Dublin, two weeks later
“So Wesley Alton is really dead?” Kier asked Robert after the butler had placed a discreet silver flask of whiskey beside the tea service in the parlor and then left. “Did you check for sure no breath was left in him?”
“I did. So did Shauna’s brothers and cousin and half a dozen others.”
Shauna tried not to shudder at the memory. Even though she’d stayed on board the New Orleans, she had been able to see what occurred. Mr. Adler—no, Wesley Alton—diving into the murky water, surfacing, starting to swim, and then his body snapping back like the tip of an expertly wielded whip. Shane had jumped into the water to loosen whatever had snagged him, but she’d sensed it was already too late.
Fiona turned to Shauna and patted her hand. “How awful that you were almost sold to some old man to be part of a harem.”
She’d tried to put that out of her memory too. “I doona think it was worse than ye being committed to an insane asylum.”
“Neither are good options,” Robert remarked. “Let’s be thankful the bas—that man can’t every hurt either of you again.”
“True,” Kier said. “Tell me again how it happened. I want to make sure my ears heard it right.”
“I can tell you I do not mind repeating it,” Robert answered and described again what had taken place. “I always thought a cravat was a tedious and foolish piece of neck wear,” he said, “but it seems the damn thing has a good purpose. It strangled Alton. By the time Ian and Jamie pulled him out of the water, he was already gone.”
“And good riddance,” Kier said. “I have never met anyone so despicable and spiteful in my life. Not even the deceitful Lady Litton comes close—although I cannot believe she managed to dupe us both.”
Robert shrugged. “She does seem to have a talent for doing such, but she overplayed her hand trying to deceive the Astors.”
Kier nodded in agreement. “People like that tart become overconfident, but eventually they get their due. Even if I’ve lost my money, justice will be served.”
“Well, we should have a chance to remedy that situation,” Robert replied. “Jane had to have a good portion of your savings in her possession or the Astors would not have agreed to her scheme. Hopefully, you can get most of it back and I will be able to clear my name.”
“And Shauna and I will get to see New York,” Fiona said and turned to her sister. “It will be an adventure, won’t it?”
“Aye, it will.” Shauna smiled, remembering how keen Fiona had been on seeing London the first time. Sailing to New York would certainly be an adventure, but the adventure Shauna was looking forward to most involved spending the rest of her life with Captain Robert Henderson, the man she loved. He’d already taken her to the heights of passion she didn’t know existed.
She suspected he had a lot more of those adventures in store.