Lord Rogue by Rebecca Hagan Lee

Author:Rebecca Hagan Lee
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781943505982
Publisher: Teresa Medeiros
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

“Associate yourself with men of good quality

if you esteem your own reputation,

for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.”

—George Washington, 1732-1799

* * *

“I’d feel a bit better about this plan if the bloody fog would lift long enough for us to find our way to the cottage,” Jarrod Shepherdston complained as the Jersey Queen anchored at the mouth of the port.

“I’d feel better about our plan if we didn’t have to interrupt the man’s wedding night,” Alexander Courtland replied. “If anything goes wrong with the plan, it will be his first and last night with his bride.”

“We all hate the thought of interrupting that,” Jonathan Manners, the Earl of Barclay, said. “But it isn’t as if we have a choice. Time is running short. If we don’t implement the plan before dawn, he hangs without us.”

“I’d feel better about the whole thing if we didn’t have to board that skiff and row to shore.” Daniel Sussex had overcome his fear of boats long ago, but they would never be his favorite form of transportation. And he’d spent over ten hours on one today. “I was shot the last time I rowed to shore in a skiff in the dead of night. We nearly avoided disaster.” He took a deep breath to settle his nerves as he watched the boatswain’s crew lower the first of the two small boats that would take them to shore into the water. “Let’s hope everything goes according to plan,” he added. “Because if it doesn’t, not only do we lose a good man and an excellent officer in Blackburn, but Shepherdston and I will have to face Lord Weymouth and explain how the plan failed.”

“Maybe you’ll have better luck with a dory,” Colin McElreath, Viscount Grantham, said. “It’s larger than the skiff you used last time. And we’ll all be with you.” He clapped Sussex on the back. “And I don’t fancy facing Weymouth to report a mission failure any more than you do. Besides, you and Shepherdston have spent nearly a fortnight planning for tonight.” He exhaled. “Reporting to Weymouth with bad news is an unenviable task, but losing Blackburn—a good, brave man from all accounts, and a fellow Scotsman—would be a tragedy.”

“If we arrive in time to implement the plan, we won’t lose Lord Blackburn.” The sixth man involved in the plan, the man wearing the uniform of a regimental surgeon, was Mr. James McGregor, physician and surgeon from Edinburgh. Weymouth had asked McGregor to join the mission because the Free Fellows plan required a physician and possibly a surgeon as well, and Mr. McGregor was a fine example of both. Weymouth trusted McGregor so the Free Fellows had decided to trust him as well. “I don’t generally devise a plan of treatment for a patient in order to cause his demise.”

“Ready, gentlemen.” The boatswain called up from the dory in a low voice. “Come aboard.”

“This blasted fog is going to present a problem,” Shepherdston murmured to Sussex as they approached the rope ladder.

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