My Fair Lover (Legendary Lovers 5)

Behind her, one of the pirates called out to the others. “The tide is rising, so we must depart.”

Looking back in time to see the key being returned to the shelf, Kate heard booted footsteps for a moment, then silence, which suggested that their jailers had snuck out of the cave, leaving her trapped inside the cell with Deverill.

His ire didn’t diminish just because they were alone, however. “I had hoped you were safely in Royan by now.”

“Did you honestly expect me to act the coward? Of course I would never leave without you.”

“I came here without a fight so you would have a chance to escape.”

Kate’s vexation rose to match his. “So you thought to sacrifice yourself to protect me? I am not amused!”

A muscle ticked in his cheek, and he looked as if he was trying to bite back a smile. “No?”

“No. I was mad with worry for you.”

“As I was for you. However, it was foolish of you to search for me. What did you expect to achieve all by yourself?”

“I am not entirely witless. I sent a lad to Royan to fetch Captain Halsey.”

Deverill shook his head. “I had already instructed Halsey to come in search of us if we didn’t appear by noon.”

“Well, you might have informed me!” Kate began, before realizing they were spending precious moments arguing. “Would you like me to cut you free of your bonds?”

His expression arrested. “Can you?”

“Yes. I brought my dagger.”

Raising the skirt of her gown, she pulled out the sheathed knife. “I didn’t think they would search my person.”

He stared at her for another instant, then started to laugh. “I should know better than to underestimate you, darling Kate.”

Crawling around behind him, she applied the sharp blade to the rope that tightly bound his hands, and with effort, managed to slice through the knots.

Turning then, Deverill leaned closer and hauled her into his arms, his grip so strong and tight she could scarcely draw breath.

His embrace was infinitely reassuring, even if they might be destined to die together.

Yet this was not a romantic moment in the least—which made his next action all the more puzzling: Deverill reached behind her and began to take down her hair from its sleek chignon.

Kate was startled into asking, “What on earth are you doing?”

“Not seducing you, if that is what you imagine. I need a hairpin if I am to pick the lock.”

When he found a pin, he held it up to the light and gave a

smile of relish. Then startling her yet again, he cupped her face and kissed her, swift and hard, before crawling across the cell and turning his attention to the padlock.

“Take heart, princess. We are not defeated just yet. I have no intention of dying here today, much less letting you die.”

As it happened, however, the bars were too closely spaced for Deverill’s muscular arms to fit between, so he turned the task over to Kate, giving her detailed instruction on what to feel for and how to tease the tumblers.

It was painstaking work that took precious minutes. Despite the coolness of the cave, Kate was beginning to perspire again when the first trickle of water seeped into the cell, followed shortly by a greater one.

Fresh fear twisted in her stomach. The cave would fill presently and the entire cell would be underwater, rendering them unable to breathe. Heaven help us.

“Steady,” Deverill urged. “Take your time.”

Biting her lip, Kate reapplied herself to her task. He doled out more encouraging words while the passing seconds ticked by in her head.