Page 64 of Devil of the High Seas
“Er... Cap’n, we have a problem,” Ronnie suddenly announced and pointed toward the cove.
A ship larger than thePixiehad sailed to the edge of the cove and dropped anchor, blocking thePixie’s way to the open sea. It was theSea Serpent, which belonged to Brianna. Gavin scowled as a longboat was rowed toward them. Even at this distance, he recognized Dominic, Griffin, and two other men, who, given their looks, were most likely Josephine’s father and twin brother.
“Blast and hell,” he muttered. He had no time for this. Time was the only thing that stood between him and Josephine’s death at the hands of Beauchamp, assuming she was not dead already.
“Hmmm,” the vicar mused as he came up beside Gavin. “That wouldn’t happen to be your betrothed’s family arriving? And your brother?”
“Aye, it would unfortunately seem so,” Gavin growled.
He had told Sheridan about his and Josephine’s situation during the voyage back to the island. The vicar had proven himself a trustworthy man who didn’t judge Gavin for the choices he’d made, or the questionable beginning of his courtship with Josephine. Gavin stood on the dry sand just past the reach of the water as he waited for the longboat to glide onto the shore. Griffin, Dominic, and Josephine’s father were the first ones to climb out of the boat.
“Dominic, we don’t have time to—” Gavin began, but without warning, Dominic threw a hard punch that sent him stumbling back. He would have fallen had Ronnie not caught him. Dominic shook his bruised knuckles and looked ready to strike again, but Josephine’s father placed a hand on his arm to still him.
“Where is my daughter, pirate?” Lord Camden demanded. His look of hatred hit Gavin harder than Dominic’s fist had.
Gavin rubbed at his jaw. “Taken. My former boatswain—the one who organized a mutiny and stole my ship—he took her. He also kidnapped my housekeeper’s young son.” He nodded toward where Jada still sat on the sand, staring emotionlessly at the rolling waves.
Dominic turned to the burned embers of Gavin’s home. “Where the bloody hell were you? Why didn’t you protect them?”
“I thought Iwasprotecting them. I thought Josephine would be safe here.” Now he could see how foolish it had been to think this place was safe. Beauchamp had been to this island before, and it would only be natural to look here for Gavin or the gold the man believed he had hidden from the crew.
“Why did you leave her alone?” Griffin asked. “Why not take her with you?”
“Because I was off fetching a bloody vicar and I didn’t want you lot catching me and taking her away.”
“Avicar?” Dominic growled. “Whywould you need a vicar?”
At this Sheridan snorted. “Well, it’s either for a marriage or a baptism, and I’m rather guessing you’d prefer a marriage.”
Dominic looked torn between wanting to throttle the vicar and Gavin.
“Well, which is it?” Camden demanded.
“He’s here for Josephine and me,” Gavin snapped. “I love the bloody woman and want to marry her.”
He met his brother’s gaze, and Griffin’s eyes widened at the statement.
Camden and Dominic both lunged for Gavin, but Griffin threw himself in their way, holding up a hand to stay them.
“Please, Camden, let us hear my brother out before we decide to hang him from the yardarm.” Griffin then turned back to face Gavin. “You were truly going to marry Josephine? Does shewantto marry you? What concerns me most is Josephine’s wishes. Is this something she agreed to, or are you forcing her?” Griffin asked.
“Yes, that’s a good question,” Camden cut in dryly, his eyes promising violence. “Answer carefully, because your life depends on it.”
“I would never force her. She is more than willing to be my wife.”
Sheridan stepped forward. “I would never marry them if he tried to force her,” he added.
Was that a flicker of relief Gavin saw in his twin’s face, or had he simply imagined it?
“So you planned to marry her; that’s a problem we will deal with later. We need to discuss where the bloody hell my child is.” Camden stared at the burning wreck of Gavin’s once beautiful home. “Did the man who killed that Encino fellow take my daughter?”
Gavin tensed at hearing his friend’s name. “Encino is dead?”
“Beauchamp slaughtered his crew and tortured Encino. He died just moments after we found him and his ship two days ago. We worried about an ambush, but none happened. Then we spotted the smoke from your island and feared the worst,” Griffin said.
“Where would he take my daughter?” Camden asked.
“I’m guessing the Black Isle. He wishes to legitimize his place as captain of theSiren. Now that he knows I’ve returned, he’ll want me dead, and knows I’ll come after her.”
