Surrender the Heart (43 page)

As far as Marianne could see, an endless, pointless future extended out before her like a dark tunnel that sped to hell but never quite arrived.

Closing her eyes against the pounding in her head, she struggled to sit. Daniel had told her God had a great purpose for everyone. If this was hers, she wondered if she could politely decline.

“Miss Denton!”

Rising, she ran her fingers through her hair—still damp from the thousand tears she’d shed—and tried to pin it up. Then attempting to press the wrinkles from her skirts, she took a deep breath and gathered the resolve she needed to face her bleak future. God had a destiny for her all right. It just wasn’t a very pleasant or important one.

Opening her door, she headed toward the captain’s cabin. Nodding at the marine guard, she stepped into the lion’s den.

Where vile curses curled her ears.

“Where have you been, Miss Denton?” Slouching in one of his chairs, the captain lifted a hand to squeeze the bridge of his nose.
“Lieutenant Garrick has disturbed my sleep with some rather unsettling news.”

Marianne felt the blood race from her heart. She stepped forward and followed the captain’s gaze to see Lieutenant Garrick standing behind the open door.

Instead of the usual smirk on his mouth, a red gash slashed across his swollen bottom lip while a dark purple blotch marred his left jaw and spread upward to cover his bloated cheek.

Marianne suppressed a smile. “What news, Captain?”

Garrick shifted his weight, his eyes fuming. “Do you see that? She smiles.”

“Perhaps she finds amusement in your clownish appearance.” Captain Milford released a long sigh and rubbed his temples. No doubt he suffered from his overindulgence in drink last night. “How ridiculous you appear, sir. A lieutenant in His Majesty’s Navy allowing himself to be assaulted by ignorant Americans—and on board a warship. Absurd!”

Garrick’s chest heaved. His face reddened.

“Captain, allow me to fetch your breakfast,” Marianne offered. “You don’t look well.”

“I don’t feel well either!” Grunting, he inched to the edge of his chair and rose. “Miss Denton, it appears some of the crew escaped last night.”

“Oh?” She forced innocence into her tone despite the angst churning in her gut.

“Lieutenant Garrick believes you were complicit in their plans … may have even aided them?” The captain’s stern voice held a hint of disbelief as he ambled to the center of the cabin.

Garrick fumbled with the bicorn in his hand. He glared her way.

“Me?” Marianne swallowed. “That’s absurd. Who escaped?”

“The men from your merchant ship and a few others of my crew.”

Marianne twisted the ring on her finger. “Indeed?” She feigned shortness of breath and clutched a hand to her chest. “They left me.” Yet she didn’t have to feign the pain burning in her heart.

The captain pressed a hand to his side. “Those loathsome rebels! I’ll have them all hanged when I find them!”

Marianne looked down, holding her breath.

“It’s the treasonous wench you should hang, Captain.” Garrick gestured toward her. “She assisted them.”

“Me?” Marianne clutched her throat. “How could I have helped them? I was tucked in my bed all night.” She cringed at the lie, but it couldn’t be helped.

Garrick’s jaw stiffened. “Captain, I implore you. Lock her up at once.”

“Preposterous!” Captain Milford gave an incredulous snort. “She’s but a silly woman and certainly incapable of such treachery. I’ll hear no more of it.” He studied Garrick. “But you!” He crooked a thick finger toward the lieutenant. “Allowing ill-bred Yankees to beat you and then escape beneath your nose. Shame on you, sir!”

Lieutenant Garrick looked as though he would explode. Even his red hair seemed aflame atop his head. “Four against one, Captain.”

“Fully armed, you couldn’t subdue a cow.” The captain huffed. “If it weren’t for the money your father pays me to keep you here—or should I say to keep you away from home—I’d have tossed you back to Portsmouth long ago.”

Marianne blinked at the news, amazed that such arrangements were made. However, it did offer an explanation as to why the captain tolerated a rogue like Lieutenant Garrick.

Garrick’s eyes simmered. “But I
am
here, Captain. And you do accept the payment.”

“Do not test me, sir.” Captain Milford seethed. “Or I may find the extra coins have lost their luster.”

A moment of silence passed between them before the captain waved a hand in dismissal. “Send in the watchmen who were on deck last night. Drunk on duty. I’ll have them all flogged!”

Marianne’s stomach curdled.
Flogged?
Because of her. Because she’d tempted them with rum. Maybe she should confess—tell the captain it was her fault. Perhaps he’d lessen their punishment.

Or perhaps he’d have her flogged right alongside them. Or worse. Perhaps he’d realize her complicity in the escape and have her hanged. She bit her lip.
Lord, please do not let him punish those men
.

Grinding his teeth together, Mr. Garrick turned to leave, then stopped. “What of the deserters, Captain?”

“I have no time to search for them now.” Swerving about, the captain stared out the stern windows where the first rays of the sun seemed to hesitate, cowering, outside the panes. “We must get underway. As soon as the supplies arrive, prepare the ship to sail. I’ll be on deck shortly. And you, Miss Denton, bring me my blasted tea and biscuit!”

