“Shhh!” she cautioned. “Keep your voice down and smile like we are having a regular conversation.”
“Smile?”
“Just do it.” Lorelei arranged her face in what she hoped looked like they were having a pleasant conversation. When Fiona did the same, she continued.
“They are planning to take us to Tripoli.”
“Tripoli?” Somehow, Fiona managed to keep smiling. “Across the Mediterranean?” When Lorelei nodded, she whispered, “Why?”
Lorelei pretended to push a strand of hair away from Fiona’s face, but her hand was really there to place on her mouth to keep her quiet. “They are going to sell us. The boatswain said we’d bring good money.”
To her credit, Fiona remained perfectly still. Lorelei slowly lowered her hand. “They were saying that it will take ten days to reach Tripoli with fair winds.”
Her friend was quiet for so long, looking over the water, that Lorelei wasn’t sure her words had registered. She was about to ask when Fiona turned to her.
“I doona think I will go.”
As if they had a choice.“We are trapped.” She looked over the bowsprit at the rapid current sweeping them along. “Are you thinking we should jump over? I…I cannot swim that well.”
“I have nae desire to swim in that filth,” Fiona replied, her hand moving slowly over her skirt. “Ye do remember that I always carry a knife?”
“Yes, but…” Lorelei looked back to make sure none of the men were coming forward. “You will not have time to stab all four of them.”
“I doona need to.” She reached down subtly to pull hersgian dubhout of its sheath on her leg, then kept it hidden in the folds of her skirt. “Ye forget that I ken my way around a boat. What I need ye to do is keep the men occupied in the cockpit while I fray the halyards holding up the jib and the main sail.” She gave Lorelei a genuine smile. “The ropes will tear, the sails will flap, and we will have to stop to do repairs before the ship can make it out of port.”
“You can do that?”
“Aye.” Fiona gave her a little shove. “Now go and do what your English Society has taught ye how to do.”
Lorelei would have laughed if she hadn’t been so utterly terrified. Flirting was supposed to be a genteel sport of sorts. A game of cat and mouse. Only this was no game. There were four tigers in the cockpit.
If she survived this, she would forever respect the actresses on Drury Lane. She took a deep breath. Right now, her life—and Fiona’s—depended on her own acting ability.
…
6:00 p.m., Monday
They had just reached Blackfriars Bridge when Alasdair reined in his horse and pointed across the river.
“There! Over on the southside! ’Tis theSea Rover!”
Gavin followed his gaze to where the boat was tied off at a small wharf and four men were busy working with the sails. “It looks as though they may have had some trouble.”
“Aye.” Alasdair let his eyes roam over the decks. “I doona see either Lorelei or Fiona, though.”
“I do not see Taylor, either,” Gavin said. “Perhaps they caught a hack home, since the ketch seems to be out of commission.”
“Mayhap…” The hair at his nape was prickling, though, and he had a gut feeling that something was still wrong. “I think we should ride across and ask.”
Gavin studied the scene for a moment and then pushed back the side of his coat, exposing the pistol strapped to his thigh.
“Perhaps we should.”
…
6:05 p.m., Monday, Below deck, Sea Rover
“Ugggh…”
