When they reached the bottom and turned a sharp corner the soft glow of a single candle led the way to where Nora patiently waited.
Sara's aunt was settled on top of a wooden box. Her bright red shawl was draped around her shoulders. The older woman didn't look at all afraid. "We're about to have an adventure," she called out to her niece. "Matthew, dear, do be careful."
Matthew nodded. "It would be an adventure all right, if we didn't have such precious cargo on board," he announced.
"What precious cargo?" Sara asked.
"I believe he's referring to you and me, dear," Nora explained.
"Aye," Matthew agreed. He started back up the squeaky steps. "Now we've got to defend instead of offend," he added. "It's going to be a first for the crew."
Sara didn't know what he was talking about. It was apparent that Nora did understand, though. Her smile said as much. "What do you suppose Matthew meant by that remark, Aunt?" she asked.
Nora briefly considered telling Sara, then just as quickly discarded the notion. She decided that her niece was too innocent to understand. Sara still saw everything as good or evil. In her idealistic mind there weren't any shades of gray. In time she would come to understand that life wasn't that simple. Then she would be able to accept the fact that Nathan had led a rather colorful life. Nora hoped she would be there when Sara was told she was married to Pagan. She smiled just thinking about her niece's reaction to that news.
"I believe the crew would fight more vigorously if they didn't have to keep us safe," Nora said.
"That doesn't make any sense," Sara argued.
Nora agreed but changed the topic instead of saying so. "Is this where the munitions are kept?"
"I believe it is," Sara answered. "Do you suppose those kegs are filled with powder?"
"They must be," Nora said. "We must watch the candle flame. If a fire started down here-well, I needn't tell you what could happen. Don't let me forget to blow out the flame when Matthew comes to fetch us."
The ship suddenly felt as though it had just let out a giant belch. It shook from aft to stem. "Do you think they hit us with that shot?" Sara asked.
"It certainly felt as though they did," Nora answered.
"Nathan had better finish this quickly. My nerves cannot take such an upset. Nora, you and Matthew have become very close, haven't you?"
"What a time you've chosen to ask me that," Nora said with a little chuckle.
"I just wanted to take our minds off the worry at hand," Sara replied.
"Yes, that might be a good idea. And you're right, Matthew and I have become quite close. He's such a gentle, understanding man. I'd quite forgotten how comforting it is to be able to confide my thoughts and worries in someone who cares about me."
"I care about you, Aunt."
"Yes, dear, I know you do, but it isn't at all the same. You'll understand what I'm saying when you and Nathan become a little closer."
"I fear that day will never come," Sara returned. "Does Matthew confide in you as well?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, often."
"Has he talked about Nathan much?"
"Several times," Nora admitted. "Some things were given in confidence, of course, and so I cannot speak about-"
"Of course you can," Sara interrupted. "I'm your niece, after all, and anything you would tell me wouldn't go any further. You do trust me, don't you, Nora?"
Sara kept up her prodding for another ten minutes or so before Nora finally relented. "Matthew told me all about Nathan's father. Did you ever meet the Earl of Wakersfield?"
Sara shook her head. "It's said that he died when Nathan was just a boy, Nora. I couldn't have been more than a babe. I did hear that he was knighted, though."
"Yes, he was knighted. It was all a sham, though. Matthew told me that the earl actually betrayed his country while he was in service. Yes, that's true, Sara," she added when her niece let out a gasp. "It's a horrifying story, child. Nathan's father was in cahoots with two other infidels, and the three thought they could overturn the government. They called themselves the Tribunal, and as Matthew related the sequence of events to me, they almost pulled off their treacherous scheme. Nathan's father had second thoughts, though. His conscience got him killed before the truth was let out."
Sara was horrified by what she'd just learned. "Poor Nathan," she whispered. "The shame must have been unbearable."
"No, not at all," Nora returned. "You see, no one knows the full truth. It's still believed that the earl was killed in a carriage accident. There hasn't been any scandal. I warn you that if your family got wind of this, they'd use the information to get the prince to overturn your marriage contract."
"Oh, it's too late for that," Sara returned.
"You're being naive if you believe that it's too late, Sara. The circumstances were so unusual, what with the king not feeling at all well."
"He was daft," Sara whispered.
"And you were only four years old," her aunt whispered back.
"Still, we are living as man and wife now. I don't believe the prince regent would dare overturn-"
"He can dare whatever he wants to dare," Nora argued.
"Your worry doesn't signify," Sara interjected. "I'm not going to tell anyone about Nathan's father, so my parents aren't ever going to find out. I won't even let Nathan know that I know, all right? He'll have to confide in me first."
Nora was appeased. "Do you know I also found out how Nathan's back was injured?"
"I believe someone took a whip to him," Sara returned.
"No, it wasn't a whip," Nora countered. "His back was scarred by fire, not a whip. You only have to look to realize that, child."
Sara felt sick to her stomach. "Oh, God, was it deliberate? Did someone burn him on purpose?"
"I believe so, but I can't be certain. I do know a woman was involved. Her name was Ariah. Nathan met her when he was visiting a foreign port in the east."
"How did Nathan meet this woman?"
"I wasn't given the details," Nora admitted. "I do know that this Ariah has rather loose morals. She dallied with Nathan."
Sara let out a little gasp. "Do you mean to say that Nathan was intimate with this harlot?"
Nora reached out and patted Sara's hand. "Nathan was just sowing his oats, dear, before he settled down. There's no need to get yourself all worked up."
"Do you think he loved her?"
"No, of course he didn't love her. He was already pledged to you, Sara. Nathan strikes me as being terribly sensible. He wouldn't have allowed himself to fall in love with the woman. And I'll wager you my inheritance that when Ariah was finished with him he most likely hated her. Matthew told me that the woman used Nathan to manipulate her other lover. Yes, it's true," she added in a rush when Sara looked disbelieving. "According to Matthew, Ariah was a master at her game. For that reason I do believe Nathan was tortured by her command. Thank the Lord, he was able to escape. It was during a small revolution, you see, and those sympathetic to the anarchists aided him when they released the other prisoners. Then Jimbo and Matthew took over Nathan's care."
"Nathan has certainly had a time of it, hasn't he?" Sara whispered. Her voice shook with emotion. "He must have been very young when that horrid woman betrayed him. I believe he loved her, too, Nora."
"I believe he didn't," Nora countered.
Sara let out a weary sigh. "It would be nice if it was just a dalliance," she said. "And if they did share the same bed, well, he wasn't really being unfaithful to me, because we hadn't started our married life together. You know, it's all beginning to make sense to me now."
"What is beginning to make sense?"
"I hadn't confided this to you before, but I have noticed that Nathan seems to be very concerned with protecting his feelings. Now I think I understand why. He doesn't trust women. I cannot fault him. If your fingers are burned once, you won't put your hand near the fire again, will you?"