They flung her baggage into the cabin, scraping it loudly against the doorway as they lumbered through.
With a gasp, Tori hurried over to inspect the damage marring her fine Moroccan leather. From the corner of her eye she spotted the short, round ruffian edge over to shut the door, while the thin one inched his way behind her.
They were obviously up to no good.
Hoping to buy herself some time to get back to the door, she tried to engage in trivial conversation. “You must be more careful. I shall have to speak to Captain—” The man at her back shoved her hard to the floor.
A wicked-looking dagger was aimed at her chest. Tori let loose a bloodcurdling scream and rolled from under the fiend.
The knife descended striking a plank in the floor.
Too afraid to consider the consequences, she lunged for the door but was caught from behind.
The man dragged her back with both arms, keeping her in front of him so that she couldn’t see his face. “Bar the door,” he yelled, grabbing for the knife.
With a glimmer of defiance, Tori aimed her elbow hard into his ribs. As her arm met with his slight, boney frame, she realized he couldn’t be much older than fifteen.
He caught her with a rough shake. Cold steel nicked her chin.
“You’ve a might feisty one there.” From her awkward position, Tori could see the round villain across the room where he licked his lips nervously. His bulging eyes darted uncertainly from his partner to the door. The man resembled a greasy gargoyle, like the one looming above the entrance of St. Mary’s Church in Adderbury.
Emboldened by the fact that the one holding her was merely a boy, she issued a deliberate shove, pushing hard to gain her release and earning a solid slap across her face.
A loud crack splintered the doorjamb, squashing the stubby man behind the heavy door.
Tori pulled away from her attacker, scrambling up onto the far side of the bunk.
Nicholas was across the room in an instant. With a swift hand, he sent the knife clattering against the wall. The intruder froze before an ear-piercing shot rang through the cabin. A look of pain flickered across Nicholas’s profile as he grabbed his shoulder.
Covering her mouth, Tori dared not scream again. She needed to keep her wits. Grabbing a cotton sheet from the bunk, she made her way to where Nicholas stood between the assailants.
The squatty one turned the point of the small derringer toward her. A thin tendril of smoke curled from the barrel. “I got one shot left, so you best stay put, little lassie. I’ll not be wantin’ to lay a hole in your bonny little noggin.” His tongue slathered freakishly over his thick lips and he appeared muddled.
“Victoria, stay back.” Nicholas’s eyes narrowed as he watched the anxious gunman.
Tori was frantic. Nicholas had been shot. Still, he all but dared this villain to try it again. Briefly closing her eyes, she bid herself to calm down. She could scarcely take in a breath against the fear gripping her throat.
“Get yourself over by the lass, Cap’n.” The thug motioned with the gun to where Tori knelt.
Nicholas didn’t move. Had he not been wounded, he could easily overpower the man. Injured or not, it appeared he considered doing it anyway.
“Now, don’t you be doin’ anything stupid. I’ll send her lov’liness to kingdom come. Don’t think I won’t.” The gargoyle man cocked his gun and aimed it directly at Tori. She smothered a gasp and held tightly to her cross.
To ensure Victoria’s safety, Nicholas gritted his teeth and grudgingly complied, moving to shield her with his body. “What is it you want here?”
“I’ll just be collectin’ my friend here, and we’ll be on our way.” The short man inched over to where the other attacker crouched on the floor.
His mistake was in turning his back to her.
With a surge of strength she didn’t know she possessed, Tori clobbered him with a well-worn pillow, sending a flurry of small white feathers raining down upon them.
Without pause, Nicholas took one step forward and twisted the gun from the ugly man’s grasp. “The only place you’ll be going is straight to the brig unless I get some answers.”
The man’s bulging eyes grew even wider.
“Zach!” Nicholas stepped to the splintered doorway and bellowed above deck. “Get down here and send for the dockmaster.”
“I don’t know nothin’, I tell ya. Just an easy sixpence. It don’t do well askin’ too many questions, ya know.” The short man stumbled over his own feet trying to get to the door.
Two brawny sailors appeared, and Nicholas motioned for them to take the invaders topside.
When the taller one paused to glare at Tori, she moved further behind the broad shoulders of Nicholas to block any possibility of him getting to her. The kid’s collar was still raised to cover his face as he was prodded out the door.
“Amos, see that they get to the dockmaster.” Nicholas started to follow but stopped when he noticed Tori.
“Princess?” His voice softened. “Are you hurt?”
His offhanded endearment gained her attention. Shaking her head, she still said nothing.
“Victoria, look at me.” He clasped her hand and gave it a pat.
The enormity of what had almost happened rendered her motionless. Never in her life had she experienced anything so brutal and she needed a moment to regain her voice—and nerve.
Nicholas smoothed away the wayward curls over her brow to inspect her face. “You are hurt.”
Touching the forgotten spot on her chin, she felt the sting of a fresh cut.
“It’s merely a scratch. But your shoulder needs attention.” Tori carefully laid a hand on his arm, searching his dark eyes for permission to have a closer look at his wound.
Permission was neither granted nor denied.
