The Ransom (47 page)

Her mother wouldn’t have died.

And Juliana may still be living in the comfort of her home.

So many possibilities, so many outcomes … if only heaven had not been silent.

Footsteps jarred her from her prayer, and she quickly wiped her eyes, not wanting the children to see her weeping. But it was only Eunice, a tight robe wrapped about her plump frame and a look of exhaustion on her face.

“I thought you were asleep.” Juliana took her hand as the woman lowered to a chair beside her.

“Haven’t slept much since the children got sick.”

Juliana stared at the ragged rise and fall of Michael’s chest. “I was praying.”

“Always a good thing t’ do.”

“I’m so sorry to burden you with my presence here.”

“Burden?” The woman gave an incredulous snort. “We love havin’ you. The good Lord will provide somehow. He always does.”

For the first time in her life, Juliana doubted that was true.

“I still can’t believe that preacher, Mr. Edward, turned t’ piracy,” Eunice whispered, shaking her head. “Or that he is the son of an earl … or the son of Cap’n Merrick!”

“You knew of Captain Merrick, his father?”

“Knew o’ him? I met him once. He vis’ted Reverend Buchan as oft as he could. ’Sides, everyone on the island knew ’bout Cap’n Merrick.”

“I wonder why Alex … Lord Munthrope …” Juliana groaned, “whoever he is, didn’t mention who his parents were when he took over the orphanage.”

Eunice shook her head. “Beats the tar outta me. Ne’er told a soul who he really was. Jist plain Mr. Edward, a preacher from Carolina, was all we knowed.”

“I suppose he had his reasons for not wanting people to know.” Juliana dipped the cloth into a bowl of water and wrung it out. “Mayhap he didn’t wish to be judged by his father’s reputation. Merrick left deep footsteps in which to follow, ’twould seem.”

“Regardless,” Eunice sighed, gazing at Michael with worry, “it be a shame he be hanged tomorrow. Though I admit t’ bein’ right angry wit’ him, I don’t wish him harm.”

Juliana’s throat tightened. Neither did she. In fact, she’d been trying her best not to think about it. Every time she did, her stomach vaulted, tears flooded her eyes, and her heart shriveled in such agony, she feared she’d be of no help to Eunice at all. She must remain strong. For the children. Besides, there was naught she could do. Save pray. And lately, her prayers seemed to fall like so much dust to the ground.

A loud rumbling sounded, like an out-of -control carriage pulled by horses gone wild. The thunderous rattling grew louder. And louder still. The entire room quaked as if some mad giant shook the earth in a fit of rage. Pictures fell from walls. Books thudded to the floor from shelves. The chair Juliana sat on skipped over floorboards like a playful child. Glass shattered as the lantern slipped from the table and its flame sputtered out. Then all went dark. And silent.

♥♥♥

With each word Alex spoke to the Almighty, with each whispered plea, each shameful regret, a sensation of hope and purpose burgeoned within him. Like a light chasing away the shadows, it advanced over his soul, filling him with a life he hadn’t felt in a long time. Words washed over him from the Scripture his mother had made him memorize as a child. Words from the lips of a God who loved His children enough to die for them. Words of promise: abundant life, protection, help during times of trouble, comfort, strength, and a Presence that would never leave. A love that would never abandon.

The more Alex opened his heart to hear, the more the possibility rose that he had been wrong about this God his father worshiped. This God who was also a father. A perfect father.

Boom!

What sounded like cannon fire shook the prison. Bars rattled. Dust and rocks rained on Alex. The sandy ground shifted back and forth like dirt in a sieve. Alex was tossed on his side. Leaping to his feet, he teetered to the center of the cell just in case the walls caved in. A mighty roar stormed through the narrow hallways like a monster on the prowl. The stone walls groaned beneath the strain.

Then all was silent.

Coughing, Alex brushed dirt from his sleeves and batted the dusty air around him. He’d felt many tremors during his years in Port Royal, but none quite so violent. His thoughts sped to Juliana. Fear for her safety sent him dashing to the iron gate. To shake it loose, if only he could. To run to her and ensure her safety.

