Chapter 24

As the day drew to an end no one came knocking on the door. They made love again later in the afternoon, ensuring the noise they made kept everyone away.

Alex wanted to escape more than he could bear, but he knew they had to wait. He needed to place his faith in Jacob. They might not survive in the water for hours—his condition for one, sharks for another—so the closer they were to the Angelica before jumping overboard, the better.

Alex could feel his head clearing, but he was still not as strong as he’d like. He stood at the porthole for fresh air every now and then. His head was slowly clearing.

Finally he saw what he’d been hoping for all day. A sail. The Angelica was not far behind them. They would have to act fast, because if the sailors spotted the ship following they would come knocking on the door to alert Murad.

Just as that thought had entered his head, a rap sounded at the door. Hestia panicked and knocked over the opium pipe.

The knock came again, more urgent.

Alex walked heavily to the door and in a voice he hoped matched Murad’s, he spoke in Turkish. “Who dares interrupt me?” His two years in captivity had allowed him to learn Turkish. Back then, he’d quickly realized it was safer to know what those around him were saying.

The reply was from Murad’s first mate. “The lord’s ship is following us, my master.”

Alex copied Murad’s laugh. “Is he, by Allah? Turn the ship around. We will fight the infidel and each man can keep whatever he captures.” He indicated to Hestia to moan loudly. “Come and get me when we are in cannon range.”

“Yes, my sultan,” came the reply as the footsteps moved away.

He turned to Hestia. She looked so beautiful lying on the bed, her naked body one of the most wondrous sights he’d ever seen in this world.

“I have a plan, but it will only work if you do everything I say. It’s a stroke of luck I’ve managed to get this ship turned around to engage the Angelica, as we will be closer when we have to jump overboard. The downside is the men could fire upon the ship and an all-out battle could commence.”

“So we wait to sail closer and dive over the side.”

He pulled the caftan over his head, then moved behind the screen to Murad’s body and removed his turban. The blood had dried and it was only on one side. He brushed off as much of the caked blood as he could. When he put it on he tried to hide all his fair hair under it.

He returned from behind the screen.

“From a distance, with your back to them, you’ll fool most men.”

He nodded. “Jumping is dangerous from this height; it would be better if we could lower a boat.”

Hestia put on her silk garment. “What if we can’t? We won’t have much time before they realize you are not Murad.”

“But maybe enough time for me to throw over a rope ladder and keep them at bay until you climb down far enough to make a safe dive.”

Her eyes narrowed. “And then you’ll dive as well?”

“Eventually, yes, but if I could disable the ship in some way first, it would give the Angelica time to collect you and sail safety away.”

“Disable? On your own?”

“I have a plan to set fire to the ship by setting this room ablaze and locking the door when we leave. It should be well alight before anyone realizes.”

Hestia folded her arms. “Smart. I like that idea. But whatever we do, we do it together.”

He took a moment to work out how to approach this delicate situation. “I want you to survive. You deserve to survive. You are only in this situation because of me—”

“No. Because of my father, actually.”

Damn. “Well, I should have left you in England.”

“But you were right. The only way to protect me was to take me with you. Fredrick would have married me by now if I’d remained in England. And likely killed me.”

Damn. “Well, you’re a lady, and it’s my duty to save you.”

“True, but there is no reason to do anything crazy and not save yourself as well.”

Damn. “Fine. We do it my way, and if I can save you and myself I will, but if I say go without me you must. I love you so much, and you might already carry my child.”

Her eyes lit with anger. “Why do you always try to push me away? You kept me at arm’s length for years, then you pushed me toward David; now you’re telling me I’d be better on my own. If you love me, for once can’t you fight for me—for us?”

Her words hit him like a cannonball. He’d been fighting all his life: first for his country, then for Tulay, then for himself, and every step of the way he’d lost a piece of himself. Didn’t she understand that if he lost her, he’d never survive, so he would try his very best to make sure she lived, even at the cost of his life?

Anger made his words come out harsher than he meant. “Let’s just concentrate on getting out of here. When I open the door, walk out. You will draw the guard’s eye, giving me enough time to kill him.”

“Fine, but if you don’t live through this, I swear I’ll never forgive you.” With that she moved to the door.

Alex gathered the pillows and other bedding and piled them on Murad’s body. They found a flint next to the opium pipe. He lit one small corner of a pillow, hoping it would give them enough time to get off the ship, but also spread a fire that would have the sailors focused on saving the ship rather than battling the Angelica.

Their plan worked perfectly. The guard went down with a blade stuck in his neck. Alex took a few precious seconds to search him for weapons. Only the large saber was in evidence, but it was better than nothing. He picked it up and took Hestia’s elbow.

“Look scared.”

“I am scared,” Hestia hissed.

Once they were on the deck, they saw men busy reacting to the first mate’s orders. They were loading cannons and opening up the sails. Alex hurried them to the railing and waved the saber in the air, calling out a Turkish war cry.

As he’d thought, the men saw only Hestia.

He moved farther to the stern and spied a rope ladder and, as luck would have it, a rowboat. He would prefer to be in the boat, because there was always the chance of sharks in these waters.

With no one watching he threw the ladder over the side, and with two swipes of the saber he cut the ropes securing the boat at each end, sending the rowboat tumbling toward the water. He’d right it when they reached the water, but God was smiling, for it landed the right way up with a major splash.

A few sailors’ eyes turned their way, but just when Alex thought they were in trouble, the first waft of smoke began pouring out of the hatchway.

“Jump on my back and put your arms around my neck. We need to get to the rowboat before it floats too far away.”

Soon they were in the water and swimming for the boat. A cry behind them rose loud and clear and Alex heard a musket fire. A small plop by his head saw him swim harder. Hestia was in front of him and he hoped she was out of range. Most of the men on deck were still loading cannons, while others ran to fight the fire.

Once they reached the boat, Alex pulled himself over the side, then turned to help Hestia. Men were still firing at them, but soon the flames were so high they had to stop and try to help.

The Angelica had altered course to come toward their rowboat, and Alex heaved a sigh of relief. Jacob had seen the fire and their boat, and understood his plan.

Alex took up the oars and began to row. Thankfully it was a calm sea and he made good progress toward his approaching ship.

They were nearing the Angelica, which had gone to anchor, when they heard a huge explosion behind them and Murad’s ship blew into a million pieces.

“The fire hit the powder kegs,” Alex said.

“There were two women on that ship that I know of. Will anyone survive?”

“I’ll get Jacob to sail the Angelica past the wreckage, and if there are any survivors we can pick them up, but it’s unlikely.”

He watched tears well in her eyes. “They didn’t have much of a life, and now they are dead.” Her tears started to fall. “But at least they are now free.”

They reached the ship and the rope ladder that had been thrown over the side. Hestia was still crying as they climbed to the deck. Jacob greeted them with a grim look on his face and quickly gave Hestia his jacket. He pointed to the horizon.

Alex followed his finger and saw sails—two or three ships.

“Best we get moving. We need to head for Corfu Town and rendezvous with Lord Pembroke’s ship. It’s safer in numbers.”

Jacob soon had the ship in full sail before Alex, looking through his spyglass, yelled. “Stop! It’s not pirates, it’s Stephen.”

The Marquis of Clevedon and his fleet of ships had finally arrived.

“Bloody late as usual,” grumbled Jacob.

“But now we should have safe passage home. With our two ships, the Angelica, the earl’s, plus Marquis’s three, no one is likely to pursue us.”