Since he wasn’t inclined to move away, she took the opportunity to try and staunch the blood flow staining his shirt. “You were very brave.” She spoke soothingly, to divert his attention from her touch, like she did when tending to one of the younger students at school.
Nicholas watched her with an unreadable expression.
Taking up the sheet, she dabbed at the wound until she could see that there was no bullet lodged inside.
Apprehension began a slow crawl up her spine as she realized how close the bullet had come to finding his heart. Her hand suddenly stilled. “Captain, you could have been murdered.”
“My murder wasn’t in their plan.” Nicholas frowned as he looked over at the shattered door frame. “Odd that your traveling bag was left untouched. I’m guessing robbery wasn’t their intent. And I doubt they came looking for female company. The docks are crawling with eager ones.”
Tori blushed at his bluntness and continued to press the sheet to his shoulder to avoid looking up at him.
A shout sounded from the upper deck. “Nicholas, you’d best come up!”
With an impatient side-step, he brushed off her assistance. “It seems, we were both fortunate—this time.”
As Nicholas entered the passageway, he spoke to the crewmen still milling about outside the door. “Send Hobbs down to stay with Miss Haverwood. The rest of you get back to your duties.”
“Aye, sir,” came the replies.
“Captain?” Tori straightened her gown and patted a stray curl back into her chignon. In all fairness, she needed to set him straight before this went any further. “I am not really a princess, you know.”
“I beg your pardon.” Nicholas grinned from the doorway and tipped his head. “Maybe this knocked some pretentious air out of your pretty little sails.”
“I am a merely a lady of the elite class,” she announced, clasping her hands in front of her. “My father is an earl, you see.”
He shook his head before disappearing from view.
The upper deck was in a whirl of activity. A crowd of sailors gathered near the stern railings. Everyone was wildly discussing and gesturing at the same time.
“Who is the
dupe?”
“Ain’t never seen him before.”
Nicholas pushed through the horde to stand directly over the plump corpse of the freakish man who’d shot him.
Zach stood directly across from him.
“One of your men?” Nicholas addressed his brother.
“No.” Zach was quick to respond. “Apparently a freebooter. Ever seen him before?”
“Just long enough to sample his poor hand.” Nicholas indicated to where his white shirt was torn and bloody. “There were two of them. Where’s the other one?”
Zach turned to the burly bondsman at his side. “What happened, Amos?”
“We heard screamin’ from down below, and wasn’t long before a shot rang out.” Nods of agreement spurred him on. “So me and Simon and Hobbs went down. Cap’n told us to bring this one here up to the magistrate. I latched on to the other fella but when I got him up on deck, he pulled a knife and run his partner clean through. Killed him dead. Then he took off lightning fast down that ramp and ain’t nobody could stop him.”
“All right. Get him off of the ship.” As Zach barked orders the crew scattered. “Rawlings, go inform the dockmaster. He can inform the magistrate. You others get this mess cleaned up.”
Nicholas moved to the rail and scanned the harbor for any sign of the intruder. These two were likely no more than insignificant lackeys. If he could follow the one who got away back to his source, he’d find the real culprit.
“I’ll get Tibbs up here to bind that for you. Did you get a good look at the other one?” Zach skimmed the area as well.
“No. But they weren’t freebooters.”
Zach frowned. “What then?”
“They were in Victoria’s quarters passing off as a couple of your men.” Nicholas’s jaw tensed. “They had her at knifepoint, Zach, before I interrupted. And I’d wager I was just in time.” He turned a hard focus on his brother. “How did they get on this ship?”
“I wasn’t here. I was with McGinnis, remember?”
“You are responsible, Zach!” Nicholas raised his voice and all activity on deck stopped. “Everyone on this vessel is your responsibility. Make it your business to know every move that’s made on this ship or be prepared to swab the deck.” He pushed off from the rail and took long strides toward the ramp.
Zach rushed to catch up with him. “I’m going with you.”
“You’re needed here. Have Amos install a new bolt on Victoria’s door. And check the earl’s door, too. I want guards posted at all times. No point in taking any more chances until the other one is caught.”
“Was Lady Victoria hurt?” Zach’s question resonated with shame.
A fitting response considering the enormity of what just happened. Though Zach was fully capable of handling his own ship, he needed to feel the weight of his responsibility. Had Victoria been truly hurt, the consequences would likely crush even a seasoned commander.
“Not badly, but she was definitely shaken up.” Nicholas took a piece of cloth offered by the boatswain and wrapped it around the wound, briskly tugging it into a knot.
“I never considered the possibility that the earl or his daughter might be threatened aboard this ship.” Zach’s shoulders sagged, the sincerity of his words was unmistakable. “We’ve known this crew for a good many years. Both of us have. There isn’t one of them that would hesitate to protect the girl. With their life if need be.”
“I don’t know who they were, or how they got on here, but they weren’t out to rob or put a scare into her. That skinny one, especially, was out for murder.”
Nicholas paused to look out over the rabble. If the man was out there, he would find him before leaving shore. “And there’s no doubt Victoria was targeted.”
Catching a glimpse of Zach’s serious nod, Nicholas took a deep breath. He’d been hard on him, when he was every bit as angry at himself. After all, he’d given his word to keep Victoria safe.