Lieutenant Garrick donned his hat and knuckled a salute before he stormed from the room. Marianne followed him out and shut the door before she realized her error. Halfway down the passageway, the lieutenant turned on her. His eyes boiled like lava. “I know you helped them,” he spat out through his swollen lips.

Marianne cleared the tremble from her voice. “You know no such thing, Mr. Garrick.”

He snorted and a sultry grin formed on his lips. “Your fiancé left you, eh? No one around to stand up for you anymore.” He ran a finger over her cheek and she stepped back.

“I’ll find proof that you helped your friends escape and when I do, you’ll have to choose between me and the noose.”

Marianne shuddered. The noose would win. But she dared not anger him further by telling him so.

With a coarse chuckle, he turned and marched away.

Marianne released the breath that had stuck in her throat. Her future looked bleak. Bleak indeed.

From her position at the stern, Marianne gazed at the island of Antigua as it faded to gray in the distance. Somewhere on that island were Noah, Luke, and the others. At least she hoped they had made it safely to shore.

And weren’t locked in some horrid British prison.

A shiver coursed through her, and she gripped her belly. Daniel’s sweet face filled her mind, and she chided herself for thinking only of her own poor predicament. Thank God he and his father were finally off this ship. And Weller and Luke. And of course Noah. He had been brutalized aboard this ship because of her. Now he was free. For that she was grateful.

Oh, why hadn’t she simply jumped overboard? Wouldn’t it have been better to drown than suffer her present fate? She had wanted to. Had desperately wanted to trust Noah.

I am a coward. A coward who trusts no one
.

The ship bucked and she braced her feet against the deck. A gust of brine-scented wind whipped her hair and cooled the perspiration on her neck. Above her, the sun inched toward its high command for the day. The captain would be wanting his noon meal soon. His commands blared across the ship from his position on the quarterdeck. No doubt he was still furious about the escape.

She couldn’t help but smile. But it quickly faded as a vision of the pleading look on Noah’s face crossed her mind. He said he’d come back for her.

But as the island sunk below the horizon and dropped out of sight—just as Noah had done over the railing—she knew that would not be possible. Even if he connected with his merchant ship, even if he could convince his men to pursue the HMS
Undefeatable
, Noah’s ship was no match for a British frigate. That much she had learned.

Besides, who would try to defeat a ship named
Undefeatable?

Especially to free an ordinary woman like her.

No. There would be no rescue party coming to save her. She was destined to serve Captain Milford aboard this ship of horrors for as long as God determined. And from the looks of things, that may be a long time indeed.

Unless, of course, she was hanged for aiding in the men’s desertion.

Lieutenant Garrick’s threat reignited her fear. She would do her best to avoid being alone with him, but eventually he would trap her. That, too, she must accept.

The captain barked at her and headed down the quarterdeck stairs. Releasing the mast, Marianne turned, all life and hope draining out of her feet onto the deck as she followed him below.

Noah clutched Matthew’s hand and swung over the bulwarks. Planting his sandy feet on the deck—his deck, the deck of the
Fortune
—he embraced his friend. “I knew I could count on you.”

The man’s bald head gleamed in the morning sun nearly as bright as his smile. “Alls we had to do was follow you. I knew ye’d find a way to escape sooner or later.”

“How did you find us?” Noah and his men had been hiding in a clump of trees on the southwest side of Antigua, living off coconut milk and crabs for three days.

Luke clambered over the railing, followed by Weller, Blackthorn, and Daniel.

“I figured if you escaped when the ship anchored, you’d be somewhere away from the Brits hiding amongst the trees. All I had to do was sail real slow-like around the island till I spotted your signal fire.” He winked.

Noah stretched his back, still raw from the flogging.

Daniel’s eyes lit up. “So this is your ship, Mr. Noah?”

“Yes, it is.” He tousled the boy’s hair and scanned the deck as his crew swamped him with greetings.

“We thought you was gone for sure, Cap’n,” Mr. Rupert said.

“Good to have you back, sir,” Mr. Pike shouted.

“What’s it like on one of them British frigates?” another sailor asked.

“Thank you all.” Noah scanned his men. “Not a pleasant experience, I assure you.”

Blackthorn eased beside Noah and shook the water from his hair, reminding Noah of a wet bear. “Nice ship, Brenin.”

Noah smiled.

“Weller made it back without losing any more of his fingers!” Mr.
Rupert said, and they all chuckled.

Agnes emerged from the crowd and absorbed Noah in her fleshy arms, nearly squeezing the life from him. “I was so worried about you, son.” She held him back and took a good look at him. Noah felt a blush rising up his neck.

“A bit skinny, but you look well.” She slapped his belly then glanced over at Luke and the others. “Where’s Miss Denton?”

Noah opened his mouth to tell her, but the words withered on his lips.

“We had to leave her behind.” Luke frowned.