Duke of Dishonor (Lords of Scandal 11)

He chuckled. “My guess is you’ll enjoy it quite a bit more than conducting a wedding?”

“Indeed,” he chuckled, raising his arm to signal they fire again. “Push just a bit closer, lads. We’re gonna put that boat on the bottom.”

The men let out a cheer as the sails raised again at the same time the cannon fired.

Seven more balls were launched, five hitting the ship. Two fired back.

They did sustain damage to the port side, but they could sail. And when they watched two dinghies being lowered into open ocean, they knew they’d won. A cheer rose up from the sailors on board the Return.

“Now,” he gave Captain Jack a look. “It’s my turn for some action. Capture the men on board those ships. I want some answers.”

Captain Jack gave a single nod. “Get ready to take prisoners on board.”

Brandon was gone for hours. Night fell and the inside of the cabin turned black. Emily had heard the entire battle.

The cannons, the capture, and then silence.

But her husband had not returned.

She tried not to worry.

And she’d considered leaving the cabin a half dozen times. But in the end, she’d stayed. She’d paced the length of the tiny room a thousand times or more when a knock finally sounded at the door.

“Yes?” she called.

“It’s me,” Brandon called from the other side.

Tendrils of relief flowed through her. She ran to the door, flicking open the lock, and throwing open the door.

He stood leaning against the jam looking tired but…whole. “Are you all right?”

“I am.” He reached for her then and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry I was gone so long, love. You must have been terribly worried.”

“What happened?” she pulled him into the room, closing the door behind him.

“Well.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I’ve got Maestro locked in the hull of the ship.”

She gasped. “Maestro?”

“He ran the operation in London.” Brandon grimaced as his eyes flicked to her. “Unfortunately, he isn’t the top of the chain. He alluded to a larger boss, though he won’t say who or where.”

Emily covered her mouth with her hands. “Do you think he’ll come after us?”

Brandon shook his head. “I don’t know. But I can tell you that Maestro’s greatest weapon was secrecy. Capturing him today was far easier than I thought.”

She nodded. “It was easy?”

He shrugged. “I knew far more about him than he knew about me. I’ve been tailing his operation for months and he hadn’t a clue. What was more, he still has no idea who Ewan is, though he must know there is a spy. But he’ll likely be dead before he can pass along such information.”

“Dead?” Emily gasped. It reminded her just how serious the past day had been.

“I’ll hand him over to the crown, but his execution will not take long, I am certain of that.”

“I’m glad we’re going home.”

He reached for her hand, lacing her fingers into his. “Me too.”

She lay her head on his shoulder, sighing softly. “Will it be safe?”