“What about Brianna?”
“Leave her just as she is,” Sloan said flatly. “We’ve still got to reach the ship.”
He hopped up beside Rikky, who cast him a glance, then flipped the reins, and the horses started moving. “Slow?” Rikky asked.
“Nay—fast.”
“As you command, Treveryan!” Rikky replied. “Giddup, there!”
The horses bolted down the street, the wheels turning like spinning stars. The dull drizzle continued all around them.
Sloan closed his eyes.God help me, he prayed silently.
When he opened his eyes, he could see the wharf. And lights flashing, out on the water, coming closer and closer.
The wagon ground to a halt. Sloan hopped from his seat and hurried around to the back. Emily—or was it Mathilda?—hopped into his arms. “Bless you, dear young lord!” she murmured.
He smiled. “See those boats? Get to them!” She nodded, turned to her sister, whom Philip had just assisted, grabbed her arm, and hurried to the dockside. Sloan saw one of his men—Paddy, he thought—rise to help them. “Go on!” he told the two youths. Philip was reaching into the wagon for Brianna.
“Lord Treveryan,” Philip murmured awkwardly, “Shall I take her—or shall you?”
Sloan clenched his jaw and swallowed tightly. “You take her, Philip. Once we’re on the ship, you can free her. Tell her, tell her that I’m sorry, her husband is dead. But keep her the hell away from me tonight, understand?”
Philip didn’t look as if he understood at all. But he replied, “Aye, Lord Treveryan.”
The others were all headed to the dinghies; only Rikky stood beside him. Sloan lifted a brow slowly, then stuck out his hand. “I thank you, Lord Turnberry. I’ll be damned if I know why you did all this, but thank you.”
“Oh, I like adventure,” Rikky said negligently—but then they both frowned; they could hear the sound of horses racing toward them in hot pursuit.
“Looks like you’re coming along too,” Sloan muttered, grabbing Rikky’s elbow. They both raced for the dinghies.
“Room’s in this one, Captain!” Paddy called to Sloan.
“Coming, Paddy!” The skiff was halfway out. Paddy had had the sense to push off when he’d heard the hoofbeats.
“Oh, what the hell,” Rikky muttered, “I had a craving to visit New York anyway.”
He took a dive into the water.
Sloan actually felt a grin tug at his lip.
Then he plunged into the water after Rikky.
Chapter 21
Sloan took the wheel as they moved out into the ocean. The weather was choppy and rough and the sailing difficult, but that was not why he chose the bridge. He wanted to hold the wheel. He loved the sea, and tonight, the gray rain and brooding darkness well matched his mood.
Paddy had asked him what arrangements he wanted made for the travelers. A number of the officers were willing to give up their quarters and bunk together, so there was really no difficulty about privacy. George had offered his cabin to the sisters—it was a short voyage south to New York and he’d be on duty most of it anyway. Paddy had been happy to give up his cabin to Lord Turnberry. Philip and the lads would be fine, threaded among the other crew members, and Eleanor had been situated in a small cabin earlier in the day.
“Sounds fine, Paddy,” Sloan told him. “All well done. Thank you, and extend my appreciation to the others involved.”
Still Paddy hesitated. Sloan, from long experience, stared at him warily with a brow raised high.
“Where would you like Brianna?”
Sloan turned to the dark sea ahead of him. “Offer her the use of my cabin. Privately, of course.”
“I already did that, Cap’n.”
