The Ransom (48 page)

“Come, Jonas.” He started down the street. “We’re off to the Buchan orphanage. There are sick children afoot.”

“But isn’t Miss Juliana staying there?” Jonas fell in step beside him. “Surely ’tis one of the places Nichols will search?”

Alex halted. The man was right, of course.

“He’ll clap us in irons and toss us back in prison.” Jonas rubbed his neck, absent its normal cravat. “I, for one, am glad to have escaped the noose.”

A hot wind tumbled down the dark street, fluttering the streetlamp above them. “The children are ill. You’re the only doctor who will offer them care. We must go.”

Even so, the thought of being locked up again in Marshallsea kept Alex’s feet nailed to the ground. But the children … he’d already abandoned them once. Had run away like a faithless coward at the first tragedy. Come what may, he wasn’t going to do that again.

“Alas, I cannot force you to come, Jonas, but I’m going to do what I can and leave my fate in God’s hands.”

Chapter 37

Juliana stood at the bow of the
Vanity
as the ship hefted and rolled over foam-crested swells. Sea spray misted her. Yet it did naught to cool her heated skin.
Hot!
She was so hot, so very hot. Shielding her eyes, she squinted at the sun high in the sky. Waves of heat rippled from the giant fire ball that grew larger and larger with each passing second as if it were descending upon the very earth itself! Perspiration gleamed over her arms and neck. Her gown pasted to her body. Smoke bit her nose. She lowered her gaze to see flames licking and leaping and devouring the deck all around her.

Coughing, she tried to stamp out the fire, terror numbing her mind. Was she going to burn alive on this dreadful pirate ship? Where was Alex? His crew? One glance told her the entire brig was ablaze.

And no one else was in sight.

Irritating chatter scraped her ears. Something pushed her head. Tiny fingers poked her eyes. Batting the menace away, she gasped for air, her gaze landing on a wall of fire not two feet from where she lay. The monkey jumped on her chest and grinned. Clutching him, she struggled to rise against her voluminous skirts. Heat broiled her skin. Her head plunged into thick smoke. Hacking, she ducked back down. Hungry flames surrounded her, dancing, crackling, burning everything in their path.

The orphanage was on fire! Terror strangled what was left of her breath.

A child screamed. She glanced toward the children’s sleeping quarters. Flames glowed from within. A burst of heat enveloped her. She leapt out the way as the fire consumed the spot where she’d lain just moments before.

“Thank you, little one.” She pressed the monkey to her chest then dashed down the hallway, dodging pockets of fire, dread nearly blinding her as she shot prayers to God that the children were unharmed.

They
were
unharmed. Frightened, sobbing, calling for help, yet untouched by the flames that circled the room. Shouting words of comfort, Juliana knelt to gather them in her arms. They clung to her like snails on a leaf, whimpering and crying and shoving each other aside to be included in her embrace.

“Shhh, now. Shhh. ’Twill be all right. No need for alarm.”

But there was
every
need for alarm. How was she going to get all these children out of the house to safety? And—her heart collapsed when the realization struck her—the sick ones in the next room. No time for a plan. Hoisting two of the smaller children in her arms, she instructed the others to stay and made for the door.

A roar thundered through the room. Rafters crashed down in a blazing heap of flames—landing right before the door, their only exit.

Juliana sank to the ground and gathered the sobbing children close. So, this was to be her end. Burned alive along with all the little ones she loved.
God, where is your mercy?
Only the mocking cackle of flames replied. She closed her eyes and prayed for a swift, painless death for them all.

When the Almighty spoke her name.

The faint echo resounded from within the roar of the fire. She looked up. There it came again. “Juliana!” Louder this time. Not God’s voice, but one she recognized. One that caused her to stare with hope toward the burning door, to watch as a man burst into the room, cloaked in a wet blanket.

