Chapter Twenty-Three #2
Silence filled the carriage the whole way home. Fine with her. She leaned against the window, rubbing her pounding temples.
When they drove up the drive, several footmen raced out to meet them. “Mr. Warstein, come quickly.”
Her uncle jumped to the ground and Samantha scrambled out after him, yanking up her skirts to keep up.
The butler met them on the steps, his face drawn tight.
Her uncle frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“We’ve been robbed.”
*
The muted light of dawn filtered through the window and Samantha rolled over to stare at the empty spot on her desk.
She hadn’t slept, and her head still pounded.
Anna had brought her a pot of tea at some point in the night when it became clear she wouldn’t be going to bed.
She poured a new cup of lukewarm brew and sipped it.
After Anna had left, she’d added a tansy tea sachet.
The earthiness filled her mouth and she scrunched her nose before downing the rest of it.
After her encounter with Christian last night, best to make sure there would be no consequences of their night on the beach.
No reason to have anything tie her to him.
Still, her hand drifted across her belly as a pang sliced through her battered heart.
A commotion came from downstairs and she jumped out of bed. Dropping to her hands and knees, she pulled a bundle from under it. Her blouse and breeches. When she’d returned, she’d washed them herself and stashed them away.
She dressed quickly and braided her hair. Her fingers touched her pocket, pressing into the folded parchment there. Thank goodness she’d separated the maps as well.
When she opened the door, the sound of sobbing reached her, and she raced downstairs. The door to her uncle’s study was open and she didn’t slow down, bursting inside.
She drew to a halt and blinked.
Tommy hunched on his knees in front of her uncle and Griff. He twisted toward her and burst into fresh sobs when he saw her.
“I’m s—so s—sorry.” He let out another wail and she glanced to her uncle.
He gave her a silent perusal, then sighed. “You were right. It was an inside job.”
Of course it was. Only her crew knew about the conch. So when it was stolen, she’d told him to question the men.
But, Tommy?
She crossed over and crouched down next to him. “Why?”
The boy let out a hiccup. “H—he said he would kill them.”
Her stomach tightened. “What are you talking about?”
“T—Thorne. He t—told me if I didn’t tell him where the map was, he’d kill my ma and pa.” Tears streamed down his cheeks. “I swear, Capt’n, I didn’t want to tell him.”
She stood and met her uncle’s hard gaze. Deep inside, she’d known Thorne to be behind the break-in. Her heart gave a dull thud in her chest. With both halves of the map, the pirate captain was free to collect his treasure.
Unless she got it first.
She patted Tommy’s shoulder. “It’s alright. You did the right thing. Thorne would have followed through with his threat and your family is far more important than my half of the map.” Extending her hand, she pulled him to his feet. “Besides, I don’t need it. I made a copy.”
She slid the map from her pocket and unfolded it.
Tommy blinked at her, then grinned. “So we still have a chance?”
Samantha purposely avoided looking at her uncle.
“We’d have to move fast. Thorne is a smart man, he’ll figure out the location soon.
” He likely had his crew scouring maps as they spoke.
It wouldn’t take long for him to figure out which bit of coastline to sail to.
“But we know right where it is. There’s a chance. ”
She cringed, waiting for Uncle Henry’s disapproval. She’d pleaded with him since the day they got back. He’d steadfastly refused. Said it was too dangerous without knowing where Thorne was. That they would bide their time.
He remained silent.
Griff cleared his throat. “She’s right. We could pull it off.”
“I’m not letting her sail back out there. Not after what happened before.”
Griff took the map from her and traced a finger along the line. “If we move quickly, we could be there by this afternoon. Be in and out in a few hours.”
“You two already lost one of my best ships. I don’t have anything in the harbor with even half the number of guns the Raven had.”
“It’s a risk.” Griff’s eyes gleamed and her heart soared. He wanted to go.
“Mother and Father died trying to find that treasure. Thorne killed them over it. If he gets his hands on it . . .” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “It just feels wrong.”
Uncle Henry ran a hand through his hair. “That blasted treasure is the only thing your father talked about for years. When he got his hands on the map, I’d never seen him so excited. If it’s even half the size he claimed, it’ll be the biggest haul we’ve had.”
She twisted her fingers together. Say yes.
He frowned. “I have a meeting today with the governor. I don’t like the thought of you sailing out for it without me.”
She held her breath while he turned to Griff. “In and out?” Griff nodded and her uncle faced her. “Don’t make me regret this.”
She dashed over and threw her arms around his neck with a little squeal. “I promise!”
“And Griff will be captaining.”
It didn’t matter. Tommy could captain for all she cared. The chance to find Read’s Revenge, to steal it out from under Thorne, was reward enough.
“We’re going?” Tommy looked between them all and Griff nodded. With a whoop, the boy threw his fist into the air.
“Go gather the crew. Tell them to meet at the docks. We sail in an hour.” Griff turned to her. “Do you have another rapier?”
She scoffed. “Of course.” Not as fine as the one she lost during Thorne’s attack, but it would do.
“Go get it.”
Minutes later, she sat next to him on his wagon. He slapped the reins and glanced over at her. “People may recognize you.”
She twisted her braid and tucked it up under her hat. How exhilarating it must have been for Mary Read back in the day. To stroll into town with no disguise. To not care if people recognized her.
“Thorne’s men may be watching us as we speak. If he follows us . . .”
“If he follows us, we lead him astray. Post extra men in the crow’s nest. We’ll need the extra eyes.” She stared ahead as they rode through town, refusing to meet the shocked gazes of onlookers as they careened by. “And we’ll have to be quick.”
He pulled the horses to a stop and gave instructions to a dock hand to take them to one of her uncle’s warehouses.
Jumping to the ground, Samantha headed toward the great wooden docks and took in the ships there.
Her uncle leased the spot at the end, his ships always ready to sail at a moment’s notice.
A large sloop floated there today. Similar in size to the brigantine and single-masted with fore and aft sails. She would handle similarly. Only seven guns per side. Didn’t matter. Even if outfitted with more cannons, the ship wouldn’t stand a chance against the Reckoning.
Griff shouted orders and the men aboard jumped into action. Chaos marked the next half hour as crew poured onto the ship. Samantha did a walkabout, checking sheeting and rigging lines, inspecting pulleys, and running her hands across weathered wood. She was an old ship, but sturdy and sound.
Samantha glanced at the navy ships anchored in the river. Three brigantines. Not as flashy as the Falcon, but no surprise there. The government hadn’t many ships to spare these days. These three were likely commissioned from merchants.
Three ships. At least a hundred men each. Possibly double. Together, they would destroy any pirates they came across. Even Thorne couldn’t possibly stand a chance against that fleet. And what of her uncle? Could he continue to keep his anonymity?
She turned away from the scene and took a steadying breath. No use worrying about it right now. He’d spent the last decade evading capture, keeping his identity hidden. He’d have a plan.
He’d better.