The man’s expression changed. “Why did you not say that to begin with? James!” he called to the clerk. “Bring that ledger over here.” He scanned the page as well as the preceding one before turning it around for Alasdair and Gavin to look. “That is the list of every ship that has left since this morning.”
Sea Roverwas not listed. A wave of relief swept over Alasdair only to be replaced a moment later with growing apprehension, but he kept his thoughts to himself until they were outside once more.
“What do ye think of this?” he asked Gavin.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I suppose it is possible that they sailed upstream where the traffic is less congested—”
“Upstream? With the tide turning?”
Gavin shrugged. “Just eliminating possibilities.”
Alasdair looked across the river at the steady flow of movement. “With as much traffic as there is, do ye supposeSea Roverslipped by? Louisa said ’tis nae a large ship.”
“Maybe, but the harbormaster does not strike me as a man who misses much, and his clerk sits right by the window.” Gavin looked over the water and then up. “It would be hard to miss even a small boat from the vantage point of the second floor.”
“True.” Alasdair frowned. “But then…where are they?”
“I do not know,” Gavin answered, “but we rode along the Strand and Cannon Street on the way over here. I suggest we ride back along the bank and keep an eye out.”
“Aye.” Alasdair was already heading for his horse. “’Tis what we should have done in the first place.”
…
2:00 p.m., Monday, River Thames
“’Tis good to be on a boat again,” Fiona said as theSea Roverglided along, “even though ’tis nae like a loch.”
“That is an understatement,” Lorelei answered, trying not to sound sarcastic. Loch Awe, where Strae Castle was located, was crystal clear and carried the fresh scents of forested woods and heather. The river was gray and murky and smelled awful. Hopefully, this sailing adventure would not last that long now that Erik hadn’t accompanied them.
“Combien de temps avant qu’ils ne le découvrent?” the boatswain asked the first mate.
“J’espère pas avant que nous soyons en mer.” He shrugged. “Je ne veux pas les attacher.”
“What are they saying?” Fiona asked.
Lorelei frowned, not sure she heard correctly. She’d taken two years of French while Papa was still alive but hadn’t had much cause to use it.
“Oui. C’est une bonne dizaine de jours à Tripoli.”
“Avec de bons vents.”
The boatswain laughed. “Nous obtiendrons beaucoup d’argent pour eux.”
Those last words chilled her. She gave Fiona a look that shehopedher friend would understand before she turned to the first mate at the helm. She prayed her voice wouldn’t shake.
“Do you mind if we stretch our legs a bit and walk to the bow?”
“Of course. Just hang on to the railing so you do not fall overboard,” he answered.
Falling overboard might be a good option. She wondered how the man could be so pleasant after what he’d said.
Luckily, Fiona followed her without a word until they reached the bow.
“What is wrong?”
“We’ve been betrayed,” she whispered.
Fiona widened her eyes. “What?”
