Chapter Twenty

"Who the bloody hell are you?"

Eagan spun on his heel to see a man with a dirty apron striding toward him down the corridor, his width nearly matching that of the narrow space. The man rubbed a fist over his paunch, and a large rumble, sounding like thunder over the sea, tore across his middle.

"New crew," Eagan said.

"Whoever the fok you are, get the hell out of my way." He rushed toward a hatch that led down below, a groan coming from him. Hopefully his roiling bowels would keep him from noticing the three smaller people hiding in the shadows below the ladder.

When a door slammed, Eagan peered down the steps. A little pale hand waved up at him. Grace. The wee lass was brave. He held his palm up, the sign for them to wait silently in a shadowed corner. He'd extinguished the lantern down that hatch, but he'd need to get the children up before the large man returned with less discomfort and more questions.

Eagan hurried toward the cabin Tessa had been locked in. He'd given Hubert an hour to unlock it and give her the key. Hopefully, he'd been successful, or she'd be locked inside, unable to let them in.

Tap. Tap. Tap. He glanced continuously over his shoulder, but the corridor was empty.

"I don't want any food," Tessa said through the door, their agreed-upon code.

"'Tis good I brought whisky from Mull then."

She yanked the door open, and he took in her wild eyes.

"What's happened?" he asked, and she threw her arm wide to indicate the small bed where Hubert lay half on, half off, snoring. Eagan looked back at her. "He ate the stew."

She nodded, her lips pinched in a look that called the drugged man fool, idiot, and bampot all together without uttering a sound. She glanced past his shoulder into the empty corridor.

"I've got them," he whispered and turned away to the hatch where Grace's eyes already peeked over the edge. He beckoned her and the others followed, walking on tiptoe to slide into Tessa's cabin.

She shut it, turning the key to lock it and opened her arms. All three children gathered into her. Bann wasn't vomiting with the smoother seas, but Charlotte had said his fever had increased. All three were pale with spasms of quaking hitting them every so often. He'd watched over them while they were still in the cell below and knew that at least the two younger ones were tortured by nightmares when they dozed off. No doubt they'd be haunted for years to come even if they did manage to make it safely off the Bourreau .

A heavy thump hit the deck above their heads, making the children jump, and Charlotte whimpered. As the eldest, she'd been trying to protect the two younger, but she was only a lass of twelve years.

"'Tis another pirate dropping from my tainted stew," Tessa said. "If they eat a large portion and follow it with spirits, they will fall asleep before their body starts to purge, possibly choking them. If they take a small enough portion, they'll be awake while their bowels and stomachs try to get rid of the herbs."

"He must have eaten a lot," Grace said, pointing to Hubert.

"I hope they don't ever wake," Bann said, wiping a hand across his mouth as if he still tasted bile. He sat on the end of the bed away from Hubert.

Eagan laid his hand comfortingly onto the lad's thin shoulder. He could feel shivers and pulled the end of the blanket not trapped under the unconscious man around Bann. This horror would either make him bitter and pull into himself or make him stronger and ready to battle as a man. He leaned to his ear. "We will battle on, something they don't expect. We've already escaped from below." The boy looked up at him and nodded, a bit of strength in his eyes.

Eagan's gaze locked with Tessa's. There was determination in the set of her shoulders and courage even if her lifelong dream of a loving father was crumbling beneath her.

"We can do this," she said. "We will get off this ship."

Her firm stare told him clearly, and he gave a brief nod. They would get off this ship. Neither of them would allow the children to be tortured and sold. They would all die if they must, but they would be off this floating Hell.

The hard crack of boots landing down the corridor as if someone had jumped down the ladder made them all look to her door. Tessa began to wave her arms and mouthed "hide."

Grace and Bann scooted under the small bed, and Tessa yanked the edge of the quilt to block the space.

Hard clacking of boot heels sounded louder until it stopped outside her door.

Rap. Rap. Rap . "Daughter." Jandeau's voice cleaved through the wooden planks.

Eagan had his sgian dubh out but ushered a shaking Charlotte behind the privacy screen. He lifted the screen, setting it to look flattened against the wall, the thin wooden slats and fabric leaning over them where he held the shaking girl against his chest. "Not a sound, Charlotte," he whispered and felt her hide her face against his tunic.

If the children and Tessa weren't in there, he'd attack the pirate captain, but he couldn't when failing meant they'd be taken. Nay. He would have to keep his temper and Charlotte from giving them away.

