Minerva felt all the blood rush from her head as Marcus toppled Roger and restrained him with a knee on his neck to hold him still.
After the flurry of activity, the sudden silence felt deafening.
Abigail shifted out from under Caleb, but then she was on top of him, seeing to his knife wound and fretting over him as he told her in low gruff tones that he would be fine.
“Which is more than Roger can say,” Marcus said with a devilish grin as Minerva joined him.
She studied the red, angry face of the man on the ground. He hardly even looked like the Roger she knew.
“Now that we’re comfortable,” Marcus said, adjusting himself so he was sitting on Roger’s back, holding one of his arms behind him and making him grunt in pain. “Let’s talk, shall we?”
“Never!” Roger squirmed. “She’ll kill me.”
“She...” Minerva repeated. She met Marcus’s gaze. “Did he just say she?”
“He did,” Marcus confirmed. “And I mean no offense, dear Min, but I don’t believe you are the cruel murderous woman he’s frightened of.”
Minerva bit her lip to hold back a laugh. “How can you still be teasing at a time like this?”
“What better time is there? Honestly, from my experience...” He trailed off to readjust his grip when Roger thrashed. “Taking life too seriously is what causes most of the distress in life. Take this one, for example.” He nodded toward Roger. “So serious.” He tsked like a nursemaid. “And look where that has led him.”
Minerva shook her head, torn between amusement and exasperation. “Now then,” she said, addressing Roger with crossed arms and a glare. “Perhaps it would be best if you start from the beginning.”
“And leave nothing out,” Marcus added.
Roger’s lips twisted and he spit on the ground, but as he was opening his mouth to speak, chaos broke out at the cave’s entrance.
“What is going on here?” Minerva’s father’s voice boomed into the cave, and behind him came a stream of officers.
Eddleston appeared beside her father and his gaze found Minerva’s. “I heard shouts. I thought—”
“Thank heavens you’re here!” Roger’s distressed voice had her whirling back and a second too late, she realized how this would look.
How Marcus would look.
Her father might have believed his story about being a privateer, but even so, that would do little to excuse the fact that he was currently sitting upon his right-hand man.
“Get him off of me,” Roger roared, and men under his command came running.
“No, stop!” Minerva’s voice was drowned out, and Abigail’s too. She turned to see Marcus being hauled off the knave on the floor. “Let him go! It’s Roger you should be after.”
But even as she shouted, Roger took advantage of the chaotic shouts and fighting as Marcus struggled and Caleb tried his best to avoid being detained, while also trying to shove Abigail behind him so she would not be hurt in the skirmish.
“Listen to me!” Minerva shouted.
“Min, are you hurt?” Her father’s brow was furrowed in concern as he plucked Abigail out from behind Caleb and came over to Minerva to eye her from head to toe for any obvious injuries.
“We are not hurt, but Roger—”
“What have these men done to Roger?” Her father’s concern for a man who was so undeserving made her want to spit. His gaze roamed, no doubt to find Roger and ask him what was happening.
“That’s just it, Father,” she said, shifting so she blocked his gaze and demanded his attention. “This was Roger’s doing.”
Her father scowled down at her. “What? What do you mean?”
“It’s true,” Abigail said. “Roger held me at knifepoint. He is the one behind the criminal activity—”
“What are you saying?” Her father’s roar was not meant for Abigail, but her sister clamped her mouth shut all the same.
“Father.” Minerva tugged on his arm to get his attention. “Have your men let Marcus and Caleb go. They saved our lives. It’s Roger you should be after.”
Her father blinked down at her once before bursting into motion, shouting for his men to find Roger, who’d disappeared in the hubbub, and ordering those who’d been holding Marcus and Caleb to release them.
“You,” he shouted to Marcus. “I expect an explanation for what was going on in here, including how you let my daughters get involved.”
“Father,” she started to protest. He ought to be thanking Marcus, not accusing him.
He cut her off with a glare that had Abigail reaching for her hand. “Come along, Minerva. Let us fetch help for Caleb.”
Minerva shot one look in Marcus’s direction, and caught his wink before her father spun around to face him.
Abigail tugged on her arm. “Come on, Min,” she said. “There will be time enough for goodbyes later.”
Minerva tore her gaze away from Marcus, but her heart was another matter. Her last glimpse of the man who’d stolen her heart was of him smiling, despite her father’s anger. Somehow, Marcus had managed to look unfazed, if not amused, by the entire ordeal.
She kept her gaze facing forward as Abigail went to one side of Caleb and she went to the other and together they helped him limp toward the shore where officers were still gathering. Sally ran forward, shouting that the doctor was on his way.
Until then, Caleb would be in good hands with her sisters.
There would be time enough for goodbyes, Abigail had said.
Minerva swallowed the ache that crept from her heart into her throat, but she resisted the urge to look back toward the cave where Marcus was giving a detailed account to her father.
Goodbyes weren’t what she wanted.
In fact, that would only make it harder. And with the threat that faced Marcus if he stayed and was recognized, she couldn’t even wish for him to stay.
He’d be gone just as soon as he was able.
And he’d take her heart with him.