He darted toward them, flung off the cover, and laid it atop her head. Cool moisture gave her a moment’s reprieve from the heat. “Are you all right?” He knelt and shouted. Blue eyes found hers. It was Alex, the Pirate Earl, Lord Munthrope—all wrapped up in one glorious rescuer.

“The children!” she shouted. “Save them!”

Reclaiming the blanket, he wrapped it around little Rose sitting in Juliana’s lap, hoisted her in his arms, and dashed back out the door. Moments later, he returned, Jonas with him, both carrying buckets of water and blankets. After wetting the covers, they slapped some on the blazing wood blocking the door, while they flung others around children. Juliana grabbed a blanket, drenched it in a pail, then covered James and lifted him in her arms. Dashing for the door, she attempted to duck beneath the billowing smoke. Fiery needles pricked her skin. Her lungs screamed for air.

“The sick children!” she shouted at Alex as he grabbed another child. “In the next room!”

Alex nodded. “Get outside and stay there!” Then handing his child to Jonas, he started down the hall and disappeared into the black haze.

The next few minutes sped past in a blur of searing heat, ravaging flames, billowing smoke. And mind-numbing fear. Unable to stand outside and do nothing, Juliana dove back into the fiery building and assisted the men, until one by one, they carried all the children to safety, including the sick. The last person to exit the orphanage was Isaac, his arms hoisted over Alex’s and Jonas’s shoulders.

“Thank God,” Juliana breathed as she watched the flames spit and claw at the sky. By all accounts a fire that hot should have consumed the building within minutes.

Yet something or
Someone
had held it at bay.

No sooner had the men cleared the front door, than the entire structure collapsed in a thunderous crash, shooting sparks in all directions. Some landed on the nearby church, but stone walls forbade them to ignite.

Gathering the whimpering children close, Juliana glanced at Alex. Soot as dark as his hair lined his face, perspiration streamed down his neck, and his chest billowed like a storm as sea. But at that moment, she thought him the most handsome man in the world. She longed to run into his arms, to thank him for saving her and the children, but doubts kept her at bay. Why had he come? Would he leave her? Would he abandon the children again?

Jonas, equally covered in soot, slapped his friend on the back. “Praise be to God!” He swiped a singed sleeve over his face and coughed smoke from his lungs.

“Thank you,
both
of you, for saving us.” Juliana’s voice came out hoarse. Her gaze drifted to Isaac, who wobbled on his feet and then sank to the dirt, rubbing his head. Thank God Nichols’s blow had done no permanent damage to the man. Beyond him, the sick children lay on the grass. She whispered a thank you to God for His mercy, even as she realized that now these precious orphans had no place to live.

A shriek, followed by footsteps, drew Juliana’s gaze down the dark street to see Eunice, skirts in hand, rushing toward them, two men on her heels.

“Isaac!” she shouted, casting a horrified look at the burning orphanage before she dropped to her knees and swallowed her husband in her embrace.

“I’m all right, woman. I’m all right,” he said. “Thanks be to these men.”

“I went t’ get help, but all’s I found was these two neighbors.” She gestured toward the men, who stood staring at the burning building before they shrugged and turned to leave.

Hefting young Rose in her arms, Juliana stood. “This is the infamous Pirate Earl, Eunice.”

The woman froze, then slowly turned to face the men while struggling to rise. Alex held out a hand. She took it. “Well, if it ain’t Mr. Edward. Come back t’ save us after all.”

Alex cleared his throat. “I have much to apologize for, Mrs. Tucker.”

“Humph. I says you do. But you have bigger troubles ri’ now. That horrible man, Nichols be lookin’ fer you.”

“Captain Nichols?” Alex jerked his gaze to Juliana, his stance immediately stiffening. “Was he here? Did
he
do this?”

“’Tis a long story.” She shook her head, gazing at the flames, still unable to grasp that the orphanage was gone. “It doesn’t matter now.”

Eunice stared curiously at Jonas. “Since you both be escaped pirates, I seen soldiers headed this way.”

Jonas cast a nervous glance down the street.

