by Dayna Quince
He'd have to spend months at sea before he achieved that kind of swaggering stride. Perhaps he ought not to make land anywhere and become a deck hand for Capt. Marlowe. The idea was appealing.
His mind filled with daring images of a piratical life, wanton women, swords clashing, but the fantasy quickly unraveled. Nothing more than a brief dream as the truth smothered his fanciful imagination.
“Good evening, Lord Densmore, Mr. Denham,” Captain Marlow said. “I’m delighted to be doing business with you. How can I be of service?”
“Good evening, Captain. We need to leave England, preferably without being on any ship’s registry as passengers,” Callen replied. “Is that possible?”
“Anything's possible,” Captain Marlowe answered with a confident cock to his head. “When one commands the sea, one commands their own fate.” He raised a brow and half smiled. “But if it’s a matter of treason, there is extra risk and that means extra cost.”
His brother stiffened.
Theo only grinned, seeing something of himself in Captain Marlowe. No doubt it was familiar wickedness and a sense of humor staring back at him.
“Nothing so damning as treason,” Theo said. “We are good Englishmen through and through, but I managed to shoot a relative of a judge, and if he dies, then so shall I.”
“Ah, avoiding persecution,” the captain nodded in understanding. “You will be in good company abroad, and I think you'll find that a man can make his home anywhere, even a noble son. Once you cut ties with your home country, the world becomes a lot bigger and far more interesting.”
It was tempting to believe him. The idea that there was an adventure to find seemed tantalizing. Less judgment, perhaps a bit of happiness for himself, or at least contentment. But the idea of leaving his home country, everything he knew, didn't sit right in his gut. He already missed the familiar cooking of their London chef. What would he do abroad when he didn't know the language being spoken around him?
“Where are we going?” he asked abruptly.
“Wherever you'd like,” Captain Marlowe answered. “There's the usual places, France, Belgium, but if it's anonymity you want, something more exotic is recommended. Morocco, perhaps India, Egypt. Even those places still have a very large English presence. Your king certainly likes to put his hand in every cookie jar. If you truly want to get away from the law, you have to go to lawless lands where there is enough sun, sea, booze, and women to make you forget who you were before.”
Theo’s stomach knotted. If he were drunk, that might sound tempting. If he were sitting at a card table deep in his cups, a dancer of the Fairy Circle lounged on his lap, that might sound like the answer to his prayers, but so much had happened since then. He’d shot a man. His brother had been shot. And it seemed as though his luck had run out.
“Why don't we start with Europe,” Callen said, and Theo now understood why he wanted his brother to go with him. A brother that could barely stand the sight of him. Callen had the even keel logic that Theo lacked.
He couldn't believe that Callen was part of this plan. It was Callen who orchestrated all of this, even with the wound in his side.
Theo had planned to shoot over Kirby's head, as a gentleman ought to do, but what if Kirby hadn’t intended to do the same? If Callen had not stepped in between them, it might be Theo with a bullet hole in his side or maybe even dead.
“When do you wish to leave?” the captain asked.
“We’re attending a party here, and it would look suspicious if we left before the end of it. Can you stay in port for a fortnight?”
“Certainly, if you pay for my time.”
“We will,” Callen replied. “When we hear news of Sir Kirby, we will inform you when we will need to leave. If we have to leave at all.”
“They will only persecute me if the lad dies,” Theo said, “If he lives, well, then it was just another poorly executed duel.”
Captain Marlowe chuckled. “Interesting, very well.”
Callen withdrew a pouch of money from his cloak and handed it to Captain Marlowe. “The first deposit. You'll receive the remainder when we board.”
Capt. Marlowe took the pouch and nodded. “As you wish. We’ll anchor in the harbor, and I’ll give my men some leave time. Will that suffice?”
“Yes,” Theo said.
“Good, then I believe we’re done here.” The men turned and Theo heard the clatter of a rock falling. He squinted at the dark bank of boulders that bordered the beach and a fist-sized stone rolled onto the sand. He shared a look with his brother, and they bolted to the shadows of the boulders near the path they'd use to reach the beach. They didn't expect anyone to be out here, and they certainly didn't want anyone to have seen them.
“Do you think it’s a person or an animal?” Callen whispered.
“We won’t know unless we look.”
They crept up the path, careful to keep to the shadows. Theo paused as they passed a small crevice between two boulders. He thought he heard someone breathing. He jerked his head to the crevasse to warn his brother. Callen nodded toward the head of the path, and they moved up. They found a spot where they could watch the path and be concealed.
They didn't have to wait long before a small cloaked form crawled out from the crevice and scurried up the path.
Theo reached out and grabbed the person, spinning and pressing them against the rock. The slight weight of the person astonished Theo as he held his forearm against their collar bone. As the hood fell back, the last thing he expected to see was a Marsden daughter staring back at him. He bit back a curse.
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Contact Dayna at daynaquince.com
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Also by Dayna Quince
The Fated for Love Series: Four Books
Mine, All Mine
Sweet Torture
Storm on the Horizon
To Love, Honor, and Obey
Desperate and Daring Series: Ten Books
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Just One Kiss
Anything But Innocent
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About the Author
Dayna was only fourteen when she developed a serious addiction to romance novels. What began as an innocent desire to read became an all-out obsession with the romance genre. She gave book reports on romance novels, got in trouble for reading during lectures, and would rather spend her time reading than attending high school parties. After all, high school boys could not compete with the likes of Stephanie Laurens Devil Cynster. After getting her first job, her addiction only got worse. She now had her own money to spend and a car to get to Barnes and Noble as frequently as she wanted. She managed to maintain a somewhat normal life, marrying her high school boyfriend who was aware he was competing with fictional men for her attention. Dayna soon began writing her own romance novels, inspired by her love for all things romance. Dayna and her family live in Southern California with their two children and three fur babies. Dayna is happiest at home where she can be with her family and write to her hearts content.
daynaquince.com
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erland Nine Series Book 6)