Page 35

I t was all a matter of timing, Martin thought to himself as he led Lord James along the dock toward The Wind Song .

After a tearful goodbye with Isabella, Adelaide had boarded Lord James’s ship, which was scheduled to depart when the church bell rang for afternoon prayers.

He needed to absorb enough of Lord James’s attention to give Isabella a plausible chance to have a private word with someone from his crew.

Then he could raise the threat of the letters and hopefully, they could all leave.

But Lord James had to be made to believe the letters went out, which meant he had to distract the man as long as possible.

But not so long that the ship Adelaide was on set sail.

Each step was torture, even though he only placed the lightest pressure on his injured foot as he hobbled along the quay with a gnarled branch that currently served as his walking stick.

Halfred and the men were hard at work putting up new rigging to attach to the new mast they had installed, but work ground to a halt as he limped his way up the gangplank, followed by Lord James, Isabella, and three of Lord James’s men.

“God’s bones, my lord! What happened to your foot? And why are there bruises around your neck?” Halfred demanded after bowing in greeting to each of them.

“Don’t worry yourself. Lord James and I had a little disagreement, but we sorted it out.

Did we not, my lord?” He gave the earl his iciest smile.

While Lord James had three men with him, there were far more Winchelsea men on board The Wind Song at the moment.

If the blackguard tried anything, he would be severely outnumbered.

At that thought, Martin’s smile grew. The man’s hubris would be his downfall.

“Will, get Timothy and accompany Lady Isabella to the cabin. She wishes to retrieve some things for a longer stay here in Yarmouth.”

Will blinked and stared for a long moment. There was no Timothy on their crew.

Martin winked discreetly at him, and Will’s eyes widened in comprehension.

“Of course, my lord,” the youth said, hurrying to Isabella’s side and offering an arm. “Timothy is working on repairs belowdecks. I’ll take Lady Isabella to the cabin and go fetch him. Come with me, my lady.”

Isabella caught his eye for just a moment.

For a split second, her gaze was raw and unguarded, and his heart stuttered seeing all the concern and affection there.

But she looked away quickly, squaring her shoulders and striding forward with purpose.

“Take me below, boy, and be quick about it,” she snapped, her haughty mask back in place.

To his relief, Lord James didn’t bother to send anyone to follow her.

Now for his part of the ruse. “Halfred, I need the key I told you to hide—the one to the secret chest.” God bless Halfred because he didn’t even blink at the lie.

“And be quick about it. None of your absent-minded dilly-dallying,” Martin said, as if Halfred had ever dilly-dallied in his life.

“Lord James needs the papers I keep hidden in that chest. Do not, I repeat, do not keep us waiting. Time is of the essence. The repercussions of any delay would be most unfortunate.”

Martin could only pray that Halfred got the message that he was to draw this out.

“Understood, my lord,” Halfred answered with a careful nod. “Let me go below and look for it. I will return with it as soon as I find it. I’ve hidden it well. It may take me some time to retrieve it.”

Good. He understood.

“Then hurry, man. We can’t wait all day,” Lord James grumbled.

“You don’t mind if I sit, do you?” Martin made his way gingerly over to a crate and sat down. “Halfred is a good man, but he’s sometimes forgetful. It may be some time before he brings up that key.”

What a blessed relief it was to take his weight off his injured foot. He wasn’t sure he could remain standing much longer.

“Ned,” Martin called out, and the man came running.

“Bring up some wine for our guests. We might as well refresh ourselves while we wait. And while you’re down there, check on the contents of the chest next to the door of the hold on the starboard side.

” Martin—and Ned, and the other men—knew was full of weapons.

“And get the other men working below to help you. There are thieves and brigands about.” He flicked his gaze to Lord James.

“We wouldn’t want anything to happen to our cargo.

Would you care for a game of chess, my lord, to pass the time? ” he asked, turning to Lord James.

“Never liked chess,” Lord James grumbled.

“No, I suppose not. You don’t seem like the intellectual type. Dice then, perhaps?”

Lord James’s only answer was a low rumbling noise in his throat.