He clutched the cold metal and pressed his forehead against the unforgiving spokes.

To his surprise, the bars gave way and the door screeched open.

The padlock fell to the dirt, steel split as though someone had taken an ax to it. He stared at it, benumbed. He must have fallen asleep while praying and was dreaming. But other doors squealed open. Laughter and shouts gorged the dank air as prisoners fled their cells and dashed for freedom.

And Alex knew somehow, some way, God had freed him.

♥♥♥

“What do you mean the Pirate Earl has escaped?” Juliana’s heart leapt at the possibility, even as her mind rejected the news. No one ever escaped from Marshallsea.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know, Misssss Dutton.” Captain Nichols shoved past her and staggered into the main room of the orphanage where Eunice and Juliana were having tea. After the quake, it had taken nearly an hour to settle the children back to sleep, but finally they all had drifted off, along with Isaac, leaving Juliana and Eunice too jittery to join them. When a knock had sounded on the door, Juliana supposed it was someone in need of help. Unfortunately, she’d been right. Just not the kind of help she could give him.

Closing the door, she spun on her heels. A stain marred the naval officer’s normally white breeches, a gold button swung on a thread from his blue coat, and his cravat was untied and hanging to his waist. “You’re drunk, Captain.”

“Indeed.” He dipped his head but nearly lost his balance.

“I insist you leave at once, sir, and return when you are in better form.”

At this, he let out a hearty snort. “Not until I find that scoundrel, the Pirate Earl!” Grabbing the only lit lantern from a table, he tottered through the room as if the ground were still shaking, peering into corners, beneath tables, and behind chairs. More than once, he tripped over one of the water pails lining the wall. More than once, he let loose strings of curses so foul, Juliana’s ears ached.

Even so, his search fed a hope within her that he spoke the truth. Could Alex truly be free?

The monkey scolded Nichols from the beams overhead, drawing the man’s gaze. Picking up one of their tea cups, he tossed it at the animal, muttering something about a filthy, uncivilized orphanage.

As the cup shattered on the floor, Eunice slowly rose and exchanged a worried look with Juliana. Stepping toward the inebriated man, Juliana forced her sternest tone. “Captain, Alex is not here, I assure you. He is locked up at Marshallsea. I saw him there earlier today.”

“Vistiting a pirate? Tsk, tsk, tsk, my dear.” He waved a hand through the air. “But what did I expect from a woman who has a vile insatuation with the fiend.” He belched. “Which is precessly why I’m here.”

“I fear you are making no sense, Captain.”

He peered into her face as if searching for her eyes. “The tremor opened the cell doors. Every lock broken.” He blinked, then staggered backward. “Unfathsomable.”

Juliana bit her lip. Could it be? How could an earthquake cut through a lock?

“Faith now, don’t prestend you haven’t heard.” He twirled around. “He’s here. And I will find him!”

“I insist you leave at once, Captain. You’re going to wake the children.” She tugged on his arm, but he shoved her aside. Stumbling over a chair, she struck the far wall. Pain throbbed across her shoulders. Eunice scurried from the room.

“Hiding a pirate! I’ll have you sanged alongside him!” Nichols continued his tirade, starting for the serving room to the left. Juliana shook the dizziness from her head, thankful he went the other direction from where the children slept.

Eunice returned with a sleepy Isaac, who immediately bellowed at Nichols. “Hold up there, sir. This is an orphanage, not a tavern. You are to leave at once!”

Nichols faced him, his eyes swimming over him as if looking for anchorage. “I’m not leaving until you hand him over.”

“Whoever you seek, sir, he’s not here.” Clutching Nichols’s arm, Isaac started for the door.

But the naval captain was having none of it. He grabbed an iron skillet from a passing table and struck Isaac over the head. Screaming, Eunice dropped to the ground beside her husband. Juliana’s heart raced, her mind spun. She had to get rid of this man before he hurt the children.

