Chapter 37
St. Katharine’s Docks, London
Noelle had held in her hopes enough to not let them rise.
With the combined efforts of the Earl of Westmoreland, his younger brother, and Sir Tristan Valentine, with assistance from Lord Harwick, (the Marquess Fitz had called “pennniless” turned out to have a secret shipping venture), they’d located The North Star, pulling rank enough to ask to search.
But after a thorough sweep of the vessel, the Marquess reported that there was no sign of Fitz.
Noelle and Olivia and Moria had accompanied them, but Jasper had asked that they remain on the dock.
When he turned over his shoulder to look back at them where they stood at the dock linked arm in arm, Noelle had been glad her bonnet hid most of her face.
Then a cry rang out among the ship’s crew.
“It’s her! Quayside!”
“Adelaide!”
Her pulse thundered at being recognized.
Her relations as well as the ship’s crewmen had all turned in the direction of Noelle, the curls of her dark wig tumbling out of her bonnet, her red dress unmistakable.
The lie had now gained such momentum that her own character was recognized by ship crew men.
Her cheeks started to heat at the absurdity.
Fitz would have been beside himself, but he wasn’t here to see it.
She would let the momentum of that lie carry, for him.
She made a show of waving back at the sailors in return. He’d have loved that little bit of pageantry too.
“Adelaide! Who's the beauty next to ye?” One of them called out as he gestured to Moria.
“Adelaide, what brings ye to the docks?”
“Cor! That’s a face and figure worth writin’ shanties about, lads!”
“Are ye looking for another Swindle?”
And a chorus of other lewd words that Noelle didn’t fully comprehend but blushed prettily at the sensation of being known by ship crewmen and housekeepers who had read her books causing her to blush as much as their words.
Months ago, she’d hidden away, she’d been the shy wallflower. But he’d given her this. She’d do whatever she had to do to save Fitz.
The ship's captain commanded silence. She relinquished her companion’s arm and stepped onto the gangplank assertively placing hands on padded hips.
Her large skirts billowed around with the force of the wind, putting the ship’s own sails to shame.
With a hand, she removed her bonnet and brushed the dark hair of her wig out of her face.
“Gentlemen,” she drawled the word but added more forceful clarity to the words that followed.
“Perhaps you may be of assistance? I seek a fair-haired young man…tall and large of shoulder, bearing one earring and a strong resemblance to one Lord Swindle,” she held up the illustration torn from her book, “If you have seen such a young man, please step forward.”
Those who accompanied her marveled at the couture-clad lady warrior in front of them, so different from the girl they thought they’d known.
The crewmen either avoided her eyes or looked from one to the other.
But no one stepped forward. The lady-in-red must assuredly have felt dejected, but she didn’t show as much.
Strength and confidence were strung through her posture.
Calm was etched on her features like she hadn’t nearly vomited in the carriage from nerves a few moments prior until the foreboding man now behind her had handed her his flask.
An elderly washwoman stepped forward, wringing her hands. “He was ‘ere, me lady. But I helped him escape.”
“You what?” several sailors turned to look at her.
“Let her speak.” When the Marquess stepped forward, the men fell back. No one wanted to anger a peer of the realm, so no one spoke.
“He said he had to get to you, me’lady. I snuck him out in the linen cart just a couple of hours ago.”
Disappointed groans went up among the others. “Lord Swindle himself was ‘ere and you let him escape.”
Noelle reached out and hugged the washwoman.
Propriety be damned. Besides, if her enigma was to be believed, Adelaide came from stock no better than the woman before her.
“Thank you,” she said, “You helped him when you didn’t have to and at great risk to yourself. Should you ever have need of it, please call upon my publisher for assistance.”
The older woman blinked up at her, sea blue eyes in a face that was awash with wrinkles and selfless worry. “But ‘ow will ye find him?”
Adelaide smiled. “I tracked him here, didn’t I?”