Jandeau threw the door open so hard it banged against the wall, and he strode inside, his gaze piercing Tessa. She took a step back in the face of his fury. But then the accusation that Tessa was expecting froze on his open mouth when he saw his crewman lying face down on Tessa's rumpled bed, his legs dangling off.

She tried to control the rapid beating of her heart so she could mold her voice into concerned annoyance. "He…" She indicated Hubert with an open hand. "He came in to ask me if I was hungry and then just"—she indicated the prone body—"fell over."

Jandeau scowled, his dark expression sliding from Hubert to Tessa. Sia hissed from her corner, and Tessa prayed she wouldn't give any hiders away. Overhead another thump made Tessa startle. Jandeau's gaze lifted to the ceiling. "Why are my men suddenly falling over, Claudette? Some of them puking and shiting themselves?"

Because I drugged them . It was right on the tip of her tongue as if her father had some magic to compel her to spit out a truth that would see her stripped naked and tied to a mast.

Tessa swallowed down the confession and shook her head. "I don't know, Father. I can examine them to see if they've taken ill. I learned some curing from my mother." She made herself look at Hubert. "Although, it could be from too much drink. Perhaps they celebrated surviving the storm."

Jandeau turned to the door, his fist snapping forward. Crack! Tessa jumped, her hand flying to her chest, an instinctual reaction to protect her heart. Jandeau yanked his fist back from the wall where the hard planks were cracked. Blood trickled from his knuckles, but he dropped his arm as if he didn't care, as if pain was such a part of his life that he didn't even wince nor avoid it.

He pivoted back to her. "I'll tell you what I think. I think my daughter somehow poisoned my men."

Her eyes widened but then her brows came together. "How would I do that and why?"

He strode to her satchel on the table. The room was so small, too small to hide four people for long. Grabbing the bottom, Jandeau upended her bag, sending all her jars and packets of herbs flying across the room. They hit the floor, one rolling under the bed. One jar hit her legs with such force, Tessa thought she might have a bruise through her petticoats.

"I've been locked in my cabin," she said. "And those are herbs for curing."

"Hubert," Jandeau growled, but the man didn't move. His mouth was open, and drool began to trickle out onto the bedspread. "He's too soft. He let you into the galley yesterday and aided you."

"Hubert?" She opened her mouth in bafflement and then looked at the sprawled man. "Why would I drug a man helping me?" She tried desperately to slow her rapid breaths. "Couldn't someone else in your crew have access, courage, and a desire for mutiny?"

She imagined herself small and timid, hoping he would believe it. She used to pretend to be slight and invisible when she'd had to traverse the French court, trying to avoid ensnarement. It had worked then, but her father wasn't an inebriated, easily fooled courtier.

He stared at her with black eyes, shiny orbs like those of a rat in the dark. His teeth, in his tanned, weathered face, looked just as sharp. His upper lip curled back. "There's no time for this," he said. "You'll start with reviving Hubert and then come above to revive the others. I'll wake the second rotation to set sail." His voice showed that she had no other option but to obey.

He turned to the door and then swung back around to her. "Make certain, daughter, that you truly are thankful for my benevolence. Any contrary action will result in discipline. No one gets away with mutiny on my ship."

She swallowed hard.

"Do you understand, Claudette?"

"Oui, mon père," she said, her tongue so dry it tried to stick to the roof of her mouth.

As soon as the door closed and clicked with a key, Eagan moved the privy screen away and led Charlotte out. The girl's face was stained with tears. Eagan flipped up the blanket and silently ushered the two little ones out from the bed. They all stood without saying a word, just looking at each other.

Tessa wanted nothing other than to run into Eagan's arms. She knew he'd hug her, support her, but to succeed in this mad plan to escape, they both needed to be strong. They had to work together.

Tessa went to Hubert, shaking him. "Wake up."

"Nay, Mum, I didn't let the pigs in the house," he murmured, his words fading off and ending with a small groan as vomit erupted from his mouth to spread across the quilt.

Sia hopped down from the bookshelf onto the bed. Her pink nose sniffed toward Hubert from several feet away. She sneezed and hopped up to perch on his back.

At least Jandeau didn't seem to think Hubert was helping her. If she must leave him behind, he could continue being a crewman on the Bourreau .

She looked up at the hatch above her where the sky had lost its pitch darkness. Was dawn already breaking? They needed to move quickly.

Eagan motioned for them all to gather closely, away from the hatch above. He spoke into their little circle. "I tied my rowboat to the stern…to the back of the ship." He pointed at the back wall of the cabin.

"Hubert said 'tis still there," Tessa said.

