He fell to his knees before her and carefully lifted the hem of her skirt. “Be still so I can check it.”
Before his hand touched her, she raised her foot and kicked out, catching him on the shoulder. He toppled to the floor, shocked by the attack.
She flew to the door, her leg miraculously healed, and raced out. He leaped to his feet and dashed after her. A key turned in the lock. He halted. Morgan patted his pocket. It was empty.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“That should hold him.”
“Arianna, open this door,” Morgan shouted. He beat on the wooden barrier.
It would only contain him for a short while. With the racket he made, someone would soon arrive to release him.
But not with the key. A white porcelain vase filled with a bouquet of varied, colorful flowers stood on a table farther down the hall. She hastened to it and dropped the key inside. The key plunked as it hit the water and sank. A satisfied smirk curled up the corners of her lips. No one would find it there. She spun and headed toward the stairs.
“Arianna.”
Morgan’s deep voice followed her as she sprinted down the carpeted stairs and burst out the front door. Now where? Her gaze darted from one side of the yard to the other. The direction she had approached the house from? Did she have time to steal a horse?
She would never outrun him if she didn’t.
Slithering along the side of the house, keeping to the shadows, she circled the building to the back. Spotting the stables, she scanned the open area between her and it. Walk or run? Precious minutes sped past, but she didn’t want to appear conspicuous. She settled for a fast walk that could be lowered to a stroll if a servant appeared.
Reaching the stables without detection, she peered inside. No one was there. She breathed a sigh of relief as she entered. Arianna threw a bridle on the first horse she spotted, forgoing a saddle. When her papa had forbidden her to sail, she had turned her sights to riding, astride and sometimes bareback. Arianna grabbed the reins and led the horse from his stall. Stopping in the middle of the stable, she looped the reins over his back and hoped he stayed where he stood. She backed up, then ran toward the horse’s side and leaped as she reached him, landing on her stomach. She swung her leg over, snatched up the reins, and kicked with her heels. Exiting the building into the fading light, she urged the horse to a gallop and escaped captivity.
And Morgan.
Arianna drank in the image of him one last time, and then with great difficulty, she stuffed him back into the farthest reaches of her mind. But as she retraced the route to the docks, his likeness would not listen to reason and remained at the forefront of her thoughts.
Tall masts resembling leafless trees spread across the darkening sky announced she had arrived at her destination and brought back memories of the trip to Boston accompanied by danger, deception, disaster, and pirates. She no longer wished to live that life, especially without Morgan. Once she returned to England, she would find a safer alternative, but for right now, she had no choice. She possessed little except for the skill and knowledge of a seaman.
She glanced down at the dress that barely covered her legs as she rode astride. She would have trouble obtaining a job clothed as a female. She needed to change into the familiar shirt and pants a maid had cleaned for her. Spotting a grove of trees, she swiftly changed her outfit and tugged on her knit cap. With the descending sun barely visible above the horizon, she rode into the city, feeling freer and safer in her new attire.
The horse was not hers and neither was the dress. Both belonged to Morgan, and she would not keep them. She entered the first livery she found and approached the man working there.
“Do you have a boy who can deliver this horse and dress to the Danvers Shipping Company in the morning? I don’t have coin, but Morgan Danvers will reward you handsomely for safely returning them.”
The squat, heavy man with dark hair sticking out in every direction looked her up and down with a suspicious eye. “And who are you?”
She lowered the tone of her voice. “Tell Mr. Danvers a friend thanks him for the use of them.”
“He will pay me for boarding the horse tonight? I don’t run this livery for free,” he grumbled.
“He will take care of all your costs within reason.”
The older man approached her and ran his experienced hands down the horse’s legs and across his rump. “I suppose I could sell him if he doesn’t. The animal looks healthy enough.” He grabbed the dress and hung it from his fingers. His gaze darted from the garment to her and back again. “You want me to return this, too?”
Arianna stood straight and tall and nodded.
“I could give it to my wife.” He cackled. “But it would never fit her. More’s the pity.”
He eyed her again, and an uneasy shiver ran down Arianna’s spine. Did he suspect she was a woman? She needed to leave before he decided to check for himself. “Will you do it or not?”
A dirty finger tapped his thin lips. Possibly to make her nervous. And it did. Her muscles tensed in anticipation. She couldn’t remain much longer.
“Aye.”
“Thank you.” She spun and raced out the door into the dark. She couldn’t search for a job now. The day held dangers but the night, more frightening, hidden ones. She needed a place to spend the evening.
****
“Apparently, she took the key with her.” Laughter infused Harry’s words.
“Then break down the bloody door.”
“Hold on, I’m working on it.”
“I don’t have a lot of time. Or patience.”
“You should have thought of that before you let her lock you in.”
Morgan clenched his hands into fists. “I didn’t
let
her.”
How had it happened? One minute he bent to help her and the next, he found himself sprawled on the floor and imprisoned in her room.
Now he knew how she must have felt.
Only he didn’t have to wait long. His bellows and furious pounding had alerted a maid, and she ran to find Harry, who found the situation amusing.
“Stand back,” his brother yelled through the door.
Morgan retreated.
Whack
. An ax head sliced through the wooden door. The deadly blade disappeared and then returned to wreck more damage, continuing until the door was reduced to mere splinters.
“It took you long enough.” Morgan barged through the ragged opening.
“It could have taken longer.”
“How did you get locked in?” Sarah asked. All three of his sisters crowded around to witness his humiliating experience with questions glowing in their eyes.
