Page 140 of A Devious Secret

“There goes another perfectly good gown,” Haddington grumbled.

With a smile at her husband, Lady Haddington said, “I will go with Mr. Wycomb to ensure he doesn’t kill himself.”

“Then I will guard the gangway,” Haddington stated.

With a purposeful stride, Stephen headed towards the stern of the ship and came to a stop in front of the captain’s cabin. He reached for the handle on the door, and he tried to turn it.Locked.

“It’s locked,” he whispered over his shoulder.

Lady Haddington pushed him out of the way and crouched down in front of the door. She pulled out two long metal hair pins from her hair, slipping them into the locking mechanism, and twisted them until a distinctive click could be heard.

Lady Haddington rose and encouraged, “After you.”

Stephen didn’t need to be told twice. He opened the door and stepped inside. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room, but he saw that the cabin was empty. Where was Gemma being held if not here?

“She is not here,” Stephen said as he turned to leave.

A hesitant voice spoke up from inside of the room. “Stephen?”

“It is me.” Relief flooded over him as he recognized the soft voice. “Where are you, Gemma?”

He watched as Gemma crawled out from under the desk and rose. Her hair was terribly disheveled and her gown was ripped, but to him, she had never looked more lovely.

Gemma closed the distance between them and said, “I didn’t think you would find me in time.”

As he reached for her hand, he responded, “It doesn’t matter. I would have never stopped looking for you.”

Gemma smiled up at him and he thought he would burst with happiness that she was here with him.

Lady Haddington’s voice came from behind them. “We should go,” she encouraged in a hushed voice. “Gemma isn’t safe yet and neither are we.”

“Evie?” Gemma asked as she glanced over his shoulder.

“Hello, Gemma,” Lady Haddington replied.

“What are you doing here?” Gemma asked.

Stephen interjected, “It is best if you don’t ask questions.”

“I don’t understand,” Gemma said.

“As far as we are concerned, Lady Haddington was never here and played no role in your rescue,” Stephen shared.

Gemma nodded her head in understanding. “Can we please get off this ship?”

“I think that is a grand idea,” Stephen said.

Stephen tightened his hold on Gemma’s hand and followed Lady Haddington out of the captain’s cabin.

As they headed towards the gangway at the front of the ship, Lady Haddington came to an abrupt stop.

“What is it?” Stephen asked, following her gaze.

Lady Haddington didn’t have to answer because Stephen saw why she had stopped. Lord Hawkinge was holding a pistol at Haddington’s head, and he wasn’t alone. Two stocky men stood behind him with their pistols drawn.

Lord Hawkinge smirked. “This is the part where I tell you to put down your pistols or Lord Haddington is a dead man.”