hoped she was out of range. Most of the men on deck were still loading cannons, while others ran to fight the fire.

Once they reached the boat, Alex pulled himself over the side, then turned to help Hestia. Men were still firing at them, but soon the flames were so high they had to stop and try to help.

The Angelica had altered course to come toward their rowboat, and Alex heaved a sigh of relief. Jacob had seen the fire and their boat, and understood his plan.

Alex took up the oars and began to row. Thankfully it was a calm sea and he made good progress toward his approaching ship.

They were nearing the Angelica, which had gone to anchor, when they heard a huge explosion behind them and Murad’s ship blew into a million pieces.

“The fire hit the powder kegs,” Alex said.

“There were two women on that ship that I know of. Will anyone survive?”

“I’ll get Jacob to sail the Angelica past the wreckage, and if there are any survivors we can pick them up, but it’s unlikely.”

He watched tears well in her eyes. “They didn’t have much of a life, and now they are dead.” Her tears started to fall. “But at least they are now free.”

They reached the ship and the rope ladder that had been thrown over the side. Hestia was still crying as they climbed to the deck. Jacob greeted them with a grim look on his face and quickly gave Hestia his jacket. He pointed to the horizon.

Alex followed his finger and saw sails—two or three ships.

“Best we get moving. We need to head for Corfu Town and rendezvous with Lord Pembroke’s ship. It’s safer in numbers.”

Jacob soon had the ship in full sail before Alex, looking through his spyglass, yelled. “Stop! It’s not pirates, it’s Stephen.”

The Marquis of Clevedon and his fleet of ships had finally arrived.

“Bloody late as usual,” grumbled Jacob.

“But now we should have safe passage home. With our two ships, the Angelica, the earl’s, plus Marquis’s three, no one is likely to pursue us.”





Chapter 25


They made the consulate in Corfu Town their base while the ships were being readied for the journey home.

Fredrick Cary was under arrest and would sail home to England in the brig of her father’s ship, to be tried for the abduction of her, and the attempted murder of Alex, and for impersonating an earl. He would likely hang at the end of a long rope and Hestia could not bring herself to care. Fredrick had put her, and worse still, Alex, through hell. He deserved all he got.

Fredrick’s attempt to force her into marriage had of course been ruled null and void and she was still free to wed Alex whenever he asked.

The past few days had been interesting watching Stephen and Alex interact. Stephen was good for Alex because his friend made Alex laugh, and goodness knew Alex needed more joy in his life.

That evening was the first time they would all dine together, and Hestia wanted to look her best. She had eaten quietly with her father the past two nights and she was looking forward to having an evening with Alex and Stephen.

Once freshly bathed and dressed, she walked outside to the consulate’s beautiful walled garden. Dinner would be served in a half hour at nine. She had not had a private moment with Alex since arriving in Corfu Town and she missed him. She also wanted to see if the days had seen him change his mind about her. She was not sure what she was expecting him to do, but she wanted a proposal and to know he would allow her to journey home on his ship.

She walked among the flowers enjoying their scent. It was a miniature English garden in this overheated world. Someone must put a lot of care and attention into caring for it.

The beauty of the roses calmed the anxiety that was making her stomach feel like a mule had kicked it. Her fate relied on Alex standing up to her father, who would not be pleased with the match for some reason. When they had arrived, the earl had given Alex a very frosty welcome, even after all Alex had done for his earldom and his daughter. Plus, when it came to fighting for her…well, his history of standing up to her father was not good. He needed to fight harder.