“You must leave,” Juliana said, her fear rising. “Now.”

Alex hesitated. “But where will
you
go? With all these children?”

She wanted to ask why he suddenly cared about the children’s welfare. “We’ll think of something. Please. I can’t bear the thought of you in that prison again.”

Alex stared at her, firelight reflecting determination in his eyes. “I won’t leave you. And I won’t leave these children again.”

Something hard inside Juliana’s heart softened.

“Mr. Edward?” Jackson, the eldest of the children, separated from the others and crept toward Alex, hesitant at first. “Mr. Edward!” Recognition lit his face, and he ran into Alex’s arms.

The pirate stood stunned for a moment before he embraced the lad. “Yes, ’tis me, Jack.” He tussled the boy’s hair. Three more children darted for Alex, hugging him and asking where he’d been. The scene should have infuriated Juliana, but the affection the children bore for Alex and his welcoming response, along with the contrition in his eyes, had quite the opposite effect.

The monkey emerged from the shadows and leapt onto Jonas’s shoulder. He jerked with a start, then scratched the creature beneath the chin. “Where did you come from, little beastie?”

“This little beastie saved my life,” Juliana said, shifting Rose to her other hip. “Woke me up just before I was burned alive.” And to think she’d been trying to get rid of him for months.

Rose leaned her head on Juliana’s chest and thrust her thumb in her mouth.

“We must find a place to hide,” Jonas said. “Now,” he added with urgency.

“Wit’ all these children?” Eunice’s tone was skeptical as she helped her husband to his feet.

Alex glanced about anxiously. “None of us have homes anymore. Or friends to take us in. I don’t even have a ship …”

“Wait!” Juliana said, excitedly. “
I
have a ship.”

♥♥♥

Alex leaned on the starboard railing of the
Ransom
, warm cup of coffee in his hands, and gazed at the city of Port Royal, forty yards off the bow of the brig. At nearly eleven in the morning—while pirates and other sordid creatures slept off their nightly roistering—the wharves were already abuzz with activity. In the past hour, one East Indiamen had hoisted sail and cast off into the glimmering Caribbean, while two ships—one a fishing sloop and another a merchant barque—had scudded into the harbor and docked. Crates and barrels and livestock were now being raised from the hold of the merchantman by a pulley flung over a yard, while Negros and half-castes unloaded smaller cargo. Bells rang and seagulls swept the open sky. In the distance, Alex could make out carriages rattling down the sandy streets as women and men dressed in sparkling bright colors mingled with those in plain homespun. He’d come to this town a preacher, but instead had become a pirate.

And a dandified buffoon.

He loved Port Royal. Even amidst all the greed and evil, there was something compelling about it, something wild and adventurous. He could see why his father had loved it here. And why he’d sent Alex to help those who lived in darkness find the light.

The
Ransom
rose over an incoming wavelet, boards creaking and loose sails flapping. ’Twas good to be on a ship again, with the familiar sounds raking his ears and the roll of the sea beneath his boots. It had only taken an hour and two trips under the dark blanket of night to row all fourteen children and five adults to the brig. Thankfully the ship was anchored far enough from shore to hide the faces of those aboard, but close enough to spot any marines heading their way. There’d been none at four in the morning.

It had taken another hour to settle the children in bunks and hammocks below deck and offer comforting words until they drifted to sleep. Juliana had been best at that. Her calm voice, her gentle touches and kisses, had instantly put the little ones at ease, causing Alex’s affections to grow even more for the lady. If that were possible.

No words could describe the horror that had consumed him when he’d found the orphanage ablaze and heard the screams of the children. He knew she would not leave them. He knew she must have still been inside. He knew that if he didn’t act quickly, he’d lose her and the children forever. So, it had been without an ounce of hesitation that he’d dashed inside that fiery furnace. That made twice Alex had sacrificed himself for Miss Juliana Dutton. Unfathomable for a pirate who’d spent the last four years only pleasing himself.