Tupper blinked in shock at James. “She’s where?” she hissed. The rumbling of the crew behind her grew louder.
“At the time, I believed the safest place for her was in private quarters. How many of those do you believe there to be on a warship?”
Tupper crossed her arms over her chest. She was having a hard time believing what she was hearing. “Have you told her you intend to hang her?”
The muscle in James’s check pulsed. “Leave it to you to simplify the most complicated situation. No, but I will. She’s only just regained consciousness. When the time is right, I’ll break the news to her.” He went back to his work. “I’m personally supervising her care. It only made sense to put in her in my bed. I just left her, and she’s resting comfort—”
“Your bed?” Tupper rubbed her ear. They say the hearing is the first thing to go when you get old. She couldn’t have heard him right.
Bump tapped on her arm, asking her what the Englishman had said. It didn’t take a mind reader to know what was going on behind Bump’s concerned scowl. Tupper was one of the few people who could read his emotions like a book. Bump cared for Sam. He cared deeply. By the look in his eye, too deeply. When the hell had this happened? They spent a total of two minutes together. Dammit. This was all her fault. She had asked for Bump’s help; pushed them together. She couldn’t have guessed he’d fall for the girl. Not this damn quick.
And now, hearing James, he’d given up his bed? Or was he joining her there? Hadn’t he said he’d known Sam before? He’d been angry…and vague. How well had they been acquainted? Had they been lovers? Bloody hell. Was Samantha Christian some kind of siren? A silkie in breeches? The woman had both these men rushing to care for her, making allowances, risking their lives and reputations for her. Wanting to rescue her, each in their own suit of shining armor.
If it weren’t so futile, it would all be extremely chivalrous, but the truth of it all was neither Bump nor James could save Sam from the fate awaiting her.
James glanced at Bump. “Assure him she’s being well cared for.”
She relayed the message, mumbling. “I doubt knowing where she is receiving that care will assure him in the least.”
Tupper returned to her cell after James was finished with Bump. The rest of the crew processed easily. None had anything to say in their defense. These men held little stock in living long, healthy lives. None had family or loved ones who would likely stand and weep over their bodies. Of course, like her, she’d wager they’d rather have met their end in battle. Seemed more honorable than being dipped in hot tar and hung in a gibbet.
When James and his men left, one of the crew, Chester Allan, called over to her from their cell. “Capt’n? The men and me got a question burnin’ holes through us.”
Tupper was tired. She’d stretched out on the floor and pulled her hat down over her eyes. “Can it wait?”
Another man raised his voice. “It bloody well can’t.”
She pushed the brim of her hat off her nose. A thread of unease circled up her spine. “Butler, is that you griping?”
“Aye, ye lied te us.” He slammed a fist on the bars.
Tupper got to her feet and looked toward the men’s cell. A small group had gathered at the front. “Yer sober. Ye don’t know what yer saying. Go sit down.”
“I’m sober all right. Ain’t been so clear-headed in six months, but it’s got me hearin’ things pretty damn clear too. Things I ne’re thought te hear.”
“Shut yer hole, Butler,” MacTavish grumbled. He sat with his eyes closed and his beefy arms folded over his chest. “Some of us be needin’ our beauty sleep.”
“Don’t ye want te hear how she’s tricked us?” piped Allan.
Tupper shook her head. “What are you babbling on about?”
Butler pressed his face through the bars. “New lad ye dragged aboard in te middle of the night. He ain’t a he. Is he?”
Blast. Tupper waved his suggestion away. “Are ye sure yer sober there, Butler? Sure be talkin’ like a watered sot.”
He pointed toward the table where James had sat. “Just heard ye wit that fancy capt’n. I ain’t deef like Bump, ye know.”
“I heard it, too,” Allan added, nodding like an albatross.
“Explains why were sittin’ here waitin’ fer a noose.” Butler shook at the door. His voice raising. “Ye cursed us! Bitches be bad luck, and ye dragged one aboard under our noses te doom the whole stinkin’ lot of us.”
Tupper yelled back, “I’m a bitch, ye great superstitious fool.”
Allan kept nodding, spurring Butler on. “Maybe been pressing our luck this whole time trustin’ a woman te our fate, and one more of yer like pushed us off the edge.”
“Luck or no, ain’t the point. Tupper lied to us.” Butler pointed an accusing finger through the bars at her. “Don’t be denyin’ it.” He turned back to the others. “All these years and this is how she plants a blade in our backs.”
“I didn’t stab any of ye in the back,” Tupper countered. “The girl was in trouble. Be dead if she didn’t get away from Virginia.”
Another man, Peters, stood up along with the others. “An’ now we all be dead, ‘cause of ‘er.”
Tupper shook her head. She needed to defuse this before the lot of them turned on her. “The Lion was on our tail before Sam came aboard. She didn’t cause any of this.”
MacTavish stood up, planting his hands on his hips and scowling at her. Friend or no, she’d deceived him too. His anger simmered below the surface. “Why didn’t ye put it te a vote?” The look on his face asked another question. Why didn’t ye trust me?
“There wasn’t time. I made a decision. Right or wrong, it’s done. I didn’t want to hide it from you, but I feared for the girl.”
Allan continued to stir up the waters. “Bump knew. Didn’t he? He was part of that there conversation.” He waggled a finger toward her.
“You two ‘ave always been in thick as thieves,” Peters added.
MacTavish shoved him. “We’re all thieves, ye dumb fuk.”
“Can’t trust neither of ‘em,” Butler grumbled.
Bump sat resting in the rear of the cell, eyes closed. He’d never had a problem defending himself, but a band of angry men was a dangerous powder keg. If Tupper didn’t keep their anger directed at her, Bump could be in trouble. “Listen to me. Bump didn’t know anything ‘til we were well on our way. He figured it out on his own, but by then it was too late to turn back. He had nothing to do with any of it. It was me. Ye’ve a right to be sore at me. I take full responsibility for my actions. If we ever see ourselves back aboard the Night, ye can vote me off. I’ll split my share among the lot of ye as compensation.”
Butler crossed his arms over his chest. “Like we’re e’er gonna see that day.”
“Ye’re lucky you an’ her ain’t in here wit us. That’s all I’m sayin,’” puffed Allan.
“Lass took a blade in te fight,” pointed out MacTavish. He’d turned away from Tupper, but still defended the girl. “Seems te me, she already gave her due.”
“Not from where I’m standin,’” glared Butler.