Page 28 of An Imperfect Scoundrel

Very few of the hostages he’d dealt with had the gumption to step to him upon first command, but Mrs. Parker rolled her shoulders back andstrolledforward as though she were promenading about the upper deck. Folding her hands in front of her waist, she tilted her head and smiled.

“What can I do for you, Captain Shaw?”

Mr. Hayward snorted, and turned away, covering the noise with a cough.

Cedric ignored him.

“Mrs. Parker, do you or your husband have any family who would be willing to pay for your release?”

“We do not,” she replied, her voice unwavering.

Cedric inclined his head in a half-formal bow. “Then, you will not continue your voyage with us. Please wait to the side. Once we’ve completed the list, those of you on the right will be transferred to the aft of the ship.”

“What happens there?” A brunette pushed through the group of ladies as she addressed him.

“You will swim to shore.” He glanced down at the list. “Miss—”

“And how do we get into the water?” the brunette asked.

“You jump.”

Someone fainted.

There was a rustling of material, a chair was collected by the brunette—a comical event itself since she was too terrified to leave the group, and held another woman’s hand, who held another woman’s hand, so she could reach the chair—and a woman was plunked down upon the seat, her dark hair barely visible beneath the other women.

“What if we lie about our finances?” Mrs. Parker’s curious question caused his head to whip toward her.

“Have you lied?” He growled, his menacing question echoing around the room.

“No,” she replied immediately. “My father is in prison, and Hugh has no family.”

He nodded, accepting her explanation, a flicker of compassion blooming for the woman, but then, she turned and addressed the group of women.

“However, if another lady didn’t want to become your prisoner, and could swim, surely her best option would be to lie to you, for once she’s in the water, she’ll be free.”

Cedric thought Mr. Hayward was going to split himself in half. His first mate walked to the far side of the room, his shoulders shaking with amusement.

Lowering the passenger list, Cedric spoke directly to Mrs. Parker, ice coating his voice.

“As you’re not worth any ransom, neither is your husband, which means he’s lost one of his choices, too.”

The color drained from her face, fear replacing the smug expression.

“What will you do to my Hugh?” she asked, her hands rising to her mouth in horror.

“Either he works off his, and your debt, or he dies.” His words had the intended effect. Two more ladies fainted, except this time, the other women left them on the floor to recover.

It took less than ten minutes to separate the ladies. When he reached the nucleus of the group, he discovered a young girl hiding behind the dark-haired woman seated on the chair.

“Mr. Hayward, why is this child in the dining room?” Cedric pointed at the girl, who appeared to be twelve.

“Didn’t see her.” It wasn’t an apology, nor should it have been, because they both knew there was no excuse for failure of duties. “I’ll take her right now.”

“You can’t.” Mrs. Parker moved to block the girl. The other ladies followed her lead, surrounding the girl.

He could reason with them, explain he was putting the girl in a lifeboat with the other children aboard the Crescent Rose, along with anyone over the age of sixty, and sending them floating toward the approaching Navy, but he wasn’t feeling charitable. With the fire burning in the stern, it wouldn’t be long before the entire ship was aflame.

Drawing his pistol, he cocked back the hammer, then fired one shot into the air.