Chapter 13
What a disaster.
Marcus stood before Caleb at the now nearly-empty main room of the fort. The remnants of the party that had ended abruptly were still around them, and to his dismay, those who’d remained were the guests of honor.
He’d barely given the old earl and his family and friends a second glance, so it was impossible to say if he recognized them. Or, more importantly, if they recognized him. Since no one had shouted out, ‘Stop! It’s the rightful Earl of Colefax!’ he assumed he was safe.
Even so, he was pushing his luck with each passing moment he stayed on these English shores.
Caleb groaned from where he was sprawled on the floor. The doctor and Minerva’s sister, Sally, who’d assisted in bandaging his leg, were both long gone now after giving Caleb orders to stay off his leg as much as possible in the coming days.
Minerva had also left after checking on Caleb’s welfare. She’d been gone when he’d arrived at the fort after having given the captain his side of the tale.
She was gone, and he suspected she wasn’t coming back. He thrust a hand through his hair as he fought a near suffocating sensation. Like the walls were closing in on him.
Funny. He’d grown used to battling that feeling anytime he was back on these shores. His homeland. But now, his claustrophobia had nothing to do with where he was.
He hadn’t felt trapped or closed in once since meeting Minerva. Everything about her, just thinking of her, made his chest expand and his world feel bigger. Fresher.
She made him feel like a new man.
Caleb eyed him from where he sat on the ground. “You should get out of here.”
Marcus nodded. Caleb might not have known the whole story, but he’d been told enough to know that Marcus avoided being in the same room as the peerage at all costs.
Now, he wasn’t only in the same room as an earl and his family—they were the only other people in the room. Probably out of some misguided notion that their presence was helpful. That the
ir influence might be useful.
Marcus scoffed at the thought. Earls and their like had their uses, his brother Alistair was proof of that, but on the whole, they took themselves and their titles far too seriously.
No title would summon Roger out of whatever hole he was currently hiding in, and their standing around in the aftermaths of a ball was hardly helpful.
He imagined most of the townsfolk had long since gone back to their homes now that the excitement of the day was done. The officers, he knew, were scouring the shoreline for any sign of Roger or the bandits he’d been working for.
Marcus knew quite well that no matter who they caught tonight, he was no closer to apprehending whoever it was behind the far more dangerous pirate ring that had banded together under one ringleader.
At best, the pirate leaders were unaware of how close their smuggling ally at these docks had come to being captured and Marcus was no closer to finding them.
At worst, they’d recovered Roger themselves to ensure he couldn't speak, and were now well aware that Marcus was in pursuit.
In short, they were back where they had started, with no new leads on who was behind the ring of thieves or how they’d gotten a high-ranking officer like Roger to do their dirty work on shore.
Whoever was behind this operation certainly had sway. Either this person evoked love or fear from her allies...or both. The best leaders Marcus had ever seen understood how to wield both.
“What are you still doing here?” Caleb groused. It was no doubt his leg making him sound even surlier than usual. “Like I told that foolish girl before, I don’t need anyone fussing over me.” He arched a brow as he looked up at Marcus. “Certainly not you.”
“Mmm.” Marcus tried not to let his amusement show. “You certainly made that clear to Abigail.”
Not that it had done any good. As his oversized shipmate had cursed and growled after the doctoring was done, Abigail had dutifully coddled him, ignoring his protests as though he were an insolent child.
It had been quite entertaining to watch, on Marcus’s part.
Caleb had not been amused.
But it was Abigail’s sister who was on his mind now. And how, exactly, he could keep Minerva in his life without risking Alistair and Henri’s happiness.
“Why are you still here?” Caleb grumbled again.
Marcus exhaled loudly. “I thought perhaps you might need a hand getting back to the ship. Or are you too proud to admit you might need some assistance?”
Caleb glowered at him as he struggled to his feet, ignoring Marcus’s outstretched helping hand. “That’s not what I meant.” He gave Marcus a meaningful look when he was on his two feet, though leaning heavily to his left. “I meant, why are you here?”
Marcus frowned as Caleb nodded toward the doors. “You should be back out to sea by now—”
“What, and leave you behind?” he started with a laugh.
“Yes.” Caleb’s seriousness had Marcus’s grin fading fast.
Marcus had always had a knack for finding things to laugh about in life, but he’d never been a fan of hiding behind humor. Not when his heart was aching and his closest, oldest friend was staring at him like...well, like he knew it.
“What are you saying?” Marcus asked.
Caleb sighed and scrubbed a hand over the scruff on his jaw. Caleb never had been good with words.
Or goodbyes.
And Marcus had a hunch that’s what this was.
“I’m not going with you,” Caleb said. “And I think you know why.”
Marcus took a deep breath and nodded. “Our run is over, eh? Never thought I’d see the day.”
Caleb’s mouth hitched up on one side in a rare grin. “Nor did I. Never thought we’d make it out alive, to be honest.”
Marcus nodded, bittersweet emotions choking him. “But it’s time.”
Caleb dipped his chin. “It is. There’ll always be another villain to chase, more justice to pursue, and wrongs to set right. At some point, you’ll have to make your peace with that and start anew.”
