"You must speak to him, Aurora. Pretend to be taken completely by surprise when you learn your husband is still alive."
"How do you even know who Gerrod is?" Aurora asked in bewilderment.
"Nicholas warned me this morning when he came to say farewell."
"Nicholas warned you?"
"He knows Gerrod is searching for him. Why else would he consider it imperative to sail this evening?"
Aurora raised a hand to her temple. Last night when Nicholas had made love to her, he'd known he was in mortal danger, and yet he hadn't even hinted at it. Damn him…
"He never said a word," she murmured, torn between fear and anger at his keeping such a revelation to himself.
"Possibly because he didn't want you to worry," Raven said quickly. "I suspect he wanted you to make the decision whether to accompany him without any further duress."
Duress? Fear suddenly winning out over anger, Aurora rose to her feet. "I have to warn Nicholas – "
"No!" Raven objected. "I tell you, he already knows he is being pursued. If you want to protect him, you would do better to try to throw Gerrod off the scent. We should devise a plan, Aurora."
Aurora drew a shuddering breath, trying to gain control of her panic. Raven was right. If she wished to help Nicholas, she would have to fool the captain into believing she knew nothing about her husband's whereabouts.
Her blood had turned to ice in her veins by the time Aurora descended the stairs to the parlor where Gerrod awaited her.
"Captain," she said coldly, pausing in the doorway. "I am amazed that you have the gall to call upon me after what you did. I trust you have a good reason for being here?"
His expression was stern to the point of grimness as he searched her face. "I am seeking your husband, my lady."
"My husband is dead, sir," Aurora retorted frigidly, "as you very well know. You were the one who sent him to his death."
"Then you have not heard the news?" Gerrod asked skeptically.
"What news?"
"Nicholas Sabine is still very much alive."
Aurora stared at him, then carefully schooled her features to scorn. "Your jest is in exceedingly poor taste."
"It is no jest, my lady. The pirate, Captain Saber, made a bold escape while being transported to Barbados for execution."
"Why in heaven's name should I believe such a wild tale? You expect me simply to accept your word for it? The man who arrested my husband and ordered his execution?"
"I did not imagine you would require proof, my lady," the captain said stiffly. "I felt sure Sabine had visited you before now."
"I assure you he has not."
Gerrod scowled. "I have good reason to believe he is masquerading as his cousin, Mr. Brandon Deverill. And word is, you have been seen with Deverill."
"I don't deny my acquaintance with Mr. Deverill, Captain, but I think I would know my own husband," Aurora said with sarcasm.
"Perhaps he has fooled you."
"And perhaps you are the one who has been fooled."
When Gerrod clenched his jaw in frustration and anger, Aurora adopted a more conciliatory tone. "Even if my husband were alive – which I don't believe – whatever makes you think he would come here to England? His home is… was…in Virginia."
"If I had so lovely a wife, I would not hesitate to seek her out."
"If so, then surely he would have approached me before now. But he has not."