A shiver ran through Eugénie, but her voice was steady. “He said he was my uncle Yves, and he threatened to torture you and kill William. I think it is a very good thing he is dead. I only wish I could have done it myself.” After a moment she added, “I will not feel sorry for someone like him.”
Will bent to kiss her on the head, when a pounding started on one of the cabin doors.
“What is happening? Let me out,” a man shouted in French.
“That is my other uncle.” Eugénie curled her lip into a sneer. “I was able to lock him in his cabin this morning so that he could not cause trouble when you arrived.”
He truly had never met any woman like her. Will rubbed his forehead before addressing his uncle. “How do you wish to handle this, sir?”
“We need to depart soon. In case you didn’t know, there’s a storm coming and we must reach the hurricane hole on Virgin Gorda before it does. Take Eugénie—”
“Non.”Her chin took on a familiar mulish cast. “I will not be kept out of this decision.”
Uncle Nathan raised his brows. “Very well. We’ll have the body moved up on deck, then talk to the captain of this ship. Before I make any decisions, I must discover how much he knew of the plot to kidnap you.”
The pounding on the door grew louder. “What about Uncle Hervé?”
“He can stay where he is for the time being.” Uncle Nathan frowned as the pounding continued. “I can’t see that he’ll be of much help if we let him loose.”
“Lord Wivenly, Nathan, is everything all right down there?” Henriksen shouted.
“Yes,” Will answered. “We need a couple of men to move a body.”
Less than five minutes later, Uncle Nathan had ascertained that the captain had known only that the two Villaret men were here to pick up their niece. Will pulled Nathan aside. “Eugénie doesn’t think her Uncle Hervé is a danger.” He rubbed the side of his face. “I don’t know if I want to take that chance.”
“The plain fact of the matter is that we don’t have time to deal with it in any satisfactory manner,” Nathan responded. “We must leave now. I’ve told the captain he can either follow us or try to make it to Simpson Bay in St. Martin.”
“Nathan!”Aunt Sidonie stood at the rail of theSwift Wind.
“Oh God. Sidonie, my love.” Nathan’s voice hitched. “We’re coming now.”
“Go to her, Papa,” Eugénie urged. “We’ll be right after you.”
Will pulled his wife to him, kissing her hard on her lips. “Promise me you will never do anything like this again.”
“No, never.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter 29
The sky opened up as theSwift Wind’sgrappling hooks were removed from the galley and the schooner sailed free of the other ship. Once Eugénie was below deck, to her great consternation, she began to cry.
William wrapped his arms around her. “Sweetheart, what is it?”
“I do not know. Suddenly it was all too much.” She chuckled wetly against his jacket. “Yet now I have everyone I love back with me and safe.”
Cicely and Andrew coaxed Will, Eugénie, and Maman and Papa into a dining room next to the galley. “I believe the cook has some tea brewing. Sit down and tell us everything.”
Eugénie turned to Papa, sitting next to Maman with his arm around her. “How did you get away and how did you find us?”
He told them of his escape. “You remember Mr. Beaufort?”
She nodded.
“I was on his ship when we saw theSwift Windchasing down the galley.”
“But where is he now?”