Eagan nodded. "With the men unwell and the shadows still thick, we'll sneak as quietly as possible to the back and climb down the rope there."

"Climb down a rope?" Charlotte's voice was a whispered squeak.

"I'll go first," Eagan said, "and catch ye if ye fall."

"I might fall," Bann said. His eyes were large, but Tessa saw a shine to them that signified fever. The boy knew he was weak.

"And I'll catch ye, too."

"I'll go last," Tessa said. She touched Grace's face. "Can you take Sia if I put her in my satchel and loop it over your head?"

The girl's eyes widened even more, but she nodded. Tessa scooped the cat off Hubert, who twitched slightly. Sia meowed but allowed Tessa to lower her back end into the satchel, which she helped to put over Grace's slim frame.

"Even if she scratches me, I won't let her get away." Grace's voice twisted Tessa's heart. It was her fault they were here. If her father hadn't returned to Wolf Isle a second time he wouldn't have found them. If Tessa hadn't befriended the Macquaries, they wouldn't have protected her the day of the picnic, making her father have to return during the night. She would do anything she could to get them back to the safety of Wolf Isle.

"I'll carry Bann," Tessa said, glancing at the feverish boy who'd sat back down on the bed, far from Hubert.

"I'll take him if he's too heavy," Eagan said.

Tessa shook her head and then took a big inhale. "We need your sword arms free." She picked Bann up, and he wrapped his arms around her neck. "Let's find that boat," she said, meeting Eagan's eyes.

They were hard, watchful, but softened when he looked at her. In two silent steps, he reached her, his fingers going under her chin. Despite Bann between them, Eagan leaned in to kiss her lips. The warmth and tenderness felt like a promise, and Tessa wanted to cling to it.

He pulled back gently, and they stared at one another. They didn't say anything because it was all right there in their gazes. They would do this together. She blinked back a swell of tears and nodded once, exhaling. She handed him the key from her pocket, shifting Bann over her hip.

Eagan peeked into the corridor, nodded to them to follow, and moved before her to lead the way while she guarded the rear of the line, keeping the children between them. They walked on light feet to the ascending ladder.

Dearest God, help us escape.

Eagan climbed and looked over the edge of the hatch to the deck, the toes of his boots balancing on the ladder rung. Tessa's heart pounded a rapid staccato as she waited. His hand beckoned them to follow. The girls climbed up first. Tessa set Bann on the ladder rungs as high as she could. Eagan helped him climb the rest of the way up from above. Tessa followed into the fresh breeze. Dawn was creeping closer, reducing the inky shadows as the horizon lightened.

Bann held Tessa's hand weakly as they followed Eagan in a crouched position behind the crates that had been stacked toward the stern. Angry voices came from the front of the ship, floating back to them.

"Rouse the men."

"Some of them have fouled themselves, Captain."

"They can hoist sails covered in vomit and shite."

Remaining crouched, they moved from crate to crate and shadow to shadow toward the back of the ship. The absence of moving crewmen was a blessing. Thank God, she'd gotten the herb formula into the stew. This would be impossible with a full contingent of sailors about.

The ship creaked, and the water lapped against the hull as the last bit of the storm's temper calmed. Grace clutched Sia in the bag against her chest, and Charlotte hurried after Eagan. Bann tripped, and Tessa caught him from hitting the deck, lifting him again. Bann's hot little body barely held onto her stooped frame. Her back muscles screamed but she moved as low as possible, trying to keep them hidden amongst the crates.

Tessa kept her eyes on Eagan's form, all predatory muscles contained in his clothing. The smell of decaying seaweed tainted the salt air, indicating the tide was low and they were indeed near land. Choppy waves still splashed against the hull. In a large ship, it was hardly noticed, but the dinghy would toss. A nauseous stomach was the very least of Tessa's worries at present. Together . They would succeed together.

They made it to the rail off the back, and Tessa's heart leaped when Eagan looked over and then nodded to her. The dinghy was still there.

She came alongside him, lowering Bann to the deck. Eagan found her hand in the shadows, and the warmth of it, the gentle squeeze funneled strength through her, allowing her to breathe. This would work. They would climb down and row away from the Bourreau before the sick crew noticed in the dimness of pre-dawn light. But climbing down a rope with a boy over one shoulder wouldn't be possible. Mon Dieu. Bann would have to climb down on his own unless Eagan could carry him.

A soft gasp made her spin around. Charlotte, clutching her hands, and Grace, holding Sia, stared into the darkness, their backs against the rail. Her father's words reached Tessa before he stepped out of the shadows, his boots falling with soft tread.

