Bound by the Heart by Marsha Canham

Author:Marsha Canham [Canham, Marsha]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, General
ISBN: 9780727842350
Google: Uu_4PgAACAAJ
Amazon: B0046H9IBA
Publisher: Marsha Canham
Published: 1991-01-14T16:00:00+00:00

"If it holds? No later than four bells tomorrow, sir."

"My prediction is that it will hold, Lieutenant. Call the officers to breakfast now, if you please. I find myself with a strong appetite this morning."

"Aye, sir."

"And keep that damned ship well in sight."

"There should be no problem there, sir. She's presenting us with a clear, sharp target. A shame our guns are not as powerful as the telescope."

"In due time I have no doubt they will be. For now, keep me informed of the Chimera's movements. And lay us low enough on the horizon not to give rise to the least suspicion."

Lieutenant Harvey Aslop did as he was ordered, an easy task since the Chimera maintained an unhurried six knots throughout most of the day. He had to order the Caledonia trimmed for she cut through the water like an impatient mare held to a tight rein. So intent was he on following the commodore's orders that he was too low to see a second set of sails skimming across the horizon—sails that were, conversely, in plain view of the Chimera.

"There she is," Roarke said quietly, handing the glass to Morgan Wade. "Right on time."

"Trim us down," Wade grunted, swinging the spyglass to their stern after making his own visual confirmation. "Not too obviously, though. Bull knows he is to keep ahead of us, but I'd as soon not take any chances on the Caledonia spotting him. Damn—are you sure Winfield's out there?"

"He's there, all right," Roarke said.

"Like a fly buzzing you at night," Wade muttered. "You know it's in the room with you; you just can't see it."

Roarke passed the order to Mr. Phillips to take in sail. Almost immediately two of the flying jibs were reefed, along with one of the small foresails.

"Winfield's bound to move up on us with the light failing."

"Aye. We'd best give them something to look at." Wade lowered the spyglass. "Light up the deck lanterns and have the stern cabins bright enough to see a dozen miles away. Another hour and we can signal the Gyrfalcon; then we'll pull up even more to give Bull a clear run."

"You don't think Winfield will suspect something?"

"Not when he knows we don't have the guns on board yet."

"I still say we should pass on the shipment altogether."

"Winfield has arranged to provide us with five thousand prime English muskets. How can I, in all conscience, disappoint the fellow? No, we'll accept his guns and give Commodore Righteous Winfield a lesson in humility he won't soon forget. Or forgive." Wade chuckled dryly. "He never could take a loss of face in his stride. As temperamental a son of a bitch as any the Royal Navy has spawned. He was known to have a penchant for taking his frustrations out with his fists. I pity his wife and family, if he has one."

He raised the spyglass to his eye again, thereby missing the look on Stuart Roarke's face.

Commodore Bennett Winfield lowered his glass, smugly contemptuous as he saw the lights glowing to life on the Chimera.

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