She shook her head. “It couldn’t have been him. He left me to be killed by one of his men. Sir Richard would have held me for ransom or…”
Or worse. Her heart pounded wildly. The previous night’s villain wouldn’t have hesitated to take her virtue. The thought sent her mind reeling.
“He didn’t know he’d captured an earl’s daughter,” Kincaid mused. “How did you escape?”
All eyes turned on her and she finally found her voice. “Fox saved us,” she whispered.
“Us?” Kincaid asked, showing no surprise at Fox’s heroics.
He’d worked with Fox before. Fox was indeed part of their circle, respected by Father and his men. She glanced at her lover down the table. His eyes burned through her, but she couldn’t decipher his emotion.
“Us, Lady Perpetua?” Kincaid asked again.
“Yes. Davy’s young son, Pip, had joined me.”
Fox crossed his arms. “I sent Pip in.” He told them about the message Pip was supposed to deliver warning about the very men who captured Perry and him. “It was a grievous mistake.”
“So, Scruggs and this John Black are not working together?” Farnsworth said.
“I’d say Scruggs is afraid of the man,” Kincaid said. “Lady Perpetua, how did Fox rescue you?”
“I didn’t.” Fox shook his head. “Lady Perry and Pip rescued themselves. They jumped off the cliff into the water.”
All eyes turned on her, and the room grew warmer again.
“That’s why you were soaked.” Farnsworth’s gaze held sympathy and interest. And perhaps, respect. “Were there other injuries?”
She waved a hand. “Another bruise.”
“A very large one out of sight on her back,” Jane said, pursing her lips and frowning at Fox. “She should see a surgeon. She might have broken a rib.”
Jane could not know Fox had seen it. Or perhaps she was frowning because she thought Fox should have done more.
Perry lifted her chin and looked at a spot on the wall. “Fox examined my injuries. Nothing is broken, is it, Fox? And he truly did save us. He shot the Frenchman, just as the man was firing at us.”
“A Frenchman?” Farnsworth sat up.
He’d been completely distracted from the notion of Fox examining her. She hoped Father was as well.
“Is the man dead?” Farnsworth asked.
Perry glanced at Fox.
“He’s dead,” Fox said.
“No name?” Farnsworth asked.
Fox shook his head. “He was checked thoroughly. There was nothing on him.”
“What did you do with the body?” Kincaid asked.
“Weighted it down and tossed it in the sea,” Fox said.
“With luck, the tides will wait until after we’ve settled this matter to wash him up,” Farnsworth said.
“And by then the fishes will have eaten around the bullet hole.” Kincaid took a piece of buttered toast. “I take it Davy and Gaz rowed them back here?” He addressed the question to Farnsworth.
Farnsworth nodded. “Those two will have reported to Scruggs.” He looked up from his plate. “Where is Carvelle?”
