Miss Ridgeway's Privateer (Regency Belles & Beaux Book 3) by McGrath Michele

Author:McGrath, Michele [McGrath, Michele]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Riverscourt Publishing
Published: 2016-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

That thought worried Lucy for the rest of the day. Before this, she had put it out of her mind but, if O’Rourke was right, she would have to deal with the consequences soon. If the ransom was paid, she would be no worse off than she had been before. There was a way to reach her destination; the other English prisoners had told the new arrivals as much. Letters had been received from the lucky ones who had already returned home. On the other hand, if Lady Mary refused, Lucy had no money of her own to pay for her passage away from Saint-Malo. Could she write to Becky and would Becky help her? Once she had been certain of her cousin’s affection, but not now. Becky was short of money and Caroline’s debut was coming ever closer. Even if she somehow managed to return to England, what would she do when she got there? She had been through the possibilities before and found no solution. Unknown Ireland, without her family’s recognition would be worse. Therefore, I would have to stay in France, she thought, even though I don’t speak the language and I have no skills. Perhaps I was a fool to reject Captain Rollin’s offer so quickly. I should have let him wait for an answer until I knew about the ransom. Despite this, she was sure that she had made the right decision. Something will come up, it must. This reflection did not comfort her but eventually she fell into an uneasy sleep.

The next morning, Lucy was at breakfast with the Hardies when she was surprised to see O’Rourke walking towards them. She was annoyed. He had said that he would not come to her unless he brought news. She felt as if her heart had stopped. Was it possible? He stopped at their table and smiled down at her.

“May I join you? I have something to tell you.”

Captain Hardie nodded but did not look very pleased. O’Rourke pulled out a chair and said,

“You’ll be happy to know that my captain has received a letter from Sir Edgar Ridgeway who has undertaken to pay for Miss Ridgeway’s return. He didn’t haggle over the cost, so we may now proceed to make the arrangements to continue her journey to Ireland.”

Mrs. Hardie smiled, rose and gave Lucy a hug. “I’m so glad for you, my dear.”

“You haven’t heard anything from our employers, I suppose?” Captain Hardie asked.

“I’m afraid not. It usually takes longer to receive an answer from England and from a ship’s owner rather than from a family. You must have patience.”

“What must I do now, Mr. O’Rourke?” Lucy asked.

“Pack your trunk. Someone will call for it this afternoon. Put on your oldest clothes and wait here for me. The tide turns about seven o’clock and the ship will go out on the ebb. I’ll come for you around five, which leaves us plenty of time to clear the harbour.”

“But Lucy can’t travel with you alone, O’Rourke,” Captain Hardie protested.

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