Katherine Bone - [Nelson's Tea 02] by The Rogues Prize

Author:The Rogues Prize
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Adele fumed. Exactly what was her father up to? Vicar Pickering had never been invited to dinner before. Did he really need an audience for what he was about to do? Or divine absolution? Was he using her as bait to keep the officers calm before he took them to task for sinking the Belle? Fatten them up before the kill, as it were. Yes! That had to be it. So why did the idea of ambushing Guffald disturb her? She’d been the primary cause of his tardiness. In fact, her antics had cost everyone involved.

According to her mother, her father had promised to see her honor restored. Adele remained skeptical on that score. There was only one way to restore her honor and that was by marrying the bounder. Over her dead body! But then restoring her honor wasn’t prevalent in her thoughts, which made marrying Guffald a moot point. As soon as she was able, she meant to rendezvous with Husam and make a quick getaway. Without question, she meant to be on board the Dragon when it sailed out with the tide.

Even now, Garrick, and whatever torture he might be experiencing while she sat enjoying a magnificent meal, was foremost in her thoughts as her father raised his wine glass into the air.

“A toast,” he announced. “To the gallantry of my guests and my son’s safe return.”

Adele raised her glass and peered over the rim. Her father’s gaze caught her eye and he winked artfully, arousing her suspicions that something was afoot. She tossed a quick glance at Guffald to see if he’d noted their exchange, but his face displayed no emotion. Good. He didn’t anticipate her father’s broadside. But that thought did little to ease her frazzled nerves. What if the consequences of her father’s plan worked against her? Her heart raced as she stared at the captain’s handsome profile. As if sensing her eyes upon him, he turned his steel blue eyes, chiseled-clefted chin, and perfectly angled nose toward her. He sat rigidly at attention. Reserved energy flowed from him as if he waited for something to happen. Was he on to her father? Did he still have it in mind to punish her for her activities aboard the Dragon? Had something else happened while she’d been locked in her room?

A flush crept up her neck to her cheeks, heating her face. Damnation! He cut a handsome figure in his formal uniform, dark blue overcoat, white laced shirt and black silk neckerchief. To purge her mind of that repugnant acknowledgement, she swallowed a healthy amount of wine. Swallowing the last drop, she set down her glass a tad loudly, drawing the speculative glances of her five brothers. But there was no time for embarrassment. Any further attempt at conversation was efficiently interrupted by servants delivering a family favorite — mushroom soup.

Set upon seeing the night come to an end, Adele attacked the first course without delay, hoping to expedite the meal, and the captain’s departure, as well as limit her interaction with him.

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