by Bobbi Smith
"Right now, we're going to plan how to get Serad out of that prison. Once he's safe, we'll solve your dilemma, and when we do it, we'll make certain that as few people as possible are hurt."
David gave her hand a squeeze and managed a smile. "I believe you, Tori."
"What can we do about Serad?"
"I've heard that money is the key to opening the doors of that prison," David offered.
"That's true, Jonesey and I managed to see him last night."
"You what?"
Tori gave him a proud look. "I found out late last night that he was there, and I had to make sure he was all right."
"The two of you went to the prison unescorted?"
"Tess would do it for you if it meant saving your life, wouldn't she?"
"Yes, she would." He paused, considering that Tess very well might have to do just that when the truth of his real identity came out. "How much did you pay for the visit?"
Tori told him, and he nodded thoughtfully.
"I know how much I'd better get then. When do you want to go?"
"I wish we could go this minute, but we'll have to wait until tonight. We are supposed to be going to a ball tonight, aren't we?"
"Yes."
"Then come for me as you normally would, and then we'll go on to the prison instead."
"I'll be here."
"Thank you. He'll need a change of clothing, too. Do you have something he could use?"
"How tall is he?"
"He's about your size really."
"I'll bring something. Where do you want to take him once he's free?"
"There's an empty room over our carriage house that no one ever uses. He would be safe there for at least one night," Tori replied. "Then I'll have to find a way to get him out of the country. First I just want to get him out of that prison."
David admired her courage. "You're a very brave woman."
She kissed him lightly on the cheek again. "And you're a wonderful man, David. You'll never know how much your help means to me."
"I know, Tori. Believe me, I know. I just confided my most terrible secret in you and you didn't judge me."
"We all do things we regret. You and I are both getting the chance to make things right. Everything will work out for us, you'll see."
"I hope you're right, Tori."
"I am." Even as she said the words, though, Tori was praying fervently for them to be true.
Tori thought evening would never come, but at long last, darkness claimed the land and Alexander, now David, arrived to claim her for their outing. She had told Jonesey what they were planning, and the older woman was nervous about it, but agreed to say nothing and pray that all went well. Tori bid her grandfather a fond good night where he sat in his study, then grabbed up her cloak and left the house with only one thing on her mind—saving Serad.
David helped her into the carriage, then gave the driver orders where to take them. If the driver was shocked, he showed no sign of it. He drove straight for the prison and stopped by the main entrance.
"Pull down to the shadows and stay there until you see us come out," David directed.
"Yes, sir."
David waited until he'd driven away, and then took Tori's arm. She had taken care to put the hood up to disguise herself.
George stared at the couple coming toward him and immediately recognized the woman as the one who'd been there the night before. He smiled. The purse she'd given him last night had been a rich one, and he was looking forward to getting more money from her now.
"Evenin', guvnor', ma'am," he said, smiling at them both.
David nodded in response. "I've come to see about the pirate captain."
"What about him?"
"I want him out."
George gave him a measured look. He looked to be a very rich bloke, and George intended to get every farthing out of him that he could. "It'll cost you."
"How much?" David hated dealing with this despicable man, but he knew it was the only way.
George named an outrageous sum, and David immediately put that amount of money before him.
"I want Serad out now."
"Don't worry, you'll get your man," George replied, pocketing the huge sum. He called out to another guard. When Sam appeared, he directed him to get the pirate captain from his cell.
Sam nodded and hurried off. He knew something was afoot, and if he cooperated, he'd be handsomely paid by George for his effort.
"I'm going with you," Tori spoke up.
"Now, wait—" George started to protest.
David cut him off. "The woman goes or there is no deal."
He waved Sam and the mysterious female on to get the prisoner.
"There's one other thing . . ." David said when they had disappeared down the corridor.
"What's that?" the guard asked suspiciously.
"I want to make sure that no one knows Serad is gone. It wouldn't do for the authorities to come after us in a few hours, now would it?"
George nodded at the other man's shrewdness. "I think I know just how to do that, but it'll cost you extra."
The man's greed was undeniable, but David knew there was no other way. If the authorities found out that Serad had gotten out of prison, there would be a hunt for him. and God knew what would happen to Tori if they were found. He had to make sure they were safe. "How much extra?"
While David finished up the dealings with George, Tori was following the other man through the maze of filthy halls and down the cold stone steps to the corridor that led to Serad's cell. Tori was so nervous and excited that she was shaking. She was terrified that something was going to go wrong and their plan to get him out would fail. The next few minutes were the most critical, she knew. They stopped before the locked door, and she stood by as the guard opened it.
''Serad!" She hurried inside to find him much as he had been the night before.
"Tori?" After she'd left him the night before, Serad hadn't known what to expect—freedom or death. It had been a miserable twenty-four hours, and he was hard put to control the excitement he was feeling over her return. He got to his feet as quickly as he could.
"I've come to get you out. Guard! Hurry up! Get those manacles off him now!" she ordered angrily, standing aside so he could free him.
When Sam unfastened the chains, Tori rushed into his arms.
