Chapter 21

A SSUMING THE ROLE OF A PIRATE was rather distasteful, Gabrielle thought after she'd explained her idea to her father's crewmen. Three years ago the notion of stealing anything, much less a ship, would never have entered her mind. But it had occurred to her now because she was so worried about her father and so angry at Drew Anderson. She still couldn't believe he'd so recklessly ruined her reputation and her chances of making a good match! Well, she wasn't just going to steal his ship and become the pirate he'd accused her of being. She was going to have him at her mercy as well.

She owed him. It was that simple. And she wouldn't have the chance to extract revenge otherwise, not with him leaving. Embroil her in a scandal, then just sail off without a care? Not now he wouldn't.

It was a brilliant plan. It would solve their current dilemma of how to go about rescuing her father and at the same time it would enable her to get even with the man who'd ruined her. But then she realized that the four of them couldn't sail a ship on their own.

"We'll need more men," she pointed out.

"I'll see to it," Ohr replied.

"Where are you going to find men on such short notice who would be willing to steal a ship?"

He laughed. "There's a whole other side to this town that a young lady of your breeding wouldn't know about. Leave it to me, I'll find all the men we need."

Only Richard guessed that she might have misgivings. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied, and even offered him a grin. "It's not every day one becomes a pirate."

He laughed. Of course he would find it funny, he was already a pirate. But he wasn't finished dealing with her reservations.

"You don't really need to come along, you know," he told her. "We could find someone who looks like you. As long as Pierre thinks it's you—"

"No," she cut in. "If for some reason he needs to talk to me before he allows your ship to approach his fort, I'll need to be there. I'm not going to take any chances with my father's life. My presence will give us more options as we figure out a plan to rescue my father."

"And our captain," Richard said, his expression turning serious. "You've certainly proved your loyalty to him by ordering us to steal this American's ship."

"I didn't order you," Gabrielle corrected him. "I merely suggested."

He grinned to show he'd been teasing. "I know, and it is a perfect solution. We can even give the man back his ship when we're done with it. Actually, I'd as soon not get Malory on our trail if he takes our theft of his brother-in-law's ship personally. Are you sure you don't want to ask for his help instead?"

She hesitated before answering. Both Malorys had been very kind and generous to her. As far as she was concerned, James had repaid his debt to her father in full. It wasn't his fault that she didn't succeed in her mission to find a husband. That was Drew's fault.

"No, James Malory has already done enough for me. I'm not about to ask him for more help."

"I meant Anderson."

She snorted. "Not a chance. He'd refuse anyway. He doesn't like me and I despise him."

She'd said it too quickly, causing Richard to raise a brow. "How did that come about?"

"His aversion to pirates, I suppose. He actually made sure that it became common knowledge that Nathan is a pirate."

Richard drew in his breath sharply. Gabrielle was more certain than ever that he was English, whether he would admit it or not, because he seemed to understand exactly what that meant. Ohr preferred clarification and asked, "Is that the scandal you mentioned? The man wrecked your chances for a good match here?"

"Indeed. And then he was going to sail away without giving it another thought."

"But why ?" Richard exclaimed.

"Because he hates pirates, and he got it into his head that I'm one, too. He didn't bother to ask, he just assumed, and embroiled me in a scandal as a result. So it's going to be a pleasure to see him surrounded by pirates on his very own ship!"

"You know that will just reinforce his opinion—"

"Exactly," she cut in. "By the time I'm done with him, he'll wish he was wrong, but he'll never learn the truth that he was mistaken."

Gabrielle went back to the Malorys' for the rest of the day, but stayed in her room. If she were to see Drew before she stole his ship, she was sure she'd tear his eyes out; then his ship wouldn't be sailing at all. So it was better that she hide in her room.

Margery was incredulous when Gabrielle told her what had happened. "Don't you worry about your papa. Those are good men he picked to accompany us here. You know they'll get him out of this mess."

"Yes, I know. We'll have the voyage back to the Caribbean to figure out just what to do."

"I'll help if I'm needed," Margery assured her. "It's just such a shame that you'll have to miss the last of the Season here. It was going so well."

"Actually…I didn't have a chance to tell you last night, but Drew Anderson made sure that I would be missing the rest of the Season and any other Seasons here as well. He showed up at the ball last night, quite foxed, and said in front of Wilbur and Lady Dunstan that Nathan is a pirate."

"Why would he do that!?" Margery gasped.

"I suppose protecting the innocent from the bloodthirsty could have been his drunken reasoning, but who knows. However, Wilbur took that information and spread it far and wide this morning. Having been on the brink of proposing to me, he's probably deeply disappointed after Drew's disclosure that I no longer meet his standards."

"Good God, they've ruined you!" Margery gasped.

"Oh, yes, I'm definitely ruined—thanks to Drew," Gabrielle said with a catch in her throat.

She felt the sting of tears in her eyes. She turned aside before Margery noticed. She wanted to feel angry again. Anger was her salvation right now. But Margery knew her well. She didn't have to see the tears to know they were there.

Her friend put an arm around her waist. "Never you mind, girl. We'll find you a husband somewhere else."

She and Margery sneaked out of the house in the early evening. Gabrielle left Georgina a note, explaining her father was in trouble and she was leaving to help him. The lady might not believe that after she heard of the scandal, but Gabrielle wouldn't be around to be questioned either way. And there was only one tense moment when Miss Carla whistled as they were hurrying down the back stairs, to let them know she wasn't asleep under the cover on her cage, but no one came to investigate.

They'd packed only enough clothes that they could carry themselves in carpetbags. She'd mentioned in her note to Georgina that she could contact her solicitor about having the rest of their belongings shipped to St. Kitts. Ohr was waiting down the street with a carriage to take them to the docks. He'd already purchased her two cabins for the voyage under a false name, one for herself and Margery to share, and one for the three male "servants" who were accompanying her. Getting her friends a cabin, too, meant three fewer men would have to climb over the railing tonight to hide in the hold.

It was a bold plan they were enacting. If she weren't so furious with Drew, she'd probably change her mind and disappoint them all. She just wished she didn't feel so guilty about the way she was leaving. After everything the Malorys had done for her, this was a shoddy way to repay them. But she knew James would insist upon helping if he knew, and she couldn't let him do that. He'd done enough.

Glancing back at the townhouse, Gabrielle realized she was going to miss the Malorys. God, she'd had such high hopes when she came to London of finding the man of her dreams. Oddly enough, she'd found him. It was too bad he had to be a blackguard and turn her dreams into a nightmare instead.