“So am I, believe me,” Percival replied in a grim voice. He ordered his men to help with the fire. Ben went with them.
Gerald immediately noticed the stitches on the side of Percival’s head. “Did they do that to you?”
“Yes. I had just been having dinner at the taverna with Captain Davies and First Mate Winters in the Lisbon near the port. Our ship had just docked. A fight broke out at the bar. It started with two men but escalated quickly into a melee. And when there’s a brawl, in a Port Town you can’t just leave. We ventured in to try to stop it and before I knew it, someone had hit me from behind. I woke up with my hands and feet tied under the docks. It was still low tide, but I knew I didn’t have much time before the tide started to rise. I managed to the bindings on my hands and feet and then pulled myself up to the docks just as the tide was rushing in.”
“My God, man, you are one lucky son of a gun,” Wright said, slapping Bowles on the back.”
“Aye, I certainly am.”
“What happened next?” Gerald asked. “Did you notify the authorities?”
“I did and they said it would be next to impossible to find out who was responsible.
I was incapacitated for nearly a week with this gash on my head while the authorities along with my Captain, and First Mate investigated and spoke to the owners of the taverna, and various other possible witnesses. Unfortunately, port cities are what they are—people either lie or don’t speak up when they witness a crime.”
“The Prince Regent sent a contingent of men to Portugal, did they make contact with you or your Captain?”
“Yes, when they arrived, they informed us about a man who’d taken my identity to lay claim to my inheritance. They described the man and his cohort, and we knew immediately who they were. I came here as soon as I could as you see, with men from my ship, under my command.”
“Well then, you can help us get the truth out of this bastard,” Gerald said kicking the sole of Grom’s boots. “I need to know where Selena is. Throw some water on him and wake him up!”
Wright retrieved a bucket of water and tossed it over him, causing the giant to sputter and groan.
Gerald grabbed him up by his shirt. “Where is she? Where is Selena?”
“He took her,” Grom rasped.
“Did he take her to Gretna Greene?”
Grom groaned as he nodded. “He’s going to marry her to steal her inheritance.”
Gerald’s fists clenched as he let out a low growl of fury. He was itching to give Grom a thrashing. Just because he couldn’t hit Vern—when that’s what he wanted to do. Just because he hadn’t stayed here instead of taking off on a wild goose chase to Rose Point. And just because his heart ached to see her beautiful smile and hear her beautiful voice. He missed her more than he thought he could ever miss anyone. But he balled his fists up and shoved them in his pocket. The man would swing soon enough. And he wanted every bit of information he could find out about Selena and that filthy imposter, Vern.
Blood streamed from various wounds on the giant’s arms and shoulders. His shirt was bloodied. He appeared to have been stabbed several times.
“He took the lass to Gretna Green. I didn’t want him to hurt her and tried to stop him,” Grom said with a groan.
“Last I heard, you were part of his evil plans. Where did this sudden attack of decency come from?” Wright asked.
“I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I didn’t stop him either. I couldn’t. He kidnapped my thirteen-year-old sister and said he would sell her as a slave if he didn’t do what he said. Once I got here, the foul little toad poisoned me and stabbed me. When I get my hands on him…” The man’s words died on his lips in the face of Gerald’s anger.
“You won’t have to.” Gerald felt a steely calm invade every fiber of his being as he stood up. He knew what he needed to do. There would be nowhere the bastard could hide. “I’m going to kill him,” he said.
“Oh, no you don’t. You can’t divorce yourself so easily from his acts of betrayal. You’re telling me he kidnapped your sister? When did he do this, and how do we know you’re telling the truth?” Percival demanded.
“All of it was Vern. The man’s the Devil-incarnate. He threatened to sell her if I didn’t help him with this. And he said he’d make sure she got broken in by the ship’s crew before they sold her. My God! You know what they do to women on slave trader boats. She’s only thirteen! I’ve been trying to find her—hoping he will get drunk enough to tell me or find something that will lead me to her. Angela’s never done anything to hurt a soul.” He looked up at Percival. I’m sorry for what I’ve done, Lord Bowles,” Grom croaked. “He told me to drown you, but I couldn’t, so I left you under the docks. I thought you would be able to free yourself before high tide.”
“I’m having a hard time believing you to be a saint in this. What else can you tell us?” demanded Wright.
“He has a carriage,” rasped Grom. “It was hidden in an abandoned barn about a half-mile up the road from the estate. We watched the guards and snuck onto the estate when they didn’t see us.”
“Describe it…describe the carriage,” ordered Gerald, grabbing him by the collar.
“Black…shiny. The inside is red. Vern stole it from an inn on our way. It has four brown horses,” groaned Grom. “All I’ve told you…’tis the truth.”
The sounds of horses’ hooves sounded from behind them, and they all spun around to see almost a dozen men, all dressed in royal uniform, riding onto the estate.
“Finally! The Regent’s guards,” Gerald murmured. “Too late to help Selena.”
