Page 41 of Miss Wylde and the Wynd

“What do you mean?” Damian asked. “How do you know?”

“He came back and told us and wanted to know which port would be best to find passenger ships to America,” the guy with the ledger answered. “We told him Liverpool. More sail out of there than here.”

Georgie did not even know where Liverpool was. When she was studying the maps, she was only concerned with a route from Southampton to London and did not recall seeing a town called Liverpool.

“He thanked us and said that they would travel to Liverpool.”

“And this is five days ago?” Damian asked.

“Thereabouts,” the man answered.

“How far away is Liverpool?” she asked.

Damian blew out a sigh and shook his head, almost as if he was defeated, but Georgie was not about to give up

“Approximately two hundred miles,” he finally answered.

She did not want to get on another mail coach, but she would if it would take her to Grace. “Then I am off to Liverpool. Thank you for the information.” She turned and marched out of the office, down the stairs, and out to the hackney Damian had paid to wait. The only thing she didn’t know was whether Damian would insist on going with her or if she would finally be free of him.

Chapter Fourteen

Damian had anticipated that he may be required to remain in London for a few days, and possibly a sennight if necessary.

He had not expected to be told that the person they sought had left for Liverpool.

Now what the bloody hell was he to do?

Did he let Georgie go off on her own, or did he travel to Liverpool so that she was protected?

Even as he asked himself the question, Damian already knew the answer.

At least he knew some merchant companies that kept offices in Liverpool. In fact, a one-time close friend, Ewan Chisholm, from when he attended school, came from a merchant family who also sent passenger ships across the Atlantic. Their ships sailed from both Scotland and Liverpool. Hopefully his friend was in Liverpool and hadn’t traveled to Scotland.

With a sigh, he stomped down the stairs after Georgie, then entered the hackney, and took his seat.

“After I retrieve my belongings from your brother’s home, I will need to be taken to the coaching inn. That is not so far.”

She did not ask, but ordered him, which should not be a surprise.

“I already have the schedule of mail coaches leaving from The Swan with Two Necks,” he advised her. “We will consult that first. There is no reason to go there if the coach bound for Liverpool may not leave for hours or days.”

“Days?” she asked in alarm.

“Mail coaches do not travel to locations daily, especially if they are on the other side of England. We were fortunate there was one available the day we needed to leave Southampton.”

Her brown eyes widened with fear or concern. “If Southampton has more than one coaching inn, servicing mail coaches, certainly London has as well.”

“They do, likely dozens. If there is not one leaving today from The Swan with Two Necks, I will send servants to the others to obtain schedules.”

“Thank you.” She then turned her head to look out the window as she tapped her toe against the floor of the carriage.

“You will find your sister before she leaves for America,” Damian said quietly.

Georgie slowly turned to look at him, hope mixed with concern lingered in her eyes.

“How do you know?”

“Few captains, unless they are desperate for crew, will take on a merchant sailor that is unknown to them without letters of reference. There are more sailors needing work than there are ships.”