At that moment, Isabella climbed back up on the deck, trailed by six men carrying crates and trunks. “I have my things,” she announced airily. “Just a few necessities, since we’ll be staying a very long time.”

The men proceeded to the gangplank and instead of descending, they piled everything up to block the exit from the boat.

“What are you doing, you lazy dogs? Take them to the castle,” Lord James bellowed, rising and storming over to the offending men, who all drew swords as he approached. “What’s this? What do you think you’re doing?” The man turned bright red, his fury boiling over as he realized he was trapped.

As if on cue, Halfred led a dozen armed men up onto the deck from below, and they swiftly surrounded the earl and his men, who had all drawn their swords, ready to fight.

“Entertaining as it would be to watch you get torn to shreds, my lord,” Isabella said as she approached the earl with a triumphant smile, “I need you to bring my sister back. The game is up. You cannot win. Send Adelaide to me, and let us all depart, or I let my husband take his revenge for all you’ve done.

I assure you he’ll make it slow and painful. ”

Lord James laughed. “This is my land. Yarmouth is filled with my people. If I call out to say their lord is in danger, men will come swarming to my rescue.”

“I think you overestimate your popularity,” Isabella said dryly.

“But we have taken other precautions. Would you like to tell him, Martin, or should I? It was your idea. I think you should do the honors.” Isabella walked at a leisurely pace over to Martin and put an arm through his, then kissed him on the cheek.

A rush of pride flowed through him, knowing that this glorious woman was his.

“We sent two letters with Timothy just now—one to King Stephen and one to Henry, Duke of Normandy—accusing you of betraying their trust. He’s awaiting our signal about whether to proceed with delivering them.

If you let us leave Yarmouth with Adelaide today, he will destroy the letters.

If you try to prevent our departure, the letters will go out, and you’ll lose everything. ”

The earl scowled. “You think I can’t find a measly messenger in Yarmouth?”

Martin shrugged. “You can try, but Timothy knows how to disappear and avoid even the most determined pursuers. Did you even notice him leaving this ship right under your very nose?”

Of course, he couldn’t have since Timothy didn’t exist.

Meanwhile, Lord James’s face grew thunderous as his neck and face turned puce. It was far too much fun taunting the earl.

“That’s what I thought.” Martin’s grin couldn’t be wider. His cheeks were starting to ache with it. “Drop your sword and tell your men to do the same.”

With a low, rumbling growl, the earl obeyed and signaled his men.

“There. Was that so hard?” Martin asked, lowering his sword. “Halfred, how long before The Wind Song is seaworthy again?”

“At least a week, my lord,” the old sailor answered.

That’s what he’d thought. Unfortunately, returning home aboard his beloved vessel was not an option.

“Lady Isabella, Lady Adelaide, and I need to depart today, and we need to bring a healer with us. Go book us passage on a friendly ship. I think I see the Lady Mary and the Angelus in port. Either of them would do nicely. Or find us another, if they can’t take us.

Just make sure it isn’t one of his.” Martin gestured with his chin at the earl.

“Aye, my lord. Right away,” Halfred said. The men cleared a path to allow him to depart.

“As for you, Lord James, I’m going to let you go retrieve Lady Adelaide in a moment.

But I need your solemn oath that you will not interfere with the repairs to The Wind Song or with any of my crew.

If you make trouble, we’ll signal Timothy, and he’ll go running with those letters. Do I have your promise?”

Lord James looked daggers at Martin, but the man had no choice. “I swear on all that is holy that The Wind Song will depart in its own good time and that your men will not be bothered.”

Isabella squeezed Martin’s arm affectionately and whispered, “We won.”

“Yes, we did,” Martin murmured and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Lord James made a noise of disgust.

“I expect Lady Adelaide and her healer to join us here within the hour.” Martin lowered his blade and signaled with his hand for his men to do the same. “You may go.”

Martin could hardly contain his glee as Lord James and his men trudged down the gangplank, defeated.

As soon as they were gone, Martin pulled his wife close. “You were brilliant, my love.”

“So were you.” He reached up and pulled her in for a kiss.

She tasted of sweetness and triumph and everything that he held dear as she opened to him, her tongue tantalizing his own.