"Ah . . . Tori . . ." He kissed her again, not caring that the guard was standing there. All that mattered was that she was there with him and he was free.
"Come. We have to get you out of here now!" Tori said huskily when they broke apart, very aware of the guard's avid gaze on them.
Serad and Tori followed Sam from the damp dungeon. Tori kept glancing up at him to make sure he was actually there and safe. Serad was completely aware of Tori at his side, but he kept his attention on the guard. He didn't trust anyone in the prison and he knew he wouldn't relax again until they were far away.
When Tori saw that David wasn't waiting for her at the main entrance, she hurried Serad on outside to find him already there with the carriage waiting for them.
"Get in, Tori," David directed from where he was sitting with the driver.
"You don't want to sit here with us?"
"I think you could use some privacy," he told her with an understanding smile. His gaze moved to the tall, dark-haired man standing by her side, and he studied him for a moment in the dark shadows of the night.
"Thank you, Alexander," she said using that name for authenticity in the presence of the driver. Then, she and Serad climbed into the carriage, and when the order was given, it moved off quickly.
As the three of them made their escape from the prison, George looked over at Sam and smiled widely. "We've made a fine living for ourselves tonight."
"We did?"
"That we did. We've only got one thing left to do, and then I'll pay you your share."
"What's that?"
George went on to explain how they would place the body of the prisoner who ha
d 'accidentally' died earlier that day in the cell that had been the pirate's. He instructed Sam that if anyone else were to ask about the pirate, they were to say he'd tried to escape and had been killed. Sam agreed to his plan without a thought, and when the work was done, he collected a goodly sum from his cohort.
Inside the warm haven of the Wakefield carriage as it rumbled off down the street away from the prison, Serad donned the change of clothing Tori gave him, then sat back rigid and silent in the seat. He was free . . . he was free . . . he was free . . . The words rang through him like a litany. Only when the vehicle made a turn and entered a busier thoroughfare to blend with the traffic did he breathe a sigh of relief and turn to Tori.
Tori was still nervous, too, as they made their escape, and she found she was holding her breath as the carriage moved away from the prison. When Serad looked at her, she managed her first real smile.
"You're safe . . ." she breathed, and she went into his arms without another word.
Serad clasped her to him as his mouth met hers in a flaming exchange. Wrapped in each other's arms, they shared the embrace both had dreamed of for weeks. When the kiss ended, they drew apart to gaze at each other.
"I love you, Serad," Tori said softly.
"Tori . . . are you sure?"
"Oh, yes."
"But what about your life here?" he asked, needing to know the truth of her feelings for him while she still believed him to be a pirate.
"It isn't important. Nothing is, except the fact that I love you and you're free." She lifted starry eyes to his, her expression revealing without further words the depth of her devotion.
"Tori . . ." He bent and kissed her softly. "I love you, too," he admitted.
"You do?" Her heart swelled near to bursting with happiness.
"I was on my way to find you and tell you when the Scimitar was taken."
"How could anyone have caught you?"
"We'd sustained some damage fighting my father's enemy, and I foolishly sailed to find you before the repairs were made." He paused thinking of how his impetuous actions had caused so much horror. "It was the one decision I'd ever made without fully thinking through my actions. I may have lost my ship, but I haven't lost you." He paused to look at her, knowing the price had been worth it, but also knowing that he wouldn't rest until he'd found a way to save his crew . . . and until he put an end to the impostor masquerading in his place.
"I'm so glad you're safe," she was saying as she clung to him. "I love you so much. I should never have left . . ."
Serad wanted to relish the moment, but the memory of her fiancé and his deception wouldn't let him. He had to expose him for the liar that he was, and he had to do it now.
"What about your fiancé?" he asked with more than a little wariness.
"Alexander's been wonderful. We owe all this to him. He helped me with . . ."
Serad glanced out the window and saw that they were now on a quieter, nearly deserted street. He knew it was time for some questions to be answered.
"Tell the driver to pull the carriage in over there, where it's dark."
There was a fierceness in his tone that she had never heard before, and it puzzled her. "But . . ."
"I want to talk to your fiancé."
Tori rapped on the roof and asked the driver to stop where Serad had indicated.
"I don't understand. Can't this wait?"
Serad ignored her protest. The moment the carriage stopped, he alighted from it.
"What's wrong?" David asked as he started to jump down to see if he could help.
"That's what I'd like to know," he seethed, grabbing him by the shirtfront and dragging him the rest of the way down and slamming him up against the side of the carriage.
David had no idea why Serad was acting this way. He was tempted to fight back over his rough handling, but for Tori's sake he remained calm in spite of the pirate's threatening gestures.
"Don't! Serad, stop! What are you doing?" Tori demanded as she jumped down from the carriage and raced to where the men stood.
"Just who are you and why are you masquerading as Alexander Wakefield?" Serad snarled as he held David pinioned before him.
"What?" Tori and David both were shocked by Serad's outburst. They couldn't imagine how he'd learned about the deception.
"I said, who are you?" he asked, giving David a violent shake.
"Serad, what are you doing?" Tori grabbed his arm in an attempt to make him stop.