"Stealing cargo is mutiny, daughter." Jandeau's bulk emerged from the shadows like a wraith taking on human form. "Disloyalty is punished."

Breath deserted Tessa despite her heart pounding, demanding more. Eagan stepped before her, blocking her.

"And…" Jandeau drew out with a surprised lilt of pleasure, "you brought me a Macquarie pup." His voice hardened. "The one you've been spreading your legs for."

"Do ye feel all-powerful, Jandeau," Eagan asked, "because ye can overpower the young and those physically weaker than ye?" Eagan gently pushed Tessa toward the rope.

Jandeau shrugged like he hadn't a care. "Does not the lion hunt the weakest of the herd? I merely profit off the hunt like a lion feeding his pride."

"'Tis the lioness who hunts," Tessa said, "not the lazy lion." Where had those words come from? The strength to show courage when shaking must be from Eagan and their imperative need. Tessa pulled Grace and Charlotte to the rail. "Climb down," she whispered to them.

"There's a bit of a hiss from my meek daughter," Jandeau said. "I knew it was in you, just like it was in your mother. I tolerated it in her because I was young and foolish and thought I was in love. But now I'm wise and know how far to break you, daughter, to rid you of your obstinance."

She'd taunt him to kill her before he let him break her. The knowledge of that thrummed through Tessa. "Wise? You are a selfish monster who preys on the world."

Eagan stood tall before Jandeau, still blocking her. "Yer fight is with the Macquaries. Let them leave, and ye can try to break me."

Mon Dieu . Tessa's fingers curled into Eagan's tunic. Her father would torture him, cut parts off, until he begged for death. Just the thought of the pain and humiliation wrought upon the man who'd come to save her, who'd taught her that passion was more than a practiced art, who'd shown her what family really meant… Tears welled out of her eyes, but she blinked them rapidly away.

"He wants me," she whispered behind Eagan. "Jump over and save the children."

Eagan didn't respond, only kept his gaze on Jandeau.

Jandeau advanced slowly. Tsk . "I will break all of you. I think my daughter watching me dismember you, Macquarie, will show her what happens to my enemies. But I'll still have to punish her for poisoning my crew. And here I thought I would make you a cook, Claudette. Since you can't be trusted, I'll have to come up with another job for you, perhaps making you a plaything for my abused crew."

Eagan's hand slid behind his back to her, and he pushed her away from him. Without saying a word, he was begging her to throw herself over the side of the ship. She could almost hear him shouting inside his head. Save the children. Save yourself. Go.

But she wouldn't leave him again. She'd done it once, bending to her father's will.

"Why do ye want Wolf Isle anyway?" Eagan asked. They stood beside some stacked crates, which partially blocked the children.

Tessa bent to Grace. "Climb down the rope to the boat."

"Sia?" The girl hugged the bag with Sia's head sticking out. The cat's eyes were wide with fright.

"Go." Tessa took the bag, freeing the girl of her burden.

Tessa tried to put the bag around her shoulder, but the cat jumped out, running off. No! She almost called the cat, but there was no use. She'd run and hide, and Jandeau was standing before them. Grief yanked Tessa's heart. Had she lost the cat forever?

"The isle would be perfect for my king if he chooses to attack England," Jandeau said. "I explored it when I picked up Rebecca. 'Tis good to keep the monarchy happy when I bend all his maritime rules."

"The Macleans won't allow it," Eagan said.

"I know you are trying to stall with your questions," Jandeau said and drew out a pistol. "Time to start your punishment." Without another word, Jandeau aimed straight at Eagan. And fired.

"No!" Tessa yelled as Eagan's body flew backward from the hit, throwing him against the rail. "Mon Dieu! My love!"

"Ship! Ship to starboard!" A voice came from high above in the rigging. "There's a ship coming upon us, Captain!"

Grace was almost down the rope, her feet dangling over the bobbing dinghy. Charlotte screamed as two brawny crewmen rushed to the rail and grabbed her arms from the rope, hauling her back aboard. Jandeau strode to stand before Tessa while Bann clung to her leg.

"Bring the Macquarie pup," Jandeau called to two more men heading their way.

"No!" Tessa screamed again.

Her gaze met Eagan's. There was no fear in his face, just fury and regret.

Before her father could drag her away, Tessa lunged toward Eagan at the rail. "I love you," she said and pushed with all her might against his chest.

Eagan fell backward over the rail. He disappeared, and Tessa closed her eyes tight, the sound of a huge splash covering the one sob she allowed herself.