“Look, Zach, you usually run a tight ship. You can’t afford to let something like this get by. Do whatever it takes to make sure the Haverwoods are safe for the remainder of this passage.”
Zach nodded. “We might not be so lucky next time.”
“Make sure there isn’t a next time.” With that, Nicholas hurried down the ramp and onto the crowded wharf.
When I saw you, I fell in love and you smiled because you knew.
~ Arrigo Boito
Four
For the better part of the afternoon, Tori had been forbidden to leave her quarters. A hulking, armed guard stood outside the shattered doorway. Twice, when she’d tried to venture out, he’d informed her that his orders were to keep her in her cabin until the ship was well underway.
Just after dusk, she was provided a tray of food and informed the captain had issued orders to sail at once. Pulling away from port on an earlier tide put them to sea at least twelve hours ahead of schedule.
Settling in, she had no other option but to wait to see her father.
Surely he was beside himself with worry by now. What with the attack and all that had transpired, she couldn’t wait to tell him all about it.
As soon as she felt a steady roll of the ocean beneath her feet, she again approached the enormous man. “It appears, your orders are now fulfilled, sir.” To his credit, the guard didn’t lift a finger to stop her. Instead, he stepped aside and gave a tip of his brimmed straw hat.
Hurrying to the far end of the corridor, Tori tapped on the door of her father’s cabin and found it partially open. “Father, may I come in?”
No response.
Cautiously, she entered the darkened room. Her eyes took a moment to adjust as she looked for some sign of her father. “Are you in here?”
Still no answer. Had he been attacked as well?
A low moan came from the direction of the narrow bunk, and Tori went rigid.
She rushed toward him. Searching out his face in the dim light, she gulped to hold back a whimper. “Father, who has done this to you?”
“Imbecile … cook.” He barely got the words out before another wave of nausea struck him.” Teatime … wretched … crumpets.” He groaned again, this time much louder.
Beads of perspiration dotted his forehead where Tori laid a careful hand. Thankfully, no fever warmed her palm. He was indeed suffering, but apparently from illness rather than an attack.
After pouring cool water from a pitcher into the washbowl, she carried it to where her father lay doubled over on his side. Dampening a cloth to bathe his face, she tried to interpret his delirious rantings.
“Must get her out …”
“Who, Father?” Tori smoothed a gray lock from where it had fallen across his high forehead. “Who must you get out?”
“Saberton … she must marry …”
Tori’s hand stilled.
Strangely, her breath left her at the mention of Nicholas Saberton. She’d never met a man so fearless in the face of danger. He’d risked his life to protect her. But, instead of finding comfort in his gallantry, she found him all the more baffling.
She fully understood her father’s appreciation for Captain Saberton. He was a fine specimen, as far as men go.
“Mustn’t let … murder …”
Murder?
Her father was more delirious than she’d guessed. He was babbling nonsense. She was about to question him further when the earl threw the cloth to the side and made ill use of the washbowl.
Tori grabbed the cool cloth again and held it to his mouth. “Father, lie back. Don’t try to talk anymore. I’ll go for the captain.”
Tori rose to get some fresh water, making him as comfortable as possible.
A light rap on the door, still ajar, caught her attention. “Lady Victoria, it’s Zachery Saberton. May I speak with you for a moment?”
“Certainly. Come in, Captain.” Tori put her finger to her lips to hush him as he joined her at her father’s bedside. “I was about to send for you.”
The earl had slipped into a shal
low slumber, but she figured it wouldn’t be long before he underwent another bout. “I’m afraid my father is a bit under the weather. He seems to have an aversion to your cook’s crumpets.” Whispering, she folded her arms across her midriff to continue her watch.
“Crumpets?” Zach chuckled. “I’ll wager Tibbs had more of an aversion to making them.” He laughed louder this time. “I’d liked to have seen that. Tibbs, with his stub of a cigar clenched between his few good teeth, serving up tea and crumpets.”
Zach’s laughter turned into a smothered cough when Tori motioned for him to lower his voice. “Well, what he lacks in the galley, he more than makes up for as a medic. I’ll have him blend up his concoction for seasickness.” In a forced whisper, Zach continued with a shrug. “The taste is worse than the smell, but it works like a charm. Can you see that he takes it?”
“Father is seasick? I hadn’t considered that.”
“Definitely. I’ve seen that color of green before. But don’t worry, it should pass after a few days at sea.”
“Oh, dear. My father is not an easy one to keep down.” She lifted a sheet to pull it across him and the earl flung it back as if to prove her point. “Well, I should say the next few days will be challenging if nothing else.” Determination spurred her to lift the sheet once again, this time managing to keep it over him.
“Lady Victoria.” Zach turned serious.
“Tori,” she stated absently, her attention on her father. “You may call me Tori.”
“Lady … Tori,” Zach rushed on. “I must apologize for your intolerable treatment at the hands of criminals while aboard my ship. I assure you those men were not a part of my crew. Furthermore, I want you to know the dockmaster is confident the perpetrator will be apprehended. And when he is, you may rest assured he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
True Nobility Page 3