“Go get help, Eunice,” she whispered, pressing fingers atop a lump forming on the back of Isaac’s head. “I’ll distract him.” ’Twas the only way. Rising, Juliana stormed toward Nichols, who had opened the pantry and was tossing sacks of food to the floor. She shoved him in the back, sending him crashing into shelves, just as she heard the front door close. Thank goodness at least Eunice was safe.

He swung about, teeth bared, and held the lantern to her face. “Pirate whore! And to think I wanted you for myself. I’ll not let that lecherous madcap slip srough my fingers again. Where isss he?” Pushing her out of the way, he stormed back into the main room, heading for the children’s sleeping quarters.

But she couldn’t allow that to happen.

Grabbing one of the knives from the table, she rushed after him. “Stop right there!” She pressed the tip to his back, all the while wondering whether she could actually stab a man. But it didn’t matter. The skilled naval officer twisted around and knocked the blade from her hand before she could find out. He gave a maniacal laugh, spewing rum-drenched breath over her face, murder in his eyes.

Juliana backed away, but he caught her by the throat. Tossing the lantern through the air, his thick fingers tightened. The glass shattered. She clawed at his hands, desperate for air. Flames shot up from the corner of the room reaching for the rafters. The monkey squealed.

Nichols gritted his teeth and clamped both hands on her neck. Her lungs screamed. Her mind grew numb. The room began to spin.

Then all went black.

♥♥♥

Cloaked in the shadows of a warehouse, Alex gazed over the inky waters of Kingston Harbor, Jonas by his side. The
Vanity
was not among the ships idly rocking in the bay, nor among those docked at the many wharves. Not that he expected it to be. That pigeon-livered dog, Larkin, didn’t have the spine to sail into port so soon after he’d betrayed Alex. He would wait until word reached him that Alex had been hanged. And even then, he might never return for fear of revenge by those loyal to the Pirate Earl. Of those there were many. The Brethren of the Coast scowled upon such treachery against one of their own.

A troop of red-coated marines marched down the sandy street. Alex slipped further into the shadows. They’d be searching for the escaped prisoners, no doubt, though most would be able to blend in with the usual riff-raff that gorged—even at two in the morning—the many punch houses lining Thames Street. A drunken ballad, laughter, shouts, and the sound of a fiddle accompanied the clip of the soldiers’ boots as they passed.

Jonas folded arms across his chest. “What now?”

Alex drew a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. Several of his crew had found him after they’d escaped the prison, but without a ship, Alex had nothing to offer them. Hence, he’d released them to the ravages of the city with a warning to stay out of sight for a few days and then find another ship to join. All of them left. Except Jonas, of course. Not that Alex intended to pirate any more. He could not deny that something had happened to him in that dark prison cell. Something not of this world, something deep and meaningful. Something that could quite possibly change his life.

If he allowed it.

But his brig had been his only means to gain wealth. And wealth is what he needed at the moment to help Juliana.

If she would even be willing to see him. Or speak to him again.

“I have no idea,” Alex replied with a chuckle. “For the first time in my life, I have no idea what to do. Along with no ship and no money.”

“Doesn’t Lord Munthrope have a fortune stored somewhere?”

A heavy breeze smelling of salt and rum swept over them. “His home,
my
home, will be the first place Captain Nichols will look.”

“Of course. So the great Pirate Earl suddenly finds himself stripped of title, power, ship, and wealth. Makes one wonder what God is up to?” Jonas grinned.

A week ago—lud, a day ago—Alex would have replied in sarcasm that God neither caused nor cared about Alex’s situation, but things had changed. God had freed him from prison. And Alex didn’t believe he had done so just to bring him to ruin.

“Indeed, my friend.” He clapped Jonas on the back. “I can’t wait to find out.”

Jonas’s brows shot up, and a gasp escaped his lips. “Pray tell, is this the Pirate Earl who speaks, or did some preacher crawl into his skin while in prison?”

Preacher
. It seemed like an eternity ago when Alex had arrived at the orphanage to care for the children and save the lost. Wait. Juliana had said some of the orphans were ill.