“I don’t have time to explain now. Did anyone see Arianna?”
“From my window, I saw her ride out on Poseidon,” Ann offered.
“Bloody hell!” He pounded his fist on the wall.
His sisters jumped.
“Sorry.”
“Did you give her permission to ride your horse? At the time, I thought it strange. You never allow anyone to ride him,” Ann said.
“What happened between you and Arianna?” Elizabeth the oldest asked with a tilt to her head and a quizzical expression. “I’ve never seen you this angry. In fact, you rarely show your emotions.”
“He has changed since he met her,” Harry supplied.
“I need to find Arianna before she gets herself killed.”
Ann gasped and covered her mouth. “Is she in danger?”
“She may be.”
“I’m going with you,” Harry insisted.
“No, you stay here. I don’t need help.” He headed toward his room to change his clothes.
“Yes, you do.”
Morgan whirled to face his brother. “Harry, I…” He stopped. He was trying to do it all himself as he always had. His gaze slid from Harry, to Elizabeth, to Ann, and finally to Sarah. His siblings had grown up. They were capable human beings, and they loved him and wanted to share his burdens. He no longer had to accomplish everything on his own. He blew out his anger. “Thank you.”
His brother smiled. “I’ll be back as soon as I change.” He flew down the hallway.
“Meow.” The kitten pranced into the corridor and pounced on the hem of Sarah’s skirt.
Morgan scooped the tiny ball of fluff into his hands and handed her to Sarah. “She is Arianna’s. Take care of her until I bring Arianna back.”
“Oh, she’s adorable. I’d love to.”
And he would find her. After that…
“Where is everyone?”
Andrew. Why was he here? Hadn’t he inflicted enough damage?
Why was he blaming Andrew? This mess wasn’t his fault. He strode to the head of the staircase. “Andrew, up here.”
When Andrew reached the hallway and noted the destruction, his brows rose. Without offering an explanation, Morgan strode to his bedroom and flung off his coat, waistcoat, and shirt. Andrew followed. “As soon as I change, I am on my way out.”
“It wasn’t you I came to see. I wanted to check on Arianna.”
Morgan shoved his arms into a fresh shirt and then unbuttoned his pants. “Arianna isn’t here.”
Andrew’s eyes widened, and creases marked his forehead. “Not here. Where is she?”
Morgan dropped into a chair and yanked off his boots. “That’s exactly what I intend to find out.” He refused to relate the circumstances surrounding her leaving. He would never hear the end of it.
Harry rushed into his room as Morgan pulled off his pants. “I’m ready. Andrew, did you hear Arianna locked Morgan in her room?”
Morgan groaned. “Not until now. I don’t know what I would do without you to announce it.”
Andrew grinned. “She locked you in her room?”
Morgan tugged on brown breeches. “I don’t have time to amuse you.”
“I can fill him in,” Harry offered.
“I bet you can,” Morgan thrust his feet back into the boots.
“You can tell me on the way. I’m going with you.”
“Why?” After all, him bringing his sister here was the reason Arianna left.
No. The real reason was
he
, nobody else, got Susan pregnant.
“Because I care for Arianna and I noticed her reaction when she saw Susan. Arianna wasn’t to blame for anything that happened, but she has been hurt.”
Morgan opened his mouth to refuse and then threw his hands up in the air. “Bloody hell! Why not?” Andrew wasn’t to blame either, and he was still his closest friend. He grabbed a waistcoat and coat. “Come on, let’s ride.”
****
Arianna hugged the shadows on the docks, presenting a confident and capable air and standing tall if anyone glanced her way, as she trembled inside.
“Come here, sweetie,” a barely dressed prostitute called, readjusting her clothes. Her breasts nearly spilled from her bodice. She pointed her thumb at a thin man who scurried off in the opposite direction. “He’s done. I’m available.”
Arianna stumbled, righted herself, and backed away from the garish woman. “No… no…” She spun and hurried away. She would never sink to that level. With strength and persistence, she would obtain whatever she needed. Along with a little stealth. Anything, except Morgan. She passed an alley where a swaying man relieved himself against the side of a building. Three staggering drunks singing a bawdy song while they hung on to each other bumped into her, nearly knocking her to the cobblestones.
Clearly, this was not a safe place. She yanked her knit cap farther down to completely cover her short, blonde hair. A warning shivered up her spine. Eyes bored into her. Arianna whirled but found no one behind her, only dark corners. But they held all kinds of evil. As she started forward again, her boot squished into something gooey. Arianna lifted her foot with a grimace. She didn’t want to know what it was. She was certain the answer would disgust her.
Was the
Sea Dragon
still here? Maybe she could sneak on board and spend the night. She would be safe there.
She headed toward the area where they had docked the ship. Gooseflesh broke out on her skin. The feeling of being watched assaulted her again. Actually, it never left. She glanced behind her and then walked faster. The sound of boot heels striking the street echoed in the dark night. Clip clop, clip clop, clip clop. Her fear grew.
She stopped.
The noise halted.
She turned on quivering legs and struggled to pierce the night. She spied no one.
Was it her imagination?
Perspiration broke out on her brow in opposition to the cool night.
Her pace quick and her steps large, she continued. And so did the disquieting noise. Someone was following her. She was sure of it.
Where was the
Sea Dragon
? It couldn’t be too far away now.
Her vision blurred in a night that had turned pitch dark. Every ship began to look the same.