Nicole, he called. She jumped, startled at the sound of his voice.
Captain Sutherland!
He touched the rim of his hat in greeting.
She flushed, and he found himself enjoying the look of her finely boned face and the way the blue scarf accented her eyesuntil she turned abruptly in another direction.
Derek reined his mount around and was right beside her. Nicole, he began in a low voice, I dropped the charges against your father. I have nothing to do with his being held.
She froze.
Facing him again, she came closer, eyes narrowed as she studied him.
I also know your fathers bail was denied.
She reached out and stroked his horses muzzle in what was probably an unconscious gesture. He liked seeing her small, gloved hand against the horses black coat.
How could you know that?
I think I might have information that could help you, he said, glancing around.
She leaned forward and raised her eyebrows.
Not here, Nicole, he said with a patronizing smile. Youll have to come to my ship if you want to learn more.
He expected her to say something cutting. She certainly looked like she would. Instead, she paused, erased her irritated look, and cast him a wide smile brimming with charm and false pleasure. Fine. My large friendyou know, the one from this morningand I can come around nine or so
His lips turned up in an indulgent expression. Just you.
Well, of course I wont
You will, Nicole, because the curiosity will torment you.
He left her alone in the street, a baffled look on her face that was probably similar to his own. When shed smiled before, a great change came over her face. Hed seen it the first night on his ship, but hadnt fully appreciated the effect. Now, in the daylight with her glossy hair shining around her face, all her unique features teamed up on him with that smile.
If the wind had blown at that moment, hed have fallen off his horse.
She wouldnt go, Nicole told herself for the hundredth time. She knew better than to return to Sutherlands ship. So why was she already contriving a plan to get Chancey away for the night? As if to punctuate her guilty thoughts, he walked into the salon.
How was it with yer gram? he asked as he took off his coat and slumped in a large, rough-hewn chair. Hed been making all the last-minute preparations by himself, and his already wizened face bagged with exhaustion.
She wasnt that bad, Nicole said, but then amended, Well, she was fairly bad. But not as Ive feared all these years. Of course, she bad-mouthed Father for three hours, cackled about his incarceration, and derided my manners. But she did gruffly tell me wonderful stories about Mama.
Im glad for that, at least. I didnt like ye goin against yer father to go there, but it was time. He pulled out his pipe and tobacco. Did she give ye the blunt?
On the condition that I marry a man of her choosing within a year, but yes, she did. She sank down in a chair beside him and briefly closed her eyes. I tried for bail. But it was denied.
Chancey didnt hide his disbelief. Fer what?
They told me a lot of lies about other crimes hes allegedly committed. Added on some nonsense about citizens from other countries being detained much longer.
Well, aint this crackin up to be a bad day.
What else happened?
Clankson came by lookin for yer pa.
Clankson of Clankson Emporiums?
Thats the one. Seems he got caught up with the rest o London. Hes bettin the race with the Bella Nicola to win. Bettin heavy. And if Jason dont win, Clanksons pullin his accounts.
Nicoles breath whistled out. Clankson Emporiums constituted half their business. If he pulls out, our company is dead in the water. She gave a shaky laugh that held no humor. And that would beliterally.
Shed known how important a win would be, but until now shed had no idea that their very existence depended on this race. Everything her father owned was leveraged to the penny, and if Clankson pulled his accounts, the shipping line would collapse like a house made of cards. And considering how Nicoles mother had died, her grandmother wouldnt raise a finger to help save their ships.
Chancey grew quiet, his pipe forgotten. Nic, I gotta tell ye, I just dont know what our next move should be.
She swallowed hard. Sutherland approached me today.
And?
He said hed dropped the charges against Father, and that hed learned the bail was being denied. He told me he had information about it.
Chancey put his elbows on his knees and edged forward. Well, go on .
He wouldnt tell me there. Chancey, it has to be him whos doing this. How would he know otherwise?
It dont look good for him, Ill say that. But men like Sutherland often have their fingers in a lot o peoples pies. He probably knows just about everythin what goes on about the quay from hauntin the taverns as he does.
If not him, then who?
Lord Tallywood, he answered. He sat back and crossed his thick arms across his chest as if defensive about his answer.
That popinjay? She thought of the effete dandy who for some reason liked racing clippers as much as fashion.
Popinjay or no, hes atop yer fathers list o whos behind the damaged ships. The more I think o it, the more me gut tells me that whoevers doin this now is in on the sabotage, too, and it makes sense that its one man. Yer father was supposed to be a prime target in that, too. And hes been expectin some kind o assault since the first one. This is as damagin to the lineand easier, to boot.
Nicole called up the image of the pale, doughy-fleshed captain and shook her head. Ive seen TallywoodI admit he had a shifty demeanor, but he also looked as if hed faint being around Clive and Pretty, much less being the boss they talked of. It had to be Sutherland. Tallywoods greatest crime would be wearing the same waistcoat as another fop to a soireethe horror! Why wont you even consider Sutherland?
Yer father hates the man, but even he dont think its him. All thats gone on is underhanded. Sutherland may be a dangerous man, and he may not be a good man, but Im not gettin the feelin that hed do a low thin like this.
Nicole stood and walked to the grate. She frownedthey were completely out of fuel. Were circumstances that dire here? She turned back to him, standing against the dying heat of the stove. Fathers bail is denied, and Sutherland just happens to know of it on the day it happened? He had the information before I did. I cant see why you wont believe hes a suspect. Is he or is he not Fathers worst rival?
Aye, he is, Chancey answered reluctantly. But