Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(38)

The siblings had been summoned by the Earl and Countess to London, and then they had learned just what a manipulative man their father had been, and that now they were heirs to the Earl's fortune.

“Morning, my lord. Captain Blake is in his cabin,” a seaman said as Dev arrived at the top of the gangway.

“Thank you.” He nodded and made his way along the decks to where the captain's cabin was located. Dev nodded to crewmen who were busy checking rigging and preparing the vessel to sail on the morning tide.

“Lord Sinclair, Lord Wynburg told me to expect your arrival,” the captain said, coming forward to meet him.

The man's cabin was pristine. The wood and brass were highly polished, as were the boots of the man before him. He had a waxed mustache that made up for his lack of hair, and broad shoulders encased in a white shirt.

“Come, we shall begin the inspection of the stock and I will have my man make a list for you to take to your uncle.”

An hour later Dev left the ship with an inventory of the stock and where and when it would reach its intended destination. He had been impressed by the way Captain Blake ran his ship and had taken many mental notes during his time on board. Once again back on the dock, Dev felt his heartbeat increase as he made his way to another ship berthed two along.

He had another reason for being here today, other than doing business on behalf of his uncle. He was here to look over his recently purchased first ship. The Neptune's Lady was now his. It was the beginning of his fleet, and would carry cargo and passengers to far-off places and return with goods. Silks, spices, and any manner of things. Things he would sell and begin to build his empire. Lord, he wanted to be on board for the first voyage, but he could not leave yet.

“Permission to come aboard!”

A face peered over the railing above.

“Who are you?”

“The new owner of this vessel,” Dev said politely.

“Permission to board, my lord!”

Dev shook his head; surely they had heard that cry four ships away. Eden would have heard it many miles away. Making his way up the gangway, he found himself facing three somber-faced men at the top.

“Lord Sinclair, I am Captain Bilberry.”

“Captain Bilberry, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Dev said, holding out his hand. Surprise flashed across the worn face before him, but he took the hand and shook it firmly.

“I expect you'd like a tour of your new purchase, Lord Sinclair?”

“If you can spare the time, Captain, I would like that very much.”

Leaning on the deck of his ship two hours later, Dev looked at the scene below, enjoying the bustle and activity. He had viewed every inch of the Neptune’s Lady, from the gleaming brass in the tallest mast, to the hammocks swinging below deck, and loved it all.

When his parents had died and left him as head of the family, he had realized the state of the Sinclair finances, the mess his father had left him. Leaving the army, he had done the best he could with what few options he had available to him, and they had survived—just. But his uncle had given him freedom, and with that freedom he had found the ability to breathe without tightness in his chest. Fear had ridden him for so long. Fear that he would not be able to feed and clothe his family, not be able to educate them and give them the life he wanted for them.

“You have to let me help you,” his uncle had said when Dev had initially refused his offers of support. Still reeling from his father's treatment of Eden and the knowledge of what his previously beloved parent had done to his family, Dev had been angry and confused. His pride had refused all offers of help; he had merely wanted to gather every single Sinclair up and retreat to their home, the only place his siblings had known before their parents’ death.

“Have you always had the ridiculous need to protect people?” Dev smiled as he remembered Lilly's words to him. She had not offered him sympathy as others would. She had spoken the truth, and for that he could only respect her.

“Will you need anything else, my lord?”

Dev turned to face Captain Bilberry.

“Nothing further, Captain. Everything looks excellent, and I shall look forward to seeing you in a few months.”

With a bow the captain departed, and Dev turned to look back over the railings.

His uncle's empire was vast, and Dev had plans to follow his lead. One day he too would own ships and warehouses. Some would come to him with the Earl's passing, but some he would have purchased and paid for himself.

Dev felt a shiver of awareness roll down his spine that had him scanning the buildings before him. He focused on a small room perched on top of a tavern.

“What the hell is she doing here?”

Pushing himself upright, Dev watched Lilliana Braithwaite pace back and forth before a set of windows beneath which was one of the deadliest drinking houses in the area. The Anchor was renowned for drunkards, whoring, and brawls, and that was before the sun set. As she walked, another man watched her movements from the doorway. Dev recognized him as the servant from the day he had first seen her with the children.

“For pity’s sake, woman, I expressly told you to tell me if you wanted to court trouble!” Dev muttered, taking the gangway at speed. “What the bloody hell are you about now?”



Lilly walked through the three rooms one more time. They would need cleaning, and the furniture would have to be replaced.