Page 134 of An Imperfect Scoundrel

“But Captain Shaw—-“

“Has given me explicit orders to ensure that both you and Mrs. Parker take your leave from this ship.”

“He’s—”

“Not coming with you,” Mr. Hayward snapped, his voice cold. “Now, get off the top deck and follow me before we all die.”

Choking on a sob, Alana nodded and slid off the roof, landing beside Mr. Hayward and Louisa, who wrapped her in a tight embrace and pulled her to the wood, keeping their heads below the railing.

“What happened?” Louisa whispered as they crawled after Mr. Hayward.

“The mast trapped us in the cabin, but Captain Shaw helped me escape through the roof.”

“Why didn’t he follow you?”

“The opening wasn’t large enough.” Alana sniffed, struggling not to cry.

Mr. Hayward stopped and pointed at a broken section of the railing. “This is where you debark.”

“I can’t swim!” Alana’s wide eyes shifted between the water and Mr. Hayward. “That’s the main reason I was aboard this wretched ship. There must be another solution.”

Her heart pounded.

“Afraid not, Mrs. Dubois. As Mrs. Parker can swim, she’ll need to help you reach one of the long boats she released. Once you’re free of the melee, the Navy will pick you up, thinking you’re escaped hostages.”

“Which we are,” Louisa hiked up her skirt and scampered over the railing.

“What about you?” Alana asked, hesitating. “What will you do?”

“Find my captain,” he replied and nodded to both of them. “Ladies, it’s been a pleasure.”

“Alana, you must climb over the railing.”

“I’ve already been in that water twice, Louisa,” Alana replied, shaking her head.

To her credit, she didn’t back away from the railing, which was her instinct, considering Louisa expected her not only to scale the railing but to jump from the side of the ship.

“We don’t have any other option.” Louisa held out her hand, wiggling her fingers, and Alana nodded, holding out her arm and allowing Louisa to pull her closer. “First step onto the lower rung. Don’t look down. Look at me!”

Alana held Louisa’s gaze, never blinking, and grabbed onto the railing with her free hand, then she placed one foot onto the rung and stepped up onto it.

“That’s good,” said Louisa. “Now, swing your leg over.”

Hands sweating, Alana kicked her leg up, but her foot caught, and she lost her balance, falling sideways. She shrieked, releasing Louisa’s hand and clutching at the railing’s splintered edge, but her momentum was too great.

She tumbled over the side and splashed headfirst into the ocean.

Unable to draw a breath before she was sucked under the churning water, Alana struggled to fight her way back to the surface. Her brain crying out for oxygen, she sank lower, lacking the strength to continue fighting.

Pain coated her body, each laceration and cut throbbing as the saltwater soaked into her wounds. She sank her teeth into her lower lip, trying to hold in the screams that threatened to pour from her mouth.

The dull echo of explosions ricocheted above her, followed by a nearby splash.

A moment later, arms wrapped around her waist, dragging her upward. Her head breaking the surface of the water, Alana gulped down a breath, fearing she would sink under the waves again, and tightened her hold on her rescuer, tears streaming down her face.

Louisa floated a broken plank in front of her.

“Hold on to this,” she said, detangling herself from Alana’s iron grip, then reached out, snagging another floating piece, and pulled the wood into her chest, wrapping her arms around the irregular shape.