knocked me out... and I woke up in a coach on the way to London.”
Nicholas’s voice dissolved in a string of particularly vivid oaths. “And what did this Foster look like? Besides the missing arm?”
“He was about my age, maybe a little younger. With brown hair and blue eyes. Rather ordinary, really.”
“In other words, he could be anyone.”
“Any one of the many people who want revenge against you? One of the forgotten multitudes you hurt during your career as a pirate?”
He glowered at her. “Did he say anything else that might prove helpful?”
She tried to remember. “He mentioned something about... about you robbing him of what should have been a brilliant naval career.”
“Which doesn’t narrow it down at all.” Dropping into a wing chair in the corner, Nicholas ran his hands over his face. “Damn it, I thought this blasted mess was finished. I should have known better. What the hell made me think I could sail out of London and leave it all behind?” He rested his forehead on his palm, his elbow propped on the armrest.
He looked so worn down and vulnerable in that moment, Sam felt a sudden impulse to cross the room and reach out to him, to smooth the hair back from his forehead, to ease the lines of tension around his eyes, his mouth.
But of course, that would be difficult with her hands tied.
And it destroyed her to realize that she still had feelings for him. That she still cared for him, even knowing who he was and what he had done.
Even knowing that he felt nothing for her in return.
“Are you going to untie me?” she demanded, fighting the emotions that had her heart pounding. “I’ve told you all I know. I’m of no further use to you. Let me go.”
He raised his head and looked at her. “Tell me one thing,” he asked wearily. “Since you suspected my real identity, why did you walk into that pub at all? Why didn’t you just go to the local authorities and try to claim the ten thousand pound bounty on my head for yourself?”
Because, you idiot, I’m in love with you. She had to bite her tongue to hold it back. “Do you seriously think I’m foolish enough to go within a hundred miles of the authorities? I’m wanted for murder and my face has been in all the papers.” She lifted her chin. “I was protecting myself,” she added coolly. “I’ve always been good at that.”
He looked away. “I see.”
“Are you going to untie me?”
He seemed to think for a moment. “No, your ladyship,” he said slowly, “I’m not.”
She went still, blinking at him. “You can’t keep me here.”
“I have to keep you here.” He slanted her a hard glance. “Letting you go would be too much of a risk. You know everything—”
“And you don’t trust me. You don’t...” Care about me. She couldn’t finish the sentence.
“If I untie you, you’ll do something impulsive like try to escape out the window and shimmy down the side of the building. Without giving one thought to what you would be facing out there.” He jerked a thumb toward the dark city outside. “You have a murder charge on your head, lawmen across England hunting you, and not a shilling to your name. Where, exactly, are you planning to go?” He abruptly rose from the chair, heading for the door. “Until I figure out my next move, you’re staying right where you are.” He walked past her, leaving her there with her hands bound.
And her heart broken.
“I wish I’d never met you, Captain Nicholas Brogan!”
He paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder, his expression one that she hadn’t seen before. She couldn’t, wouldn’t believe that it was hurt she saw in his eyes.
“The feeling, Miss Delafield, is entirely mutual.”
He slammed the door behind him.
~ ~ ~
Sam awoke to find the room doused in shadows of dark navy and midnight black, moonlight spilling in through the windows. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep, or what had jarred her awake. Sitting up, she winced at the kink in her neck, blinking in the darkness.
A sound came from outside the door, a soft knock. “Come in,” she said hesitantly, hoping whoever it was wouldn’t notice the hoarseness of her voice.
Her throat was parched, raspy from crying.
Instead of Masud or his captain, it was the woman who entered. “Miss Delafield?” She peeked around the edge of the door, whispering. “Are you awake?”
“Yes. Please, come in.”
“I brought