Marcus looked away from his friend. Up until very recently he’d had no idea what his next step would entail. He’d had no clue how to live a life that didn’t involve danger and adventure at every turn. Up until two days ago, he’d been unable to look into the future and see anything but fog.
But Minerva had changed all that. When he looked at her, he saw a future.
“We both have to figure out what we’re doing next...” Caleb glanced behind him to the place where the nobility still gathered. “But you can’t do that here.”
Marcus huffed. “I’m not going to just leave you behind.”
“I want you to.” Caleb’s expression grew hard. Shuttered. “I don’t know where I’ll head next, but it’s time we go our own ways.”
Marcus nodded. He supposed there was no reason Caleb couldn’t be caught on English soil, and there was no rush for him to leave, especially while he was still healing.
Caleb nodded as if he could hear his thoughts.
Maybe he could. After years of working side by side, they had a connection that few shared. He gave a weary sigh as a whole new sadness hit him with full force. “I don’t know what to do next.”
He just knew who he wanted at his side when he did it.
“You always talked about settling in America,” Caleb offered. “Find a place near the sea. There are people there who could use your help, too, you know.”
He nodded. He knew what Caleb meant. He’d long talked about settling there, finding a way to help the abolitionist movement there where no one knew him. Where he could start over. The real problem was, with whom?
“It’s time you gather up the rest of the crew and get out of here. Begin your new life.” Caleb once again knew exactly what he was thinking. He smirked as he glanced toward the door. “Unless I’m not the one you’re sticking around here for.”
Marcus gave a short laugh that ended with a sigh. “Am I a hopeless romantic if I stay?”
“It goes without saying that you’re a hopeless romantic,” Caleb said. “Though this is the first time I’ve ever seen you in love, it doesn’t surprise me one bit that you’d go and lose your senses.”
Marcus laughed at his friend’s aggravated tone. In love. He supposed that was what this was.
Caleb shifted and dropped his voice. “But you’re a fool if you risk your life any more than you already have just because you’re sweet on a girl.”
Marcus sighed as he turned toward the door, wrapping an arm around his friend so he didn’t have an option but to accept his help as they limped away from the noblemen and the danger they presented. “But that’s just the thing, Caleb. I’m not just sweet on this girl.”
“I know,” Caleb said with a grunt.
“I love her.”
Caleb made a sound of disgust that Marcus ignored.
“She’s my future,” he added for good measure.
Caleb sighed wearily. “Then you’d be better off kidnapping her.”
Marcus chuckled. “Somehow I don’t believe kidnapping would be the start of a blissful marriage.”
Caleb made another grunting noise that no one but Marcus would recognize as a laugh. “Maybe not, but what other option do you have?”
“I’ll wait,” Marcus said with finality. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Caleb’s groan said it all. Probably best he did not put it into words. What he said with that groan was hardly flattering toward Marcus.
“And what about you?” Marcus asked. “Where will you go after you recover?”
“I have no idea,” Caleb said as they reached the cold night air. “But I can promise that my future won’t be swayed by a lady.”
“Spoken like a man who’s never been in love,” Marcus said.
“Spoken like a man who values his wits,” Caleb shot back.
Marcus laughed. “We’ll agree to disagree, shall we?” It was how he’d ended most conversations about family and marriage
when talking to the solitary sailor.
Caleb growled his agreement.
Marcus cast his friend a sidelong glance, his heart heavy for all they’d be leaving behind when they parted ways. Alistair might have been his brother by blood, but Caleb had been as close as one for nigh on a decade.
“What are you looking at me like that for?” Caleb asked.
Marcus grinned. “Just thinking how you’ll have a change of heart one day and it’ll be a shame if I’m not there to see it.”
“Change of heart?” Caleb scowled over at him.
“Mmm. Love, my good man. It has a knack for turning your world on its head.”
Caleb’s laugh was mocking. “Only if you’re fool enough to fall.”
Chapter 14
Minerva was the veriest fool.
Not quite so much of a fool as Roger, perhaps, but a fool, nonetheless.
“I cannot believe how foolish you were,” her father said for the twentieth time.
Not that she was counting.
“But everyone is all right now, Father,” Abigail said. For the sixteenth time.
“Thank heavens neither of you came to any harm,” her father said as he paced before them in the drawing room.
Despite the late hour, not one member of the Jones family had retired. Minerva suspected they were all far too alert thanks to the excitement earlier in the evening.
Their father whipped around and pointed a finger in her direction. “You should have told me what you were up to.”
She squinted up at him, her eyes so tired that it hurt to keep them open. “Why would I do that? You would have told me to stay away from the merest hint of danger, and Marcus needed my help.”
“Marcus?” her father snapped. “Are you that intimate with the privateer?”
She opened her mouth and closed it. The more exhausted she grew, the less control she had over her words. It was probably best to keep it shut.
“Why would you go along with such a ludicrous plan?”
“It worked, did it not?” The words slipped out before she could stop them. “We now know that Roger was the point of contact for the thieves and perhaps, if he is found, we will find out more.”
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