He lost himself in the taste of her, the feel of her, so soft beneath his hands and yet so full of passion and strength. His Isabella. Forever.

Unfortunately, they were not alone. His men hooted and hollered at the sight, forcing him to break the kiss with a laugh. “Leave us alone. Can’t you see I’m busy?” he called out, and his crew roared with laughter.

“There’s a cabin below, my lord, if you and your wife need some privacy,” one of them called out.

Several others made obscene suggestions and gestures that left even Isabella blushing. “If it wasn’t for Adelaide, I would take you below for a true wedding night right this minute,” she murmured, eyes full of promise.

Martin sighed. Alas, his wedding night had to wait until they had time and privacy, though resisting temptation required a degree of physical restraint that he could barely manage.

“Chess,” he said, desperately casting his mind about for something they could do for distraction until Adelaide returned to them.

“Chess?” Isabella asked, an incredulous look on her face.

“Would you care to play? It would pass the time while we wait.”

She nodded, looking as flustered and flushed as he felt. “I’m sure I’ll play horribly under the circumstances, but I accept your challenge.”

Martin called out to one of his men who brought up the board and pieces. They set themselves up to play sitting on crates with a barrel between them. They were only three moves into their game when Lord James reappeared with Adelaide and her healer.

“Here. Take her. I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain. Now call off Timothy,” Lord James said, in a voice dripping with vitriol, before he turned to go.

“Not yet,” Martin called back, making the earl pause. “Not until The Wind Song leaves in peace.”

Lord James turned slowly to face Martin, staring him down with violent promise. But all he said was, “Fine.” Again, he turned to go.

Martin prayed that was the last they ever saw of him.

Isabella ran to her sister, helping the healer settle her on some sacks of grain, leaning her back against the forecastle, until Halfred returned.

Fortunately, Halfred came back swiftly. “The Angelus can take you to Winchelsea, my lord. I’ve booked you two cabins. It departs within the hour.”

Arrangements made, they wended their way along the docks to his friend’s ship. Halfred carried Lady Adelaide in his arms because she was too faint and feverish to walk.

Martin greeted the captain as the ladies got settled belowdecks.

“I hear congratulations are in order, my lord,” said Captain Samuel, a man close to his own age with sandy hair that he tied back beneath a striped cloth. The captain made frequent stops at Winchelsea, and they’d known each other for years.

“Indeed. I’m a married man, if you can believe it.”

“Best wishes to you and your new wife,” Captain Samuel said with a little bow. “We’ll get you home safe and sound. From what Halfred told me, you’ve had quite an eventful journey so far.”

“I’ll tell you all about it over a tankard of ale once we’re underway, but first, I must see to my wife.”

“As you wish. My ship is yours.”

Martin made his way belowdecks just as Isabella closed the door of her sister’s cabin behind her.

“How is she?” Martin asked, seeing the distraught look on Isabella’s face.

“Still feverish, but she’s sleeping now. The healer is with her.”

“Does that mean that you and I can have a private moment to ourselves in our cabin?”

Isabella crossed her arms and shook her head. “Wicked man.” But she was smiling, and Martin could see her blush even in the meager lanternlight that bathed everything around them in gold.

“I was merely inviting you to finish our game of chess. What did you think I had in mind?” he asked, all innocence.

She grabbed his arm and hauled him into their empty cabin, right beside Adelaide’s.

As soon as the door shut behind them, she pulled him into an embrace.

“If you attempt to play chess with me, husband, I’ll devise such tortures that you’ll spend the rest of eternity begging for mercy.

It is time to finish what you started last night. ”

“Oh? You want to write more letters?”

“Don’t toy with me. You know what I need, even if I’m not sure I do.”

Her fingernails raked down his back, and his whole body came to attention. “Are you sure, Isabella? We could always wait until Winchelsea.”

“I want a true wedding night, and I want it now. Here. With you. I want you as my husband in truth, to have and to hold until death do us part. Is that plain enough for you?”

It most certainly was. Heady pleasure and need flooded through him as he locked the latch on the door. Oh, how he’d dreamed of this! From the moment he’d met her, he’d been smitten, and now she was truly going to be his in every sense. And now it was time at last.