"This man is not Alexander Wakefield," he announced angrily.
"What are you talking about? How could you know that?" Tori begged him to tell her.
"He's not, because I am."
"You're Alexander?" Tori stared at him in bewilderment.
"Dear God!" David muttered in a shaken voice as he stared up at the dark-haired, gray-eyed man who loomed over him. He looked at Tori standing there in shock by Serad's side and suddenly realized the truth.
"My Aunt Catherine . . ." Serad, now Alex, said Catherine's English name slowly, testing it upon his lips, "and I were kidnapped by my father, Avery Wakefield, in order to get money out of my grandfather. He was going to sell me and my aunt into slavery in France. Our ship was taken by Barbary pirates, and I was raised in Algiers as the son of the dey."
Tori listened in horror to his tale. "Your father's dead . . . missing for over twenty years now," she offered softly.
"Good. I hope the swine died a miserable death," Alex said with murderous intent.
"Oh, Serad . . . I mean Alexander," Tori knelt beside him to look him in the eyes. "Let David up."
"David?" He frowned as he looked at her, wondering suddenly if she'd played a part in the betrayal.
"Tori, tell him everything . . ." David spoke up.
Alex released him and stood up, still ready for an attack if one should come. There was none, though. There was only pain and sorrow as Tori revealed to him his mother's vicious blackmailing of David and her plan to control his grandfather's money.
"Then I think it's time I paid my mother a visit." He spat her name. "Where is she?" He glanced from David to Tori.
David told him the address, then said, "We'll go with you. I think it's time all the truth came out."
David and Alex shared a long, measuring look. Then Alex nodded his agreement.
"Let's go."
Tori had been watching both men and waiting to see what would happen. The peace they declared filled her with joy, and without the slightest hesitation, she went to Alex. Their eyes met and locked.
"I love you, Tori," Alex said gently.
"And I love you . . ."
"Alex," he supplied with a heartrending smile.
"Alex," she repeated.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The carriage had stopped and the driver was waiting to help her descend, but Catherine could not bring herself to climb down just yet.
"Catherine . . . what is it?" Almira asked as she sat close beside her within the dark interior of the vehicle. At Catherine's insistence, she had begun calling her by her English name during their voyage, and it now came easily to her.
"Oh, Almira . . ." she said in a voice choked with emotion. "I'm home. I'm actually home."
Catherine stared up at the Wakefield townhouse, its windows alight in seeming welcome even at this late gloomy hour. She was overwhelmed with memories. Her father was here . . . Tears fell, but she hardly noticed. She was torn between the ache of having missed her home and family and the thrill of being back. The house looked the same. It was almost as if nothing had changed. But Catherine knew that was a fantasy. Though in the night things might appear as they had twenty years ago; in truth, everything had changed, herself included.
Thoughts of Alex's peril drove her on, and she took the driver's hand to allow him to assist her. Wrapped in the folds of the dark, voluminous cloak the ship's captain had given her, she stood there on the walk for a moment longer, gazing at the front door and preparing herself for what the next few minutes would
bring.
"Are you ready?" Almira asked, as she joined her. She, too, had been given a cloak by the captain, for their mode of dress had not been suitable for this damp, chilly London night.
"Yes . . . yes, oh, yes."
Dalton heard the knock at the door and was puzzled by who it could be. It was rather late for social callers. He hoped there wasn't any kind of trouble about tonight.
"Yes?" Dalton said with regal dignity as he opened the portal to find two women standing on the doorstep. "May I help you?"
Catherine gazed up at the family butler with open adoration. He had changed so much . . . and yet so little. When she spoke, his name was a tearful cry, "Hello, Dalton . . ."
"Lady Catherine?"
When Catherine saw the light of recognition in his eyes, she could not restrain herself. She threw her arms around him and hugged him as great sobs wracked her. She had never forgotten all his tender caring and gentle kindness, and she had missed him terribly!
For a second, Dalton hadn't recognized her, but her voice . . . oh, her voice hadn't changed. "Good heavens! It is you!" He returned her embrace with open enthusiasm, a rare thing, indeed, for a man so proper. Then realizing he had yet to inform her father of her return, he called excitedly, "Your Grace!"
The old servant didn't bother to try to control the happiness surging through him even as the duke came rushing into the hallway. He hugged her tightly just as if she were his own daughter come home. He had adored her, and losing her had been almost as hard on him as it had on Edward.
Edward had been upstairs preparing to retire for the night when he'd heard the servant's call. He came to the top of the steps and was slightly irritated at having been called back. At the scene below, though, he went completely still. "Catherine . . ." He said her name in a whisper of disbelief. Catherine . . . could it really be his Catherine come home?
Catherine pushed slightly away from Dalton to gaze up at her father. "Oh, Father . . ." she was crying in earnest now as she ran toward him, her arms outstretched.
Edward started down the stairs as Catherine started up them. They met halfway, enfolding each other in a welcoming embrace. Edward's reunion with Alexander had been tempered with caution because of the doubts about his identity, but there could be no doubts about this. This was his Catherine. This was his precious daughter. His love. His life. By the grace of God, she'd come home to him.