Stepping into his room, Isaac could swear he still smelled Flora. Strawberries and lavender filled the space, and he had a pleasant thought. Would their bedchamber always smell like this? Only if he found her before she could give away his fortune. Truly, he no longer cared about the ships and what they meant to the earldom. As long as he had her, he would find a place they could be happy, but if he could stop her from handing everything over, life would be much easier for everyone.
Unlocking his trunk, he flung open the lid and dug for the pistol buried within. Checking that it was safe to do so, he slid it into his pocket and rose.
As he stood, he glanced toward the window, hoping he would be able to find her. Had she gone to see the notorious ship captain or had Edinburgh's criminal found her first? Either way, she was in danger.
His gaze caught on something dark on the bed. He blinked, then scooted forward. Relief overcame him. Rushing over to the bed, he lifted the lid of the box to see his deeds on top. He breathed in sharply. He would still have a home to return to. Moving the papers aside, he noticed the box was still filled with jewelry.
Was it all there? There was no way to know for certain because it was a box of trinkets and gems that had belonged to his mother. He’d never seen them, but from what he could remember of his first night in Aberdeen, it was still filled to near the same capacity.
Fear gripped him. What was she going to give Drostan in payment for her brother’s life? What had she said to him? “If the debt isnae paid, he’ll force Bran to do his bidding until ’tis satisfied.” Then she had averted her gaze and refused to meet his eyes.
No. She wouldn’t.
But he knew the truth of it. She would do anything to protect those she loved. It was why she’d left his box here. She had to save her brother, and despite what Miss Clarke had made her believe, she cared for him as well. She was going to turn herself over in Bran’s place. He dropped the lid and dashed for the door, hoping it would not be too late.
Running from the inn, he almost plowed over the watchman. The one who had laughed at him the day he’d gone to report Flora and the same one who had come looking for her.
“Ooh, hold on there now.” Nigel held his hands up before Isaac could skirt past him. “I have something for ye.”
Nigel held out two emerald drop earrings. They looked vaguely familiar, but Isaac couldn’t place them.
“What’s this?” Isaac asked.
“It must be what Flora took from ye. She gave them to me to return to ye.”
“Where is she?”
“Down at the docks. I think she just convinced Alastair to cut tail and head back to Edinburgh. Glad she had me watch. I was a little worried about that man’s intentions.”
“Where is she now? You let her out of your sights?”
“She’s safe enough now. My men were watching to make sure he left, and she strolled down to the docks. He didn’t go that way.”
“Is Drostan’s ship still there?”
“Aye, but I did hear he plans to set sail soon.”
“You have to find William and Bran. Tell them to head down to Drostan’s ship. We have to stop him.”
“That’s the other thing. She insisted that I arrest Bran, insisted that he needed to be locked away now for his own safety.” Nigel laughed.
“What?”
“I told her I cannae do it without reason. Then she handed me this and told me he stole it from ye. Now, I’m pretty sure that was not the case, but I’m going to do as she asked because she made it sound as if he were in trouble.”
Isaac took a deep calming breath and shook his head.
“Do ye think she is still in danger?” Nigel asked.
“Yes. I do. Get William now. Send Bran somewhere safe,” Isaac instructed.
Although he felt like punching Bran right now, Isaac sprinted down toward the water, hoping he wasn’t too late.
He was aware that Drostan lived by his own code. The ship captain had plenty of money. Isaac thought he’d figured out his motives—what Drostan sought was the power to control others. He wanted William’s attention, and if he couldn’t take Bran to get it, Flora wouldn’t be leaving his ship.
After giving Isaac’s earrings to Nigel and telling him of Alastair’s warning for her family not to go to Edinburgh, Flora was satisfied that she only had one problem left to deal with. She turned and started toward the docks. The walk was short, but she strolled. These may be the last few precious moments that her life was still her own for a long time.
Her hands trembled, but not as they had on the day Drostan’s men had forced her up the wooden ramp into the captain’s office.
Today, she could see men hustling about, throwing things around. They were preparing to depart, but she ignored them all as she steadied her nerves, straightened her shoulders, and walked aboard like she owned the ship.
