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“That is indeed a magnificent animal,” Suleiman added.
Harry gave the horse’s neck a proud pat. “Isn’t he, though?”
“I have heard,” Suleiman said, “that Arabians are hard to tame. Their nature is wild and unpredictable. They relish their freedom.”
Harry sent Hester a slow smile, and for no reason at all, she felt heat rise in her face.
“He is occasionally headstrong, that is true,” he said easily, his eyes still on her. “And he sometimes requires a firm hand, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. His spirit and stubbornness only add to his allure.”
He and Suleiman shared a smile, and Hester frowned. Why did she have the suspicion they were talking aboutherinstead of the horse?
“An animal like that is hard work, certainly, but worth the extra effort,” Harry added. “I will be the envy of every man in London.”
Suleiman nodded. “It is a precious thing indeed. Take care you do not mistreat it.”
Harry’s expression sobered. “I would never do that. Such a gift has my undying respect and devotion.”
Suleiman regarded him for a long moment and then nodded as if satisfied. “That is good, Englishman.”
Hester rolled her eyes at the strange, indecipherable ways of men, and they pressed on towards the coast.
Chapter 17
Hester had never been so glad to see anything as she was to spy Captain Cavalli’s ship still moored at the dockside in Cannes. She, Harry, and Suleiman had barely stopped to eat or sleep for the past two days. They’d slept in barns and in ditches. Meals had consisted of a loaf of bread or hunk of cheese eaten on horseback. The sight of the ship almost brought tears to her eyes. She couldn’t wait for a hot cup of tea with milk. And a bath.
Signor Cavalli greeted them like long-lost cousins. Hester staggered up the gangplank and sank wearily onto a barrel on the deck, wanting only to fall into her cabin and sleep for a week.
Suleiman and Harry led the exhausted horses aboard. The ship’s crew began to prepare for departure, and someone was sent into the town to round up those who were still ashore.
Hester reached into the pocket of her tattered skirts and withdrew the scorpion necklace. The red gems and reticulated silver glittered malevolently between her fingers. What on earth should they do with it now?
She barely glanced at the figure coming up the gangplank, assuming it was a returning member of the crew, until she realized the familiar features belonged to Drovetti.
For a stunned moment she could barely think. Had he followed them all the way from Villefranche? How on earth—?
Drovetti gained the top of the gangplank, and his mouth stretched into an ugly smile as he spied the necklace in Hester’s lap. He leapt forward and wrenched it from her grasp.
“No!” Hester screamed. “Harry!”
Drovetti turned just as Harry launched himself across the deck and caught the Italian around the waist. They both went crashing to the deck, a tangle of flailing limbs.
Drovetti landed a punch on Harry’s ear. With a curse, Harry reared up onto his knees and punched him hard in the face. Hester shrieked, and the Italian howled and fell back onto the boards. Harry straddled his prone form. Drovetti tried to kick his way free, but Harry gave him another quick cuff to the side of the head and reclaimed the necklace with a grunt of satisfaction. It glinted in the sunlight, the scorpion shivering almost as if it were alive.
“Thief!” Drovetti howled. “Give it back! It must go to the emperor!”
Harry stood and stepped back with his prize, his chest heaving with exertion. “Sorry, old man. It belongs to the lady.”
Drovetti rose and staggered back a few paces. His nose was bleeding, but a smile stretched his lips as he pointed the muzzle of a small pistol at Harry’s chest. He must have had the thing hidden in his boot. Blood dripped off his chin.
“I repeat, Englishman. Give me the necklace.”
Harry shook his head. “You don’t have the cods to shoot me, Drovetti.”
With a sickly smile of malice, Drovetti turned the barrel of the pistol towards Hester. Harry stilled as she sucked in a gasp.
“Now, perhaps, you will do as I say,” Drovetti sneered. “The necklace or the lady? Which will it be?”
With a sound of fury, Harry tossed the necklace at Drovetti’s feet. It slithered to a stop against the Italian’s boot, the red stones shining like the spots of blood which dripped from his nose onto the deck. Drovetti grinned and bent to retrieve his prize, the gun still trained on Hester to ensure Harry made no move to regain it.
