Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1)(95)

fear.

And knowing that his father had done this, filled him with

a burning hate.

After an uncomfortable silence, Drummond cleared his

throat. “As difficult as it may be, I need you to do something, Edward. Something very important.”

“What?” Teach asked tersely.





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“I need you to go to London for me.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow morning. I’ll need you to stay there for at least

a week, if not more.”

Teach turned and faced him. “If I do that, I’ll miss the

launch.”

Drummond hesitated. “I know that. And while it is an

important event, I would like you to visit with my solicitor in London.”

“Why?”

“You’ve always shown an active interest in my business deal—

ings. I was wrong not to let you pursue your dreams.”

“My dream was to be captain of the Deliverance.”

“That’s impossible. But perhaps, in time, you might take

command of a different ship.”

By offering Teach this olive branch, his father clearly hoped

to take his mind off Anne. But once again his father’s plan backfired.

Teach knew exactly when and how Anne was leaving the

country. “I can’t give you my answer now. I’d like to be alone.”

“You mustn’t wait long. My solicitor in London is expecting you.”

“Of course,” Teach said, and strode to the door.

“Will you be joining me for supper this evening?” Was it

Teach’s imagination, or did his father sound uncertain?

Teach paused with his hand on the door handle. “Not





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tonight. I have a lot to think about. Please have my meal sent up to my room instead.”

“I’m your father. I would still like you to join me.”

Teach met Drummond’s eyes. “And I would like you to

leave me bloody well alone.”





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C H A P T E R 3 4

Anne

Anne lay on her back, surveying the small room where she had

been brought. The gloomy sky outside did little to brighten

the space. Despite what Drummond had told her, she knew for

certain this was not an inn. She’d heard of the White Stag, and this place was most certainly not it.

The coarse mattress beneath her smelled of dried sweat and

urine, and Anne tried not to think about what had caused the

ring of stains marring the surface. The room itself was chilly and drafty, with several boards broken and missing from the

walls, allowing a stiff breeze to blow through the cramped

space. Anne shivered, her dress still damp from the rain. She

pulled at the ropes that secured her cold hands and feet, hissing as a sharp pain pierced her side. The two men had trussed her up like a turkey after she’d tried to escape. She’d waited for the carriage to slow down before she’d jumped from the interior. If





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it hadn’t been for her skirts, she could have outrun them.

As it was, they’d knocked her to the ground, and Anne was

sure she’d cracked a rib when she’d landed.

There had to be some way out of this mess. She hoped the

hints in the note she’d left for Teach would be enough for him to come after her.

If only Anne had returned the stolen items sooner, none

of this would have happened. Margery wouldn’t have become

suspicious and followed her out to the trees. Drummond would

never have evicted her, and Anne would be with Teach.

But for how long? Drummond had said that he still

intended for Teach to marry someone with a title. And he’d

made his prejudice against Anne all too clear.

It was late in the evening, and she had been gone for hours.

Teach would have noticed her absence by now. She should have

accompanied him to the city. Would Drummond have confronted her in front of Teach when they’d returned? Or would

he have waited?

She squeezed her eyes shut against the prickle of tears. It

was no use getting upset over what might have been. Right now

she needed to concentrate and wait for an opportune moment

to get away.

The door opened, and Martha entered, her silhouette illuminated by the candle in the hallway. Drummond had told

Anne he’d hired a lady’s maid for her, and Anne had been surprised that he’d gone to the trouble of securing her a companion.





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When Anne had first seen the aging woman, she’d thought it was Margery, the resemblance was so striking.

Martha had clearly been an efficient lady’s maid in her

youth. But with her hunched shoulders and poor vision, Anne

wondered why she had accepted Drummond’s request. No

doubt he had decided to employ her because she was old and

frail and he wouldn’t be required to pay her very much.

“I have some broth for you to eat,” Martha said, her cloudy