Fear was not an option when dealing with men like Drostan. She needed a steady head. Thankfully, since the rest of the day had gone much better than expected, her confidence had been boosted. She would have kept the earrings and tried to barter with the man as she had Alastair, but she knew Drostan was looking to settle some unforeseen score. No matter what promises she made, he had a hidden agenda that she couldn’t decipher.
Suddenly, the noises stopped, and she glanced around to see all eyes on her. She swallowed. She could do this. She would do this. Moving on, she ignored them and walked directly to the office she’d been led to before.
She considered bursting in to make her declaration, but she thought catching him unaware would not be the way to gain leniency. She knocked, then waited as a terse, “Enter,” came.
As she pushed in the door, she was thankful to see that Drostan was alone, and she wouldn’t have to ask his men to give them privacy. He stood to one side of his desk, studying a map that had been stretched out across the surface.
A wicked smile split his lips. “Ye are early, my dear. I wasnae expecting ye until tonight.”
She moved farther into the room but left the door wide open. She wanted an easy escape if necessary. “I have come with a proposal.”
“Have ye now? Do ye have my five hundred pounds?”
“Nae, but I can have it for ye upon yer return.”
“That was not the deal. How are ye ever to earn that type of coin?” he asked.
She shivered as the brute turned from the map and put his full focus on her. He had known the whole time there was no way for her to procure such funds. What kind of game was he playing? The thought played in her head that perhaps her circumstance had nothing to do with Bran, and everything to do with Dorsten’s rivalry with Will.
He swiveled and took one step in her direction, facing her with a challenge in his eyes.
“I will find a way to get it to ye.”
“Aye, ye will. And ye’ll do it aboard this ship.”
His eyes took on a fierce quality as he took another step toward her. She backed away. He held up his palm, indicating she should halt. He halfway watched her as he eyed her escape. For some reason, she obeyed, but he stopped moving forward at the same time.
“Nae. I still have the rest of the day to bring ye the money.”
“I think my terms have changed. Ye are already here, and I see no reason for ye to leave when there is a man in town who wishes to take ye to Edinburgh.”
Her mouth fell open. How did he know about Alastair?
“If he finds ye, ye willnae be returning.” Drostan’s eyes narrowed.
“But he’s . . .”
Drostan cut her off. “Ye’ll be staying here for yer own safety.”
Why would he care about her safety?
“Ye cannae keep me here. Will won’t let this ship leave with me aboard,” she protested.
“But does he even ken ye are here, lass? And do ye think he can fight off all my men? I think ye better pray he doesnae come for ye.”
“But if I go now, I have a way to get the money.”
“’Tis no’ about the money. It never was.”
“Then—”
He cut her off again. “Yer friend destroyed something precious to me. I am just doing the same.” There was no conviction behind his declaration.
She shook her head and stepped back. Drostan had planned this all along. He’d never had any intentions of honoring their bargain.
“Ye will sail with us. ’Tis enough payment to ken that Will and Bran will go to sleep every night thinking ye are suffering for their misdeeds. I think ’tis fitting punishment.”
“Why do I deserve this sentence?”
“’Tis convenient and because ye tend to care for the wrong men.”
She took one more step back, then turned to run, only to be met by a large man blocking her path. Drostan hadn’t been signaling for her to stop—his palm had been a message to this man to guard the door.
Words from behind her sent chills down her spine. “Take her to the cabin I had prepared. She’ll have to stay there until we set sail.”
“Nae.” She yelled as she swiveled back to meet him, ready to charge. Strong arms came around her before she was able to attack. They held her pinned to the frame of the brute behind her.
“Ye cannae do this. The watchman kens where I am.” It wasn’t true, but maybe the thought would frighten him enough to let her go.
“Even so, he won’t find ye, and there is nothing Will can do. We set sail in the morning.”
Her stomach lurched, and she realized he was telling the truth. No one knew where she was, and by tomorrow, she’d be gone. She’d succeeded in saving Bran, but at what cost? Her family would still be evicted from Camelot if Bran and Will couldn’t come up with the funds, or Kate would be imprisoned trying to get the deed, and she would never be able to repay Isaac.