The other ship’s captain was distracted by a dark-haired man of medium-height, waving his arms around when the grappling hooks landed, securing the galley to theSwift Wind.
Will searched the deck for Eugénie, but didn’t see her anywhere. Were they wrong? Had she been taken on another ship? Or was she hurt?
“There she is.” Cicely pointed to a port window where Eugénie leaned out, waving and blowing kisses.
God, he’d just lost at least ten years of his life worrying about her. He sent up prayers of thanks she was alive and appeared to be in good health. “I’m going to kill her.”
“Are you coming,” Andrew asked in a drawl, “or do you just plan to stand there staring at her?”
“Yes. Right now.”
When Will landed on the galley’s deck, the dark-haired man raced to the hatch leading to the lower deck,
That was where Eugénie was.
Will darted after the blackguard. If the cur touched her, he was a dead man. He reached the ladder as the blackguard was pounding on a door, yelling something in French. Eugénie answered. Thank God she had the sense to lock herself in.
Suddenly there was the sound of a door crashing into a wall.
He jumped the last few feet. “Eugénie, where are you?”
“At the end of the passageway.”
“Salope!Who is that? Your lover?”
No one called his wife a whore. Anger boiled up in Will and for the first time in his life, a red haze passed before his eyes. He’d kill the blackguard just for that. In a few rapid strides he was at the splintered door of her cabin. The scoundrel held her trapped against him. Her dagger lay on the floor.
“Villaret, I presume.”
“Yes, and who are you?” the man spat.
“I’m Viscount Wivenly, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll unhand my wife.”
The man’s eyes widened in shock, then he snarled, “Was your wife. Now she will be a widow.”
She tried to jerk away, but her uncle’s grip tightened, and he pulled out a dagger. “Stop, niece, unless you wish to die as well. You are no good to me married.”
Eugénie started to struggle again. “You murdered my papa, didn’t you?”
“No. I told you he is safe. Remain still.”
She brought her foot down on Villaret’s instep.
“Damn you!” he roared and backhanded her, sending her sprawling onto the floor. Her head hit the bunk.
The boat lurched, causing both men to brace themselves. Before Will got his footing, a flash of silver flew toward him. He ducked, and shot. The dagger struck the side of the doorway, where his head had been.
Villaret crumpled to the floor, blood pouring out of the hole in his chest.
Will picked up Eugénie. An angry red mark marred her cheek. He’d shoot her uncle again for hurting her. “My love, are you all right?”
She buried her face in his coat and sobbed. “I was so afraid he had killed you.”
He wasn’t going to tell her how close it had been. “A knife is no match against a pistol.” William crushed her to him, kissing her as if his hunger would never end. “I’m going to wring your neck.”
“I’m so glad you are alive and this is over.”
Eugénie slid down his length, pressing her body into his.
